GMTruckGuy74

I like how this man thinks! Before I left the AACA Fall Show in Hershey this past October, I had to make the required stop at the vistors center to stock up on some Hershey's candy for the family. While walking back to my Envoy, I noticed what at first was 3 SSR's coming around the bend with a purple-colored one leading... then four more behind them, then another five or six - must have been almost 20 that drove by me, ranging from stock to modded (one had an awesome custom paint job). I just stood there in awe as they drove by, with the last SSR driver waving. I love my SKY, but if the SSR was priced right I might just have opted for one of those as my toy (seems more fitting, doesn't it, with me being a GM-truck fan and all?). The wife never liked them much ("too retro-looking", she said) and while I could have gotten a good deal on a leftover 2005 silver SSR as I placed my SKY order, I just couldn't give up on the SKY at this point (loaded SKY for $27K, leftover SSR without chrome pkg for $32K). I still drool at the site of one and wish they could have been marketed & priced better. And I'll never forget my drive-time in a black one at the Philly ASIM in June of '04.

Fixed it. But hey, anyone that wants to give me a gift car is more than welcome to send me an e-mail!!

I was wondering about that too Ocn... there were none in my AURA when I took delivery last week (not counting the wife), so I figured it must be part of the Red Tag Sale (which started after I took delivery).

You see, I'd like to say that I have a "good wife" because she has allowed me to select the fleet of cars occupying our garage/driveway (trust me, she still hasn't let up on getting a Volvo or Lexus), but the fact that I only have one auto-related poster hanging up in the house and she won't let me hang or display anything else, takes her out of the running in my book. Congrats on the wife letting you use the counter. I'm lucky to leave a car magazine out of place in the living room!!!!

Oh, where do I begin? Christmas is my all-time favorite holiday! The wife and I started to decorate the house today (we don't go overboard - no Chevy Chase/Christmas Vacation here!), and I'll add some decorative lighting outside tomorrow. Christmas music has been playing on one Philly radio station since Nov. 1 and I've been moderately listening to it, but that will change over this weekend. I just got my 20 or so Christmas CDs out & ready to take with me on the road and into work. As for my favorite songs, there's a version of "Jingle Bells" by Frank Sinatra that I really like and can't find on CD or on Itunes, but here's a "small" list: White Christmas - The Drifters The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) - Alvin & The Chipmunks Someday at Christmas - Stevie Wonder The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole Christmas Time - Ray Charles Blue Holiday - The Shirelles A Marshmallow World - Dean Martin The Christmas Waltz - Frank Sinatra Kissin' By The Mistletoe - Aretha Franklin Parade of the Wooden Soldiers - Harry Connick, Jr. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Mariah Carey Trust me, this is just a small sampling of the songs I really, really like to hear during the holiday season. I'm not kidding when I say I have at least 20 CDs on just Christmas music!!!

I've found with age that people start wanting & asking for less, but still want something. Other than a few collectible items (like certain Hallmark ornaments), there's not much I really lust for. Being the only car-nut in the family, it's not like I can be surprised with much (like I expect my wife, mother or sister to find an old GMC item that I'd appreciate!). Cash and gift cards seem to work the best for me anymore. Add to the fact that my birthday is on the 23rd of December, I can't anymore make up a list to cover both events (boy I miss being 7 years old with a 3-page list of Tonka, old Kenner Star Wars, Matchbox/Hot Wheels, and GI Joe toys!).

Congrats man - nice car! Two of them have appeared in the student lot at the school I teach at. One is a black SS/SC and the other is a Maroon SS (not sure if it's SC'ed or not). This is in addition to the two other Cobalts - one '05 and the other '06 (one a sedan and the other a coupe). This is not counting the two or three Cobalts in the teacher's lot. Chevy seems to be doing good with the Cobalt! What is in the G85 package anyway?

Don't jump to that conclusion yet... the dealer's meeting in Dallas was held back in April, so it's likely that some dealers got the go-ahead to do renovations soon after that. There is one dealer in Pennsylvania that I know of (Saturn of Trevose in Bucks County) that is under construction and looks like they're expanding the size of their dealership. So anything is possible.

