caddycruiser

But it's a full on Hybrid you know, seriously. Lump him in with at least 1 or 2 people (local too) with a new Malibu that they've SS'd...even though that's not as much of a stretch...and clobber them both over the head. Then give them some chrome door edging to stick over every sheetmetal end they can find ANOTHER last gen CTS with a canvas top...gosh...dark blue, base silver 16" wheels, dark tan canvas top...oh, how PUKE...old people...more money & bad taste than...well...anyone. Oh, and another new Lincoln MKS with a canvas top too...the kicker? Yet another full boat, 20" wheel'd "sport" model to boot...Grandpa Al getting his dentures knocked out of joint with the stiff ride but oh how he loves his tan canvas top...

Found a 3rd '09 Avy I like at a great price in another random place...is the 3rd time the charm? Hmm. The bite on the G8 didn't call back for a weekend visit setup after Friday night, so alas. Working on trades too, because that would be so much easier, but we'll see. Randomly? I started wanting that little white Solstice again too...

Apples & oranges, but compared to something like a GMT-800 or 900 in daily driving, on the highway, on big bumps, bridge lumps and then curves...what do you think of the ride/handling/solidity feel? I love how these things drive...SMOOTH is the word...but still being so "car" in guts, and a little soft overall and large in size, I'm not sure how I'd like or not like one 365 days a year vs. a bigger BOF SUV.

1st bite on 'ole G8, a guy from Raleigh, NC who has a '93 BMW 3-series, said he test drove a few GT's over the past year along with CPO 3 & 5 series Beemers. "I just decided it was finally time for a new car." We'll see. Liking G8's "like a cheap BMW I can work on & play with myself" he said he had been browsing G8 forums & mainly had questions based on things there. Wants to come up this weekend & twice offered a $$$ but I said see & drive it first before that. Then I started getting worried about loan payoff, special tag transfer & oh yeah, not having another car. Jumping ahead. Oh, if only someone wants it & can have everything settled & paid in a week...that'd be nice. Only now did I start thinking oh crap...payoff, tag transfer stuff, paperwork, waiting & oh yeah...I only have the 1 car & haven't decided on another. Oh boy.

Like I said...I'd love to buy a GMC Avalanche if available. Wonder what they'd have called it, if there was one. Give it red & white interior lighting too...vs. teal...that's a biggie to me

Just paid to have it listed on SwapALease.com through their New Loan Program, basically paying off my end and setting the buyer up with a new loan as if you bought it at their dealers. Will post the link shortly, once we get it updated. Selling it for payoff and all mods included in that, everything. Higher than a typical all stock used one otherwise, but the upgrades & mods alone would set you back more than that to get another one to the same level.

Thought about and still thinking about one...having driven 3-4 original 2007 & 2008 models of each brand, the '10 Acadia SLT I just drove with the DI 3.6L & latest trans program was VERY different. Still not a torquey pushrod feel like other GM trucks, but that just lets it waft along silently & if you do pound it, it MOVES. Much better than earlier models too. Both from a stop and trounced when cruising along, I was happy with the response. Being a V6 & efficiency tuned 6-spd, it'll always shift a little more, but it performs well. On a quick 2 lane drive mostly cruising but the few hard spurts, I easily got 22-23mpg in the FWD model I drove with 4 miles.

Lots of Traverse's all over at every dealer, and from my experience, do a little searching for combo's that fit and email the dealers. Avoid giving a phone #, just email for a quote and of those that do respond--many still end up getting you 3+ automated emails but then never get back--get the best price and go from there. If they're a struggle online, they're usually a struggle in person. Sometimes. That avoids the whole go see the dealer, wait for an hour, etc. thing and cuts right to the choice. What kind of combo are they looking for most likely? Highly, highly recommend a Traverse as well...right now I think they could even lease decently, as GM seems to be running some decent ones on those & a few others, but it depends. LS, 1LT, 2LT, LTZ...FWD, AWD...sunroofs, DVD, Nav, cloth, leather...mmm...stickers anywhere from $30k to mid $40k's, then figure...well...all over the map real transaction prices, yeah

Heh, when I read you say Torrent GXP earlier today, I thought...different...but I think he's going to like it. Then again, perhaps you're like me & "like" something a lot about almost everything new or different you drive. Either way, cool idea, and a nice alternative. Not a true truck, so it sort of fits that niche like an Acadia does vs. an Avalanche, etc. for me. It's the lighter, faster, sportier, but still very roomy alternative to the true truck. I'm not a huge fan of the 1st gen Theta SUV's, but a GXP/Sport is as good as they got and very good at that. Hard to say. Do you want more car, sharper handling, and a smaller tank/somewhat better economy, or do you want a heavier feel, truck strength, and not thirsty but just a bit more drink happy BOF mid-size SUV? I drove a GMT-900 and a Lambda back to back, but liked things about each in different ways, so it's hard to say...mmm...right now I'd say Buick-Pontiac-GMC...hard to put them in order, either way, ADD like me, one is never 100%, that grass is always greener. Otherwise...on the pinstripes, shouldn't be a big worry. Pointe doesn't do anything, but does seem to like striping various vehicles from time to time. My G8 is...but...I liked it, heh. Otherwise, I actually have no doubt they'd get the detail guys to simply enough make them go away or the striper they call in, himself. Not a big issue.

