belfert
Shoreview, MN, USA
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Joined: 10/06/2004
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The Volt won't save either this country or GM unless they manage to build a LOT of them. I've seen numbers of 10,000 per year. Dealers will add huge markups if that is the production volume.
I hope they will ramp production way up like Toyota did with the Prius. The Prius went from 10 or 20 thousand a year to over 300 thousand a year today.
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PapawFor2
Az
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Joined: 09/19/2002
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I too will take a hard look at the Volt. I believe electric is the way to go for a commuter vehicle. I don't feel hybrids are here to stay long term.
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Matthew_B
The boonies near Dallas, Oregon
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Joined: 08/18/2005
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PapawFor2 wrote:I too will take a hard look at the Volt. I believe electric is the way to go for a commuter vehicle. I don't feel hybrids are here to stay long term.
I'm assuming you mean non-plug in hybrids since the volt is also considered a hybrid.
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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For the frist time in history GM was #2 (First quarter 2008) just so you know
Toys were #1
I still drive GM I like a car who's VIN starts with a "1" (there are a few other optional starting numbers that are good too, 5 and 4 IIRC, 5 is mostly trucks though, or motor homes, 4 is US, 3 Mexico,2 Canada and letters... Overseas)
Country of manufacture
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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PSU72
Penn State Country
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Joined: 06/25/2006
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As long as I am an American citizen I will continue to buy automobiles made by an American company.
* This post was
edited 05/09/08 08:18pm by PSU72 *
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LeonardTinker
Iowa
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Joined: 04/21/2008
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I have a GMC 2004 2500 HD Duramax. It hasn't been anybody's centerfold re quality control. It has currently about 65,000 miles and 8 injectors. So far GM has replaced 12 injectors under warranty. The radio with the 6 cd changer has been replaced twice and the switches on the steering wheel have all been replaced a couple of times because the lights keep going out. There is a spot on the instrument panel trim ring where I apparently rest my finger. The paint wears off. They have replaced it once and its doing it again. Silly me, I would have thought GM could find a paint you could touch without wearing it off. It came with 245 x 16 tires , all weather radials (SUV tires). I thought I'd get better winter traction with 285 x 16 tires with some tread. The dealer called GM to find out what number to put in the computer so the speedometer would be accurate and GM wouldn't tell them. I called GM and they told me I didn't need tires that large. I asked the woman just exactly what business that was of GM's. I also noted that I had seen Toyota has surpassed GM as the world's largest auto maker and that I was beginning to see why. If Toyota brings a 3/4 ton crew cab diesel into this country my next truck may well be a Toyota. And I'm not terribly excited about a foreign name plate either. Although the Duramax is actually made by Isuzu! If you want a diesel you can't win. Ford can't find an International that actually works, the 6.0 being an unfunny joke, Dodge can't keep the automatics intact behind the gas engines let alone the Cummins diesel (the superior pickup diesel by the way). On balance the Allison transmission and the Duramax are the best available at least a couple of years ago. The jury is still out on the Ford (International) 6.4 with the 2 turbochargers. Come on Toyota!
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monkey44
Cape Cod, MA
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Joined: 11/12/2002
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Some of you guys buying GM must really have some bad luck with trucks. Partly because we have the GM retired discount, we buy GM -- the price is right.
So, owning GM cars and trucks (wife and myself - eight total) new every 3-5 years over 25 years or so, I've never had a warrantee issue (but one) of more than a few hundred bucks and GM dealers always fixed it. I usually drive about 60-80k before I trade in ...
Only once did I have a engine problem (heads - this under warrantee too) and GM offered me a new engine free installed, take back the truck and pay me what I paid for it less $5000 for a new engine, or a pro-rated $$$ on a new truck. I eventually took the new truck with pro-rate $$$, but what's important here is that I had the choice. And all this with a minimum of fuss.
I hear lots of complaints about GM, but also about every other auto mfgr too -- seems like we only hear the complaints ... and they sure seem to magnify.
On my ticket, the major vehicle mfgrs often use the same component mfgrs and just "assemble" the vehicle.
Monkey44 Cape Cod
GMC 2500 4x4 Sierra X-Cab --
2002 Angler
Back-country camping fanatic
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bagman
Wyandotte, Michigan
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Joined: 04/01/2001
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Giving a choice between a GM or Toyota vehicle, I'll take the GM every time! We've had very good luck with the numerous GM vehicles we've owned. Since we've been married (28 years) we've owned 3 GMC 1 ton cargo vans, 2 GMC Suburbans, 2 Buicks, 4 oldsmobiles, 1 Chevy, 5 Pontiacs, and 1 Saturn (2008 Vue). GM is making some good stuff! Bagman.
RV.NET rallies attended (16), non-RV.NET (1), Total: 17
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PSU72
Penn State Country
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Joined: 06/25/2006
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Never had anything but regular maintenance issues with my last 10 GM vehicles.
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Guest
USA
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Joined: 08/02/2004
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Being minivan folk, GM made it a no - contest decision: they don't make a real minivan anymore (unless the vastly outdated Uplander got one more year of run..) I took a look at their minivan replacement, the Acadia/Outlook. Very nice for an SUV. But they lost me by not offering the sliding doors and reserving so much room under the rear storage compartment for an optional AWD differential. As a people mover and popup camper tow vehicle, it still can't compete in room or fuel efficiency with the Toyota Sienna. Nice that they come wired for brake control, but really the only edge they have on the Sienna is that and the appeal for those too insecure to be seen in a minivan.
Through the 90's GM had actually closed the mpg gap totally with Toyota. A Saturn of that era did as well as a comparable Corolla. Olds Ciera V6 used the same gas as a V6 Camry. Toyota offered nothing as roomy as a Buick LeSabre and STILL they got almost 30 mpg freeway. But GM got sloppy again with the turn of the century and its cars are using more gas compared to Toyota. Cobalt vs Corolla? Corolla wins. Camry vs Malibu? Malibu's thirstier. Rav4 V6 vs Saturn Vue? Not even close! I suppose a Silverado 4.8 gets better mpg than a 4.6 Tundra, but its the exception, not the rule. Caught with the pants down AGAIN! They had 'em mostly pulled up in the 90's. What happened??
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