Quote:
Originally posted by billege
This summs it up for me:
The same turn signal stalk, HVAC controls, and radio are present in the Cavalier, and the Grand Prix GTP.
My point being, the same crappy switch gear is spread across the whole GM product line. It's damn near inescapeable, no matter how much you spend.
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Well when I had a 91 Civic and a 94 Integra, they both had the same stalk. Surprise surprise, so did the 92 Legend. A turn signal stalk does not make or break a good car just because it's shared across cars.
GM's problems are (at least they were. . .the jury's still out on the new stuff 'cause it hasn't been around long enough to get reliability data) much deeper than sharing parts amongst its cars. Hell, almost ALL manufacturers do this - even Ferarri and Porsche.
As for reliability data, I don't tend to listen to the "well I owned a Ford Excess and it broke so all Fords suck" argument. I tend more to look at established reliability patterns as reported by numerous owners - i.e. the ratings in Consumer Reports for one. They're quite telling, especially if you look at the used car ratings - that gives you a good picture as to how the car will hold up. Amazing how many GMs got ultra crappy ratings and how many Hondas got perfect reliability marks.
I own several cars, both Japanese and American. IMHO ANY car should be able to make it to 150k if you take care of it. Well my Plymouth is at 125k, and I'm not at all convinced it'll see 150.
My Honda, on the other hand, is at 250k and counting and still runs just like it did when I bought it new, and it's never had anything but routine maintenance done as far as repair. Oh, and it's had a turbo for 120,000 of those 1/4 million miles, and I didn't build the engine up either, so it sees 9lbs of boost on bone stock internals routinely and hasn't suffered a bit from it. You can't get results like that with a crappy engine design.