Fly, I just sent you an e-mail with my pictures (SKY & AURA together). Let me know if you don't get them or have a problem with them.

I agree 100%, but they haven't released any pictures other than to the dealers at their April meeting. Plus, it states: I know I can;t wait to see what the new look is like. Maybe the new sign/look will be debuted at either the LAIAS or NAIAS???

Courtesy of http://www.skyroadster.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9965 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saturn Stores Will Get New Signs Automotive News By April Wortham Nov. 20, 2006 NASHVILLE - Saturn dealerships will get a fresh look to go along with the brand's new portfolio of vehicles. On Nov. 9, a sign company here said it had won a contract with the General Motors brand to provide new signs as part of a reimaging program for Saturn retailers. Saturn's main assembly plant is in nearby Spring Hill, Tenn. New signs are one piece of a makeover plan that will include exterior and interior enhancements at the brand's 432 dealerships, says Saturn spokesman Randy Fox. Some locations have been targeted to be the first to receive the upgrades, but it will be several months before Saturn is ready to reveal what the stores will look like, Fox says. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. Juiced by the Aura sedan, the Sky roadster and the Vue SUV, Saturn sales and vehicle production have improved this year. Through October, the brand sold 187,499 vehicles, up 2 percent from the same 10 months a year ago. And through October, Saturn produced 237,632 vehicles at the factory, up 33 percent from 178,317 vehicles made during the same period in 2005. Since Saturn was created in 1990, its retailers have undergone two renovations - called Retail Environmental Designs, or RED 1 and RED 2. Those renovation programs emphasized store interiors, including new furniture, carpeting, paint and wallpaper. As with the previous campaigns, the extent of the renovations will depend on the location of the store, Fox says. "Each individual retailer would have to look at it and determine when and at what level they would be interested in updating their location," he says. Dealers will pay for the renovations, but Saturn will allow them to recoup some of the costs, says Tom Carpenter, the Saturn representative on the GM National Dealer Council. The cost has not yet been disclosed. Saturn dealers got their first glimpse of the new signs in April at a meeting in Dallas, Carpenter says. Carpenter, who owns three central Ohio Saturn dealerships, described the signs as "the same look, just a more modern treatment." He says the Saturn logo - with its half-globe and ring reminiscent of the planet of the same name - remains the same. What will be different are the materials and lighting of the signs. "It's crisper, cleaner. It shows the new Saturn image as we go forward," Carpenter says. Bob Miles, general manager of Saturn of Cool Springs outside Nashville, says the new signs are just what dealerships need at the moment. "We've gotten a lot of products we haven't had in the past, and we're going to be getting a lot of customers we haven't had before," Miles says. "This new look fits in with the scheme of those new products." Rob Cochran, who owns two Saturn dealerships in Pittsburgh, agreed. "As with all brands, Saturn is focusing on continuing to evolve their brand, particularly as they have new products coming out," Cochran says. "If you're going to update your brand, you typically do it when you're making a big splash in the marketplace, and that's what they're doing now."

Times of Trenton newspaper, Wed 11/22/06 edition:Olds Cutlass '74 - 37,400 mi, excel shape, gold, 4 dr, asking $3200 (609) 466-1059 (a quick Google search reveals this # is in Hopewell, NJ) Also in Wednesday's edition: Pontiac Catalina '74 - 4dr, 182,000 mi, Runs good, needs paint. $350/bo. (609) 392-1749 (a quick Google search reveals this # is in Trenton, NJ) Let me tell you Knightfan, I'm very impressed with my AURA XE. FWD just lets me know I'll be able to navigate NJ's roads when it snows, or more importantly that the wife will be able to get home from work if she has the car when it starts snowing. And it wouldn't be like you don't have your RWD toys anymore - just that your daily driver is FWD. I'd say for the heck of it, go to a Saturn dealer and check one out/test drive it, or see if your car rental place has any available and rent it for a day or two. Looks alone I like it more than the Charger (but then again, the only Chrysler product I really like is the Jeep Wrangler).

