THANKS FOR RUINING THE CHEVY THREAD GUYS!!!!

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: expat
I have to disagree here.
First, I don't believe the Chevette was ALL bad....


It was all bad.

The chassis seems like a sound design, being used in the Opel Kadette, Vauxhall Chevette, and the unfortunately named Buick Opel by Isuzu. But there was nothing good about the Chevrolet Chevette.

Maybe it was reliable. Mine didn't break down...

But virtually everything worked so badly that it may as well have been broken. It was just a large departure from the 1965 Chevrolet I previously owned or my friend's '63 ChevyII....etc...

 

[expat]

Quote; The chassis seems like a sound design, being used in the Opel Kadette, Vauxhall Chevette, and the unfortunately named Buick Opel by Isuzu. But there was nothing good about the Chevrolet Chevette.

Maybe it was reliable. Mine didn't break down.

So, I conclude, it was not ALL bad!
Personally I feel the Vega was a better example of ALL BAD.

 

[SS1970chrysler]

My first car was a '76 Chevy Impala. It felt like a Caddy to me, despite what others may have thought. It leaked a qt of oil weekly, had virtually no heat, windshield leaked on your lap and trunk was full of holes. Bumper was held on by a prayer and I welded the frame rails at least 3 times. Would I buy another?- NO
Do I miss the car?- Yes, in some ways as it was my first car.

 

[Mustang2008Z]

My experience with Chevrolet was the following:

Bought a brand new 1981 Chevrolet Malibu with a 283 Cu.In. V-8. First car I ever bought brand new. 12 month/12,000 mile warranty. Went to Chevrolet dealer to get it fixed. Had to write a letter to the Regional Manager to have dealer fix motor, exhaust system, and drivers' side door under warranty. Dealers' mechanic used a paper clip and attached it to the electronic board to diagnose problems based upon the number of times that a dashboard light blinked. That was my fun memory of Chevrolet.

 

[JetStar]

Originally Posted By: Mustang2008Z
My experience with Chevrolet was the following:

Bought a brand new 1981 Chevrolet Malibu with a 283 Cu.In. V-8. First car I ever bought brand new. 12 month/12,000 mile warranty. Went to Chevrolet dealer to get it fixed. Had to write a letter to the Regional Manager to have dealer fix motor, exhaust system, and drivers' side door under warranty. Dealers' mechanic used a paper clip and attached it to the electronic board to diagnose problems based upon the number of times that a dashboard light blinked. That was my fun memory of Chevrolet.


Your '81 would not have had a 283 since the last year for the 283 was 1967. Probably a 267 or a 305. I've had bad experiences at all dealers.

 

[Mustang2008Z]

You are correct. My memory fails me about the motor; it was a 267 Cu.In. V-8 motor that had to be repaired in the 1981 Malibu. It was not a good experience to have owned it and I have forgotten as much about that car as I could. Have not owned a Chevrolet since that car.

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: Mustang2008Z
Dealers' mechanic used a paper clip and attached it to the electronic board to diagnose problems based upon the number of times that a dashboard light blinked. That was my fun memory of Chevrolet.


You've just described most primitive diagnostic checks.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
I just posted about the Cams that mine would eat.


In my fleet experience, the small block Chevs ate cams. That was just part of the price of admission. Aside from that minor issue (and it is minor), they were a great engine.

As for Chev, I've spent so many miles sitting on my behind in a the 1980s to 1990s Impalas and Caprices that I had memorized my perfect driving position and seat adjustment in them and could replicate it perfectly in any other random Caprice/Impala and know just by feel if something wasn't right with the seating.

My favorite experience (actual it was one of my driver's experiences) was taking Andre the Giant from the airport to the hotel many years ago in the Impala that subsequently went 1,000,000 km. The driver said he was so large, being over 500 lbs, he had to ride in the back seat on all fours for the entire trip.

 

[doitmyself]

Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Originally Posted By: Cujet
Thanks for the great memories! More please!!!


I have VERY fond memories in the backseat of my parents '66 Impala ("date car") with my high school sweetheart (now wife)......except that time her dad caught us!

Most people nowadays couldn't navigate such a large boat.

So.....my dad buys a 1972 Impala that becomes the "good" car and two years later he gives in and lets me take it to prom. Oh yea....more nookie in the back seat. How could I not like Chevys? However, back in those days, for me, this meant getting to third base at most. At least dad got a wash and wax out of the deal. Still quite a boat of a car. My dad has only owned GM products since the '50's.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: urchin


Went to enterprise all they had was full sized cars..I could choose a Chevy Caprice...or a Ford Crown Vic....(good grief!) I had always been a small car guy. I chose the Caprice...just because...drove it for a day...and it was huge whale of a car...big in every way...ponderous handling, decent acceleration I believe it was a V8...and big flat uncomfortable front bench seats....Steering was vague, and lifeless, brakes were OK, had decent get up and go, but not a barn burner....

I just couldn't get used to the size of that thing on the road, I never felt in control of it because of the horrible suspension and steering, and felt unsafe driving it. Called up enterprise and begged for something smaller, and after a week they were able to get me into a new Ford Tempo. Much more manageable car, a little less refined power train, but ok handling. All I could say was I was darn glad when I got my old Rabbit GTI back from the body shop over two months later!..I had enough of big, sloppy, uncomfortable domestic cars.


With all due respect there was nothing wrong with those Full Size cars..We had a lot [friends also] of Full Size Caprices,Impalas and Crown Vics in the 80's and even in the 70's and there was nothing wrong with those cars..The suspension,handling,and sterring were just fine..It was NOT uncomfortable or sloppy and the seats were very comfortable...You were not used to it so for you it was way too much to handle.

