Rant about my Montana

I work in a dealership, and unfortunately this sort of stuff is par for the course when it comes to these vans. You probably also suffer from poor heat when it's really cold out, eh?

Ian

Keep fixing it and drive it another 200,00KM - it's the only way you'll get your money out of it, and it's chaper than buying a new one.

Also consider a different repair shop. I had the bearing go on my '94, putting the ABS light on - and it cost me #315 canadian including tax, installed.

The EGR valve went south on mine too - cost me less than $50 for a used replacement, and about 10 minutes to change it.

I have over 300,000km on mine now - it has the engine replaced at

I remember back in the seventies when a 5 year old vehicle was JUNK, and between 60 and 100 thousand miles you were liable to spend as much on the car as you paid for it new. They sure don't build 'em like they used to !!!!! (thankfully).

The plug wires, fuel filter, EGR, and tranny fluid are maintenance. It's too bad about the ABS sensor and whatnot, but really, the repairs have been minor. You're just paying way too much because you're going to the dealer.

Plus, what fraction of what they are replacing do you think is actually necessary? You're supposed to tell them when the water pump leaks, not the other way around.

But that hasn't been my personal experience. I guess I have led a sheltered life re car as I had my 86 Toyota Corolla for 14 years. I currently have a Eagle Summit Wagon going on 14 years. Neither have given me the grief of this only 5 year old Pontiac. And the tranny repair done 7 months ago (replacing the PCS) is only the start. I am confident that tranny will need rebuilding this summer....and this car has just over 100 000 km. My expectation is that a 'today' car should, with regular maintenance should not require a new engine or new tranny or similar "major' failure (we can decide what that is later) at less than....say 150 000 km. The only small bright spot is that I have on order a new vehicle from this same dealer. It has yet to be delivered as of the same time my Montana is in the service department. Surely my goodwill (coming to this dealer for most maintenance and buying new vehicles) should be reciprocated? We shall see.

I feel your pain. I have a '99, and so far, both sliding doors have fallen out of the track, the HVAC blower only works on setting 3 or higher, the driver's window will not go down in the winter, the airbag warning light went on the day after my warrantee expired, the rear wiper only covers 2/3 of the area it is supposed to cover since day 1 but the dealership is unable to fix. I was surveyed today by Consumer Reports, and to the question "If you had the purchase to make all over again knowing what you now, would you purchase this vehicle?" I answered "Definitely Not Purchase".