Hey Fly, 2nd picture from the top - I think you missed some damage; looks like a baseball sized dent in the door... Just kiddding! It looks great. I hope my SKY, once repaired, looks just as new as your Aurora does. Like many here have already said, I too would be interested in reading the rest of the saga (and it might help me when dealing with Allstate).

A '74 Olds Cutlass has been listed for sale in my local paper!

Wow @ NOS... (got any pictures of her? ) Anyway... what happened to my post? The thread topic gets posted but the message doesn't? Wierd! Here's what I included, trying to recall from memory: I know I just got the AURA, but man this 1970 GMC Jimmy is nice looking. A one-owner truck from California that is in original condition. I wish I had the $17,900 asking price. Here it is: 15 years ago when I first got my license, I would have died for the opportunity to get this truck (well, not for $18k, more like $3k!!!). If anyone has a spare $18K and would like to give me a really nice birthday/Christmas combo gift, I can tell you where this truck is located and give you my address! P.S. - Camino, this would be a perfect new truck for you!

Maybe it's from staring at it a lot lately, but I see a lot of the AURA's interior design in the '08 Malibu's interior. I'll try to find a picture of the AURA interior similar to the "08 Malibu's angle to prove my point.

Here are two shots I was able to take today... TED, you're 100% on target there. I must sya that I really do like the OUTLOOK a lot. I have seen it twice now in person (Ocean Mist & Pearl White) and it really is a nice looking vehicle. I'm waiting to see the Acadia, as I won't rule out a GMC in my driveway either! I just think it would be funny to have an all-Saturn driveway (razoredge's nightmare, btw ) More pictures to come, especially when the sun decides to come out so the blue really shines.

Fly, I'll be sending you at least one picture very soon.

You've got it backwards there... she was happy with the Malibu, I was the one who wanted to get rid of it. Other than stupid luck (small accidents happened all the time), it was too appliance-like for me and I like to be inspired by the cars I own. The Malibu was an okay car for me - I liked the engine, was happy with the 4-speed auto, liked the dash layout & ease of use, and thought the trunk offered an enormus amount of room. But the road & wind noise, exterior styling, ride feel, and electric power steering left little to admire. If you aren't "into" cars and only care that they get you from point A to point B, then the Malibu was the car for you. But I can see that the wife alrady likes the AURA much more than she'll admit, and more than the Malibu.

The Midnight Blue, code 25U, is different than the Laser Blue of the Malibu SS. It is much darker - almost black at night. I really wanted this color for the SKY, but with the black leather, I thought that combo was too dark; with the tan interior on the AURA, the blue is just right. There's a lot of differences I've noticed with the AURA over the Malibu. The engine, while being similar, is more potent off the line and smoother. The quiet-tuning (sorry to use a Buick-term) really makes this car very quiet inside and outside road noise is nil (Malibu had too much road noise). The suspension, ride & handling are much better in the AURA than the Malibu. So far I'm very impressed with the AURA; I liked the Malibu but didn't love it. The main reason - the styling. The AURA's design & styong are what I like, and I was always impressed with the 3.5 liter V6 so teh improvements made to it will be greatly appreciated. As for the wheel trim, I will say this was one option I wasn't too thrilled with. I've never owned a car with steel wheels & wheel covers, and I was hoping that the chromed wheel covers weren't going to look too "Wal-Mart-ish". Seeing it waiting for me at delivery settled those concerns. They really add to the overall look of the car and are very shiny. From a distance, the gray-painted and chromed wheelcovers look very similar to the aluminum wheel design offered on the restyled 2000+ Cadillac Catera (I'll try to find a pic to prove this). I couldn't get out to take pics today (too cloudy & gray), so if tomorrow is better then look for some decent pics to be posted in the evening. And yes, Christmas did come early at my house!!!

