caddycruiser

SURE...you could lodge a complaint with one of the many call centers. If anything, maybe they'll give you some kind of a coupon for being unhappy :AH-HA_wink: That really does stink. Now it seems like, for you, it would be like us with a Saturn...there's a dealer "there" but it's half an hour away. Nothing like the Chevy and BPG dealers in multiple directions, within 15-20 minutes, here. When this is significant enough, it really plays a big factor in what you'll buy...because if you ever need service, etc. no one wants a roadtrip.

Sad, even if they are one of the "lovely" places that gets a decent G8 inventory yet insists on AMP insanity. No place near me, either at home in DE or here in the Philly suburbs has closed recently to my memory. Closest thing was our favorite local "GM store" at the beach in DE being sold by the owner to the son of a New England dealer "auto mall" chain in February. Doesn't seem like a bad thing so far, just pricing and advertising differences...and the loss of the legendary name. Being that GM really wants BPG stores to exist, odd that this one is going away...especially with a stranger Cadillac-Pontiac store nearby. Are there any other BPG-only places very close by?

Completely forgot about this...living about half an hour away, I don't think any of us have ever gone, well, aside from my brother back in high school when they'd go on their auto body field trips down. Always great pictures from that! Hope you have a fun time and the weather cooperates. I'd try again to make it...if it weren't for me graduating this weekend. Should be a fun time down in OC Where are you staying this year? Or just driving down and back, same day?

With mom crossing the 4 month mark today with her '08 Malibu 2LT 4-cyl and its 4-speed (yar...old bugger...what a horror ), and me having driven it a few times, I've been wanting to drive a new LTZ 2.4L 6-speed model to see the difference with the transmission. Several dealers now have them, and I hope to make it by soon. The 4-speed combo is very nice and keeps the engine lively, the only "questionable" thing being how much it seems to make the 2.4L rev out and/or hold onto gears an extra long time by nature. Keeps it in the rev band but also likely hurts mpg's a bit--not fully sure yet. I'd buy another in a second exactly as is (and very well might), but still clamoring to drive a 6-speed one "to see", TapShift and all.

NOT pink...just boring Buick champagne/beige! I had a customer with the EXACT same car, and drove it several times. Theirs was extremely low mileage and well kept, but wow, the epitome of soft and floaty with an awkward (to me) driving position and such. Hard to explain...a lot to do probably with just the unique windows and me not adjusting the seat. STILL, a 3.8L car, and even with the base gears (i.e. no GT option), always shocked me how quick and rip-roaring it was. A lot is just the sound, but otherwise a stump pulling La-Z-Boy of car, and one that can sip gas decently all along. At least a heck of a lot better than any clunky, old (we own 3 B/D cars...so I can say that) Caprice. Not a car I could stand to drive, but respectable enough and I really like the next ('00-05) gen.

Yeah, in this case, HIS chrome wheels aren't exactly what came to be known as GM chrome-tech, but are more so just chrome plated aluminum. Any chrome polish, or just proper polish should work. The specific chrome polishes suggested and even things from a Harley store (of course, lots of chrome) are dead on. BUT then, once clean and back to their full glimmering self, the best idea is to follow-up with a sealant of some sort, that will last. Regular "wax" can't stand up to the heat and chemicals that wheels get subjected to, so a polymer sealant is a good idea. I order everything and use Klasse Sealant Glaze after some Klasse All-in-One Polish, two of the most durable and lasting products I've used, but there's a world of other things and many that can be found at your typical Autozone, etc. Look for sealant/polymer/etc. after you've done the polish.

You know...shot in the dark...but if it's just the starting thing, did you ever check the battery cable connections? Those bolts can go to crap, and in my '95 Fleetwood LT1, I was having a weird thing where it would just crank a little too long & sound weird in the process first thing in the morning. Then eventually wouldn't start one morning. Problem? Battery cable bolts were loose and corroded. At first tightened them and was fine for a bit, then just replaced them. Never would have thought of it, even from my fix-anything father, had my grandfather not been visiting and suggested it. I was thinking something much bigger, but thankfully it wasn't in my case.

Thanks...

Yes...er, TSX :AH-HA_wink: Another on "my list" of interest, for soon times. Like everything, it grew a bit piggy (slightly) over the last iteration, but at least not US Accord like.

A touch more modern...but still a dinosaur... Here was my DD, back in January--just a couple of days post-shop after a complete passenger's side rebuild. Looks a touch better now after a detail, with the only niggle being the varied fade of the rub strips on the passenger's side. Not bad for 13 years and 133k, I guess. At least not when it still warrants daily stares and has someone in a new Ferrari F430 following me home to see it up close and not want to leave...

Two gray G8's...one locally in PA, and one rolling down the highway in DE. Look GREAT, by the way. And, as before...several Jag XF's. Or maybe it's the same couple, but I saw more than one everyday this week.

