GMTruckGuy74

I am totally at a loss over which vehicle I want and for what reasons. The 2008 Pontiac Torrent GXP AWD is great because it is 2 years newer, has the balance of the factory warranty in addition to the warranties CarSense gives, the CarSense dealership is close by if needed for warranty repairs, it is a decent sized family hauler that offers both utility and performance, it has enough options to make me happy (namely the factory remote start, heated cloth seats, and 6-disc CD radio with AUX INPUT jack), being a GXP I love the sporty look, lowered suspension, and the fact that it is not as common as the regular Torrent (and silver isn't as common as black), and the fuel efficiency it affords because of the 3.6L V6 and being a lighter vehicle over the GMT-360s. Of course if I was able to afford a brand new vehicle, it would be the GMC Terrain which is the same size as the Pontiac Torrent. Also, being a Pontiac enthusiast this is the closest I can get to buying a nearly new Pontiac to boot. BUT, the wife likes the 2006 Buick Rainier CXL AWD the best out of all three choices. The luxury afforded by the Buick (and the GMC to an extent) beats out the Pontiac hands down. The Buick has 4-5k more miles and is 2 years older, but is priced $600 less than the smaller Pontiac. The Buick has a GM warranty in effect until August of 2011, and I'm sure it can be extended longer if I;m willing to pay for it. The Buick sits higher than the Pontiac, and being larger overall allows for more comfort for all passengers (family of 5, one child in a booster seat & another on the way for an infant carrier). No factory remote start and no AUX INPUT jack for my iPod are disappointments, but not really dealbreakers. The biggest hurlde though for me is the fuel consumption due to the heavier weight & the 4200 Atlas I-4 engine. Having leased a 2005 Envoy SLT 4WD, I know how these things like to gulp gas on trips and feeding a 22-gal gas tank is not a fun task to afford. But the size, features, and packaging of the Rainier are all plusses for me (I like the Envoy and really, really want to own a GMC most of all, but I can't pass up the better equipped and more luxurious looking Buick Rainier - plus it has 10k miles less than the GMC). So, do I go for the newer vehicle with the better fuel efficiency and driving performannce in a smaller, sporty package ('08 Pontiac Torrent GXP), or do I go for the older & larger vehicle that I know can fit my family well, is more comfortable, and is better equipped, but at the expense of a higher fuel bill ('06 Buick Rainier CXL)?

Driving home yesterday the wind was blowing up a lot of snow onto the roads (snow drifts) and it was getting slippery. I was approaching a slight curve and noticed an older Nissan Quest minivan slide off the road and was stuck on the snow bank sideways... I slowed down as I got closer and watched a late '80s/early '90s Olds Cutlass Ciera going too fast into the turn plow into the snow bank and get stuck. Driver looked about 18-20 years old and clueless as to how to get his FWD car unstuck from the snow bank

*UPDATE* So two vehicles weren't enough for me apparently, so I have to add in another to mess things up. There is a CarSense dealership 1.5 miles from my house (extremely close). I checked their website last night and they recently got in a 2008 Pontiac Torrent GXP AWD, similar to this: 20k miles, same price as the Rainier (2 years newer, 5k miles less), 3.6L V6 engine/6-speed auto trans, factory remote start, more fuel efficient than the Envoy/Rainier, a little less roomy on the inside for a family of 5... I went and test drove it tonight and I do like it, though I'm not sure I want to give up on the Envoy/Rainier yet (though the Torrent is closer in size to the vehicle I wish I could afford, a 2010 GMC Terrain). So, given this new addition, would you still recommend the Rainier over the others???

whiteknight, is there a process I should instruct them to follow, or ask if they do it? I truly don't like pinstripes on my vehicles!! 5 to 1 for the Buick... my instinct tells me to go for the Buick too, since it has the G80 locking rear differential and the head curtain airbags (Envoy doesn't have either), the QuietTuning insulation, and the rear air suspension. BUT, being a GMC fan, I'm drawn to the Envoy and that was what I was searching for in the first place (I really do like it's styling overall the best). And though the wife and I leased a 2005 Envoy SLT, I would have purchased it had I forseen the financial crisis that hit in 2009 (I was expecting to be able to finally get a Sierra, but between the '08 gas crisis, the '09 financial crisis, and then my own job crisis in '09, I had no other option but to let that plan go by). The 10k more mileage does also raise a flag, especially since the price of the Envoy is barely a $1,000 less than the Buick. I plan to test drive the Buick on Saturday, and if all goes well, I may choose that over the GMC.

