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And without the 303 hp V-8. That's my problem with cars these days. If you want decent power, you also have to live with the flamboyant tack-on crap. Whatever happened to subdued, classy American performance? First thing I did was remove the "wing" from my 2004 GTO. Aussies make the wing optional on their version (Monaro). Mags trashed GTO cause it didn't have all the scoops and tack-on junk that they historically bashed Pontiac for over the years. I guess I'm obviously in the minority here, since your view seems to be the popular one. All I'm saying is "give us a choice!"
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
EH men
Has MT taken Honda products off their lists because of the ongoing transmission problems? The noises and door problems in Odysseys? The Noise and oscillations in running gear in the Pilots? Note the transmissions problems at Honda keep popping up for oh more than a decade and the fix is give people a new one or install an oil jet?
You should check JDR to determine the number of problems and if that's a meaningful statement or not.
>Honda/Toyota/Hyundai with better warranties/
lessfewer problems2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I work with a gentleman who purchased a new 2005 Honda Odyssey and had so many problems with the car in the first 3 months of ownership, that they ordered a new vehicle for him. So far, so good, but his confidence in Honda's reputation is forever tarnished. It seems he never had ANY problem, other than normal maintenance with his two previous Dodge Caravans!! His story is not all that extraordinary. I've spoke with others who have had problems with their Hondas, Toyotas, Volkswagens, and yes, . . . Mercedes!
I'm one of those who commented on the "clicking" noise coming from the dash board on my '06 3LT, especially in extremely cold weather. Well, the car now has just over 1000 miles and the noise has disappeared. I'm thinking, more than ever, that it was the plastic duct work expanding at connecting points in the system. That is the only negative that I've been able to report. Nobody is more fussy than I am and I can point to a few minor quality issues, but at the price point that I bought this car for, it's a pretty nicely built and performing car!
It wasn't the TSB mentioned in an earlier reply to my post. That TSB only applied to the V6 engine (I have the SS). My problem was being caused by electrical components in the dash getting cold and then clicking and popping as they warmed up. The solution was for additional insulation to be added. I picked up my car today and haven't heard another noise. Today is one of the coldest days in the past few weeks so I'm pretty sure that the problem has been solved.
My LTZ has been repaired. The dealership reprogrammed the PCM. I pick up the Impala tomorrow at the dealership. My fingers are crossed that the problem has been solved. I might add that GM is only as good as their design people and engineers. The people that assemble their cars are not the problem.
To order an Impala with the heated leather bench seats, one must get the 3L option which forces you to get the bigger 3.9L engine. For me, after driving a 90 Suburban for 262K miles, I want the most efficent engine and for the life of me can't figure out why a person must get a bigger engine to get the leather seats seats? Of course I don't understand why the 3.9L is an option when the 5.3L V8 get roughly the same MPG and has more HP. Of course the HP on the 3.5L is actually 1 HP more than my Suburban. Plenty of power in my opinion for the weight of the car. After test driving both, the 3.9L was overkill. Any Chevey marketing folks out there? - Offer all the bells and whistles of the car with the small engine! Some folks think it is powerful enough.
Just my thoughts - Anyone else?
Dave
The current Accord is all-new, the current Camry is in its 2nd generation only. Yet, they have overall better quality than their American competitors, newer and older designs. So, it's not the fact that American companies rehash designs more often, the problem lies elsewhere, everywhere: design, manufacturing, etc.
IMHO, the worst problem is the pensions and health-care liabilities. It's said that they cost a few hundreds in each domestic car. That's a few hundreds that's not spent in technology, accessories, materials, production and investments.
As someone joked, the two remaining American companies are not in the car business, but in pensions and health-care.
It's great to see that GM employees are keeping their ear to the ground by reading Edmunds. I don't think this would have ever happened 10 years ago.
M
35-40 years of shift work......the workers are entitled to their pensions. Only jealous people would say they are not.
As a 05 Honda Odys owner, I do agree with you on the general statement: all car makers have design and manufacturing screw-ups. For example, a lot of 05-06 Honda Odys owners (I am one of them too) have their vehicles making horrible booming sound at highway speed (60-65 MPH, with 2200-2400RPM). It sounds like the vehicle has a broken tail pipe or leaky air filter housing. Even my rattle-trap 97 Olds minivan sounds more refined than that. On top of that, the vehicle 's dashboard is full of cheap plastic. So the name Honda or Toyota alone does not automatically means better performance or quality. The same is true that not all Wal-Mart items are at lowest price. You have to pick and choose model and check their track record. Remember that Nissan, a hot company, has 3-4 models ran at the bottom of First-Time-Quality study.
jt
Maku337, I've narrowed it down to this: When the car is cold, and I have the fan blowing through the top (e.g., dial set to window exhaust), after a few minutes (2-3) the clicking noises begin. If I turn off the fan, the noise immediately stops. When I turn it back on, the clicking starts up again. After a few minutes the clicking stops altogether (presumably because the affected parts have warmed up).
It didn't sound like the previously posted TSB, as that indicated the sounds should come from the passenger side. In my case, the clicking sounds pretty much come from the center of the front dash, meaning starting from the two center directional vents and moving upward and forward to the windshield top vent. I can't tell if all the clicks come from the same exact location or not.
While it's more of an annoyance, I am concerned about the long-term effects on the affected components if I don't do anything about it. They may not respond well to rapid heating and expansion.
So any additional information is most welcome, thanks.
I proceeded to write this up in an e-mail, which I sent to a contact person listed at GM's FastLane blog site. I didn't really expect a response, but wanted someone to hear the story. The next day I received an e-mail from the marketing director of the Impala/Monte Carlo, asking me to call him with info on how to get in touch with my barber, because he personally wanted to give her some facts on the new version of this car and help her make an informed decision. I passed along the info to him, and in our conversation he mentioned that my e-mail had been circulation at some pretty high levels at GM, and they were all very interested in the outcome of this. At one point he forwarded me a string of e-mails, and apparently my e-mail went from the person I contacted originally straight to Bob Lutz, who in turn forwarded it to other folks down the line.
Long story short, my barber is now the proud owner of a 2006 Impala, which would not have been the case if some pretty high level folks at GM hadn't personally gotten involved. Some might argue that this is a sign of desperation that they'd go to so much trouble to make one sale, but I think (hope) this is more a sign of their dedication to turning things around.
(BTW - I'm one of the owners of a 2000 Impala who got included in the 2001 Impala brochure through involvement with this Edmunds board. I only mention that because those of us who participated got a cool Impala pin set for our involvement; I'm supposed to be getting Bob Lutz's autograph as a "thank you" for this effort!)
Thanks,
John
I have worked shift for over 25 years and I do not have a pension from my company. I am sure I am not alone. I have to make an effort to look after myself, save and invest in my own pension so it is not jealousy it is really being in the wrong job or the wrong company. How much did GM pay into your pension over the course of employment?
I don't have the details, but I know they made her a very good deal on the car as a result of everything. They're sending me an Impala shirt for my part; I asked if they could get Bob Lutz to sign it since he'd been in the string of e-mails, but they'd already put the shirt in the mail. So he's signing something else and they're sending it to me. It'll probably be middle of next week before anything arrives, but I'll let you know.
The person I've been talking with at GM was the product manager on the Impala/Monte Carlo since 2001 before stepping in the marketing manager role, so he was able to give her some real insight into the changes/improvements made to the 2006 models. I do know he specifically directed her to Edmunds.com to do a head-to-head comparison of the cars; I'm not sure what other info he provided her, but whatever he said worked. She even found a buyer on Tuesday for her 200,000+ miles Monte Carlo, so everything fell into place for her.
It just bugs me that when someone drives an import for many years/miles, it is assumed that ALL cars by that manufacturer are capable of the same (at least if properly maintained). But when someone achieves the same thing with a domestic car, it is seen as the exception instead of the rule. I just couldn't idly stand by and let someone who'd had such a positive experience make this switch without a fight.
GM has planned poorly for their future. They have known for years that lucrative contracts settled with the workers would come back and haunt them.
25 years no pension--wrong company wrong job? Thats the life choice you made, and every individual makes his, and I made mine.
Rumours are flying that the current Impala will be updated in 09/10 as either a FWD or RWD. It will be interesting.
Yes, they are, both parties agreed to it. Yet, companies do go belly-up, when such contracts become null and void.
The last few years and even more now many US companies have moved operations overseas where workers are paid 30 cents an hour instead of $30.00 an hour. I don't think there are too many US workers ready for that standard of living yet. With millions of illegal aliens tunnelling into the USA every year soon the illegals will have all the low paying jobs covered in America. Within a few years it will be Mexico North and Mexico South.
The only way to get the minor issues corrected with the 2006 Impalas that have been posted here the past few months is to make your dealership aware of them. Thats the only way GM will know there are problems that need to be corrected.
Email address?
Drop me a line I will sent you my VIN
I also got a 1:25 scale 2003 Indy 500 SSR model autographed by Bob Lutz! They'd asked me what I might want autographed other than a shirt, such as a model. I mentioned several ideas, including the SSR (which my daughter really likes) and an interst in the IRL (they mentioned a NASCAR replica initially, but I'm not a huge fan). I've tucked my pin set from the 2001 Impala brochure away somewhere, but once I find them I'll have a pretty cool display with the pins and the autographed SSR!
My LTZ with the 3.9 litre engine has the same problem again after the dealership reprogrammed the PCM. Does anyone out there that owns a new 06 Impala with the 3.9 litre engine have a problem with the Engine Hot A/C off light coming on thru the Driver information Centre. This problem occurs even when the car is started cold. The engine fan comes on and stays on. Please can someone come up with an answer. The dealership can not.
I have the LTZ 06 Impala 3.9 litre and it also makes the clicking noises. IT is driving me a little crazy. It sounds like its coming from the centre of the dash as well. I don't have the answer for the rpoblem either but I hope someone can solve the mystery and let this forum know. I am also concerned about the long term effects.
Sorry that I don't have any suggestions for you axle52. I've had cars in the past with difficult-to-diagnose problems. It's extremely frustrating. Hopefully your dealer (or another dealer) will be able to find the problem soon and get it fixed.
I have a LTZ that has the clicking noises as well as a problem with the Engine Hot A/C HOT light that comes on thru the DIC. IT started about a month after I got the vehicle and has been back to the dealership twice already. The first time they told me it was the Thermostat staying open so they replaced that. The problem can back a month later. They reprogrammed the PCM but the problem came back 3 days later. When I start the car cold this Engine Hot A/C light comes on and the fan under the hood come on and stays on. PLease see if you have heard anything in the plant about this problem. The last 8 digints of MY Vin # is 69166928
The problem was found to be certain electrical components behind the dash getting cold and then popping and clicking as they warmed up. The dealership removed my dash and put in additional insulation. I'm not sure exactly where they put it, but so far it has done the job. My service tech said that there is a TSB that covers the issue.
The clicking has been a difficult problem for us to diagnose because it only happens on vehicle warm up and not every Impala does it. We have two ideas on how to correct it and are trying out both ideas at the moment.
I thought registered members would be able to send me a message or look up my E-mail address. I hesitated doing this, but trust it will be used fairly. My work address is . For those who have had the clicking in the IP, please send me the particulars on your vehicle. I would like at the least, the last 8 numbers of your VIN.