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An auto trade journal says it has identified most of the fatal crashes linked to the General Motors ignition switch recall and believes eight of the 12 deaths came after GM made a change to the switch in April 2006 and all involved cars built before the change.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2014/03/27/gm-switch-recall-deaths-could-have-been-averted/6978579/
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., said it will recall approximately 119,000 of its 2003-2004 Avalon sedans because the front airbags could inflate when they're not supposed to.
If that happens, it could startle a driver and make a crash -- with no airbag protection -- more likely.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2014/03/27/toyota-avalon-airbag-recall/6970455/
The April 2014 issue.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
So why would they be saying the '13 Accord is the best sedan, as opposed to the '14? Can you admit the reliability recording I posted? Someone, ahem, here who repeatedly posts how superior Kia is to anything, has not been able to concede that the Malibu is 'recommended' and the Optima Turbo is not. That person also incorrectly posted last year that the Malibu was "Not Recommended"--not true.
Everybody has opinions, which is fine of course, but I guess being an auditor for 34 years makes me dislike opinions posted as fact, for instance, or just plain BS being posted as fact--like 'Early 2000 steering issues were not addressed until a government inquiry in 2010'. The 'fact' is dropped here, but no substantiation whatsoever. Frankly, it didn't happen. (That last item is from a different poster than I usually disagree with here.)
BTW, I give imidazol credit for posting about his nice new '14 Malibu 2LT. No wonder other proud owners of new GM's don't post here. Anyone casually looking in would say, 'geez, what a hostile bunch'.
Well, not exactly new cars, but I can give you this...
Because there have been some problems with the V6, not the 4 cyl. And what's up with the recent news that GM has halted all production of the 1.4 Chevy Cruze????? I thought that was supposed to be a pretty good car.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
I have not heard that. The 1.4 Cruze is the only version I'd buy--and it's most versions. I did google it. Toyota has recently done the same. Did you post that here? Neither did I.
I'd be surprised if that is for 900K vehicles like this week's Honda recall. Balance...
Also, they say the Accord 4-cyl. coupe is 'much worse than average' for 2013, although I will admit I can't see how the coupe could be worse than the sedan. The Cruze 1.4 for 2013 is 'better than average'.
Nice pic Andre, thanks for posting! Your LeMans looks really nice... I think Chevy called that color "Mahogany"--I always liked it. How I wish they would have made a Grand LeMans and Malibu Classic with the triangular quarter windows though! By that point GM was thinking that 'luxury' meant 'opera windows'. Nothing wrong with mixin' up sporty and luxurious, like '60's Bonneville fastbacks, etc.! As I've said, I don't think there is a better '70's instrument panel anywhere than in the Grand LeMans, Grand Am, Can Am, and Grand Prix.
i rely on the American public's good judgment. If a car is a best seller, there's a reason for it. And the same if sales slump. The argument of some critics that hundreds of thousands of buyers are stupid isn't a strong one IMO. They vote with their checkbooks, which to me is much more of a commitment than the words of a writer in an auto magazine. Perhaps their vote is not merely for the "best" reliability--they may be voting for value and style and features--but they are definitely seeing something in the best seller that overall makes it the winner over Brand X that isn't selling well.
I don't equate 'best selling' with best. There are lot of uninformed buyers out there who only buy 'popular'. But that's OK.
As I think lemko has posted here before, "...then McDonald's must be the best-tasting hamburger out there."
I don't deny anybody their tastes. But boy have I been beaten up for mine.
That's one reason why I grew up GM, but unless it's a Corvair or an unusual one, I probably wouldn't buy a Chevy as a hobby car. Too commonplace.
No, I didn't post the Toyota halt because that's already known. I just saw the news about Chevy and wondered what's up. No reasons given yet.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
Well, is a company existing to make money or produce $15 gourmet hamburgers and close shop in 6 months? Obviously, McDonald's must represent value to buyers, and it must taste pretty good--it's not like people grimace and spit them out.