No, not much has changed. A call to the Police Records for the report was disappointing - still not ready as of 2:30 PM Friday. I really need that report finished & issued so that I can prove to Allstate that it was their insured's fault. A call to Allstate Friday was also not helpful. It seems as if the adjuster is on vacation for three weeks, but anyone in her division can "help me out". Well, this one lady I spoke to was more involved with saying "goodbye & have a great weekend" to everyone leaving her office than helping me. She kept saying "my computer is slow", but I heard her trying to cover the phone with her hand and saying goodbye to everyone leaving. She couldn't get the name of the repair shop I need to take the SKY to so they can have their own estimate done, so she takes my cell # and says she'll call me back. I leave to pickup my 15-month old son and she never calls back! The office is not far from where I live, and the police station is right around the corner from them. So hopefully on Monday the report is ready and I think I'll stop by to see them in person. I am taking it to the Saturn dealership on Tuesday afternoon so that I can get an estimate from the body shop that I will be using for the repairs. My insurance company sent their inspection agent out Friday morning, so I know that they are atleast doing their part. I'm about 75% ready to find the $500 (wife said no touching the savings account - Thanksgiving dinner & Christmas shopping come first) and just go through my own insurance company to get the car fixed. I'd much rather stick it to this girl's policy and make her pay - rental and all - but if Allstate keeps up their crap, I'll have no choice but to go through my own insurance comapny. I just want the damn car fixed - I'm tired of seeing it parking in my garage all banged up. Here's some more pictures, taken outside when the sun finally came out last week:

I too bought CARS, but not until the next day (Wednesday). I'd love to join you for the large screen TV showing, but IL is a little too far away from NJ!!!

Knightfan, I have to tell you that I'm really impressed with my new purchase - a 2007 Saturn AURA XE. I wanted to get back into leasing (I like the fact of getting a new car every 30-36 months) and get out of my Malibu, and the deal I got was great and got me into a great new car. The best part is that it stickered for $22,295 and looks like it could be more expensive than that. As for your decision, you already have an older car that you really like ('87 M/C LS), so why not invest in a newer & safer car as your daily driver & vacation car? I'm going to tell you, I've been buying (okay, leasing and buying) NEW GM cars since 1999 and I've got to tell you I haven't had one lemon yet. And if anything went wrong, it was covered by GM's warranty anyway. Ont he 2007 models, you get the 5 year/100K powertrain & roadside assistance warranty too. I'd say keep that M/C safe in the winter & rainy days and treat yourself to something new (GM GM GM GM GM GM GM GM GM )

Bizz, I'm so sorry to have your post/thread with my AURA XE banter. Anyone interested in commenting on the XE, I invite you to come over to http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index...showtopic=13507. I'll have pictures of my XE posted soon. Well leave this thread open for discussion on the XR model. Thanks everyone for your advice and opinions on my quest for an XE!

Took delivery last evening of a 2007 Saturn AURA XE in Midnight Blue with Tan Cloth. It has the Convenience Package, Preferred Package, Enhanced Convenience Package, and the upgraded 17" Chromed five-spoked Wheelcovers. Since they got this car on trade from Saturn of Marlow Heights in Maryland, there was a tan pinstripe and VIN Etching already on the car. My salesman knew I didn't want any of that, so I wasn't charged for it! I think I actually like the tan double-pinstripe, so I will keep it on for now. And to make things better, the lease price they quoted me Wednesday night turned out to be $16 less per month at delivery! So with the GM Supplier Discount, $750 Saturn Oweners Loyalty, $500 GM Cash, and my trade-in, I drove away with a really attractive lease! Plus no money out of pocket meant I took advantage of all these incentives and drove away not worrying how I was going to pay for Thanksgiving & my upcoming Christmas shopping!!!! Since it was dark when I left the dealership, I wasn't able to get any good pictures, so I'll get some today before we venture out on our errands. Now there's two 2007 Saturns in my driveway, and the wife already stated that when our '05 Envoy lease is up, she wants to get the Outlook! UPDATE: My wife did take a picture while we were waiting. Here it is, parked in the delivery area. Not a great pic, but it's first. More to come later!