Strictly as a layman, I've got to wonder if that spindle part no. is IDENTICAL between the cop cars and civilian cars. My guess (only) is that it's not, or GM would not make public a TSB about it and say only the cop cars are covered.
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I agree, GM should have lost their name. I wouldn't have kept the GM initials. I'd of changed it entirely.
Not that changing a name means much. The GMAC part of GM changed their name to ALLY Bank after all of the bailouts, doesn't change the fact for people in the "know," that know they both got bail out funds.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
I'm not a foreign policy expert, but do we want to return to the isolationist policies of the 20's and 30's?
Absolutely! The debt and deficit of the 20's and 30's (despite the depression) is far preferable to that of today.
I really don't think WWII can repeat, nor will anyone ever be as crazy and Hitler again. It's all mindless fear propoganda from the Republicans and DEFENSE industry to scare you into wasting Trillions of tax dollars on our military.
The way I see it our political system it amounts to this:
Democrats are for spending trillions on WALL STREET, GM/Chrysler, and Entitlements for the lower income people by taxing the rich.
Republicans are for spending trillions on WALL STREET, DEFENSE/MILITARY, and entitlements for the richest people by taxing the middle class and poor more heavily.
Of course, Ron Paul is a Republican, probably the only true real Republican, yet no one else seems to agree with him from that party.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Ugh! If you hated the 1997-02 Malibu, you would've truly hated its Olds Cutlass sedan sister! My wife briefly had one and even a die-hard GM guy like me couldn't stand it. It was mediocrity personified and a huge insult to the the Oldsmobile nameplate.
Was the VW really "Car of the Year" in Motor Trend or a BDSM magazine?
If my wife bought a VW, I'd soon file for divorce! I have been through VW hell in the past. Never again! A young guy who just started working for us about two years ago has a girlfriend with a 2008 Jetta. It seems to wanna run just every other Tuesday. Seems nothing has changed since my then-girlfriend's then-new 1994 Jetta.
I really don't think WWII can repeat, nor will anyone ever be as crazy and Hitler again.
I dunno. That guy in Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad seems like the kind of psycho who would start something. At least we no longer have to worry about "Dear Leader" in North Korea anymore.
Was the VW really "Car of the Year" in Motor Trend or a BDSM magazine?
Yep and every article I've read about it in various magazines have been very positive about it.
I do like the looks, the engine options, and performance. I'd definitely drive one if looking for a fwd sedan.
Can the reliability be any worse than the Ford and GM products I've had? Doubtful. Regardless, if I liked the car and was worried about reliability, I'd buy an extended warranty and enjoy the car. If it turned out reliability was a problem, I'd get rid of it.
That's pretty much how I view the Chrysler 300 too. Nice looking, good performing car that probably won't be trouble free.
The five-door hatchback comes with a turbocharged Ecotec 1.4-liter four-cylinder that makes 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. Customers can choose from a six-speed manual or automatic transmission."
If my wife bought a VW, I'd soon file for divorce! I have been through VW hell in the past.
Seems like we should be buying American made, such as VW Passat, which will be made in Chatanooga, TENN.
I trust my wife to make her own decisions on car buying through the years. The last good decision she had to make re GM, many years ago, was when she test drove the GM Chevy equivalent of a Honda Accord, and easily made her own decision to buy the Accord. Smart woman.
A friend had a Passat and it broke down so often that I thought she actually owned the Ford Five Hundred loaner car she always drove.
Can the reliability be any worse than the Ford and GM products I've had?
Keep in mind the new Passat just went through a round of cost cutting, and FWIW the cost-cut Jetta's reliability suffered.
Mags do love it, though I find it boring compared to older Passats. Just don't get v1.0, wait until they sort the early issues out.
The TDI is interesting at least, but I'd prefer a Jetta Sportwagen TDI anyway. Per Consumer Reports, the Golf and still-on-the-old-platform Jetta wagon are more reliable than the newer cheap Jetta.
I saw an orange Sonic LTZ the other day and it's grown on me. Sort of looks like an angry insect but the B-segment is dull as heck and it was actually interesting.
Seems like we should be buying American made, such as VW Passat, which will be made in Chatanooga, TENN.
Not sure your point, coming right behind the Sonic post. The Sonic is built in Michigan.
Hallelujah! A new automobile built in the northern U.S.! We have employment needs here too, not just the deep south.
BTW, supposedly it's the only car of its size built in the U.S.
I do hate the hatch though. I like the regular sedan for looks much better. The hatch reminds me of the old Gremlin commercial: "Hey buddy, where's the rest of your car?!"
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Keep in mind the new Passat just went through a round of cost cutting, and FWIW the cost-cut Jetta's reliability suffered.
Seems like the cost cutting has been more in the area of interior design and materials and things like beam axles and rear drum brakes (base jetta anyway). So basically it's what GM did for decades.
Though the Passat reviews don't seem to call out the cost cutting as much as they have with the Jetta. I'd have to see for myself. I haven't been up close to either car, but I'm sure seeing a lot of Jettas on the road.
You probably aren't the target for these small compacts. A hatch makes far more sense. These cars are so short, a hatch is probably a must in order to actually have a back seat along with some storage. The hatch also allows someone to haul something larger than a small bag.
Have you seen a Sonic in person, or any of these B segment cars up close? They're very small. I saw a Sonic the other day and man is it a short car. I don't think a conventional sedan configuration would work.
If my wife bought a VW, I'd soon file for divorce!
Wow, your relationship is based upon some interesting things. :surprise:
If my wife was going to buy herself a car and she was going straight to a GM dealer, I'd at least ask her (maybe even beg) to look at other vehicles, in the end, as long as it didn't put us in the poor house, she can buy whatever she wants.
Hallelujah! A new automobile built in the northern U.S.! We have employment needs here too, not just the deep south.
There's that regionalism again. Perhaps the North's repressive labor laws re: right to work, etc., have something to do with that. Mix it up with a toxic cocktail of failed auto leadership and there you go.
I think competition between states is a good thing, just as in business. If one state can run better or lure more business, so be it. And I'm in California and am definitely in a state that is losing to others.
Regarding the Chevy Sonic RS "pocket-rocket" headline; what's with that? I guess the author is unaware that the Mini Cooper S, VW GTI, and Audi TT - for 3 examples, have been around for a while, and sport far more power.
Where's the "rocket" part? How about the DI 3.6L in there, and add AWD. Then sell it for $25K.
I have seen both the Sonic sedan and hatch in person. I guess the hatch reminds me of an Aveo or Metro, even though the Aveo could also be had as a sedan. I just detest that 90-degree chopping at the back, but I'm aware that with a car that size, drastic measures are taken. I wouldn't walk across the street to get into an Aveo.
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I just like to see some of that old negative-northern thing getting cut loose, finally. Onward and upward.
Also, I've liked that I've had three good little inexpensive cars that were built 40 miles down the road. People where I live now, and also in my depressed hometown 40 miles in the other direction of the plant, work there. I can't think of a single negative in liking that.
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I haven't seen a Sonic yet, but if the sedan really looks like this...
...then I'm impressed. It's really hard to make a short, stubby sedan look attractive, but I think they did a decent job here. The hatchback is probably more practical, though.
Looking at the spec sheet, it looks like the Sonic's about the size of a first-gen Cavalier. 99.4" wheelbase, 173.1" long. The Cav was on a 101.2" wb, and maybe 2 inches longer. Probably narrower and not as tall, though.
So, it's really not a tiny car, I guess. It does show how much cars have grown over the years, though. I never really considered the old Cavalier to be a tiny car, because at the time there were a lot of cars that were much smaller.
I wonder what the truth is on trunk volume, though? Chevy's website says 14 cubic feet, which puts it in range with a lot of today's midsized cars! But the EPA website says 12.
Also, looking at the EPA website, it looks like if you just want a cheap, basic model with an automatic, economy isn't THAT impressive, at 25/35. The stick does a bit better, at 26/35, while the 1.4/stick gets 29/40.
Personally, if I'm going to give up the room and comfort of a midsized car, I need to see better fuel economy figures than that!
Also, I've liked that I've had three good little inexpensive cars that were built 40 miles down the road. People where I live now, and also in my depressed hometown 40 miles in the other direction of the plant, work there. I can't think of a single negative in liking that.
Well, move south and you can have a bunch of other vehicles built down the road instead. :P
andre, good point on FE. It seems to be that way in the entire B-segment. A Ford Fiesta doesn't get much if any better mileage than Focus. I guess it comes down to just being able to buy a cheaper car.
The Fiesta is rated for 29 city with an auto, which is better than 27 in the auto focus.
Strange that the 1.4 turbo auto in the Cruze is rated at 26 city vs. 25 in the Sonic.
I could have messed something up, but it looks like a Fiesta returns 33mpg overall vs. 29 for the Sonic with an auto trans. The epa doesn't list a 1.4t auto model, so maybe that's the difference.
Subscription may be required, or at least registration in some cases, but here you go:
Effective Dec. 19, "warranty coverage is suspended indefinitely for all new Saab vehicles sold. During this period, the warranty booklet must be removed from the owner information packet,"
Honestly, although I've never driven a Saab, and only rode in one once, I never liked the looks...that 'tapered' look that reminded me of a, well....nevermind!
I didn't even like when the '08 Malibu had the turn signal on the front fender behind the wheel opening, a la Saab.
I remember those '60's V4 Saabs, that were goofy things too IMHO.
Around here, Saab drivers (mostly, 900) were a 'certain type' (stereotypical) type of owner, too...and I mean that in a wise-*** way.
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Honestly, although I've never driven a Saab, and only rode in one once, I never liked the looks...that 'tapered' look that reminded me of a, well....nevermind!
I think I know what you're talking about, and if I'm right, I see that look a bit in some Mazdas. Now, it would be ironic as heck if the classic rock station I'm listening to suddenly played a Steely Dan song! :P
I actually liked the Saab 9-3 though, or whatever one the Malibu shared some of its architecture with. And, I thought the 9-7 was actually a pretty decent re-badge of the Trailblazer!
I thought the 9-7 was actually a pretty decent re-badge of the Trailblazer!
It was the best looking version for sure. But that doesn't make it a proper SAAB.
Honestly, I won't really miss SAAB. Sure they had a strange quirkiness that I appreciated from time to time, but I have to wonder why GM bought them in the first place. That was a bad idea. No way would the SAAB culture thrive or even survive within GM.
Saabs have sort of a cult following, my buddy had numerous ones and his daughter always either inherited them when he was done or bought one at the same time.
Needless to say, he loved em. I drove (2) of his 9-3's from time to time and I really didn't understand what was so special. They basically drove like the Rentabu/Pontiac G6 they were based on with the only saving grace being the extra turbo kick and the manual transmission which wasn't really that great either. And the whole ignition between the seats was stupid IMO, his were always gunked up from dust and grease and I would constantly forget where the keys were when I drove them.
Still, it was the quirkiness from the 80's that I'll miss. It was that outside of the box way of design that made their stuff stand out from the typical BMW's and Mercs of the day.
But alas, with the big conglomerates with way more money and resources, I can see how it would be tough to survive on their own. And since GM raped and pillaged them and basically drove them into the ground like they did Isuzu and Suzuki, it was inevitable that they wouldn't make it through another decade.
>Seems like we should be buying American made, such as VW Passat, which will be made in Chatanooga, TENN.
Not sure your point, coming right behind the Sonic post. The Sonic is built in Michigan.
Hallelujah! A new automobile built in the northern U.S.! We have employment needs here too, not just the deep south.
So who the heck am I supposed to root for? I live in Michigan but did a 3 year stint in Chattanooga in the 70s and my brother and mother followed me there and they're still there. Got a nephew working out of Atlanta who does truck brake sales. He gets up to Detroit all the time.
Comments
that is my last comment on the subject
Same here.
Not that changing a name means much. The GMAC part of GM changed their name to ALLY Bank after all of the bailouts, doesn't change the fact for people in the "know," that know they both got bail out funds.
Absolutely! The debt and deficit of the 20's and 30's (despite the depression) is far preferable to that of today.
I really don't think WWII can repeat, nor will anyone ever be as crazy and Hitler again. It's all mindless fear propoganda from the Republicans and DEFENSE industry to scare you into wasting Trillions of tax dollars on our military.
The way I see it our political system it amounts to this:
Democrats are for spending trillions on WALL STREET, GM/Chrysler, and Entitlements for the lower income people by taxing the rich.
Republicans are for spending trillions on WALL STREET, DEFENSE/MILITARY, and entitlements for the richest people by taxing the middle class and poor more heavily.
Of course, Ron Paul is a Republican, probably the only true real Republican, yet no one else seems to agree with him from that party.
If my wife bought a VW, I'd soon file for divorce! I have been through VW hell in the past. Never again! A young guy who just started working for us about two years ago has a girlfriend with a 2008 Jetta. It seems to wanna run just every other Tuesday. Seems nothing has changed since my then-girlfriend's then-new 1994 Jetta.
http://www.marfdrat.net/2011/12/16/audi-chief-calls-chevy-volt-a-car-for-idiots/-
Crosses the line, don't you think?
Those "idiots" can get a free parking spot with free 220v charging during the day in my work garage right now.
Beats me. Wonder if you could find two different spindles at the counter or at RockAuto.
(OT aside to Andres, Paul is a RINO. He ran for POTUS on the Libertarian ticket in '88 and hasn't changed his ideals).
I dunno. That guy in Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad seems like the kind of psycho who would start something. At least we no longer have to worry about "Dear Leader" in North Korea anymore.
