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My cars:
1968 Buick Special Deluxe
1975 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1979 Buick Park Avenue
1979 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Regency
1987 Chevrolet Caprice Classic
1988 Buick Park Avenue
1989 Cadillac Brougham
1994 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
2002 Cadillac Seville STS
2007 Cadillac DTS Performance
My wife has owned these GM vehicles:
1986 Chevrolet Sprint
1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
2001 Chevrolet Impala
2005 Buick LaCrosse
The 1989 Cadillac Brougham, 2005 Buick LaCrosse, and 2007 Cadillac DTS Performance are the current GM vehicles in our fleet.
I'm suffering with our new Cobalt,
a leSabre, 1998, at 170,000 miles with a muffler needing replacement--darn things just don't last in the brine they use on the roads here in W. Ohio now. I keep expecting someone to hit it and buy it from us. Replacement likely would be a Malibu . After some more months idea replacementl would be a laCrosse after the initial demand levels out and the 4-cylinder models show up.
a leSabre with 100,000 almost, 2003, and luxurious seats and appointments equal to the Park Avenue at the time we bought it sans the 1.5 extra inches legroom in the back seat. The ride was slightly "fresher" than the Park Ave but the bright crimson red color was not available on a Park Avenue. Only maintenance items have been done on it. We can drive this car to Nashville and arrive in comfort with a controlled ride but an enjoyable 5 hours during the drive for 3 adult-sized people with lots, lots of luggage for staying with friends living there. I consider it our Buick-Cadillac.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
My first car was a 1980 Malibu coupe that my Mom gave me when I got my license. I still miss that thing sometimes, but, as the old saying goes, you can't go home again. I'm sure if I had a chance to experience another one, it wouldn't live up to those rose-tinted memories. Biggest issue, is that by today's standards it would be a dog. 115 hp 229 V-6, 0-60 in probably 14-15 seconds.
Other GM cars I've had since then...
1969 Pontiac Bonneville 4-door hardtop
1982 Cutlass Supreme coupe
1967 Pontiac Catalina convertible (still have it)
1986 Chevy Monte Carlo
1985 Buick LeSabre Limited 4-door
1985 Chevy Silverado (still have it)
1976 Pontiac Grand LeMans coupe (still have it)
2000 Buick Park Ave Ultra (bought it about 3 weeks ago, to replace my 2000 Intrepid after it got totaled)
Lemko, I hear ya on nice Park Avenues being scarce. I think I really lucked out with mine. I paid $7500 for it, which is kinda pricey for a 2000 model year car I guess, but it just seemed like the perfect combination. It's in great shape, only had 56,300 miles when I bought it, plus it's the more desireable Ultra model, and has a sunroof, which is fairly rare, even on an Ultra. It was for sale at the local Cadillac/Buick/GMC dealer. The previous owner was a 65 year old lady, and she traded it for a 2010 LaCrosse CXS. I happened to stumble across it just browsing their website.
Just for kicks, I've gone to the auto trader website (www.traderonline.com) and searched for various used cars...even though my need for a new ride has been satisfied. Within 25 miles of my zip, this is about the nicest Park I can currently find. It's two years newer than mine, and I like the color better. Mine is more of a sand/champagne sort of color. But it also has 20000 more miles, I don't think it has a sunroof, and it's not an Ultra. And they're asking $1500 more than what I paid.
I have a friend that's in the market for a car, and he really likes my Park Ave. Just browsing around traderonline and a couple dealer lots, I've found some pretty nice low-mileage LeSabres, and they seem more reasonably priced, given the age/mileage. So who knows? I might be converting someone to a Buick!
Well I'll try to follow this forum and will post when I can. I'll give you a little inside news regarding GM.....Well some of you might be aware that GM canceled their employee discount program "GMS" and is coming out with some program called "Preferred Pricing" which isn't quite as good according to my sources.
Well I thought I'd drop in and say hello to some old friends!!! :shades:
-Rocky
Didn't always agree with you, but we have missed you!
Hope all is going well with you and you now have a great job, great car, and great girl!
GM is only good in this forum.
The new LaCrosse looks like a really nice car. Anybody here driven or bought one?
Be sure to read Lutz's article on InsideLine. I appreciate his candor.
If I couldn't find a Park Ave, the LeSabre Limited is still a pretty nice car. I did find a nice low-mileage LaCrosse, but it was lavender!
I'm always preaching the Gospel of Buick to people I know who are looking for new or used cars. I've done very well with the make. The sensible choice would've been for me to buy a new loaded Buick Lucerne CXS instead of the Cadillac DTS Performance I bought instead. I could've had a car one model year newer and paid at least $7K less.
