caddycruiser

Hah! YouTube and owner forums...they'll do it to you...my post-G8 credit card charges every month could write a book about it. "I need that too..."

The Michelins are terrific. Look great, ride great, silent as could be, and the reputation--especially of the LTX series--speaks for itself. Honestly, they're "stiffer" touring treads than the stock A/T Bridgestones the truck came with and can be a little sharper over some bumps, but they've also eliminated some extra wiggle the truck had with those big lugged treads. Handles & rides better overall. Didn't, however, despite a 3rd balance check (and this time 100% correctly at an independent shop, not the local dealer who made a mess last time), solve the truck's vibration issue. But at least verified it isn't the tires afterall. Made it quieter, smoother in a crisper way, and it gets slightly better gas mileage, so I'm pleased. Also happy knowing they'll last a long time. I considered a few of the latest GY truck tires too, but wasn't sure given some reviews complaining about a heavy feel, gas mileage drop and/or traction issues. Probably 2nd in line to the Michelins when I was checking, but it depends specifically what you're looking for or past tire experience you've had. Last Michelin's I had were on my Fleetwood, glad I tried them again. Seem to be the most "have it all" of any I exhaustively checked into.

Awesome. Amazing the difference a few exact accessories make to an already great looking truck.

Saw the same car, same color, yesterday, crossing paths with me on the road. Jersey tags, older couple inside, just cruising along. Such a luxury piece Black '07+ Avalanche Z71 glimpse yesterday, passing down the street. Nice. Later driving down Rt. 1, a Diamond White Avalanche LTZ pulled onto the road beside me, lady driving. Nice. Later, another one, identical, ended up beside me, guy eyed me, I nodded back. Av nod Opal White '10 Lacrosse CXL cruising through Rehoboth. Looked like a piece of art rolling in the sun, amidst the Camry's, robo-ccord's, and dime a dozen Benz's.

Dealer name please? I will report them. Seriously.

Parked beside a blue base model Lincoln MKT at the liquor store today. All stock, aside from a nasty green & silver pinstripe...cue old guy... By the time I came out, I saw the driver's door open & the apparent owner showing it, an older guy who just got out of a Grand Marquis quizzing him about everything, and then an older lady walking from it with a big smile. She passed me, said "did you see that new Lincoln? It's absolutely beautiful. But $45k!" I just smiled back and said, yep, but it is a Lincoln, so... Interesting encounter I never expected. My big white still temp tagged Avalanche right next to it didn't get a blink from the oldies;-)

I like. In many ways.

Maroon '95/96 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, all stock and great shape, Vogue tires on the factory chrome wheels. Roared forward, ahh, LT1. On the road south, a black 2LT/RS Camaro blacked out a bit more with emblems and such. Menacing. Love watching these things go down the road, even our own.

NICE choice Said it with the Lambda's and it holds true again...I hope to god the "stuff" that makes the Equinox/Terrain so good shows up in the line of crap cars soon, Chevy specifically. Buick is a good example with Enclave followed by Lacrosse & Regal. Now if only GM had a Chevy sedan (Malibu is still a damn good car, not perfect, but better than a lot in the class) people would abandon their crap Camry's and such for, as readily. This '10 Theta "changeover" wooing import and other buyers galore is something to follow up, period.

After a day of work, and driving the Avalanche...I see the pictures above again and...seriously?

Followed this black '88 Chevy crew cab truck home. Don't see too many of this era lately, especially crew cabs or diesels, and the 6.2L badge caught my eye. For Sale sign in the back window said '88, 75k miles, 6.2L, and $5,000.

I still can't get over Toyota-philes whole will drive cars like the above, say they're better than anything, and then nitpick how "this cheap piece of plastic kept bothering me...what a piece of crap..." if they get in a new GM, Ford, etc. Sure. Sign yourself up for a fully loaded new Avalon, the last/current gen of which made a name for itself with throttle lag and surging transmissions, rattles galore from the Chinese garage spec interior, and so on. But yeah, it's a Toyota, so it's gold. Seriously. Still find it funny a dealer sat & took pictures of a car with the sunroof trim hanging off & just went with it, but then again, compared to the rest of the car, might not have been the biggest issue.

