August 17, 2010: US Auto Parts purchases Whitney Automotive Group. I am officially working on borrowed time. Almost immediately, my sole job is to lead the transition and migration of all the WAG systems to US Auto Parts and literally undo all my hard work from the previous decade.
While I didn’t know exactly when my last day will be, it most assuredly is coming. I immediately go into job search mode, along with all my peers.
I and all my WAG peers were permitted to take as much time off during the day as we needed for job interviews. The scene at the office quickly became surreal: People would come into the office wearing suits, making no secrets as to where they were going later that day. People would openly take phone interviews from their desk, within earshot of everyone around them.
I sent out hundreds of resumes and went on dozens of interviews. As 2010 rolled into 2011, I had lots of nibbles, but no bites.
March 5, 2011: My annus horribilis went from bad to worse. Dan Halter, My father, mentor, and role model, passed away after a decade long struggle against a degenerative neurological disorder. I’ve already written at considerable length about how my father helped shape my interest in cars, my career, and my work ethic in my first four COALs.
Dan worked as a consulting civil engineer for decades, occasionally working on high-profile cases, such as the Cleveland school system. Specifically, he was retained as a consultant for the system in their case against numerous builders and architects over shoddy construction practices on various school buildings. In one particular case in 1986, he inspected the gymnasium of East High School in Cleveland, and pronounced it structurally unsound and unsafe. Despite various settlements and efforts to fix it, the roof collapsed on October 6, 2000, as he had predicted that it eventually would. Fortunately, the gym was empty at the time, and no one was injured.
His report made the front page of the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Metro section shortly after the collapse occurred (pictured above). What particularly amuses me are the excerpts of his report, printed on an 80’s vintage dot matrix printer that was only capable of printing uppercase characters.
Dan continued to make frequent work trips to Cleveland well into the 2000s, until health conditions forced him into early retirement.
May 3, 2011: My last day at US Auto Parts, which came and went without having another position lined up. For the first time in my adult life, I was unemployed. Fortunately, I still had an income in the form of a generous severance package from US Auto Parts. I settled into an odd life, doing a lot of things I hadn’t had a chance to do for a long time: Seeing the kids off the school in the morning, greeting them when they got home, eating lunch with my wife, and mowing the grass during the day. But mostly, I spent 2-4 hours a day on my job search, calling recruiters, filling out countless applications, and constantly editing my resume. Looking for a job really is a full-time job.
I wasn’t too terribly worried, although looking back I’m not sure how I managed to stay so calm. I was never worried about getting a job: My experience and skills were highly marketable, and if nothing else panned out, I could always go back into consulting. I had numerous connections in the industry, and felt pretty confident that I would walk into their office on a Monday and out into a client site on Tuesday. I basically set myself a deadline: If I couldn’t land a permanent position by June, I would take a contract gig of some sort.
No, I wasn’t worried about getting a job. I was worried about getting the job. Consulting is interesting, but it doesn’t always pay all that well. It can involve travel, and often the benefits aren’t that great. But most of all, it isn’t very stable, as your employment with the consulting firm is only for as long as your value to their clients.
I had been working a really solid lead at a company called Edgepark Medical Supplies, who was recently purchased by a private equity firm and was looking to boost their online presence. They had just hired someone for their newly minted VP of Ecommerce position, and were looking for a director to lead their web development team. Interestingly enough, despite being a local company, I had never heard of them, and had no awareness of the position. I found out about it through a Colorado-based recruiter, who reached out to me via LinkedIn.
It was a perfect position for me. I felt that I had killed it in my first three interviews, and was getting positive vibes from them as well. I had actually started speaking to them well before my last day as USAP, but as April rolled into May, we were still talking, and not doing much else. With my self-imposed deadline fast approaching, I decided to get more aggressive with Edgepark, and inform them of my situation. They told me that they would get back to me at the end of the week. Next week turned into two, but after several months and five interviews, I finally got the offer on May 31, 2011, literally a day before my self-imposed deadline.
June 6, 2011: My first day at Edgepark. I was still driving the Lexus IS 250 when I started. The car had a lot of bad associations with JC Whitney, so I was eager to get rid of it. For some reason, I was on a domestic kick, so my shortlist at the time included the Lincoln MKZ and Cadillac CTS. The Buick LaCrosse was barely on my radar.
