caddycruiser

On that GMT-355 note, snapped this one at my Jersey dealer yesterday. Continues to amaze me how different these trucks can be with all the unique wheels, trim & color combos. More impressive than their bigger brothers, that's for sure. This Canyon, in silver, gave a very mechanical/techie look. Cool.

Finally drove the/a Solstice today at my Jersey dealer, and really did like it. Interesting to do so when it's barely 30 degrees out, but otherwise...cool little car. 1) VERY solid. Actually the first convertible I've ever driven, but pounding it over Penns Grove, NJ's finest Rt. 130 lumps, not shake or shimmy. A few creaks, but they mostly seemed cold related and from the top alone. 2) Stiff/firm ride, more so than I expected, but for such a small car, felt right. 3) For such a small car...wow...doesn't feel like it inside. Lots of headroom for my 6'-3" self, and shape/seat placement aside that make it feel more closed in, pretty darn roomy for 2. The seat was also better than I remembered, but doesn't have many adjustments & would have probably gotten to me in time...then again, I couldn't even find recline, if it has it. 4) I don't like the non-DI 2.4L. Didn't like it in our Malibu, where it was eerily quiet but seemed to lack much oomph and would be gurgling gas down at the same time. Between the size, weight, and 5-spd auto of the Solstice I expected more, but it felt and sounded exactly the same and could barely manage over 21-22mpg on the cruise. Punched, the trans dropped & it would move well, but just doesn't feel spunky enough for the mpg's it pulls in. 5) Just looks GREAT. Loved it in white with the new design polished wheels. Somehow less awkward for me to get in & out of than mom's Camaro, too. Inside also has cool lines and the dash isn't bad, but the center console & opening compartments between the seats are really scratchy & rough to look at or use. So, I liked it. Liked it a lot. Had I or should I decide on the "2nd car" prospect, it'd remain high in the running. Just a fun little romper, looks great, very solid and though lacking the greatest pep/mpg's, not terrible either. Not at the top of my list anymore, but I felt bad leaving it there...that must say something.

Sounds like me & the G8, the halo car of many. I've just found I want to sit higher & have more capability, etc. Sport sedans can do a lot, but not all. So I'm truck & SUV shopping too, but just what's in stock because I could never settle on what to order...of anything. Not a truck guy, per say, but I'm starting to figure out what it is I'm "missing" in all of the cars I've had. I like your Colorado combo...and love that color on them. As for inside, my eye naturally goes to anything but black so it has some COLOR, like beige or otherwise, but the showing dirt part is a big factor even with effort, it happens. I had the same worry today when cashmere leather in a new Acadia sucked me in...then I started having visions of a friend's beige leather in her Mountaineer that just is dingy. Bedliner delete too...hmm...there has to be... Otherwise, as I've found, it never hurts to email out a specific request and go from there. Nothing has to be firm, but every single time, the dealers who can actually respond in detail and quickly (and 3-4 automated response emails like some have set up, don't count), are the ones you end up wanting to deal with in person too. Throw it out there & see what you get. Even if it's just a thought right now, it doesn't hurt to ask.

The G8 turned 1 year old, or 1 year since purchase, with 15.5k miles today I promptly put it up for sale. G8 & I had an awesome road tripping day, blasting around other cars & listening to the Corsa roar at higher speeds. What a beast. Nothing ever needed fixed, aside from the XM re-flash after purchase & then, well, the other stuff I just had changed or upgraded on my own. Holden KNOWS how to make a CAR. And like anything, drop a GM small block in it and you're set for life. But up for sale it is, we've become close friends, and he (G8 became known as "Jack" in the past few months) understands. If and when sold, a truck or SUV of some sort will be in its place for the next year. Then...who knows... Ahhh, what a year of utter automotive greatness. I love GM