Procrastinating doing work for work, and on Carmax since they take multiple pictures of every new vehicle on their lots. Thought I'd check out a new Avalon... ...not sure why... ...just curious. What do I see? Scrooling through, first confirmed how literally this "all new" Avalon really is the same old car since '05, but with some chrome trim, a few different mold shapes on the plastic, and yep, same "okay then..." build quality these have been known for in the past few years. Not the greatest. Admittedly, it's a small piece, and not uncommon. But a brand new $36k Avalon Limited, dealer taking pictures, and they snap one of the sunroof with the trim ring inside hanging off. Then I look at the center console...charcoal silver painted panels that open...and don't line up...all surrounded by just the cheapest of cheap, dull fake plood & all. Seriously. Seriously? Toyota of today reminds me, in build quality and "lack of care put into the design" of GM many years ago. And I thought me nitpicking how the center console to center stack joint in a '08 Malibu always being a little off was something. Not. At all. http://www.carmax.com/enUS/view-car/default.html?AVi=0&id=6446881&N=68+4294967007+4294966673&Ne=4&D=90&zip=19966&pD=0&pI=0&pT=400&pC=200&pB=0&No=0&Ep=homepage:homepage%20Make&Rp=R&PP=20&sV=List&CD=662+14+240+190+398+9&Q=933bbba3-240c-4dca-9814-13402d70547b Lacrosse anyone? It's a wowza, in a different level all together. Hell, even a base Taurus has 10x more thought put into it than this.

Agreed. The one I saw Thursday with 17" chrome wheels looked much more fitting. The Hummer wheel setup looks like something someone did after the fact. Too Hummer, big, shiny, but yeah, something is off.

The luggy Bridgestones that came standard on my Z71 Av and that I got rid of, were known for rocketing every little bit of anything down the sides. Ping, ping, dong, boom, chip. Thankfully I kept it to a minimum, the truck has painted flares but still, and every front side section is wrapped in 3M clear protection. Now that those tires are gone, I've already been happy with the complete lack of "ping ping" leaving a gravel driveway or otherwise. A truck is a truck, but when new and expensive, it's nice to keep some paint intact. Good choice in the flares and flaps, hope they're on soon. I've been debating flaps for the Av because of things that still do spray a bit, but just don't like the look...they'll be fitting on a Colorado, however. Thursday I was driving home and saw a new '10 navy blue Colorado Z71 crew cab turn onto the road in front of me. Nice looker, really nice, with the 17" chromes. Looking around, I then started seeing some late builds they're putting leftover 18" chrome Hummer H3 wheels on as an option--another sharp look, especially with the blue. But very Hummer, for obvious reasons.

Neh, scale wise it's pretty fitting & normal in person.

I think I need...the opposite... Non physical isn't all it's cracked up to be, some days Something in between, a mixture, would be nice.

A Smart...now I remember those...it's been SO long since I've seen one...

A few goodies out running around. About to turn on Rt. 1, saw a stunning metallic black on black brand new '10 Lincoln MKS Ecoboost, the chrome wheels sparkling and red "S" on the trunk really visible. Followed it into a shopping center & then snapped some shots. What a looker, in this trim, colors, these wheels, and the Ecoboost specific look bits. Same place after I did some shopping, came out & a brand new pristine black on black GMC Sierra crew was parked against my Av, with PA tags. Nice truck, really nice truck. Great seeing it next to my also new Av, black & white in more than one way. Beside the trucks was an also brand new, temp tagged navy blue Nissan Armada. They've made upgrades over the years, and with the chrome wheels, trim and mucho upgraded interior, this thing was also a looker. Don't see new ones lately, only once in a while like this. Also again in the same lot, a white '07/08 Avalanche Z71 twin to mine, but 4wd, a black pinstripe and filthy beyond belief. Eck. 2 little dogs sitting inside with a window part way open, in the heat, too. Local truck, but I've never seen it before.

