10 Cars That [really,really] Damaged GM's Reputation (With Video)

Popular Mechanics ^ | November 25, 2008 | John Pearley Huffman

[Kirkwood]

“Toyota and Honda both came out with some very poor milage monster trucks and SUVs at this same time also...”

Nothing drank gas like an H2 or even an H3. I used to rent them when going up into the mountains in the winter when skiing and those things only got about 8 mpg. Very dependable though and one got me safely back down off a mountain in very rough blizzard conditions and snow a couple feet deep, so I was glad to be driving it. In comparison, the Japanese branded SUVs got around 18 mpg although they couldn’t haul as much, and I wouldn’t depend on them off road as much as a Hummer product.

[Zeppelin]

have you driven the new Malibu?

if not, you should...it’s very nice compared to the previous model. they’ve really done well by that car, and they can’t keep em on the lots! (even today with the huge drop in sales)

[HamiltonJay]

Well value holding means nothing to me, I drive cars until they literally die... so doesn’t matter which brand it is, by the time I’m done with it it has no value to speak of.

ONly time value comes into the equation is if you trade every 5 years or so (or less).

[mad_as_he$$]

In general I agree but the H2 has one big problem for me. The visibility stinks. The small windows are a turn off for me. I will stick to Tahoes but not from 2006 on. The plastic bumpers do not stand up here in the outback.

[driftdiver]

Ok the Corvette looks great and has a nice engine. The people I’ve known with newer ones had reliability problems.

[autumnraine]

You are exactly right. I have said on other threads, GM and Ford would do well if their vehicles would outlast the average finance contract. When you see Nissan, Toyotas and Hondas out there with near 200,000 miles, it’s hard not to notice. Not that there aren’t the occassional GM and Ford with that mileage, but I don’t think it’s anywhere near the same number.

[Zeppelin]

GM has offered such vehicles for what I need and I do not apologize to anyone for buying them and using them.

Same here! My daily driver is a '97 Grand Am and my toy car is a '97 Z28.

No real problems with either car for about 3 years now...well, except for the ones that were by my own doing!(with the Z)

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

I’ve had eight GM pickups or SUVs over my lifetime. As hunting/fishing/camping vehicles and family haulers, they can’t be beat IMO.

Wish I still had that 1966 Camper Special with the Corvette engine!

[BobinIL]

We had a Citation in 1981. The radio never worked, the welds on the hood all broke loose, sometimes the brakes wold lock up and you would spin out on wet pavement and the dash shattered in cold weather. We also had a late 70’s pickup truck that the body literally rusted away leaving the frame and drive train.

Swore off GM products and became hardcore Ford customers until the late 90’s then switched to Toyota and Honda becuuse resale value of domestic cars were dismal

I took a 2 year old Ford with 40,000 miles in to trade and the trade in value was 30% new price. I told the dealer that if the next Ford car I bought was going to loose 70% value in 2 years they can keep it, I am buying Toyota from now on. I walked out and haven’t been back in a Ford dealership since, that was 10 years ago.

[null and void]

In fact, the first time I saw one, I threw up in my mouth a little.

It wasn't until the tenth or so that I was able to suppress the gag reflex.

[Cold Heat]

I own and buy, and will buy nothing but GM cars and trucks.

I've had Toyota's, Nissan's, Fords, Audi's and I still prefer GM's.....

That's the story......No reason to change it.

[autumnraine]

“I’ve owned many Fords in my day and never had a one of em die on me, I’ve owned Toyotas, Mazdas, VW’s, Chryslers as well... My fords cars had their idiosyncracies but they were reliable, ford full size vehicles I have owned are beyond compare, nothing else out there comes close. If ford could get the reliability and build quality of their full size divisions into their passenger cars they’d have no issues, as long as they let their Euro division style them... Man have they missed the boat on styling for a long long time”

If I’m not mistaken, Ford uses Mazda engines. If only they could get the Transmission issues worked out.

[envisio]

Yall can say what you want.... but my 03 Chevy S10 is the best vehicle I have ever owned. Aside from tires and batteries, after 110k miles the starter is the only part that has been replaced. Still quiet and solid.
I truly don’t believe that I would trade it for a brand new truck.

[ml/nj]

have you driven the new Malibu? if not, you should...

No. At least it looks like you might be able to see out the back window now. I try to get foreign cars whenever I rent. (Last US/GM car experience was on a group outing with a couple of guys in October. We left our motel at 10AM in bright daylight to drive to the track. After a full day at the races we got back to the car and the battery was deader than a doornail. Just another delightful US car experience! I think I'll pass on the new Malibu as long as I am able.)

ML/NJ

[KarlInOhio]

Trucks have always been the saving grace of GM. Unfortunately, they crank out alot of crap cars.

The trucks prove that GM can build a good vehicle. But it also highlights the questiong "Why don't they?"

The only GM car I've had was a 1996 Saturn. It was a decent car, but just not quite as good as the other cars I've owned. After I had it for five years I'd have to drop it off the the mechanic every few months to pay him a few hundred dollars. Nothing major, but I just got tired of things like a bad brakes, blocked sunroof drain, bad brakes, a leaking radiator, bad brakes, bad alternator, did I mention the brakes?, burning oil, failed clutch master cylinder, bad ignition switch. My previous Mazda needed a thermostat replaced, a snapped exhaust bolt, and had a twitchy radio that was too expensive to replace, but other than that it was just regular maintenance.

[Alcibiades]

Bought a new ‘05 Malibu hatchback. Splurged and got the SuperSport addition for less than 30K just before oil prices went up. It’s not the prettiest car but it is fun to drive. It has awesome handling and powerful acceleration.

At some point I would like to try putting either a turbocharger or nitrous system into it.

My only complaint with the car is that at 130 mph it’s got some serious vibration. :)

[autumnraine]

I’m talking 10-15 years holding value. And I don’t want to buy something that drops in value faster than I can use it.

[cyberaxe]

The people I know who own Hummers love them. And they love them because they are SO politically uncorrect. The Hummer has a great underground following.
It is an excellent car off-road and has great towing.

.....I've had my H2 since it came out in 03.....

.....one of the best trucks I ever owned.....
.....(and I've had every thing from Chevy 2500's to Land Cruiser's).....

.....it's been great and now that it's getting long in the tooth, I'm torn on what to replace it with.....

.....I can guarantee you that it will not be.....

.....a politically correct weeny-mobile.....

[driftdiver]

hey if you like GM then buy GM. Its your money and its a free country.

I want to like GM but have had very bad luck with them. I also strongly dislike supporting the union which pushes socialism in America.

[Obadiah]

ping