caddycruiser

Yeah, I wonder about the movies too...and I thought I remembered hearing he was shooting another? That said, as it looks, it seems like a distinct possibility it was just a random chance where the sleeping pills plus another medication just multiplied each other, and things went dark. The coroner chatting on Fox News explained that on a show today, just discussing possibilities, and how some combinations of not even many pills (i.e. we're not talking handfuls) just work so negatively, this happens more than people think. We'll see. In the meantime, best wishes to family, daughter, etc., and still a shock.

This seems VERY reminiscent of Edmunds.com experience with a transmission issue in their long-term '07 Fit. Not a big issue, but the car is in warranty, and reading their posts...the dealer automatically was CHARGING them hundreds to examine the issue and repair it. Still don't understand why, and it can happen with any brand and any dealer, but that's what I immediately just thought of. Not good, and I don't even think is following policy. http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/categor...07HondaFitSport

Impressive, but not too unordinary. That's the result of a maintained detailing and care routine, and even beyond that, a very thorough detailing after the fact. A combination of careful owner car and great professionals are what makes this happen.

Saw this last night on Larry King right when I got home...shocked. It's funny how earlier on, people really try and hold off on the speculation...but give it until morning, and even with no new information, they start throwing "Overdose...suicide...etc." out there. Understandable, and often the case, but I keep thinking this just wasn't it. Kind of like the pills. No different than anyone else who has prescriptions at home, but when the news hear's that, of course, they add "Strewn all over." I have an inkling the pneumonia had a big part in it. He was a very shy guy, and didn't like interviews and publicity, so a lot of times THAT was the nervousness as far as the twitching, moving arms, etc. that people saw, especially recently. We'll see. But what a loss, and it does seem to have come in three's...Brad Renfro, Suzanne Pleschette, and now Heath. It's the typical, in that regard, but all for different reasons.

As we're discussing on GMI...thanks to Autoblog yet again for being completely wrong, but this is NOT the Cadillac. First and foremost, even just compare the upper body/window profiles to the Provoq, and it's clear what this mule is not. It is thought to be possibly the new Chevy Equinox and/or GM variant, among other possibilities, though. But not a Cadillac. OR, maybe I'm one of the ones that's wrong...but I won't think so, unless there's more proof beyond the online auto blogs and such, which are often wrong.

Yes, which I think is off, because GM changed that "recommends premium" thing on the 2.4L--at least on other vehicles--to no longer say that. Our Malibu, for example, says regular, and there was talk about this on some Saturn forums. Others still seem to say premium for the 2.4L...it's a mish-mash depending on what is printed for what vehicle, on what site Common sense would say the 2.2L and 2.4L both would be regular, and the 2.0L Turbo would have to be premium...unless they've really made some kind of changes that would allow the latter to be otherwise. Fueleconomy.gov usually has good information, but I wouldn't necessarily trust it here, just based on intuition and information elsewhere.

Never thought of that... :AH-HA_wink:

Does the Turbo engine also (I would expect it to) run on Premium gas? If so, that could also be something to consider. But all things considered, the situation you're in now is EXACTLY like us with the Suburban. We all loved the truck, but between mom for some time wishing she could step down in her payments and also liking a lot of cool, new cars, it was inevitable. First was the Enclave, but on second consideration and after my rental, she decided on something she thought she could never do--moving to a sedan. The Malibu not only allowed her to get something hot, new, and cool, but to have a much more manageable and sporty daily driver that got better gas mileage, had fun new buttons to play with, AND let her have a new payment almost $100 less a month. It all comes down to what works for you. If you really, and often, need and use the pickup truck, that could be important. If not, and it's really just a once in a blue moon thing and has become daily driver overkill AND you're really attracted to a lot of cool, new vehicles, that could be a very worthy move.

Ah...I know the name, but have never been there. Maybe As I said above, is this more that the new HHR SS is just "cool", or have you also really been reconsidering your daily driver pickup?

I've only been out of high school for (going on) 4 years now, but I've had a bit of this, thanks to Myspace and Facebook. Most of the intermittent contact I do get is from people I was "everyday friends" with, but have had a couple of times with people I either knew but didn't really talk to OR just hadn't seen in a very long time send friendly messages. I don't read much into it, other than now, out of the "see you daily" situation, people just find it more interesting to spot a person from their past online and send them something...just because. I've been on the other end, too.