No, never...and if it wasn't a V6, they'd never sell any in real number after the first few months. Like the Mustang, like the Camaro coming, etc. most will be V6's. At least there's also a manual to go with the Hemi, which should make many happy. As I've said before, it will be interesting to see how this beast of a car does in modern day world. People seem to really like the look, even a bit much so, but it's as retro as it gets, for sure. Good or bad, we'll see.

Savings account, at least for a while. That's where ANYTHING I get starts out, aside from normal pay. Then, we'll see. Just like normal tax refunds for me.

I've ALWAYS thought that should happen...if all these changes help the fuel economy of the Hybrid further, imagine the effect on a regular all gas model, albeit small...but no, not happening. All of what has been, stays as far as its looks and weight.

Hah...trust me, you NEVER know--often it's the complete opposite of what everyone else thinks. I've emailed it, just waiting for my brother to show it to him...

No, hah, an extra set of keys maybe...but I'd have locked those inside too, given my setup. Just actually pulling them out and putting them in my pocket IMMEDIATELY would have negated the same issue each time, for me.

Yeah, and that would have solved my dumbness if I had done that...

I did it 3 times, twice within the same week, in our '93 Fleetwood. That was my "school car" and when my brother and I would get there, we'd sit inside and listen to the radio since we were early--so, I always had the keys in the ignition, but with retained accessory power, would just turn the car off and pull the key out slightly. The problem? With the key out slightly, the warning chime doesn't go off when you open the door, and being that the original owner never ordered remote keyless (yes...it was actually an option on this flagship Cadillac for the first 2 years), I'd pop the door, hit the lock button, and start walking. Once I had everything out of the car except for the keys, and the other time my bookbag and a project on the passenger's seat were locked in... Oh how I dreaded those calls home for "Uh, I locked the keys in the car. Can you leave work quickly and drive the 20 minutes up here with another set?" If I had just taken the keys and put them in my pocket immediately...but never did, and still continued on this same path for the rest of the year, but after the 3rd time, I "remembered" :AH-HA_wink:

I agree. I've experienced nothing BUT the classic wiper/signal on left, headlight switch on left dash, and column shifter (or nothing else) on right. Never an issue, but nothing special. Ever since my '07 Malibu rental, I LOVED the wiper click stalk on the right (especially so because I could flick it down with one finger for a mist wipe), and also that the left stalk isn't cluttered up then. Same with the column adjustments. The ancient notched up and down tilt only is ugh, but even just adding telescope to it like in the Epsilons is fine. Smooth the operation further or improve over the detents, and I'm still all for it.

You know what? I need a vacation...just a plain and simple vacation. I've lived "at the beach" for years, yet my days have been filled with nothing but school and work...any breaks, I work again. Oh wouldn't I like to just head somewhere for a week this summer and just blah....

Oh, if you only knew how many times he himself has said that...except for the fact that the '93 he has just sits collecting dust in the driveway and that his idea of a deal would leave me with a few bucks :AH-HA_wink: Sure, one of a few offers. Actually the only reason it hasn't been placed up for legitimate sale yet is there's some small bugs I need to fix, such as interior lights stuck on after the two new doors (a switch issue), repainting some lower trim, and some other small things that at least have been on my list for a while. Also due for a complete tune-up. If you want a mini project with an already stunning exterior, interior, wheels, etc...

Sounds just like me! Well, except for actually knowing the where & what that you're doing specifically :AH-HA_wink:

Yeah, clunks and such were probably the most common issue--particularly the intermediate steering shaft. Like with the GMT-800 trucks, seems like most Saturn dealers keep several of these on hand because they're used to needing to replace them. Other than that, off the top of my head, was a power steering hose TSB thing that may have had to deal with excess hydraulic pump noise (or something like that), as well as maybe more than one trans reflash--this 6-speed backed up to the 3.6L has been a source of experimentation for GM, and they've gone through series of revisions of the shifting, mostly for the Lambdas (so many times with those...) and also at least once or twice for cars like the Aura, from '07. Not many issues, just mainly noises and clunks and such in a lot of '07s. And also many running design changes since then, adding or changing little detail touches such as the armrests, steering wheel buttons, trunk pull strap, etc. Not a lot different, but they've finally fixed a few things not 100% on the Aura from the start. Otherwise...on the good, it seems like most 3.6L Aura owners actually get pretty great mileage all around, without racing the cars--and particularly on the highway. On Saturn fans, some were just commenting on how they actually seem to be more easily getting higher numbers than a lot of us 2.4L people are reporting...albeit with still mostly tight, new cars & engines. All in all...GREAT choice, and especially trim. Make sure it's had the TSB's, reflashes, etc. covered, and you should be set.

Sounds great! Want to do some career shopping for me, hah! I like the sound of Phoenix...FAR away, but that's a good thing, warm, etc. And great industry, generally. Now, if I can just finally get rolling on my own "multiple offers" to evaluate

Looks AWESOME! Hopefully most of the '07 bugs and/or TSB's have already been dealt with, and she has many miles of smooth, strong driving. The Aura is one great looker, for sure, and the 3.6L is a perennial sweety.