balthazar

My local dealer just got 2 in last night: both 2SS / RS's stickered around $37K. These are the first I think they've had.

First thing 9am this morning, manager via salesman tells me it's no problem- they'll date the paperwork for Wednesday. Latest news is that the program is NOT suspended, just "under review". Off to strip my F-150 down to a rolling chassis with a lawn chair bolted on.... :wink:

>>"...that is quite telling that maybe they didn't do this program right."<< A pack of rabid squirrels could've done better.

So the worry assumedly is: that MORE than 227,500 transactions are 'in the pipeline'. Latest word from the White House is the program is NOT suspended. GD idiots on the hill !! BTW- salesman said RE the program: they hate it. Tons of paperwork, dealership was forced to buy some sort of expensive scanner (for WHAT ??) from the Gov., a total PITA.

The articles make NO sense. Program would fund 250,000 transactions. # approved by "late Wednesday": 22,xxx. That's less than 1/25th of the budget- they're NOT out of money; they just don't have any idea how much they've spent as of 'late Thursday' !! Already angry this included foreign vehicles.... now volcanic.

I was under the impression the primary goal for the C4C was to save oil, not reduce pollutants.

Dangit !! Hope things speed up for you there, C... but as far as the Poncho- it checked all your boxes. Maybe saving it's contact info might be worth it... may not sell and it might be more attractive at a lower price. '61s are pretty bitchin'....

Yeah- similar. Nevermindthat... Bloody Hell !! ; the late newsfeed is the C4C program is suspended ! WTF- can the MFing government run ANYTHING with even a pretense of competency ??? This whole deal may be suspended or off totally- our paperwork was to be finalized tomm. Guess where I'll be a half-hour before opening tomm with clenched fists (not directed at the dealer) ?

Did you spot it this morning, in your barn ???? If you say 'no' to this one, I'm going to need a 1000-word essay on why not.

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/1267028609.html

During car shopping this week, was VERY impressed with the website's interior interface for the LaCrosse- classy & fun at the same time. Hope they are working on the same updates for the Enclave (at least)!

What the hell kind of choice is THAT ?? Hard to believe that with all the experience young folk have had with chinese-made goods that they would consider investing in them at the price level of a new car. I guess more than just about anything, that points to the failure of the modern American educational system.

@ 66stang !!! -- -- -- -- -- '09 Malibu 2LT, 4-cyl, 6-spd w/ TapShift, ebony leather/suede interior, some sort of red jewel metallic, aluminum rims, nicely equipped. Pick-up is Friday- will have some pics by the weekend. Options really aren't in question; the whole 1LS, 1LT, 2LT, etc thing pretty much nails it. MSRP : 25,5xx 'Supplier price' : -500 rebate : -2,000 GM card : -1,900 'Clunker' : -4,500 So, we're looking at $2500 off sticker, decent, right? plus $1900 from my GM card- $4400 off. No other GMs match the MSRP range and get the same MPG (22/30). Aura is roughly $1.5K more. Equinox is 2.5K more and 3MPG less. If I'm over @ the Ford dealer (Fusion did look tight)- kiss the $1900 goodbye. Wife didn't care for anything @ Chrysler/Dodge. We did check into the Challenger/Camaro situation, but their combined MPGs are around 20- a decent way off of 26 and down 3 from the GP. Challenger starts @ $27K, too. Same basic price level for the G8. Back to the figuring: add the $4500 on top and we're @ $16,600 for a brand new Malibu. On top of that, I'm hoping to get $2K privately on the $2600 KBB price for the '03 GP, which makes the 'bu $14,600 (before taxes/fees). Looked at everything in the class online and placing budget & MPG as priorities, there was little other direction to go in.... NOT that I feel that we 'settled' in the least- the car is a eye-catcher in & out, I'm reassured by the reviews & feedback, but the total deal was something we'll never likely see again. As much as I think the C4C bill is misguided & ineffectual... like I stated in the 'what if it doesn't get better' thread; I am out for #1 in these times, and I figure that $4500 is money that has already (or soon will be) been taken from me.

Can I 'be in charge' of the XP list format/thingie ?? I still have my list I compiled over the last few years, and I would like to expand upon it and re-introduce it.

All sewn up, deposit laid down - that didn't take long, did it ??

When men were men and cars were tanks...

Came REAL close to owning a '51 Hudson, tho it was a Pacemaker, not a Hornet. Interesting, but I'd toss a bunch off of there (and fix the mistakes).

My '94 F-150 RC/LB 2WD 300 I-6 was rated at 14/18, with a combined 15MPG. I bought it new and it currently has 146K on it. It's in really great shape physically, except the fenders over the rear wheels are starting to bubble heavily fom the backside. Interior is excellent. I really like this truck, I love the RC/LB proportions, too, and it's been a great truck. Only one of 20 vehicles I've ever bought new. I have not driven it 1000 miles in the last year, however. All that said : KBB says it's trade-in is $513. O'bamament says $4500. Hm-mmm.... And while someone may have crushed a '41 Chevy... it wasn't for the CFC - too old. Same for any Catalina.

We are relatively small in # and spread out quite a ways- I wouldn't guess it'd be effective... but I'd not vote against it.

RE: the Nash- yes; it's primarily a relatively narrow track that allows a deceptive amount of room between the tire & fender. Nash engineering was sound (Unibody in '41, IIRC); obviously they didn't build something that couldn't be driven like any other car.

Had a set of Goodyear Forteras about 5-6 years ago- they weren't bad but they were subject to numerous sidewall buldges that Goodyear called "normal". They wore slightly quicker than my average...

In an unrelated tangent, I recently found some layout sketches for a GM concept book I was thinking of a few years back, and I started putting together some pages on the computer. I have no dreams of getting this published- there have already been a number of books, and I would need to travel to see the cars that survive in person AND dig deep thru GM's archives - I have neither the time, money or connections for that. EDIT :: Quick-n-dirty shot, formatting not complete --

>>"They have a turning radius of what.... 900 feet? "<< You KNOW I went right to my files with even a rhetorical '50s question. :wink: Found a spec for a '50 Ambassador (same wheelbase : 121"); turning radius : 21.17'. For comparison, 121" wheelbase '50 Buick Special : 19.75'. If the numbers look weird : different publications/sources/eras use turning radius vs. turning diameter. T radius is the 'circle the tires would make in snow', so to speak, while T diameter is the 'width between alleyway walls you need to do a 360' (so to speak). In other words :: radius= tires, diameter= whole car.

More than that: dome lamp switch & VIN plate: painted over, hood hinges: painted body color, and non-factory battery. Something looks wrong with the upholstery, too (center vinyl looks too wide for one). What are you seeing with the carpet, BP? Not huge, but if you're going to trot out "$60K spent"... $34.5K is pretty damned high here- it's have to be 100% factory original, and even then, $25K is closer to it for an Invicta hardtop. I'd buy it in a second if I had the money to spare.

>>"...but yeah, no significant differences."<< Not taking away anything here... but, IMO: lameness. Not in the hardware/styling, but in that GMC didn't expend any effort here whatsoever. Still cool.