Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options
General Motors discussions
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Better yet, buy it used. 1-2 year old v6 Malibu's shouldn't be hard to find and would be a very good deal.
It's always what have you done for me lately. Also, how the manufacturer and dealer DEAL with your situation will greatly affect your perception of the degree of the problems. The dealer can either minimize all the issues, or magnify them.
He loves it and his Porsche.
Now the Porsche is a fine automobile indeed.
I bet the next car on his list will be a Land Rover. Great for picking up heavy groceries, and crossing streams and mountainous terrain found in the inner cities.
-Loren
There is no evidence that German-made VWs are more reliable than Mexican counterparts.
In fact, the coil-packs that failed on 10 of 1000s VWs was sourced from German parts maker - probably made by UAW comrades over there.
There is no evidence that BMWs assembled in South Africa are had any more problems either.
What about a Mexican made Suburban or Ford Fusion? All I can add is my Mexican assembled Suburban appears to have been built by workers who were consuming tequilla during their siesta.
-Loren
For a lot of people the car or truck they drive defines who they are. You must not get out much. Honda mommy cars with giant wings and wheels worth more than the rest of the car. Thousand dollar "spinners" on overpriced SUVs. And sound systems that you can hear blocks away. They all shout"look at me I'm cool"! And let's all admit that a lot of people(especially young ones) buy BMWs quite often for the image they supposedly project.And all you fans of overpriced,sinking quality german cars don't get all huffy. Oh, and what about all those middle-age white guys in their Corvettes? You think that for alot of them it isn't about image? :shades:
Oh and by the way Roger(not Jack) smith was evil incarnate and the worst CEO in American history. GM never really recovered from his evil. :mad:
That is why my father bought a two seater mercades convertable 2 years ago. Its because at 56 he could afford one finaly and its what he allways wanted
Car & Driver says it best: "Where's the one-touch-up feature? why has GM failed to figure out a way to install a dead pedal in its large SUVs? Where's the steering-wheel telescoping feature? Why is the tilt feature manual rather than powered? Why is the ignition switch still set into the steering column, when there's no column lock? Why isn't there an entry-assist handle for the driver? Why does this pricey SUV have a heavy, removable third row that folds, but not flat, instead occupying a lot of space? (my biggest gripe, since Ford has conquered this problem back in 2003, and GM still can't figure it out). The six-speed is a smoothie but it be worth the dimished towing capacity - 7400 pounds versus a max of 8100 for the previous incarnation - to people who drag big trailer boats across the landscape? We also note a disparity between interior noise levels of our previous Escalade tester and the new version. Although the development team paid a lot of attention to this, achieving commendable results in the area of wind noise, our decibel meter showed across-the-board higher readings (idle, wide-open throttle, 70-mph cruise) for the new Slade versus its predecessor."
I like the looks of it inside and out. But once again, if anybody goes beyond the skin, this is not a great truck, and not up to the Competition. Although C & D says it beats the Navigator hands down, as far as I can see, it's only in horsepower. :shades:
You picked the one paragraph that had something bad to say about the car, how about the rest of it... Let me give you some examples...
"Of course, Cadillac wants us to look past any perception of pandering to the 15-minutes-of-fame folks and look at vehicle virtues. Of which there are many — for a vehicle of this type. The foundation, for example, is the new GMT900 full-size SUV and truck platform, a whole order of magnitude stiffer than its predecessor — 49 percent improved in torsional rigidity, according to Cadillac. That sounds like the difference between linguine al dente and the Brooklyn Bridge, but a little time at the big Caddy’s helm does seem to vindicate this assertion. Firmer underpinnings, a wider track (plus three inches front, one inch rear), a new coil-spring front-suspension system, stiffened suspension mounting points, a new power rack-and-pinion steering system, revised four-wheel drive, and an upgraded braking system combine to make this Escalade noticeably more responsive than the previous edition, with shorter stopping distances.
or
Better still, the bigger, lighter engine (the previous Escalade eights had iron blocks) is paired with a new six-speed automatic transmission (6L80), a vast improvement on the previous four-speeds. It also includes a manumatic function that allows the driver to shift for him- or herself, although that sporty touch seems superfluous in a vehicle weighing almost three tons. But never mind. The added gearsets make the most of the engine’s robust output, and the bottom line is a dramatic improvement in the fast-forward department.
