caddycruiser

Given that I just spent a couple of hours claying, polishing, and waxing her prized Malibu as a favor today...no telling, whatsoever. She's still absolutely gangbusters about "JUST driving one" and when it comes to new car time, I can usually read it well, but it's odd this go round. Doesn't seem like she really wants something new, but then proceeds to ask me..."just out of curiosity, what price range are these in...cloth or leather...what colors...what options..." That means I can do a lot to push one way or the other, a big way being getting her the/some cars to drive and bringing them right to her. In every way except practicality, I think she'd love a V6 Camaro and get better mileage than the Malibu at times, doing so. Otherwise, something like a new Equinox or Terrain, just knowing her, would be ideal for everything but the "want" factor. Unrealistic or realistic, just don't know. P.S., Did I forget to mention, again, I promised to take her out for a race in the G8? I thought she forgot yesterday and then today was accosted. "You said I could drive your car, what happened?!" Mama wants to race, that damn need for speed, and is intrigued to find out what I mean by "it chirps into 2nd and 3rd...". I can't wait to take a picture or video of this... :AH-HA_wink:

Yep. Though otherwise I would generally have gone to my local GM dealer for everything, something about it makes me uncomfortable (and probably unnecessarily so, but still...just don't like the "look" of the techs when they see my G8 come in), and have only had 1 oil change and a tire mounted there. I've been impressed and know the people well at another collision/mechanics/etc. shop where my brother works and now get things like oil changes there--top notch, trust them above and beyond (did my GXP fascia paint & install) and they're cheaper. Have had custom Pedders suspension work done both in Bethlehem, PA several times and then the last in Maryland, both specialty shops. Then, otherwise, for anything dealer/warranty related anymore my level of comfort/quality of the work is 120% at the dealer in New Jersey where I bought my G8...so, odd as it may be, I've now driven back 2 times for things and will be back up again this week. It's all about quality of work and comfort factor, for me. The Jersey dealer, in particular, seems to read my mind with everything and returns the car happily after--I watched them do this once--wiping off fingerprints...perfect for me. I've even considered relocating closer to my Jersey dealer, permanently, so I can just have my car serviced more easily and get to enjoy the place :AH-HA_wink:

Oooh...so many new GM's that are so damn good looking/impressive otherwise...I could spend a day at a dealer again just sitting in them. Yet to catch a Terrain, the closest being one on the road and another that was going directly from the truck to the detail bay as the new buyers waited for it...damn, those and Equinoxes are just gang busters for sales now...

Getting closer...sorta... I've been hearing nothing but "I want one...I want to drive one...ooh, I just saw one..." still to this day. The local dealer has had (2) LT models listed as incoming for a little while now and I finally got in touch with our favorite sales lady to see, and then went down for a visit today. Black/gray 1LT with auto and a white/orange leather 2LT with RS package and auto should be in very, very soon and neither are spoken for. Of course, neither is an ideal combo for momma zuma and she's only touched one at this point, but we'll see. Funny, our sales lady/friend was "huh?" when I brought up her interest in a Camaro and the first things she said focused on is she sure, it's not really, well, easy for a daily "I have trouble getting in or out or seeing...you know..." and then immediately said what about something like the Lacrosse, Equinox, etc. There's a lot of things that would work and be a nice step from the Malibu but she still wants a Camaro, so I'm just waiting for a call now that one is in, not sold, and can be driven...the white/orange one comes first. Another classic. Texts from my mother while I was there? 1) "I want to drive the Camaro I don't care about the Lacrosse!" 2) "I have a need for speed! Haha!" 3) "They don't look any lower than my Malibu. I looked at a customer of mines last night." The need for speed one was great...about that time I was chatting with sales about how a new '10 Malibu could be possible because of the current 0% for 60 months just put on them, but in maybe an LTZ that she's always wanted and...then she said..."and, for speed, an LTZ with the V6 could work..." Around the world we go in GM vehicles, where we stop, nobody knows :AH-HA_wink: I've finally offered to let her drive my G8 too...

Though I have too much stuff going on anymore to even leave the house or work, turned my errands trip today into car shopping time...remember mom wanting a Camaro? Yeah, about that. On the lot, however, and I've snapped it before, but it just looked so damn good today even if the photo quality is awful. That Cyber Gray Corvette Grand Sport convertible with red leather and auto trans...YES, PLEASE! Mom gets a Camaro, somehow, and I'll take this in addition to the G8...yes...