Roger...generalized vs. on those specific ones...but hopefully helps 1) Colorado/Canyon, essentially new...a choice I think hearkens back to your beloved Sonoma days, but in the more modern equivalent. Efficient/peppy 5-cyl but certainly no powerhouse, decent space as a crew cab but no SUV but also a real truck with a real bed. Could work as a "the family fits...dad" vehicle, if you have another main vehicle that fits everyone & everything more regularly. Great daily with truck bed capability, IF you want that, and depending on if you covered it or not. Otherwise, a little small and/or cramped for a full family more regularly, but a great looking smaller truck choice. I like 'em, I'd recommend one to you, but the space/cargo arrangement issues could be a biggie. Lower the price, lower the miles & CPO, the better. 2) Suburban. GMT-800, I always, always recommend. Had 2 in the family, loved them. Typical things like clunky steering shafts after a couple years, but otherwise pretty simple as long as they don't have the electro Autoride suspension, etc. Roomy, comfortable as a living room with great firm seats, simple materials & style but easy to use & durable. Typical 5.3L/4-spd is VERY peppy in this gen & gets nice mileage cruising. Downfalls is the newest of this gen are now several years old, miles are building, and though that really doesn't mean much, years+miles equal a little more maintenance for anything. A 2005/2006 that's CPO or has an even further extended warranty & not a ton of miles is great, but I have so many close acquaintances that have bought these new or used and driven to almost 200k with next to nothing but oil & tires changed, not a concern. They're legendary. They handle a family & family stuff like NOTHING else on the market, period. Still miss having one around, even for trips, just couldn't beat it & (as my brother continually says, getting to drive lots of things at work) "drive more like a car than any other truck, period". Highly recommended if the right one. 3) Envoy. You had one. You know them. You love them. If you were to decide something like a Tahoe/Suburban is just a bit too big, etc., I think this is the next logical choice. A 2008'ish CPO with low miles and the right price (like the Pointe one that sold) are great. Not super huge, not V8, but still powerful, 4WD, fits 5 comfortably & their stuff without a lot of excess space, and they seem to be similarly durable to the GMT-800's. Another highly recommended, if you think the size for your family & stuff is right. 4) SSR...fun... Given the Fleetwood now and the G6, I think you need something that has Fleetwood room but in a higher up, larger cargo space but still trucky package. Where the G6 would be a squeeze for all 4/5 of you more than once in a while, I think you need an SUV that's new enough not to be a maintenance worry and can comfortably fit you daily without being a gas or parking space pig, as well as it fits the family & their stuff. SUV over a truck, I'd say. And if you go new, a Terrain could be exactly the right bill, almost Envoy sized but in a latest & greatest more efficient package. Now as for me...uh...

Roaring north today on Rt. 1 through Delaware, saw an "odd" Sebring merge in...clearly a Sebring...but lower than usual & clearly had lower gray sill extensions just like a 300M Special... Got closer & saw it. The trunk said TSI & it all looked OEM, but I really couldn't remember anything about such a thing. I think this was a limited run, but first I've ever seen in pictures or reality, period.

And headed northeast! Cha ching! God, I'm going on a roadtrip tomorrow, north, while I still can...hopefully no issues around Philly or south Jersey, at least sticking to main highways. Then Monday/Tuesday...who knows...

Holy CRAP. I don't know what the local yocals were talking about the past few days, with things being cleared, but after I bummed a ride in a 4x4 F-150 again this morning...after days of banned driving & otherwise, the roads were WORSE than Tuesday. Seriously. Ruts, holes, and solid ice so thick the road was banked like a race track in spots, passed a truck on the side of the road that had snapped a control arm or something with the wheel flopped out, and had the F-150 chattering like a mofo on the hard ridged ice. Seriously. Delaware DOT needs to call a spade a spade with the "but we don't ever get THAT much winter" and get some real equipment in higher #'s and better management of how to get rid of it. The auto collision tech brother is about to be very, very, very busy as local cars are piling up with anything from underbody damage to just crash & smash front, rear & side. Oh, winter. Quiet about Monday, but just now starting to hear "some now...gusty blowing winds..." No, really? Surely you're mistaken...

Familiar doesn't hurt, but hopefully this one is at least a different color than the others in the family

According to local people on the radio today & otherwise "big main roads are finally clear"...even "beautiful". Later warning by my father was "what are you doing tomorrow"...firing up the G8..."NO WAY...you'll leave pieces on the road...not gonna happen". Okay then, yet again. Nice. Blowing, ice ruts & otherwise, or so I've been told. TG for 4x4 Ford's, one will once again be picking up & delivering me to work and back. G8...on permanent rest. Come Saturday, hell or high water, it's gonna go out, just has to, I don't care, and heading north.