I don't think buyers are "uninformed" at all. It's more that they are evaluating certain KINDS of information that you or I might not consider as important. They are plenty informed, within the limits of what they care about.
I think I've come close to your description at the end of your second sentence.
Hahaha...I can't eat them either.
@MrShift@Edmunds, I think that may be the 5 Guys vs. MickeyDees discussion. I had a senior cup of coffee at McD's an hour ago but have yet to hit a 5 Guys. But if I start reading non-stop articles about mop strings in burgers I may try a Wendy's.
At the lower end, I'd take Wendy's over McD's anytime. I even prefer BK to McD's, although not by much. I like Five Guys, but you're bumped up a price class from Wendy's.
But if you like the gourmet burgers and start hearing a lot of negative press, you'll think about moving your choppers elsewhere.
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Co said on Friday it had told its dealers to stop selling certain Chevrolet Cruze small cars without saying why, in another blow to a company already facing a crisis over defective ignition switches linked to at least 12 deaths.
The automaker said the affected Cruze cars, 2013 and 2014 models equipped with a 1.4-liter turbo engine, are not being recalled. The action only covers the affected models that are unsold on dealer lots, which make up about one-third of the vehicle's inventory at dealers, a GM spokesman said.
Thanks, I did google it as I'd mentioned. This is not unlike Toyota's action not terribly long ago.
I just had a chicken sandwich from McDonalds, and gotta admit for the price...$6.88 including tax for the sandwich, regular fries, and a drink, it was pretty good. I usually do prefer BK or Wendys though, but McDonalds is fine with me. In small doses, at least!
Oh, and Uplander, my LeMans is actually an incorrect color; it's been repainted. The original color was called "Firethorn". I don't know what this color would equate to. I tried looking at a paint chart, and there's a darker color that Pontiac called "Cordovan Maroon", but I think that color has a bit of a brownish tint.
Here's a '76 Ventura in Firethorn...
While I'm at it, I guess I should also fess up that my '76 Grand LeMans is actually sporting a '77 Grand LeMans grille!
Firethorn was my personal favorite at that time--'75-77 or so. Mahogany on Chevys was much-darker. When my Dad bought our '77 Impala coupe in bright red in Nov. '76, the dealer had a firethorn car, equpped same as ours except with the 350 4-barrel, and I wanted that one so bad I could hardly stand it. But Dad didn't want to spend the extra $200 ($5,700 sticker versus $5,500). I knew he had been looking for awhile--he never bought a car quickly....but I was at college 70 miles away and my buddy back home called me and said, "I saw your Dad driving a new Impala!". Next time I was home, that weekend, my Dad said, "Can you run to DQ and get Mom and me some Mr. Mistys?". It was meant to be a surprise when I walked to the garage, but I knew already.
That was a great car, BTW.
I'm not intending to get into a political discussion, but IMHO Chick-Fil-A is by far the best fast-food chicken sandwich joint. Everything there is excellent IMHO. Any other chicken sandwich pales, in my opinion. And I've eaten quite a few fried chicken sandwiches! LOL If I had a Chick-Fil-A and a Five Guys nearby, I wouldn't need to eat at any other fast food joint.
Honestly, as I first go to this forum today to catch up with over 10 posts, I find facts being posted and then a lot of complaining about how the forum isn't fair, yada yada. But I haven't seen anybody being beaten up. Many posters are posting facts and information about the current US auto market, including mentions of recall from Toyota.
The "Streisand Effect" is what happens when complaints happen about something, and instead of that correcting the problem, it only draws even more attention to it. I'm a scientist by training and I don't see this forum as nearly so bad as some others do. But that's just me
.
I would agree that GM is a "favored topic" more than many other makes in this forum. But I see lots of positive posts about GMs and much discussion about recent issues. This is just as we saw about Toyota when the their UA events were current in the news.
Well, I don't frequent discussions that focus on Toyotas, because I'm not a fan of their products, but I think it would be disingenous for anyone to say that GM isn't beat up more than every other make on this particular forum--sometimes factually, sometimes (or more), not. Take me and imidazol out, and the occasional lemko post, and this forum could be called "Foreign Makes Excel" and no one'd be the wiser.
