And I think the following thoughts will apply to the GXP. Hope so.
Long story short, I live 5 miles from the dealership that I ordered my RL from. STILL 4th on the list for an RL. SO.........a member here said that there was a silver RL at a St. Louis dealership. Not any more. It's in my driveway in suburban KC, Mo.
Initial observation.
1) Already drove a standard Sky. I autocross a Triumph TR8 that has been "warmed up" and modified to SCCA Street Prepared rules. A well modified 3.5 liter V8 pulls 2750 pounds better than a turbocharged 2 liter hauling 3100 pounds. For a while. If you haven't driven a manual Redline or GXP LEAVE YOUR RIGHT HAND ON THE SHIFTER. First gear runs out in a HURRY. Second gear runs out in a HURRY. Third gear is imPRESSIVE!!!!! The last time I felt a car pull harder in third than first was a 93 Viper.
2) The engine is electric motor smooth. VERY weird.
3) At idle it has a bit of a V8 rumble. On the road you can't hear much out of the engine or exhaust. This certainly masks one of the "inputs" one has to judge a cars acceleration. The car really pulls hard but it's almost hard to fully sense it.
4) The car was produced before the September shut down. Now power door lock buttons (now THERE is a pain in the ass - what the hell were they thinking?!?!?). I am 5' 8" and felt like I was sitting in a bucket. FIRST MOD - raise the seat.
5) First impression of the Monsoon - overrated. But I need to spend a little more time with it. Played the radio only, didn't play with CD.
6) Wonderful ride. Better than the NA.
7) The dealership did have the tire/wheel protection package. This is a NEAT deal. Bought it.
8) Since the car was 240 miles away I trailered it home. The last time I had that many "stares" at a car I was selling DeLoreans. It was funny. I'm driving 70mph on I-70 and people would speed up to get along side, and when I looked at them they would stop staring and drive away. Really sort of comical.
9) My local dealership knew I was going after this car. My salesman called me as I was driving home to ask if I was going to cancel my order. I told him I wasn't sure yet (I really do want a white one). He asked if I could drive it over so they could look at it. Answer - yes. He asked if he could ride with me. I told him NO, but he was welcome to drive it himself. Stutter, stammer, "WHAT, REALLY?". I said yes. (Scoring points may have some value later. )
10) The car has 1375 miles on it. The diff is DRY.
11) THE BLIND SPOTS HAVE BLIND SPOTS!!! Those damn Fiat side mirrors SUCK. They could really stand to be rectangular. Oh well. Stick on spots will help.
12) All this in a 10 minute drive!!!
13) Actually, I am developing PERMA-GRIN. Tomorrow it comes off the trailer and I'll put some miles on it.
14) Had to pay the higher base price. Otherwise, MSRP plus mud guards. Silver pearl, Monsoon with 6CD, XM radio, leather, spoiler, chrome wheels. In other words, loaded minus automatic.
__________________
Redline (still) on order
White (changed my mind!)
Black/Red leather
5 speed
Polished wheels
Monsoon
__________________ Redline (pre-halt), Pearl, Black/Red
complete option list except auto, 3" MF cat-back,
painted calipers, owner installed power lock buttons
Location: "We are Virginia Tech! We will prevail!"
Congrat's on getting your RL, snaponbob! Hope you will enjoy the many, many miles of smiles!
__________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pontiac builds excitement... Saturn has rethought it's image...
The time has come for the enthusiasts... NASSOA(TM) Officially Recognized by GM
Founding Member/Treasurer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Congrats, snaponbob, you are the man. Happy that you got your baby. You will have a blast. Remember the red line and GXP gets better with age, just like a good red wine. Patience is a virture in this case. As others have reported, many of the first impressions have been muted. However after broken in the new owner changes his perception completely and some have become nearly overwhelmed by the thing. From what I have learned the beast must be respected, even with stabilitrac it can get you in trouble quickly. So, even though I have not driven the GXP yet, and have no first hand knowledge, I would not wring it out until you are familiar with it's innerworkings. Can't wait til you pass break-in miles and can begin to feel what it is that you really have. Anyway, happy for you. Since we live so close, must get together sometime. Are you planning to attend the 2nd Annual Solstice Meet in Nashville, Tennesee? Carol and I are going. Rusty, and PACE CAR have indicated that they are going. I don't know about SOLTUL and his plans.
Anyway, have a blast with your new toy. Be safe, and enjoy the ride.
Skincerely GXPinKC
__________________
#1 On my local GXP list at MSRP; Code 1100, Order#KCPDVV 04-28-06
Congrats, snaponbob, you are the man. Happy that you got your baby. You will have a blast. Remember the red line and GXP gets better with age, just like a good red wine. Patience is a virture in this case. As others have reported, many of the first impressions have been muted. However after broken in the new owner changes his perception completely and some have become nearly overwhelmed by the thing. From what I have learned the beast must be respected, even with stabilitrac it can get you in trouble quickly. So, even though I have not driven the GXP yet, and have no first hand knowledge, I would not wring it out until you are familiar with it's innerworkings. Can't wait til you pass break-in miles and can begin to feel what it is that you really have. Anyway, happy for you. Since we live so close, must get together sometime. Are you planning to attend the 2nd Annual Solstice Meet in Nashville, Tennesee? Carol and I are going. Rusty, and PACE CAR have indicated that they are going. I don't know about SOLTUL and his plans.
Anyway, have a blast with your new toy. Be safe, and enjoy the ride.
Skincerely GXPinKC
Can't make Tennessee. My wife is joining her old church choir in Virginia for a trip to perform in Germany in late June and she "decided" I was going. So ...
The car already has 1400 miles on it so I am going to get to know it soon.
__________________ Redline (pre-halt), Pearl, Black/Red
complete option list except auto, 3" MF cat-back,
painted calipers, owner installed power lock buttons
2) The engine is electric motor smooth. VERY weird.
3) At idle it has a bit of a V8 rumble. On the road you can't hear much out of the engine or exhaust. This certainly masks one of the "inputs" one has to judge a cars acceleration. The car really pulls hard but it's almost hard to fully sense it.
This is one of the things that I find about this car that is scary, you really have to pay attention, my feedback is the RKSport dual exit exhaust that rumbles like a small V8, what a feeling.
__________________ Aggressive GXP at $25,995.00 shipping of $600, Manual Transmission.
Options:
Air, $960; Chrome Wheels, $545; PCQ, Premium Package (Leather), $525; Radio, 6-Disc with MP3, $495; Monsoon, $395; Premium Acoustic Headliner, $150; and Sport Metallic Pedals, $115; all totals $29,180.00. No XM/OnStar and NO Spoiler. MODS (RKSport/Magnaflow dual exit exhaust system, K&N filter, Ventureshield.
First 1000. Aggressive with everything, NO XM/OnStar. SOLD
~~~~~~~ NASSOA
Founding member
~~~~~~~
1) For those that have mentioned that 5 speeds wasn't enough. HUH? The gears are so short now that I am starting to shift 1-3-4 or 1-4.
2) Practically NO flywheel affect. This thing demands that you pay attention. The standard Sky was a little easier to drive smoothly because the engine didn't rev up and down so fast.
3) Turbo readout on the DIC is nearly useless. WAY slow. Top boost so far has been 16psi half way through third.
4) Haven't messed with the ECS and Traction Control.
5) I really wonder what the C/Stock ZOK autocross guys would think of this car? The best way I can describe it is "sudden".
6) PermaGrin is starting to set in.
__________________ Redline (pre-halt), Pearl, Black/Red
complete option list except auto, 3" MF cat-back,
painted calipers, owner installed power lock buttons
I assume he means that it rev's very quickly, normally cars with balance shafts rev slowly.
Does wikpedia sorta apply in this context?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wikpedia
The flywheel effect is the continuation of oscillations in an oscillator circuit after the control stimulus has been removed. This is usually caused by interacting inductive and capacitive elements in the oscillator.
Revs increase quickly, but also decrease quickly? So by saying "no flywheel effect" sorta like clap on clap off?
Congrat's on getting your RL, snaponbob! Hope you will enjoy the many, many miles of smiles!
The gears are so short now that I am starting to shift 1-3-4 or 1-4. 