Cooterbfd recently bought one. I imagine he'll chime in here once he finds the forum. The dealer I bought my Park Ave from had a LaCrosse CXL sitting in their showroom. I sat in it. Nice car, and it seems like GM really got their act together with regards to interior materials. It feels bigger inside than the old W-body, but still a bit small-ish for my tastes, and the high sill line and smallish windows aren't to my liking, but that's the trend these days. I guess I'm a bit of a throwback, but I'd still go for a Lucerne...although the LaCrosse is probably better in every respect, save interior room.
Yeah, that would count as a pretty big change! About the biggest thing to happen to me is that, for the first time in ages, I have more GM cars than Mopars in my possession! The count had been 5 Mopar and 3 GM, but once my Dart finally went off to its new home and my Intrepid gave way to the Park Ave, I'm now at 4 GM, 3 Mopar.
I'd love to get a new LaCrosse for my wife, but she is a lot more sensible when it comes to cars and not willing to go back into auto debt. Maybe we'll get one when I pay off the DTS. Of course, I'm wondering if the LaCrosse will last as long as the Park Ave?
-Rocky
P.S. Missed you too, lemko
This past summer I had a job but was laid off and did a MLM with a nutritional company and didn't make any money and had to quit because I was taking on more inventory than I was selling =( Have been busting my butt ever since looking for work....Well the good news is Rocky got a job with a Construction Company just about 2 hours ago after a 2nd interview and start 'training" on Monday. Will be doing construction sales mostly Windows, Roofs, Siding, so I'm happier than a pig in slop!!!!
I had some good job leads and interviews over the summer but it always seemed like someone was hired over me. I also thought I might be working at General Motors, in the near future and my plan was to go back to college and specialize in Security Administrator for companies networks by taking classes around work. It would require about a year or so of schooling but now that this job is likely going to take up most of my day those plans of returning back to college are likely over. So hopefully this job will work out and I won't have to worry about college or General Motors As far as a girl goes I'm still single. I'm still just "dating" my best friend Beth and hang out with her when we find the time. She is still the #1 saleswoman at her dealership and kicked alot of butt last year and starting off this year very strong!!! Went and saw my kids in Weatherford, TX over the holiday and really not much else to say.
Oh yeah, lemko and imidazol97 will like this one :P ....I had a interview at a Toyota, dealership this morning at 10:30 and a second interview with the construction company at 12:00....Well I'm at my interview at 10:15 this morning and waited all the way until 12:15 to get a interview. I felt so disrespected and was pawned off to the business manager (Whatever that means) for a whopping 5 minute tops interview. She didn't know my name and didn't bother bringing in my application or resume....It had to be the worst interview experience ever for any applicant. She was cute but still!!! It was not goodah!!! :surprise: So yeah I had to call the construction company and reschedule my interview for a hour later at 1:00 p.m. because I was put on the back burner. I'm like if they treat there customers like they do me well I don't want any part of this. I tell you one darn thing it made my choice much easier on who I wanted to work for. I spent 2 1/2 hours in my 2nd interview busting a gut and making my boss roll on the floor laughing. He and I are very much a like personality wise so I have a great feeling this could be a excellent fit. I'm not going to get my hopes up real high but am going into this job with a clear mind and work my butt off attitude.
The Buick Lacrosse rules the world!!! A very nice ride guys and is my favorite car GM makes!!! It rides better than my former 2002 STS w/ Magneride IMHO.... Mom sold her Saturn Sky Redline to a couple in Georgia. Mom drove a 2010 Equinox that Beth was trying to sell her but mom was sort of dead set on a car so she ended up purchasing the last Pontiac G6 GXP "Street Edition" that has the "Hammer Head" spoiler and hood scoops in Black Metallic. It is a sweet ride and pretty darn fast. Told mom we are going to find a chip or programmer to boost the power to CTS's 306 hp. What else.....Beth purchased a candy apple red Camaro RS with a stick that has 324 or 327 hp w/ a 3.6 V6..How about Saab? I just love and adore the new 9-5 and if I could own any new car out there well the new Saab 9-5 would be it!!!! :sick: It really pains me that GM, is going to throw in the towel on this brand. They just need to keep promoting XWD (Cross Wheel Drive) and it's safety and enviromental stuff because this brand can be as good as Volvo or Audi given enough PR....We might not be able to have Tiger Woods endorse it but maybe have Brad Pitt and Agelina Jolie endorse it and I guarantee you those puppies would sell. It needs a boost in status by a big name celebrity IMHO. Am I wrong????
