25th Jun 2020, 01:31
I totally AGREE with you! If you want a car to last (more than 12 years) get ANYTHING but a GM product!
GM just can't get their head screwed on right. They just killed that wonderful twin-turbo V8 (Blackwing) they spent a bazillion dollars developing for Cadillac. Typical GM, develop something, then ball it up and throw it away... only to start a with a clean sheet for the next project, only to make a series of mistakes then improvements, then maybe get that next car about right after 6 model years... then kill it off, too.
Examples:
Fiero: By the time they replaced the Chevette front suspension, and got a nice Getrag 5spd manual in the car with a V6... POOF!, it's gone. Oh yeah... to GM's credit, they DID figure out how to keep the 2.5 Iron Dukes from bursting into flames in the early years of the Fiero.
Pontiac G8/Chevy SS: Adapt the sweet Holden Commodore for USA, then POOF!, it's gone.
Buick Regal GN/GNX: Finally get the ceramic turbo, fuel injection AND intercooler all working well together, then POOF!, it's gone. At least this engine had a reprieve in the Pontiac Trans AM... but then, POOF!, that was gone too!
1995 Impala SS: Drop the 'vette motor in the (lowered) full-frame RWD Caprice... GREAT IDEA... then POOF!, it's gone.
Saturn Sky: Turn a hot Opel coupe into a screaming USA roadster... then POOF!, it's gone.
7th Sep 2020, 01:04
Agreed! GM doesn't make cars that last. Good to look elsewhere.
18th Jun 2020, 14:12
I find the older I get, the more cars I've had, the more reviews I've read, the time period is more important than the manufacturer - they all make good and bad cars at some point. But generally, having owned lots of cars, Ford, GM, Japanese and European, I find that the late 70s and early 80s cars were pretty terrible, at least for Fords and GM. With fuel injection being introduced, and better safety, most cars from the late 1980s and 1990s were good, especially Japanese cars, and even some Fords and GM's. Had a few good European Volvo's and Saab's from that period also. General reliability was at its best for me in this time period as well.
The problem nowadays with post year 2000 cars is they are too complex - very expensive to fix electronics (on more expensive brands) and obvious cost cutting on cheaper built cars, so neither are very long lasting.