It stinks, in every way, but keep moving on...into that uncertainty, or otherwise. Good start to Tuesday, then close with a stinker. Same time this afternoon I finally, and depressingly, got a rejection email from HR of a big national corp I had been interviewing with and was in DC this time last week to meet with, after a series of "good...good...this is sounding really great..." contacts, calls, etc. Had a weird feeling at the end of last week, and thankfully remain employed where I have been since 2006, just wanting out. I was to the point of anticipating the potential move & getting amped up, looking into how and where, etc. and then detour...bridge closed ahead. So, it was a great experience, just have to keep rolling on to the next. That doesn't make it any less depressing, but alas. More experience, more references, etc. always a great thing, and especially when you're younger. What a time it remains to be, even when there are good glimmers of hope...but it will pick up once again when the time is right.

An end to the month... Out shopping today looked ahead once I got back in my car and spotted something...a white G8 GXP. Given that I never see other G8's, seeing a GXP for the first time out in the wild was a treat, and I had to circle it. Local car from a local dealer but the first time. Cool. Then the same Fleetwood from last night at the grocery store I often run across it at, still dirty but a better view of the chromies. And again, it's not as dark of a gold as the iPhone makes it. Extremely well kept, old guy car.

It's a lot less dark gold in reality, which is good, versus this picture--and when this particular car is shined up as usual, chrome plated factory wheels to boot, it's really an eye catcher.

Headed north from work today for a doctor's appointment, and spotted a few worthy things. 1) Cyber Gray LT RS Camaro from Jersey cruising along, slicked hair guy driving puffing away on a cig...oh, it probably already reeks inside...but looked killer. This is exactly the combo, color and trim wise, I'd push my mother to get if she ever got serious about wanting one. 2) Black SSR at the doctor's office, driven by a middle aged lady who turned out to be the wife of the owner of the local GM dealership up there--they were having flu shot day, I found out, and as I sat waiting her husband showed up in a new Suburban with dealer tags, daughter in a new Avalanche, and the rest of the staff in various other newer GM vehicles. 3) White Kia Borrego. In the same parking lot and a Kia, but I rarely if ever see these mid-large BOF 7-passenger Kia ute's and this was the first one in a long while--not bad, looks or otherwise. 4) Gold on tan '94 Fleetwood Brougham locally near work and otherwise, with the factory chrome wheels, cruising along--1 of 2 I regularly see anymore, and a very attractive car & combo despite my non like of tan/gold typically.

EXACTLY. On a B/D body it's 99% never a regulator, it's always the simple little slider vs. roller. Ah, if only they had never used such a stupid thing in there...there wouldn't be so many people having to buy these cars and always learn about it so soon, if not already taken care of. Such small pieces of plastic can cause such havoc :AH-HA_wink: Then again, that's actually the story with a lot of B/D-body things...aggravation initially, an "are you kidding me?" simple in the end. Think of them like nice looking, very comfortable, very roomy, generally luxurious tractors--that's how I always described them. Old tractor or, more so, Chevy truck simple and mechanical in large basic to luxury car clothing. Note: One of the best parts of a Fleetwood like this? You can--well, most people can--comfortably stand inside the front end, between the bumper and radiator. I did it more than once when tinkering--just careful not to kick anything on your way in/out.

On my way from home to DC last night for an overnight stay, followed a matching white '08 G8 GT from near my house into town...still, always fascinated to see what the car looks like from an outsider's perspective. Cool.