Go for it. Trust me, as someone who (well, mom did, but that's still pretty direct, for me) went from a Suburban to a new Malibu and hasn't missed it yet...unless you often load your truck bed with junk, you won't either. Really...why do you drive a truck? That's the question you have to ask, and base the decision here on out on the answer. What you will come to love, if you HHR, is the tighter, lighter feel, great design inside and out, and 4-cyl zippiness and economy (AND, in this case, turbo boost!). As for the price you quoted...what was that in relation to invoice? That's the kicker, as on newer GM vehicles, the spread between invoice and MSRP is VERY slim, and there are often no incentives. Case in point, our Malibu. MSRP was $23,770, and invoice was $22,830 (less than a $1k spread). With our deal of $200 over invoice, final price was $23,030. Seemed slim compared to the old days of our $10,000 discount (correct, to the penny) off our Suburban...but that's because the MSRP's are much more in line now. I've had a thing for Ecotec equipped GM's ever since my rental...and after getting mom into a Malibu with one, I'm still itching to drive something like a cool little HHR, especially the hot new SS version. I might not be able to return, like you. What's the small dealer by the way? I'm very close by, have some free time...and would LOVE to at least see an HHR SS :AH-HA_wink:

So true...coming from a family who just had 2 full-size GM SUV's, an Avalanche and a Suburban that WERE 2wd...and way too hard to find, that's very true. Too many people have a fascination with "I must have AWD/4WD", that I think they can't fathom ever owning a vehicle like has been made for years, with drive wheels on one end only. It's just dumb, I think, but that's a whole other discussion for a whole other topic...the "Why are people so obsessed with always having AWD/4WD". Glad the Maxx is doing well :AH-HA_wink:

Cool! I love finding those leftover-leftover's that sell for great bargains, and yours is certainly a fun color and looks GREAT with the chrome wheels. The lack of rear tinted glass makes it really look "base" to me, but if you don't mind it, no biggie :AH-HA_wink:

It is GREAT, but the market speaks and so do reviews...and as a lot of reviews just don't gush over the Mazda as the Buick still garners, it also can't match the "hard to get" status of the Enclave that continues to fly out of dealers to this day. But, I guess, maybe, smaller and trimmer won out in the end, compared to what actually has taken the market by a bigger storm and reviewers. Fantastic crossover, just a hair here and a hair there, and I think the smaller/trimmer won out, even if the people/cargo space and other details aren't that great.

Re-reading, I see that. Sorry :AH-HA_wink: Sounds like an interesting time, and sorry to hear about the leg/knee injury. Too bad on the dealer too! I just completed 2 weeks of being my mother's personal car shopper, to the extent that she NEVER went to the dealer, called, etc. except for the night she picked up her new Malibu. I went down and got a car for her to drive at work (she never had to go anywhere), she said she wanted one and told me color and I knew what model, went back down and we searched. Found cars, made requests, I worked out her deals on trade and the new car, and after one was finally found...all she had to do was come down for a few minutes to sign the papers and swap cars. I've done this before, and the local dealers seem to understand and "get me" as far as shopping for a parent, but some do find it odd. Understandably so, but still, it depends on the dealer and salesperson.

Interesting question...

Ends up? It already has, and continues to. The Mazda is very nice for what it is, but there's honestly nothing overly "wow" about it. Just well composed, refined, and trim/sporty. It hasn't set interest and sales on absolute fire like the Enclave, and isn't as complete of a package...well, at least as far as having real 7/8 passenger room, towing capability, etc. Maybe the Enclave was more a victim of just being very large and maybe #2 or so on the crossover fuel economy list? But the Malibu? YES...and SO expected! The CTS is a fabulous car, but not being mass market, it's greatness can't be had by as large a segment of people as with the Malibu...you can get that same incredible car in anything from a $20k model without extra goodies or around $28k with everything possible. We're on day 4 with our new Malibu 2LT...and can't stop looking at it, let alone the drive...

Very good point. It is far from awful, but still shows how GM-Ford mainly still do "know" the truck market better than anyone else.

Good to know, but as with other threads where "G8" popped up, it's here why? _________________________________________________________________________ Hopefully the Buick purchase is going okay...or whatever the choice may have changed to. I'd still say Lucerne CX, even on price, but a Lacrosse is ugh-able enough for me...well, I wouldn't buy one, but I see why some people do. What colors are they thinking, or wheels, etc? Have a good friend with a fully optioned black/black '05 Lacrosse CXS that he leased for 3 years, and just turned in this week...all the while still waiting for his new ordered Malibu LTZ to ever come in, and replace it. He seemed to really like his Lacrosse (had a 300M, then Acura CL-S before it), and the Malibu was his next step.

