caddycruiser

She's ALWAYS first taken by the looks, and then if and when I can ever get her to drive anything, she either really likes it or gives it a big X after. This is also a person who loves to drive and loves getting a new car, but would actually rather not have to shop or even test drive...really. The '08 Malibu is still her "child" so to speak, and though at almost 2 years and now 21k miles it could use a detailing--I'm just not around enough or too busy to help much--and she talks about how nice it is and how she "has no problems" whenever possible. But there's also for a long time been a lot of "why did you make me get the 4-cyl?" Or she sees a new Chevy commercial talking about fuel mileage and remarks that hers "never gets 30 anytime"...oh well. Time for some fun, ey? Like I said, there's a reason why I've never let her drive my G8, well, several. Now that she's firmly planted the seed herself...clock ticking? I was amazed when my father, also for the first time with such a "I want one" has never said a word. By the end of the Motorweek episode yesterday he told me "I'd get the stick..."...straight face... This car does things to people...if I could work out bringing her one to test drive, she'd either hate it or tell me to go trade her Malibu in, right away. I think visibility out or just practicality would be too much for her DD...maybe. Somehow, perhaps, I see maybe 2012. Avalanche (the truck she cried over, trading in...) was 2.5 years, the Suburban 3.5 years, the Malibu is now at 1.5. Or not.

I'll take the twin...gray, plaid seats, DSG and sunroof...sign me up. One of the best and highest quality/refined little pocket rockets around. Fun, fun, car.

I've mentioned before my mother recently has gotten a "thing" for new Camaro's, calling me about ones she sees, pointing them out when out, asking me questions about them, etc. Yesterday I was actually home for once and while she was cooking dinner, 5pm rolled around and I clicked on Motorweek in the kitchen. This week's first test, the Camaro SS. Typically I'd be the only one interested in this show at all, but from the second "Camaro" was uttered a certain someone ordered "quiet!", turned up the volume, and intently stopped what she was doing to watch every second of the review. "Oooh, look at that" when they were doing the acceleration, and then more importantly to her, the braking tests and commenting about the rock solid pedal & Brembos. Then came the interior, to which she didn't seem hot on but a lot of that was the black with red accents (not a fan of either shade), the gas mileage ratings & observed (when they said they averaged over 20 in testing with the SS...yeah...), and the final pricing. The finale afterwards then was "they're just so sharp, especially that front end, I have to have one." By this point my father & brother were lingering and had started to watch, but didn't say a word. So, having been responsible for every one of her cars to this point, I knew I had to start pecking with "no red or yellow, and you're good...the interior comes in gray and tan, too, and they look better than the black...the V6 alone has twice the power of your Malibu and is rated at 29mpg on the highway..." She responded with "but I like the SS..."...okay then... ...but to be real I had to respond that a V6 RS looks identical except for the front scoop and the V6, again, had more than enough balls as it is. That went over well, and again, she just "wants one". Then started a discussion of "aren't they big?...I mean, bigger than my car? Does it have a lot of room? What about the trunk?" I reminded it's a coupe but a large one, and the back seat & trunk aren't big, but are useful enough for a 1-2 people...1 90% of the time. And drives like a quiet, smooth Zeta dream. Today there was more. I said something about Camaro, in some form, which elicited the following: -"I saw a silver one today...it looked SO sharp. Silver on a Camaro is just really sharp." -...the best..."I'd get license plates that say "Eat This""...and she made a vroom noise, motioning as if holding a steering wheel & shifter, and laughing. She wants to drive one and I offered my G8 GT up for the first time "it's based off the same thing, so very similar in ways" but warned her she might be scared of her car after driving something with, uh, power. Lest I forget "I've driven powerful cars before...you know..." The Malibu won't be going anywhere, anytime soon, but the way she talked about it, I just continue to be shocked every time I hear it...and PROUD. I keep thinking her next something would be something like an Equinox, the next Malibu, or something of the sort...but if she can keep this in her head for a couple more years, heh :camarosmile:

Awesome pictures, OCN! I only hit the 1 GM lot in my travels today but they were lacking in much of anything interesting other than these 2: 2010 Rally Yellow/Ebony Camaro 2SS 2010 Cyber Gray/Red Corvette Convertible Grand Sport The Grand Sport arrived not long ago and the Camaro is the first one they've had sitting for an extended time, vs. selling in less than a week. Otherwise, barren, I tell you, barren...our variety of local dealers is seriously lacking anymore as is the inventory at the ones who are left.

I want a new GTI, plaid seats and all, and can't wait to see a "new" one.

Okay, finally, here's the deal... The drivetrain, suspension, etc. on these cars is 10x better than on the GTO beforehand in a lot of ways, but there are still common issues. The main 2 are focused on the front end. 1) Strut mounts. There's a ribbed rubber mount that attaches to the top of the strut and then is what gives it a "base" to sit & hold properly in the strut tower. By design in this car and the GTO (and a lot of BMW's, etc.) is a highly stressed part by nature, because of how it sits, how it's loaded, and often then too because of how what is truly a performance car, gets driven. From the start, the main issue the G8 and GTO have is that the rubber strut mounts get an excessive load & compression on the boat ride over, along with a lot of other extended sitting. With the boat ride pressure, the way they normally wear anyway, etc. they're often toast from when new. Leads to a lot of front noise, looseness, rattling, squeaking, alignment and other issues, and often also doesn't make for anything obvious, just a front end that isn't as precise as it should be. Typically apparent by a front end that's lower than it should be (hard to point out, since they're all kinda like this, when original), looking underhood and seeing the a visible gap of about 1/4" of more between the rubber cap and the fender when sitting on a flat surface. 98% of dealers, even after the GTO with the same problem, know nothing about this and refuse to look into it beyond "that's normal" but if you have an actual issue related to noise or an odd alignment problem up front, they may trace it back to this. I had a terrible creaking/squeaking from the strut towers when it would get to freezing or below, and after the first week, a front end alignment that mysteriously fell out of spec--all due to these being bad. Here's an example of new Pedders vs. squashed stockers on a friend's GT with 1800 miles (these ones aren't really that bad...but add in more mileage, etc. and they can be a lot more collapsed/tilted): Long story short, stiff rubber mount that gets pre-collapsed thanks to the boat & otherwise, has nothing to do with the actual mechanics of the struts or springs them, and the bushing itself should just be replaced. Requires the struts coming out & all re-installed, then the alignment corrected. Pretty quick job, actually, and not hugely expensive if done out of warranty, plus there are better bushings such as made by Pedders. Once replaced or if not pre-damaged, these can go a long time without issue without hardcore autocrossing, etc. everyday, and shouldn't be an issue if they're replaced, with stock or otherwise. 2) Front ball joints & control arms, or therein the parts together. Creaks, rattles & pops, and oddly was an issue too that the home market Oz cars never seemed to have, but has been a big one here. Over the past 2 years eventually, in the midst of warranty replacements of the parts, new part #'s of updated parts started being used, and then in the past few weeks a regional/date by date recall was issued by GM for the front ball joints. They seem to have found that the rubber boots on the ball joints to keep moisture from rain, snow, etc. out weren't sealing properly and/or were coming apart letting moisture in and, tick, there went the ball joints 1 after another. Or at least that's the story. That said, most 2008 and 2009 cars will be called in for an inspection of the joints and replacement as necessary with new parts, and hopefully away that will go. SO...neither are big problems, but they certainly can be annoying, the first especially because it's not an easy one for warranty since most dealers--unless, as I said, there's another problem they can trace back to them--will do a thing about the bushings, but they make for a lot of front end slop. And the ball joint/control arm foibles just make for more obvious noises, generally, and now that there's a staged recall, are being taken care of. Those 2 things and driveline vibrations are the main issues with G8's. If it doesn't shake badly and there's no front end noises--or the repairs have already been done--you're good to go, generally. Unlike either my G6, my Malibu, or even my mother's excellent '08 Malibu, other than the suspension bushings, I've had ZERO repairs or visits for anything but an oil change in 8 months and 10k miles. It's just been a solid, quiet, reliable car with no electronic or other quality foibles. Too bad about the couple of front suspension bugs and driveline vibrations, in some, but otherwise just a great car.

