caddycruiser

Yep, pretty much like it's always been then :AH-HA_wink:

It does look a little odd in the regard, but the Crown Vic interior is worse from an ergonomics perspective. The Charger's materials are cheap, no doubt, but still assembled well and very, very solid. But odd looking, yes. Still, as far as police vehicles go, there's NO other worthwhile choice anymore but this car. The Crown Vics are still cheap and solid oldster's, but slow and really inefficient space-wise. The Impala is efficient but that's about it...otherwise, it's a pathetic police car, particilarly in heavy duty cases. Around where we live, it's been nothing but new Crown Vics forever as well as some Durangos, so I'll be interested to see if they ever buy any Chargers. One interesting note...the 3.5L V6 Dodge's are faster AND more efficient than the doggish Ford V8's. And the Hemi, well, that's just one car you don't want to try and outrun...

Still a big Caprice 9C1 fan, this car REALLY gets me : http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-Dodge-...bayphotohosting Not a luxury model, for sure, but a lot of beefed up suspension and cooling bits, with a Hemi under the hood...mmm... It's a '96 Caprice LT1 9C1 brought 10 years into the future

I hated some of the last gen no-cladding ones, mainly when the side molding/wheel flare option wasn't ordered...those just REALLY look like some kind of a stripped model, and very cheap. Cleaner yes, but plain and very slab sided, yes too. The new '07+ models, though, look terrific since they were designed from the start devoid of cladding and stripping it away wasn't an afterthought. Actually, we all like the looks so much, a new Av has been added to the list of future vehicles that may replace the Suburban. To quote my mother exactly, a few weeks ago: "The Suburban is really nice, I know, and really roomy, but it can be a bit bulky too. And though I enjoy it, I still really LOVED the Avalanche. Some day I want another one--and those new ones are really beautiful." But back to the topic at hand, I'm interested to see what the Z71 trim (if and when it does arrive) brings to the party, especially since it was the most popular option/trim throughout the run of the last gen.

Well what front end were you thinking of? That's pretty much the only one they used on GMC's throughout the 90's...

As much as I too like the cladding, it's been said umpteen times that it will NOT EVER be coming back. So just forget it. But here's what was said about the Z71 Tahoe, which I assume would be very much like the Z71 Avalanche: With the Avalanche, the Z71 model (or dress up, if you want to think of it that way), was the most popular iteration, so I can't imagine it going away...but, there's always that possibility.

Still, wow, looks like that truck has improved a LOT since you bought it!

Really? I think this looks pretty good, at least over that old style:

A friend and co-worker of my mother who has owned nothing but VW's for a while now replaced her '99 Passat GLS V6 (which was trouble-free for 90k miles) with an "old" '05 Jetta TDI last summer. It was one of the last of last gen models built, gold over light beige leather. I hate gold, but this is one of the only cars that actually looks even better in the shade. But, beyond that, she loves it and gave me the keys once to "take it out for a spin" and I fell in love. The VW solidity and refinement were clear throughout, and even though the TDI doesn't purr silently like a Toyo V6 (just for example), neither the noise or the feel were objectionable at all. Just feels and runs like it could pull stumps out of the ground all day long, and sip diesel in the process. And I'm not sure if it's something in specific diesel mixtures, but in the year that she's had it, I've NEVER seen that black build-up in the exhaust pipe area--and she doesn't wash it that often, so it would be easy to see if it was there. Though sometimes VW does have some reliability bugs, the cars drive like a dream and are generally built beautifully, and have always been some of my favorites. Even mom, someone who absolutely positively despises the general "diesel sound" thinks the Jetta is really cool, if a little small for her, and seriously is thinking of a VW--mainly a diesel Beetle--replacing her Suburban in a couple of years once it's just her, my dad, and the dogs. Having a cool looking car with gas mileage 3+ times what she gets now certainly is enticing, even if you can't carry 8 people and their crap...

That takes a LOT more work, painting, etc., and doesn't look "normal" since they never made them. I agree with scharmer05 again, that if it were mine, a simple grille and light swap out from a newer model would look great and be very easy to do

I agree. It does have a lot of generally nice touches, like SOME of the dash and door materials, the headliner/pillars, and the soft leather, but that HUGE black rectangle in the center of the dash (which, somehow, doesn't even have buttons on it from any other GM vehicle...and that's not a good thing...) looks so awful, and there are still a few cheap touches right beside some of the okay ones elsewhere. It is assembled solidly, that is true, just as are most GM vehicles, but just is not at all impressive and parts like that huge flat black area just look out of place and more prototype-tester than anything. Not to mention the lack of room. A nice car, but nothing great, and REALLY dopey looking in typical CX'd hubcap guise. A loaded black CXS is quite striking, though, somehow...hmm...

