caddycruiser

I moved a little slower than I hoped today, so just got the truck washed, clayed, and a 1st step coat of an all-in-one polish & sealant. I usually go further than that, but it was almost already 5 and I was pooped. Did the leather a little bit ago, with my favorite Zaino "Leather in a Bottle". I'll continue the paint sealing & shining in probably 2 weeks, after the clear bra is on and we have another nice weekend. Pulled my roof rack cross bars off too, so at least got that done also. Ah, so purty. The Camaro got a bath too, and the same leather care. The white is working for me. When it's dirty, you see it--and it really was after a week with some rain--and you just keep wiping or washing until it's back to white. Simple. Doesn't show much in the way of surface marring either, or at least nothing like a dark color. Stays cool, too. Good stuff. After just a week my beige driver's seat was already showing some dye transfer from jeans, I think, but cleaned that quickly.

No more snow. Just no more snow. I'm saying it now. No more. Can't. Just keep getting warmer. Please. You know, just as everyone I work with says "now that you bought a big truck...you know it's done snowing, right?" Yeah, and... As far as cleaning, already SO glad I went back to a white vehicle. It shows stuff, but as far as paint defects, etc. and basic cleaning, easy as pie and bright & cheery. Of course, the new light beige interior is a lot less susceptible to dust, fingerprints, etc. showing but will be more work keeping the seats from not discoloring with jean dye transfer and so on. Still, light & bright works for me and already is easier...especially on a godzilla truck, as big as the Av.

Hah, that's GREAT! I love special tags, no matter what they say. Good idea there.

Good work! PERFECT weekend for this...especially here in the east. My new truck will be getting at least washed, the glass treated with protectant and a base coat & some sealant on everything else. Leather treatment, etc. inside if I feel like it, but it's so nice, no reason not to. Not a heat wave, but warm, sunny, and just plain nice without rain in site for several days. Time to clean

Gotta make it yourself. Self promotion. If no one else does it, do it yourself The emails started, I just wanted to keep it going. Wore the crown to a meeting the next week just for effect, heh. Has to be a certain kind of business for that to fly, though.

Now that it IS March...wow, that went fast...anyone have any specific weekends that work or don't? Need to push it back again to April or otherwise? Don't know for me, but time to throw it out there.

Oh, I've brought that up a few times, even show the pictures "look at THIS..." but they're not interested fully yet. I still would be, but then I also have a new $$ truck-o-saur that does it all...shame. Went to dinner with co-workers last night, after 3 days of side chatter "he got ANOTHER new car?!?" and it came up how people thought I'd never get rid of my '95..."we thought they'd have to pry it out of your cold, dead hands...then...well, you moved on..." Looked out my work window yesterday and saw a black '95/96 Brougham with black glass rolling down the highway, too. We have to find a buyer for you, we have to! Avalanche is doing great, but what an adjustment. Woo. I love it. A really low, FE3 suspended, RWD, 6.0L sedan to essentially a Suburban with a bed is a big change. So far love the look and interior of this thing, most of which is just ritzier than in the G8 but the G8 was no slouch inside. The 2-tone cashmere is an eye catcher especially with brushed silver trim vs. crappy fake wood (thank you Z71...) and so bright & cheery after the dark G8. It's definitely looser to drive than what I'm used to as well, but the GMT-900's remain about the most solid, best riding & handling trucks out there and that's so true. Even better, and part of why I really wanted a GMT-900 is the powertrain. It's SO down on power compared to my 6.0L G8, but with the high 3.08 rear end, 6-spd, and AFM in 3 days of my typical commute is already getting exactly the same mileage as my 93 premium drinking G8. Exactly. And it isn't a struggle to do so, right around 17mpg with 2-lane cruising, stop signs & lights is easy. It has an annoying bit of a dead spot from about 35-50 that makes me go "okay, come on now..." as you accelerate, but with the high rear axle it still steps off peppy and moves well at very low RPM once you are moving. Seems to be improving the more I drive, which is expected. Plus it's so darn quiet, I rarely if ever hear the 5.3L, at idle or when stabbing the throttle. Nice in a different way than the Corsa roar I was akin to. Basically, just love it. The fact that I can drive a luxury liner 6k lb truck that can do everything but still get mileage like my car did before, that's terrific. Add in the rear camera (one of my favorite features), the rear sonar, and so on, it's even getting easier and easier to park. One issue. The dealer drove it 750 miles from their lot to me and then my G8 back, which having met the guy, was just a great relaxed break in and no concerns from me. Even said "it was SUCH a great ride...love driving these". But from the first time I drove it, I noticed a sort of cross truck wobbling shudder vibration. Couldn't tell what it might be, but after 3 days feeling it so clearly in the seat, floor and steering wheel, something is really up but I don't know what. At least he didn't know anything, but when I drive on the smooth roads around here it feels like something is constantly quivering and enough to really bother me. Tried pumping up the tires a bit more but that seemed to only make it more pronounced. Having driven these before, it's not normal...but we'll see. I hope it's something as simple as tires. Made an appointment at the local dealer for Friday. Always something to start Other than the shake & bake wobble, everything else is tops. Smooth, silent, awesome paint & interior, fit & finish, etc. Classy truck. And my tarantula legs enjoy stepping on a board, up & over more than down into a car.

