why are american cars generally so bad? (esp gm)
- Thread starter Stealth5
- Start date
just to add to the fire
http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/badcar9_20030609.htm
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/pickup/112_0107blackwood/
2 articles 1 by motor trend indicating why ford is stupid
http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/badcar9_20030609.htm
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/pickup/112_0107blackwood/
2 articles 1 by motor trend indicating why ford is stupid
Yeah in my sister's 95 grand am coupe (has 78k miles when she got rid of it last fall) something similar happened. The mechanism that slid the seats forward to get into the back seat was very much messed up, even though we went to get it fixed multiple times. You didn't have to push any buttons or anything to get the seats to lean forward and slide forward, they just did. my sister would always put stuff on the passenger seat so that it wouldn't fold up every time she came to a stop. what a death trap. The thing also had a solid rear axle, got bad gas mileage (with a 3.1 v6), had an interior that was falling apart and was cheap from the start, had a leaky moonroof, a failing electrical system, and needed so many things fixed with the engine that we just couildn't keep it any longer.pr5owner said:
She traded it in for a 2000 Eclipse GT which is 100x nicer in every way. Can handle much better (though admittedly not as well as one would expect), looks nice, has a high quality interior, seems very welll built, gets better gas mileage, and has been reliable thus far. The only thing that has been replaced was the rotors, but that's kinda normal.
don't even get me started on our 97 Dodge Intrepid ES and 94 Ford Explorer Limited.
I had a 1993 Ford Taurus GL. It had the optional 3.8L with a little more torque. The car was garage kept, all oil changes done on time. It was in awsome shape. The AC compressor went out twice, the power steering was beginning to fail and the motor blew up twice. The car had 78,000 miles when I sold it to carmax for $1,100 because I feared the tranny was going to go, as it was slipping. The back door handles had a nasty cracking noise if I opened them, the power steering "hiss" was very irritating and can still be heard on newer mustangs. I went to a more reliable car, a 1994 Civic DX with 129,000 miles on it. Boosted it for 45,000 miles till I blew it up when I advanced the timing all the way to race a Mustang on the highway. The car had ZERO problems except for the original AC compressor finally gave up around 175,000 miles. Not too shabby. It never left me on the side of the road.
On the good side, my friend's 85 mustang GT has 490,000 original miles on it. We took it to the track, still ran mid 14's stock! Everything else on the car was ******, but it ran its heart out! The only newer domestics I'd buy are used Lightnings, Mustangs and LS1's. I don't understand the crap talking about a live rear-axle though. Nothing wrong with it, it's just different. There are quite a few IRS domestics...vette, GTO, Cobra...
On the good side, my friend's 85 mustang GT has 490,000 original miles on it. We took it to the track, still ran mid 14's stock! Everything else on the car was ******, but it ran its heart out! The only newer domestics I'd buy are used Lightnings, Mustangs and LS1's. I don't understand the crap talking about a live rear-axle though. Nothing wrong with it, it's just different. There are quite a few IRS domestics...vette, GTO, Cobra...
Sometime in the mid ninties there was a recall on a particular version of the dodge minivan because if it was rear ended at the right angle, the hatch would pop open and the rear seat would fall out. I found it amusing, yet sad.
My experience with American cars has only been Fords...and they all lasted (or are still lasting). My 87 Cougar made it to 140K before the head gasket blew (a given for 80-90's 3.8s) but my 90 Grand Marquis w/ 5.0 V8 drove forever. I had to replace the oil pan at 150K (another given for Fords) but other than that, I was towing full size UHaul trailers with it up until the day I got my P5. My Dad's 93 Bronco is still in its prime. He just had the Transmission rebuilt at 170K because it was shaking at 70MPH. He considered just buying a new truck but he couldn't part with it.
My experience with American cars has only been Fords...and they all lasted (or are still lasting). My 87 Cougar made it to 140K before the head gasket blew (a given for 80-90's 3.8s) but my 90 Grand Marquis w/ 5.0 V8 drove forever. I had to replace the oil pan at 150K (another given for Fords) but other than that, I was towing full size UHaul trailers with it up until the day I got my P5. My Dad's 93 Bronco is still in its prime. He just had the Transmission rebuilt at 170K because it was shaking at 70MPH. He considered just buying a new truck but he couldn't part with it.
They did not care. The GM customer service did nothing, NHTSA took my complaint and did nothing too. I found a GMC forum. Lots of other people had the problem. Was only with the extra cab versions, because they had different seats. Most of the people who had repeated problems just bought aftermarket seats. I could not see doing that.
But I now have 2 new cars. Of course, one is a Ford. Only 1 problem with it. Defective radiator hose clamp. I can handle that. But no other problems at all. Live and learn.
But I now have 2 new cars. Of course, one is a Ford. Only 1 problem with it. Defective radiator hose clamp. I can handle that. But no other problems at all. Live and learn.
Fine, from now forward, but there are still V8 models not included in your group like someone said the AMG models, E430, ML 430, ML 500, CL 430, CLK 430 etc. etc.Stealth5 said:
That being said, a 4 spd auto offerred today is just crap.
Cars like the Vette, NSX and RX8 shouldn't even be offerred with an auto IMO.
Don't get me started on the Porsche's and Ferrari's.
My friend came to visit me from CA last month. She rented a Neon and we drove that thing to Portland, Oregon to visit another friend.
That piece of s*** was riduclous!
It handles much worse than my 1994 Corolla.
The tire noise is terrible. It was like the wheels were rolling right by my ears. I am half deaf (my right side ear) but still it was so damn loud, so I imagine what other would hear.
The worst part is the gas pedal, it only let you either press very little or press very hard. It's so difficult to control it to the middel range to keep steady speed.
One thing that I notice that US made cars never improve is the way they design their "A" pillars and the interior plastic moding they use to cover it from inside. Almost all the US made car I sit in, the "A" pillars always block the front view so much while I never find the same problem in most import cars.
That piece of s*** was riduclous!
It handles much worse than my 1994 Corolla.
The tire noise is terrible. It was like the wheels were rolling right by my ears. I am half deaf (my right side ear) but still it was so damn loud, so I imagine what other would hear.
The worst part is the gas pedal, it only let you either press very little or press very hard. It's so difficult to control it to the middel range to keep steady speed.
One thing that I notice that US made cars never improve is the way they design their "A" pillars and the interior plastic moding they use to cover it from inside. Almost all the US made car I sit in, the "A" pillars always block the front view so much while I never find the same problem in most import cars.
(blarf)myndfi3ld said:But.. a 12000 cavi has NOTHING.. does it even have power windows? compare a p5 and cavi with the same equipment and they'll be near the same price. the cavilier is the only GM that is made by dm (no vibes) that is in the price range of the p5. the protege was the cheapest mazda, but they all have the same nice interiors.. i'd take a base model DX protege with a 1.6 over a cavilier any day. And yes I have owned american cars, and my parents have too. I love my "mazda" truck still, but interior did suck. Check the ford or mazda site for interior pictures of the new ranger/b-series though, i actually really like the interior and it doesn't seem low quality to me.
oh and p.s.: WORST CAR eVar!
jersey_emt
Member
- :
- 04 MSM #1089
Damn that GTO does look nice.
siberiankiss
Member
- :
- blazing yellow MSP #1622
just throwing something out there...but what if you had wanted a Porsche or something your entire life...and you finally have enough money to buy one...but you're missing an arm or a leg...that would kinda make you glad they have autos don't ya think?MS MSP said:
