caddycruiser

Got to check out a new red '10 Lacrosse CXL at "my" dealer in Jersey yesterday, after I stopped on my way back from Roger's to have 2 recall reflashes done on 'ole G8. I pulled in and saw it on the corner...had to see more. They happily threw me the key and said "have at it". Gorgeous car and, of the "new" GM, just stunning in detail and quality. The fact that I had the new flipkey (that all will now have in GM, as models are renewed) in my hand and curiously touched the colored spot on the door handle and it unlocked says a lot about how different this car (and other new releases) is. Not a crooked piece, weird gap, bad material, anything in site, and it just oozes premium and luxury. The center console when sitting up front does seem overpowering and high at first, because it's so different than most cars, but you get used to it and it definitely is a big part of the style inside. Buttery leather, glossy real'ish wood placed appropriately, chrome, soft touch everything, fully upholstered and stitched dash and doors, etc., etc. and lovely swooping lines outside. I wanted it. I'll have to post a more detailed review and more pictures elsewhere, sometime.

Edit to part of this...I kept saying the wrong gear ratio, because I got it confused with a '93 tow package car. This LT1 iteration with the 7k rated tow package has 3:42's. Still, compared to other models, that makes for a big difference. Cuts fuel mileage a hair, but gets the car out of the gate easier and more sprightly all around, so regardless.

Having finally seen, checked out, and taken a ride in this car yesterday with Roger and the owner...what a beast;-) Nothing 13 years old is perfect and neither is this car, but I know them inside and out and it's about as solid and well maintained as any you could find today, especially for the price. Few little odds & ends (literally, like a vent knob, a window roller, etc.) that will be needed, but thanks to my many years with these cars, I have most for him. It will be a change going from a new Aura to a Fleetwood, for sure, but it should give many continued years of comfortable and enjoyable driving...and showing off

Looks good Roger :AH-HA_wink: My G8 is exactly the same with only the rear windows done, and I believe with 20%--they're "black" and I'm so glad I had the Jersey dealer get it done for me. Same laws in DE as NJ. Though it looks perfect from the outside, in the light on mine I'm not pleased with the scratches and marks on the inside tint of both back doors, but alas--I'll get it re-done someday, somewhere. Good move. Keeps the car cooler (definitely), looks much better, and even with the fronts still clear, keeps some light and heat out of the front as well. On my car with the black interior, that plus the rear tint fools you into thinking the fronts are also done, which I quite like. Now, as for the black/black/black Caddy...I recommend the same at some point

When it comes to cars like this, the calculator sites are out of skew because the cars are too few, the condition varies too much, and it's largely an enthusiast market. I can tell you, having had 2 and knowing them inside and out for years, this car is about as close to the holy grail of Fleetwood as you'll get at this point. 1) 1996...the last year, most updates, lowest production. 2) Black/black/black...need I say more. Presidential, anyone? 3) Brougham package...common, but a must have with better seats, etc. 4) V4P trailering package...rare as rare gets on these LT1 models, turns an otherwise comfy/quick car into a firmer, quicker beast, AND has a 7k tow rating specific to the Fleetwood that no other factory B/D body could match. 3:42 rear gears, thank you, and FE2 suspension, plus heavier cooling and such. All with the LT1/4L60E underhood. 5) Lower miles, fine condition inside and out and well maintained. There's so few of these cars, at least the more desirable later years in decent colors, anymore, finding a good example elevates it that much more. 6) No sunroof or factory chrome wheels, but alas, it's a beast and loaded otherwise. I miss my '95 after selling it last year, and can say I would buy this car myself if in the position to do so and it wasn't for Roger. Tentatively planning for a trip up on Saturday to give the car my expert, non emotional (hah, Roger :AH-HA_wink: ) review and we'll see from there.

