caddycruiser

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.

Hmm...I like. A little busy, but a new play on the Buick tri-sheld. Should forward to my father, the biggest car logo critique EVER, and who also owns a Buick...

Will be the first "real life" one for me 1) Finally graduate with by Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering (not a PhD, but still noteworthy). May 18th. Yikes. Less than a month now. 2) Career! Oddly, like getting into college, this is looking to be a last minute thing. Lots of prospects, waiting on at least one sure thing, still exploring others, etc. Less than a month...so just a little on edge :AH-HA_wink: Anyone with auto industry connections...I'm all ears. 3) Moving. Completely dependent on #3. Wherever the job is, I shall go. Probably still east coast, but open to anything. Once #3 is actually known, will have the rush of finding the right place to live, too. 4) Car. Possibly selling the Fleetwood (well, I've already talked about it for a while), possibly keeping it and finally giving it the tune-up & maintenance it's due for, or who knows. The plan has always been something new, but it depends on finances starting out, and the if/who/when I could sell the boat. Comes down to what I could get out of the car and what I could possibly afford to replace it with, particularly that's smaller and much newer. Alas, and the old, paid off and gas & maintenance bill only OR car payment & gas bill dilemma. I'm split, either way. 5) After about 2 months of this^^ ? Life finally as a real adult, working everyday, paying more bills, etc. and hopefully doing something that pays well and doesn't make me want to run away screaming--hah! I've made it this far, and to what will be 22 this upcoming Sunday (always at the WORST and busiest time of my year, so far)...and still have yet to figure out that thing called life and what I want to do with it. Shall the ride begin...SUMMER 2008

Absolutely. That's TERRIBLY stupid. I actually just commented on this on another board, discussing Saturn sales, as started by an actual Saturn salesman. My beef? I agree that a lot of the dealers really do give a different and more pleasant experience, but when you're selling every car at MSRP and essentially know your profit cushion from the first second and that it won't be touched...why on God's green earth would you then ALSO force things like dealer add-ons? This alone perturbed me because I've seen and read of countless Saturn dealers who never have a single new vehicle arrive that isn't pinstriped, mudflapped, Scotchguarded, sealed (i.e. waxed) within the first day. If anyone needs the extra profit, it's the polar opposite of Saturn. But that dealer markup, thankfully, doesn't seem at all common on the Astra...actually the first I've ever heard of it. To do that AND toss other crap on there, they are simply nuts. Sell them at sticker the way they came from GM, untouched, certain people get their rebate and others can get their Supplier/GMS...and call it a day with your decent profit levels compared to most regular brands. At least in my world that's how it would work...if I could only beat it into enough Saturn dealer's minds

Hah, yes. It isn't as brash of a car, but more focused on solidity and quietness with the power--the power of which should seem revvier, in OHC V8 form.

So how do you like it so far? Especially compared to the ancient W-body car with the 5.3L it replaced? I always loved the extremely solid, refined, feel with great materials (really) of the Lucerne, but have never been in a Northstar model.

Wow...and just like the Enclave was, this "light" concept is exactly the production version, just a slight wheel change, Ultraview roof vs. all glass, etc. and you have it. Nothing outlandish and extremely different, but luxurious, rich lines, great clean details, and a gorgeous interior--finally with one of the new center stacks outside of Cadillac.