The brood yesterday morning. The new beastly is...uh...TALL...towers over even other trucks at work... I think the Camaro likes it. 2 hot noses

Yeah, that one sort of takes the cake, Roger...

Jack the G8 is gone. He's taking a rest overnight in VA, then will continue on his trip to Jim Ellis Chevrolet in Atlanta, GA tomorrow. Oh what a ride it was. Still had me smiling on his last trip, to meet my new truck. What a car. Just what a car. If I ever want a roomy, fast, refined, and SOLID sedan again, a G8 is 1st on the list, no doubt. Last picture with me...

If only they'd have done this car even more right from the start & had marketing to back it up, it would have been great to see it take on even a big chunk of what the CTS set out to. But it just goes to show you how much even polarizing vs. classy but subdued styling can do. The LS remains an impressive car, sadly now only used.

Holy crap...just updated my sig & reading it in a post after...I've had THREE new 2009 vehicles...I must like something about 2009. At least the cars...

He did...what a sexy motha, still. Between the G8 & the new temp tag'd Avalanche side by side, we were getting stares. But Jack was about to have a nice drive with a cool guy and should have a nice new warmer home down south. Signed the stack of papers in the Av, chatted about cars & the dealer, and then I gave a quick run down of how the G8's nav works. Awesome car. I was still smiling driving from my house to the gas station to meet him. But the truck, although clearly a truck, is just dreamy in a different way. I love it. I miss the G8 and the 6.0L's torque, but already enjoy the Av's interior, space, and look mucho. I didn't tell anyone but here & my best friend what I did and when I showed the parents, what a reaction. A great one. "A truck? I don't see you in a truck...what kind of truck?" from mom. Dad asked a few $$ questions then wanted to go outside and stare at it. "Z71? But...how...aren't those...what is that? It looks so much better all smooth & painted than your mom's old one..." Just set up some radio stations, got the floor mats temporarily sorted out until my Weathertech molded floor liners arrive and excited. Somehow the guy that brought it up had very similar tastes in the seat position, XM stations & even the radio settings. Nice. Clear bra next...gotta protect the white beast...it did a killer job on the G8...

It's here! Last shot of Jack the G8... Met the driver (finance manager, actually, awesome guy) who drove the 11-12 hours, at a local gas station. I LOVE it. Just drove about 10 miles home & it checks all my boxes & then some. The white Z71 look outside & the fully decked out 2-tone beige & no plood interior is sumptuous. Plus I have some SPACE...but it drives like a crisp enough luxury sedan. A big one. Rolling, silent tank. Like our '02 Z66 but 7 years of killer work since.

New truck arriving any minute...oh what a Sunday night this shall be. I've been queasy since yesterday, "uh oh...". G8 got a wash & otherwise, sorta ready to go, I didn't even get to take my stickers off...oh well...

