Re: R.I.P. General Motors (1931-2006)

Also--the guy might be attempting to impress a customer (eg real estate salesman) by taking the customer to a 5-star restaurant.

Back when all manufactures began experiencing head gasket failures Toyota was NOT repairing ANY engine with a bad head gasket that was our of warranty. It was not until after Fords out of court settlement with the gasket manufactures over the problems that developed with the government ban on asbestos, that Toyota and some other manufactues started to make repairs that were 80% paid for by the gasket manufactures. Up until then the gasket manufactures were blaming owner neglect. Since the gasket failures were not catastrophic but rather a slow deterioration, a leaking head gasket should have been detected with normal maintenance long before it leaked enough to damage the engine. So you really should be thanking Ford ;)

mike hunt

This is one of my hot buttons. I don't disagree with your claim that your Toyota has served you well, but the fact is that an equal number of domestic cars are still on the road at ages like yours and have served equally as well. Toyota has no better of a record of nearly 30 year old cars on the road than GM or Ford, or anyone else. It's not a matter of the domestics learning to build a car like your 78 Toyota.

What do you mean when you say they had a recall but it was out of warranty. Recalls and warranties are two different things.

Having said that, my one and only real beef with GM is precisely what you're getting at there. The gasket issue is a prime example of something that GM should have stood behind the way that Toyota stood behind your 4Runner. Hats off to Toyota for that.

Well - you'll be a lot worse off getting in even a minor accident in your Toyota. Ask a body man about working on Toyotas and Hondas sometime. They love them. And not because they're so easy to fix...

25% on a $3,500 worth of crash parts is better than 25% on $2,000 worth One thing import buyers forget to take into consideration are the very high prices of import parts. Insurance companies KNOW the difference. That is one of the main reasons they get so little of the fleet business, no matter how hard the try. Higher insurance rates and higher part prices

mike hunt

I will thank Ford. When I need a new work truck, it'll be another F-150. That's the one domestic I'll buy again. If only I could get one with an I-6 5 speed.

I don't think domestics were creating reliable 4-cylinder overhead cam emgines in '78. Foreign companies have much more experience with modern engines. I'm not saying a Chevy 350 of and Olds 455 aren't reliable. But even when domestics went to fuel injection systems, they were putting in the TBI's, while foreign already had MPI. They enjoy a similiar lead in hybrid technology, while GM keeps cranking out Suburbans and Hummers.

Domestics may have been a little more resistant to rust than foreign.

Fortunately, I don't have one of the newer Trail Blazers with the piston slap issues. I've read that Blue Book value takes a $5000 hit on this issue. To be fair, Toyota had issues with this too.

I can change out a fender on a 4runner in 1/2 hour and it costs $70. Plus I don't waste my older 4runner in the winter salt. I have a Blazer for that.

If we're talking body parts and the car is 5 years old, one can buy imported parts for the same price. It is alot harder to find used parts for foreign autos.

As for parts like, ball joints for instance, they may cost a little more, but on a Ford they need replacing at 100K. While on a Toyota, they go 200K. Plus, they're easier to change; bolt on.

Parts aren't always cheap either. This 4runner appoaching 300k finally needs an idler arm, but surprise....it's rebuildable for a grand total of $8.00. Maybe you can to that with a GM or Ford, but I've never heard of it.

A better statement would be: On average, Imports have better reliability than GM and Ford. Some GMs and Fords do better than the imports on particular applications. I don't see many import police cars. Most are Ford Crown Vics and Chevys. Corporate fleet managers learn which cars work well for their fleets and buy those. And some imports have big reliability problems. Most don't.

Jeff

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Even if what you believe to be true were true, you still pay more since you would only change the part once. ;)

mike hunt

I had a 1972 Pinto and that thing was lucky to make 75,000 miles. It was the biggest piece of s--- that was ever made.

I think my Vega was worse-more of that "wonderful" GM engineering. No wonder is headed to bankruptcy like a rocket sled on rails!

I guess it all depends on how well one maintains their vehicles. I had a total of three, a '75 and a '79 as well as the '71 I still own. Both of the others were driven to over 200K trouble free.

mike hunt

Ever drive a Chevette?

I have a company issued 2001 Cavalier LS. What a total load of crap. Since we've got a fleet of them, the company mechanics are prepared for failures before they happen. What fails on one at XX miles, fails on all of them. Cutting and welding was required to change a power window motor!!

I've reasonably driven every one of the 63,000 miles on the Cavalier, and I can't believe people buy 'em by choice. The car is simply minor league compared to anything that sold for a similar price from Honda or Toyota.

Your company must think highly of you! Or do the bad employees get an '82 Yugo? *LOL*

I still believe the Chevy Monza was the worst car that I have ever owned. I have only seen one Chevy Monza in my town in the past 3 years and see lots of really old Honda and Toyota cars. Even at car shows--I have seen lots of really old Chevy and Ford cars in excellent condition but I have never seen a Chevy Monza at any of those car shows. Has anyone else ever seen a Chevy Monza in a car show or on the streets in your town (in the past three years?). Jason

Based on crash tests, it's obviously part of a downsizing plan...

Then again, my company and GM share many directors. They don't care if it's a GOOD car, only that their buddy sells it.

Yet that Cavaliers you drive counts as evidence to Mike Hunt that GM cars are better than Honda. 25% of GM car sales are fleet purchases.

If you are going to make up a figure why not make it 50%? ;)

mike hunt

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