Yes, it is "missing" a few things here and there. Plenty of Japanese cars are also missing things here and there.
The real reason Japanese are eating away at GM and ford now is because there dealer netweorks are growing (besides the usual heath insurance stuff) and Uncle san will not protect its own businesses. This is very different in Japan, where even if you make it to the shore, you will be forced to use their own dealer network to further jack up the price of your car. It's even worse in the supermarket business.
This is not "free trade" unless you have your head in the sand.
I have had 2 Navigators, and 1 Escalade. The Escalade was the newest, it was an 04. Where it bested my Navigators was in torque towing, and the HVAC was superior. But otherwise, it was just not a Cadillac. Plus, it was too small in the second row, and the third row is quite the joke.
The size of the dealer network is not going to make undesirable products more desirable.
The size of the GM dealership network in the US is significantly larger than that of any other automaker selling in the US market. If you were correct, GM would be gaining sales each year, not losing them.
The dealership networks of Toyota, Honda, etc. are expanding because the cars are lucrative for dealers. If GM dealerships were good investments, dealers would be standing in line trying to get them. As it stands now, there are too many GM dealerships, rather than there not being enough.
It is a good-looking truck. But being a rung or more below the competition is nothing new for GM. I've never understood why anyone would buy any of the present Cadillacs new. They are one of the most overpriced brands out there. I won't say overrated because I don't know of anyone that rates them all that high.
All the GTI's and new model Golf/Rabbit's are coming from Wolfsburg now.
No more of the Brazilian crud.
:P
The main reason VW had been losing sales is, as you stated, reliability. But there was also a lack of new product. The previous models had been around for about 5-6 years without much of a change.
Support union jobs in the U.S. and Canada
This guide is prepared by the UAW to provide information for consumers who want to purchase vehicles produced by workers who enjoy the benefits and protections of a union contract.
All vehicles on this list are made in the United States or Canada by members of the United Auto Workers (UAW), Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) or the International Union of Electrical Workers-Communication Workers of America (IUE-CWA).
Because of the integration of U.S. and Canadian vehicle production, all vehicles on this list include significant UAW-made content and support the jobs of UAW members.
However, those vehicles marked with an asterisk (*) are sourced from the United States and/or Canada and a third country. When purchasing one of these models, check the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN.) A VIN beginning with “1,” “4” or “5” identifies a U.S.-made vehicle; “2” identifies a Canadian-made vehicle. Not all vehicles made in the United States or Canada are made by union-represented workers. The Toyota Corolla, for example, is made in the United States by UAW members, but the Canadian model is made in a nonunion plant and other models are imported from a third country. To be sure you have a union-made vehicle, buy one of the vehicles on this list.
Rocky
Rocky
Executive G. Richard Wagoner Jr. leaned on his engineers to rush his new
large sport-utility vehicles to market. At the time he looked like a
desperate coach going back to the same old playbook. But he figured new
models would goose sales, and the SUVs were the only volume sellers far
enough along in the pipeline. Now, the move looks pretty smart. Even as gas
prices approach $3 a gallon, sales of GM's new SUVs are up 22 percent in
the first quarter. What's more, J.D. Power & Associates Inc. says buyers
are paying up to $7,000 more for the new Tahoes ($32,000 base) and Cadillac
Escalades ($57,000) than they shelled out for the old models. Says GM
Vice-Chairman and Chief Financial Officer Frederick A. "Fritz" Henderson:
"There are still plenty of customers who want the versatility of a
full-size SUV."