YES...and like the paint, it's about as highly revered as any leather anything. The title "Leather in a Bottle" says it all, for smell and everything else. My G8, because of the stock leather, originally smelled almost like cigarettes inside (never could figure that out, but it was the year old Oz leather) and the Zaino flipped a switch and changed that. For a car like Roger's, I'd say use it after a heavier cleaning and conditioner saturation...good stuff for great regular upkeep. I've switched over to Zaino everything after avoiding it for years, and it's all great together.

Me again...taken on a boat cruising a canal...while at work. It was a meeting day, of sorts.

Sure, me and the G8 like northeast PA...depending on specific weekend, workable for me, well, depending on where I live or what I'm doing at the time. Still, vote is YES.

Here 'ye go. More gray than green but at the same time also looks almost light olive in some lights.

As a detailing guru on top of being a Fleetwood guru (although, with a lack of time anymore...), lots of suggestions. For the leather, mainly, you want first a good scrub/cleaning with the right stuff (depending on how dirty, it varies) of either just good leather cleaner to a mixture of something else. Then to really get it back in shape, smelling good and feeling soft, a quality conditioner applied LIBERALLY and just let to sit. When I used to detail cars for a side hobby, I got a '99 LeSabre with the biggest complaint being the hard, stiff leather. Not that it was top grade stuff, but after making sure to clean it well, I used some random Meguiar's leather conditioner in a bottle from the auto parts store, applied heavily and right on my hands (recommended for such cases...rags suck up too much) and rubbed in and on all over the leather. It was wet & gooey afterwards with so much excess conditioner on the leather, but I let it sit like that untouched all day in the heat and by the end of the day, wiping off the excess, it turned from naugahyde to super plush & soft. Finished up with some spray on Lexol conditioner & a rag, and the owner of the car raved about how different the seats were afterwards. A procedure like that is great for leather that really needs refreshed, and after years of Lexol only--quality stuff, but alone doesn't absorb as much as it shines and then lightly conditions--I now use Zaino leather cleaner & conditioner. My G8's stock leather felt stiff and somewhat dry plus had a weird smell throughout the interior, but after a Zaino cleaning & application of the conditioner got nicely supple, got a light satin shine, the bad smell disappeared & it was never greasy or had any "rub off" (the biggest problem I've had with most leather conditioners, Lexol included, after application). Does a good job. Long story short...clean with a good leather cleaner (having been in your car, it didn't seem that bad and it is black, so a good leather cleaner and some elbow grease should do it) followed by some kind of leather conditioner in a squeeze bottle so there's some thickness & it can sit and absorb, and then a follow up after an application or two like that, with a nice spray conditioner & buff or just buff alone with a rag. Then for everything else...more tips...hmm...the good news being, although it needs detailed, yours is still one of the few Fleetwoods from such vintage--and black especially--that is seriously lacking in big age or wear damage and won't need too much. Clay bar, light but thorough polish and then a sealant, wax, or combo to top, and similar things for the glass & vinyl top. We'll chat...

I'll respond to this soon in better detail...not huge and not an overall big suspension design problem, but a high wear part that needs replacement pretty much as soon as or not long after the boat ride...most of the time. As long as you know about/accept it beforehand, not a biggie, otherwise can be a headache...stay tune. Otherwise, another quick phone pic I caught today & had to take coming out of a store mid-day...a little freshened up Zaino yesterday, ride height I think having settled a bit more, and just...well...you know :AH-HA_wink: This just minutes after coming out of a Wawa to find an older lady & her husband circling 'ole G8, her going "what is it?...I love the color and how it looks..." and her husband standing, arms crossed, with "eh, it's just a G6..." Argh. But regardless while he stayed put she walked around further as I approached & wanted to see inside "does it have cupholders...well, you know..." and 3x "what is it...a Bonneville? A Grand Prix?" and by the end, and despite reading the trunk, still probably went home thinking it was a G6. Her husband told her not to bother me--hah--and she told him she just wanted to see it because she loved the color & looks and "that could be what I want...one of those". The odd part, to me at least, is everytime this happens anymore, it's never about "it's a shame Pontiac is done" but rather "what is it...how do you like it...I want one...it's so nice..." without even a mention of that. Kind of like people missed it, somehow.

