caddycruiser

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.

Hah, yes, and we LOVE the dealer too! Confirmed today, sad and maybe good, is that an outside person who owns many dealers in other states made an offer about a month back and bought them. People and such won't change, but boy was I said...I even loved the name, and seeing the owner often around there and even in the store. Should still be our friendly GM store at the beach, if the best stays as is. As for the color...he's coming around. He's finally over his anger about her getting rid of the Suburban (secretly, HE wanted it...well, if he could only find someone to make the payments and fill it with gas), and I just showed him the pictures. I think he was thinking of something else, because he said "Oh, what color is that?" Of course, then he made snide remarks on: 1) Sunroof: "Why the heck did you get THAT? Who would want that? Those things leak", etc., etc...then I reminded him she had a 300M with one, he himself has said the Suburban wouldn't be so cavelike with one, AND this isn't 1950 anymore. 2) Heated Leather: "And leather, with HEAT. Jeez, what a stupid feature. We live in Delaware...when would you EVER use that?" This was so dumb, I was just mystified...only could remember that last week it was 15 degrees AND despite the fact that he'll shiver his skinny butt off on a frozen leather seat, he'll still refuse to use seat heaters "just because". This was after too, apparently, he asked her today what engine she got and then carped "That's dumb, you should have gotten the V6, it's a better engine"...remembering here, he knows not ONE engine even offered in a Malibu. Then he asked me, of all things, "What's the cubic inches?" of the 4-cylinder. Nut doesn't begin to describe it. But too bad, he pays for gas and insurance (both of which should go down) and she the rest. I'm never around, and only will be for a few more days. She's excited, and I am too. I just helped her clean out the Suburban...and had to remind her, 3 times, "You CANNOT put this much stuff in a car. There just aren't that many cubbies and you'll have the trunk exploding". Ah, the life and times of 2 screwballs...I'll have to keep checking in from time to time to make sure neither hurts the lovely Malibu...

Was delivered this morning and still had some prep stuff to do, etc. so will get it tomorrow. Simply...BEAUTIFUL! No more do I think the gray is at all maybe drab, and even more in person, the 2-tone titanium interior is a stunner--especially with the suede/leather & silver trim. Pictures now, and I'll say a few more words in a bit: THEY didn't do that front license plate bracket...another dealer did, but they're working on it. The saleslady was perturbed when she saw that, and worried what I'd think, but it will be removed and made okay. More to come later, with some more details.

YES! Great choice. It's on a little more modern platform than the Lacrosse (slightly), and larger, more refined, more comfortable, etc., etc. Plus, you can get a well equipped CX with cloth bench seats for low $20k's, and it's a nicer car--I think--than the smaller and less well done Lacrosse.

Lacrosse is a nice car and nice deals, as always, but as a W-body, the back seat and such can be cramped. Great if the 3.8L is a big draw, too. But, definitely not too fresh...worth checking into. And if a bench seat is what is wanted, a Buick is the ticket. IF, at all, the bench seat can be given up...then another choice... As someone who just bought one, to move from REPLACE an '04 Suburban of all things...I HIGHLY recommend at least having them see & drive a Malibu. I'm thinking it might actually be a little harder to get into than a Lacrosse (not sure why, just thinking because it's lower and how it sits), BUT has more space overall, looks fantastic, and is one of the best GM sedans to drive. They're not sitting around with cash on the hood like a Lacrosse, but the prices are very good as is, especially for the quality, looks, and features, so really worth a look & test drive. It might be ruled out because of buckets only and maybe the ingress/egress...but check it out.

Yeah, just not a fan of black/dark interiors. Had it once in our 300M, and between dust, scuffs, and just feeling more closed in...no. We did consider, and thought we really wanted, a Silver & Ebony 2LT that we found, but they never responded. Dark Gray & Titanium should be very pretty. I know, and even I before, people here and elsewhere generally think the light gray looks the most "rental car"...but we really like light colored interiors, and she's had 2-tone light gray in her Suburban and has liked it the most of all. I think dad is still "ugh" on the Dark Gray color...but then again, if it isn't white, it isn't his thing, so his horizons are narrow.