Why on earth, with summer sure to bring higher prices at the pump, would
consumers flock to these gas-guzzlers? For one thing, GM has the only new
SUVs on the market. Trucks such as the Tahoe, Escalade, and GMC Yukon not
only have posh cabins, but they boast fuel economy close to 20 mpg, thanks
to a system that shuts down four of the engine's eight cylinders while
cruising. That beats all competitors (the Toyota Sequoia gets 16 mpg) and
matches some midsize SUVs. As a result, GM's large SUVs are stealing buyers
from other automakers: Its share of the big SUV business has grown from a
steady 62 percent in recent years to 67 percent this year. Rival models
such as the Dodge Durango are down as much as 40 percent this year. And
Ford Motor Co. won't strike back with a new Expedition and Lincoln
Navigator until late this summer.
GM had better come out with something other than trucks or they won't survive.A revamped Aveo and the Solstice ain't gonna cut it.
Best bet for the Union and any work force, as a whole in any industry, looking to keep their company on top is to produce the best product, at the lowest price possible, and keep in mind who they work for. They do NOT work for the Union, they do not work for GM, they only work for the customer. When the customer is happy, everyone gets paid, from the CEO on down to the janitor. If the product is the best, customer happy and buying, then GM may reward the help, but it all starts from the boss - the customer.
Makes no difference as to people on this board having a bias for, against, or even neutral on importance of having a Union shop for auto works. In the end, the dollars do the talking, and the customer has the dollars. We could talk detailed about what is good about a Union or bad, and this contract, or that benefit is OK or too costly, but in the end the company AND the Union will only stand as long as they have the boss paying. The customer is the boss.
Do hope now that GM gets around to this train of thought.
-Loren
Maybe GM could just stick with V6 engines. - Loren
Delphi, GM's former parts division and largest supplier, filed for bankruptcy protection in October. A month later, GM agreed to temporarily forego scheduled price reductions on Delphi parts.
GM paid higher prices through the first quarter, but Delphi said in its filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it was unable to reach an agreement with GM to continue paying those rates. Delphi said its financial statements will reflect the previously agreed to price cuts beginning with the second quarter of this year.
Delphi says it's losing money on many of its contracts with GM and plans to ask the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to reject some unprofitable contracts with the automaker on May 12. Delphi's initial motion covers around half of its annual volume with GM. GM spent $12.8 billion on Delphi parts in 2005, or nearly half of Delphi's annual revenues.
Delphi also said in its filing that it is continuing to negotiate with its unions and GM on an agreement that would lower wages for its U.S. hourly workers. Delphi is scheduled to ask the bankruptcy court for permission to void its union contracts on May 9 as part of its restructuring.
In court filings late last month, unions said Delphi has failed to prove its needs to slash wages as part of its restructuring. Delphi was scheduled to respond with its own court filing later Monday.
GM shares fell 32 cents to $22.56 in early afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060501/UPDATE/605010400/1148- /rss25
I have a question ol' pal. Do you know if the Northstar once it springs a mild leak, is it fixable or will the leak get worse and the engine is scrap. I know some have said yes. I have a friend with a 95' Eldorado with about 125K on it and it's leaking a lil' bit of oil. It's mild now, and some have told me it will get worse and their is nothing one can do to stop it. Is this true ?
If any of ya'll want to comment feel free. I went to the search window that the hosts provided me and found nothing. :sick:
I'm just trying to help a friend out.
Rocky
P.S.
Luckily I haven't heard similar problems on 99' and up STS Northstars.
People keep buying GM cars too - doesn't mean they're always the best.....
Rocky
P.S.
If any of ya'll wanna be friends on carspace, Lemme know. I need to add some more pics I found of my former rides.
http://www.carspace.com/rockylee
Bankrupt Delphi Corp. failed to reach an agreement with General Motors Corp. that would have extended GM's pledge to pay higher prices for parts while the supplier regroups in Chapter 11.
