caddycruiser

Yeah, this one in particular is an '08 G6 GT Coupe in White Diamond with Light Taupe cloth (try and find that...why dealers order nothing but black interiors, I'll never know...), Sun & Sound Package (Sunroof & 6CD), Floor Mats, the White Diamond paint ($495...), 18" Alloy Wheels (much different look than the stock chrome-tech 17's...and I like them more), Trunk Net, and Remote Start. Basically every single thing plus the paint charge but no leather. MSRP: $26,050 (JUST over that one mark, hah) Supplier: $24,938 Not the same car, but same thing: ^^The last shot is priceless in just the right lighting... And yes, these things sure have some grunt. I expected GM pushrod peppy from the 3.5L, but with the gearing of the GT...hold on. The 3.6L GXP also had a lot of power but the GT alone felt even punchier in typical driving and with a nice growl, even stock exhaust.

I know! Things get busy...and I get distracted. I'll still be sending you something, even if you're in a distant land :AH-HA_wink: Hey, uh, I'll even ship it over for you...think it's a standout here, imagine in Europe, hah.

While I was car shopping AGAIN today...fresh black G8 GT with red leather (whoo...) and the Sport package with larger wheels. First of the four my dealer is FINALLY getting, the next of which are a gray GT and 2 matching gray V6's with zero options. For $27k...if only they had a decent lease! Very impressive car, stunning paint, and door handles (and I presume most else) that feel like finely lubed billet that will last and be smooth for years.

Yeah, I've said for years now while challenging myself through 4 years of college and an engineering degree that graduation & new job would also mean new car, and have made my "list" for a long time. Well, I'm finally there, and thanks to finding out about the SmartBuy as a good thing and not a bad thing, it opened up even more choices. Above the starting budget I thought about, but so are most things I'd WANT to actually pay for and not just have because they were cheap (Fit, HHR, etc.). Funny mention of the convertible too! My dealer has one GXP coupe, about 3 1SV sedans, and about 4 base 4-cyl sedans, as well as 2 convertibles. The newest is a Diamond White convertible and every time I'm there she wants me to look at it. "What about a convertible...what about a convertible". I like them, but the price is really above the threshold and I'd much more use a sunroof than a full retractable hardtop...a bit much for me. But I finally sat in that car today when we were running short on choices with Taupe cloth and she suggested I take a look at the Taupe leather. Liked it, but still don't want leather. And don't want a convertible, as much as she'd like to sell the $33k beauty to me :AH-HA_wink: Still funny to me the payment on a base 1LT Malibu was more than a much more decked out G6, but as she said, that closed that door quickly. They put some of the best terms on the G6 as far as leases and SmartBuys over most other GM cars, as I found out. Not dirt cheap in the $100's, but a LOT of car and a cool one at that. I think this could work...but still making an Excel sheet of the financial outlook.

GMTruckGuy74- I was just going to sell it to my brother for that much just to have it out of my hands and to someone I KNEW would take care of it, so it's not out of the question :AH-HA_wink: This one G6 is SO perfect, it's not even funny. Exactly what I'd order if I were doing so, I think. And "like a sign" in the short trip back and fourth to the dealer late this afternoon I saw THREE G6 coupes, and stared at all of them. I literally sat with her for an hour and a half throwing out color combos and backing off one option or another going "maybe". After assuming from before that they were iffy with this one Jersey dealer, when she finally gave in and called it was smiles and "this might be your lucky day" to me. I really want it. I'm just puttering around the numbers of life and seeing how it fits into the budget. Well, that, and coming up with a crafty story for the 'rents about the why & how. Here's another interesting factoid. As I've been considering MANY different G6 coupes in the $25-26k MSRP range to lease (all for right around $350 a month), I also finally thought to tinker with the idea of a new Malibu for similar terms but even less expensive. Before leaving, we ran the numbers on a new BASE 1LT (just side moldings) for under $22k. For the same terms, and $4k lower sticker, such a Malibu would come out to MORE per month--about $3 higher per month than the $26k G6. Great car, especially having one with 5k on it, but not for less stuff and more money than the awesome coupe...in all its Pontiac garishness. Mulling...mulling...and more mulling. My latest idea was just to go ahead with it and say there's no rush to get it or do delivery, and maybe even keep it at the dealer for a little bit "sold" while I move the Fleetwood out. Don't know yet. OH...and for anyone wondering. My salesperson did say the 0% for 72 did pick things up but "doesn't fix everything" regarding things like still a lot of people coming in to trade out of big trucks and SUV's and they can't offer them much of anything for them. The price and financing of the new is great, and helps, for sure, but not hugely so.

