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Comments
I'm waiting for the day when drivers have to check the forecast for solar flares before backing the family car out of the tinfoil-lined garage...
Now my 2004 Crown Vic has 209,000 miles...runs pretty good, always got 20-21 mpg no matter what I did...just put in a fuel pump (dropped gas tank, $700 later, and my car runs)...I thought fuel pumps mounted to the block at the camshaft and cost $25 to replace...
Wife's 2004 Ram 1500 Hemi has about 85,000 miles on it...had a small wreck last March, about $2500 worth of right front damage...fixed and good as new...just wish it got better than 12.9 mpg in city running...but oohh, the power from that Hemi...
That's certainly been true in the past, but as car production continues its progression into parts from worldwide suppliers, I'm not so sure that trend will continue.
That will depend a great deal on how many of the particular make/model are sold here in North America. I have a 2003 GMC Sierra, and there are literally millions of these on the roads. If you count the GMC Sierra and the Chevy Silverado together, they have been the top selling model for many, many years. There will never be a shortage of parts. Now your Mini or BMW 3 series, well...
Don't forget, though, that towards the end of the Space Shuttle program, NASA was finding it more and more difficult to find spare electronics parts to keep the shuttles flying... Parts that were extremely common during the beginning of the shuttle program.
As more and more microprocessors are used in different auto subsystems, and as the microprocessor evolution continues to evolve, even extremely high-production vehicles may reach the point when the parts that go into the vehicle control modules may disappear from the market.
I'm not making any predictions... I honestly don't have any real idea how it will all play out...
I don't think that's just a GM problem, if it is indeed a problem at all.
Chinese electronics, along with other Asian produced items are found in practically every manufacturer's products today.
Generally speaking, reliability tends to decrease as complexity increases. But not always, nor in a linear fashion.
In an effort to increase longevity the fuel pump is now place in the gas tank to keep it cool. So if you're the type that drives around all day on a quarter tank...let's just say that the life of your fuel pump may be substantially reduced.
And, vulnerability. Recount the cars that died in the latest version of War of the Worlds. Yet, a Dodge Minivan somehow was able to avoid the electromagnetic scourge of the evil alien monsters.
I have no experience with Mini, but BMW has its BMW Classic(FKA "Mobile Tradition") division which provides parts for older BMWs. Best of all, you can get the parts through any BMW dealer. As a result I have no problem obtaining parts for my 1975 2002 or 1995 Club Sport, and I expect that situation to continue for the foreseeable future.
http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/history/bmwclassic/content.html
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
Second, and more importantly, Hyundai has a 10 year/100K warranty so there is no need to argue, just buy something else with a better warranty.
Third, that brings me to my main point, why not just make the warranty 6/100K GM? Why not make the long mile people happy, and the long time period people happy at the same time? Lengthen the time, keep the miles the same.
Of course, that's just too logical for GM.
How are those "lifetime" Chrysler warranties holding up?
I don't have any personal knowledge, but I have heard that the Hyundai warranty is not exactly something to aspire to. No personal knowledge, just what I've heard. As I recall, the warranty is not transferable, so it doesn't help the resale value. And there have been instances of Hyundai not exactly being enthusiastic about honoring warranty claims.
You would need access to a lot of raw data before you could crunch the numbers and determine which would be more costly for the manufacturer, 6/72 or 5/100. And I rather doubt the manufacturers would be amenable to releasing that data.
Actually the powertrain warranty is transferable but it drops from 10/100 to 5/60 to match the basic warranty.
The warranty is a marketing point. I would be surprised to see that Hyundai had higher warranty costs than other makes.
And there have been instances of Hyundai not exactly being enthusiastic about honoring warranty claims.
There are stories about all makes denying warranty claims. What I found is that if one services one's car with the dealer during the warranty period, then the dealer will be willing to ask favors of corporate to take car of issues that under the specifics of the warranty would not be covered. I've had Honda and VW both pay for things outside of warranty just because I had a good relationship with the dealer.
Others have had similar thoughts...
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/08/us-usa-china-huawei-zte-idUSBRE8960NH2- 0121008
The warranty is a marketing point. I would be surprised to see that Hyundai had higher warranty costs than other makes. "
I tend to agree on the marketing aspect. Really, any mass produced modern auto sold in the US today should have a power train that lasts for 5 years or 60K miles.
And, if the Korean makes are as heavily leased as other makes (I don't know if they are or not, but I can't see why there would be a significant difference), then the de facto warranty isn't 10/100, but 5/60, the same as most other competitors.
10/100 just sounds a lot better to a potential buyer.
Spotted not one, but two Previas today, one in NM and one in CO. One was a bit rough looking but the other looked good, at least on the outside.
Wasn't the Uplander and Lumina in another life? With the name Venture thrown in between? Now it is a Traverse. Same mini van 4 names. Not too mention a dozen rebadged versions of all four. I will say it is one of 5 vehicles built by GM that is over 70% US made. GM's biggest sellers are down to 40% US content. Toyota is increasing their "Made in USA" vehicles while Government Motors is headed out of the USA.
PS
The Toyota Previa is still the name in all but the US Market. From 1990 to present. I think GM should have stuck with one name from beginning to end. Like the Corvette and Suburban. Two of their real stars over the decades.
It's not "Government Motors" except in the politics of the current administration's having screwed them over with the UAW being kept intact and given part control.
General Motors is being forced to build/assemble outside the US to keep costs of UAW labor down and to be competitive with the outside companies who have built plants here, usually with general government support to help subsidize their new plants and their operations for decades into the future in some cases.
>I think GM should have stuck with one name from beginning to end. Like the Corvette and Suburban.
GM gets criticized in discussions if they keep the same name and and they criticized fi they don't keep the same names for continuity. Sort of like a husband being nagged by a wife who never is satisfied.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Aren't the Sienna and Previa, nowadays, two totally different vehicles? The Sienna seems like something that was developed mainly with US tastes in mind, while I thought the current Previa is more of a Mazda 5-sized thing? Sort of what minivans used to be, once upon a time?
Until the Feds sell controlling interest in GM it will be Government Motors to me. And If the Chinese happen to buy that 17% interest the Feds plan to sell it will get a name change to Chinese Motors.
The way the bailout was handled, was purely political for UAW support. The $26 billion in tax dollars funneled into the poorly managed UAW/GM pension plan is my main gripe. Until that $26 Billion is paid back to the tax payers I will consider the whole bailout a rip off to help a very small population of the country.
The American Airlines bankruptcy reveals the scope of President Obama’s political payback to the UAW. Unlike General Motors and Chrysler, American Airlines is undergoing a “normal” Chapter 11 bankruptcy according to the rule of established law. The GM (and Chrysler) bankruptcies of 2009 were directed by a White House task force that upended regular bankruptcy procedures. The White House objective was not to create a competitive new GM, but to get the best deal possible for the UAW and make GM a de facto “Government Motors.”
It’s not that the airline unions failed to deliver for Obama and the Democrats in 2008. The Airline Pilots Association contributed three quarters of a million dollars – small change compared to the UAW’s more than four million to Obama and the Democratic Party. Apparently you have to pony up big to get a deal from Obama.
The White House Auto Task Force and its Czar spared UAW the dismay and outrage of renegotiated union pay scales, revised work rules, and loss of defined-benefit pensions that American Airlines union members face. American’s anticipated fifteen percent job loss is about the same as GM’s, but without a dime of taxpayer money. Obama did not save GM jobs, he saved UAW pay scales and pensions. UAW members left their jobs with a $25,000 new car and $20,000 cash. (Chrysler employees left with much more). Laid-off American Airlines pilots, mechanics and flight attendants will likely leave with little or nothing.
I can imagine the UAW’s unspoken message for the White House in June of 2009: “Mr. President, in a normal bankruptcy, we might end up with the same wages as those scabs at Toyota and Volkswagen in the South. The court might order cuts in our pensions. We gave you our money, and you protect us. You can claim you are doing it for the middle class. That story might sell.”
http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2012/02/06/american-airlines-sho- - ws-the-corruption-of-obamas-gm-bailout/
No argument from me on that point. Inbreeding?
>who pay equal to, or close to, UAW wages right now, as we speak, and they are profitable.
No argument from me on that point in re the wage amount.
But do they have the future costs of the UAW's retirement plan along with the fully paid medical, dental, vision, long term care plan, etc., AND the pension costs of the UAW?
Nope, not with Georgetown, e.g., with the once reported 40% part time employee list. Doubt they cost the company much in the future for pension, medical, dental, etc., care plans. They can be terminated at will and they're gone, gone, gone.
I still see GM retirees here buying GM vehicles at a low cost. Although GM may make money toward their fixed costs through that sale just as they do with rental/lease sales, there would be more profit out there selling to retail customers rather than at reduced rate to GM X plan buyers.
Ironically, when we're in Michigan, in Canton/Plymouth, I am stunned by the numbers of FoMoCo vehicles on the streets and in the driveways. Many times more than I see in this area of W. Ohio.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Both parties at GM were to blame. As pointed out the longterm expenses such as the gold plated HC plan for retirees will continue to cost GM big time. That could have been eliminated with a real Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Our Teamsters Union dropped the lifetime HC for retirees in the 1980s as being too detrimental to the health of the pension plan. Why was the UAW and GM management so ignorant? They did not suffer unless they happened to be white collar or maybe Delphi employees. They got screwed like the tax payers. GM nor Chrysler would have folded if they went through a LEGAL bankruptcy. Maybe we would not have lost so many GM jobs to Mexico and Korea. Don't forget the top selling Silverado and Sierra now are only 40% US content. Down from 90% in 2007. Thanks to the bailout.
No wonder I still like them so well.
Went to a bar on Labor Day (larb, NM style - yum :-)). The band was doing nothing but labor songs, including Mack the Knife. Lots of solidarity in the crowd. Some good pool sharks too but the hula hoop dancer didn't do much for me.
Didn't get to hear "The Internationale" but we didn't stay long enough to close the joint down.
Mack the Knife as a union anthem? I thought they were trying to distance themselves from petty thieves and murderers.
LOL- I thought Johnny Cash's "One Piece At a time" was their theme song;)
You see, there's logic in every argument!
The rest of us were wondering why they band was playing that when my film/theatre buff wife came out with that one.
Saw a Buick Roadmaster today, speaking of old American iron. But even funner was seeing an old Toyota Tercel of similar vintage as our old 1982 that wouldn't die. This one was just a two door. Guess it was the same red paint that we had but it was pretty dull.
We did go and have lunch at a local Mexican restaurant that I am sure hires illegals. Good food no matter who cooked it.
Most of the Mexicans that have been in our area for any length of time are very conservative. She drives a Nissan Armada which doubles as a supply vehicle. And he has an Infiniti G37. They are always too busy for small talk or politics.
Did anyone involved with GM not benefit from the bailout? They'd of all been screwed even harder if not for the bailouts.
I think they needed a good screwing to learn their lessons. Too bad it didn't happen.
I wonder if anyone at Chrysler in a suit said at the time; we really shouldn't sell this car, it's going to make thousands both hate us and laugh at us in just a few years time.
GM must hold the world record for failures in model names introduced, sold, failed and then discarded. Could be in the hundreds of names. Forgetables such as the Aztek. Bravada. Aurora. Bonneville. Catalina. Celebrity. Phoenix. Skyhawk. Toronado. Electra. Roadmaster. Etc.
I'd crap on GM for giving cars names that few owners seem to be able to spell, but I saw the Honda minivan spelled something like Audacity the other day.
If a Toyota minivan catches on fire, does it become a Burnt Sienna?
Look for Honda and Toyota to kick it up a notch here. They got a huge blow on their meager Chinese sales.
Tokyo’s move to assert ownership over the Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea last year, predictably triggered outrage in China. Chinese demonstrators launched boycotts of Japanese companies and badly damaged sales of Japanese brands in China. In September alone, Toyota and Honda’s year-on-year sales in China fell 49 per cent and 41 per cent respectively. And the adverse economic effects continue to be felt in Japan.
http://english.cntv.cn/program/china24/20130904/101361.shtml
Impala? Fifty-five years since the first one; a few-year hiatus in the late '90's. The car didn't die in the late '80's; just the upper-model name Caprice applied to it.
Really? So those 80's Caprices were actually "Impala Caprice" or "Caprice Impala"? Weird, I always knew them as just "Caprice"...
My ex-wifes father had one when I met her in the mid 90's. It was a 4.3 IIRC and he retired it at about 150k when it was just costing too much to fix and was literally covered in Cancer. Even he called it his "Caprice" tho...
I just did a google search and you are correct. I learned something new today.
In 1985, Chevy was still selling an Impala and Caprice Classic, and going through the effort to differentiate them with unique grilles and taillights. But by that time, most Impalas were being sold to police, taxi, rental agencies, and other fleet buyers. Personally, I preferred the Impala's grille, because it seemed a bit less pretentious. But most buyers wanted that wanna-be luxury look, so they were going for Caprice Classics. I think they sold about 55,000 Impalas in 1985, but around 230,000 or so Caprice Classics.
For 1986, to save a few bucks on differentiation (probably marketing, as well), they used the same grille and rear end on all of them, and dumped the Impala name, replacing it with, simply, "Caprice". It still had the old Impala interior though, which was mainly differentiated from the Caprice by cheaper seats and door panels, and possibly a few trim details on the dash.
Also by 1986, GM had replaced most of its RWD big cars with smaller FWD models, so the Caprice expanded at the top, as well, adding a model called Caprice Classic Brougham, and Caprice Classic Brougham LS. The LS had a thick C-pillar treatment with a landau roof and vinyl padding that extended into the trailing edge of the back doors. Chrysler had done a similar treatment, with the 1979-81 New Yorker, the 1982-89 RWD New Yorker/5th Ave, and even some of the K-car variants ('83-88 New Yorker, '82+ LeBaron sedan).
The Impala came back in 1994-96 as the high-performance SS, and then in 2000 it replaced the Lumina, as a mainstream midsize/large-ish car.
As for the Caprice, it came out for 1965, and initially was only offered as a hardtop sedan. That first year, I think it was technically called "Impala Caprice". For 1966, they added a hardtop coupe with a formal roofline, and I believe a wagon, as well.
The Impala had always been the volume line, but when the cars downsized for 1977, the Caprice began to outsell the Impala, and that gap widened as the years passed, a reflection on buyers tastes for more luxurious cars. Similarly, at Pontiac the Catalina had always been the volume seller, but the Bonneville outsold it by a wide margin for 1977.
Similarly, when the Impala came out for 1958, it was technically a "Bel Air Impala". Back then, Bel Air was the volume line, and that first year, the Impala was only offered as a convertible, and a hardtop coupe that had a different roofline from the Bel Air.