I went to the local Cadillac dealership, and test drove the CTS, with every intention of getting one. While I can’t remember for sure, the model I drove was a top of the line model, because what else would I get? I was exceptionally disappointed with my drive. The seats were firm to the point of being uncomfortable. The short wheelbase, coupled with the large 19″ wheels, made for a very punishing ride: I could feel every expansion joint on the freeway. And I hated the goofy popup navigation screen. The dashboard looked nice and clean when the screen was down, but then you couldn’t use it. When it was raised, it stuck out like a cheap aftermarket GPS.
The Cadillac dealership also happened to sell Buicks, and the salesperson suggested that I try driving LaCrosse instead. He put me in a fully-loaded Touring model, which pretty much had all the bells and whistles I was looking for, plus a few that I wasn’t, like a heads-up display and panoramic sunroof. While I can’t say I loved the car, I didn’t hate it either. For whatever reason, I wasn’t interested in making a protracted vehicle search, and I really wanted to get out of the Lexus, so I got the Buick.
Yes, a Buick, the favored brand of septuagenarians and octogenarians everywhere. Granted, the LaCrosse was far removed from the Lucernes and LaSabres that preceded it, but it still carried the stigma of the tri-shield logo. As was the case with my earlier Mazda 3, I figured it would look sportier if I got it in red. This, combined with the 19″ wheels and low profile tires, gave it a slightly more aggressive look, if not the outright sportiness I was looking for.
It was smooth and quiet, and frankly felt a bit more luxurious than the CTS. While the ride was trademark Buick soft, with the Touring package’s 19″ wheels and tires, hiper strut front suspension, and computer-controlled dampers set to their firmest setting, there was actually a modicum of handling available as well. When the suspension was not in sport mode, the car bobbed and rolled every bit as much as you might expect from a Buick, and the steering was one finger light as well. So I pretty much always drove it in “Sport” mode, with the move of pulling the shifter down and to the left to engage it committed to muscle memory.
Not long after I got the Lacrosse, a wheelbarrow fell off the wall of the garage and onto the front of the car, leaving a long scratch on the hood and a deep gouge on the bumper cover. In years past, I would have immediately run to the body shop to get it fixed. This time, I was OK with letting it go. Like I said, I didn’t love this car.
So what exactly was going on here? Did years of living as a responsible adult, husband, and parent finally kill my car lust? Did the last vestiges of my own youth die with my Dad earlier that year?
Could it be that I had just become a car consumer, owning a car that I genuinely didn’t care about? I must confess, not having a car that I was constantly fawning over was somewhat liberating. No more spending hours on the weekend detailing the car. No more parking in the far reaches of the parking lot in an effort to avoid door dings. I actually pulled into spots next to other cars, like a normal person.
Damage from rear-end collision
During its time with me, the LaCrosse served as a punching bag of sorts. Driving into work one day, I got rear ended at a stoplight by a person who didn’t see my car because of the sun glare. By the time jammed his brakes, it ended up being more of a firm love tap than a collision (pictured above).
Damage from “off-roading”
Shortly before I was due to turn the car in at the end of its lease, I drove over some landscaping boulders pulling out of a parking spot at work. This did sufficient damage to the car that I had to get this (along with all the other aforementioned damage) repaired.
The LaCrosse was a supremely competent freeway cruiser, and the Harmon Kardon sound system was among the best factory sound systems I’d ever heard. The hard drive-based navigation system was far more responsive than the DVD-based system in my previous rides, and it even had an interesting radio DVR feature that you could use to pause, rewind, and fast-forward through radio broadcasts. To GM’s credit, the car was solid and reliable.
If my list of compliments for this car were long, so too was my list of grievances. Chief among them was that the Touring package was unavailable with all-wheel drive. In an example of the kind of poor product planning that the old GM was famous for, Buick decided that AWD would only be available on the mid-level LaCrosse, and not the top-end model (I believe they corrected this a model year or two later). This unfortunately meant a return to snow tires, and the twice-yearly ritual of switching out the wheels and tires.
While the fake stitching on the padded dash looked convincing enough, the fake wood on the doors and dashboard unfortunately did not. For some reason, fake wood always looks a little too orangey. Worse, the glossy finish on the plastiwood was easily scratched, and after a few years it looked far older than it should have.