Not only did it stop today, it's still 35 degrees (holy heat wave) at night, and Delaware lifted the driving ban as of 6pm...it's going to be so weird to be back to a "normal" day tomorrow and get out of the house. Almost exciting...in a not exciting way. Oh, yeah, wait. That snow crap in Texas & the gulf right now will be here Monday. That's right. Of course. I might actually fire up the G8 for the first time in a week tomorrow...whoa...

Dead on. I want to see more of these things...a local FLM dealer has a red one but they put it on the rotating ramp thingamabob out front & it's been on there spinning for quite a while...eye catcher, regardless.

Really? I've wondered...price aside, the package is damn near WOW from build to drive quality...but it's just not turning people on I guess...then again, compared to a Traverse or other Lambda's, the Flex sells a 1/3 or less, I think. Heh. Prices up in the mid $50k range with options doesn't help either, even if it may actually be worth it. It's hard, because compared to a larger BOF utility, even if they're more refined and otherwise, that "bulk", the V8 grunt and big 'ole tow hitch on the back just speaks to people who want a full on luxury tank more than a full on luxury minivan/crossover type thing does, no matter how well you do it. Lots of Tahoe/Yukon trade ins on Lambda's, but at the same time a handful that also switched right back. It's 2 different categories that just don't check off all of each other's boxes. --------------------------------------------- Spotted a yellow Camaro LT/RS in a work parking lot, amidst snow & slush last week, with the painted yellow GM splash guards. Mud flaps on a Camaro can make your eyes bug out, but color matched and a molded GM part, they looked about as good as possible & were obviously effective already in the muck.

Yay, we're all alive...I think Still banned from driving here, etc. and according to the 3 paragraph email I just got from my boss "it's ridiculous...it didn't even do much..." Comic relief, every morning this week. Had the local news on & what did we hear? "There's another system...snow...that should be here Monday..." OMG, the new anchor faces were priceless

No emails for me today, nasty or otherwise, such a shame. So I just decided myself it's a work from home one, and that's that. Unplowed street, the same ice ruts, etc. I can't get anywhere anyway. Just got a call from the one of us that did make it out "no one is to touch ANY of the cars...I had trouble in my Subaru & all the intersections & roads out are drifted shut". Oh well. Work from come, confirmed, it is.

Since it was worse here Saturday than it, well, sort of is today (waiting to see tomorrow morning...it's BAD out there now), sort of the reverse. This morning it got to high 30's, the hard rutted icy slush stuff stayed on chunks of the road and there was a TON of water otherwise. It dropped to the low-mid 20's over the day & started snowing so it should basically be thick shiny ice all over then covered in several inches of snow. Cha ching. Greatness. Can't wait for another 6:45am work email, driving ban regardless, "it's a little slippery but Expedition got me here fine...borrow a truck & get here". Hah! Oh crap, it's still blowing snow...didn't realize until I saw the news & looked again...great... That Avalanche I want to buy can't come soon enough...err...well...

Apparently we had thunder & lightning Friday night into Saturday with the snow, but I never knew...sleeping. Wack Jack, just seems wack

It's exactly like Friday/Saturday...snow...then some rain that doesn't make it seem so bad...but then WHOA snow again & the rain earlier mixed in with sleet makes it heavy and hard like you can't believe. Camino said it right, LEAD. Nuts. Got really bad here around noon and kept on until a little bit ago, then stopped/slowed, now it's sideways blowing gigantic white heavy flakes again. Gee, that looks SO familiar...oh, wait...it's like Saturday all over again...

Okay, the ADD isn't all just my doing... Took a break from work to look up some 9-7X Aero's. NICE. In the course of doing so, got an email from my Jersey dealer asking if I'd finally be up to check out the Solstice after 3 failed trip attempts. Yes. And to check out the Envoy for Roger...perhaps... While doing this, browsed around at other random things and sent a quote request off for a leftover '09 Avalanche in VA. That turned into the home phone ringing 3x and an overenthusiastic sales guy getting excited when I said "yes" about qualifying for every incentive he went down a list reading, and would call right back. Did so gave me nice #'s, then intrigued I saw another $2k special offer on GM.com for Pontiac/Saturn owner's to "stay in the family". Literally would end up being about $7500 in rebates alone, before discount, on a loaded Avalanche...mmm...even equipped like I'd spec on, odd & all. So yeah, now I'm on that. Today is 9-7X, Solstice, and a killer loaded Avalanche deal that's realistic like my G8 was realistic last year...an Avalanche would certainly check off a lot of boxes...except for zoom-zoom. Then again, between the Avalanche & Suburban 5.3L we had before, I never once felt either was lacking any kind of oomph and were pretty fun... Yes. This thread literally did just go from a mini roadster or coupe to a full size gargantuan SUV/trucklet. Hah.

Yes. Looked at some TB SS's...like the idea of an LS2 powered AWD something...even if the interior is disgusting and, well, it's another hi po low profile tire'd, etc. beast. I think I'd probably do a Saab 9-7X GMT-360 before I could a TB SS...hey...wait...they made a handful of LS2 "Aero" 9-7X's at some point too...oooh...THERE's an idea...could even still have it Chevy dealer serviced EDIT...OOOHH...TBSS drivetrain with the more polished Saab'd bits and rear air ride...even the TB SS's wheels...and LS2... And they devalue like crazy. APB: Find me a 9-7X Aero guys!

Hah! I did that...mmm...Monday...while I was working...mostly... Usually I'm as indecisive on the build sites as I am in real time like this thread, knowing WTH I want or don't... After days in an F-150, an Escape, and today the Subaru, I had a big time URGE to get back in the G8 and have at it but it's still too torn up in spots... New thought I had the other day when chatting with the guy who bought my Fleetwood & had owned several? A Porsche Cayenne. Yeah, THERE I go...mmm...used/CPO Porsche's seem to have a pretty good reliability rep but I know very little about recent models...but what a combo everything in one, there Round and round we go.

After the rain turned the new snow into slush & just made it wet in the high 30's, the snow on radar just seems to have exploded. Midnight, Delaware issued a new State of Emergency & banned driving unless you were "must" personnel of the state, etc. Boss didn't see that, sent an email at 6:52 saying "I just drove into work, it's just wet" and then sent a cropped JPEG of current Weather.com radar only showing the green rain part to everyone..."you all need to come in". Fine, got it. But sent back the State of Emergency PDF, in case someone else brought it up and that just put me on the poo list for the day. Banned or not, took the Subaru keys & off to Rehoboth I went. Tons of water and still tons of hard, sharp ice & snow ruts that throw you all over, but TG for Subie I made it no issue. Stayed an hour, radar got worse, got files I need & ran about 65mph back home in Subie as it started blowing big snowflakes the closer I got. Great. Projected totals are increasing again. Wonderful. G8 sits idle because even today I'd have ripped something out or off, no matter what. TG Subaru, I heart you today. Here we go again...

Tonight. 1) It sleeted. 2) It snowed, all white, big flakes. 3) It rained, cleared away some of the snow to see through slush... Keep it coming sky, make it a crazy mixture...

I looked. Someone said it and I had to. Big flakes. Deck all white. Cars covered. Coming down. Again. Mix it with the other mixtures...oh yeah, it's gonna be nice again tomorrow morning.

Exactly, Roger, exactly. It's another reason why my dealership friends have, however, recommended "no...you'd just try to buy something every week" when I entertained the thought of being dealership staff years back. I just need that connection, yes TG today, there was no way the G8 could even make it out of the development without getting damaged despite the street "looking" clear, for 2 Ford's picking me up & bringing me home. F-150 super crew to work, on quite a treacherous course if I've ever seen one and the '10 Escape XLT AWD coming home...this morning now I wanted a pickup. I pictured myself driving a new Sierra, hah! Wow, I even have more of that Roger GMC bug now... Then by the drive home in the Escape that I find more and more enjoyable every time, I was back on the Terrain wagon. Maybe I just need to get a good 361 horse blast down the road in the G8 to set me straight...but god knows...can't even move it until certain ice mounds & ruts are more gone, or I'll be shedding pieces of 40 series tires and a low front fascia down the road. That Solstice on Blizzaks again sounds intriguing, too. Then an Acura MDX. Seriously, just all over the place. Finally looking good for a clear weekend, and if so, papa's going shopping. Finally. I hope.