Well, it's home, picked it up right around when it was getting dark and...cry...RAINING! Ugh...from an OCD detailer, that's driving me mad, that it already is rain-mucked. But oh well. She loves it, still has to figure out the radio and such...and seems to want to keep playing with the remote start like a toy. Dad got in it, apparently, and was already crabbing about things (I think he said it was small...you know...with MORE and deeper legroom than his boat of a Roadmaster, but still), and already again asked me what the gas mileage is like and "how much did she get for her Suburban? Wasn't that low....", etc. It'll take a while to win him over, if ever, but too bad. The license plate bracket came off fine. They did use tiny little black plugs in the holes, and it really isn't noticeable, unless in light with the color...didn't bother her, so that means it isn't a big deal.

I hear ya...but that's how the system has been, for years. Actually, the big thing started, I think, with the advent of books AND the internet where people could find invoice prices, knew them ahead of time, and therefore "knew where to bargain to". Hence, dealers give prices anymore at $xx over invoice, for invoice, etc. Dealers also then run specials, for like "One penny over invoice", etc., etc. Not sure how much our salesperson made, but I know in general like this, it isn't a whole lot...but different dealers have different systems as far as pay, etc. Yes...and I was the one who wanted one first. Now I still do, but am jealous beyond belief. Who would have ever said THAT, about a Malibu even a year ago...

No, it's really true. We know the saleslady well, and when I was there for the past week or so searching DealerWorld and such with her...everytime we found one, she'd just print out the dealer invoice sheet for me with MSRP, Invoice, and GMS. With as hot as the car is and how small margins are, I wasn't expecting to even get more than a couple hundred off, but she knows us well, and right from the get-go said "I don't have a problem just doing a couple hundred over", and that's EXACTLY what was done. Did the same with our '04 Suburban, but at $300 over, and it came from 200 miles away. A side help here, that wasn't even really considered, was that this car just had to be switched with another at the next closest dealer...so simple. Even still, when we were going up to 250 miles, we still had $200 over (plus ad fees, IF the dealer who had that car did that). And in the beginning, like I said, she was fully willing to do the same or better on an ordered/lot vehicle. Let me tell you...she did SO much stuff in the past week and a half for me, and is just so nice, I almost feel guilty with the pricing--but that's just how they do it. I'll have to get her something, just for being great, still. Hopefully the same can be true when the dealer takeover happens soon... EDIT: Oh, and re-reading your post...dealers here do still have Holdback, etc., so they aren't that bad off. That's why, for the most part, you can typically walk into any dealer of anything here and get invoice, a couple hundred over, or in a lot of cases, a couple hundred under--because of holdback.

True, just if you really DID want to keep it, would be an option like I went for with my Cadillac. Hope it works out.

No, this car was built before the recent $500 bump. Not really a ploy by GM, but an increase in sheetmetal costs across the board made this bump on all GM vehicles. Oh well. The one we ordered on Monday had the increase, and though this one didn't, I think there were ad fees that still bumped it up a tad. Our dealer doesn't charge ad fees themselves (they opted out of that), but when they swap a car in from a dealer that does...those fees have to be passed on. Didn't care, as even at sticker the cars are great deals, and we got $200 over invoice anyway, no haggling. Hey, I live here, and I use mine in the Fleetwood ALL the time. Even when it's not that cold, it still feels great, with the leather. Like I said, it was 15 degrees last week, and in my car for example, he still wouldn't use them--by principle, or some convoluted logic.

I have a feeling, after seeing it and their reaction, that the dealer will be ordering more like ours. The last one they sold was a base Dark Gray/Titanium 1LT, and several of the salesmen were commenting on how good the color and wheels looked, and how gorgeous they thought the 2-tone gray interior was with the suede. I must say, pictures can be odd, but the gray--which so many think is cheap rental car looking--is SO nice in person, especially when in a 2LT like this. The whole effect is more than impressive. My salesperson was not happy about the license bracket, of course thinking we wouldn't be, but was having it taken off and they had some kind of little things to go in the holes. Still not sure, but it should be fine. I wanted to drive it, and without plates, just spun around the lot. Once again, holy jeez, is the 2.4L spunky! Barely hit it to start and the thing just roars forward...yet, thankfully, is almost devoid of that "4-cylinder buzz". Won't be that big of a shock going from the 5.3L in the tank, really, and hopefully the gas mileage will compare to my 2.2L '07 Malibu rental.