Cool! Should be seeing a LOT more of these very soon as ordering has begun...true US driver owned ones, not just manufacturer vehicles.

Me at work last week, after a mass email chain of "Kudos to Derek...praise Derek..." started. Took it & ran, providing a little picture entertainment to run with the emails. Self promotion, always a good idea Not sure what's up with my one eye, but I think it was intentional...heh...

I put this in my other thread, but it's a good one regardless. Trolling the outlet parking lots for a spot, I saw "something" coming at me and low & behold, it was a white '07ish Avalanche Z71 (first I've ever seen in person, even having bought one) and then as he parked, I saw it had the rear sail panels & surrounding cladding also smoothed & painted. I like the original cladding better, but nice. Caught my eye, big time, for obvious reasons.

Shopping at the outlets, spotted a Regal in great condition, like the twin of my brother's. Nice sighting.

I like them...REALLY...I like them...they're a great package.

It'll happen, Roger, no doubt. Cases like mine were, well, insanity and I really did things too quickly, with the ability to do so. At least you won't be like me after going "um...yeah...I probably should have thought about that more..." after. The Fleetwood will sell, we'll continue to work on it, and then at least you had the good chance to try out SEVERAL things and narrow it down to what you really want. That's the most important step, let's just keep getting ads, etc. up on the Fleetwood. As for me...had a great last (I think?) day with Jack the G8 today, romping around running errands, and (as somehow always happens) I saw more new '07+ Avalanches and Z71 package new Tahoes & Suburbans (both decently rare sightings, really) all over, everywhere I went. Was parking at one of the outlets and saw this coming at me & then park...what a sign: I like the rear cladding "as is" better, but nice regardless. I've never seen a new white Z71 in person until now.

Signs you may have a problem... 1) You've clicked the "Buying a new car" button so many times on Geico, it's really the only thing you've ever gone online to do there... 2) You email the guy who installs your clear bra protection and he says "because of your track record..." and gives a special discount... Oh well. Got gap insurance (always a good idea) and a 6 year GMPP warranty on the Av...so...

This truck will NOT be modded...especially not like the G8...it's just going to stay as is. My clear bra guy in Philly has already been contacted, however. After the G8 with it, never will another new vehicle be in my possession without. That and Weathertech molded floor liners, already ordered. But then again, I'm already debating chrome door handles & mirrors, along with a few other GM accessories. Minimal, really. '09 they removed some of the chrome from the Z71 and I think that's a good thing but I also liked it before. It is a Z71 after all.

Anxious to get my new white beast... ...gotta say, after I randomly found the truck online last Saturday searching within 1000 or so miles for remaining '09s, getting the pictures that day, the interior shots really did it. I've missed having interior color since my G6 & Malibu, other than black. Still not sure on the white, but as when I shopped my Malibu, it's the one shade of no color that I never get tired of and it always looks great on GM trucks. Plus will be less stress to maintain, cooler in the summer, and so on. Nailed down final details with the finance guy late this afternoon, and getting more excited. Still can't believe I bought such a big thing AND traded my G8 in, over nothing but emails. Incredible. But perfect for me. What a great dealer, too. Short story about it all to come soon, in a new thread. Finance guy confirmed Sunday is the day, but given the 11'ish hour drive one way, evening seems likely. I wanted tomorrow so I had a day to see it before a week of work, but alas. Tomorrow is prep the G8 day, removing a few things they won't be getting with it and giving it a last bath.

Cremazie...the new Taupe Gray color for '10? I like, a LOT. The LTZ combo of Autoride with the 20's is killer, as if the base suspension wasn't great enough--enjoy it! Drove a Z71 Wednesday night in the same shade--Av's look particularly rad in dark shades. Can't wait for mine to arrive, brand new but a year old, the sacrilege of a 2wd Z71... I've always missed our black '02 Z66. Just perfect. Okay...so now who is going to buy a 3rd one? Oldsmoboi...it's you...I hope!