Taking the spotlight off Roger for a bit...me. Hmm. G8 GT now and it will stay regardless, and for some time. That said, next up may be the addition of some kind of SUV, small or medium, think Equinox'ish. At least that's my latest thought, though last time it was Corvette. And after that, Tahoe. Both of which would be used, if the pick. But probably something more practical with some height and also a 4-cyl/6-speed or efficient V6, of some sort. No rush. Just a friend to the G8, eventually. Oooh. Or a Solstice coupe, too. I'd do that before a Corvette, for sure, and keep with my Pontiac lineage. Wow, all GM's. A lot of outside possibilities too...but just too many to go through.

Perhaps... :AH-HA_wink: Stay tuned. We'll see soon enough if confirmed, which I'm helping out with. Let's just say it's a lot different than Roger's '07 Aura...a lot.

Yep, and it's supposed to be on Nightline, the full story, around 11:35'ish tonight...cool story, for once.

Great!

Nah, he has a more interesting and little older ride in mind, and that I approve of, if it happens. An interesting mix of nice and not commonplace.

Hee hee. That, uh, would be questionable...que the banjos...

Great, great, great move...love the M5, old friend C5 or not :AH-HA_wink:

Red G8 V6, brand new temp tag red G8 GT, black G8, and an orange G8 on my way from home to Bethlehem yesterday--that never happens and I never see one, let alone 4+. Also, on the way home, was on I-95 with a new '10 black Mazda CX-7. I didn't think they were out yet, given the blog chat/pic post of the new nose, but it clearly had a different snoze and was brand new, all shiny black and chrome, and looked really sharp.

Yes, that would be it--driveshafts can't leak. And the V1 CTS tends to go through a lot of rear diffs, whether a base V6 or a V. Many start as noise, leaking, or any combination, and dealers are used to replacing them. If you've gone 49k without having such an issue, that's great, and it shouldn't be too bad of a fix. Perfect timing to have them check it out, it seems. But yes, too, thank god for warranties...although, this is coming from someone who's so into modifying anything and everything on his 6 month old G8, at least one thing is now lacking some warranty coverage, at least without a fight--the suspension.

Wow, great pics. I've worked with a guy for 3 years, originally from Montana and now in Delaware after literally sampling every state except for Alaska & Hawaii, and if there's anything he still talks about...1) the lack of humidity ("I rolled down my window when I got here and I felt like I was wet...") and 2) the sites, rivers/streams, etc. out there. Not a place I could ever see myself, especially with his stories of a root cellar and a VW engine they had hooked up in their shed to "make" their electricity...but, you know, still an interesting place.

Yeah, again, with anything like this, it really comes down to is it really the right thing you want, at a price that makes it worthwhile if you'll keep it, the mileage/age/maintenance vs. that price, and all versus something new if it's a used car new/priced high enough...still worth it? Lucerne, Park Avenue, all strong and definitely high on the longevity factor, but again, all only for the right price/mileage/etc. combo. Always a big question, with a lot of variables. Hence your thread here and us discussing it :AH-HA_wink:

Oooh...good. I'm coming back up on Saturday for a little car stuff again and casino hit #2, and glad to hear it. Maybe I can even tour around this time, find a place I like, and miraculously find a new job...all in...hmm...2 hours? May as well camp, explore, etc. while the weather is still like this. Then again, what's it like up "there" in winter? I'm used to western PA and Delaware/Philly and if I can get moved north, I still wonder, realistically.

Me with guys from the racing shop and another GTO owner beside me, at the Sands casino in Bethlehem, PA and actually doing well...5 minutes and I was hooked, like all the "almost deads". Fuzzy iPhone pics...

