Would you buy a GM today?

[Kronx]

I'm looking to get a car for my better half. As I've been working two full time jobs she's been doing an amazing job of taking car of everything else while I work and sleep.

She likes the smaller cars and she likes hatchbacks. So I've been looking at the Chevy Sonic and the Ford Focus. Both cars get good gas mileage and have 5 star crash/safety ratings. Both cars I could have paid off in about 4 months.

Thing is I generally dislike Fords and prefer Chevys. In fact I drive a 2005 Chevy Equinox that's been really good. But lately I'm suspect of Chevy's with all the recalls.

What are your thoughts on GM these days?

 

[jfeagins]

........not today........but maybe in another few months I would. I'd focus on that Sonic, if it was me looking. (pun intended)

Until then, remember: Friends don't let friends drive Fords. Fix Or Repair Daily. Found On Road Dead.:biglaugh::biglaugh:

All those recalls are just the results of a HUGE swarm of scumbag lawyers all schooled up and circling that one drop of blood they smell in the water.

 

[texas-ss-tornado]

I have always been a Chevy guy, and I'm really on the fence when it comes to newer vehicles. I've got a 2009 Chevy Silverado that I bought new, and at around 100K miles, it developed an issue with burning oil. Turns out it was a known issue that had to do with the AFM (Active Fuel Management) system that GM knew about for years, but didn't fix until 2011. Some guys had their engines "fixed" under warranty, but most didn't, I even think there's a class action lawsuit against them because of it. My truck has been great EXCEPT for this one issue, but it's a pretty BIG issue! I still love their old school cars, but their newer ones seem to leave alot to be desired. I have had good luck with Ford Explorers and Escorts too, drove the wheels off of them, so I hate to say it, but for a newer vehicle, I'd probably lean towards the Ford. Chevy has a lot of work to do to rebuild their reputation!!!

 

[Traumahawk]

I think that GM forgot about how to be a great car company....how about something like a mazda 3....or something along those lines?

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[Kronx]

I think that GM forgot about how to be a great car company....how about something like a mazda 3....or something along those lines?

Sent from my PB99400 using Tapatalk 2

I've been looking at the Mazda3. It's certainly a consideration. However I would prefer to buy American even though I realize that's a rather ambiguous term these days considering where parts are made and who actually owns who.

 

[MtnMax/Magniac]

........not today........but maybe in another few months I would. I'd focus on that Sonic, if it was me looking. (pun intended)

Until then, remember: Friends don't let friends drive Fords. Fix Or Repair Daily. Found On Road Dead.:biglaugh::biglaugh:

All those recalls are just the results of a HUGE swarm of scumbag lawyers all schooled up and circling that one drop of blood they smell in the water.

I've owned Ford, Chevy, GMC and Dodge vehicles, of various types and sizes. They are all pretty equal, despite what most people think. I would not hesitate to buy a Ford today, mostly because they did not get involved in the bailout/buyout fiasco, and so are not part of Government Motors. It is true that they did benefit from the bailouts, because many of their suppliers (who also supply the other automakers) got bailed out, but Ford did not directly take bailout money.

 

[maniacmav]

All I have to say about Mazda is that they will screw you out of your warranty any way they can.

If you change your own oil, voided warranty! I had a Mazda Mazdaspeed 3. Had to use the warranty twice, once for the stereo, once for a bad shock. Both times it was a pain in the butt.

My advice. Pay a little extra and buy a Toyota or Honda. Honda did screw up on the last gen accords, they are crap. The new ones are really nice though.

The only domestic vehicle I'd buy would probably be a Ford. Longevity is still not proven for me on the new stuff though.

It's hard to beat Toyota quality. My wife had a 05 Corolla, she put 200k miles on it. We sold it to her parents as a car for her younger siblings, they have put another 40k on it. Nothing, other than maintenance items, has ever been replaced. Runs like a champ and still gets 41mpg hwy. My Father in law also has a Tacoma that refuses to die... That thing has had a long tough life and it's still ticking, same thing, never had any parts replaced. He tows a trailer and tractor that exceeds that max towing limit by 500lbs on a regular basis.

 

[twistedmax]

HELL YEAH , if it were a pre 70 muscle car

 

[invalidsession]

The Fords get rave reviews from every publication I read. The design, engines, reliability etc are long proven in Europe and finally the USA is bringing them here and not before time. If we ever trade my wifes Mini Cooper S in I would be looking hard at the small Fords.

Chris.

 

[Fire-medic]

I think the Focus is well-respected as a world-class car in its price range. See what Car and Driver and R&T say about them. The sporty ones probably cost more, used; sounds like you are leaning towards a new car. The Mazda 3 is also a good call.

During 'Cash for Clunkers,' I traded in a GMC Sierra 8' bed pickup for a GMC Canyon crew-cab w/an inline 5 which tows nearly 3 tons and has >1 HP/Cu.In. It gets over 20 mpg on the highway, and at 54K mi., I just replaced the front pads & rotors, which apart from oil changes, is the only $ I have spent. It listed ~$27K and was loaded w/cruise, PS/PB/PW/PDL, tilt, a-c, AM-FM-CD, tow pkg, auto tranny (I have no need for a manual), nerf bar running boards, six airbags, etc... . See the pics, including a platform from aluminum I made for hauling sheet goods and my motorcycles (Daytona). It uses the 2" receiver hitch to take the weight off the tailgate, whose straps are only rated for 200 lb., via a 'T-bracket' I drew-up & had a friend weld for me. I was designing a removable set of lights and a license-plate relocation bracket for it when a &*$%^%#$!## thief stole it from my yard, :damn angry:speaking of burglaries. I made a bit-shorter one, and use that now if I am going to carry my bike. It takes me about 7 minutes to install it, maybe less.