Didn't think about that whiteknight; you are correct that the flaring style will not match up. If I were to ever be able to do this conversion, I'd use the Yukon Denali trim, even if the truck was not 'Denali' equipped (I'd leave off the "Denali" nameplates). That black one is very sharp indeed!!

+1 Right now I'm considering a couple of used/CPO GM SUVs, and if I knew when these Regal wagons would go on sale and what the price range will be, I'd possibly consider holding off on pre-owned and focusing my efforts on one of these. I've always loved station wagons and this would definitely be a great family hauler for me.

Thanks for the votes and feedback so far... keep it coming guys!! Question about the God awful dealer-added tape pinstripes. If I buy either of these SUVs and asked for the tape pinstripe to be removed prior to me taking delivery, does anyone here think that damage will show from where the stripes used to be? I am not a fan of non-factory pinstripes, especially the $10-$15 tape stripes sold by dealers for $150 bucks!! But I don't want any paint/clearcoat damage to be done by their removal.

Please vote, and then post why you made your selection and any advise, insight, or plain ol' opinion you'd like to contribute. GMC: Buick: *Note: both SUVs are well-equipped and are very similar with option content, and are GM Certified Used vehicles.

Those looking for a used Avalanche, here's a great looking 2002 Z71 loaded with 51k miles and selling for around $15k: Flemington Car & Truck Country Dealerships - Flemington Nissan (Flemington, NJ, Hunterdon County): Link: http://gmc.flemington.com/preowned/dsp_viewcar.cfm?vin=3GNEK13T12G285082 Derek - can't you keep the G8 and add that used Av to your fleet? You have the best of all worlds - all-season GT sedan, and bad weather, whatever-you-need-hauled hauler, and beach off-roader/winter warrior. What do you think of that idea???

O M G ! ! ! (I'd die if someone found one with the current GMC Sierra front clip instead of the Yukon Denali front clip) Derek, you have your mission - buy that orange Av and transform it into a GMC - use the Sierra clip though. Go.... Now.... What are you waiting for? As for your question on the factory chrome add-ons, I say yes to the chrome door handles and mirror caps. I'd need to see what the chrome grille looks like first before commenting on that. It's bad enough that Derek mentioned he wants an Av and I've been seeing them everywhere (and wanting one now) since, but with the GMc converted pics being posted here, now I really want one to transform into a GMC!!

+1 on the Avalanche. The Lambda's are nice, but you don't need a family vehicle just yet. 4WD? In the northeast, I say it's a must with any truck or truck-based vehicle. Look at surrounding areas that got hit by all the snow recently - PA, NJ, DE, MD, DC - all buried by the snowstorm and only 4WD vehicles got through. The orange? well, it's not my cup of tea, but if you like it that's all that matters (no one here is helping you with the monthly payment, right?). All I will do ifs offer you some suggestions for personalized license plates - HWYDEPT (Highway Department), D O C (Department of Corrections), ILUVOJ (I Love Orange Juice; though I guess you'd have to be careful of this one, as people may think you're an OJ Simpson fan!)....

I sent a message to the dealer with the '06 Buick Rainier, seeing if it is still available. Not sure about financing, but you don't know until you try! And like caddycruiser, if the Buick works out then I'll be putting the '96 Caddy for sale, assuming the dealer doesn't offer me a substantial trade-in amount!! I'd like to be able to keep it, but there's not enough cash flow to handle three car loans, three insurance payments, and gas for all three.

There is a rotary knob to recline the seats in the Solstice & SKY - tough to use when seated with the door closed. You need to sit in the seat with the car parked & the door open to use it, but it works better if you're standing outside of the car turning the knob. It's not the most efficient way to get the seat right, but once you're happy you don't have to worry about changing it often As for the 2.4L 4 cyl, I agree with your assessment on it's power. It was a turn off for me, and as much as I loved the SKY, I wished it was a V6 instead to match the looks of the car (when I told people it had a 4 cyl engine, they'd give me a strange look!). If you can find a GXP version with the 2.0L turbocharged engine, you may like the car better overall (as I've been told from SKY Redline owners). Back to your recommendations on the post I made, I am forgoing the GMT-355s as I too agree they don't offer enough interior room & storage. As much as I'd like one, they don't make the best choice for a family hauler. That '04 Suburban is nice, but I agree with you that a '06 CPO with warranty would be a better find. I will keep looking for one of those years, especially a GMC Yukon XL. The Terrain is spot on, but as I want equipped, out of my price range. Time will tell on that one though. And finally, I've expanded the search of the gmt-360s - I started looking at Buick Rainiers, and found a CPO '06 Buick Rainier CXL AWD with 24k for slightly under $20k. I like the prospect of the Buick, since they aren't as common as the Trailblazer & Envoy models, and the Buick is a little more upscale looking (exterior appearance). Here's the one I found, not locally but not that far away, that I'm know considering:

Will you post a link here to the site(s) you posted the car for sale at? Maybe someone from here would like to consider it? Or post a thread in the member marketplace thread with a link. Word of mouth advertising might help!!

2006 or 2007 Buick Rendezvous... yay or nay? I've been looking at some used vehicles online and the wife said she really misses her 2003 Buick Rendezvous and would like me to find a used one to consider (admittedly, it would be a good family hauler, and I'd get the Pontiac as my car). If your aware of any issues with these vehicles, have information to provide, or just your advise/opinion/thoughts, I'd appreciate you posting here before I go look at one!!

I agree with daves87rs... I had the basic maintenance (L-O-F-rotations) done on all of my leased vehicles, but anything else recommended was done only if I had the money at the time, which almost never happened (if I had owned or financed the vehicle, that was a different story). I think a ton of people that lease do the same thing - I mean, look at how many vehicle's front rims (or worse yet, all four) are covered in brake dust. The owners rarely wash the vehicle themselves, let alone take to an automated car wash!! My neighbors think I'm crazy for spending 1-2 days to detail my vehicles inside and out every spring or early summer, and then to take the time to wax them too... I'm crazy they say!! And I'm adament about getting my vehicles washed after the salt washes away on the roads - my neighbors think I like to "waste" money and time on my cars. Yet they will comment from time to time on how nice and new looking my vehicles are compared to theirs :rollseyes: That's one of the many reasons I prefer not to buy used/preowned vehicles. You don't know what maintenance was performed or how often it was, you don't know how hard it was driven, you don't know how clean the previous owners were (detailers are great at making used cars 'look' the part on the sale lot), and you don't know what problems the previous owner(s) cheaped out on or left unattended, which causes additional problems down the road. Of course if a dealership is selling a preowned vehicle they originally sold & maintained, some of those issues aren't as bad. But think of all the lease returned and off-rental vehicles are out there on the used lots; most of my issues can apply to those cars. On that note, I am considering a gently used 2008 GMC Envoy that's for sale at caddycruiser's selling dealership. He was nice enough to ask them about the history of the SUV and it was owned by their parts dept manager. All service and maintenance were done there, and there's a report indicating when, what, how, why it was all done. A pre-owned vehicle like that is a little easier for me to handle (the fact it is 2 years old and has only 22k on it helps too!). Now the question is can I get financed without being raped each month, and can I afford the monthly payment?

If you think your Auto ADD is in high gear, you're not the only one!! You got me started with that awesome 2008 GMC Envoy SLT (perfect in almost every way), and the Philly Auto Show gave me a few more ideas to explore... 2009 Chevrolet Colorado LT Crew Cab Z71 4WD: I'm looking at two different CPO '09s - one blue, one black, similar mileage, equipped the same way, difference in mileage & price: - 12,4xx miles, $24k selling price - 10,7xx miles, $23k selling price *At the 2010 Philly Auto Show last week, there were two 2010 GMT-355's on display that caught my eye and I haven't been able to shake them from my head - a fire red Colorado & an orange Canyon - both Z71, 4WD, Crew Cab models. I decided to see what CPO 2009 models were available; no GMCs equipped the way I want (all have the Z85 suspension & not the Z71 off-road), and these two local Colorado's popped up. There is also this... 2004 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LT 4WD: - 51,8xx miles, fully loaded, $17k selling price *BUT, check the CarFax Report (if you care) at this website http://gmc.flemington.com/preowned/dsp_viewcar.cfm?vin=3GNFK16TX4G341359 - there's a discrepency with the mileage; should I forget about this SUV? The wife actually likes this one the best and told me to check it out. Of course here's the cause of it all... 2008 GMC Envoy SLT 4WD: - Perfect color, rims, & option content; 22,5xx miles, $25k selling price, great report status, plus is this is at Derek's selling dealership, perect size family hauler (I know it will fit in the garage, compared to the Suburban above). Of course way off course is this next one (dreaming, of course). It is my choice for a "fun vehicle", if I were in Derek's shoes... 2004 Chevrolet SSR LS roadster: - 19,9xx miles, $21k selling price, would be a cool warm weather daily driver!! Totally out of the running, 2-seats does not = a great family vehicle!! *I'd like YOUR opinion/advise/insight on my choices above - sans the SSR, that's only a dream! - before my Auto ADD makes me do something!! (BTW, anyone looking for a really nice '96 Caddy FWB? If I move on any of these trucks, the Caddy will need to go to a new home!)

