What do you guys reccomend? I just bought the car a few days ago, the oil in it is very dark, so I want to change it asap. Should i go synthetic? What kind of oil filter should i use?

Many say to stay away from Fram. Considering those that warn about it, I'll take it as gospel. I prefer Mobil1, but there is talk that once you switch, you shouldn't switch back, or at least not until you perform a major oil flush. If you don't mind paying the extra amount, you may like the peace of mind the synthetic gives you.

I also use K&N filters. I figure I can at least SOUND cool for running this combination, right?

I've been told as long as you don't let the car sit for long periods of time (entire seasons), go ahead and switch to synthetic. I use K&N filters.

Personnaly I use Pennzoil Synthetic. It is a good oil to use but as said before the synthetic shouldn't sit for very long period of times. I haven't heard of complete flush when changing either but you may want to check out what someone else has to say about a complete flush.

I use AC-Delco filters and Valvoline 10W-30, the original dinosaur juice, not synthetic. I change oil and filter every 1500-3000 miles (since I don't drive the car very much, I usually bump up against the time intervals rather than the mileage intervals). The engine'* very clean inside and purring at 105K.

You get more benefit from just doing regular oil and filter changes in the first place, than from exactly which type of oil you're using, although synthetic is recommended if your car is going through temperature or performance extremes (e.g. very cold or very hot weather, or lots of high-speed highway mileage). Note that on older engines, switching to synthetic may cause some leakage, as its superior detergent additives tend to wash out glaze or sludge deposits that had been helping to keep old seals from leaking.

Since you asked.........Some of the members here extoll the virtues of Synthetic Oil and using a good quality filter. Also, many here would probably tell you to change the oil and filter every 3000 miles or 3 months(which ever comes first.....especially if your dining on dino oil). With that said, I personally use Exxon Superflo 10W-30 motor oil and a Wal-Mart ST3980 Oil Filter. I change my oil and filter between 3,000 and 4,000 miles. 90% of my driving is highway mileage so I've been changing the oil every other month. The ST3980 is the same as an AC-Delco PF-52 in size but is made by Champion Labs which use to produce (so I was told) the AC-Delco Ultraguard Gold Oil Filters. AC-Delco, for the most part, has stopped selling the Ultraguard Gold filters, except for the UPF-52 and the ones that go on the Corvette. I use the larger size filter because, well, I can. In my car it fits above the frame and I have no clearance problems. I think the Series II engines the filter sits lower and the larger(PF-52) filter might not be a good idea. On a really bumpy road there'* a possibility that it may split open if it comes in contact with the ground.
Anyway, with that all said, I would recommend you go with an AC-Delco PF-47 or equivalent and 10W-30 dino oil and change it every 3000 miles or 3 months(which ever comes first). And if you live North of the 38th Parallel, you might want to use 5W-30 in the winter months so the engine gets the oil flowing faster.

Don't mean to steal the post...

but curious as to what would happen and why you can't allow synthetic to sit in your car? My car unfortunetly has been sittin for a few season.. ( and this rate will be a years time before I get it out just in time for winter ). I plan on basically treatin the engine/tranny like as if I'm breakin it in the first time.. babying it.. and after 1500KM was going to change the oil and put in some engine flush too.. is there any other precautionary steps I should do or be aware of?

back on topic..
acg_ssei best said it.. as long as you do it regularly.. it REALLY doesn't matter.. MUCH..

I live in North Carolina and I have a 96 SSEi with 146K miles. It runs perfect. A master ASE certified mechanic told me when I change my oil to use a High Performance filter along with 4 qts of Mobil 1 15W50 and 1 botttle of RESTORE. Drive the car for 30 minutes after the change and it will be perfect. If anyone has other ideas on this recomendation please let me know. This guy has come very highly reccomended as a fantastic GM mechanic

My experience is that Restore is one of the few 'mechanic in a can' products worth the money......but it'* pretty much only good for scored cylinder walls. It can improve compression rates if you don't have bad valves/seats.

I was looking in Pepboys, and they do not seem to sell many performance oriented products. Is a better place to get the High Performance Oil filter at Autozone?