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That is your opinion, showing lack of education in statistics.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
They have been foreign car lovers since they first came out at the cost of American car makers. Where I live you can see the TOY cars that are rusting out and their little PU's. My 91 Chev has no rust and has been to the Outer Banks many times and driven on the beach for weeks.
Way to go CR
A wise person goes by their own experiences rather than somebody else's opinon. That is why I consistently buy Buick and Cadillac automobiles. They have served me well for almost 30 years.
I think you mistook me for someone who believes the anecdotal opinion reports that CR attributes to being carefully gleaned information from statistically random surveys representing the overall American public's experiences with autos. CR's methods are junk. It's newstand rag like Star and Inquirer level of writing.
Not to debate the JD Powers and CR level of information beyond response to the earlier statement that CR is the only thing an educated person would want..., there is a topic for the CR JDP discussion.
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX/.f106481/675
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
They are still stuck on when Ralph Nader was at CR hating the GM-industrial-military establishment.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
You are on a roll today, lol!
Just think, lemko, if only 1/3 of the people who were "pushed" to buy imports had the experience you did with domestics, they would not be in trouble today...but, sadly, they didn't...you are the true exception to the rule, considering the experience too many posters have had with Big 3 "quality"...they must have taken all the quality and put it into 3 actual vehicles...the ones YOU were lucky enough to buy...
Buicks are okay and dependable, not the greatest road cars, new 73 LeSabre w/455 V-8, rod knock due to under size crank, short blocked, still rattled on startup, broomed at 50k, went to 3 Pontiac Grand Prixs LJ models with big blocks, 74, 75, and 77..great rides..Next Buick was a 81 Rivera V-8, gone after 20k, 87 Electra T-Type-gone after 40k, 92 Regal Grand Sport, 90k+, 94 LeSabre, replaced the 4 struts@50k with Monore HDs broomed at 111k..
The Electra was my wife's car and I got rid of it due to the crappy suspension and cupped all four tires on the Florida runs, twice, I replaced the tires..Sold it to my neighbor and he happy as a lark, put over 100k on it..
The American cars are good, some better than others, and yes, Detroit did turn out some junk, and I have really avoided most of it being close to the source..Hey!!!, GM repurchased a 1998 Olds Intrigue @ 26k miles, crappy steering/brakes, no lawyers involved, no yelling or screaming, they never saw the car, dropped it off at the dealer, he signed the check and handed it to me, I signed it, it was what I paid less $600 for mileage.. I handed the check back to the dealer and issued a new check for another $800 and drove off in a new 1999 Olds Intrigue GLS with the new 4 valve, 3.5 V-6, broomed it at 75k, and ended the Olds Intrigue run with a final purchase of a 2002 GLS which went the 120k route..Best W-body setup ever produced by GM..Great engine and suspension setup..The 1999 and 2002 were both modified with a catback exhaust system from SLP.
Iwant,
This may not be the same answers as cooter's, but I have a 2005 Acura TL and its A-pillars are pretty thick due to airbags. I find it really annoying, and over the years I can say that a couple of times I almost hit somebody or pulled into a street as I missed seeing something. It might have been less than complete attention on my part -- hard to tell -- but it is definitely not a good thing, those thick pillars. Between the pillars themselves and the sort of triangle caused by the side view mirrors, you have a pretty big blind spot. Is this unique to a few cars like the TL (and perhaps LaCrosse), or do all midsizers have them these days? Anybody know?
I just hope that in the name of safety, we are not causing MORE problems rather than fewer.
Haven't thought of it that way, but what a great question. I had an 05 Accord coupe and the a-pillars were plenty thick on that one too. Man, what are they doing to our cars! I presently have an 07 4Runner and have good visibility all the way around. I'm thinking about getting a new ride soon, perhaps a sedan, but I'm gonna have to look good and hard at the a-pillars on my next purchase.
That kind of recall, and the evidence abt how toyota lied, cheated, cover-up, prevent key witnesses from testifying, prioritize money over human lives, use underpaid immigrant labor in Japan itself, and cut costs to the bare bones, now that CANNOT result in quality.
The results (recalls) speaks for themselves.
I guess many people still think the small number of SUAs compared to the millions sold means the risk is small. I think that is a bad mistake ! Why ? Because if the risk is small, why more than 10 million toyotas are recalled ? Why not only a few hundred ?
Anybody thought about that ?
Because toyota knows that cases like SUAs do not all happen SIMULTANEOUSLY. They happen to different owners at different times. Its like a 150 capacity plane which have only 2 toilets. Why only 2 for 150 passengers ? Because not all passengers want to pee at the same time !
So don't let the hundreds "only" cases of SUAs reported in the media so far fool you. The risk can happen to ANY of the MILLIONS of toyotas on the road, and to be sold cars, at a time which nobody knows.
Unless you have a second chance or you have at least 2 lives, I am truly amazed that people underestimate the danger of driving a toyota today !
I for one will never trust such a company again. There are many other more competent car makers around. Take your pick, for for God's sake and your own, don't risk your lives for toyota !
And remember, yoshi inaba and akio toyoda themselves have made it clear when they testify in congress, if any toyota driver suffer casualties due to defective toyotas, you may not get compensation.
They said it clear enough, they have to " consult with their legal department first "
Makes me really wonder, is it possible that victims of defective products, anywhere in this Universe, are going against the law by demanding compensation from the manufacturer ?
Give me a break toyota !