Ultimately, the LaCrosse worked out for me about as well as it did for Buick. It may have been a failure, but it was a brilliant failure.
I’m a quinquagenarian, meaning I was the “young” guy that Buick was trying to attract in the 80s, Ironically, I’ve been a Buick guy because they were Buicks, (I bought my first Buick at 17…..on purpose!) I want nice smooth American luxury (Broughamantic,if you will..)
but without silly over the top.”bling”.
Being way outta line for ANYTHING new right now, save perhaps a bicycle, I recently upgraded to a 2008 Lucerne in CXL guise, Replacing my 2000 LeSabre. (it having circumnavigated the Earth more miles than the Apollo program.) I chose the “Lucy” because it is (was) the last Buick to be a Buick. I don’t want a Buick to “toss into the twisties” I need a car that’s enjoyable sitting still in city (Pittsburgh) traffic and deal comfortably with our wonderful road conditions, and do so reliably. Oh, yeah……I got my “Venti-Ports” back!
???
Now that I’m actually a grey haired “old” man, I look “the part” of the stereotypical Buick driver,
The “tuner crowd” would never know that some “Highschoolers” drove Buicks…By choice! (Particularly in NE/Midwest urban areas.)
The funny thing is Buick still caters to people of your tastes. You really can’t say the LaCrosse is specifically designed as a corner carver. Sure, it’ll embarrass itself less than a Lucerne, but I think its still first and foremost a comfortable, spacious, upscale sedan. Buick’s just gotten better at the details, like material quality. And there are still ventiports!
Refreshingly, Buick hasn’t abandoned its core principles in pursuit of new buyers. But they’ve also realized they need to chase wealthier, younger buyers to stay relevant.
Cars like the Regal GS more overtly pursue younger buyers. But then that’s no different from Buick’s past sporty models.
I’m not ragging on your Lucerne. I liked the Lucerne CXS and Super, for instance and I’ll never understand why so many enthusiasts speak fondly of the LeSabre and completely ignore the Lucerne. I can see how the Lucerne’s large dimensions and subtle style are appealing. But I think the 2010+ LaCrosse does a better job of representing what a Buick is: modern technology and premium features, upscale interiors, comfortable ride, etc etc.
Sadly, new LaCrosse sales are sliding despite an even better new model. But that’s about right for the segment, as all large sedan sales are declining. Buick is doing a lot better with its crossovers and they’ll help the brand survive.
I think the LeSabres get more “respect” than Lucernes due to what I call the “Oldsmobile effect” – Changing the name seperated it from the “flock”. Also by having one line replace the middle class level LeSabre and the upper Park Avenue likely pleased neither the Park Avenue buyer nor LeSabre buyer by confusing the market.
My close friend still has his 2009 Sport red Lucerne CXL with the 3900 V6. It has been one of the best cars he has ever owned and now his 19 year old son is driving it and using it as a daily driver. The car is now closing in over 170K miles with little other than a wheel bearing, tires and brakes and one minor accident tapping a deer that cracked the plastic front bumper cover. They all love the car and wish Buick still made them now. And that is from a 19 year old kid. No joke
Cool that the love is still out there among the 19 year olds!?
PS I have called the Lucerne “Lucy”, But I realized that “Luce and a Quarter” also “works”, Then again I just painted my garage, The fumes could be getting to me. ?
Tom, I’m very curious how the CTS you test drove was specified. Perhaps it had the FE2 or FE3 suspension, which many critics did say was quite firm.
I like that you went into this purchase intending to buy a domestic sedan. The MKZ was quite competitive but was handicapped by seeming too much like a Fusion. Lexus did a better job of hiding the Camry in the ES, and Lincoln didn’t figure out how until the 2013 model (and frankly, the Fusion still seems like an exceptionally good buy while the MKZ is less so).
I would have gone for the CTS, personally, unless it was the tepid 3.0. Never understood why GM bothered with that worthless High Feature derivative. I think it was better for one extra MPG but it was down like 30-40 pound-feet of torque. And the CTS gen-2 stuck with it all the way until the end.
The LaCrosse… Look, you purchased the perfect one of its kind, although you are spot-on about GM’s bizarre decision to deprive the Touring/CXS 3.6 of AWD. The color choice was the best one you could have made, too. But this LaCrosse is a car I’ve tried so hard to warm too and just can’t.