YES...I went there at lunch to talk colors and then back after work for an hour and a half to get serious and sit on the dealer system with my favorite saleslady and locate me something "I want" in theory. Thankfully she can put up with my "maybe this...no...maybe this...yes...no...no gray, not white...no leather...maybe leather"--she finds me entertaining. That said, I finally did get THIS close. I knew from sitting on the GM websites for a few hours and searching hundreds of miles what was out there, from DE to MD to NJ to PA to VA, etc. Thankfully too, they actually have a G6 in EVERY color on the lot and I went out 3 times to check them all out and think...and think...and think. Apparently dealers everywhere will order Ebony cloth interiors ALL day long until blue in the face, but very few stock any with the Light Taupe cloth (so nice...2 tone with black) in any color. Well, at least with my first choice of White Diamond there were some--one in Jersey that is "perfect" and that I've known about for a while. I still couldn't be 110% on color, but looking at them all, the White Diamond convertible kept making me stare. They dealer trade cars all the time and have good relationships with some and nada with others, and this one was iffy. So we tried a few others in PA to some success (were rude on the phone to her, but available cars) and kept searching. Ran me numbers on all of them too, which were to my liking (okay, not really, but since I've gotten stuck on the G6 after Fits and HHRs, really good for such loaded cars) and kept talking. She wasn't sure about dealing with the one dealer but finally said "I know you want this one, it has everything--let me call". Good news. The car is available and they were even nice to her...but it only made me more excited AND more anxious about what I'm doing. So, I'm literally a few signatures away from doing a SmartBuy on a LOADED White Diamond/Taupe G6 GT coupe for $350'ish a month. Just have to give the yay or nay. I SO want to say yay, just still fretting over the cost and also WTF to do about still having the Caddy. If I can sell it by tomorrow morning, that would seal it more :AH-HA_wink: but in the meantime I'm just worried about explaining how the hell I just bought a new car decked to the max without the cash from the Caddy as a down payment, etc. Oy. But yeah, I'm THIS close. Was even going to go to the Ford dealer as I said...but drove right past. I have to spend all night putzing over this and trying to come up with a good story about how and why. Oooh...and to seal it, I even got the GMAC credit application "here, just take it with you..." and a smile. We'll see (my usual response). Okay guys...tell me I NEED to have a $26k G6 coupe...

I'm really back to the G6 coupe again and stopped at my dealer for lunch (if nothing else, we like to chat). No busier than usual, just a few retirees, including some looking for "lightly used Buicks". Hah. That said, if I go G6, I've been trying to nail down color. Her (sales) and I do think the White Diamond is quite the "pretty" color (and "from Cadillac" as she said), yet I flip-flop. Looks great, but, eh. Then there's Dark Steel Gray which is the same as our Malibu and which I really like. Also, Blue-Gold, which sort of came out of nowhere...but I like it. Also silver, but everyone has Silver. And Black Granite, which I really like, as it's black (wow...) but pearl to add a cool effect and not as instantly swirl-ific, yet also dark-dark, hot, etc. I'm still pretty set on the 5-spoke 18" wheels. Otherwise, yay or nay on sunroof...another hmm. Knocks a grand off, but I like it, but I don't know. Hmm, hmm All this color and options deciding, on an impulse buy car, until I change my mind, hah.

GMTruckGuy74 - Hah, yes, got it. I keep thinking I should at least drive a Fusion...but then that I'd have similar thoughts to everyone else. The 0% thing is enticing, though I still want to lease for my situation...or at least desired situation. Nothing down, lower payments, and turn it in at the end with no worries. I think. Then again, if the price is right alone, a 0% loan works out nicely too, even without anything down...well, to a certain extent. That said, there is something else new and intriguing. What? Leftover (and really leftover...) 2007 G6 coupes. There's a handful and several that aren't that far, in particular the now defunct GTP trims. I like these as they were pre-GXP batmobiles, and essentially look like a GT with the 18's...yet also have the 3.6L. Hah, not exactly the efficient little Ecotec I was looking towards again or even the 3.5L, but fun. All the dealers with them ($28k stickers) are quoting $22.5k. The problem? Being so old now, they're good cash deals, but no good GM financing and not possible to lease or SmartBuy anymore. In the mood to go shopping again today. Maybe.

SRX "deals" are always generally good, as the pricing is on the higher end and they don't move much without the discounts--and this is no different. Sometimes you really have to check on those Edmunds dealer incentives which tend to be valid, but sometimes aren't, are missing, etc. as well, and then just deal with the dealer...again, typically not an issue on an SRX. Dying or not, it's a great vehicle and proof is how it continually got on "best of" or even 1st place finishes with several mags.

Yes, that is true...the less common, the better Eh, I really like them, but not something I really HAVE to wait around for. If doing GM and a lease, by the time it's ending, would be a perfect time to check one out after they've settled a bit.

Hah, yeah. I've been SO averse to the G6 for so long, I'm still at internal odds over "did I REALLY like it that much?" But I did, at least the coupe. Right now I'm in the whole what the heck do I want vs. what do I want to pay stage again, and trying to point myself in some direction. Who knows, at this point (okay, not, but seems like it) I'll just have the Fleetwood for the second decade of its life as a daily. Hah.

As I've said before...DEFINITELY thought about it. Popular choice, and to standout, I really like the SE's and SEL's with the Sport package. The wheels, spoiler, and interior "red" really pump it up a few levels. Great driving car, too, without even the sometimes typical GM Epsilon clunks and such. There is a dealer 2 doors down from my work, but I just never go over there

Hah, really? :AH-HA_wink: The only one CLOSE by is the black GXP at "my dealer", but it's inside and the display...otherwise, sure, they would have let me have it for the day like any car. On that note, I think one would still be fun, and taking a survey at work (yes, really) "fun, sporty, convertible" came up several times, but the practicality makes me wonder. Well, only a tad, as I still check out the used listings daily. Seriously though, while I'm still living at home, if I have to hear one more time "you REALLY need to get something new and smaller and better on gas, and, and, and...", I'll run out and do it. Today was funny, as even my mother had seen and heard the 72 hour sale mantra and not only sent me an email at work about it but said more than once tonight it would be a great time and "don't have to pay interest". This was also the time I got the talk that I don't "need" all the fancies like a sunroof, leather, etc. to which I laughed. Sure, but as I said, 13 years old or not, it's stunning, and impossible to go from a Fleetwood...to a base Cobalt, for instance. I'm really trying to figure out what I truly can go without, but don't want to scrimp too much. Otherwise, why bother, other than the newness. I'm pepped up again after a tiring weekend, to do more shopping, so we'll see. My only choices during the day are the 3 domestic makers, 1 of which I won't touch with a 10ft pole (well, almost), the other (Ford) that I'm intrigued by but not "gotta", and GM that I can't--despite my efforts--seem to get away from. Actually, in that regard, the right dealer and favorite friend and salesperson there are why. Going to play with some numbers again tonight, and again try to maybe email those of you interested in the Fleetwood (after promising and never doing it...yet).

They are an ugly little bird but very impressive on the solidity, refinement, efficiency, and price aspects. If the inside and outside were ONLY even Cobalt pleasant/low key, they'd be even more popular. Then again, I see SO many of them around now in various states of filth and being driven by anyone from teens to their great grandmothers, maybe people like the chunky robot looks, or at least are accepting of it for the rest. Overall, a good choice, and one of the best domestic values...well, as long as it doesn't make you puke taking a look and feel. Then you're good to go :AH-HA_wink:

EVERY time I see a black or gray coupe with the 18" wheels on the road or wherever I can't help but go "Oooh...". Enterprise special G6 sedans are EVERYWHERE, but the coupe still does stand out as pretty cool...and not nearly as common. Saw a black convertible (very similar, with the top up) at a light today, and lost track of driving. Hah. Today I was thinking Fusion more as I reconsidered the engine size and economy and also the deals possible (cheaper than a G6), but still don't give me the zing those coupes do. I already played around on the GM inventory sites searching about 5 surrounding states for matches I might like, too :AH-HA_wink: But alas, no news on that front. I've kept myself entirely away from the dealer since Thursday, after promising to be back. I'm decided but undecided. I think the look, options, power, feel, etc. are all me, I just can't fully be sure for the price (worth it...but...) and also the real fuel economy with the 3.5L and apparently G6 GT specific gears for stronger punch and less efficiency, vs. the whole "gotta have a 4-cyl" I started with. Just don't want something I'll now be paying on but then regret, even if it's a blast.

