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West Columbia, SC Car Consumer Discussions

2009 G8 GT

by 04gtpws6 on Mon Nov 03 03:50:11 PST 2008

I live in two states: Ohio and California. I wanted to wait and get a 6 speed manual G8 GXP, but I didn't want to take a rental car to the Ames Tri-Power Nationals and Dream Cruise. So leased a sport red 2009 G8 GT on July 28th. I've raced it at Norwalk Raceway, Drag way 42, Milan, and Nationals Trails. Now, this weekend I drag raced at Fontana here in Southern Cali. I was going to leave the G8 in Ohio for my car back there, but it was too fun to drive not to have it with me out here. I made a nice road trip out of the trip back, by going west on I-94 to America's Autobahn: Montana, and then way up into Alberta and British Columbia. This is not only a fun drag racing car, it is a terrific road car. Gas mileage isn't all that great at 65-70 (26 mpg), but doesn't deteriorate all that much as speeds get up into the 85-90 range (22-23mpg). The car is impeccably smooth with perfect wheel balance. 120 feels pretty much like 70 except the scenery is moving by faster. The back seat might well be more comfortable than the fronts and there's a big bunch of room back there. This car is almost the same size as a 750i and with about the same back seat room. I driven the base G8 with the V6 and the character of the car is just ruined without the big V8. I can't even imagine what this would be like with a 4 cylinder, but I know it wouldn't be for me. This car is very much the car for the guys that had the Impala SSs from 94-96, and in fact, quite a few G8 owners are formers owners of the Impala. Of the 60 cars that I've had in my lifetime, this one might just be number one for bang for the buck. Where else can you get a big, comfortable, rear wheel drive, modern V8 sedan that will run mid 13s and top end at 170 or so for $31,000? I may just do another one so I can have the GXP with the 6 speed manual. Since I live in two states, I have to have sets of everything so that is my excuse.

Re: [xostnot]

by norwoodsmn on Wed Oct 01 12:01:26 PDT 2008

Greetings from The Lone Ranger. Been missing my Sidekick(s). Pleased to be able again to defer here to you re: your experience with your auto 2.7. About the new ones, I can only add: TD one, but try the new four and see how you think it compares with the 2.7. In retrospect, I think the manual box '08 2.7 JA we just drove MIGHT have performed better post an initial break in period. However, not so with the 2.4 four, even with its auto box as the best compliment I can pay it here, (you're welcome Suzuki), would be: think Honda. Ya, our two prior new Accords way back when, benefited from a "loosening up", (slightly), in their first year, but both also felt absolutely great right off the showroom floor. That's my same initial impression of this new Suzuki four. On the rear discs, again try 'em. One tester noted they got into a panic situation out on the road, and he lauded the rear disc's goodness. I'd concur. Pads and rotor wear though, yes it's a valid concern, but... Again I'm a little disappointed they didn't choose to offer a base one with the rear drums and basic O/R gear for '09, (a Vitara Classic), to empty the rear drums parts bins. I agree not much of this new content has much to do with the economic sense of jumping ship into an '09, if you have a prior gen "New GV" sorted out. You are all also now learning about trade in values of 'em too, I know. Sure interesting to note your own melted insulation report though. As she drove manual trannie VW's in winter while dodging Moose west of Jasper Alberta when we lived there, (we spent last week on vacation back up there, and the Columbia Icefield continues to melt..), despite her recognizing ALL the goodness of the new four cylinder, sound insulation and all, it's the wife who says she Could go for an '08 2.7, while I don't think I could. For me it comes back to that Accord analogy re: this sweet new free revving econo engine, and yes, as someone who once had a 911-S in the garage, all the rest of the icing now on the cake which becomes evident out on the open road.... On the diesel, scuttlebutt seems to indicate though they have tweaked it yet a bit more for '09, there may still be concern re: market acceptance of its NVH characteristics in North America. It ain't cheap either, but equipped as you've called it, it would give a Rubicon Trail Jeep a run for it's money. Good on ya re: Blunden Island and Vargas hike. Ought to do Ahous Bay in spring when whales are stopping by on migration to feed. We soloed out west of Blunden to circumnavigate the Cleland Island Sea Bird Sanctuary last time there. Felt like Captain Vancouver, but we were in a cork. White knuckles on the paddles there too! Friends have done the Brooks Peninsula which seems the "Holy Grail" [to me] on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Not for canoes though, or [our] sea kayak. Too risky.... Nwdsmn.

Lamdas top level in recalls,again!!!

by toyota4life on Fri Aug 29 10:08:08 PDT 2008

WASHINGTON — General Motors is recalling 88,809 2008 Buick Enclave and 2007-'08 Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia vehicles because of a problem with the windshield wipers in certain cold-weather states. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that a buildup of snow or ice on the windshield or the wipers may restrict the movement of the wiper arm. "The windshield wiper linkage may become detached from the motor shaft, and the wipers may become inoperative," said the federal watchdog in its summary of the problem. "If this were to occur, driver visibility could be reduced, which could result in a vehicle crash." The recall involves the three GM crossovers in the following states: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the District of Columbia.

Re: Columbia Univ. CO2 Scrubber [houdini1]

by ruking1 on Thu Jul 24 21:31:09 PDT 2008

..."Scientists at Columbia Univ. have developed a cheap, efficient CO2 scrubber. Each unit can remove 1 ton of CO2 from the atmosphere each day. The scientists there are extremely surprised to find environmentalists adamantly opposed to such technology. The enviromentalists say that while this might solve the problem of excessive CO2 in the atmosphere, it does nothing to stop people from putting it there in the first place. This tells me what a lot of us already know. These people don't really care about the CO2, they just want to control what other people do. For tons of info. on this new development just google Columbia Univ. CO2 scrubber"... Interesting that they think 254.4 M Prius' are THE answer !!! They of course put out CO2 You are absolutely spot on!! It is truly a control others issue. I saw a news clip on the local cable channel that environmentalists are AGAINST the current windmill farm in the Altamont Pass, CA (near Davis/Sacramento, CA area)

Re: The Arctic may give US a little more breathing room [tpe]

by gagrice on Thu Jul 24 18:38:20 PDT 2008

He is a capitalist and does what he believes in. He has built many of the NG stations on the West Coast. He is in the process of building the largest Wind Farm on the planet. So yes he is putting his money to making what he believes in happen. He formed Pickens Fuel Corp. in 1997 and began touting natural gas as the best vehicular fuel alternative because it's a domestic resource that, among many advantages, is clean (Natural Gas Vehicles or NGVs emit up to 30% less pollution than gasoline or diesel vehicles) and reduces foreign oil consumption. Reincorporated as Clean Energy in 2001, the company now owns and operates natural gas fueling stations from British Columbia to the Mexican border. Wind Farm venture: On May 15, 2008, Pickens' Mesa Power announced that it had placed a first order for 667 1.5-megawatt turbines from General Electric. The turbines will be delivered in 2010 and 2011.

Re: I love this job [carhag2000]

by boomchek on Thu Jun 26 11:48:21 PDT 2008

I'm on the West Coast in Vancouver, British Columbia. It's nice out here too.