Okay enough rambling on!!!! Sorry I'm making up for lost time!!! :P
-Rocky
P.S. Missed all of you guys!!! TTYL
lemko - 2004 Park Avenue? You back in the market again? Andre got you jealous? You're right that the price is high on that.
I really have to go see a new LaCrosse up close. I'm doing my best to not be in the market right now so I've been staying away from places even where I'm not likely to buy, but hey....
Nice to hear from ya!
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I guess you could call me a GM fan .. there are 3 Saturns parked at my house, with my step-son in UT owning a 4th.
I'll admit that I came to the GM party late .. my first GM vehicle was a '79 Sunbird I bought in the spring of '82, just before graduating HS. Only had 11K on the clock - 4 speed manual, 2.5L "Iron Duke" engine. Saw me through most of college - I totaled it about 2 months before graduating.
The Sunbird had no end of problems that kept requiring me to get fixed. Wasn't terribly reliable -- it didn't like to start in hot weather, which is a problem when you're going to school in Phoenix!
After college I kept mostly to import brands - Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Isuzu - then I got into Fords after meeting my current wife. Escort, Expedition, Explorer, Focus rotated through the house.
Back in '02 I was looking for a V6 4-door sedan with leather and sunroof. Wife took one look at the Camry and proclaimed I wasn't old enough for one of those yet (I was 39 at the time). Drove the Altima and didn't like the interior, and the Passat was too expensive equipped the way I wanted it.
Saturn had just refreshed the L-series, so I had a drive. Was impressed - not the fastest, or sportiest, or most economical, but somehow hit a 'sweet spot' with me. That, plus the 0% financing and a price that was a few thousand less than everything else caused me to do the deal. Wife commented that it was the easiest car sales transaction she'd been involved in.
So, when she was ready for a smaller SUV, we test drove the '05 VUE. Admittedly, it had the Honda-sourced engine and transmission, but she loved it. It got traded in for an '08 VUE (again, AWD with the 3.6L V6) a couple of years ago.
We bought our daughter an '06 ION after graduating HS - she's had it 3 1/2 years now (and about 32K miles) and it's only gone to the dealer twice for non-maintenance items.
I'm sad to see Saturn (and Pontiac) get the axe from GM, but I can't say I'm too surprised, either. Hard to justify so many brands and give each one a unique identity --- and the associated marketing budget. Cutting the number of brands increases the amount of development and ad money available to the remaining brands .. and gives GM the opportunity to succeed where in the past they failed.
Will my next car be a GM? Hard to say - they make some pretty tasty wares nowadays. The new LaCrosse is a winner in my book, as is the CTS Wagon and Coupe. They are a bit out of my price range, however -- at least, as new cars.
As much as the Camaro appeals to me on a visceral level, I'm not sure I could live with it on a daily basis .. the gunslit windows might induce claustrophobia.
GM just sent me a notice this week telling me that my GM card points have been 'topped off' to $2K, in addition to any other available incentives. Wish I was in the market at the moment .. I've found a couple of leftover '09 Impala SS's at a local dealer - one white, one silver. Invoice is around $29K or so, plus a $3500 rebate. Add the card savings and my trade in (maybe $4K or so), and I could get into one for around $20K plus tax.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to the positive comments on this thread.
-Rocky
-Rocky
-Rocky
The G8 is pretty nice. I would never own one but.....Pontiac is the #1 sold brand in Michigan, and I see more Grand Prix's on the road here than any other automobile. I had to buy mine from a dealer in Florida, just to save myself $3K from what they are asking for them here. We have a pretty well established Grand Prix club here and one guy has a black coupe with twin turbo's that does 7 second Quarter Mile Times. I will probably hop mine up a little bit when I get some extra dough but will probably just tweak the supercharger a little and try to get 12-13 seconds times. I don't need to run 7 second times
My Top 5 favorite GM auto's right now:
#1 The new Saab 9-5 w/ XWD
#2 The new LaCrosse CXS
#3 ZR-1 Corvette
#4 Caddy CTS-V (can't wait for the sexy coupe)
#5 GMC Sierra Denali
:shades:
Rocky
-Rocky
P.S. Here's good news for our state!!!
http://www.detnews.com/article/20100108/AUTO01/1080346/1148/rss25
http://www.saabusa.com/saabjsp/allnew95/index.jsp?model_viewer=1 - The new Saab 9-5
What a beautiful car!!!! :shades:
http://wot.motortrend.com/6534208/we-hear/leaked-2011-saab-9-5-official-images-h- it-the-web/photo_07.html
-Rocky
I hate to rain on your parade, but your #1 GM car may not be a GM car for much longer.
Not sure what the ultimate disposition of Saab will be, but it seems to be one of the following:
1) closed down, like Saturn and Pontiac
2) sold off, like Hummer
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
L82 Air filter/valve covers
Crane HT Cam/lifters
Edelbrock Performer Intake
Quadrajet carb(calibrated by yours truly)
Recurved Delco Distributor/Mallory Unilite/MSD5av
Blackjack Headers
3" dual exhaust with Cherry Bomb Q (Turbo) mufflers
B&M Transpak(Street/Strip calibration)
Flex-A-Lite 15000 lb.GVW Transmission cooler
3:42 Final Drive Ratio
The only work I farmed out was the recurve, the Transpak install and some exhaust pipe bending. I still get requests to rebuild Q-Jets from time to time.
I would have considered a G8 GT had it been available with a manual transmission; the GXP's price-even with a deep discount-was too high.
The GM cars I like were designed during the 60's and early 70's, when engineers held a bit more sway than the beancounters or Federal regulators. My favorites include:
The 1966 Toronado
The 1966 Riviera GS(I owned a 1967)
The 19701/2 Z/28 RS
1970 Rallye 350
1973 Grand Am
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
But now GM, when painted into a corner, and arm fully twisted, and urinating on themselves, are showing the true talent that was always there, but they were too cheap to invest in.
Anyone seen the new Aceo RS Concept? OUTSTANDING! I want one right now! 19" wheels? Great C-Pillar styling, 20 more horsepower than the Fiesta or CR-Z? And it WILL look just like that next year in production! At $16k, they will sell 100k easy!
Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, just a lot of truly solid products that would get more sales if GM wasn't running around the room with scissors!
I just wanted to say I am a convert from Honda/Toyota back home to The General!
I don't even think THEY KNOW who is running the place now, but whoever it is (Lutz?), they are re-building the company on product, product, product!
Great job, GM! And get that Aveo RS out here pronto! :shades:
Rusty
While I'm not a GM fan, I promise to be on my best behavior if I decide to post in this thread. I saw you posted in here, so I just had to welcome you back.
Good luck with the new gig.
Okay, I give a GM plug. The new upcoming Regal looks cool. I hope they don't dumb it down and I hope they go full speed ahead with the GS model.
Beth just sold a special Berger Camaro that tuned by her dealership (They have a long history of doing this) with 550+ hp (Supercharged) and special Brembo Brakes, serial #'s, paint, signed by the owner, etc, etc, for $57K last week which was #6 for her last week. I'd sure love to own one!!! :shades:
-Rocky
-Rocky
-Rocky
The new Regal, indeed looks nice. They have a lot of nice products coming out. I think the new Chevy Cruze will be a huge hit......I hung out with Beth last night watchin' some football over a few brewski's at B-Dubs and the new GM Preferred Pricing that replaced the GM Employee Discount "GMS" is marginally better than what they were getting before. I'm like are you serious??? Another think tank in the ivory tower justifying his job I suppose? :confuse:
-Rocky
Not sure when it actually goes into production, but that picture was there back in June, when I drove past the plant on my way to Cedar Point. There was a concept/pre-production Cruze at the DC auto show last year. It looked pretty decent in person.
I don't think so, but I can't say for sure. They only had a sedan at the auto show and I've never seen a picture of a coupe.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/carreviews/smallcars/5686651/Chevrolet-Cruze- -review.html
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0905_chinese_chevrolet_cruze/inde- x.html
Civic looks like a DustBuster. It can only get better with changes in styling.
I don't find any pictures of a Cruze in a coupe.
Oooops. Here's one
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Paul slammed the 1.6L and 1.8L DOHC Ecotec fours in his review, and rightly so. Both engines are dogs; droning snoozers with no panache, no personality, and no discernable power or torque peaks. I wasn't impressed by the transmissions, either. The five-speed manual is somewhat balky and has ratios so widely spaced you could drive a '49 Packard between them, while the six speed auto shunts clumsily through the shifts in a race to get to as high a gear as possible as fast as possible.
Every article I've read about the new 1.6 and 1.8 Ecotecs have not been good. Isn't GM going to have a 1.4 or so direct injected turbo 4 cylinder available? I'd think that would be the one to get.
I wonder if the coupe will be offered here? Haven't heard anything about it.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick