caddycruiser

ocnblu: Your last 2 posts = I LOVE YOU! Speaks just of the truth, and are exactly words that could come out of my mouth. VW, even with problems, has continued to put out a line of vehicles that are just stellar, particularly so amongst a US market--overseas, they may be "Chevys", but here they're vaunted and for good reason. Your description of a Rabbit, for instance, is just one of those. And the same for the G8. Structure, drivetrain, performance, and refinement are there and should be sublime. But, agreeably, the styling is still quite like the problematic GTO was, even if that wasn't it's biggest problem. Hopefully, it sells just for that drive quality and the total package, and there doesn't start another debate of "Oooh, it's just another bland looking Aussie car." Most of us know here, it really isn't, but people are used to garish anymore. At least it should exude quality like we still haven't seen 100% from a lot of domestic lines.

Agreed. While I actually semi-like the more expressive front fascia, the rest takes a very clean, pure design and just glues stuff on--that teen-driving Scion wing, tne the aftermarket catalog rear bumper humps. So, maybe just that face and a smaller, more fitting spoiler would be great, but otherwise, the pure svelteness of the last GT/GTP coupe should have stayed. It's like catering to the "stereotypical" Pontiac crowd now, the ones who liked Grand Ams and glued things on them.

VERY cool. Already surpassed by a new model, but a great car nonetheless--and they have been offering nice leases for a while now.

Correct. Now that's not to say they can't work out a lease completely different than the "deal" advertised, and have the right payment, but things would all have to be on the same page. And as far as putting more down, yes, that will reduce the cap. cost they're ultimately making payments on (i.e. lower payments the more you put down), but FEW people ever put down money on a lease--because it's just a waste, and you never get it back. It's either you pay higher payments or you pay that chunk up front and make the next payments lower. I think Roger (has an Envoy, a Sky, and a new Aura XE) leased his Aura, so hopefully he'll see this and check in soon.

Many of these have already been sold nationwide, people have put in a lot of orders, and there's several new '08 owners online commenting on their cars and sharing pictures. Here's a great example of another online home of mine: http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadil...um-2008-beyond/ The real-world driveway pictures make the new proportions even more amazing, and the interior...just, speechless...FINALLY!

I just looked at one at the local dealer, and actually liked it. A BIG reason why is the combo they ordered--a FWD Torrent GXP in white with tan cloth, and the sunroof/stereo package. Don't expect the cloth to be the most common, but it's always my favorite if a choice, and the white/tan/polished wheels really lended themselves to a sport model. Really liked the shaved roof rack, as well. Hope you get it soon, and enjoy--the 3.6L/6-speed alone should be enough to overcome any downfalls of the Equinox/Torrent (i.e. still fairly cheap interior, particularly vs. the Vue). They look fantastic

Yes, TL specifically, they're usually great cars and fun to drive. BUT, people have had common bugs since the redesign--despite the initial impression, rattles and squeaks were quite common, as were a few random mechanical noises. Still, not everyone has issues, but there are some things that are just "typical" in regards to online owner's boards (i.e. "my new one doesn't have any rattles", etc.). They're still fantastic, and I know a few colleagues with nothing but joy in regards to theirs. But, they too can have bugs, even from a "vaunted" automaker.

You know, on the trans choices, they were manual only at first, which did limit (well, if you could call it that) the buyer base. Then when they added the auto, there as always was a HUGE influx of people who had either no desire for or just can't drive a stick, who got the auto. Dealers I've seen still seem to get a mix, but based on typical customer want alone, it's the Auto cars that are always in demand--Turbo cars especially, where people get the extra boost but can still just put it in Drive and go. They HAVE definitely seemed to get more bloated in options and pricing, though. Of course, with time, some of that is just that GM is offering more choices in things, but at the same time, though you could easily find a mid 20's Solstice when they first came out, now 97% of them seem to be the $28-32k variety with every single option box checked. Again, a lot of it is demand (people buying an impulse car like this usually just want everything), so a dealer wouldn't just stock crank windowed, no A/C, stick cars just because...