VERY nice. Magneride, 18" stock wheels, Northstar, etc. and just a very solid, refined, etc. car with nice materials, room, and features. Almost had my mother into a CXL a couple of years back, only for her to decide coming from a Suburban, a car was just TOO small. Yeah, and then bought a Malibu. Lots of used Lucernes, all over, fewer of which are the "top" CXS's and those are least often ex rentals, although many leased/corporate cars. All depends on what you really might want vs. the price. Unlike the U-vans, an extremely well built and reliable platform and model specifically, really with the only common things being hard to diagnose vibrations/shakes (but if it's used, with some miles, that's pretty much ruled out usually). Otherwise, good. Lucernes aren't exciting, but do well as a luxo sedan and the CXS/Magneride/Northstar guise transforms it over all the common V6 CX and CXL ones out there. So...an interesting choice...I'd buy one used, definitely, if looking for a loaded luxo sedan with cheaper/local/GM maintenance and a nice price due to higher depreciation, sort of.

I was never impressed with the quality of the '97-04 models, but they generally had nice driving dynamics and lots of people clearly liked them. If not for the infamous 3.4L intake gasket issues, they were quite strong on the lack of big problems front, just typical late 90's plasticky GM "stuff". Some loose parts, lots of rattles and creaks, and shiny stuff galore inside. Otherwise, the '05-08 models certainly had a more solid structure and higher quality/better interior design, but it seems like they had more than their share of trim, electrical, and other issues. Anything from alternator redesigns to try and quell headlight dimming/radio-DVD hissing issues, radios crapping out, a few clunks and such from the front and back end suspension, and--despite the more solid build--weird quality issues like side moldings that refused to stay attached and such. AND, earlier or later versions, the same problematic power sliding door system. Funny, GM was the first to do it, and in the end without ever updating the design much, it became the worst and most trouble prone. Some have been very good, others have not. If shopping the GM vans, I'd be most inclined to stick to an '07-08 and most likely a Terrazza with the standard independent rear, extra quieting, and slightly better interior trimmings. If van considering, GM blinders on aside, I would definitely make sure to drive a few other similarly used brand's models and see what you think. None are perfect and most are quite different from one another, especially in the build-refinement-reliability categories, none acing them all, but a few getting a lot closer than others. By the way...I oddly LOVE minivans. Something to do with the '97 Grand Voyager we had, my grandfather's '97 Aerostar, and a few others. Just love 'em.

An all "original" 1980 Camaro Z-28 in red & gold with 46k miles in a driveway closer to the beach, with a For Sale sign and a few of those highlights on the front window. Looks like a new old car. No idea about price, but I assume not pennies.

Yes. At the local LAM you've visited, on Saturday my first drive thru in a while was shocking...so little of any inventory left, it looked like a closing dealership. But no. Just a lot of sales and a LOT less orders/deliveries. There's always been 2 "sides" of the lot, and one that used to be decently packed is now literally home to the last 5 G6's and not another anything. As for new 2010's... I've checked out Equinox's, a lot of new '10 Malibu's that arrived a little bit ago, and several '10 Enclaves. Other than the Equinox's, for "new" releases, nothing. No new Taurus's, no new Lacrosse's, and the occasional few Camaro's, but no base LS's--although, on the latter, I do know a few dealers further away definitely have a couple of the no option/etc. models.

Yeah, vacation. I think the only break I'll have this year will be the interim between when I resign and am moving...I hope as soon as possible... I love working in a place where I not only do the work of a team, but really, honestly can't leave for more than a day or even often skip out on weekends because I try to "catch up". It's a good way to burn out, and do so quickly, I must say :AH-HA_wink: I've never camped...well, unless you count sleeping in the camper parked outside grandma's house because it was cool at night and more fun than a foldable cot in the house...but OCN's story had me thinking of myself cruising out in the G8 somewhere in PA, tenting up, and going all in. Then again, they do probably have a Hilton somewhere I could just have a nice view of nature....

Haha, Roger...Roger...

A vacation...what's a vacation? I haven't had one of "those" in many years, so I know what you mean by needing it, and then some. Sounds like a fun adventure, even with the rain and the surprise broken wheel stud. It's actually even more interesting as I think more about my probable move to eastern PA before long...hmm...so that's what kind of outings I could have up there...not bad. Not beachy, but that's not a bad thing. Maybe I'd actually look more forward to down here, up there. Nice to see you back :AH-HA_wink: