THANKS FOR RUINING THE CHEVY THREAD GUYS!!!!

[silverrat]

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.


What is your opinion on foreign cars based on?

 

[Win]

And there it goes.

 

[stephen9666]

My experiences with Chevy have been OK. They were vehicles from the General's darkest days, though.

I had two 1992 S-10s. One was a 2.5 shortbed with no options. No A/C, no carpet, no options at all. I only paid $500 and drove it for 3 years.

The odometer broke when trying to turn to 100k miles. I could just imagine the GM engineers laughing about the problem. "The odometer won't turn to 100k? Who cares? It'll never make it that far. Ha ha ha."

The second 1992 S-10 was a long bed automatic with the 4.3. It had pretty much every option. I sold it to my mom and it now has over 100k. The odometer didn't break on this one, I don't think.

Both vehicles needed a water pump at around 80k miles. It seems like that is early for a water pump to fail.

Anyway, they were both cheap and served me pretty well. 5 or 10 years ago I never would have considered a new GM car. But they've made a lot of strides, it seems. I would definitely consider a Malibu if I were in the market for a new car.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: silverrat
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.


What is your opinion on foreign cars based on?


Let's get something straight, I don't hate foreign cars as cars. Generally anyway. I think they are no better, or worse, than any body else. As an example, I do really like most Subarus, and I think that the BMWs are fantastic. More, I dislike foreign cars for not being american owned. That's it. Now, back to the original topic please....

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: 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?


I should have stated that better. I meant that the current GM crop were different cars and better cars than the awful cars of the '70s and '80s.

For the record though, the rebadged Isuzu Impulse was fairly desirable in it's day. (Geo Storm) It's popularity waned fairly quickly though. I don't believe the Storm was any less reliable than the Impulse once rebadged. In fact, not having the Impulse's AWD and turbocharger probably made it more reliable.

The Sprint/Metro had a long run badged as a Chevrolet, then Geo, then finally Chevrolet. AFAIK, it outsold every other supermini. Definitely more than any captive import supermini.

The Suzuki sourced Tracker did real well for a long time and may have inspired other import companies to bring thier own 4X4s to the US market (ieaihatsu Rocky, Kia Sportage)
I can't explain why the Prizm never took off.

To me personally, regardless of whether it was shared NUMMI production or not, it was a better car than the Cavalier.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: urchin
Needed to rent a car since my venerable 1984 VW Rabbit GTI (which I loved) had been in an accident...t-boned in the A pillar by a large F 150 going 50 mph...Luckily I came out of the accident without so much as a scratch, just shaken up. The driver that hit me suffered a brused ego and whip lash.

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.


Growing up, my grandmother had a '72 Cadillac Eldorado, my grandfather had an old green late 70's F-150 (which was later replaced with the '88 F-250 I ended up with) on my mom's side, on my dad's side, his parents had a pair of Olds Cutlass's: a '75 Salon and '74 Supreme. The latter would become my first car. My parents drove an early '80's Caprice Wagon, which was then replaced by the "Lamborghini Countach Wagoon" as my dad called our '86 Olds Wagon, since I had an obsession with Lamborghini at the time and he thought it was fun to tease me.

That wagon took us on a huge number of summer trips to Newfoundland, Cape Breton, Quebec....etc. It wasn't a perfect experience, but it was memorable.

In '91 dad bought an '89 Town Car that belonged to the manager of Eaton's (he got a new one every two years) from the local Ford dealer. I still have this car.

I grew up a Ford guy. My mom's dad was really a die-hard, and was also the smartest person I knew (Engineer for GE) so I had a lot of respect for him. However, the Olds Wagon wasn't a "bad" car. The Lincoln was just a better car. And I loved that Cutlass Supreme. It had beautiful lines and that Olds 350 really moved that car well. It was silver with black interior.

Anyway, when we moved out east, my parents gave me the Wagon to drive. It was pretty worn out by that point with around 245,000Km on it. It needed a transmission and the 307 was never a powerhouse, but it was a car and I was happy to have it. Driving the Lincoln was still a "privilege" at that time, even though we had a brand new Expedition in the garage too......

That summer my grandfather sent the Olds to the wreckers. I found out when I went to pick it up. I was pretty upset.

