caddycruiser

Of course. It was a GREAT weekend to be down here, for sure. Very mid-summer like...but in April.

Even though my '09 GT has one and I like it...I'll still agree just for consensus :AH-HA_wink: Otherwise, ocnblu, cool to hear you were down here. I was in Lewes all day working a model home and some other things, and could have taken you for a thrill ride in a G8, let alone just dealer lot pictures

No changes here, whatsoever. The G8 still gets daily cleaned in between the bigger weekly washes and depending on weather, the tank still filled with Shell 93 Premium to go with the custom tune, and all service will be dealer done--when that time comes. And I'm, uh, entertaining a few more things in the way of accessories, suspension bits, etc. As for the others, my brother's Regal is actually the opposite, with him doing everything from undercoating to new trim pieces here and there to a new gas tank and having sections of the frame replaced--daily, really, it's always something. No slowing down and a shed full of parts. Dad's Subie and Cadillac are, as always, "as they are" and ignored, and mom's Malibu is essentially sitting for a while as she's stuck at home recovering from spine surgery.

Bizarre in a Camaro, but a few people have done it with B/D body Roadmasters, a Fleetwood, and such--and it's quite fitting in those beasts.

Definitely...definitely. In a few hours, at most :AH-HA_wink: Good enough for me to drive 2 hours north, and we have pretty good ones down here as it is.

Nope...just like the convertible, comes in standard or GXP.

Cool. Cobalt doesn't mean it's pathetic, as it may not get respect or revere from most general people, but like most cars...there's always a following.

I should so do that in the G8...a roadtrip vacation somewhere. I haven't been on a vacation or, really, had any "time off" since, uh, about 5 years ago I think. I just never, ever getaway...to anywhere. gmcbob...Cool trip. Video, ey, what a good idea :AH-HA_wink:

Awesome present, if you do it. As for the dealer, I agree, and most went well in my regard there (great place...I'm picky), but my new favorite little place in Jersey just read my mind & felt like home in a way they couldn't match. It was a hard choice, for the most part. Intrigued to hear more about this if it happens...and to see how this particular car is equipped. Cool to have insider info, to check every little detail.

I concur again, but ignore the sticker. Dirty pictures, just dirty :AH-HA_wink: I don't buy from places who rivet, tape, etc. up their cars...hence my single striped, no front plate Jersey G8. Otherwise, why thank you...again. Thankfully 2 months into #3, I heart it and haven't had a single negative thought, comment, etc. about it. Unexpected for me, I just haven't looked back in an "I miss it" at all way for either #1 or #2, even though both were quite nice...uh, just, troubled. Weird, how that happened. The G8 makes me want to do things...a lot of them...just like with the Fleetwood, the desire to mod (only effective, clean, "could be OEM") things is non-stop. That's what will keep me extra entertained, for some time.

Yep...that would be who I'm talking about. A little south and to the left, from you, right over the border, ey?

If we're talking about the same dealer, when I was G8 shopping "they" back in February told me an official from GM was bringing a coupe over the next day for a special preview and I almost went back to see it. Too bad, however, in the end they and I didn't work out regarding the G8. Jersey did. I've always been a Solstice fan and through my, uh, 3 '08-09 GM vehicles considered one more than once. Just wasn't a great daily driver, and I always preferred a coupe/roof over the convertible...problem solved, at least on the latter, now. Make mine a GXP. The G8 could always use a friend. Hah.

New question, same topic... I signed up for and the payment was processed for my premium membership back on the 14th...yet it still hasn't been validated or the payment accepted. Who controls this stuff?

Completely true, and like I said, if anything it may be inspired design wise but not much else. Again, very much like our Chrysler LX cars where more was put into getting the whole car right, especially underneath, than extra bucks on softening and finishing up a few more interior details. I see and feel it everyday, and while some things like the glovebox door, bits of the center console & stack, etc. could be richened, the interior is still impressive, solid, has terrific seats, etc. As for the other comments here, regarding Zeta and the story around it, I picked up a really interesting "Autobiography" book on the full story of past Holden Commodore, etc. series and then how the VE came to be from start to finish. Really, REALLY interesting to read about the debates within GM as Holden was figuring out what to do for their next gen model vs. what the rest GM, particular GMNA, felt they should do (especially regarding the 110% world disconnect where GM officials from here seriously could not understand why the new Holden sedan series couldn't just use a current Chevy sedan of ours, FWD and all, and be successful...), etc. only for Holden to eventually design what they always wanted from scratch with Zeta. Did it make everyone within GM happy? Of course not. But at the same time, the new Commodore thank god isn't a restyled Impala, G-body Buick based, etc. It isn't perfect, but it's damn good, inspired by the Sigma but more cost effective and stouter, and has made for some killer cars.

