VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions GM good & bad news...

I have been really lucky or just plain smart, We have a small town GM dealer that has mechanics, they don't claim to be Tecknicians, that can use the tools GM provides and when the engine trouble light comes on can check it out in the parking lot before you even roll it inside. We traded off a 01 Tahoe with 95K miles and it's one problem was a burned out driving light bulb.

Boy Howdy! I hope the 05 is just close to as a good vehicle as the 01 Tahoe or "Old Blue" my 95 Silverado extended cab, 350 and automatic, (both bought new from the same local dealer) in it's 10 years it has had two inside door handles,I have a heavy handed pull! an airconditioning relay ($51.00) just last month and many oil & filter changes, 3 sets of tires and one set of front brake pads, and one set of hoses and one new engine belt.
Knock on wood, but, neither of them has ever exchanged paint with another vehicle or any stationery object....
It never has had any oil , coolant, or freon 134A added except for regular changes 3000 miles on oil, four years on cooleant and brake fluid, never touched the freon 134A. The guys at the Chevy place say I am changeing oil too often (GM Mr Goodwrench 10w-30), and didn't need the hoses or belt said I could go 5000 miles on an oil change, but I like a nice round figure of 3000.
The 05 Tahoe has a change oil indicator readoutwith a % remaining oil life, at 3600 miles it says 64% today remaining, but it get's changed next week anyway!

Superior Dealer's customer service, Onstar, the readout dash, Steering wheel controls and several other points, trade in value, mainly reliability of the old Tahoe, good gas milage, towing performance, and the price incentives were what sold us on another Tahoe.

The 95 Silverado was built in Canada, and both Tahoes were built in Arlington, TEXAS!


"To each his own"

Well for Pete's sake MM, of course they were new once upon a time. All I'm saying is new cars aren't for me. Too expensive and basically there's nothing there for me.

I'm just always "out there" looking for a good "previously owned" Chevy. One that looks good and was maintained like Mr. Mack says he takes care of his.

In the 90's I had a black 70 Malibu, a black 72 Monte, a dark blue 73 Monte and 79 and 85 Caprice wagons for the wifey. Oh, also a 72 Malibu and a 76 Nova Hatchback for the "kids."

All of 'em were good used cars. That's "worked" for me for years.

Bill I had a few that I think were "Never new" one of them was a 1974 Vega hatch back I bought for our oldest daughter, but it was not expensive to drive or maintain, just Never was new.....

What ever happened to the grease zerts on cars and truck. All they say now is sealed at the factory. I replaced dry squeeking ujoints on my 98 chev when it had just over 60,000. The replacement ones had grease zerts. Explain that. My wife says that the car makers make millions in service repairs so why build a better car. It will dig into there profits. Wheres' the customer satisfaction

Customer satisfaction? They don't care about their customers anymore. All the automakers want to do is sell you a new car every five years! :( :(

Is that why the Government says we got to change tires after five years?

What are you saying RGwiz?? (Do you just think that's so much BS sorta like??)

Or are you just trying to get a rise out of Chipper???

Just wondering??

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

Bill.

Hopefully, Isuzu taught GM something about quality control before my 2004 Silverado Duramax was built.

I used to hope I'd win the lottery; but now I hardly ever buy a ticket.....

How are things down in Glide, George??

Bill.

Isn't the S-10 truck an Isuzu?
I know the Pontiac Vibe is a Toyota. The G6 and Malibu Maxx are Saabs. (and what is Geo)?
Does anyone know if GM has any control over these "other" car companies?
Or, are they just using them because we don't have the ability or desire to design and build anymore?
Will GM be reduced to a giant outsourcing company with employees that are all executives and no actual laborers?

The S-10 replaced the Isuzu Luv truck in 1982.First S-10's did use the Isuzu Luv truck engine.The LUV truck was the first Chevrolet small pick-up.A few years back the S-10 was the Isuzu PUP.Just the reverse of the original...GM owns part of Isuzu -and Saab.Saab uses GM global platform -shared with Pontiac and Chevrolet.GM also owns Daewow (spelling?)..Its the Chevrolet Aevao.The Geo name is gone but was Chevrolets name for the Toyota Corola and some Iszuz products that Chevrolet sold.

ray,

the pontiac vibe is produced in fremont, ca by new united motors manufacturing, inc (nummi, for short, pronounced "new-me"), a jointly-owned, 50/50 partnership by gm & toyota over two decades old manufacturing in the old gm plant there...in the past, I read that they produced toyota corolla & geo prizm on the same line, with only a final badging application to distinguish which dealership the car would be shipped...

reviews I've read rank the quality of their current products very highly...

they currently build the vibe, corolla, tacoma, and an export to japan called the voltz...I wonder if chat sites in japan are filled with comments, such as "watch out...more good jobs leaving us for america...we'd better wake up!"...

I also recall that maybe a decade or two ago, gm owned 40% of isuzu...don't know what it is now, but if similar, gm would have a great stake in that company...


epi

Thanks for that information guys.
I saw and ad currently running on TV for GM products and touting it's new "employee discount". I noticed that most if not all talking heads in the ad were well dressed. That is, they do not look like factory people at all. So is this what GM wants us to think the "new GM employee is?
It's just curious were GM is going with it's future.
I like the info about "new-me". I also like that a lot of foriegn owned cars are built in the US. However, I would like to see more design come from the US and certainly more profit stay in the US.
My wife just got herself a '05 Malibu Maxx. (it's what she wants and it's her money) I have to say that this car (LT trim) is what GM should have built years ago. It might realy be a Saab, but it is well built, handles great, has a very tight fit and feel, and is very fast! (although the G6 is better looking) I think she made a good choice. Her last car was a Camry.
If these cars are GM's new products, they might survive.
It's just too bad that ya can't say it's good ol' American know how. Not one hundred percent of it anymore!

I bet GM is a long ways from being gone...from the planet,..but I bet they squirm out of those excessive health care promises and some of the "free Bubble-Up & Moon Pies" retirement plans. check out what United Airlines did.

Yeah Macky...aint it a shame. Look what companies we are talking about. Just the kinda places that Mom said we had to all get jobs there...

Chrysler brings out the retro PT Cruiser and they are everywhere. **** brings back the old style Mustang and people are on waiting lists to get them. GM cancels the Camaro line! But they bring in the Hummer and that Cadillac/Yukon monster which are few and far between. I could say more about that abortion called the Aztec or the goofy looking Avalanche. If GM wants to get back they might consider looking at something practical and perhaps retro-looking. And I don't even want to talk about the SSR! Its us old guys with the memories of the muscle car era that have the bucks. I would be the first in line for a retro 1968 Camaro.

And...rumor has it that the "Brains" at GM are talking about dropping the Pontiac and the Buick too. If they do, you can add those marques to the Oldsmobile, Camaro, and the Firebird list of "no more" since 2003.

Or a retro of the 63 Chevy II for that matter.

And don't forget the LaSalle & the Aurora.

Corvair???

I hear the Pontiac line could be next. Most foriegn makers are a two brand company. One entry level and one luxury. Toyota/Lexus, Nissan/Infinity, etc. GM might go with Chevrolet/Cadillac, and Chevy Truck/GMC Truck.

Yeah, I'd love to see a retro added to the Chevy line. The SSR is a useless vehicle, and corprate would never approve a 32 Roadster. I would love to see a 69 Camaro but they would never use a 396 ci with carburation. I vote for the 57 Nomad. It's a wagon/suv size, can hold families, and has cool 2 door looks. (Please Chevy, make it availible in black and silver)

I was talking about marques that were discontinued since 2003 because of poor management decisions.......and the Corvair doesn't count.

RGwiz: What you are talking about would take lots of brains and common sense, and that is something the dudes at GM that get paid millions per year could not comprehend. :eek: :(

Discontinued since 2003 discussion only? Some quotes: “The S-10 replaced the Isuzu Luv truck in 1982.”; “I also recall that maybe a decade or two ago, gm owned 40% of isuzu…” “Chrysler brings out the retro PT Cruiser” “I would be the first in line for a retro 1968 Camaro.” “If they do, you can add those marques to the Oldsmobile, Camaro, and the Firebird list of "no more".” “Or a retro of the 63 Chevy II...” “And don't forget the LaSalle & the Aurora.” “…and corprate would never approve a 32 Roadster.” “I would love to see a 69 Camaro …” “I vote for the 57 Nomad.”
:confused: :eek: :confused: :eek: :cool2:

As I recall 'we' started hearing about a Nomad (retro/concept car type thing) about the same time the 'rumors' of the SSR started some years ago, I guess around 1999/2000 or so.

The first sketches I saw looked very 1953 Nomad/Corvette like. I got so excited I could hardly contain myself.

Then more info came along and it turned out 'they' were thinking about making it a little, tiny POS. Four cylinder and all that krapola. I can't even think of the platform. (I don't know the first thing about 'new' cars.) Maybe something like whatever replaced the Vega. Definitely not a V-8; definitely not RWD. Gawd, how awful.

I haven't heard anything about it for a year or maybe more. I know I used to have an 'artists rendition' sketch type thing in here but it got 'lost' when this piece of junk 'crashed' a year or so ago. Computers, what a bunch of

Anybody else re the "Nomad." :confused: :confused: :confused:

Bill.

I can't let RGwiz comment about the SSR being "a useless vehicle" just slide by.

No argument. If you mean it really isn't a truck. And it's only a 2 passenger vehicle. And it doesn't go 'faster' than a (newer) Corvette. Etc. Etc.

BUT, it is one of the coolest 'cars' on the road. If you haven't seen one.... driven one.... owned one you.... (whoever 'you' are - not just RGwhiz) 'you' have no idea how totally cool they are.

Unless 'you' are some kind of a driving nut, they have plenty of power and drive-ability. The styling is out of this world! The comfort is excellent. The top is innovative and functional. They're absolutely great and would surely have gotten my vote for best new car of the year in 03.

Bill.