I think the daily, repetitve posts about the recall and other things GM, while nothing else gets posted, is obviously done for one reason and one reason only--to 'poke' me. I think any objective reader would come to the same conclusion.
Incidentally, I just stumbled on a funny Facebook page..."Car Complaints.Com". I'll assume it's also a website. Written pretty irreverently--I always admire that.
About the Odyssey fire risk recall, they wrote, "Worried about fiery annihilation in your minivan? Don't worry, we can't get parts 'til summer". Trust me, no one is immune over there it looks!
Don't take it personally. I love my P.O.S. Kia Optima as much as you love your Cobalts.
I like your 2008 Malibu, remember?
Also remember, I had many GM vehicles and the worst P.O.S. Yukon of any vehicle I've owned.
The pressure on GM is self-imposed. Relax!
It all boils down to how one defines "best".
As Shifty put it, the best selling products certainly have something that has a mass appeal... Something they see that that define as "best". It could be quality, price, taste, etc.
Personally, I would never make any statement that a McDonalds hamburger meets my definition of "best", but then again, I'm fortunate enough to be able to spend the extra coin to get a much better made and higher quality hamburger. On the other hand, if I was living paycheck to paycheck, pinching every penny, a McDonalds burger might take on an entirely different appearance and transform into the best burger for the limited money I could spend, which would, in that instance, make it the best burger for me.
Getting back to cars, Toyota Corollas certainly have sold well over the years, and have an excellent reputation. In many buyer opinions, it might be considered the "best" car, given their financial circumstances. Let one of those buyers win the lotto, though, and see how fast that "best" opinion changes to a much nicer, more expensive vehicle.
@circlew said:
I like the 2008-12 Malibu, as well. I remember when GM was botching the launch of the 2013, by only offering the mild hybrid version at first, there were some really good deals to be had on the outgoing model, even a loaded up one with the 3.6 V-6/6-speed automatic seemed like a bargain.
And, a few years back when I needed a car to replace my '00 Intrepid that was totaled in a hit and run, I toyed with the idea of a Malibu. Or a Saturn Aura. I actually preferred the style of the Aura, just a bit, compared to the Malibu.
As any used car salesman would tell you--you sell someone a clean, well-cared for used Toyota, you never see them again---except when they come back to buy another clean, well-cared for Toyota.
My point was mostly that even at McDonald's price point, there are choices I like better although they are not "best selling" like McDonald's. Apparently people were dupes for buying Mopars in the '60's and '70's, since they were usually no. 3 of the Big Three. I certainly don't buy into that thinking though, then or now.
A longtime friend has a V6 Aura and has been well-satisfied with it. He bought a new 2011 Enclave to supplement it.
Shifty, I would respectfully say, next time you're at a Toyota dealer, look in the Service Department. There aren't only oil changes being done there.
Also--not aimed at you, shifty--I stand by the accuracy of my comment earlier today.
I'd still like that Corvair with 15 miles for sale at the upcoming Mecum auction...that and the '64 Hawk; both products that were largely ignored by the general public at the time.
Well that's not a really sturdy argument UP because that's like saying "go to the ER room and make a judgment about the durability of human beings".
I would offer you a counter argument--write down the make model and year of that Toyota being repaired, and then go to Craigslist and find a Ford or Chevy that is in the same class, condition, mileage and year, and compare resale values.
If you advertise a clean low miles Camry for sale, and your neighbor advertises a clean low mileage Ford Taurus, your Camry will be gone before his ad is even published.
No argument about resale at all. Perception is reality there. I think the 'comparable' Ford or Chevy most likely could have been purchased new for less than the Camry, also. Remember learning about 'time value of money'--money saved now is better than money saved later. Just MHO. I'm certain the response will be that the resale increase of the Camry may well exceed the new-car difference. OK. I still don't want to own a Toyota.