Yes, yes...even my saleslady joked "Heh, and that was so easy to get" after I joked how good she was for putting in an order...and getting one less than a day later (just a little different)! In reality, still would LOVE to have the fully decked out silver one I ordered...but this was too good, with no wait, perfect price, etc. to wait. I was still unsure about the gray, over the weekend when I stopped at the Saturn dealer who had the PERFECT comparo of silver, black, and gray Auras right next to one another. But it's always been one of my favorite shades, and VERY classy. Little richer than basic silver and not as "black" as black. Little sad to let the Suburban--our biggest and most expensive vehicle ever--go, but it REALLY was just too much everyday. Dad was NOT happy when he heard, and is trying to convince her she won't be happy with it, but has shut up now. Also officially marks the end of full family trips (4 people, 3 dogs, and ALL their stuff)...so it's the end of an era in more than one way. The car should be there tomorrow (if not already tonight), and they were just going to re-check everything, change the dealer sticker, and have it ready. And the general sales manager at the dealer it came from now has the Black/Brick LTZ he wanted for himself...so everyone is happy, and both dealers sold a car.

Posted this earlier on one of the main pages...but WE GOT ONE! Actually placed an order for a fully decked out Silverstone/Titanium 2LT 4-cyl yesterday afternoon after the dealer swap looking was just not panning out, and were still going to keep searching in the meantime. Then today, got a call right at noon, from my saleslady saying that one of cars we had found and requested before--said to be spoken for--was now available to them again because the people looking at it were putzing around too much...and the sales manager at that place wanted our dealer's black LTZ for himself. If we wanted it, it was ours. It's not the same as what we ordered, but great enough. Dark Grey with Titanium leather/suede, 2LT, with Sunroof, Premium Mats, and Side Molding. Missing the upgraded audio we did want...but it wasn't important enough that my mother cared to risk waiting any longer, so she enthusiastically said yes. I went down, got the final price papers, GM card redemption, etc., and it's a done deal. She asked when we wanted it, and I said ASAP, and she said Thursday at latest--it's only 15-20 minutes away at the other dealer. I stopped by tonight, and the black LTZ was already MIA, so our grey one is either already there and hidden or will be down shortly. Quick rinse, re-PDI stuff to make sure, and change the dealer sticker...and we're good to go. Mom's happy as a clam, dad was supposed to be suprised but she told him and he's miffed at the grey color ("Why'd you get THAT?"), and my brother is having sentimental moments with the Suburban. It's been absolutely fantastic, and we'll miss being able to load up the house and go...but that's rare anymore, and she's been disliking driving it daily more and more. Pictures to come soon, once it's here! :AH-HA_wink:

YES! That is so true. We've yet to have ESC (but our new Malibu will have it), and a news report I saw not far back where they took an '05 Yukon 2wd on a snow & ice track with all systems off (it slid and skidded around) then kicked the Stabilitrack back on, and it was amazing. To even better show it, was that it was a 2wd truck in the first place. Stabilitrak is probably still the best family of ESC systems on the market. That said...sorry about the Buick! Shame to see such a primo car get mangled, but trust me, after a bad "side peel" accident in my beloved Fleetwood in October...things can be fixed, even when book values are low and the damage not so light. Moreso, I was just lucky, but I wish the BEST for you and that car...accidents and the dealings that follow stink, even in good cases. How BAD is it, really? I guess we'll see soon...