Borg...I heart you. And so agree. Sounds like a review of mine after getting back from, well, anywhere. Hah. Malls = something I don't frequent, ever. Then again, we just have the outlets locally.

It's definitely not Audi comparable, other than being "inspired" I would say in design and some textures. Not that I'm used to it, it is very good and very solid, but also clearly not done with a limitless budget. Door panels and seats are terrific, as is the dash top and such, but lower dash and center console is all essentially harder, shinier stuff. That said, it's still a quality piece, and between the layout, the Blaupunkt, the door panels & dash, etc. definitely not typical American based design. Could really be taken to the next level with more polished and solid lower dash panels and center console/lid, for sure. It's actually a bit like the Chrysler LX cars in this regard, to a unique level, where the money clearly went into the overall design, structure, suspension, drivetrains, etc. and a bit less put into every bit of the interior. But it's still quite well done, as is.

Apparently. They never liked me, as much as I tried to like them...reallly :AH-HA_wink:

Seriously? Even my new Malibu driving mother apparently saw that commercial and said to all of us "Hey, did you see that cool new Kia in the commercials with the hamster? So cute. What is the car?" Guess the marketing is working. Otherwise, Cory, how's the barely used Cobalt doing yet in regards to the clunks and thunks you first noticed, aside from the trans performance and such? I still don't know why, but I actually preferred the 2.2L/4-spd in the lighter '07 Malibu I had a bit to our '08 2.4L/4-spd, partly for economy and partly because of how zingy it felt and with better placed shiftpoints, oddly. Ah, the days of 37mpg...I always wondered why the last gen Malibu with that engine could pull off numbers even better than some Cobalts of the day with the same little runner underhood.

Nope. The first people to report the "changes" were with Aura's that only come from Fairfax, and then as '09 production continued on and we started a direct comparison/log of Fairfax vs. Orion Malibu's also on the forum, the same was true. It apparently was one of those unspoken, not noted revisions. If you had never been in an earlier model or just aren't too sensitive to noticing such things, you'd not notice. But if you compared both an '08 and '09, were trading an earlier one for a newer one (some Saturn Aura guys came in here), you likely would...something. Roger...exactly true. I wouldn't tell anyone to fret over a 3.6L/6-spd EP or any GM, after what then was going on with my Malibu too, as I've driven quite a few from a G6 GXP to other Malibu's and of course Lambda's, all perfect. I compared it once to a friend's '08 GXP, too, to confirm my sanity and hers is and was perfect after 15k or so miles--just a strong, smooth, screamer as normally known. But, too, something is up and there's a handful of GM cases right now regarding the issue, so we'll see where it goes. Yes. Oh, the world is right again...and who'd a thunk you could be happy with the gas bill with a 6.0L underhood? Really.

Dead on review Roger...though I had issues and a few other posts were made, I hope it wasn't implied the EP cars are excessively trouble prone. They have their common bugs, but overall are very good and solid midsizers for most owners. Case in point, our '08 Malibu that impresses everyday. Terrific car, well, except for the power/efficiency that I now get carped on for after selecting the 2.4L/4-spd combo for the queen. You also made an interesting point on seats. I'm not sure what it is or was, as the basic guts of the seats are also shared but otherwise they're different, but while I was comfortable on the somewhat flatter cloth seats in my G6, there was always something off about the shaping of the Bu's front seats, particularly how they force my shoulders forward. I noticed it before, but it was never an issue until I had one. Also used to give me some pretty bad lower back pain on long drives, again something I couldn't figure out. Oh well. I guess once your first 2 cars ever are consecutive RWD, V8 Cadillac Fleetwoods, there's a "feel" thing that's hard to get over, as well as a size & comfort one, even if I previously thought that was something I no longer did want. Tires squawking pavement into 2nd and sometimes, possibly, 3rd can be fun...then let off and cruise silently with AFM active frequently, getting great mileage. All on a platform that's not a lightweight, for sure, but is built to handle monster power and quite the beating, and still ask for more. Ah, Zeta...I want to marry you.