Anyway, being behind the wheel of that wagon, and then the Town Car, I have a LOT of driving experience in these big old "yachts". I've owned a Mustang and driven numerous cars from pretty much every manufacturer, including a TDI with a tuner on it. I currently drive an M5.

I still enjoy driving the Lincoln. It (and the Caprice/Olds....etc) were NOT bad handling cars. They had floaty suspension, yes. They had large, non-bolstered seats... yes. But they didn't handle poorly. Some 17x9's, PI springs and shocks and a rear sway bar and the Townie actually handled VERY well. Much better than many "sport compacts" that were more than a decade newer. And since the Panther and GM platform were very similar, it is quite likely that similar minor mods to a GM car like the Caprice would yield similar results.

And they were FAR from uncomfortable.......

 

[doitmyself]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
Now, back to the original topic please....

Originally Posted By: doitmyself
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!

Originally Posted By: doitmyself
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.

SOOOOOOO........After the two Impalas, my dad buys a CHEVY full size van with a BED in it. Oh yea. Giggidy, giggidy. Now we're talkin. Sweetie pie and I are married now, but she (former cheerleader/pompom girl) suggest we invite the old squad for a ride at our 5 year reunion.

And then......I woke up last night, reached around my love handles to scratch my wrinkly beehind, ran my hand through my gray hair, and sighed. Oh well, still have some fond CHEVY memories. THE END (I promise)

 

[expat]

Originally Posted By: urchin
Needed to rent a car since my venerable 1984 VW Rabbit GTI (which I loved) had been in an accident...t-boned in the A pillar by a large F 150 going 50 mph...Luckily I came out of the accident without so much as a scratch, just shaken up. The driver that hit me suffered a brused ego and whip lash.

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.


I have to concur with urchin here, I don't feel confident in those Lux-o-Barges either.
Sure stiffer springs, shocks, huge rear sway-bars etc. can control the massive under-steer that was often found in those old landyachts (the 60's Galaxy 500's could even handle quite well on the track)
Don't get me wrong, large cars have their place, on a long trip on a freeway, they are in their element. But be honest, they do not handle that well in an urban environment.
Have you ever tried to slalom a stock (not PI) Crown Vic?

Sorry to go

 

[mechanicx]

I agree old cars American weren't bad handling they just focused on size and ride quality. It's called knowing your cars limits. Older sedans were low slung and rear wheel drive so that helps. Cars today especially minivans aren't all that light and FWD being so front heavy aren't all that maneuvarable for their size and weight.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
The Chevy thread I started was meant to be a fun remberance of Chevy vehicles in our lives, which many of us have had, as Chevy has been a very prominent car-maker in American history.

But, of course, the immature GENIUSES here had to turn it into a debate about GM being bailed out - we've been through that, and that wasn't supposed to be a part of a fun thread!

Why do a lot of you guys have to ruin stuff? Why are you such immature loosers that we can't have a nice trip down memory lane thread?

WHY? WHY? WHY?


Take a deep breath and come to the realization that it's just a discussion forum. It's not important enough to be taken that seriously or to get your knickers wound up in a knot.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Coming from Pops^^^ that's pretty ironic.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Coming from Pops^^^ that's pretty ironic.

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: addyguy
The Chevy thread I started was meant to be a fun remberance of Chevy vehicles in our lives, which many of us have had, as Chevy has been a very prominent car-maker in American history.

But, of course, the immature GENIUSES here had to turn it into a debate about GM being bailed out - we've been through that, and that wasn't supposed to be a part of a fun thread!

Why do a lot of you guys have to ruin stuff? Why are you such immature loosers that we can't have a nice trip down memory lane thread?

WHY? WHY? WHY?


Take a deep breath and come to the realization that it's just a discussion forum. It's not important enough to be taken that seriously or to get your knickers wound up in a knot.


He was right! Plus he gets my vote for thread title of the year award!

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: addyguy
The Chevy thread I started was meant to be a fun remberance of Chevy vehicles in our lives, which many of us have had, as Chevy has been a very prominent car-maker in American history.

But, of course, the immature GENIUSES here had to turn it into a debate about GM being bailed out - we've been through that, and that wasn't supposed to be a part of a fun thread!

Why do a lot of you guys have to ruin stuff? Why are you such immature loosers that we can't have a nice trip down memory lane thread?