Wow, the dealer actually went through it thoroughly enough for noises to make that list? Nice. Hope it works.

This? Kind of a mish-mash of various parts and some custom.

Oooh, that one brings back memories Anything is possible, but 1 vehicle is enough for me right now, and I'd like it to do everything, and sit higher, etc. at the same time. G8 & I are a legendary couple, but those things end...even when you've made posts & otherwise saying how "never...can't happen...won't". Again, we'll see. You included

There's some pretty beefy structural members under those buttresses...it's why the Av is so solid, even more than a Suburban, out back. You can smooth & paint or use the Cadillac parts if you want them that way. The cladding was a lot more durable than people expected and even abused, it could just take it and not get damaged or otherwise. Textured plastic & well designed, actually. If you somehow did, not hard then to replace. I used to love the "steps" built into the side corners of the rear cladded bumper too, another thing the shaved WBH models didn't get. Correcto. Snugtop. Cool setup, actually...like a Suburban, but you end up with 2-tiered storage instead, floor and on top of the panels. Now a GMT-900...still not as burly as a cladded original, but the new GMT-900 looks are just about better than either before. Clean, crisp and cool at the same time, matched with an interior that leaps & bounds better too--but the old ones were nothing to scoff at there either, and actually still debatable today, had more comfortable front seats. Actually...having tried out that orangey-orange Av...liked the seats, especially in cloth, but kind of wished they had the individual armrests on the front seats again and not just the wide & really tall center console. It's still nice, but one little thing where I preferred the old.

Yep, that ugly tall/flat '03+ Silverado nose didn't help. Good part, though, yes, you can easily convert it to anything else GMT-800...Silverado SS, GMC, etc.

Oh, does it ever...big fan of that stuff & how those ones looked, especially up front. I didn't dislike the without body hardware ones, they just looked so plain & boring to me. Do it...heh...join the ranks. Well, the ranks if I, Roger, Oldsmoboi, etc. actually make deals go through. Can't beat a modern truck as an "everyday/everything" ride, huge gas tanks & all;-)

On that cladding note...used to love the stuff! Made caring for our black '02 so much simpler, we thought it looked great and never got anything but compliments. I understand it's not for everyone, but at least on the last gen, I always thought the cladded looks were so much more standout than the "clean" ones offered later, that just looked peeled. Good points on the 2WD...I waiver. Like I said, we had nothing but a good experience a 2wd Avalanche & then Suburban, in all weather, other than the most extreme of situations in winter. Otherwise, until you've had one, you don't know. Of course then that leads into the whole debate of "why get a truck if you don't get 4WD...", but alas. Back when my mother had the '02, she & I hosted two different Avalanche club meets at the beach, and this was our biggest...fun times with people from several surround states driving around Rehoboth, Dewey, Lewes, and then back to our house & the bay:

And good luck to you with that Rainier idea Roger...I LIKE it You either love it or hate it, I think that's what I'm liking more about this orange dealio. Heh. We can both drive new trucks to whenever we do actually meet up in Hershey or otherwise...

For me, a pickup could work...but I really don't want and/or a full open bed standard & separate from the cab isn't attractive to me or my uses. Neither is the true pickup ride/rear leafs, unless I needed that extra capacity out back. Then a Tahoe/Suburban is great, but I don't need 7 seats or just a HUGE long interior, and price compared, an Avalanche is still cheaper or less than a Tahoe...but on the longer, much better riding, etc. Suburban chassis. Add in the Midgate that even if I just used to remove the rear window, the 3 locking panels I could crawl on & that don't leak (they've improved over the years, too), and the bed side boxes, it's like a swiss army truck that rides, handles, and performs like a big, firmly planted luxury sedan. Many people just don't get "well why don't you want a pickup?" but until you've experienced an Avalanche, it's hard to get. Again...the $$$ orange 4wd 1LT '09 locally is my #1 choice, and we'll see how this goes. It checks every box off my wants & needs list and then some, like no other. At least the dealer even talked technically about them, from the steering changes to Midgate specifics and AFM during the test drive, a relief to me. We shall see. G8 must sell...the quicker, the better, hopefully to a warm climate. Dark red orange as is...does it need the chrome bits added? Any suggestions? Early to think about this...but just thinking of things I could ask for if this were to happen...