Interesting viewpoint to hear from there...and yeah, no shortage of ANYTHING down here, especially if it's a truck--everyone has lots and acres full. The past 2 Chevy's we've bought have been dealer trades, always starting by going to the dealer and saying "Okay, like it, but can we go search the system to see what's out there we might actually want?" With the Suburban, it was because NO one, even in flat beach land, will order a 2wd anything to save their life (all 4wd's...that no one even ever turns on), and then with the Malibu just because no one really had many and those who did didn't have close to what we wanted. The Suburban was easy (never a struggle to find or get one of those), but the Malibu was like pulling teeth...2 weeks of finding them, trying new colors, and the other dealers going "nope, sold it today" or just simply "no". Luckily, that still worked out when another local dealer who first said no had the people interested in the car fiddling around too much and the sales manager saw that our dealer had a Black/Brick Malibu LTZ and offered an instant trade for it--he wanted it himself. I'm anxious to start seeing the 2009's. Now--well, kind of--considering a Pontiac myself (among too many others), might be another dealer swap in store for me. I joked with the sales person who's sold us the past 2 "You know I can't just take what you have on the lot..." Nothing really exciting coming, but fun to see new colors and trim bits and the new year printed on stickers.

Agreed. And I especially think that after driving a new 2.4L 6-speed Malibu vs. our 4-speed one. Not that ours is at all bad, but those extra 2 gears and proper tuning really make the Ecotec even sweeter, and it's smoother and a bit zippier because it doesn't get as flat footed and either rev too much or die out. More of this, VVT, and DI and the Ecotec can continue on in bigger and bigger ways.

Agreed, and even having one in the driveway everyday since January...that aura (no pun intended) just doesn't die off. Still get comments and stares, and I stare at it myself. The feeling continues with a drive, where thankfully it backs those looks up with the feel behind the wheel, for sure.

Brand new Summit White '08 Yukon Hybrid that a young guy who's a CFO of our companies project/land development segment just bought. Really cool, actually, and I liked it even more in person--and he was sure having fun showing it off.

Yes, it has turned into a great thread. Lots of my too long writing and debating, but a really good discussion of real-world nice to drive, nice looking, and efficient daily vehicles. I agree on the interiors too. Nothing stood out badly to me in the G6 that afternoon, other than maybe the flat and bare plastic starkness of the center console and armrest. Well, and the older radio and climate controls, but I kind of liked those back to my '07 Malibu rental days. If anything, the G6 has the best domestic Epsilon door panels, as on the cloth models in particular, large portions of the sculpted panels are trimmed in the same cloth and the overall layout and feel are better than either the all plastic Aura or Malibu. All are solid and comfortable, but another unexpected finding. Climbing in mom's '08 Malibu afterwards, I still really am enthralled by the look and feel of this interior most of all the E's, but I like the G6 coupes as much but in a different way. Red lighting has been another thing I've never been hot on, but no biggie, and it fits with the Pontiac theme.

Fine with me! :AH-HA_wink: On that 4-cyl front...after being so dead set on 4-cyl being a requirement, especially an Ecotec if GM, I'm a bit at odds still with my probability of going V6. Should have known driving such a fun and shockingly powerful car would have me flipped, but it could be worse. I think a 3.5L should do quite well, or at least tends to. I still wonder too what, if any, difference in that great power there is between a G6 and an Aura with the engine...or even an Impala. Oh, and with the Fleetwood...I drive it to work and back and then out and around at lunch 5 days a week. It's a 13 mile each way drive, in the 45-60 range depending on traffic. First week I actually averaged 19.1, then last dropped to about 16.7, and I think I've gone back up this last time. Friends with the same cars in freshly tuned up mode honestly get 23-27 on the highway, and most all average around that 17-19'ish around town.

