Kyle and I shot some photos for Michelin using their North American HQ building as the background yesterday before Cars and Coffee Upstate. After we were done shooting their cars, I snapped a few of my car since we had all the lights set up. Hadn't posted a picture in a while so here it is...

http://jpmcgphotography.smugmug.com/...MG_2739-XL.jpg

Mileage: 23,xxx

Haven't posted any updates recently but the G8 has been doing great! Had the gas cap replaced at my last oil change because it kept causing a CEL. Other than that though, smooth sailing. Just racking up miles on my photo adventures! This past weekend I joined the Southern G8's at the Charlotte Auto Fair to show my car. Didn't win anything but I had a great time. Also, I did a photoshoot while I was there with a couple spiffy Nissan's (posting that soon). I grabbed a quick shot of my GXP while we were there so I thought I'd post it.

http://jpmcgphotography.smugmug.com/...MG_9500-XL.jpg

Mileage: 28,8xx

Well... it finally happened. A few weeks ago, I hit a fox while driving my GXP. First time I have ever hit an animal while driving.

https://scontent-a-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/...13&oe=554762A2

As you can see from the picture, the front tag (haters gonna hate!) took most of the brunt and just pushed the lower grille inward. The lower grille tore up the bumper a little bit as it got ripped out. It's cracked in one small place over on the passenger side just below the tag and there's a couple other places that the bumper impacted the structure behind it and there are marks from that. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when I fix it at this point. I kinda want to keep the original bumper on the car but it may be beyond repair.

In the mean time, I bought a new OEM lower grille and installed it myself.

https://scontent-a-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/...df&oe=55068FD3

What damage is left is virtually unnoticeable, even close up.

Right around the same time, I came across a full set of speakers for the G8 from a former owner for dirt cheap. I ended up deciding to buy them and installed them with the help of a friend this past weekend.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...bee822b88616ae

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...d4bbe3d2d066d9

Nothing real fancy but it does sound a lot better for what little money I had in it. The highs and lows are more clear and pronounced than before. I also swapped + and - on the subs to get them back into the correct phase since they were wired backward from the factory (yay GM!).

That's all for now, other than that, the car has been great. Every time I drive it somewhere I remember how much I love this car. It's just a great car, in general. It's a shame this car, specifically it's successor the Chevy SS, will be dying in a year or two when Holden shuts down.

Mileage 31,6xx

Haven't posted much in a while. Nothing new to report other than I'm about to crest 40k miles. I'm taking my car to the local GM dealership Monday morning for the synthetic oil change, then headed to Discount for what will probably be my last tire rotation, as well. Later that afternoon, I'm changing every other fluid in the car. I ordered everything off amazon for a good price other than brake fluid which I'm getting from my friends down at Z1 Motorsports (Motul RBF600). I plan to do the coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid, clutch fluid, transmission fluid, and rear diff fluid. All of this combined is going to run me ~$500 after labor at my friend's shop for the fluid changes. Some of those items aren't due yet but I like to know for sure that I won't be having any issues

Here's a pic I took a few months ago out at a local park in the evening, like I said in my last post, you'd be hard pressed to see where the damage to the front bumper is:

https://scontent-atl1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...52300436_o.jpg

Well, I completed most of my fluids tonight, unfortunately my Dexcool didn't make it here in time (thank you UPS for insisting on a signature even though I left a note to leave my crap at the door!). I'll get it later this week or next week. Started off the day going to the local GM dealership for the oil change. After that went to Discount for a rotate and balance. I thought surely my tires were getting low by now as I've put almost 25k miles on this set of Pilot Super Sports, but low and behold, they were still at 7/32nd's on three tires and 6/32nd'd on another. Still in great shape honestly. I may get 40k out of them, man PSS' are amazing! While at Discount we did a quick walk around before they took the car in and found a new scratch that the GM dealership had put on my rear driver's side door about half way down. Looked like the tech or porter had a radio or keys on their waste as they tried to get in the car and hit the door. Most of it came out but you can still see one small scratch. Hopefully that will disappear the next time I get it fully detailed and paint corrected. This evening we swapped all the other fluids. The diff fluid was almost pure sludge at 40k miles. If you have a LSD diff in your G8, I'd suggest changing the fluid often! My clutch fluid was also practically sludge as well. Glad we went ahead and did that. The brake fluid wasn't bad but it definitely was dark and needed to be done. The power steering wasn't bad, nor was the transmission fluid, but they are all changed now, save for the coolant.

Mileage: 40,054

https://scontent-atl1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...bb&oe=563293B2

Dexcool
 

Man, I would think you would take the opportunity to get rid of your Dexcool. I had read a GM bulletin years ago on how they had a huge recall on it. My waterpump went out around 35K and the mechanic told me they didn't like what they were seeing out of GM cars cooling system and block. I put regular coolant in my 2nd gen. LT1 and drop a gallon out of the radiator every summer and replace it with half Prestone and Diststilled water. Love the way you are taking care of your GPX and enjoying it.

I was planning on doing the Dexcool, UPS screwed me on the delivery :rolleyes: Apparently, they sent it where I needed to sign for it, but I work allll day long so I haven't been able to get my hands on it. I will do the coolant as soon as I do have it in hand though :tup:

Nothing much new to report, just been enjoying the Black Beauty. Rolled over 43k miles this past weekend on a trip down to Carrollton, GA to pick up my friend's 350z. We took a few pictures out at the Clemson ICAR center yesterday and I popped off one of my GXP while we were out there. Getting closer to paying it off, then the real fun can begin!

https://jpmcgphotography.smugmug.com...MG_8933-XL.jpg

Mileage: 43,3xx