Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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Mexico gets the simple assembly jobs..Assembly operations are not glory jobs and these people are well paid but the only way it fits right is if it was designed right!!!Assembly is only good if the part is good..We do not have skilled craftsmen assembling these wonder wagons..
redline65:::::What in the heck is a 30k mile checkup?????It will probably be based on how big your checkbook is or your credit card limit.. Believe me!!!your dealer will sell you the farm.. Splurge; have the oil changed, tires rotated and a new air cleaner filter..I have the climate control filter--same one that came with it..Don't take the service schedules seriously or you will belong to the dealer..My 43 car ownership tells me that cars need very little tweaking unless the factory bases warranty coverage how many stupid services one buys, then you buy a different car..
--------Now on a lighter note:
If the car is in fact not repaired, I was probably going to work out all the financials and go for a 2002 intrigue. Called Olds today and other then some new colors, they have a new two tone leather, a new leather color, a special satelite linked radio system, and a couple new colors. So I'll see. Goodnight.
Wishing you and all a speedy recovery..
The non-unionized transplants have avoided the trap nicely and concentrate on making cars/profits..
Can't say anymore about the situation but it is very simple as outlined..
Let us know how the Intrigue shopping goes.
I feel your pain. My Intrigue was totalled a month ago (gladly) forcing me into another one. If they used the jaws of life to get you out, I "gar-on-tee" it's totalled.
While it was certainly a very unfortunate experience, it does silence all the Intrigue crash result nay-sayers. No, it doesn't have the 5 -star rating of the Impala but it did the job just as well.
Just glad you're all right.
See, that's your problem. You're thinking reasonably like you actually want to keep customers who just dropped $20,000+ on cars that will no longer exist in 3 years. No, my friend. If you want to become a GM executive, you've got to start thinking like an idiot. They can't have people at the top concerned about trivial matters like retaining an existing customer base :-)
I'm a bit disappointed with Pontiac for similar reasons. I really would have considered a Grand Prix. But automatic climate control was a major deal breaker for me. So much so I wouldn't even test drive it. GM seems to be cutting corners on it's midsize cars except the Regal. It's the only one (excluding the Impala) that hasn't had feature content dropped, even if only by a little. I was disturbed that the Intrigue dropped its heated mirrors and remote fuel door. While a useful feature, it wasn't one that I couldn't live without.
teo ::: I was not referring to Chevy's being stereo-typed into the ARRP line-up, but more where it stood in GM prestige hierarchy. You know 1. Caddy, 2. Buick, 3. Pontiac/Old?, 4. Chevy, 5. Saturns etc. etc.
one2one ::: I agree with you, GM can not continue to keep discontenting their cars forever, and hope that their customers simply will not notice. I know over the years Toyota has drop map-lights, hood-struts, gaskets, etc. I think Toyota has learned from some of their mistakes, with their current Camry, and I have heard that they have address a lot of items on the new 02 Camry. I also have seen the interior of a VW Passat, and at that price-point it is very top notch. I am anxious to see how Nissan new Altima is going to fare.
But one other thought here, I am not a fan of models where the price structure varies greatly from the base model to the top end, [largely base on the engines]. For example would you want to pay ++30k for a top-of-line model, when there is an 18-20k base model available. Most people can not tell which end of the pricing spectrum certain models fall into.
For me, give people a top-of-line model and one just a notch below, drop the stripped [base] versions, as they are hard to sell and most people do not really want a no-frills car.
Toyota/Lexus still hasn't gotten the picture. Or perhaps they have. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong photo album. They still charge extra for things their competitors include as standard or at least as an option that isn't part of a $2000 package. The new ES300 has LOTS of nice features... they're just all optional.
Nissan seems to be coming along well in this regard. The new Altima looks like it will be subject to the varying price structure based on engine size, though.
With Olds effectively gone, perhaps the money that was being spent there will be diverted to Pontiac (Buick seems adequately funded) to offer more features and styling (after the lawyers get done with the Olds dealers). The upcoming Grand Am looks good from spy shots with bras on the front and rear. The Grand Prix is hard to see even with recent spy shots.
I plan on getting another car in about 3 years and garaging the Intrigue for it will be a classic in 20 years. So I've got my eye to the future for my next ride. And since I'm not loyal to any one brand, the ones that will be at the top of my list will be those who make a car that a fella 6'8" can fit into comfortably. THEN I'd be loyal to them for that reason only, as I have been (for the same reason) with Oldsmobile.
Not to change the subject but you might want to look into the impala. Driver's side airbag and a solid metal ring around the passenger cabin, unlike the intrigue.
jgriff : Isn't that what your Honda company does? Stripper 4 banger Accords and top of the line 6 cyl models for $6-8K more. Why would anyone buy the 6cyl models is beyond me. You can hardly tell the difference between the two aside from the rims and some badging. Really cheapens the car.
When I was shopping for a compact car, I compared an Alero and a Grand Prix and the Alero was a no brainer: 4-wheel disk brakes, better finished and material, better audio system, nicer interior and exterior, etc. All for the same price tag. Easy decision.
Jgriff, I don't agree with you about Passat's interior. Too much cheap plastic all around. The front, central armrest is an afterthought, fragile installed. I wasn't fooled by the ugly chrome in the instrument cluster or the faux-wood on the central dashboard either. For a car priced closely to 30 grand, I want no "el cheapo" material. Period.
The dealer is the drain; ask them something and you will be told the worst possible scenario..
relax and drive it..Cars are fairly idiot-proof since they are full of warning lights and flashing messages!!!!
My personal reasons for going with them is becasue they offer a 7yr/100,000 mile warranty. Most others stopped at 6yrs. The other reason is because the warranty cost the same thing right now with only 2000 miles as it will with 10,000 miles (used a 2000 model with 10k for comparision). So since the warranty is effective the date of purchase, I figured I will collect an extra 10,000 miles for the same price.
I do think it's lacking in that it doesn't cover things like "safety restraint systems (including air bags); exhaust and emission systems [should be covered by the manufacturer anyway]; GPS navigation systems; phone systems and TV/Video/Entertainment systems".
Other than the Air Bag, most other things it doesn't cover will line up with most other policies. Even MajorGuard has a long list of disclaimers. Just have to do your homework to see what's good for you.
96 Deville--72mos/75k miles $100 ded=$1305 cost--- used couple weeks ago. Took care of emergency service, complete car rental and removal of gas tank to replace fuel pump...No guestions asked.
The main reason was the Northstar /Shortstar along with a/c systems, and the magical black boxes...They offer outstanding service and the dealers love to invoice GM..
Drove by the local Oldsmobile dealer. Two GXs in stock, that's it!
Yes, the Honda line-up has the 4-6 bangers & 6-8k price variance [which is what I was complaining about], however the Acura line-up & price strategy is more to my taste. For example both the TL & CL come fully loaded, and have 4 total option; 2 engines, and with or w/o navi. S-I-M-P-L-E. The MDX is the same way [base & touring models] except it only has 1 engine choice.
4-bangers :: Camry is as smooth as it gets. And yes, prior to 2001 Accord was NOT good, I test drove a couple of 4-bangers and hated them.
I have got to agree with the crowd, on the Bimmer price ranges, the gaps are huge. Every time I have window shop the Bimmer lots, I could never get pass the sticker price/shock. and for a compact to boot. Plus I simply don't want the snob stigma that comes with the BMW ownership. Would love to test drive one, just to see if it is come close to the hype of the "Ultimate Driving Experience".
Onto the extended warranties: Be very warry about buying non GM warranties, especially those web ones. Look at the fine print for key points like: includes all this EXCEPT--, at MOST participating dealer (note the MOST dealers--yours may not accept work for that company)-- and the one I've learned from experience: MOST dealers accept our pay schedule. What happens usually with these 3rd party insurers is that you pay the dealer out of pocket and then are reimbursed by the company weeks (even over a month later). The coverage is also not all-inclusive and more restrictive. Be careful.
The bimmer seems to hold a mystic spell over folks; step up and drive one..See what the revs are at your cruise speed and then check over the room inside and then ask the dealer for the required maintenance schedule..Check on oil change pricing, wheel rotation, changing of brake fluid annualy, brake rotor trueing/ and pad costs..I think they are cute but small and with miles they tend to bleed your pocket..
I know the first oil change at 15k miles..That is a comeon big time because who does something foolish like that..I have a good friend with a 330i Conv..Nice but not for 200+ hp..
Great driving cars though. Just make sure you have $3-400 in your wallet when it is service time.
"Changing the look of a brand carries risk. General Motors will probably lose some traditional Cadillac customers with the new designs, and must stick with a new look long enough to attract new buyers, analysts said."
Since this is a true statement, I guess it takes away any speculation that GM had it in for Olds from the start. Will they drop Cadillac when it's sales fold because of such a polarizing design? Of course not. How about when Buick realizes it needs to change? Probably not. Thing is Oldsmobile had very attractive, non-polarizing designs (save the Aurora), yet GM showed they had no intention of making it work.
But then, we already knew that.