Honestly, I argue points as a fairly large part of what I do for a living, and I can't make an A to B comparison of an emergency room to a Toyota Service Department...lol.
In the South, where I grew up, Dodge/Chrysler dealerships ranked third because GM and Ford OWNED the truck market, and in a highly agricultural environment (like where I lived), buyers bought their cars from dealerships they were familiar dealing with. Those truck sales made it possible for GM and Ford dealerships to have nicer facilities, better service departments, etc.
In a way, it was a circle that started feeding on its own energy, and Chrysler wasn't really in that loop.
The hierarchy of dealerships in the '70's in my small hometown was: Chevy-Cadillac first (old facility, but large and 'luxurious' in the showroom); Ford (new facility built around '69), Pontiac-Olds-Buick about the same--smallish; Chrysler-Plymouth large and modern on the outskirts; and Dodge, small. In fact, for years I thought they only had the three cars in the showroom and about a dozen used cars across the street, until I learned they had a basement full of new Dodges.
I've owned both D3 and transplants. My experience is that the difference starts to show up around 50-60K +. I just saw a lot more of the service departments on my domestics at that point. I think Toyota and Honda may have higher quality and build standards from their vendors, but then they don't have a policy of low bidder. Having said that, I will also say that my current Toyota and Honda have less of a quality gap than the older models. I think Japan Inc. has cheapened up some, while Detroit is improving. My 09 Camry has been somewhat disappointing. Ironically, that was the era that the Toyota CEO Wantabe was outside of the family and I believe Harvard MBA trained. Maybe too similar to the D3 executive background? I really don't know what my next vehicle will be. However, I do think that some of the current Detroit pricing has gotten kind of rich and that may keep Japan selling strongly.
On the subject of fast food, I think McDonald's get slammed just because it's #1, similar to GM or Walmart. Hard to beat the value for the dollar considering how much more a place like Five Guys charges. Depends what you're looking for at the moment I suppose. Personally, for a burger and fries, I'd go In and Out Burger though!
I wish there was an In and Out around here. I'll assume you're from CA. We saw them out there but never got in one. We heard there may be lines there, even late at night!
I think alot of that is perception. My son's friend bought an old 90's Camry with low miles (around 80K) a few years back for around $4000 which I thought was way too much at the time. Sure enough over the next few years he put an equal amount into it to keep it running.
He finally had enough and bought a new 2010 Hyundai Elantra. He drives at least 100 miles a day getting to his job. At 40k miles the trans went out on the Elantra, which was replaced under warranty. Last year the trans went out again at 104k miles. No warranty or goodwill this time so he traded it on a new one and took bit hit.
Meanwhile my son's 2007 Cobalt is running great at about 120k miles. He expects to go 200k as he did with his 2000 Cavalier
Greg, it's funny...I owned two new Cavaliers...a '97 sedan and an '02 coupe, both 5-speeds. Neither was 'polished', but both were reliable and cheap to maintain. And I actually enjoyed the looks of my '02 coupe, in a deep, deep green that was darker than used in earlier years, 15 inch aluminum wheels, and ever-so-slightly a spoiler on the trunklid. It was actually pretty IMHO. On the other hand, the Cavalier sedan looked like an egg. My much-younger B-I-L drove the sedan at around 105K miles. He returned it saying "I expected it to be a POS but it's not at all". Funny how that works.
As much as the Cavalier got slammed over the years, believe it or not, MT or C&D actually gave it some praise, in a roundabout way. I don't remember any specific review, but when the Saturn S-series was redesigned for 1996, saying that it wasn't improved enough, and that with "A much improved Cavalier" it really wasn't necessary any more.
I ran into one of my childhood friends today, who I hadn't seen in a couple years. I knew he had a silver Dodge Ram, the '94-01 style. We started talking cars, and I found out that he just had the V-6, which back then was a 3.9, a sawed off 5.2/318. He had about 180,000 miles on it, and said it's been a great truck. No transmission issues, ever. So, I guess they all weren't turds!
