I've had my fill of GM garbage. This weekend my Pontiac Grandam GT just about fell apart. The power windows don't work, and now the AC is out. There is also a grinding sound coming from somewhere in the accessory drive system up front. The tires are wearing unevenly and are ready for replacement again (after 2 years). The brakes (also 2 years old or less) are making noise again- a common problem for these cars. I get to the store, and notice the windshield trim is starting to come off. There is water in the driver's side rear floor everytime it rains. Don't even get me started on the S-10. I WILL NEVER EVER BUY A GM PRODUCT AGAIN!! :blast:GM :moonu:
I hope you are only refering to new cars. I'd like to think you are keeping your old Buick's. I myself have had a few stinkers before, but since they've all been used cars, it doesn't hit me as hard. I've heard horror stories from new car owners about both American and Japanese cars. In my opinion, the only place the Japanese have us seriously outclassed is with motorcycles. Anyway, I hope your new ride is a good one!
I'll chime in with another "forget about GM." I had a 2001 Sonoma I bought brand new that went to the dealership for service 24 times in 22 months of ownership. Now I have a Toyota Tacoma. Any questions?
A Grand Am is a Cavalier.....what did you expect? I bought a 96 Regal GS with 127,000 miles for $3,400 last year.....zero problems..... now has 145,000. Don't run it easy like people do with TOYotas either.....gets floored at least once a day. Bruce
I might be a little prejudice since most of my family is employed by General Motors.....but.....I believe all manufacturers have problems or they wouldn't have service departments. Sometimes you get lucky with a car, sometimes you don't. I drive a 97 Firebird with over 100K miles. Only problem I've had is that I hit a HUGE pot hole and a plug wire got pinched. Had to replace the wire. Oh and my T-top locks fell out (not a problem, the lock was just a precaution) Before the Firebird, I had a 2000 GMC Jimmy 4x4.....zero problems for 3 years, except getting smashed by a county plow truck. 88 Buick Regal with over 100K miles and no oil change for about 2 years...no problems. I guess that I've either got the luck of the draw or GM cars just like me
It's amazing how poorly GM cars are designed and built today. I have 2 2500 HD Silverados, a 2001 and a 2002. Power booster on brakes have gone bad, window cranks feel like they are about to fall out of door, air conditioning doesn't work when you stop at a light, and have had to replace brakes on both with less that 27000 miles showing. That includes rotors! ABS system kicks in when coming to a slow stop, but doesn't work under panic stop. Emailed Chevy and they called me and told me they are experiencing "problems" with their braking systems.
Well my 97 GMC truck has 85K on it with it's little 305 ...LOTS of HARD towing miles....original rear drum brakes even though half the time my trailer brakes don't work. Front disks lasted 55K. ABS is fine. AC too.... Only thing that has failed was the trans cooler....blew out into rad taking out trans under warranty. Oh I did replace the spark plugs at 75K...... Bruce
Guys, I totally agree. i work on cars on the side and I see alot of junk from GM, and all the other car makers. All car makers have their problems. This may sound rediculous, but I just bought a new KIA Sorento SUV. the quality is terrific and the warranty and price can't be beat. I like it better then the Toyota and the Nissan SUV's. Bob
Grand Am a cavalier? I don't think so. Built on two entirely different platforms. It's an N-body, which includes the Chevrolet Malibu, Oldsmobile Achieva, Alero, Calais & Cutlass and the Pontiac Grand Am. What did I expect? At least a little initial quality. This things is total garbage! Easy to criticize when you're the one not stuck with the lemon. No, I won't give up my old cars. I'm talking about daily drivers here. Well, I'd like them to be daily drivers, if they would run right. My silverado has been pretty decent, but should be better considering what it stickered for. Power windows are out on it too. Brakes have felt spongy since new. Back side window almost fell out of the thing when it was 6 months old. Fuel pump problems and a bad throttle body. I wouldn't consider that good, but it's a lot better than the other 2 I own. It cracks me up, all of the GM loyal people who will defend them to the end. I guess if it's your job on the line, it changes your point of view. Let's compare this with my last Toyota. ZERO problems. Everything fit together. I changed the brakes at the normal times. Gas, oil, plugs. The only thing that ever went bad was the fuel pump, which was mechanical ('88 corolla- still carbureted at the time). I should have kept it and just put new struts and stuff on it. I would have been much further ahead.\ My '97 S-10 has had a noisy engine since new. It has had new U-joints, ball joints, axle seals. The wipers work when they want to. Oh, I guess I shouldn't expect much of that one either, eh Bruce? I think those are made along with the cavalier.