That's a little off. The 2nd row center console has been delayed (after promised start dates) at least 3 times now, continually because of "engineering issues". It's actually now been on order sheets for a couple of months, but if you order with it, it gets deleted. No one still knows when it might actually become available. Then with the Platinum Ice Tri-Coat...that was to replace White Diamond Tri-Coat (both pearl whites, but the Platinum Ice uses a silver base and is "whiter" while the White Diamond uses a gold base and is "yellower"), BUT in the past month, because demand was so continually overwhelming for the White Diamond, they decided to forget about the Platinum Ice for this year and just continue with White Diamond. The Luxury Package...that's a definite maybe, because for at least a while there, this "goodie package" on CXL models had components that were in short supply, and they really limited the number of cars that could be built with it. Might be lifted, full or partially, by now. Can you tell I've been on the Enclave owner's forum for a while

No, that's just not possible. Special ordering at most just means ordering off the sheet that goes with a particular color...nothing else special. The ONLY vehicles you can get in a special, non-standard color, are the full-size trucks and SUV's. GM offers about 5 "fleet" colors, such as yellow, orange, green, etc., and you can order them IF you order a certain number of them at once (like 5 or 10). But not for the cars. Green could be nice, but it still would make this car look older, I think. It already does, IMHO, to the Sky...doesn't look bad, just doesn't look too current. Doesn't matter, as it isn't possible anyway. It seems completely different, I know, but with mother who only wanted silver before and then also said gray or black...really try and suggest to them Dark Gray or Imperial Blue. Both have the same kind of dark, but colored "aura" that a green car would, but look more modern and are actually available. I think, at least with the gray, once they saw it in person, etc., they might like it more...or not.

Yeah...looking at these pics more and more, and the black LTZ they have, ugh... As for green, that's been "out" for quite a while now, and no one really offers green (i.e. "no sale green") EXCEPT for the Saturn Sky and some random rare imports. Not a bad color at all, but not "in" for quite some time I expect.

Yes, that was our $2000 bonus. If you were already over $2000, they bumped you to $3000. At least this time we got it while actually car shopping...it's just a little struggle to actually get something to use it on, hah.

The color choices. 1) Silverstone/Titanium: The first choice. 2) Silverstone/Ebony: A compromise, to get the silver on a locate. 3) Dark Gray/Titanium: I really like it, and then am iffy. Good between silver & black. 4) Black Granite/Titanium: Really sharp, and makes the Malibu look even more elegant...just dark, and well, black. All Autotrader, etc. pictures...but, that's the pallette, if on of our locates is successful. I had her build the "exact" one tonight, so I had that, and she hit Dark Gray first then Silverstone...so I think she'd stick with the Silverstone/Titanium if has to order. If not, she'll gladly change colors to one of the above to get it ASAP.

Well, still no car. We're trying and the dealer is GREAT, but getting a swap is just a big drag. First 3 (all Silverstone/Titanium 2LT's) sold the same days we sent requests. No more of that model & color combo within about 250 miles (started with 150, but she played with it because they will go further when needed), and still none. the other choice of my mother was Black Granite so we knew of a few of those from the start too. Searched for Silverstone/Titanium again, followed by Silverstone/Ebony (a lot of them...just narrowed it to the most loaded), Dark Gray/Titanium, and then the Black Granite/Titanium. Sent requests on Thursday for: 1) Silverstone/Ebony...still not sure on the black interior, but like the silver still 2) Dark Gray/Titanium...really like the gray, actually, and sort of dead between silver & black 3) Dark Gray/Titanium (another) 4) Black Granite/Titanium...this is a cool color, and I like the pearl black, but very dark and possible maintenance issues for the momma My saleslady was then off Friday but passed the info onto the manager and he watched for any answers. #3 was in transit but already sold, so out. #1, 2, and 4 STILL hadn't responded by today. The cars are listed, but after the initial faxes, she could only get one of the people on the phone today and then they never got back to her. Getting miffed, and so is our saleslady--said "I NEVER expected it to be such a process to get you a Malibu..."--since cars are available, but at least with us, the first few sold just as we sent requests and now the dealers just take forever to respond or the person (apparently 1 or 2 "trade" people at each dealer) isn't there. So, new plan of attack. Come Monday, she's calling again to all 3 we're waiting on to get answers. As well, in the process, somehow we missed another Dark Gray/Titanium at a dealer VERY close (quite familiar with it) and I called her so she could request it today too. That's the new #3. At the same time, we're also going to keep looking over the weekend and Monday (both me at home and her on DealerWorld) to see if anything else new pops up, in transit, etc. If that doesn't pan out, the system will be ready, and they'll put in a sold order for us (i.e. priority) AND still in the process keep checking inventories for something else to pop up quicker--if this all were to happen, then they'd just keep the ordered car for the lot. The key issues are a $2000 GM Card bonus that ends Jan. 31 and the trade value going down further with time (shouldn't much, and not a big deal, but still). Hence with the sold order and keep looking, so we can use the card bonus before it expires. It's been a fun week, hah...tomorrow I'm buzzing over to the close by dealer that has the other one I found today. Having withdrawal after only seeing so many just "on paper"...