The exterior and the interior, for example, are extremely good-looking… The wraparound dash, the cool ambient lighting, the nice touches of chrome. All the ingredients are there. But it’s all crippled by that awful beltline. Some cars can pull off the look… the Chrysler 300, for example. But it’s completely at odds with the smooth curves of the LaCrosse and it makes the interior feel so hemmed in. Visibility is terrible. I sat in one a few years ago and it felt like a bunker, more so than even a 2010 Taurus.
If Buick had just lowered the beltline a bit, the interior would have felt more inviting and the exterior would have looked so much more harmonious and better-proportioned.
The eAssist and 2.4 four and 3.0 V6 were all mediocre powertrains, too. The new gen offers only a 3.6 V6. Good. That’s how it should be. Maybe add a 2.0T or a 3.0T, but frankly the 3.6 is the best-suited to the LaCrosse’s mission. I hope to see a new one in the metal soon because in pictures, it’s nice but I’m not loving it. I’d rather a Regal.
Will: I don’t recall which CTS I drove at this point. I do know it was a 3.6 model and had 19″ wheels and tires.
Yup, if it was a 2010 or 2011 (and probably other years, too) that would mean it had the Summer Tire Performance Package as CTSs otherwise had 17 or 18-inch alloys. And the Summer Tire Performance Package came with the firmest suspension tune, the FE3.
The computer controlled shocks were only available on the V models I think. Magnetic shocks make a big difference on ride quality. The seats in the CTS are firm though, not cushy like the 1974 Fleetwood Tailisman.
As a qunquagenerian (had to look that one up) – the Lacrosse would be up my alley – as I like having more of a comfy ride vs. a stiffer one.
And I totally agree about that ridiculous beltline – giving the car “gunslits” for windows. Which is too bad because the interior appointments and trim are really nice.
The whole “gun slit” window thing and the idea that the front end of cars need to get uglier (edgier?) every year are two of the trends I can’t wait to pass.
Don’t hold your breath for that. Once upon a time, market forces and engineers could veto the designers in the name of vision and sight lines.
Since 2000, though, the engineers have to concede the point. Roof crush standards were made quite a bit more stringent, and a great way to help stop a roof from caving in in the event of a rollover is to shorten and thicken the pillars that hold it in place. Designers want gun-slit windows because they “look cool” (they don’t!), engineers want them for structural reasons. And the camera people jump in with a solution to the new problem of people backing over their kids because they can no longer see out their windows.
Everyone wins, except the motorists that want to actually see through the windows.
Curtain airbags and tall side barrier impact tests are another reason for gun slit windows.
5 trends that I wish and hope will die are the gun slit side and rear windows, the hideous massive over large grilles, massive oversized rubber band tires, black interiors with no contrasting colors and finally plain monochrome bland exteriors that just blend in. I want some damn color and flash. But I guess that is too much to ask for.
” I must confess, not having a car that I was constantly fawning over was somewhat liberating. No more spending hours on the weekend detailing the car. No more parking in the far reaches of the parking lot in an effort to avoid door dings. I actually pulled into spots next to other cars, like a normal person.”
Indeed, you must have matured. My dad used to say: “The first dent is the best; you’ll have it for the longest.”
As a sexagenarian I have been reading this COAL with interest. I still want a comfortable, spacious, upscale sedan as William Stopford put it. Just yesterday I peeked through the windows of the other Buick called Avalon. I’ll be shopping for used of course. That way I have dents from day one.
Wolfgang, your father sounds like mine. Additionally, I can vouch for the fact my father hasn’t washed any of his cars since around 1990. When I asked him about it recently, his statement was “cars are supposed to work for me, not me for them.”
I still carry baggage from my unsuccessful relationship with my mother’s 06 Lacrosse. I have wondered many times if I would like the newer versions better.
It occurs to me that it has been years since I have driven a sedan on a regular basis. As much as I might like one for cruising highways, my Mrs likes a higher seating position and I value more cargo utility.
Tom, Nice read; the Buick and your use of it clearly shows where you were at that time and how you were evolving from earlier COALs.
And, as a septuagenarian, I can relate to your corporate takeover story from a more primitive IT tech perspective, the death of influential parents, and the evolving tastes and concerns of a buyer and user of automobiles.