Bob.....good luck....the "quality" you are feeling is initial quality. Check back with us in 10 years..... Daewoo is history.....people though they were quality too..... In my experience people who have car problems usually have them with whatever brand they buy....at first they think they think they have a winner then down the road they have problems.....Honda, Toyota, whatever.... Funny story: a lady at work a number of years ago had a Pontiac LeMans that she had all kinds of problems with. Then she got rid of it and bought Japanese.....vowed never to buy American again. Funny thing was she didn't know that her LeMans (ugly small one) was made in Korea by Daewoo. Wasn't an American car at all...... Bruce
Well, I have worked at a Chevy dealership and have worked at a Honda, Isuzu, Chrysler dealership for 13 years now, I disagree 1000% about they all have there problems...they all do, BUT, how many do they have is the thing, when I was at that Chevy dealership, everyday engines and trans were being replaced under warranty all the time, water leaks out the gazuu, it was a nightmare, we installed ADP systems here at this dealership to do work orders, they went online at the same time for all 3 models we sale, the Hondas and Isuzus are under one roof on one ticket, the Chrysler side is all by its self, to this day there has been 6,337 MORE tickets wrote on the Chrysler side then the honda-Isuzu side, now, we are a small dealership and we sale FAR more Hondas then anything else and we have alot of problems with the Isuzu stuff (alot of engines) but still the Chrysler side has had to right more tickets...more tickets means more repairs....understand? I own a 2003 Sierra truck and have had it 17 months and 7,900 miles, have had a mirror replaced, thats all, been very happy with it, I got a good one.....ou:
My neighbors had a Tercel that was rusting so badly (gaping holes in the back hatchback) that it left rust stains in their driveway so they parked it in front of my house. They parked their Toyota p/u (a rust experiment too) on a side road next to my house cuz it leaked oil like a sieve from the front crank seal....gave up replacing it since it kept failing (bent crank?) This is the Toyota quality that comes to my mind....I'm sure "initial quality" was great........ And no I don't work for GM..... Bruce
I compelty agree!!! My wife had a 84 Subaru, and it lasted forever, I did the first tune up on it in 93 when we met. All she ever had done was regular oil changes. And she sold it to a guy with 145,000 miles on it. and he drove it until he wrecked it (DUI). Our former 84 Accord was given to us by my father in law w/85,000 miles. It became my wifes daily driver. We gave to her sister in 2000 with a 185,000 miles, and they are still driving it. The only thing I did was basic maintaince, brakes, and tune ups. Only think wrong w/it...Honda paint sucks!!!, and the AC vent broke and it now blows out the defrost vents. This is why I now oun a 98 Accord (purchased new, and Honda paint still sucks) and my 04 supercharged 4 door Tacoma. We never looked at GM, or Daimler for either of these cars. She liked the honda berrer than the Camary and Crown Vic (too bid for her). And when I bought my truck it came down to options. Explorer sport trac w/leather or Tacoma double cab with supercharger...:Brow: . Tough decision. In my opinion, GM build quality sucks. I saw it when I worked in a shop for 5 years, and I hear about it now. Just my .02 cents.... Michael
That's true... I couldn't deny that. I would bet $$ that it was pre-92. After that, the rust issue is pretty much a non-issue with those cars. GM also had the same problem though. And at least the Toyota would run.
Steve that's true.....maybe that's why we still see rusty Toyotas around here....they keep on ticking. A friend had a Toy p/u with a bad rod knock and I told him it was a goner. 5 years later it was still going rod knock and all! Bruce
Boy is that ever the truth. Every last one of these car companies has "something" you can b!tch about. They all take turns screwing up. Some years are better than others.
I shudder to think what havoc the rust demons wreaked on that 84 Suby. They were some of the absolute worst years of rust in an automobile I have ever witnessed. I had an 83 Suby GL and an 85 GL Wagon. I had more rust than metal on those cars and with less than 80k on them. Granted I lived in NJ at the time. You being in Cali would not really notice that part of it I guess.....
One last comment and I'm done..... My daughter in law was given a 91 LeSabre about 4 yrs ago with 180K on it. She didn't want to be seen in it but drove it anyway sine she had a kid and needed wheels. That thing now has 240K withe orig engine, trans, axles/boots, etc.....sure the paint has peeled some, 2 of 4 power windows don't work, auto AC has a mind of it's own and a door doesn't open BUT it has cost her nothing but a brake job and 2 oil changes (eeek, yes only 2) in 4 years. Meanwhile her girlfriend has spent thousands on her 88 Accord to keep it going....auto trans, $900 carburator, front axles, etc. Later, Bruce
Sometimes I p*ss and moan about GM vehicles....... until I have to work on a Chrysler or an import. Talk about poorly designed! I got a 2002 Impala this weekend, so I decided to drive that instead of the Buick............ This is a nice car! Drives great, nice sound system, comfortable....... and this one has the 3800 in it and leather inside. I would almost trade my GS for this one......... it drives this nice! Mike
