The O.C.

Not only that......but even if you wanted to, there's no guarantee GMAC would even finance you if you wanted to buy-out your AURA at the end of the lease! That's what I'm facing now too.....my '07 CTS is up in 11-09.....and I most likely won't be able to get into a new one.....and thought I'd buy my car out at the end fo the lease because it's been SUCH a good car....but I might not even be able to do THAT either....

.....rrrrright....

I totally agree......and don't forget, the democratic congress is facing even lower approval ratings than the Bush administration itself..... Obama's going to be a rubber-stamp approver for the congress......with him there ARE NO checks-and-balances.....

You haven't learned anything from the people here on this thread.....have you? I don't particularly care what your opinions are of gay people....but at least you can take away some knowledge from this thread......but you haven't really learned anything because you are still referring to homosexuality as a "lifestyle" when that's so incorrect, it's not even funny. No one on here is trying to convince you to like gay people.....but your seemingly close-mindedness about the realities of homosexuality is a prime example of what torques so many (gay) people off these days..... My god....just look at Paulie's recent posts about how his family....his own family.....treats him.....

No $h!, are you serious?

Speaking of "converts".......you know what really cracks me up? Those organizations that say they can "heal" the gay homosexual and turn them straight....groups like Exodus International, etc.....

That post was an absolute work of art..... :gay:

I haven't heard that we have had any problems with floorplanning.......let's keep our fingers crossed.......

Thanks wildman...... The news release kinda speaks softly about the true nature of the changes...... Here at the dealership level, in the finance department, looking at getting deals bought, it appears way more serious.....and restrictive.

First of all, homosexuality is not a "lifestyle." Living in a cabin in the mountains of Colorado is a "lifestyle." Living in an apartment in Manhattan is a "lifestyle." Living in the suburbs with your picket white fence with your 2.5 kids and 2.5 dogs is a "lifestyle." The use of the words "lifestyle" and "choice" when discussing homosexuality is a sheer sign of ignorance......and it's insulting as well. Now I'm not insinuating that YOU made those above comments in an effort to be "insulting".....I'm just trying to, perhaps, educate you a bit more. As far as homosexuals "not meant to be that way"......well....although not at all overly (or even remotely) religious, I do believe in God. I also know that I was born gay. God created me, and I'm sure he had a rationale for making me gay. I may not know why, but it is what it is. (Edit: If being gay was as simple as a "lifestyle choice"....then why would so many people around the world "choose" a "lifestyle" that was so persecuted? Perhaps one that is more persecuted than just about any other ethnic or social "norm?")

So guys.....I don't have a link to any website, just info that our GM and Sales Managers told us this morning........ Effective today, GMAC is implementing these new finance restrictions: 1) GMAC will not finance or lease any consumer with less than a 700-fica score.....period. 2) GMAC will not finance or lease any car deal for anything more than dealer invoice amount....that amount including sales tax and fees. The way I see it, in order to finance or lease a deal through GMAC, a dealer has to sell a car for invoice (or less?).....and the customer has to come up with down payment to cover taxes and fees. OR, if a dealer sells for over invoice, customer has to make up the difference in down payment. ......that's IF the consumer is over a 700-fica score. Also, if you have a high-demand vehicle (like our Escalade Hybrid or CTS-V) that you might sell for window sticker, in order to go through GMAC, you can't even hold window sticker on these vehicles either (unless your consumer puts enough money down to cover the difference between invoice and window sticker plus sales taxes and fees.) While not a doomsday scenario (we have other banks we can work with.....although these guys are tightening the purse strings too) it really makes a statement about the challenges the finance companies are dealing with right now. Interesting times ahead.......

......not according to Autocar..... In fact, they are suggesting that this car is good enough to topple the vaunted Mondeo as soon as they get it in one of their Group Tests. They also offered flattering comparisons with premium "rep" cars such as the 3-Series and C-Class.......

Cadillac of Las Vegas West. One of three Caddy stores in the Las Vegas area......beautiful store I might add.....located on West Sahara Avenue, close to most of Las Vegas' more upscale communities such as Summerlin, Queensridge, the Lakes, Red Rock, etc....

