Spyder_Venom

OSHAWA, Ontario (May 6, 2003) - For the second year in a row, GM Canada's Oshawa Car Assembly Plant has been rated the best in North and South America in the J. D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study released today. The Oshawa Car Plant 1 earned the Gold Plant Quality Award in the 2003 study and Oshawa Car Plant 2 earned the Gold Plant Quality Award in last year's survey.

Michael Grimaldi, president of General Motors of Canada said, "We are very proud of our car plant employees and the work they do for us every day. To earn the Gold Plant Quality Award is a great accomplishment, and to earn it two years in a row is truly remarkable. The effort of all our employees is what makes GM the top domestic manufacturer in the J. D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study."

"I want to congratulate all our employees and the CAW for this accomplishment. Over time GM of Canada employees have earned a reputation for consistently performing at a world-class level in quality and productivity," said Grimaldi.

Buzz Hargrove, president of the CAW said, " As a union, we've often stated our members know the product and have a great pride in the skilled work they do. Oshawa workers should be especially proud of their J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study Gold Plant Award. GM is proving that our members having more input into quality and productivity can pay dividends."

In addition to the overall highest quality plant, the Chevrolet Impala, which is built in Oshawa Car Plant 1, earned second place in the premium mid-size segment. The Buick Regal, built in Oshawa Car Plant 2 placed third in the premium mid-size segment.

Other highlights for General Motors' plants and vehicles from this year's study include;

Lansing Grand River (Michigan) silver award in Initial Quality Study in North and South America
Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Suburban and Oldsmobile Silhouette take top segment honours in Initial Quality Study
Eleven other vehicles finish second or third in their vehicle segments
Gains made in Initial Quality Study while GM was in launch phase for an unprecedented 44 percent of its vehicles for the 2003 model year

The Oshawa Car Assembly Plant 1 and 2 are home to the Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, the Buick Regal and Century, and the new 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix.

Headquartered in Oshawa Ontario, General Motors of Canada employs 23,000 people nationwide. GM of Canada manufactures a variety of vehicles, engines, transmissions and other components, and markets the full range of General Motors' vehicles and related services through 800 dealerships and retailers across Canada. Vehicles sold through this network include Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Hummer, Saturn, Saab and Isuzu. More information about GM of Canada can be found at media.gmcanada.com.



Don't act soo suprised

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The local track whore

Spyder_Venom

This is odd I know but it fits soo damn well, I just have to post it!
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Import buys are tarined to think differently than Domestic Buyers...

For Instance-

Honda Buyer- I spent $3,000 to have my transmission replaced, but it has to be my fault since no one else I know has problems with thier Honda's. It's unbelieable this happened..I even I take my car in every 2500 miles for it's 3000 mile service at the Honda dealer. Now that I think of it, I am kinda lead footed so that was probaly it....stupid, stupid me I had it coming. I better be sure not to tell any of my friend's what I did to my Honda either or I will be the laugh of the town. They will think that if I am abusive enough to break a Honda I probaly beat my wife or something too. Glad I didn't buy a domestic..I probaly wouldn't have made it 10 miles without breaking it. {owner feels sense of accomplishment}

Chevy Buyer- My windshield wiper blade is worn out....I hope GM realizes this is the end of my world, because untill they fix thier POS part I can't see in the rain..I thought these things were supposed to last 7 years, not 6...and if they think I am paying for the part they are dead wrong..it was defective from the factory and I know it. I should have known better than to buy American, my mom had an old Vega, and it had engine problems and would explode when it got rear ended...or something like that. . I am gonna tell eveyone I know not to buy domestic and that GM sucks, I may even write my senator if I can...tell them to close the GM factory in our state because the product is a disgrace. Note to self...I better tell my wife to remind me when I get the car back from the dealer to take it in for an oil change at Wal Mart...it's been almost 10,000 miles! It should be fine though, domestic engines are lower tech and can take the abuse




Both dramatizations...but you get the point..

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The local track whore

DEI37

I'm not surprised by this at all. GM has taken great care to improve initial and long term quality, and to win back customers. I'm a die-hard GM nut, and am all too proud to hear this.

Spyder...that's good stuff. It isn't funny though, because it's SOOOO true.

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Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

89transam

Yeah funny stuff.

But thats gatta be one good thing about domestics. I mean check out jegs, you can hook up a "weak" longblock with like 260 hp for $1700

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I'd rather be rich than stupid.

Spyder_Venom

See it dosen't shock me at all becuase I see it first hand almost every day.. I love my GMs.. I understand that more little things may go wrong but you don't need to worry about a damn timing belt breaking and wrecking the whole damn motor. Its funny, for some reason on a SBC you just screw the valves up but on Hondas, it will actually damage the piston that and the fact that they use a floating sleeve.

Anyways it was just good to see a national quality firm, confirm my thoughts.

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The local track whore

DEI37

Yeah, I agree. GM has done some sill stuff in their time, just like anybody else, but they can usually recover OK...although, I'm still in the dark as to the death of the F-Body cars, and the mis-use of the Impala and Malibu nameplates. I've ALWAYS had a GM car in my driveway, typically of the Oldsmobile line, and have had few problems. That said, though, the problems I've had have been major. I've been through 3 engines, and one transmission. Transmission failure cause is unknown, and the engines failed due to the lower intake manifold gasket failing, and me not catching it in time. These three engines were all of the 60* design, which I despise. One was the older 3.1, and two were the newer 3100 V6. I curse GM for these engines, as they are underpowered for the vehicles they installed them in, and have severe reliability issues. That's why I intend to install a built L67 in my 1997 Olds Cutlass Supreme next spring/summer.

OK...before I write a freakin' novel...I'll end this. I LOVE GM!

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Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

Spyder_Venom

Ugg I hated the old 3.1 and 2.8 MFI motors... Curse the beretta!

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The local track whore

fezman

3400sfi 0wnz j00

Well, until it has the same intake gasket problem and dies...

But at least I have 0.3 more liters

My 3400 (99 Alero) has over 71k miles so far and has been absolutely perfect. I'm watching the coolant levels, etc to see any signs of the intake gasket issue, if anything happens I'll replace it myself, I might end up porting it while it's off anyways

DEI37

Umm, fezman, 3800 SFI S/C 0wnz joo! It's the intended replacement for the 3100 in my 1997 Olds Cutlass Supreme next spring/summer. Looking for 300+hp goodness!

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Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

BonneFan

I'm no expert but I have to say the old vin C 3800 is one of the best GM engines ever.

To bad GM fuct up the plastic upper intake manifold on the Series II 3800, at least they got it right on the Series III. I'll drive my 89 Bonneville (vin C 3800) until it dies

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"I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let's start with typewriters."
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jbrooks544

I bought my Impala LS about a year ago that was made at that plant. I Farkin' LOVE that car! I challenge anyone to drive that car and not love it. Also, it is more of a full size car inside, with actual 3 person back seat, etc. LOVE IT!

DEI37

I agree. The Impala is a good car. Sturdy, reliable, and roomy. My only gripe with the car is the name. It's NOT an Impala. First off, it's got 2 few cylinders, it drives the wrong wheels, and doesn't have a full frame under it! That said, I'd buy one.

__________________
Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

msimon8

I have to say that I have always been a GM guy , but the design and engineering dept are starting to turn me off. They got rid of the f-body (hopefully to make a triumphiant return) and it appears that they are slowly phasing out the rearwheel drive car. How could they only offer the vette and the goat in 2004 as a rwd, its just not right. But overall i have been happy with gm and im glad to see that they have taken some responsibility for the crap they have made in the past and are trying to make ammends.

with that, i am somewhat sad to say that i may have to leave the gm line for my next car (coming up soon) so i can get a rwd car.
Hopefully i will have as much (or more from what i understand) with a 330Ci as i did with my gen four camaro.

wow..........that was perhaps the longest post i have ever made

DEI37

msimon8, the RWD car is on the comeback. The Cadillac CTS is a rear driver, and GM is developing another chassis or two for rear drive. Just a little FYI on the 330Ci...the Cadillac CTS is a competitor to that car, and holds its own quite well. It's available with a manual transmission, and is rear drive. Just a thought.