Yep. It's NEVER the actual regulators on these cars, what it is are the rectangular/thin plastic "sliders" GM originally designed to hold the pins of the regulator in the tracks but then break. The new design replacement part is a small plastic ring, alone, which no thin spots to break and it just rolls along like a wheel--if you buy one of these cars, consider it something that will need to be done. The window & track just aren't holding onto the regulator arms right now, which looks & sounds bad, but the fix is laughable it's so simple--well, as long as you have small hands or don't mind getting your hands a little chewed up. Here's a complex version of it: http://www.impalassforum.com/vBulletin/sho...ad.php?t=232364 When I first bought my '95, I drove it home and basically parked it for a month and a half and went back to school. Came home for a vacation and to drive it and the FIRST time I did, it got me to the bank and then was dead--what a great feeling. My intention of only having the trans fluid & filter changed that week at the local GM dealer turned into a $1500 repair bill (labor...parts) of not only that, but replacing the fuel pump, entire sending unit & wiring harness (all was fried...when I picked it up, it was on E and that didn't help matters--it would run if having sat cool but otherwise, would be dead as the dealer then found out), the EGR valve & harness replaced (the last owner had the harness somehow cut & the EGR bypassed, which the dealer just thought to replace while searching out the dead/no star condition), and finally replacing the window rollers in the driver's door--because, of course, the first time they pulled it into the shop "your window fell down in the door...". Totally unexpected, and expensive because I didn't have the time or space to farm it out elsewhere, etc., but after that I went 2.5 years until I sold it without any other repairs aside from a few more window rollers and recharging the A/C. I continually kept worrying it was going to have problems, going to leave me somewhere, etc. but cruising 2.5 hours to school and back and around school everyday the last 2 years and then work, nothing, just a big tank. It's the perpetual worry of something going wrong or "just wanting new..." that made me sell it, and is what Roger is going through right now, I think, but it's a shame. I wish I actually had just kept it and put the few grand into improving it like the friend I sold it to did, instead of taking on a $30k+ loan...but alas. I'm never happy, even with that latest G8...11k miles, $$$$ of mods and personalization and I could always go for something new again. It's a cycle. Roger...emailed you...lots of teething issues, for sure, and we can discuss, etc. I can't physically take care of some of the bigger ones, and still haven't had time to look into a few of the oddballs like the Temp light, etc., but some of the things like windows we should be able to tangle with (though, honestly, I know how to get in there & what to do/how it works, but never physically did my own :AH-HA_wink: ). If all else fails, we can touch up a few of the small things and it could always be sold to another fan elsewhere, for the same or more than you originally paid...it's a coveted combo and I still say an extremely solid/well kept example--it's just an old car, at the core, really old.

Sorry I've been out of contact for so long Roger...^^this post is pretty much dead on, and as I've said before, going from being used to new cars to something 10 years old and used is a big change, but knowing these cars well & having owned 2, yours is about as good as they get today and a very solid car. I completely understand where you're coming from with this (I am the one who VERY cheaply got rid of my great '95 FWB to have a new car and still wished I had it), but it all depends on your own situation. Good thing you started a thread about this, really, for better discussion :AH-HA_wink: We'll chat, at some point, soon again.

Aaah!

Yep, 0% for 72 months...and not many left :AH-HA_wink: Before it really got down to truly just a handful, I was considering a GXP with such deals for yet another color and a sunroof, plus the LS3. It's never good enough I'd think there's profit in the Fleetwood, and though we still haven't been in touch...you know... When you have an old car, regardless of what it is or how nice, you're always jealous and want something cool and new. When you have a new car, you start to get tired of payments and sometimes not playing with it as much, and think about what you could have done with something a few years old and low miles or just older and low maintained... Been there. Hah. The G8 has kept me pleased because I get a blend of both, payment and a modding/maintenance budget that just keep it coming, it seems. But I'm still online building a Camaro...an Equinox...a CTS...a whatever...going "you know..."

Actually, Pacific Slate is more dark green & teal than anything...though people more often than not just consider it blue, it gets marked on forms like that, etc. The only blue tones in it are the teal with the green, but alas. Stryker is an electric medium blue...looks neon, a lot of the time, and is very fitting of the car. There are some very rare '08s that were Stealth Blue that changed from light blue to lavender to brighter blue to a few other tones depending on the light.

This is all very impressive...now that I'm up to speed after a few minutes of browsing! I was always a fan of the '98-04 LH cars, including in the days of us having a loaded '00 300M even though various things bothered us, there were smaller problems an incompetent dealer didn't fix, and then it was rear ended, all before trading it for an Avalanche when it just rolled 18k miles and 1.5 years old. Though that experience was questionable, and it vowed my mother on never buying (or liking) another Chrysler anything, I've remained a fan of the cars and especially all the modding, cross model parts swapping, etc. that people have done for years, and how they live on. It's a shame I usually at this point see no other than the brown-yellow headlight'd, faded black trim, clean to ragged varities, but still do a 2nd take, particularly for 300M's. Cool car, and despite the miles, happy projecting...to continue :AH-HA_wink:

Maverick Silver '09 G8 GT Premium/Sport (just like mine, but silver) freshly arrived via dealer trade at the local dealer. They've only had (3) V6 models for a long time but apparently now someone locally wanted a new GT...or...I don't know. And it was, of course, unlocked. Pacific Slate is a special color and I wouldn't give it up, but on this car silver is also one of the best and I considered it a while back. On the way to spin around this lot, sitting at a red light, saw really the only other "like mine" Panther Black/Onyx Premium/Sport G8 GT with black windows that a local shop owner has rolling down the highway...it's always weird/cool to see what I must look like rolling down the road, since otherwise I never, ever see another. Hot. Also at the dealer the same yellow Camaro 2SS with ground effects they've now bizarrely had almost a month...they're not an over sticker dealer, and all other dealers Camaro's have come & gone in a few days max. Hmm.

Hmm...all the time...and today was both a Camaro 1LT RS and a 1SS RS after seeing a white one and curious to know what a White/Beige cloth V6 and V8 variety tallied to, well, for about the 50th time I've built one. 1LT RS was just over $30k as I'd like, 1SS RS was just over $33k...same stuff, otherwise, I just thought "$3k for the V8...hmm..." I do this, building, and then depending on the results and what might be attractive current incentives I start toying with the idea of "okay, my car is worth this..." and playing with loan calculators :AH-HA_wink: Otherwise, just browsing existing models through the GM site, dealer sites, Ford sites, etc. for cars to Derek spec.

regfootball...Sounds like my feet. I actually don't even own a pair of sneakers, and haven't for a while, but mainly stick to a few pairs of Steve Madden slip on leather fancy loafers for everything, and if mucking around outside, on a trip, etc. a slip on pair of plaid Vans. Or, as has been the case since around April, nothing but dressy sandals or a pair of cheapies/Reefs for the everything else. Never, ever sneakers--just don't work for me--and as I realized, nothing with laces anymore either :AH-HA_wink: Good choice, regardless, on the US made shoes and the deal!

Having followed the GM marketing peeps on Twitter, who talked a lot about the "new ads" today...I want to see them. My gosh, if they finally focus on the car & $h! honestly on the competitor's...which I've dreamed of them doing forever...wow.

A Cyber Gray 2LT RS is now the background image on her phone (okay, I sent it to her today)...need I say more :AH-HA_wink: I really need to find her one to test drive somewhere, to get rid of the idea or make it stick. I still can't fathom this being a DD for her, but you never know.

Well, though I can't verify the steps, as told by a certain GM employee we have around here, "The Chinese Buick Park Avenue is a China-built version of the Holden Statesman ..." when I asked about the reality of whether the Holden sedans are kept only in Oz for building, due to the $$ plan of Holden for xx number of exports here or there, or could they be built here, Canada, etc. too. Interested still to know specifics...and how much it would take or where, to build them over here, too. This one is still questionable but it really does sound like the real work actually being done right now--with what is leaking, in spurts--is that the new Impala is designed and in process, on the LWB EP-II and a "unique" from the new Malibu, etc. Never have I seen news about a car like this change so much, for so long. It's a Zeta, no it's an Epsilon, no it's an Alpha, no it's getting another W-body refresh, no it's on hold, no it's RWD again, nope it's FWD with optional AWD...no...yes...no..." Bizarre, all along as we're left with a crotchedy old fleet car from older, darker days.

It so very is. Still taking some time and still not everything 110%, but what a difference. I got a good laugh today reading an owner review on Edmunds for the new Lacrosse saying they were shopping the Accord but saw a commercial for the new Lacrosse and were taken by the looks...cost more than the Accord would have, but according to them was so much more car.

Very true. As much the same as the bones of these cars are, they're also very different and the cars themselves assembled in different ways. Not just a coupe & sedan of the same car. For a long time, it continued to be brought up in articles sourced to Holden & otherwise that a lot of their gameplan for the current VE series was building & shipping XXX number of cars to NA, etc. As someone else pointed out to me recently, proof that isn't true is that the Caprice/Statesman based Buick Park Avenue is built in China but otherwise the same car...so the same setup could be done in any variety of NA plants. It's not like producing the same car in different plants around the world for different markets is a new concept. I still don't understand the feasibility of a police-spec sedan being built in another country & shipped in via boat, especially when it comes to volume and pricing, but we'll see.