I can't fathom how you'd see the materials/finish in a Lacrosse as better than in a Lucerne, but regardless :AH-HA_wink: That at least adds another good choice, and 3.8L powered, but still with the "what happened to the back seat?" new W-body issue. Just looking at and touching door panels and center console alone, and then dash, big difference, at least always IMHO. That's one area where the Malibu doesn't always hit top marks, with things like the door panels vs. the dash and a few gaps that could be tighter, but it's still a nice piece especially when it comes to the dash. Just quickly, the electric steering in new Malibu's is hugely improved, we've had no issues, and though it's lighter than the hydraulic system in V6 cars, still feels sharp and not sloppy. Used to my V6 G6, Malibu and now G8 GT, it's always an adjustment just moving it around the driveway because of the lightness, but it's nowhere near the sloppy robot feel of the previous system and not problematic. Some people comment that the V6 car's system feels artificially heavy, and fewer say the 4-cyl electric is a bit light--either way, both are pleasant. And yes, if you did, stay away from a 4-cyl/4-spd car, it's just too much of a dog and hurts mileage enough, when compared to the 6-spd versions. While the 4-cyl/4-spd makes a 3.5L or 3.6L car feel like a scorcher, the 4-cyl/6-spd aside from pure torque, is a pleasant in between.

Nice choices. My quick takes: 1) Nothing wrong with an Impala given what you know about them, or having more than one. Solid/basic bones, efficient/moves well with a 3.5L (the 3.9L seems to not ever get a good review in terms of economy), and still decent looking especially if trimmed properly like that pictured higher end LT. On the downside, still blah, very all over the place, the W-body isn't the most sophisticated and feels it when driving, and though large with a big trunk, the mushy, low, and cramped rear seat in such a big car is pathetic. That alone made me steer mom away from one pre-Malibu when she wanted an SS...not if people can't comfortably sit in the back seat, no thanks. Good deals to be had, as always, it's the big bargain car new or used and never a bad choice, just depends. 2) Really like these, the G-body is still a tank and has very nice ride/handling/refinement, the interior is big, seats comfortable but not mush, and the interior--having just been in another, my aunts--the best of the trio when it comes to materials and quality. Overall, the most luxury of the bunch and solid, but the question being the 3.9L and economy. People don't seem to like it as much in this car either as the 3.8L before, but mileage isn't terrible, I'd just want to drive one for a while and see myself how it performed vs. that, and in this platform/size of car. Big trunk with a big opening & big back seat, all good. 3) Great smaller car but that's very efficient when it comes to interior space vs. outside size. It naturally seems "tight" to some people until you really look at & sit in it, with the really nice and firm seats, the back seat that's at the right level & has a lot of legroom with the carved out front seatbacks, etc. and is furnished also solidly with nice materials--not Lucerne grade in finish or quality, ultimately, though--and very quiet. The 4-cyl and V6 available are both the epitome of silky and silent in this EP-I chassis and both pull it around well. Having one in the family, I wouldn't recommend a 4-cyl/4-spd car unless you really like it, because it revs the daylights out of the 2.4L while making it seem sluggish at the same time, and mileage isn't gangbusters. It's decent enough, and like I said, silent and smooth generally, but the 2.4L/6-spd combo is notably more spunky--at the time I was driving and considering a 3.5L car, I really liked how this one drove, clearly with less torque, but very peppy nonetheless--doesn't peg at high RPM's out of gears to use, and is smoother and gets notably better mileage because of it. It's the powertrain combo, and the only one, this car should have had all along as a base but it just wasn't ready. Then you have the 3.6L. It's a lovely engine as far as sound and power--just screams, quietly, when trounced on--and actually doesn't do badly on gas, but isn't a 3.5L either in that regard. This car is trimmer, tighter, has terrific ride/handling and solidity/quiet but is also just not as much car when it comes to size or weight, and has a wide range of models and trims. I'd recommend trying a 4-cyl/6-spd if it comes of more interest, before a 3.6L if you're power hungry. Can't say which I'd ultimately choose, since each has their merits, but in order I'd say Malibu-Lucerne tied depending on if you want smaller or larger and then the Impala as a familiar wildcard. Hope any of this is useful, and post/ask more as you ponder further, especially for those of us who have also had one.

