American Automakers

[Estrella]

are (or were, I don't know anymore ) losing money. It is forcing them to actually make GOOD vehicles.

For example, I can't wait for the ZR-1 and I love my father's new Yukon. The craftsmanship and handling are finally catching up to everything else in their price ranges, in some places exceeding.

Discuss

 

[Strk]

The Saturn Astra looks like a great car as well. Sadly, it will be a few years before I get one (I don't buy new )

 

[PricklyPete]

Cadillac CTS, Pontiac G8, Saturn Vue, Tahoe/Yukon, New Chevy Malibu, Saturn Astra, Saturn Aura, Buick Enclave/GMC Acadia, etc.

All of these cars are considerably nicer vehicles than previous generations...and this seems to be a trend at GM. I'm glad they are finally making some good vehicles...and last months sales seem to have proven that making good cars = sales.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Right now, to me, Saturn and Pontiac are the most exciting brands that I really look foward to. I just love their new designs, and their interiors are finally catching up. I love Saturn's new image.

My next car (haha a couple years down the road..c'mon, I just bought a Mazda 3 a year ago) is a toss up between Mazda (hey, a good portion is owned by Ford), Saturn, and Pontiac. Even Hyundai is in the mix. Right now, those brands (to me) have a good mix of youth, fun, anticipation, and good design. I hope they follow up on this trend and keep at it.

 

[steppinthrax]

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
Right now, to me, Saturn and Pontiac are the most exciting brands that I really look foward to. I just love their new designs, and their interiors are finally catching up. I love Saturn's new image.

My next car (haha a couple years down the road..c'mon, I just bought a Mazda 3 a year ago) is a toss up between Mazda (hey, a good portion is owned by Ford), Saturn, and Pontiac. Even Hyundai is in the mix. Right now, those brands (to me) have a good mix of youth, fun, anticipation, and good design. I hope they follow up on this trend and keep at it.

The older saturns used to be bound with problems. I.E. my 95 had all the typical.

1. Excessive oil consumption.
2. Electrical problems.
3. Flaky interior
4. Cooling problems
5. The one and only famous transmission differential pin shatter experience.

Of course saturn denied most of the issues. They issues TSPs to address all the issues and re-designed parts. In their oil monitoring service they had you come in every couple hundred miles and when you burnt 2 quarts of oil every 3K miles they told you it was normal .

When the Saturn VUE came out with it's special CVT transmission and customers had so many problems they changed over to a 6 speed or something like that.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: steppinthrax

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
Right now, to me, Saturn and Pontiac are the most exciting brands that I really look foward to. I just love their new designs, and their interiors are finally catching up. I love Saturn's new image.

My next car (haha a couple years down the road..c'mon, I just bought a Mazda 3 a year ago) is a toss up between Mazda (hey, a good portion is owned by Ford), Saturn, and Pontiac. Even Hyundai is in the mix. Right now, those brands (to me) have a good mix of youth, fun, anticipation, and good design. I hope they follow up on this trend and keep at it.

The older saturns used to be bound with problems. I.E. my 95 had all the typical.

1. Excessive oil consumption.
2. Electrical problems.
3. Flaky interior
4. Cooling problems
5. The one and only famous transmission differential pin shatter experience.

Of course saturn denied most of the issues. They issues TSPs to address all the issues and re-designed parts. In their oil monitoring service they had you come in every couple hundred miles and when you burnt 2 quarts of oil every 3K miles they told you it was normal .

When the Saturn VUE came out with it's special CVT transmission and customers had so many problems they changed over to a 6 speed or something like that.

In my Toyota's manual there is mention of oil consumption with some absurd number being "normal." IIRC, it's 1 quart per 600 miles.

EDIT: It's 1.1 quarts per 600 miles.

 

[steppinthrax]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: steppinthrax

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP
Right now, to me, Saturn and Pontiac are the most exciting brands that I really look foward to. I just love their new designs, and their interiors are finally catching up. I love Saturn's new image.

My next car (haha a couple years down the road..c'mon, I just bought a Mazda 3 a year ago) is a toss up between Mazda (hey, a good portion is owned by Ford), Saturn, and Pontiac. Even Hyundai is in the mix. Right now, those brands (to me) have a good mix of youth, fun, anticipation, and good design. I hope they follow up on this trend and keep at it.

The older saturns used to be bound with problems. I.E. my 95 had all the typical.

1. Excessive oil consumption.
2. Electrical problems.
3. Flaky interior
4. Cooling problems
5. The one and only famous transmission differential pin shatter experience.

Of course saturn denied most of the issues. They issues TSPs to address all the issues and re-designed parts. In their oil monitoring service they had you come in every couple hundred miles and when you burnt 2 quarts of oil every 3K miles they told you it was normal .

When the Saturn VUE came out with it's special CVT transmission and customers had so many problems they changed over to a 6 speed or something like that.

In my Toyota's manual there is mention of oil consumption with some absurd number being "normal." IIRC, it's 1 quart per 600 miles.

Strange. I did remember a while ago about engine sludge in toyotas and costing owners high repairs. It was something about the PVC system wasent designed good enough to pull gases out from the crankcase and caused oil condensation and sludge. It was found the owners who had these problems simply didn't change their oil or maintain their vehilce often. They recomended an oil change every 5K but these owners were hardly every doing it. Eventually they did give in to repairs if you had reciepts proving an oil change every 3K.

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: Estrella
are (or were, I don't know anymore ) losing money. It is forcing them to actually make GOOD vehicles.

For example, I can't wait for the ZR-1 and I love my father's new Yukon. The craftsmanship and handling are finally catching up to everything else in their price ranges, in some places exceeding.

Discuss

That's debateable. My Chrysler van was just in for repair for the 13th time and I got a rental Dodge Magnum, which broke down twice. I'm still waiting for Chrysler to make ANY decent reliable vehicle but I used to work for them so I am VERY biased.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: Gillbot

Originally posted by: Estrella
are (or were, I don't know anymore ) losing money. It is forcing them to actually make GOOD vehicles.

For example, I can't wait for the ZR-1 and I love my father's new Yukon. The craftsmanship and handling are finally catching up to everything else in their price ranges, in some places exceeding.

Discuss

That's debateable. My Chrysler van was just in for repair for the 13th time and I got a rental Dodge Magnum, which broke down twice. I'm still waiting for Chrysler to make ANY decent reliable vehicle but I used to work for them so I am VERY biased.

Ditto, Dodge trucks are decent enough, but my old Neon put the S in POS.

 

[Hyperlite]

Originally posted by: Gillbot

Originally posted by: Estrella
are (or were, I don't know anymore ) losing money. It is forcing them to actually make GOOD vehicles.

For example, I can't wait for the ZR-1 and I love my father's new Yukon. The craftsmanship and handling are finally catching up to everything else in their price ranges, in some places exceeding.

Discuss

That's debateable. My Chrysler van was just in for repair for the 13th time and I got a rental Dodge Magnum, which broke down twice. I'm still waiting for Chrysler to make ANY decent reliable vehicle but I used to work for them so I am VERY biased.

you must be extremely unlucky, or very hard on cars.

 

[Gillbot]

I am hard on cars but my Toyota Celica took everything I put it through and my wife's Grand Am never broke down, nor has my camaro. EVERY Chrysler i've touched turns to crap quickly. To me, that says their quality isn't up to par.

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: Gillbot
I am hard on cars but my Toyota Celica took everything I put it through and my wife's Grand Am never broke down, nor has my camaro. EVERY Chrysler i've touched turns to crap quickly. To me, that says their quality isn't up to par.

DCX has sucked pretty hard over the years, that's for sure. Let's hope the seperation of DaimlerBenz and Chrysler works out well for both companies.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: Strk

Originally posted by: Gillbot
I am hard on cars but my Toyota Celica took everything I put it through and my wife's Grand Am never broke down, nor has my camaro. EVERY Chrysler i've touched turns to crap quickly. To me, that says their quality isn't up to par.

DCX has sucked pretty hard over the years, that's for sure. Let's hope the seperation of DaimlerBenz and Chrysler works out well for both companies.

They stole the top white guy away from Toyota today. Top Toyota N.A. Exec to Join Chrysler

I really hope they get their crap together, as it stands, the only thing I could to stand that they make is a Jeep Wrangler, and I'd only own one if I could get it seriously cheap. I considered it when they started their lifetime warranty, but it's just not worth it to me, and I'm sure I'd forget one of the mandatory inspections.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Gillbot
I am hard on cars but my Toyota Celica took everything I put it through and my wife's Grand Am never broke down, nor has my camaro. EVERY Chrysler i've touched turns to crap quickly. To me, that says their quality isn't up to par.

It's just random. I've had 3 Dodges in a row that have been flawless. Before that, I had 3 GM's in a row that had serious issues (one to the point of lemon law being involked). I had sworn off GM's for years (still haven't bought one) but am (gulp....as I'm getting older) looking at the Buick Lucerne right now (but will probably wait until my 40th birthday before I buy anything).

Luck of the draw, IMO.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Gillbot
I am hard on cars but my Toyota Celica took everything I put it through and my wife's Grand Am never broke down, nor has my camaro. EVERY Chrysler i've touched turns to crap quickly. To me, that says their quality isn't up to par.

I've had 7 Chrysler products and never have had one issue that i didn't create myself. And let's just say I do beat my vehicles. Then again, we had one GM and it lasted less than 1,000 miles before the HG blew.

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Gillbot
I am hard on cars but my Toyota Celica took everything I put it through and my wife's Grand Am never broke down, nor has my camaro. EVERY Chrysler i've touched turns to crap quickly. To me, that says their quality isn't up to par.

I've had 7 Chrysler products and never have had one issue that i didn't create myself. And let's just say I do beat my vehicles. Then again, we had one GM and it lasted less than 1,000 miles before the HG blew.

As I said, after working for them for years, I am very biased. I used to work for Emerson and I did work in many plants of the big three and Chrysler was by far the worst with quality. 2nd was GM and the best was Ford.