caddycruiser

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.

Thanks Roger...and thanks for reminding me to actually get some of this stuff posted here :AH-HA_wink: I have not forgotten about that black beast...we'll email. I will say this. I understand "forget this...I just want something new and not a project". I do. But I can also say, even old and even a project, in the end it's still more affordable and sane to have something like you do now, than a new payment and still always "want" more. Mine is NEVER done and it, ahem, just rolled 10k today, and is new, and has a warranty, etc. I love it, but sometimes I just think if only I had stayed with something like Roger has now and kept playing. It's a thought, at least, but then I move on.

Thanks to a GREAT performance shop in Maryland this time, today I took the day off (that's rare...) and drove over the bridge to have my car un-lowered & straightened out otherwise. The new dampers & springs I had driven on for 5k miles in stages definitely tied it down to the road, got rid of the extra wheel->fender gap, and generally still rode well for what it was. But I continued liking it less and less since the start, even going back & forth on the stance (especially after curbing my front fascia and recently hitting my new one on the road trying to get out of a relative's driveway), plus I started having more and more vibration issues and got a nasty creak & groan in one back corner. It had a nice look & was flickable, but my butt just never liked it, and I was always wincing over bumps & fretting new rattles. So today back to stock it went, aside from bushings (which did make great fixes/changes and should have been the only thing I did all along), just with the twist of now having a bit more GXP underneath...new FE3 struts & shocks from the GXP. From that it was found that the alignment I had done at one point was a mess (I could have sworn something was off...but kept driving, no time to even check it out again), and after removing the aftermarket pieces, fitting new OEM, and properly aligning, I LOVE it. It looks like it raised to the sky and is almost 4x4 now, but a lot of that I think is just my eye not used to the original stance. Regardless, it now rides 100x better, handles just as well for how I drive, and is thankfully noise free again. Not good photo lighting...but on the alignment rack, newly raised to the clouds again, and getting ready to roll: Yeah, THAT was an expensive mistake...well, not a mistake, but more of a I didn't know what I really liked or wanted until after I had done it. Typical Derek, in other words :AH-HA_wink: Things are calming down for a while, I think, aside from detailing now...that I can do without spending any more dough...

There are a couple of different vendors based in Australia who specialize in basically selecting, pricing with the conversion rate, selling and shipping Holden spec parts to the US on order. Very easy and for a while there, and still to some extent, it's no more expensive to get than you'd pay for similar things here. JHP and "Crazy Paul" are the ones, and generally, especially Paul (very well known Australian guy on one of the G8 forums) can get ANYTHING for these cars you might want or research which part is which, and figure things out. They also go as far as to sell full Holden front fascias/hoods/etc. for conversions, which are easy. It's actually kind of funny because even the "Pontiac" stuff you order for a G8 from GM here, whether it be a grille, a bumper, or a piece of trim, still comes in an Australian box with a Holden sticker. All Holden, through and through, even the twin kidney grilles. Center stack is just a lot of Omega (lower model) pieces swapped out in place of what was there. There's a few different dash arrangements for the VE & long wheelbase versions of these cars, all with the same basis, and made as such so things are different but still often swappable.

A red '10 GMC Terrain SLT with the standard machined wheels and all new-shiny with PA tags...looks very cool on the road from the front & sides, and makes that "small" crossover platform seem trucky, if only the rear were nicer and less Rendezvous. It's just like when the Envoy-Trailblazer came out. I didn't like the Envoy and thought it looked strange, vs. the "cool" Trailblazer, then the Chevy got too common and the Envoy became the ritzier twin. Love the new Equinox lines inside & out, but I've already seen so many of them, everywhere, in every color and trim, my eye is now going more to the Terrain as the unique choice with those guts, and more standout.

Aye, THAT'S the event I missed this weekend...I knew I was forgetting something good, over in DC. Nice overview & reviews :AH-HA_wink:

Another one I didn't remember until you brought it up. Initially, I thought the exterior, black rub strips and all, was awful, then I saw & sat on the inside of a few. Wow, not only poor materials & fits, but actually the reverse of style, with the flat but bumpy slab across the dash, and then the occasional "whoa...is this an old truck?" cloth upholstery. That car was a poster child for advertising bad design, materials, and all else. Good thing the mechanicals and drive were solid enough, as otherwise, yeck.