2001 Pontiac Firebird Ram Air Trans Am 5.7L LS1 from North America
Summary:
Great car, if you like a bubbling roof with only 3,000 miles!!!
Faults:
The reason I am posting this is to educate people on GM's customer service practices.
I bought this car off August of '01, right off the show roof floor. I seldom drove it over the past 7 years as it now has 3,000 miles on it.
Last year I noticed what looked like a paint defect in the roof panel behind the T-Tops. I found this strange, since I had never seen it before, but since it's plastic, I knew it wouldn't be rust.
I had the car outside in the sun this spring, and the minor defect grew into large blisters. Some of which had ruptured and began oozing some sort of solvent.
After doing some research on the Internet, I found that many many other F-Bodies between 1998-2002 had this same problem. I also learned that it is a problem that GM is well aware of, and was replacing roof panels at their discretion. Some were 50% cost to the customers, some were free. This repair requires replacement of the roof panel, which for a t-top car is in excess of $800.
I figured with the extremely low mileage of my car, that GM would surely do SOMETHING for me. NOPE! I got the call today from the bum of a service manager. The GM "district manager" said that I had too old of a vehicle. I would have to pay for the repair 100%.
This is one of three GM vehicles I have purchased over the past 7 years, and after many battles over defects in my '07 Silverado, I'm done with GM.
General Comments:
I always wonder what this car would be like if I had driven it daily over the past 7 years. With a engine so noisy, I wonder if it would last 100,000 miles.
I enjoy driving it though. Tons of power, good handling, good fuel economy (24 m.p.g. on the freeway, with 325 horse power) but in typical GM fashion, the horrible quality and uncooperative service overshadows the good.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 23rd September, 2008
29th Sep 2008, 20:33
It's a 7 year old car with 3,000 (READ THREE THOUSAND!!) miles. I'm glad that you would accept this happening to your car that cost you 30 grand SEVEN years ago.
11th Sep 2009, 15:46
I agree, I have a 2001 Ws6 Trans Am and they will not fix it, so I am done with GM... why buy a car that was built poorly and the company does not want to fix their poor workmanship, so screw em... Honda S2000 here I come...
24th Sep 2008, 17:13
Come on, it's a seven year old car.