Yes, I agree. Simple to do, but would make the truck look a whole lot better and newer!

Well, yeah, see but that's not possible without some MAJOR re-engineering. I think they realized how great a feature that was and how nice the seat itself is in the Expedition/Navigator, but with keeping the solid rear axle, GM couldn't do that. Hence, they took the "coolness" of a power fold seat and put it on the middle row where it's fun, but not particularly useful. The 3rd row is and always has been my mother's biggest complaint with her Suburban, and that was the first thing she asked me about if it had been changed when I showed her the new ones...followed by the power liftgate. At least the seat is now split so a single person can remove the pieces (and not 2 people, even though I usually lug it out myself) and they DID add a power liftgate. Pretty much every SUV out there now has a flat folding 3rd row though, even the shorter Durango with a solid rear axle, so that is one area I still think GM could have done a LOT better with...even if it meant coming up with something no one had done before.

Just be patient...they said all along that the XL Yukons would come later, and that stayed true. It will surely be worth the wait :AH-HA_wink:

GM usually offers the upgrade kit for EVERY new vehicle, because all of them have radios already set up for XM...you just need the actual sat. radio module and antenna plugged in (and the service activated) for it to work. Not sure why your dealer is so dumbfounded, as this is usually common knowledge at any GM place...and really pretty easy to do. There's always aftermarket sat. radio parts too, just as posted above by reeferman, and that is the EXACT same kit...probably for less.

Not really. It's been MASSIVELY improved over the years, but still feels sloppier built and the interior is cheaper. Has a lot of the newer refinements from the Cobalt, but still quite different overall.

Yeah, and there have already been some "teething" issues with that one. Lots of good ones and thrilled owners, but not all perfect like you'd be tempted to believe.

No, not exactly. That's the real owner. Read a little more through that forum, if you ever get a chance, and you'll see what I mean with some other people (and they aren't kids either). Yes, not to stereotype or anything, but that kind of language kind of fits with this "crowd" of rich but don't come across as overly intelligent crowd...scary, but true, as I've met quite a few of them

Yeah, he comes off as a bit of an odd ball, but trust me, he's a real person with a real car. Strangely enough, out of everyone on that board, it's the ones with the most expensive cars and the highest number of them that have the worst grammar and come off with some of the strangest comments...draw your own conclusions on that one

Yep, that sounds right. From what I've seen, dealers are focusing most of their orders on full-boat, 4wd models just like with the last gen. I guess that's what sells the most, though...even if they are pretty pricey.

Yes, that forum is my second home before this one, and from everything I've seen and read, his issue is very minor, but since it's such an expensive vehicle, GM is trying their best to COMPLETELY remedy the bug and find out what happened. Still, kinda bad that your new 100k Caddy needs (okay, well doesn't need, but is having) the engine replaced with 16 miles on the odometer. He is definately in the minority, if not alone, on the issue front. Every other -V owner seems to be enamored, and the ones who stepped up from non-V regular models can't believe how the -V just seems like a completely different and much more refined car.

Huh? How about we say, instead, a ton of people out there looking for the ultimate in style and performance, but with a pricetag they can actually afford? That sounds a little more accurate to me... The rapper crowd and their friends are just one little segment of 300 lovers.

Yeah, I just noticed that too. A long and convoluted intake is a typical OEM factory thing, due to overly cautious noise and air intake standards, but that one does look a little more insane than usual. Can you imagine the difference with just a little short pipe and then cone filter on the driver's side only? I imagine a lot of owner's have already done something similar...

1) '04 Suburban...32k miles from new, the highest mom has gotten in any of her last 3 vehicles before ditching them. Has had several warranty-covered bugs over the past 2 years, all minor, but still wondering about this one past 36k. 2) '92 Roadmaster...195k miles now, bought with 183k. So MUCH is original and like new, this thing is unbelievable. Runs like a beast and looks like a well-kept 60k mile car. 3) '93 Fleetwood...106k miles now, bought with 88k. More stuff replaced/fixed than the Roadmaster, but your classic example of the dealer pampered old guy's car. 4) '95 Fleetwood...117k miles now, just what I bought it with back in January. Beautiful shape, and clearly nicer than the '93 (which I thought was immaculate as is), but I ran into some troubles last month and after a $1500 repair bill, is like new again. Now just need to get the A/C repaired and cool again, and it should all be well for a long time.

There's been a few on Ebay so far, with this being the latest: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/G6-CONVERTI...1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-Pontia...1QQcmdZViewItem Looks pretty good, and I'd have to rate them in this order now, in terms of best looking: 1) coupe 2) convertible . . . . . . . 4) sedan...sorry, but it has to be one of the worst proportioned but also boring designs in a while...just doesn't look right