I concur. I actually really liked how my G6 ran and drove, well, if it was having a good day and nothing was chiming or creaking too badly, but if I hopped from it into our '08 Malibu 2LT at the same time, or vice verse, WHAT a difference. As I said when I got my Malibu replacement, then, almost hard to believe they were on the same platform in a lot of ways. Though, however, the "new" EP-I Malibu's and Aura's have started apparently loosing some of the original polish, with reduced insulation, use of the original triple laminated glass, etc. and are noisier. Overall still definitely better than the G6, but not as they started in '07/08 overall--I could tell that difference as well between my '09 and my mother's '08, as far as road/wind noise slightly and the sound of the doors closing. Weird, but it's been discussed in some other forums in relation to new '09s. Our '08 Malibu 2LT 4-cyl continues on well, solid and silent as could be (impresses me every time I ride in it, still), although my Subie driving father is liking it less and less day by day. Moans about the seats & ingress/egress, and moreso that the power & fuel economy with the 2.4L/4-spd aren't great (okay, actually, today he actually said "on the highway I put it to the floor and it's revving but dead as a doornail, slurping down gas doing it"). Mom loves it, and it has been nearly faultless, however. The G6, maybe so. It seems to have had more than its fair share of issues, in a lot of different ways, for sure. The Aura and Malibu seem to have improved on this greatly, which is good, yet still of course I end up with one that has a drivetrain issue--not exactly Epsilon related, but rather a 6T transmission flooey of some random sort that is becoming more and more common with more on the road--we're still monitoring it with actual report #'s on a Malibu forum, owner by owner. I posted these in the other thread...I have a LOT of videos, as I had to drive daily with my video camera to record all of the madness, but here's a few good ones back in my G6 days: The last 2 were from "the day" that GM called me later that afternoon, apologizing again and offering me the trade repurchase...oh, fun times. Too bad the Pontiac Excitement with this car meant videotaping the latest surprise day by day. Hah.

I've just started watching my G6 videos again...wow...what a car it was. These were some random classics: The last 2 were from "the day" that GM called me later that afternoon, apologizing again and offering me the trade repurchase...oh, fun times. Too bad the Pontiac Excitement with this car meant videotaping the latest surprise day by day. Hah. Still, a shame, because design, interior, powertrain, etc. I really, really liked this car, G6-ness and all. Then again, with a G8, out of sight out of mind...I'm certainly not missing anything much, hah.

At least that thing is almost gone...then again, not. Ah, the Impala. I must say, having had 2 Epsilons with more problems that I could possibly spend a day on detailing, I got the chance to ride in the service shuttle '08 Impala LS many, many times and wasn't disappointed. Mushy mouse-fur seats and the worst, no legroom rear seat of a lot of sedans--let alone one that large--but overall a solid, smooth car and the 3.5L/4-spd always felt like buttercream in comparison to the same in my G6 and especially the bonkerific rumbling and shuddering 6-spd in my Malibu. That said, either Epsilon still was more polished, crisper handling and with better seats and space inside...but I wasn't totally unimpressed by the dinosaur W. Lord knows, I depended on that old boat with non-stop service shuttle miles most of all some days.

Very true, but that's life and the effect of current times. Such a shame, but we've discussed this before. Especially given facts like that my Malibu 3.6L 4 month "lifetime" average fuel economy never got past 21 daily or 25/26 on highway cruises, but my G8 with the 6.0L and all that pesky weight, RWD, etc. easily pulls mid 18's with a lot of redlights, sitting, and the same stopping & going. Do a steady cruise, even just as I did the other morning from the Shell station to work with no redlights and I hit 24.5, or higher on all highway with beastly. 4-cyl mode is a great thing, as is a transmission that's actually uses the power effectively vs. the slosh, bog & bang driver connected to the 3.6L. I did like the sound and feel of the 3.6L, as expected, but eh. Then again, the issues I had, and that I wasn't the only one with, didn't help my impression.

Thanks...I concur. The G6 interior, especially, looked completely different in taupe/black, but also clearly not to the Malibu level as far as the dash and center console. But, I must say, details of the door panels at least in my G6 with matching cloth inserts and such were better than parts of the standard Malibu fair, to an extent, both in looks and feel. Otherwise, it was really interesting to have both a new G6 and then a new Malibu back to back...same guts, but so definitely not the same car. Too bad both had issues. Then again, out of sight, out of mind now. The G8 Pacific Slate really is something else. Partly because it looks so great and also partly because it's not a "common" shade lately. If anything, it's most like the ex Bermuda Blue on GM SUV's that was offered for a short time, very popular, then cut. They're not overly easy to find, either, I must say when it comes to G8's. The vast majority are black, red, silver, or white. I had NO trouble picking a color this time around when I decided I wanted a G8...and after silver-white-white, who'd a thunk I'd go with this in the first place. Not typically a blue or green fan, but this is too cool and looks hot a GT Sport G8, especially with black glass and such.