The Colorado/Canyon is being re-released as an all-new design for '15, and will have a diesel for '16. Consumer Reports didn't like my version, but I never bought a car or truck based on their opinion anyway. Bottom-line, my GM vehicle has been good to me, buy what has the features you need, at the best price you can find. Deal w/the fleet manager if you buy new, and buy at the end of the month, when they want to sell to avoid paying the floor-plan finance costs on their inventory as-of the first of the month.

 

[maxcruiser]

Coming from this industry, all be it, From a few years back, the American car companies general mentality is that an entry level car is to last five years where the Japanese car companies mindset is that they are to last ten years.

I would suggest looking at a Honda Civic of Toyota Carola also.

A true story, I worked for a steel company back in the early 90's and we had a group of GM engineers come to our company to do a quality audit of our processes.

One engineer asks if I smoke and if we can go outside and have a cigarette. While outside, he points to an 82 Chevy Chevette and asks if I know who owns it. I reply that it's mine. He than asks if I like it in which I reply that I love it, it's bullet proof.

His reply to me, "exactly" that's why we stopped making them, they were only suppose to last five years and throw it away. They were over engineered and that's why we started importing the Suzuki firefly.


Mike

 

[twistedmax]

Subaru !

 

[V-Four]

Coming from this industry, all be it, From a few years back, the American car companies general mentality is that an entry level car is to last five years where the Japanese car companies mindset is that they are to last ten years.

I would suggest looking at a Honda Civic of Toyota Carola also.

A true story, I worked for a steel company back in the early 90's and we had a group of GM engineers come to our company to do a quality audit of our processes.

One engineer asks if I smoke and if we can go outside and have a cigarette. While outside, he points to an 82 Chevy Chevette and asks if I know who owns it. I reply that it's mine. He than asks if I like it in which I reply that I love it, it's bullet proof.

His reply to me, "exactly" that's why we stopped making them, they were only suppose to last five years and throw it away. They were over engineered and that's why we started importing the Suzuki firefly.


Mike

^^ +1 to This ^^


Kinda sad, cuz I Loved chevys (gms) as a kid and growing up. ..(style wise anyway). Just something about them.

ah crap, I'm getting depressed..
O well

 

[paulibiker]

The Fords get rave reviews from every publication I read. The design, engines, reliability etc are long proven in Europe and finally the USA is bringing them here and not before time. If we ever trade my wifes Mini Cooper S in I would be looking hard at the small Fords.

Chris.

Those reviewers have never changed the plugs in a 5.4L........dumbest design EVER!!!!!!

Subaru !

What's the worst thing about owning a Subaru?

Having to tell your parents you're GAY..........:rofl_200:

 

[Vendetta]

As some one that works for GM in a technical position... No, no I would not. GM seems to have forgotten the basics of automotive engineering. Personally I think this is the result of them laying off or force retiring many of the old guys. Those engineers had years of experience that is now not being passed down to the younger engineers. I believe this is one of the reasons GM vehicles have seemed to decline in quality. There are many things that they had no problems with for decades that now they can't seem to get to work right. GM needs to get some experienced guys back in the R&D so that they can get something as simple as a door lock actuator to work right.

 

[jfeagins]

Chevy Chevette. Bullet proof? BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Sorry, even I had to laugh. That was a good one.

 

[maxcruiser]

Chevy Chevette. Bullet proof? BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Sorry, even I had to laugh. That was a good one.

1982 model that I sold I sold in 1993 with over 180,000 miles on original powertrain, with little issues during my ownership, running around in Northern Ontario winter salt and not one hole in the body = bullet proof in my mind.

 

[veebooster]

1982 model that I sold I sold in 1993 with over 180,000 miles on original powertrain, with little issues during my ownership, running around in Northern Ontario winter salt and not one hole in the body = bullet proof in my mind.

It's too cold in Sudbury for anything to rust!:rofl_200:

 

[SpecOps13]

Dodge SRT Challenger or Ford Mustang GT. I used to be 100% Chevy and have owned over 20 of them. Not so much a fan anymore....

 

[Fire-medic]

One of my friends just retired from GM Tech Center in Warren. He took his $ out and retired because he was worried that someone would come-along, like Buzzsaw Al Dunlap, or Frank Lorenzo (TX Air/Eastern Airlines), who buy companies, strip them of assets, and discard thousands' of peoples careers all in the short-term interests of making $. He is a very talented person, and has worked around the world for the auto industry as a designer. Now he takes care of his lakefront home in Oxford/Lake Orion MI and reflects on his time in the industry. Pushing-out the experienced guys isn't the way to run things, but I do think that putting Mary Barra in the top spot is a good move, if they allow her latitude to use her engineer's training. Anyone see Matt Lauer's interview of her? What an idiot.

As some one that works for GM in a technical position... No, no I would not. GM seems to have forgotten the basics of automotive engineering. Personally I think this is the result of them laying off or force retiring many of the old guys. Those engineers had years of experience that is now not being passed down to the younger engineers. I believe this is one of the reasons GM vehicles have seemed to decline in quality. There are many things that they had no problems with for decades that now they can't seem to get to work right. GM needs to get some experienced guys back in the R&D so that they can get something as simple as a door lock actuator to work right.