Since November, GM had provided the relief under an open-ended pact, but stopped the arrangement in March, Delphi said Monday in a filing with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
GM's move to reinstate the price cuts could be a setback for Delphi, which hopes to emerge from bankruptcy by next year and benefited from the additional GM revenue at an important time.
In a separate move, GM and Delphi on Monday extended the deadline until June 23 for hourly workers to accept buyout offers aimed at slashing thousands of jobs at the struggling companies.
Workers previously had until late May or early June, depending on where they worked, to decide on the offers. But strong early interest in the offers and administrative issues led the companies to push back the deadline, GM and Delphi officials said.
But interest in the buyouts could be good news for both companies, which have made lowered U.S. labor costs a key part of their turnaround efforts.
The developments highlight the up-and-down nature of the massive restructuring efforts at both companies and how their fates are intertwined.
But GM's move to enforce price cuts at Delphi may signal it is hardening its bargaining position.
The automaker has complained that it pays a $2 billion annual premium on Delphi parts because of the supplier's high labor and operating costs and has demanded price cuts in recent years.
"There is a kernel of truth in what GM is saying," said Jim Gillette, a supplier industry analyst with CSM Worldwide in Grand Rapids. Delphi continues to benefit from "sweetheart" contracts with GM that date to its 1999 spin-off from the automaker, he said.
Yet in bankruptcy, Delphi has moved to reject a large number of GM parts contracts it claims are "unprofitable" -- a move that has not set well with GM, especially as Delphi seeks other financial support for its turnaround.
Delphi spokeswoman Claudia Piccinin said GM's decision to forgo planned price reductions was always intended to be "interim financial support" while the sides worked on a long-term solution to make the supplier more competitive. "We didn't ever lay out the terms of it," she said.
GM's move to enforce the price cuts comes ahead of a May 12 court hearing on Delphi's motion to terminate and exit some GM contracts, and days before a May 9 hearing on the supplier's motion to void its union contracts.
In the SEC filing Monday, Delphi said discussions are ongoing with GM and it expects the automaker to provide at least some financial support, though it did not specify how much or in what form.
From Oct. 8 -- when Delphi filed for bankruptcy -- to March 31, the company lost $1.6 billion on $9.1 billion in sales. Delphi lost $56 million in March alone, according to monthly earnings reports that companies in bankruptcy are required to file.
Central to the turnaround efforts at both Delphi and GM are the acceptance of buyout offers, which are the byproduct of a historic deal with the United Auto Workers struck in March.
The buyouts -- ranging from $35,000 to $140,000 -- have been extended to all of GM's 113,000 U.S. workers and to 13,000 Delphi workers.
Dan Flores, a GM spokesman, confirmed that the deadline for accepting an offer had been extended to June 23.
He declined to say how many employees had come forward to sign up for the program, but said there had been strong initial interest. "Absolutely, we are pleased with the take rate so far," he said.
The early retirement offers are designed to take out a "significant portion" of the 30,000 positions that GM plans to cut by 2008 under its North American restructuring plan announced last fall, he said. Under a reorganization filed in March, Delphi plans to close or sell 21 of 29 U.S. plants and cut more than two-thirds of its 33,000-strong work force.
Lindsey Williams, a Delphi spokesman, said the supplier extended its deadline for accepting the buyouts mostly for "administrative reasons." Delphi, he said, is pleased with the response.
"For us," he said, "it has been fairly strong."
http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060502/AUTO01/605020366/- 1148
I am surprised Isuzu is STILL around! Mitsu on the other IMO will make it at least they (or will) are offering something new.
Hyundai has styling and an incredibly long warranty. However, their sales are still (relatively) lukewarm in the US.
Hyundia brought that on themselves by have junk when they first started importing cars here. Who can recall seeing one of the first ones on the road? I haven't.
AMEN!!
That being said, I've had a couple of cars I just kept adding oil to because it wasn't worth rebuilding the motor.
Turboshadow
Hell I'm no genius on fixing cars. I just know the hp stats, 0-60, gadgets, audio, etc.
Thanx for the advice pal.
Rocky