HAH! And I thought it was funny to pick on my 73 year old grandfather, who got pulled over (with my grandmother in the passenger's seat) for doing 55 in a 35 (or 40?)...in her OLDSMOBILE Intrigue "It was a curvy downhill section...and I just let the car coast" was what he said. Well, at least now I can tell him, you still only went half as fast as a guy another decade older than you.

Yes! Actually have a friend who's been waiting for his ordered Red/Cashmere LTZ for a VERY long time too...we give each other daily updates now. Who can get one first...his order or our locating. I was pulling for today, with us, at least to confirm...but now banking on tomorrow. We have 4 requests out there again today. As of this evening, one was definitely up for grabs...just not yet at the dealer in question, and the 3 others had yet to respond. Not so sure what the delay is between a dealer getting a fax at lunch time and then saying yes or no to a swap before the end of the day...but I've now seen it several times. Tomorrow better be a "yes" day...for all of them :AH-HA_wink:

Well...no more Silverstone/Titanium 2LT's to draw from. Found 3, dealer put in requests for 3, all of which were sold yesterday and today elsewhere. Found & sent requests for Silverstone/Ebony (first choice, now), Dark Gray/Titanium and Black Granite/Titanium (second & third...not sure which) 2LT's. They're hot, and we're impatient, hah. Everyone say a good wish for us still... :AH-HA_wink:

I WISH. Right now the Passat and new Jetta wagon, and the Subie Outback, are about the only "typical buyer" priced ones, followed by Volvo, Mercedes, and BMW. In America, it's like hatchbacks, that people just will forever see darkly because of some dorky versions in the 60's-90's. Lots of wagon fans...but that's still not a lot. Then again, all the people with SUV's are technically driving wagons. My father and I have tried to tell my mother that REPEATEDLY, that her Suburban is very much so a wagon on steroids to which we always get "NO, IT ISN'T!" It is, but she buys into that stigma. He and I would love one, though, of whatever model. After my 37mpg '07 Malibu rental, I said "we need a Malibu wagon" and got the most enthusiastic, "Why, do they make them?!" Nope, just the shortened, and now dead Maxx. But they're perfect...driving dynamics and efficiency (well, unless we're talking a V8 Holden wagon, AMG Mercedes wagon, etc.) of a sedan, but the full open "hall" space of a lower SUV. I need that combo badly. Actually, know one of the cars I've wanted to have for many years now? This: Flashy? No. Scintillating? No. But a fantastic daily driving appliance? Oh, so absolutely...take one of the most respected mid-size cars for quality and efficiency, double or triple the rear cargo area...and sha-zam...awesome little car, that's oh so practical. But that's just me...

Yep, thought so. On the Malibu, good points--I've been poking around a few discussions over on SaturnFans, where people are comparing the two. Really like the Aura's Euro-look a lot too, and the Malibu's is still a bit cooler to me--stands out a little more, at least now. I understand the situation with your relatives, for sure. It's hard to give up something so large and useful, and just being able to load it up with people and stuff on a whim...but, in reality, it simply isn't done so enough to warrant it staying a thirsty daily driver, for us. Well, I don't think. 3.5 years and 57k miles...but it still looks oh so great, freshly detailed, out in the driveway. Eh...