Thread: Getting Used To It

Darn Grand Prix. I hate new cars, but only for a short while. I drove my Monte Carlo for 300,000 miles and got real used to it. The Pontiac.....not yet. Every time I go to set my cruise control I change the radio station and when I go to increase my speed, the radio volume goes down. I've tried to turn my wipers on many times and all I do is turn the headlights off. This usually happens while trying to dodge a deer in a blind curve.....in the dark.....in a puddle of standing water. Real dark with no headlights. I wish GM would standardize their silly steering wheel controls. Other than that I really enjoy the 2007 Grand Prix. It's solid, fast and generally a lot of fun. I've had it a week and have put 3500 miles on it. I do drive...........a lot. More than you think.

I thought all GM cars had the cruise control on the signal stalk, and FORDs has the cruise on the steering wheel. When did GM have cruise on the steering wheel instead of the radio controls?

I thought all GM cars had the cruise control on the signal stalk, and FORDs has the cruise on the steering wheel. When did GM have cruise on the steering wheel instead of the radio controls?

Not so. My 2003 Monte Carlo SS had the cruise and the radio volume buttons on the steering wheel. Left side wheel was cruise On/Off and the CD track buttons and the right side of the wheel was the cruise speed Up/Down and the radio volume. The one dimmer switch had the wiper controls on it if you twisted it. If I twist the Grand Prix's dimmer the damn lights go off. The lights Off/On was a switch on the dash on the Monte. The lights were always on AUTO unless you pulled the switch.

Why in the world do we need a switch if something's AUTOMATIC? If it's AUTOMATIC it shouldn't need a switch. It supposed to be AUTOMATIC. That's almost as silly as my iron. It has a Permanent Press setting. If something is Permanent Press then why would it need ironed?

Originally Posted by 1963SS

Why in the world do we need a switch if something's AUTOMATIC? If it's AUTOMATIC it shouldn't need a switch. It supposed to be AUTOMATIC. That's almost as silly as my iron. It has a Permanent Press setting. If something is Permanent Press then why would it need ironed?

If you are trying to sneak up on your ex's house without being noticed you'll want to have the option of turning your lights off (make sure to use the emergency brake and not the normal brake pedal!). Also, if you want to annoy people, you can drive around with only your marker lamps at night by selecting the correct switch position. Also, the AUTO/OFF position can be rapidly switched to indicate to a fellow driver that their Prius does NOT have AUTOMATIC lights and they are driving 70mph down the highway in the middle of the night with their lights off.

I like it also. It's just like GM has done it forever. The '03 Monte was just something weird that I got used to over the last 300,000 miles. Now normal seems weird to me. Humans are such adaptable creatures.

I'm going to second what Bill said. As much as I like my GP, it's still one of the strangest cars I've ever owned. Every person who's been allowed to drive it fumbles with the strange placement of controls. That coupled with an aftermarket head unit and such makes for a good laugh.

Not to mention if something was to go wrong and your headlights didn't cut on then your screwed. No thank you I love automatic headlights and love still being able to control them at my discretion.

You can still control them on Impalas and Monte Carlos. They have a switch, just like in the 1950's of 1960's. Pull it out once and the parking lights come on. Pull out to the next stop and the headlights come on. Leave the switch pushed in and the headlights are AUTOMATIC.

Heck, I couldn't start the car a couple days after I got it. The key wouldn't turn to start. I could start it with the $12.00 remote from Ebay but not with the key. I thought, "Oh Hell, what now". I couldn't find anything in the owners manual and finally discovered the steering wheel was in a bind. I should have known that but I also figured that it may be some wild thing going on. I'm getting used to it. I like the automatic start feature, the leather seats are really comfortable and the heat on my old back and butt feels great. Need a trunk light though. I thought all cars had those now days. I'm also going to add a recessed red LED to the overhead console and get a bit of ambient lighting to see my coffee cup at 1:00 AM. Nice car though and I'm loving the little extra power the supercharger gives it. I do miss my sunroof but you can't have everything. I paid $6400 including registration and all paperwork for a 2007 supercharged GT. Pretty sweet deal overall. Looks brand new inside and out. No leather cracks or anything.

The "boy racer" hiding in my old ass wants to put a supercharged emblem or two on it though and it definitely needs the windows tinted.

Where is it. All I get is some escaping light from the back-up lights. Maybe mine fell off?