True, oddly enough. For a while there, I never saw either at any dealer--they'd get them, but they'd either be special orders or just sold away immediately. Then with time, I still have never seen a Sky on the lot either in PA or at home, but in the past few months now see Solstices sitting on dealer lots. Noticed it immediately when the GM dealer at home, who has like 1 Vette a year, if that, let alone Solstices, now had 2 sitting side by side out in front of the lot. That's NOT to say the Solstice is now a slow seller--very far from it--but just that supply/demand has finally settled out more, while the Sky still seems to be an instant disappearer, likely a combination of looks and the whole "Saturn experience". It's still odd though, given that the supply of each does seem somewhat equaled out, yet there's far less "just went to the dealer and bought Sky sitting there" than there is with the Solstice.

Interesting question, but at the same time...the PT is NOT on the Neon's chassis. People have said this continually since intro, and despite Chrysler's constant reminding that it shares some front suspension pieces and minute dimensions with the Neon, the rest was unique. This is also why the PT is still one of the most solid and refined little cars, despite being 7 years old, still in fact very current in terms of finishing and dynamics. Not that they couldn't take the Caliber platform and take it to the same level, but we've yet to see a vehicle on that platform that's very overwhelming in terms of solidity and refinement--more like the hollow tin can feel instead. And still beyond that, like has been said, the PT's time is limited anyway and it's really gone haywire lately with just paint and trim packages to keep it updated, so who knows what and when Chrysler will do anything with it significant. No rush, as it's still better to drive and better built than it's newer cousins--they at least got that right.

Not very different from the current one all together, and actually if you take a look at the side, it almost looks even more like an exact replica of the current Toyota Matrix version with the plumper, curvier sheetmetal, just with Pontiac cues stuck on. Sort of an odd fit for what's supposed to be the "new" Pontiac, but they were (and still are?) popular small vehicles. At least a ton of retirees around here buy them in droves, which is the same with PT's, Scions, and the like. As long as it's more refined than the current one with stronger performance (no more of that high winding, but no power elsewhere known to the top trim sport models) for daily use, they should do well. I guess.

EXACTLY what I'm wondering. Another Acadia/Outlook in overall body, but with a Chevy fascia and rear detail touches, or more thoroughly different? One can assume the interior is of its own, as the 3 so far are each unique, but we'll see.

Because of your love of VW...and mine...I suggest a 2008 Jetta/etc. TDI with the new TDI engine, if you can push out that long. Here's one, for show, right here: http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/auto...ws/4218116.html You could always just get a 2006 Jetta TDI, which they actually made a stockpile of because of having to stop the TDI production with '06s, and there's still some new ones to be found. They're fantastic cars, not boaty, but not midgets, built very well, and the TDI...well, that's just self explanatory.

Agreed. The current car has a taut, crispness to it where this car has a similar theme, but as if someone blew into the tailpipe and bulged it out in spaces. Kinda bloated, and with an apparently not as elegant rear...I'm thinking Camry/BMW. But, I'll wait and see until camo is gone, etc., for a full review. One thing, though, if the interior is really better (i.e., current car not bad, but still not where it should be, even compared to other GM's), that would be a big improvement. That, and whatever happens to the powertrains.

Exactly...which just makes this all the more baffling. Either there's something else obvious that's exacerbating the situation (no idea what), or it REALLY is just ingesting something burning off the road that then really makes a fire. If the latter is the case, there's a lot of other cars you'd think it might happen to, but...just weird...

All sounds very normal to me. Though a lot of us would still love to see a Sixteen and a Velite to really further energize Buick and Cadillac, at this point, it's all about re-focusing as much as possible to efficiency coupled with passionate cars--not just overt luxury and style, and typical efficiency. So, it was only to be expected that priorities would go else where--they had to. Oh, and I am SO GLAD to hear it come from a "big" mouth within GM that the lowly Bel Air concept, well, thing, isn't in the cards. Not only would it be a waste of resources right now and probably not ever do well as far as sales, but it just did NOT have the looks or any passion to do much. I've seen it in person twice, and in tons of pictures, and it always just seemed like a drab, flat box turned into a convertible and given a bad nose job. ^^That was the positive news part for me. Otherwise, just be realistic. GM is a company, like any other, and when it comes to what gets developed and what doesn't, funds HAVE to be spread out to the areas that are of utmost importance, leaving pipe dreams either on the back burner or canceled. Just how it works.

That's what I'm thinking, but I can't remember what was said about it now...probably the only choice, aside from underneath like the rest of the big GMT's, which probably isn't a good Hummer idea.