WHY? WHY? WHY?


Take a deep breath and come to the realization that it's just a discussion forum. It's not important enough to be taken that seriously or to get your knickers wound up in a knot.


He was right! Plus he gets my vote for thread title of the year award!


Well, interestingly this is the thread that has primarily accomplished what the original thread was supposed to do.

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: addyguy
The Chevy thread I started was meant to be a fun remberance of Chevy vehicles in our lives, which many of us have had, as Chevy has been a very prominent car-maker in American history.

But, of course, the immature GENIUSES here had to turn it into a debate about GM being bailed out - we've been through that, and that wasn't supposed to be a part of a fun thread!

Why do a lot of you guys have to ruin stuff? Why are you such immature loosers that we can't have a nice trip down memory lane thread?

WHY? WHY? WHY?


Take a deep breath and come to the realization that it's just a discussion forum. It's not important enough to be taken that seriously or to get your knickers wound up in a knot.


He was right! Plus he gets my vote for thread title of the year award!

Concur!

 

[MCompact]

I had a 1974 Monte Carlo, which was one of the General's first attempts to incorporate a European driving feel into mainstream cars. It was actually a very good handling car but it was just way too big and heavy for my tastes. The only "classic" Chevy I still would love to own is a 1970 Z/28 with the RS package- an absolutely gorgeous coupe with nice handling and ample horsepower.

 

[meangreen01]

My most prominent GM memory was a '84 Olds Cutlass Ciera that was passed down to me and was my first car. The 3.3(IIRC) somehow jumped timing and required major engine work. The brakes horrible to the point of almost being hazardous. Terrible car that soured me on GM pretty much forever.

A friend had a '88 Camaro with the 305ci. That was kind of a fun car. The interior was horrible(but what American interior of the '80s wasn't?), and something was wrong with it that caused it to always run very hot. I remember cruzing around during summer with the heat blasting to keep the enging from melting down, LOL.

Don't think I could ever bring myself to buy a new GM, however I might jump at a used one if I can get it for a song. Once in a while their new offering pique my interest, like the new CTS-V and Regal turbo with the 6-speed.

 

[Bamaro]

The 1st car I had access to was my parent's 2dr htp 61 Impala (twilight turquoise)with 283 and powerglide. Nice car and very dependable. First car I owned was my 70 Camaro which I factory ordered and still own today. Took a chance on an 09 Cobalt and have been very satisfied with it.

 

[DavidZ28]

First Chevy was an '86 Camaro Z28 305 hardtop. Good solid car. Not fast but rattles and squeaks were minimal. Had to sell to get a down payment on my first house. Sold 78,500 mi.
Second Chevy was a '90 Cavalier 2.2L/5spd. Phenominal gas mileage and cheap insurance. Great car but cut short by getting rear ended at 45mph by a Dodge Daytona. Yes he went under me and pushed me into the car infront of me. Dead at 85,315 mi.
Third Chevy was a '96 S10 ext cab 4.3L/5spd. This truck would fly but wouldn't stop for anything. Hard to drive in the wet, rear tires would just spin. Traded for '98 S10. 36,074mi.
Fourth Chevy is a 1984 Camaro Z28 5.0 H.O. Restored back from 1997-2000. Was a show car, now just last year turned driver. Car is starting to show it's age so we'll probobly just go ahead and use it up and have fun with it. 129,000 mi.
Fifth and current Chevy 1998 S10 ZQ8 ext cab. Special ordered and bought brand new Aug '98. I love this truck! 148,700 mi.

 

[wtd]

I've been a GM man since college when I bought my first chevy, a 1970 Monte Carlo which I still own to this day. Since then, I have owned a 1971 Elcamino, 1993 S-10 4x4, 1998 ext-cab Z71, 1998 K3500 truck, three 1992 cavaliers, and a 2004 Monte Carlo SS Dale Jr. edition.

I still own the 70 Monte Carlo, the two 1998 trucks, two 1992 cavaliers, and the 2004 Monte Carlo.

The 93 S-10 and the 98 Z71 are the only two new vehicles I've owned. I'm the second owner of the 2004 MC.

I love GM vehicles but would consider other makes. My finace has a 2007 Mustang GT that I absolutly love.

Wayne