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Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

Cynthetiq

Having listened to the commencement speech of Mr. JD Power himself at my sister's graduation @ CSUN, he spoke of how he revolutionized the business by being creative and selling "credibility". He admitted that there was nothing to his surveys but the credibility of good marketing and survey taking.

It was after this that my scrutiny of the JD Powers & Associates became finely tuned. Listen to the "qualitative" segments that they sell and tout.

Example from their website:

What's a Most Appealing category? and what do they mean by Premium? Also it's not like there is another competitive survey, it's the only one out there as far as I know. All I can say is that I take it with a grain of salt...

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etla

Good for GM but note they skinnied down the competition to just North and South America assembly plants. All that goodness (and badness) in europe and asia wasn't considered

--
"Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us." --Justice William O. Douglas

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Subvert the Dominant Paradigm

laconic1

I work at a Chevy dealer right now, and Oshawa definitely is getting it right. About the only thing we ever get Impala's in here for are slight brake noises (turn the radio on, the noise will go away people!) and the aforementioned plastic upper intake on the 3800's.

lakefire

long live the 3800! I had 202k on my buick PA before it got stolen, and Now I am running a '92 Bonneville w/ 170k.

Rumor is that they are goign to replace the 3800 w/ a 3.9 litre engine that is 60°

maybe we should make a webpage that is for saving the 3800. hmmm.

www.savethe3800.com

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.lakefire

james t kirk

I have a 97 Buick with a 3800 Series II vin K and the upper intake manifold cracked around the EGR port and flooded the crankcase with coolant while i was doing 120 km/ hr on the 427 (18 lane highway in Toronto.)

The result was destroyed big end connecting rod bearings at 122,000 km (65,000 miles??) and I needed an engine transplant.

Cost $5,000 Canadian.

Thanks GM for building a cheap plastic upper intake manifold out of recycled coke bottles.

My advice to anyone considering buying a GM is DO NOT BUY ANYTHING WITH A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD, OR AS THEY LIKE TO CALL IT, A COMPOSITE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD

You will be sorry just like me. I had NO idea that this piece of crap was an issue.

I wrote GM (3 times) and they offered me 800 bucks to go away and i told them to stuff it and I am now suing them in small claims court in Whitby Ontario.

lakefire

that's why they sell extended warrenties. Things like that don't happen all the time. the 3800 has been proven as one of the most reliable engines on the market. Sometimes crap just happens.

james t kirk

Extended warranties, believe it or not, if you read the mouse print, EXCLUDE THE PLASTIC UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. Wonder why that is.

Crap happens yes.

I can handle having to replace brakes ever 35,000 km cause the rear rotors are warped again.

I can handle a trunk that fills up with 10" of rainwater.

I can handle door handles that are plastic and snap off in your hand.

I can handle being on my third alternator.

I can handle a fuel guage that goes to full when the fuel level drops below a quarter tank.

I can hand a rear window defroster THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE

I can handle a security horn that honks as i am driving down the street.

I can handle water pumps blowing out.

I can handle dash lights that are soldered in and are irreplaceable burning out and now i have no dash lights

I can handle brocken power lock switchers

I can handle leather cracking up

I can handle heated seats that don't work any more

I can handle a creakie front suspsension.

I can handle a lumpy transmission.

I CAN NOT HANDLE A CHEAP PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT CRACKS AND DESTROYS AN ENGINE AFTER 65,000 MILES. This is happening to all the 3800s at one time or another.

I have talked to the dealers, they all giggle about how poor of a design this is. There are thousands of people on the net with the same problem.

A plastic intake manifold costs half what an aluminum one costs. They are junk. One part destroyed an entire engine.

www.gm-v6lemons.com

www.gmjunk.com

MSD

That fuel gauge problem is caused by a bad fuel pump. Same thing happened to me.

acpower

gm = ghetto manufacturer.. except maybe navigators

james t kirk

Yeah, I know, the sending unit and fuel pump are one piece now (cheap design again)

Used to be you had a sending unit inside the tank and a fuel pump under the car or in older carb models bolted to the side of the block.

Now, some ass hat figured out a way as not to require ruggedized fuel pumps by submersing them in the tank.

$475.00 Canadian just for the part.

More GM crapola