Unlike some of you, when I was younger we were stuck at home in the snow (the downside of my parents owning two cars). I am use to going stir crazy at home when the snow strands me there from years of "practice"!! I remember when I had my 2001 GMC Sonoma SLS Highrider Extended Cab 4WD and the snow didn't stop me finally. Even with the '05 GMC Envoy SLT 4WD, snowy days were no longer a concern. Now, with the G6 sedan's crappy Hancook tires, and the '96 Caddy FWB's overactive traction control, I'm back to reliving my childhood days of being stuck inside the house, watching the snow fall outside of the window!!

Anyone that finds any of the new diecast, please post pictures when you can. I can't wait to find the new Matchbox '57 GMC pickup(MB has had the '57 GMC design for a while; they issued a 1/18th panel truck decorated as either a Coca-Cola <yellow> or Texaco <black> back in 2003 or 2004).

Happy Birthday!! Glad you had an enjoyable one. I brought this up in my own birthday post on December 23rd - the birthdays are not publicly showing anymore. I checked my settings and it shows that I included my birthday info, so I don't know what's wrong here. Don't blame ocnblu, our unoffical birthday post admin!!

Don't you wish you had a rich uncle that owned a car dealership and he allowed you to 'borrow' whatever vehicle you wanted at any time? I know I do My Auto ADD was in high gear last Wednesday night at the 2010 Philly Auto Show. Ultimately, the #1 vehicle choice (reality-based) was the GMC Terrain, though my wife had to pry me out of the silver Sierra SLT Crew Cab Z71 4WD (my dream truck)!! Of course when in Buick, I really fell in love with the new 2011 Regal they had on display (the wife liked the Regal, but still wants a new 2010 LaCrosse). In Chevy I was drawn to the 2010 Colorado LT Crew Cab Z71 4WD in fire engine red. Caddy had me lovin' the new SRX, but the CTS Sport Wagon was my vehicle of choice. And I'm leaving out the non-GM manufacturers (I really like those Jeep Wranglers!!). So yeah, if I had $30-$35k to make a purchase right now, I'd be second guessing my choice as I liked a lot of things that night! As for used, I am drawn to impractical vehicles. Derek knows how much I want that '08 Envoy SLT, and it's not the most efficient choice for a daily driver but I'm drawn to it. And then there's the 2004 CHevy SSR in silver with black leather and well-optioned at a local Chevy dealer. With two children already and another on the way, a two-seater sport truck/roadster is definitely not the best choice now (but I still want it ). Outside of the used Envoy, I'm not sure what other newer-used vehicle I would want to buy that would be practical for family needs and satisfy my automotive cravings. Derek, I feel for you!! I know how hard it is wanting so many things and not knowing what choice to make

Got your message, why not go for that '08 Envoy at Pointe then? It sure does look like a beautiful truck from their pictures. That Envoy 4WD will get you through the snow just fine, and any other type of inclement weather you run onto in your travels. The G8 will be your fun vehicle and still can be used in inclement weather, but the Envoy can get you through the worst stuff. I want it, but there's nothing saying I'm going to get it, and I'd be happy knowing it went to a really good home ( ) Plus, the '01 Yukon SLT they had apparently sold already...

I think starting in late summer 2006, traction control was added to all Kappa's. I know my April 2006-built 2007 Saturn SKY Roadster had the optional LSD rear, but no traction control was offered at the time. Many an owner "lost it" in the twisties without the traction control's assistance. I drove my SKY in the snow once - the day I sold it to its new owner - and it handled the 1" to 2" on the ground pretty okay (though it was a short drive). I think a 2009 Solstice with LSD, auto, and traction control would allow you travel abilities in some small amounts of snow (was Stabilitrack ever offered on the Kappas?).

I'm back wanting that '08 Envoy...

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