Same designs, different spec'd pieces from tires to dampers, spring rates, and final assembly. Makes huge, huge, huge differences. Same reason why a Cobalt SS is still no Astra, but very, very different in overall feel. If only things weren't cheaped out so much, including the final design/interior/assembly, a base Cobalt could very much be made Astra like if it were developed with that intention from the start. Same way even an Ion isn't at Cobalt level, and feels notably different, looser, and cheaper.

Still doing quite well with my "I'm not going to mod...I'm not going to mod..." when it comes to the Avalanche, which was a big point all along. 2 months in, the only recent items have been a custom mild ECM/TCM tune by Vector Motorsports in Michigan who tuned my G8 (to sharpen it up a hair & help durability over stock--can flip back in a minute via laptop), and just yesterday tires. Only 2900 miles and the luggy Bridgestone Dueler A/T RH-S treads were quality treads, common to GM trucks with an off road package and 18" wheels, but I had some issues. Started with vibration that turned out not to be all the tires, as verified by a Bridgestone dealer, but then a questionable road force balance job by my local dealer who has trouble even inflating tires or putting a correct oil level in. They rode well, were oddly quiet for such meaty treads, and were smooth, but just not crisp enough for me on top of the off road suspension and I thought still contributing to my wobble/vibration. Que a Craigslist ad for the Bridgestones that I sold quickly, a Tire Rack order for new Michelin LTX M/S2's and drop ship delivery at a little shop I'd never been to before, about 25 miles away with glowing ratings on Tire Rack. They were great. Told me about the wrong wheel weights the dealer used & the scratches left from them on my wheels, mounted & road forced the Michelins and perfectly placed the Bridgestones in the bed, in less than an hour. "Have a blessed day & come back again. We do everything a dealer does, will stamp your warranty books, etc...." Nice find. I may go back, for sure. Truck is sharper, steering feels better, it's so quiet it's creepy (the guy who mounted the tires tested it & said the same before giving me keys), and best yet, gas mileage is already up, and they don't throw every piece of dirt, gravel, etc. all over the place like rockets. Just seems to roll easier and my Instant MPG screen was logging higher #'s the whole way home yesterday. Michelin claims as much, along with shorter braking and such, and it seems more than true. Smooth. Crisper. Solid. Not the same lugged look as the A/T Bridgestones, but not smaller either and just smoother. Look nice, for a road touring truck, as I use it.

I think some people here like the shiny chrome/metal knob top better... ...but that doesn't mean it is, there are reasons why & some people like the all leather knob in the Camaro. Regardless. The steering wheel. Oh, the steering wheel. It's actually quite nice in a Cobalt, Malibu, etc. like that, when leather wrapped and button'd up galore. Then you see the same with less on it, same mold lines, etc. in a Corvette and go NICE Cobalt! As I told ocn when he visited once and we went for a spin in my G8, a Cobalt is a Cobalt BUT if you get the right package, wheels, options, etc. it's a totally different car. His Silver Green coupe with aftermarket wheels & tires was, and your sedan loaded up with almost everything and--the rare part--a stick, is the same deal. Great little car, for a great deal. I loved the pre-VVT 2.2L in my '07 Malibu rental, especially more than the oddly pig'ish 2.4L, so this should get some spectacular mileage numbers. Red, red, red, zoom, zoom, stick, optioned up with Bluetooth and all the other little nice bits--great choice

Ahaha...what a video...wow...boom!

That, or little flat plastic push pins from the hardware store. Local dealer fixed (2) of our dealer traded cars that way, after getting the bracket off. Sounds great otherwise, nice accessories already. I know what you mean now about sitting up high. It's great. An adjustment after something as "crisp" as a G8, but crappy steering wheel adjustment ratchets aside, I'm so comfy now. Europeans & other mini car lands, just don't understand

Haha, that's a good one