True, except for the big issue of price--that's the lingering compromise here. Another huge reason why so many current "green" or simply Hybrid cars are so popular is because of the mostly "normal" car pricetag...add that same technology to big ute's that, while nice, are already in the upper echelon of daily use vehicle's pricing, and you start hitting new peaks like the new Lexus LS Hybrid. A fantastic car coupled with fantastic technology, but really only for a limited market of very well off buyers. Then again, they all seem to want to be as green as everybody, so rather than stick it out in a Prius or what have you, now they won't feel as guilty cruising in an Escalade. The pity is, you just won't see the normal Tahoe LS/LT driving soccer mom or guy getting that same benefit...it's out of their range. So, this time, you REALLY have to spend to get that increase, so it's negated even more than when people do a cost comparison over time of something like a regular Civic vs. a Hybrid Civic. I'm anxious to see how it all pans out.

Well, inside, an H2 is really very much the same as a Tahoe/Yukon, vehicles themselves that are known for having a 3rd row and they sell 95% of them with one. With the H2 before, they just put the one half of the seat in (literally, it was just the one piece of a Tahoe seat) and the other side had the spare. It's the same now, they just actually put both halves in. Not to say it's a comfortable place in either an H2 or a Tahoe/Yukon, with their live axle creating a cushion AND feet on the same floor setup (i.e., kiss your knees), but people have been buying them like that for years. Otherwise, the popularity of the H2 has sunk year after year, but finally giving it a worthy interior and stronger powertrain are two key upgrades that could at least spark some new interest and trade-in's of older ones.

Yeah, the Escalade and the other big GM ute's, plus the Silverado, as 2-mode Hybrids have been known for a while. A person on GMI, I believe who works with a GM connected company, just made a post a few days ago about seeing the whole clan and some GM engineers, and being able to drive the Escalade Hybrid: They sound interesting and well done...even with the issue that they're already high priced vehicles to begin with, and the Hybrid items are only going to spring them up further (i.e., lots of high rollers and celebrity territory).

Yes, cool car, and if you look at my sig...well, I'm "familiar" With a lot of miles, and who knows what kind of use, the trans is often a thing to go on these LT1 cars, but there's a few aftermarket sources for 4L60E replacement with costs right in line with the typical and internals set up to NEVER have another issue--CPT (Carolina Performance Transmissions, being the most highly regarded). Otherwise, don't jump on the "Optispark is crap" phenomena so soon. Granted, it is a pain in the arse to work on, just based on the location, but in a properly maintained car, they've been known to last longer than a typical distributor setup and go without issue. Case in point, I know one guy in particular with a '94 Fleetwood LT1 that went well over 330k miles (bought it new) and his original Optispark was still untouched. That's not the typical, but just about everyone gets to a bare minimum of 150k+ before ever needing to touch it. I'm at 126k on my '95, and am in need of a light tune up at the moment, but otherwise it's still Lexus smooth and runs and idles MUCH smoother and quieter than even our '04 Suburban 5.3L--when my mother borrowed it once, for example, it freaked her out how there was NO sound and NO vibration whatsoever at a red light, compared to the typical rumble and vibe of her stock truck. The LT1 is just an incredible piece, and there's so many bolt-ons and reprogramming choices (like my custom air intake and custom tuned transmission and other parameters, at the moment), it can really be tailored to whatever you prefer--and is always a beast. Once all is in order, trans and whatever else, it's still astounding how these big old clunky B&D bodies are so smooth and so powerful, and go about their business still like a modern luxury performance car. And heck, even with a lot of issues, you can't beat $412 for a '94 If you haven't already, here's a mecca for these cars if you haven't already found it: http://impalassforum.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php The wagon group is huge, and ever growing, and there's always something like the new yearly trip to the B body wagon master in NY, going on.

Yep, been doing free trials from time to time over the past couple of years, with both XM and Sirius. Finally broke down today and ordered myself a Sirius unit for the car--then I'll finally have something worthwhile to listen to in the car, and online. Can't wait.

Yeah, I just didn't make it, at least not yet. My brother was down there all day Thursday, but that's about it.

Cool! Being semi close to that, I've always wished I could see it inside and up close.

FANTASTIC choice, and the Aura is a great transition from the Intrigue. Sort of, almost, what that car could have been, had Oldsmobile still been around and had the budget to properly execute something. The XR, in particular, with the 3.6L and 6-speed does just sing, and is a beast at the same time.