Yeah, I have, on the Escalade. Just comes down to stepping even further back in age, not forward, lacking warranty or otherwise, and paying for a used truck what I'd pay for a new Avalanche/Tahoe/etc. with better GM offers, and be the first driver. I would agree with you on the color...I was a big fan of the more copper shades of the orange in year's past, but there's something about this one. It's a bit red, but I like it. I think with the chrome door handles, mirrors, and grille (or...opinions?) it would bring a little of the shine up from just the wheels and break it up nicely. At least it would also fulfill my "don't want to see myself at a red light" requirement...1 year color as of now...and my phone made it even red'er. If you've seen an orange new Camaro, that's it. I guess I had to sell myself on it, but once I saw it, I couldn't take my eyes off it.

I completely agree, and by "lumbering", I actually meant that in a good way. It's the heavy, solid, silent, bridge abutment feel I desire. All with steering that's very crisp, a ride that's utterly smooth & composed, and overall for such a big heavy truck, it feels even more composed and refined than my G8 on the highway. It's like a cocoon, a big, comfy, smooth, crisp handling cocoon that can run over anything and have it waft away. My Avalanche experience started with our '02 Z66, and I've loved them ever since. Like said, there really is something that even makes them different from a Suburban going down the road. Also completely agree on the 4WD factor, because although my experience with 2WD's and a locker was great, honestly? If I'm going to make such a big jump, it'd be stupid not to make it a real truck with such capability. I used to love borrowing our '02, roaring around, tunes on, rear window out and just enjoying the ride. Loved it. And mileage back then was equal to what my G8 6.0L gets now, so an AFM 5.3L and the 6-speed that's smoother & more efficiently uses the power, even better. We shall see. The big orange beast is now my #1, but the G8 has to sell and then I have to work further with that dealer on price.

Very true...we did run into that issue with trade in of at least our Suburban. Just for me, it always came down to I don't want to be dragging a transfer case around 24/7, but at the same time, it can't hurt to just have it there. I mean, most of these trucks out on the road are so equipped. In 2Hi, it's not that different. We had two 2wd trucks with G80 & one with traction control, never an issue. Even in winter ice, but then again, we never drove them to any extent more than we would have a common sedan...but Autotrac? Not a bad thing. Well, then, amazing how things change. I've said before, I could have a Maserati, Ferrari, top MB sedan, etc. I'd still get to the same point and get the itch. In this case, and even today blasting around with a smile in the G8, I just want to sit up higher. Pretty basic, when it comes down to it. I don't like being low, I can't stand constantly fretting the road with 40 series tires & big wheels, a car that sits low as it is, etc. I'm used to it, but alas. That orange thing...every time I see a picture...yikes...still...I kept thinking "Hugger Orange" for some reason when I looked at & drove it, even if that's no relation or not close. But I could see it. So far checking, insurance is exactly the same as my G8, or estimated at $2 more. Another plus over a Lambda...it's a real truck...trailer hitch standard, actually has a real spare tire standard, and so on, so on. Either way, we'll see, if and when the G8 sells.

All this Avalanche chatter by me & Oldsmoboi...along with Roger's great choices...look at this '02 North Face Av on Ebay with 323k on the clock. Just does to show you...they last...they really, really, really last...hey...I like that one...but the price is a little high for the mileage, perhaps. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220555561879&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Heh... Something about that color...just...looks...I don't know. Special. Loud, screaming loud, but special. Tire of it? That I don't know. The Graystone 2wd one in Virginia otherwise is the same...sans 4WD...and already has the chrome accessories on it. I wish I had the time to drive a new 2wd one yesterday to compare power/etc. without the front end running gear & 3:08 vs. 3:42 rear end.

I said the same thing yesterday when looking at an Acadia with the Cashmere interior...my black/Onyx G8 has worn well, basically doesn't look any different from new, seats never stain or discolor, etc. but it's also just a coal bin inside. Grr. Another part of my old G6 I really missed, the beige & black interior combo, with cloth. Loved it. I highly doubt you could ever muck up a vehicle that much...so the little extra effort in keeping it bright & clean could be more than worth the cheery color inside, rather than black.

Yes, planning on it ASAP! All the talk about it in the world doesn't get it sold... One issue is I just need to get more out of it than it technically books for, due to the upgrades & otherwise. BUT, if like my G8 "bud" who just got out of his lease in a jiffy on the same car, IF GMAC accommodates transferring an active auto financing loan...someone could get this car with 60 of 72 months left at almost no interest & for a decent enough payment, with mods galore included. Have a few more odds & ends to nail down, but spreading the word as I try to figure all the odds & ends out.