Most people tend to resist change (ever try to implement a new computer system that replaces an old system that users are familiar with?) but change is ever present and I believe that the more one accepts and makes peace with change, the more peaceful and enjoyable one finds life.
As someone once said: “We grow too soon old and too late smart”.
But it is quite a trip.
“Most people tend to resist change (ever try to implement a new computer system that replaces an old system that users are familiar with?)…”
As a corporate training manager for many years, you’ve described my life (or more accurately, the lives of the incredibly talented members of my team who actually develop and deliver the training) to a “T.”
Ironically, the worst resisters are often those with the highest level of expertise; those you would think would see the value of improvement, and would be the most adept at getting the job done regardless of the circumstances. A very famous leadership guru says this happens because you are handicapping the former experts, by knocking them off of their pedestal of being the all-knowing, invincible members of the team – some think you’ve purposely set them up to fail. Which is why so many companies now involve end users in the selection process, not so much to identify suitability of the new system, but to achieve buy-in at an early stage of the game.
From the customer’s point of view, a new system can be annoying as it forces you to re-learn potentially a whole lot of things which, while important to the performance of your job, are really only peripheral in the overall scheme of things and do not represent the core competencies required for your job. When you have a lot of other items taking up your time and crowding your thoughts, a changing computer system is at best a nuisance, like a blowfly buzzing around the room.
I guess Buick is trying to cater to today`s ‘youth market’. They are using 30-ish women in their TV commercials, and have adopted that ultra annoying disco music in every one of their TV spots. Does it work? I can`t say that I see too many under 40 people driving `em in the Freehold,NJ area.
Thr current Buick and Chevrolet ads are among the worst in modern automotive advertising. Having “people ooh and aah” at your vehicles as if they didn’t know what they were or even if they exist is a fine way to obscurity.
Tom, thank you for sharing this COAL. I can imagine this is not an easy series to write.
I one day want to get to not worrying too much about my car, I’m certainly not there yet! My Honda is 6 years old and has done 135 000kms and I still park at the back of the lot. One job I’ve let go of is washing it myself. I just don’t have the time.
Buick seems to have lost its way lately. Weak marketing, bland styling and confusing model name changes leave me unimpressed. No doubt a decent enough car, but does anyone really lust to be a Buick owner? Hard to see Buick attracting older buyers away from Lexus and Cadillac, let alone anyone under 40.
Never used to be that way. Buick used to be an aspirational car, signaling to everyone the owner was “doing well”. I fondly recall as a kid my friends mother’s ’52 Buick Special. She drove carpool so I spent considerable seat time in it. Can still hear the low moan of the Fireball 8 with Dynaflow as it pulled away. Also the quirky starter under the accelerator, the side opening hood and the radio antenna at the top of the windshield with an inside knob to turn it down when entering a low ceiling garage.
While in college in 1970 I had a friend who bought a pristine ’56 Buick Super sedan at an estate sale for $500. Only had maybe 40,000 miles. Two huge sofa like seats. Perfect for piling in 6 or 7 guys to hit the bars in Washington DC, where the drinking age was18. Would cruise at 90 with ease. Stopping the beast was another matter though. Mashing the huge power brake pedal induced either an unerving panic skid, or nothing much at all. Tired of its 10 mpg thirst for premium, my friend sold it after a few years for what he paid for it.
I think part of the problem is the improving quality and abilities of modern cars in general. While that ’52 Special (lovely car!) represented quite a jump up from, say, a ’52 Chevy, I don’t think a modern Buick would seem that much better than a modern equivalent-size Chevy. As cheap cars improve, it becomes harder to justify a premium. People need a reason to aspire, and the ’52 Special provided an obvious reason.
Buicks today are built for the Chinese market. IIRC last year China accountrd for 80% of Buicks worldwide sales. I suspect Chinese market forces drove their product and marketing decisions, This may mean the products are not optimized for the US. and some decisions may seem less than ideal for local markets.
This car is very similar to the “Skoda” 2016
There’s proof that fixing that ridiculous belt line on the Buick would turn it into a decent looking car!
When these LaCrosses first came out, I felt like Buick had returned from the wilderness. Finally, they were making a good-looking car that looked like A) It had been designed in the current century (pun not intended!), and B) Didn’t look like they’d made a bad copy of a 1970s Jaguar. Honestly, I think these, styling-wise, have aged pretty well, too. I can’t say I’ve driven one, but they seemed like a fine option.
