Getting a newer car (not a Geo though) thought I'd share...

[DanMan7]

Hey everyone. I recently found out how super uncomfortable it is driving 110 miles in 105 degree weather with no air conditioning in a Geo. VERY miserable.

With worrying about how safe I've been in my Geo lately (Geo's are NOT safe in any accident), I decided to get a larger two-door car. I'm getting a Cadillac El Dorado Touring Coupe, that gets 19mpg city and 28mpg highway, which isn't too bad, considering that's still better than half the new vehicles offered at dealerships.

Just thought I'd share that with all of you! I'll let you know tomorrow if I get the car or not.

And NO, I'm not selling my Geo. I'll still drive that on short trips and around town. The Cadillac will be mostly for the longer trips, and days when it's 90+ degrees outside...

[91Caprice9c1]

As long as it's GM, you can't go wrong . Enjoy your new Caddy.

Someday when I get my money in order, I have my eyes set on a Pontiac Solstice GXP or a Saturn Sky RedLine, at which point my caprice will be a dedicated dragstip/trailer queen and my Geo for weekday to-and-from-work-and-school car.

-MechanicMatt

[GM Line Rat]

Originally Posted by DanMan7

I recently found out how super uncomfortable it is driving in 105 degree weather with no air conditioning in a Geo. VERY miserable.
And NO, I'm not selling my Geo. I'll still drive that on short trips and around town. The Cadillac will be mostly for the longer trips, and days when it's 90+ degrees outside...

Exactly Dan! Both Geo Metro's i've owned were for that very purpose (Work beater and around town).

Originally Posted by 91Caprice9c1

As long as it's GM, you can't go wrong . Enjoy your new Caddy.

Someday when I get my money in order, I have my eyes set on a Pontiac Solstice GXP or a Saturn Sky RedLine, at which point my caprice will be a dedicated dragstip/trailer queen and my Geo for weekday to-and-from-work-and-school car.

-MechanicMatt

Good Choice! We build all the engines for the Solstice GXP and Saturn Sky RedLine's at my GM Plant Matt, we also build the entire lineup of Ecotec 2.0, 2.2 and 2.4 Liter 4 Cyl's for GM's other cars, Such as the HHR, Malibu, Saturn Vue, Cobalt etc.. This is a damn good engine line (They have Balls! )..........Mike

[RossT]

Yes, they do well on gas. good choice, plus you get to joint another forum.

[91Caprice9c1]

Originally Posted by GM Line Rat

Good Choice! We build all the engines for the Solstice GXP and Saturn Sky RedLine's at my GM Plant Matt, we also build the entire lineup of Ecotec 2.0, 2.2 and 2.4 Liter 4 Cyl's for GM's other cars, Such as the HHR, Malibu, Saturn Vue, Cobalt etc.. This is a damn good engine line (They have Balls! )..........Mike

My cousin purchased an 08 Sky RL, and that thing is one quick little bastard. I shortened up the waste gate shaft for him a bit, to hold it closed a little longer, and re-routed a vacuum line to lessen the turbo lag and it pulls hard.

How do you feel, Mike, about the Lost Foam Casting? Does it make a good, solid block? Does it suffer the same core shifting issue that previous methods do?

I know one guy who takes ecotecs to the machinist I take the G10/G13s to, and he turns them into 6-700hp monsters complete with engine studs that go from the head, through the block and through the main bearing caps.

-MechanicMatt

[GM Line Rat]

Originally Posted by 91Caprice9c1

How do you feel, Mike, about the Lost Foam Casting? Does it make a good, solid block? Does it suffer the same core shifting issue that previous methods do?

I know one guy who takes ecotecs to the machinist I take the G10/G13s to, and he turns them into 6-700hp monsters complete with engine studs that go from the head, through the block and through the main bearing caps.

-MechanicMatt

Well, I'm no expert in "Lost Foam" casting, but we used it our Plant to produce all the Saturn "Z-Car" engine blocks from 92-2002. The thing that really bugged me about those engines was the oil consumption problems GM Finally fixed the problem In the 99-2002 Saturn 4 Cyl engines. As for the "6-700hp monsters" from the Ecotecs? Not a problem with these engines, the were redesigned from the Ground Up in Germany and alot of people are modding them!

[DanMan7]

Hey everyone. Just an update on my Cadillac FYI.

I was involved in an accident on Monday. I was stopped on the freeway in traffic here in CA, and someone came up behind me and hit me from the rear. Totaled his car. Did some damage to the Cadillac (rear bumper, top of trunk and left rear quarter panel). The amount to repair the Cadillac exceeds the retail value, so it's a total loss. I purchased the Cadillac as of 5-18-08, and the accident happened on 6-16-08 (Monday). Neither him nor I were injured.

I was thinking to myself, that's really strange....here's why.

About 6-7 weeks ago I was up in Sacramento visiting relatives. My secound-cousin got into an accident and totaled her car. Made me realize how vulnerable I was in my Geo Metro. Therefore, a week after coming home, I got a safer vehicle, the Cadillac, because of what she told me about her accident. Then the day after I got my Cadillac I sold my Geo. Then exactly one month after I got the Cadillac I got into a serious accident, which the Cadillac probably, well not just saved my life, but allowed me to not have any injuries (the person probably hit me going 40-45mph when I was completely stopped).

Maybe someone upstairs was telling me what to do, and I'm in 100% health because of it.

After the insurance claims are settled, I'll be looking into getting another car, probably one just as safe.

[dwendt1978]

Dan,
Glad to hear your okay. Nothing better than walking away from a bad accident.

I guess looking for another car, look for something like a Focus or Civic. Very safe and offer pretty good mileage.

Damn glad to hear your okay. Someone's definitely looking out for you.

[DanMan7]

Yeah I'll more than likely be looking for a 4-door over a 2-door, just so that I can easily get up to 3 other people in my car without having to fold the front seat forward everytime someone needs to get in and out. I'll be looking around for quite a while, as I want a vehicle that I will want for a couple years. Also something that gets preferably at least 25mpg and only takes regular gas. My Cadillac I had needed premium gas and got around 18mpg....a little too expensive...fun to drive but too expensive to fill with gas. I was thinking about a Ford Focus...heard they're pretty good cars.

I'd prefer to get like a really good deal and get a car around $3000 so I can pay it possibly all out of pocket with no monthly payments. Also trying to find a car with at most 70,000 or 80,000 original miles. They are out there, just harder to find.

Anyway, yeah, someone was looking out for me when the accident happened. I'm glad they were too. Talk to you all later! Have a great weekend!

BTW, the person I sold my Geo to, lives next door to me (a Mexican), but he's taking good care of the car, and it's nice to see it come and go every once in a while. He drives it maybe 5 miles a week, just to and from the store, so one tank of gas should last him half a year, lol. I do miss the car sometimes when I wanna park in a small little spot, but then think, oh wait I'm not driving my Geo anymore... haha.

[Mike_Van]

A used Focus wagon would serve many people's purposes.