Yep and every article I've read about it in various magazines have been very positive about it.
I do like the looks, the engine options, and performance. I'd definitely drive one if looking for a fwd sedan.
Can the reliability be any worse than the Ford and GM products I've had? Doubtful. Regardless, if I liked the car and was worried about reliability, I'd buy an extended warranty and enjoy the car. If it turned out reliability was a problem, I'd get rid of it.
That's pretty much how I view the Chrysler 300 too. Nice looking, good performing car that probably won't be trouble free.
The five-door hatchback comes with a turbocharged Ecotec 1.4-liter four-cylinder that makes 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. Customers can choose from a six-speed manual or automatic transmission."
2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS Bows (Inside Line)
Seems like we should be buying American made, such as VW Passat, which will be made in Chatanooga, TENN.
I trust my wife to make her own decisions on car buying through the years. The last good decision she had to make re GM, many years ago, was when she test drove the GM Chevy equivalent of a Honda Accord, and easily made her own decision to buy the Accord. Smart woman.
Can the reliability be any worse than the Ford and GM products I've had?
Keep in mind the new Passat just went through a round of cost cutting, and FWIW the cost-cut Jetta's reliability suffered.
Mags do love it, though I find it boring compared to older Passats. Just don't get v1.0, wait until they sort the early issues out.
The TDI is interesting at least, but I'd prefer a Jetta Sportwagen TDI anyway. Per Consumer Reports, the Golf and still-on-the-old-platform Jetta wagon are more reliable than the newer cheap Jetta.
From the stories of your GM experience I've read, calling them "Second-Rate" seems like a tremendous compliment.
I think THIRD rate would be more appropriate.
For Chrysler, I'll coin the term Fourth-Rate.
Not sure your point, coming right behind the Sonic post. The Sonic is built in Michigan.
Hallelujah! A new automobile built in the northern U.S.! We have employment needs here too, not just the deep south.
BTW, supposedly it's the only car of its size built in the U.S.
I do hate the hatch though. I like the regular sedan for looks much better. The hatch reminds me of the old Gremlin commercial: "Hey buddy, where's the rest of your car?!"
Seems like the cost cutting has been more in the area of interior design and materials and things like beam axles and rear drum brakes (base jetta anyway). So basically it's what GM did for decades.
Though the Passat reviews don't seem to call out the cost cutting as much as they have with the Jetta. I'd have to see for myself. I haven't been up close to either car, but I'm sure seeing a lot of Jettas on the road.
You probably aren't the target for these small compacts. A hatch makes far more sense. These cars are so short, a hatch is probably a must in order to actually have a back seat along with some storage. The hatch also allows someone to haul something larger than a small bag.
Have you seen a Sonic in person, or any of these B segment cars up close? They're very small. I saw a Sonic the other day and man is it a short car. I don't think a conventional sedan configuration would work.
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/20/cadillac-cts-and-srx-net-top-nhtsa-safety-sco- res-w-video/
Wow, your relationship is based upon some interesting things. :surprise:
Wow, your relationship is based upon some interesting things. :surprise:
If my wife was going to buy herself a car and she was going straight to a GM dealer, I'd at least ask her (maybe even beg) to look at other vehicles, in the end, as long as it didn't put us in the poor house, she can buy whatever she wants.
There's that regionalism again. Perhaps the North's repressive labor laws re: right to work, etc., have something to do with that. Mix it up with a toxic cocktail of failed auto leadership and there you go.
I think competition between states is a good thing, just as in business. If one state can run better or lure more business, so be it. And I'm in California and am definitely in a state that is losing to others.
Where's the "rocket" part? How about the DI 3.6L in there, and add AWD. Then sell it for $25K.
Also, I've liked that I've had three good little inexpensive cars that were built 40 miles down the road. People where I live now, and also in my depressed hometown 40 miles in the other direction of the plant, work there. I can't think of a single negative in liking that.
Or the 2.0 DI turbo from the Regal;)
I agree there are far more interesting "pocket rockets", but they do cost quite a bit more.
...then I'm impressed. It's really hard to make a short, stubby sedan look attractive, but I think they did a decent job here. The hatchback is probably more practical, though.
Looking at the spec sheet, it looks like the Sonic's about the size of a first-gen Cavalier. 99.4" wheelbase, 173.1" long. The Cav was on a 101.2" wb, and maybe 2 inches longer. Probably narrower and not as tall, though.
So, it's really not a tiny car, I guess. It does show how much cars have grown over the years, though. I never really considered the old Cavalier to be a tiny car, because at the time there were a lot of cars that were much smaller.
I wonder what the truth is on trunk volume, though? Chevy's website says 14 cubic feet, which puts it in range with a lot of today's midsized cars! But the EPA website says 12.
Also, looking at the EPA website, it looks like if you just want a cheap, basic model with an automatic, economy isn't THAT impressive, at 25/35. The stick does a bit better, at 26/35, while the 1.4/stick gets 29/40.
Personally, if I'm going to give up the room and comfort of a midsized car, I need to see better fuel economy figures than that!
Wonder what kind of headroom the sedan has in the rear seat vs. the hatch. Looks like the sedan loses some.
Well, move south and you can have a bunch of other vehicles built down the road instead. :P
The Fiesta is rated for 29 city with an auto, which is better than 27 in the auto focus.
Strange that the 1.4 turbo auto in the Cruze is rated at 26 city vs. 25 in the Sonic.
I could have messed something up, but it looks like a Fiesta returns 33mpg overall vs. 29 for the Sonic with an auto trans. The epa doesn't list a 1.4t auto model, so maybe that's the difference.
I see no reason they can't squeeze more than 138hp out of a 1.4l turbo, though. Even at 130 hp/liter they could get 180hp+ out of it.
The current output does not make it a pocket rocket, it was outgunned to 60mph by an Accent manual in Car & Driver's test, though it was close:
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/chevy-sonic-vs-honda-fit-hyundai-accent-- - kia-rio5-nissan-versa-toyota-yaris-comparison-tests-2012-kia-rio5-sx-page-3
Subscription may be required, or at least registration in some cases, but here you go:
Effective Dec. 19, "warranty coverage is suspended indefinitely for all new Saab vehicles sold. During this period, the warranty booklet must be removed from the owner information packet,"
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20111220/OEM/111229990#ixzz1h6KZfG4f
GM owned Saab until early last year, with a 4 year warranty that means GM-Saab customers for those 2.5 years or so have no warranty whatsoever.
Dealer said:
"We will assume that we won't be receiving reimbursement."
So you are Saab Outta Luck.
In hindsight, my crystal ball is pretty amazing, no?
Honestly, although I've never driven a Saab, and only rode in one once, I never liked the looks...that 'tapered' look that reminded me of a, well....nevermind!
I didn't even like when the '08 Malibu had the turn signal on the front fender behind the wheel opening, a la Saab.
I remember those '60's V4 Saabs, that were goofy things too IMHO.
Around here, Saab drivers (mostly, 900) were a 'certain type' (stereotypical) type of owner, too...and I mean that in a wise-*** way.
I think I know what you're talking about, and if I'm right, I see that look a bit in some Mazdas. Now, it would be ironic as heck if the classic rock station I'm listening to suddenly played a Steely Dan song! :P
I actually liked the Saab 9-3 though, or whatever one the Malibu shared some of its architecture with. And, I thought the 9-7 was actually a pretty decent re-badge of the Trailblazer!
It was the best looking version for sure. But that doesn't make it a proper SAAB.
Honestly, I won't really miss SAAB. Sure they had a strange quirkiness that I appreciated from time to time, but I have to wonder why GM bought them in the first place. That was a bad idea. No way would the SAAB culture thrive or even survive within GM.
I was being nice. Those "unscheduled" visits to the dealer repair shop taught me a vital lesson!
Regards,
OW
Needless to say, he loved em. I drove (2) of his 9-3's from time to time and I really didn't understand what was so special. They basically drove like the Rentabu/Pontiac G6 they were based on with the only saving grace being the extra turbo kick and the manual transmission which wasn't really that great either. And the whole ignition between the seats was stupid IMO, his were always gunked up from dust and grease and I would constantly forget where the keys were when I drove them.
Still, it was the quirkiness from the 80's that I'll miss. It was that outside of the box way of design that made their stuff stand out from the typical BMW's and Mercs of the day.
But alas, with the big conglomerates with way more money and resources, I can see how it would be tough to survive on their own. And since GM raped and pillaged them and basically drove them into the ground like they did Isuzu and Suzuki, it was inevitable that they wouldn't make it through another decade.
Sigh, RIP guys.
Not sure your point, coming right behind the Sonic post. The Sonic is built in Michigan.
Hallelujah! A new automobile built in the northern U.S.! We have employment needs here too, not just the deep south.
So who the heck am I supposed to root for? I live in Michigan but did a 3 year stint in Chattanooga in the 70s and my brother and mother followed me there and they're still there. Got a nephew working out of Atlanta who does truck brake sales. He gets up to Detroit all the time.
Spread the wealth around. :shades:
I think GM bought Saab because Ford bought Volvo.
West Point, GA! Your Nephew's turf!
Regards,
OW