I saw a white 1985 Cadillac Coupe DeVille with the 4100 this past Saturday. I guess that truncated FWD car was tiny enough for that puny plant to handle. No way was that engine going to propel something as big as my Brougham. I have a friend with a mint-condition 1983 Sedan DeVille. It only has 21K on it, (he bought it with only 13K on it). The only way you're going to get any long-term service out of the 4100 is to really baby it and even then you're still taking a chance.
The 4100 begat the 4.5 litre which begat the 4.9 litre which I had in my 1994 DeVille. The 4.9 was actually a decent engine. Despite only 200 hp, it was a smooth performer. The ride was so silky smooth and quiet, you'd be approaching 100mph on the turnpike and not know it if you didn't occasionally peek at the speedometer.
My 1985 Consumer Guide has a test of both a downsized FWD DeVille and a RWD Brougham. They got 0-60 in 14.8 seconds with the Brougham, and something like 12-12.2 with the FWD DeVille.
And, by 1985 they had gotten the hp up to 135, in the Brougham at least. Your friend's 1983 would no doubt be even slower, as it has 125 hp, a bit less torque, and clumsier emissions and computer controls.
Oh, and to even get 14.8 seconds out of that 1985, they had to put a 3.42:1 axle, which, in a car like that, is equivalent to revving the snot out of it. Once the Olds 307 went in these cars, they started using a 2.73:1 axle. As a result, the 307 cars had better performance, thanks to a bigger, torquier engine, and better economy since it didn't have to rev up as much.
They must be in demand around here, too, because the asking prices I tend to see ain't exactly cheap. Actually I just found this pretty light blue 53K mile 2003 for $9995. Looked tempting at first, but it's not an Ultra, so no supercharger. No sunroof, no heated seats, and probably missing a few other odds and ends, so as Park Avenues go, this one's a stripper.
Here's a burgundy 2005 67K mile Ultra for $9995. Overall I think I like this one better. Don't care for the color, or the 14K extra miles, but it is 2 model years newer, has a sunroof, and the supercharger! Says it has air conditioned/heated seats...I wonder if that's right? Mine are just heated.
I actually do see a few nice examples of the 1985-90 style Electra/Park Ave driving about from time to time. But I think people hold onto those nice ones. Usually the ones for sale are pretty beat on.
I kind of like that color. A little on the large side for me but that looks nice.
Or you could just shift into neutral or turn off the ignition in the highly unlikely even that SUA should occur.
Makes me really wonder, is it possible that victims of defective products, anywhere in this Universe, are going against the law by demanding compensation from the manufacturer ?
How about with GM and Chrysler, who both tried to go around their negligence penalties from lawsuits and skirt the payments by claiming they went "bankrupt."
The easy way out....gotta love the GM and C management, ehh? Just like you gotta love Congress!
Buying a GM is like voting for Congress...second-rate everything, AT BEST!
Regards,
OW
http://www.lohud.com/article/20100422/NEWS02/4220418/1018
Quote "....I was making a left turn, going 10 mph, and all of a sudden the car just accelerated. We hit one of the dividers, became airborne and landed on top of two cars," Rocco Doino said this morning. He said he had no control of the car. The rpm's "jumped" all the way up, way over the two to three you see in normal driving, he said. Throwing the car into neutral did nothing, he said.
"You can't imagine the sound of the motor going so fast," his wife, 74, said. " unquote.
Pay attention to the words " throwing the car into neutral DID NOTHING ".
I really suspect its a toyota electronic matter, where like our computers, when it hangs or misbehaved, pressing anything on the keyboard have no effect at all. The car, or toyota electronic to be more precise, have TAKEN OVER.
If that is the case, the driver has only a few options left, all of which are dangerous :
1. Crash into anything that will stop the car. A building, a tree, whatever.
2. Hollywood style, open the door and jump out quickly. Try this when you are in a freeway.
3. Any other safe options ?
Remember, power is DANGEROUS WITHOUT CONTROL.
I say it again, when there are Nissan, Honda, Ford etc, WHY TAKE CHANCES with toyota's electronics ?
Well at least nowadays, you see pictures of the elderly doing things like this with Toyotas. It's a refreshing change of pace from the Buicks and Grand Marquises that you used to see planted in store lobbies or mowing down a fully-loaded bus-stop, etc.
I remember back in 1996, someone put an '80's Olds Custom Cruiser into the lobby of the local Jerry's Pizza. Dunno how old the driver was, though. That Jerry's closed down, and became the Papa John's I used to work at. On several occasions, I asked them if they'd like to see that trick repeated with a 1979 Newport? :shades:
Besides, unlike being hit by lightning, there's a lot you can do to mitigate SUA when it does occur, if ever.
The failure of a country is on a different scale than the failure of a corporation.
Corporate bankruptcy laws guide corporate failures.
What guides a country's failure?
GM's history shows you can't succeed if the customer isn't happy.
Regards,
OW
History shows that GM has survived in spite of getting caught throwing their money into trucks as gas doubled in price.
How does the hybrid reduction in oil use weigh against the cost of one drilling booboo? Give oil competition from alternatives and then drive oil to increase efficiency. The type of efficiency that avoids using a $500k shut off failsafe on rigs?
Welcome to today when GM is winning awards and reccomendations.
But the Sonata sales beat out the Malibu last month so Hyundai is making their customers happier. No longer can GM stay blind and arrogant and survive. CTS is the same story. The SRX blew away the CTS....because it's new. Problem with GM is they STILL are not at the bleeding edge of best product, all the time. I can not see their market share ever growing past 20% in the USA. You can get better products elsewhere.
Regards,
OW