Perfect! As my father would always say, including to my mother when she was about to buy her first truck (Avalanche)--"Avoid 4wd, sucking extra gas and lugging around extra weight and friction. 2wd and a locker is all you want." That video is proof of exactly that, and why I still would only buy a 2wd GM truck/SUV if in the market :AH-HA_wink:

I could use this...I'm OCD over even a fingerprint inside or out, yet underhood never keep things more than wiped off occasionally. Then again, with a DD, it's understandable. Looking good, especially for Canada and all that entails

Here they're like the biggest fad ever, on anything. I first saw a set on a couple of Century's & LeSabre's driven by old guys, not too bad, and the right number. Then they started popping up on G6's, various random imports, and even an old Expedition or two...they always so perfectly compliment the "WTF?" look of the cars in the first place, especially the ones that are trashed but have those shiny new porthole stick-ons to make the look. Otherwise... Passed a brand new black on black '10 Camaro SS with the roof open & windows down today, looked "new car" detailed & had temporary plates, so yet another happy new owner somewhere locally. Then right behind it? A Carbon Black G6 GXP sedan...say what you may, but I like both in different ways and seeing such "old" GM right on the bumper of such great "new" GM but only a model year apart was great. Like Darth Vader, cool as crap, and knife cut edges, followed by his bucktoothed and extra gangly in sedan form--but still oddly eye catching--cousin.

I have this full episode on my iPhone...that Fiesta test is great :AH-HA_wink:

I need someone to come up with a proper sig pic/graphic that highlights the design & more so the Pacific Slate coloring for use here & elsewhere...hmm... :AH-HA_wink: Now, what would I like on there...I should figure this out finally... P.S., Thanks again, by the way. I just like staring at it out the window anymore, that darn color, wheels & tint with it...and even the horrible pinstripe some people like, some people hate. Good thing I've always liked it.

Another, better shot post un-lowering from today. So much better when it's clean, too. The front is still deceptively high and it doesn't show here, but all in all, I went from really starting to dislike a lot about the car's drive to not wanting to get out of it. Motto of the story, don't lower your car to "get rid of the extra gap/"improve" handling" unless you really know what you're getting into :AH-HA_wink:

Hmm...with Mobil 1. The G8 is due for an oil change after changing it at 80 miles before delivery-sat for a year--then 4k miles to Mobil 1 and now has 10k and the OLM reads 52% life remaining, but I want to stick to 5k's. Just not sure what I want in there next, though Mobil 1 would be easy & the dealer at least stocks it. Oil opinions are like butts...most people have one, and always have a different view of them. I just never know :AH-HA_wink:

It's just something about that car & colors like that...and moms :AH-HA_wink: I told her at least it would probably get better mileage than her 4-cyl Malibu pig does, and as long as it isn't fire engine red or yellow, she's good to go with my approval. But alas... This also falls into September, with yesterday alone me seeing at least 10 new Equinox's, again in every color & trim, and various states of brand new or filth, just cruising around. You'd swear, in no time at all, everyone and their brothers found out about the new model, drove it, and had to have one...but I'm still not sure how with the lack of marketing, generally. Doing great, and again, EVERYWHERE.

G8 needs properly & fully detailed again, oil changed, tires rotated...and then a hope for a light winter, or none, so the G8 doesn't get abused & I can continue to drive in all seasons on 19" summer Bridgestones, without issue :AH-HA_wink: Dad has a 1968 Dodge Coronet 440 project in the backyard that, uh, needs a lot of everything, continuing into winter & beyond...

Had an office mate call from downstairs at work & indirectly blame me for her Keurig coffee maker not working. I said I'd come look, since I just used it the morning before with no issue, and she's standing by it saying she had hit all the buttons, refilled with water, unplugged & plugged it back in, but nothing. I looked under the table, plugged in a freely dangling cord, it came back on & I walked away trying not to say anything, uh, mean. Dumasse. As for the hood thing...I did that on mom's Malibu with her & others in the car, actually looking for the parking brake. "Wait a minute..." as I had to get out & open/shut the hood...twice...DOH...

Freshly prepped Red Jewel '10 Camaro 2SS parked next to the yellow 2SS with ground effects & that's been sitting for an odd amount of time now at the local GM dealer...something about Red Jewel & polished wheels just POPS. Hell, it made my Malibu driving "I don't like red on anything" call me one day (a different Camaro, nonetheless) to say she was looking at a really shiny dark red metallic one and it was just such a "sharp car, really sharp car...I want one". If only.