<....Chris wipes his forehead....thank goodness for a fellow McCain/Palin supporter!....>

I am....but it seems the vasy majority of people on this "heterosexual movement and agenda" are these types of fanatics..... For example, when I'm out-and-about at some of the many (straight) bars around Las Vegas with some of my friends, I get hit on quite a bit by women! I don't feel repulsed by it...in fact, it's kinda flattering. Ultimately, it comes out that I'm/we are gay......then we all get a good laugh about it, and have a fun time shooting the &#036;h&#33; with those women......it's all good.....

&#036;h&#33; no man......they are still selling relatively strongly. That being said.....Escalade is considered a luxury item. People that can afford $70K (less with rebates I realize) for an Escalade can afford the gas. They may be pissed off about the gas, but they aren't as impacted as other people. Now, I could see Tahoes and Expeditions being hurt more.....they are more within reach of people with modest means that may barely stretch to a Tahoe only to find they can't afford to gas it. Used Escalades are hot items because.......it's an Escalade......but way cheaper than a new one. The name still holds quite a bit of prestige I'm finding out. People have no qualms about trading from a Range Rover (the ultimate luxury SUV perhaps????) into a Caddy 'Slade.

The whole point is that we need to start somewhere, sometime...... IF we had begun drilling, oh, say 10 or 20 years ago......

Going back to original topic......it really drives me nuts how the AFA makes such extensive use of the words homosexual "movement" and homosexual "agenda." What sort of "movement" or "agenda" am I, as a gay man, supposed to be on? I'm just living my life like everyone else.....and expected to be treated the same as everyone else. It's funny, because day-to-day, I forget that there are really these religious fanatics out there. My life, as an open gay man, is so lacking in drama from people I'm around, people I work with, people I come across every day....(no one at all really seems to care about me being gay that is)......that I forget that there is still a real serious danger from these fanatics.

....and I'll add to that......Obama has voted 95% of the time in accordance with this very same Democratic congress. THIS is one thing that scares me so much about him. You put him in the white house and he will effectively be a "rubber stamp" for a Congress that has an even lower approval rating than the Bush Administration......scary.......

I see anti-gay rights as a far-right, conservative republican viewpoint.....and not in any way indicative of how the vast majority of republicans feel......

We are still able to sell '07s on the used-car lot for around $42-$44K......'08s are a bit higher. Nah....for $25K, you are looking at an '04 or so. (old body-style.) We can get away with $30K for an '05, believe it or not, if it has low miles.

If you get a chance, see my thoughts concerning the Insignia in the Pontiac "automotive news....." thread......

I just read my latest Autocar last night.....and they had an extensive first-drive of the new Insignia (with the 2.0L Turbo) and had lots of great, glossy photos of their black-on-black test car. IMHO, I can't believe this is a GM product. After studying the interior photos, I came to the conclusion that it looked good enough to pass muster as a Caddy interior.....or at least something way more upscale. That got me to thinking, once again......WHY DON'T WE GET THIS PRODUCT undiluted, here in the U.S.? Frankly, there is not a car in the U.S. lineup (Malibu and Aura included) that holds a candle to the new Insignia. Then I thought......who should get it? Buick? With a product this good, unfortunately, Buick's old-man, cruiser-mobile image would ruin this car's chances for volume success. Pontiac? This thought is what made me put this post in this Pontiac thread. Well, no question this would make an AWESOME new G6. But then, you get to deal with all the whining Saturn dealers that don't get the car. Plus, with Pontiac's dwindling position in the marketplace, would it be so smart to hoist such a vital, important, and fully-competitive product on a brand that very well may have it's days numbered? Saturn? Probably a good fit. However..... .......what I really realized is......that the Insignia is THE car that Chevy needs. A volume, mainstream midsize sedan that is good enough to not only compete with the Camrys and Accords of the world, but actually maybe beat them. Frankly even the Malibu doesn't exude the kind of class and style (inside AND outside) that GME has managed with the Insignia. Even more importantly, Chevy has the dealer body and marketing dollars to support the volume this vehicle has the ability to put forth. Once again, it comes down to the fact that, really, GM truly needs a strong, high-volume Chevrolet brand offering world-class mainstream products.....and a high-end Cadillac brand to battle the premium offerings. Everything else, sadly, has very weak legs to stand on in regards to a place in the GM lineup.

I don't know..... We buy a TON of fleet DTSs to stock on the used-car lot.....and I can't remember the last time we got a fleet DTS that didn't have the buckets and floor shift.....

Now that's MY kind of accessory.......