After reading this, though, I wonder if it would have stirred the same sort of love my ’95 LeSabre did. Then again, I’ve never met anyone that leases a car and genuinely cares about it, either. Lessees tend to want transportation and do just enough upkeep to avoid being hosed at turn-in. The more studious of the lot I’ve met that lease go through a drive-through car wash so it looks somewhat presentable in public. A lessee that hand-washes the car, though, or gives half a damn about regular maintenance? HA!
Currently, Buick’s #1 seller is the compact Encore CUV, a far cry from the beige 90s/00s LeSabres.
I’m not sure I’ve seen a late-model Buick since my last trip to China 4 years ago. Lucerne, LaCrosse, Laforza? I did see – and recognize – one of the latter on the road recently.
EDIT: I realize the above sounded kinda snooty, but posts about late model GM products other than some Chevies or truck/CUV/SUV reminds me just how much automotive regionalism there is in the US now. Not much Buick action near me. OTOH, I remember my mom teaching a friend to drive in the Buick the friend’s ex-husband left with her. I would ride in the back and hang onto the coat rope (?) slung across the back of the front seat. It must have been a ’52 or ’53 I think. And it was just a “Buick” … no one really used model names in those days.
Wow, this Lacrosse really epitomizes the gun-slit window look of current sedans. I think sedan stylists have styled themselves into a corner. Sedans with proper rooflines that provide comfortable and efficient interior space now look ill proportioned. Little wonder the market is embracing CUVs and SUVs, sedans are just too claustrophobic.
The last sedan I owned was a 1995 Chrysler Concorde. It was considered quite sleek in its time, but at least had a greenhouse real people could live with. Now, a sleek car from 20 years ago looks like a CUV with notchback styling.
The sedan is a dead duck until the manufacturers can again convince the market that sedans should look more like my old Concorde………………
I’m going to say when this version of the LaCrosse came out I was very disappointed. It looked too much like a Lexus which I never cared for there bland styling. It looked thick in the middle and bloated with a stubby tail, had those ridiculous side windows, massive A-pillars, non Buick like rear end treatment and the hidden exhaust made the back look very cheap. The interior was equally a mess. Poor visibility. Massive center console that dug right into my right leg. No cup holders in the door pockets like other cars had plus a comically small center console bin. The trunk was also tiny at 13.3 cu.ft. and 10.6 on the eAssist setup. Sorry but it was just a mess. Then they saddled many of these cars with the low torque 3.0 V6 and later a slower yet 2.4 4 banger that had a hard time moving this 4000 LB slug. AWD examples could reach into the 4300 LB range which was more than my 1990 Cadillac Brougham weighted despite being 221″ long!
Not all was bad however. The newer Epsilon platform was a gem and provided a great combination of ride and handling and decent steering. The GM 3.6 V6 made plenty of power and was noticeably smoother and quieter in this application than other vehicles. This car also was very refined to drive and handled quite well for such a heavyweight with the optional tires and hyper strut suspension design.
The 2014 freshening fixed some of the issues like making the A-pillars a little smaller, redesigning the center console for more useable space, putting cup holders in the door pockets, upgrading to the LFX engine and ditching the old 3.0 and NA 2.4 engines and a more bold grille and nicer rear treatment with all V6 models getting dual chrome exhaust outlets for example.
Really enjoyed this article and the comments. Makes me feel that I’m not alone by viewing current styling trends with horror, appreciating comfort and visibility, and being somewhat perplexed by today’s vehicle choices. Plus, my wife has reminded me to avoid “an old man’s car”. It’s enough to make me wish for Sloan’s ladder, perhaps a Pontiac or Oldsmobile…
In Nov 2010, bought this same car (2011 CXS with touring, panaromic roof and nav) brand new at age 39 but chose Mocha Steel as the color. Front visibility due to the pillars is difficult but otherwise not much worse than other cars nowadays. My commute has shortened to only drive to work a couple days a week so only has 115K on it for being over 9 years old. Longest I’ve ever kept a car. Has had some minor mechanical issues but still love seeing the car come of out the car wash. I still think it’s beautiful. This is the longest I’ve ever kept a car. I’d like to buy a new car but donn’t want to convert to a crossover yet.