Yes...tell me about it. I've never been one to complain there weren't incentives, but now that I'm actually shopping...more could help. There's little "standout" with the 2008 GM's yet, aside from the 0% on the Cobalts, HHRs, etc. and big cash on the trucks. It would be SO great if there had been a GM Card earnings bonus right about now and I got it...would be a really nice free chunk to knock some money off a SmartBuy. There's something I never thought I'd say, still--anything to do with a SmartBuy, hah! Sounds like you're really shopping! I was thinking of trying some Fords Friday, especially as the Ford dealer is even closer to work (next door), but didn't. Nothing I could think of that really made me want to, other than curiosity with the Fusion. On that note...I agree with the Sport edition ones! I was just Fusion inventory browsing this morning, and if one interested me, it would be a Sport: On the Fleetwood...nothing outwardly wrong with it, and yes, runs happily on REGULAR. I'm pretty sure it needs new front calipers to cure a noise & grabbing issue, but that's small, and it's also due for it's full or partial tune up. For 133k, it's had next to nothing I think, and this LT1 has impressed me overall more than any other engine we've had--a powerful beast that can be efficient and also much smoother and quieter than even our newer 5.3L Vortec trucks. Idles like a Lexus, too, which even freaked my mother out once she drove it ("I thought it died, but it was just silent when I stopped"). I think I could have sold it by now if I actually got it listed and didn't only talk about it, or would actually put the For Sale signs in it, but haven't. Friday alone--in its always cleaned and wiped down daily state--I stopped to get coffee, and coming back out, a guy in a last gen Accord waiting for his wife rolled his window down and said "That's a really nice car, what year is it?" I told him and he said it looked incredible, which I followed with "Yeah, and I'm selling it." "REALLY? How many miles?" I said 133k and he just complimented me on it again and back up with the window. Few cars, especially for how little I paid 2.5 years ago, could get the attention it does. The car as bought was helped immensely by being a garaged and well cared for Caddy, but further detailing and the wheel setup are what has taken it to a new level of wow. That's how I get the mixed feelings looking at it, but it's time to go, as I've said before, to another caring home where it doesn't have to be a daily--but definitely could still be. I will be contacting a few people who had expressed interest before and even talked with me about it, hopefully tonight, and finally getting some ads up in the next couple of days. Based on the daily reactions, I think the window For Sale signs would have it gone very quickly...but I'm so caring with it, I can't get over having people coming up and gawking more to read signs. Weird, huh? But yes, it's still up for grabs, and still my faithful daily commuter. When my father mentioned today "What are you going to do in the meantime?" which I took to mean the time between it selling (which apparently he thought would be quickly...or something) and getting something to replace it, I think that's figured out. We have a spare, and aside from that, I can take a company truck whenever, wherever I want. So even if it sells tomorrow before I've figured out the replacement 100%...not a biggie.

Here's an interesting G6 touch, which apparently comes in chrome or black: Basically, recessed vs. flush. Actually, one of a few choices. Stock flush/flat, the elongated (okay, "bugs bunny" GXP and Street Edition) iteration, and this accessory recessed. Same for the back end with no spoiler just the hump (a hump that people at work thought WAS a spoiler from a distance), the Hammerhead bigness, and again an accessory small hump lip spoiler choice. Front and back, there's a lot to specialize a G6 via GM. EDIT: Well, I add to that. Also a legged spoiler choice that is either aftermarket or GM, I think aftermarket. EDIT: Oh, and again. The regular GT chrome wheels also come in a "black" variety for $150. These wheels, bright chrome or black chrome, I'm ehh on with the swoopy coupe.

Yeah...color is my biggest thing, along with wheels and special trimmings. So many with the G6, it's hard to decide. And then I started wondering about '09s, with the small revisions and that showing of a changed face and whatever else that wasn't spelled out in the GM order guide. Probably not, but curious.

They don't have Granite anymore, which was REALLY dark charcoal/gray, but the gray is now Dark Steel Gray which is the same as our Malibu's Dark Gray...and that I really like. Not that I'm still 100% definite on the G6 (okay, well, am close), but I've been playing with Cars.com and other sites to find and save pictures of different color and wheel combos. Really like Dark Steel Gray, White Diamond, Black Granite, and I guess also Liquid Silver in the right setup. It's hard for me to be definitive yet, as each is quite different. The 18" wheels are a must (like the chromes...but not as much so as the 18's on a coupe), as is the Light Taupe cloth interior (unless it's silver) which limits choices as far as what's on lots. That's sort of the other thing, seeing what's actually out there and what actually my dealer could get me (as I never take what's on the lot...though I did like the white/taupe GT before), and figure pricing with those. Some GT's also have the Street Package like a member here has on a sedan, which I like in some ways, but don't in others--like price. Trying to nail down a few for sure combos so I can continue to figure things out. I haven't made it anywhere today to try out the Fords, Mazdas, Hondas, etc. I wanted to, or even just Saturns, as expected. I'm wondering, for instance, how much or how different an Aura XE 3.5L might feel from a G6 GT 3.5L. Actually, I guess even a lot of base Aura XR's with the screamer 3.6L are in the same price territory, but the Aura alone opens up a whole new can. I just REALLY like the Epsilon as a coupe, more and more so. Same wheelbase, but just longer doors, cooler lines, and that focused for 2 people mainly feel--but still with a real back seat. Day 3 and still on the G6, so that's saying something. I'd probably have gone further already didn't live at home right now and have to do the cajoling as far as that swap and what I've "spent". Still thinking of trying an Aura, some kind of a Mazda, a Fusion, and an Accord coupe, among others. The Accord coupe is probably the only one that gives a similar package, if I continue to like that as much.