vonVeezelsnider

I "heart" Citroen.

Oh this is going to be a good week! The Schadenfreude meter is just getting warmed up here.

Today my dad purchased a 2009 Impala LS in Slate Metallic, which will arrive on Thursday. It's the one I mentioned in the start of my previous thread. It's equipped much like my 2007 Impala, with Ebony Cloth buckets, OnStar, XM, Leather wheel, Folding Seat, 16" Alloys and Spoiler, but in addition this one also has Bluetooth and the now standard Dual-Zone climate control. Currently has 17000km (10500mi) on it and is less than a year since manufacture (mid-March 2009). Since it was built before the bankruptcy so this is probably the newest vehicle we'll ever have that was made by General Motors Corporation versus General Motors Company LLC. That being said there might soon be a departure from the fleet as well. Never a vehicle that my parents have had a very loving opinion of, the Cobalt may be leaving soon. As some of you may know my younger brother turns sixteen early in June and will start driving. My parents have the intention of paying for his insurance for the first couple years he's driving as they did for me, and for the life of me I don't know how they didn't see this coming. Again, as some may be aware, my insurance on the Cavalier was about 4100$ when my parents were paying, but maybe my dad wasn't paying attention (my mom was), when I got the G5, and continuing through the Cobalt I've paid 5700 one year, 5500 the next, and this full year on the Cobalt would have been 5300. Bearing in mind I don't have any points, tickets or accidents to my name. Imagine my parent's surprise when they saw the insurance lady today to adjust the policies to put my bro on the Cobalt and were quoted a number that my mom was coy about, but was described as "well in excess of 6000 dollars". It would appear that my dad, while he wants to help my bro out, doesn't want to pay that much insurance for a car that he labels "a dog". On the Impala this year I paid approx 4000$, the insurance company says this is because of the demographic who drives them and the fact that they are less likely to be in accidents and cheaper to repair. Insurance lady says off the record that to reduce the rate they could get a bigger car made after 2000 but before say 2007 and would pay much closer to what I pay on the Impala. My dad is taking the recent Cobalt maintenance woes (which continue) as an omen of how it will be in the long run and now isn't so red hot on keeping it. My mom has already decided that she supports the idea of getting rid of it and wants me to help her act as a 'search committee' for a reasonable car to buy in its stead. The insurance company said that almost all larger GM cars (bigger than N-Body) are much cheaper and more in line with what I pay. Of that list obviously the car has to have less than 100k km (60k mi) and be priced around or less than 10k$. We haven't talked to my brother besides dropping subtle hints to my brother to see what kind of car he would want but ultimately he said he doesn't care what he gets to drive as long as it's not 'foreign'. The choices would pretty much be limited to GM-only as my dad will only consider that, but my mom and I entertain Ford as an option as well. My ultimate selfish wish would be to find one of the post-Northstar headgasket fix G-Body Devilles but with my brother being a new driver maybe it's too much car for him in terms of power (size wise I think it's fine as he did a great deal of his learning to drive on the 07 Impala). I understand that after the engine revisions of 2003 the Deville was almost bulletproof and it's not like I won't be around to make sure the Northstar is maintained properly. He's like me, not a typical teenager who abuses stuff. He has an active interest in cars if not quite as deep as mine, so I don't think I would be worried about him beating the $h! out of anything we buy. I've made a preliminary list of possibilities but could use some input on it from you guys, maybe on your suggestions on pros/cons. PROBABLY OUT: 2001-03 Olds Aurora (Reliability Woes) 2000-02 F-Body (he loves these, but insurance wise it defeats the purpose doesn't it?) 2000-04 J-Body (Never Again) 2000-03 Grand AM and Alero with the 3.4L V6 2000-05 Impala with the 3.4L V6 2003-07 Saturn ION (might make my brother kill himself; rattles; bad ergonomics) 2000-05 U-Body (safety) 2005-07 U-Body (reliability) 2000-07 Crown Vic/Marquis (my dad doesn't like them, never has) CONSIDERATIONS: 2000-05 Bonneville, Naturally Aspirated 3800 2004-07 Grand Prix, Naturally Aspirated 3800 2000-05 LeSabre 2000-05 Park Avenue, Naturally Aspirated 3800 2005-07 Allure, 3800 2003-05 Deville V8 (I actually checked and this is about in line with the non-Supercharged V6s to insure; ditto for the Seville) 2000-05 Regal LS 2000-05 Century 2000-05 Impala, 3800 2000-06 Taurus 2006-07 Fusion

the fair comparison would be between the MKS and DTS but that wouldn't change my vote for the Cadillac I've driven the MKS and it does not drive as nice as the DTS or the CTS. Bad axle hop over bumps and a generally unsettled and somewhat schizophrenic ride and handling characteristics. The DTS is smooth and pretty much unflappable (near perfection in the ride dept, not even torque steer worth mentioning) and the CTS is way better in the corners.

IDK about the V8, do u really want a vehicle with lower fuel economy than your FWB?

On the Impala: "Wow, look at the wood in here! It's like liquor cabinet meets humidor."

I don't know what it is with some of my friends but they do view me as a shill for Ford and GM and therefore frequently simply dismiss me and refer to me as "out of touch", "misled", "old as Eisenhower" etc, but every once in a while they say some stupid $h! about the auto industry, the sorta stuff I just ignore and not make any sort of an issue out of but secretly wish I got on tape. One friend spent like three weeks absolutely castigating GM for closing Oshawa Truck assembly after taking a grant from the federal government (which was intended for the Flex line at Oshawa Car FYI). Said that Toyota would never do that, and inferred that the manufacturing was being moved to China (don't know where he heard that). Said that Honda and Toyota were more "domestic" than GM/Ford/Chrysler and that the Canadian government should have fined GM for what they did. I informed him that the plant was closed because as the result of demand for trucks/SUVs dropping off due to the price of oil and asked him whether a company should be a charity or if it should at least make an attempt to react to market forces. To be fair he and I often have a respectful clash of ideals, since I'm a fiscal conservative Finance major and he's a big idea big government Poli-Sci major.

Watched this commercial on TV a while back and my friends in the room accused GM of lying. So I pulled up Fueleconomy.gov and showed them that Cobalt vs. Civic, Malibu vs. Accord, Pilot vs. Traverse, Equinox vs. CRV are all better. My friends basically said that they shouldn't advertise on being better but within a 'margin of error'. The logic doesn't even make sense with some people. They said, and I quote, "Honda has better fuel economy than Chevy because the Chevys don't beat the Hondas by a substantial margin". The perception that GM sucks is going to be hard to break because people have had this ingrained into their minds forever.

Good to hear, there's nothing more rewarding than accepting a challenge and making a car like that not only better, but your own!

Why I voted Chevrolet- Cruze, Camaro, Orlando, Malibu, Equinox, Impala Buick- Regal, LaCrosse Cadillac- DTS, CTS Ford- Focus, Fusion, Mustang, Taurus Lincoln- MKZ, MKS

Six inches last night.

With these numbers also bear in mind that the bulk of Chevy Truck production was missed in Mexico and Canada as well as the Oshawa plant which at the time was plugging out Centuries, Regals, Impalas and Monte Carlos but not Pontiacs. Bear in mind that the Buick numbers do not include Century or Regal so they probably outsold Olds all told.

Still waiting as the car will be there overnight. They didn't have all the parts in stock and will have to overnight half of them from the Western-Canada parts warehouse in Edmonton. Yeah they went through everything with a fine tooth comb- I have a good dealer and they have a good service dept. The people there know me and know I expect perfection and to not be yanked around. They're pretty thorough, all that stuff should address almost all the issues. Might have to go back another day to get rid of the rest of the housekeeping issues. Occasionally the hood rattles a bit on cold idle and the adhesive they used to glue my GM Aftermarket iPod interface into place has melted due to proximity to the fan. I'll have them look at that at the next oil change but seeing as I won't be driving it daily anymore it really doesn't matter. As for the Malibu, I've narrowed the sounds to trim rattles behind the back seat on either side, as well as in the dome light due to its adhesive melting as well. Who could forget the all familiar rattle coming from the rear skylight. I'm certain the ISS has gone for the second time during our ownership and I think there's something up with the struts too. Since there's a 100$ deductible on the GMPP extended warranty I have to save up a whole bunch of issues to justify taking it in. I think I'll take it in soon as on top of that it's developed a hot crank issue like Tony had on his G6 back when, have them address it all at once.

Nope go for the Torrent. From my experience they're roomier than the GMT360s as well.

UPDATE: So I had the Cobalt in today and the following needed to be replaced Rear Driver's Door wiring harness Turn Signal Assembly Blower Motor Interior door panel fasteners for front doors Steering Column

This is a mistake...

I just don't like that Orange colour... the Copper colour I'd be okay with but it's just too bold IMO. Also the 4WD is a must. Also have you thought about an older Escalade EXT... bigger engine?

Yeah working on the pricing, if it doesn't work out with the Slate Metallic Impala we're also looking at this navy coloured one at another dealer...

Fuel economy not withstanding I prefer the GMT-900 vehicles over the Lambdas any day of the week.

Can't do much better than a DTS... Also the wheels on this Cruze aren't as aesthetically pleasing as those on the LAIAS car.

Thanks for fighting the good fight and be safe out there!

Might be more useful to find an outfit that digitized microfiche and make it available that way.

Well obviously off the bad you'd have to contend with the 3.4L V6 but otherwise it's fine. Try and look for one that came with the 3.5L or 3.6L V6 instead.

Any traction control software that only involves retarding engine power and not brake application is useless. The Malibu and Cobalt have that sort of system and often it's more of a hindrance than a help. The Impala has a Bosch 4-wheel traction control system that incorporates braking and some other factors and it works just fine.