UP, been all over the country when I was working. In & Out has expanded into AZ and Vegas, now parts of TX I believe. In Vegas, that one is mobbed, but if you have a vehicle, a short drive to say Henderson and you can usually get right in. Funny, can't find any in Fin and ISell's Pacific Northwest, probably due to their health image. But you can find lots of greasy diners there
I think GM put a lot of effort into the Cobalt to offset the bad rep of the Cavalier. I've driven a few. They were competent enough, but lacked the drivetrain smoothness and handling of some of the competition to me (obviously only a personal opinion). When I was driving GM's, it struck me that several people with the same vehicle could actually have very different ownership experiences. Don't know if that was due to factory variances, different vendor's or whatever? I think a big error GM made back then was not putting a few more bucks into the interior. Ford did, and I think got a better rep even if the vehicles weren't really any better.
When that '94-style Dodge truck came out, I thought it was styled excellently. A friend had a V-10 cab-and-chassis version--might not be a '94 but that styling era. Funny, a young-looking and young-at-heart Studebaker friend of mine, age 75 in a few months, just loves the very-last Dodge pickups right before that restyle--like '92's and '93's. He's had a couple over the years, both bought used.
Well, the recall has been expanded to all Cobalts....just as I predicted with my first post about the recall. Both of ours have had the ignition switches replaced--I got a letter a year ago about 'sticky keys' and had mine replaced with no question for free, just to not worry about it--and my dealer told me that my daughter's had already been replaced when he ran the VIN for me. Apparently there is some question about replacement stocks that were used. I'd say this is Mary Barra taking the bull by the ....well, you know. Frankly, I am not worried in the least with either of mine, but of course I'll have them repaired.
I think that so far GM is handling this major recall much better than Toyota's initial response to UA. It seemed like Toyota went through several iterations before they got their act together. I think Toyota paid a big price in that their cars don't sell for the price premium they use to anymore. These two recalls may make an interesting B- school case study someday.
To me, Toyota seems to be selling based on a combination of historical reputation (deserved or not at this point), and cut rate pricing (complete with cost slashing to the product).
If anything, they are taking over for the Koreans, having to undercut price and throw around incentives to keep moving cars.
if common perception of their reliability ever takes a hit, they will really have to worry!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
They don't have to cut prices too much; the devalued yen is doing a lot of that for them.
Of course we don't manipulate currency through things like Federal Reserve intervention in interest rates. Our dollar fully deserves to be 30 - 40 cents less than the Euro per dollar and a half buck or more to the British Pound even though the world flocks to the dollar in times of crisis. Couldn't have to do with trying to push up our exports?
I think it was 1992 that Mopar re-did their V-8's and started calling them Magnum...5.2 and 5.9. They were pretty strong for the time. I think the 5.2 had around 220-230 hp. The 5.9 didn't have that much more, I don't think, but had more torque. So, your friend probably likes having the old body style, but with those hotter engines.
I kinda like those older Dodge trucks, although by the 1990's they were really showing their age. I actually saw one on the road the other day, and it had "University of Maryland Physical Plant" painted on the door, so apparently it was still in service as a work truck.
berri, of course it's all subjective, but I think the first-impression stuff inside even the cheapest Cobalt was nicer than Escorts. As an example, I like the chrome rings around the instruments on my car. I've had rental Focus (Foci?) before where the background of the panel that had the instruments, was designed to look like graph paper. Just MHO.
GM said the newer models made after 2007 were equipped with a redesigned ignition switch, but that some of those cars might have been repaired with older replacement parts that may be faulty. The expanded recall includes 824,000 cars in the United States and 971,000 globally, GM said.
GM also is recalling all the replacement ignition switches that have been sent to U.S. aftermarket distributors, the spare parts market. About 95,000 faulty switches were sold to dealers and parts wholesalers.
GM had said on Thursday that the replacement ignition switch it has ordered from Delphi to use in the earlier recall will bear a new part number that "eliminates any potential confusion about which part to use in the repair," according to a company spokesman.