When I drove someone elses puddle jumper for one reason or another I hated it and wanted to get back into a full size sedan ASAP.

When some of my friends did drive my full size cars they did [like you] have issues driving it and almost got me killed several times on long trips.

I guess it just depends on what you are used to.

For the most part they were all good comfortable realiable cars and perfect for long commutes and long trips.

That is just IMHO only.

BTW when I rented a car back then I always begged [and still do] for the largest car possible.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
Originally Posted By: Cujet
GM, like it or hate it, is a core industrial US company. It's in the best interest of our country to keep GM viable, regardless of cost.

It's great to rail against the bailout. However, from a long term, national security point of view, GM is a critical and large manufacturer. Capable of making nearly anything mechanical.

I'm not a "GM" guy, or a "Ford" guy. I like all the American car companies, old and new. Union or not.

Thanks for the great memories! More please!!!


Thank you! I couldn't have said it better myself. It's a sad state in this country when our own citizens refuse to buy our own products from American companies.

Several other American car companies died in the past, why did GM deserve a handout?

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
Originally Posted By: dishdude
Originally Posted By: Cujet
GM, like it or hate it, is a core industrial US company. It's in the best interest of our country to keep GM viable, regardless of cost.

It's great to rail against the bailout. However, from a long term, national security point of view, GM is a critical and large manufacturer. Capable of making nearly anything mechanical.

I'm not a "GM" guy, or a "Ford" guy. I like all the American car companies, old and new. Union or not.

Thanks for the great memories! More please!!!


Thank you! I couldn't have said it better myself. It's a sad state in this country when our own citizens refuse to buy our own products from American companies.

Several other American car companies died in the past, why did GM deserve a handout?

Start another thread.

 

[Nick R]

So here is something I don't understand. A lot of the bad experiences with GM are from the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. I love how people will base their current opinion on cars made 20, 30, even 40 years ago. Seems foolish to me, since current cars have absolutely ZERO in common with anything from back then.

 

[daves87rs]

Still running GMs right now...


Can't say Cavaliers were a low point here, since I've only had to replace a fuel pump in nearly 9 years......

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: Mustang2008Z
Dealers' mechanic used a paper clip and attached it to the electronic board to diagnose problems based upon the number of times that a dashboard light blinked. That was my fun memory of Chevrolet.


Yes, it was called OBD I.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
So here is something I don't understand. A lot of the bad experiences with GM are from the 60s, 70s, and early 80s. I love how people will base their current opinion on cars made 20, 30, even 40 years ago. Seems foolish to me, since current cars have absolutely ZERO in common with anything from back then.


I accept that.

The '70s were a low point for most car manufacturers. Just seems like my Chevette was the all-time low point. I've driven other small cars from the '70s and none were as bad as the Chevette. None. The '80s weren't much better. My top of the line Olds was pretty abyssmal. '84 Firebird LG4 305 was better, but not much. I still preferred my Mustang and Daytona. I didn't even consider a GM car for years after those.

I have been very impressed with the Cruze. If I didn't like my Mazda so much, I might be driving a Cruze right now. The Malibu actually can stand up to a comparison to the ubiquitous Camccordtima and do well. The Sonic might actually do well where GM has had to rebadge Suzukis, Isuzus and Toyotas to compete in the past. Different cars. Better cars.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
The Sonic might actually do well where GM has had to rebadge Suzukis, Isuzus and Toyotas to compete in the past. Different cars. Better cars.


In reality though the Sonic is a rebadged Opel?

 

[mechanicx]

Originally Posted By: css9450
Originally Posted By: Mustang2008Z
Dealers' mechanic used a paper clip and attached it to the electronic board to diagnose problems based upon the number of times that a dashboard light blinked. That was my fun memory of Chevrolet.


Yes, it was called OBD I.


GM's OBD I was great for its time. All you needed was a jumper wire at the ALDL connector under the dash and no scanner and you could get the codes. Of course GM had the Tech scanner. A lot of cars back then and for a long time didn't even have a check engine light if they even had a ECM. Notice OBD II that was required for all cars in '96 looks a lot like GM's set up with the diagnostic connector under the dash.

 

[mechanicx]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
Originally Posted By: Spazdog
The Sonic might actually do well where GM has had to rebadge Suzukis, Isuzus and Toyotas to compete in the past. Different cars. Better cars.


In reality though the Sonic is a rebadged Opel?


Opel is a very old GM division of Europe at least. I don't agree with Spazdog's opinion about what is a better car and his opinion of GM's smaller cars. He is entitled to his opinion but he states it like it is authoritative and definitive fact. Not that many people liked the rebadged Suzukis, Isuzus and Toyotas and they weren't GM's best sellers. So to say GM needed them to compete is just not accurate. What's even more funny is when you rebadge said cars as GM, they magically become less reliable and desirable to the average car buying public. Can you say bias?

 

[Cujet]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
Originally Posted By: dishdude
Originally Posted By: Cujet
GM, like it or hate it, is a core industrial US company. It's in the best interest of our country to keep GM viable, regardless of cost.

It's great to rail against the bailout. However, from a long term, national security point of view, GM is a critical and large manufacturer. Capable of making nearly anything mechanical.

I'm not a "GM" guy, or a "Ford" guy. I like all the American car companies, old and new. Union or not.

Thanks for the great memories! More please!!!


Thank you! I couldn't have said it better myself. It's a sad state in this country when our own citizens refuse to buy our own products from American companies.

Several other American car companies died in the past, why did GM deserve a handout?


They didn't. We, as Americans deserve a viable industrial infrastructure. The reasons are numerous.