Car Shopping

[s4q19]

Hey guys,

I'm just putting this out there, so that people are aware and hopefully they keep this in mind when / if they should go car shopping in the near to distant future.

I purchased a car several months ago at Centennial Pontiac in the city, a brand new Pontiac G5 off the lot. Now I don't want to hear "You shoulda bought a civic, you wouldn't have these problems." or "you shoulda bought a corolla, you wouldn't have these problems" Obviously I understand that GM's quality is, on average, inferior to the offerings of Toyota and Honda... but personally I was not interested in either of those cars, not to mention the added premium that imports carry with them. If you want to talk about the difference between domestics and imports, please start a new thread... and I'll even check it out and post reply's.

On to the matter at hand. I purchased my car, it is 6 months old yesterday. I've had it in the shop 7 times. Now, again, it's a GM, I'm aware of their track record... but I figured I'd give them a shot. And to GM's defense, several of the times we're return visits because the mechanics had not put my car back together again properly. I've had it in mostly for rattles in the steering column, and everytime I get it back the steering wheel is off-center in a different direction. I've had it in for the transmission being randomly stiff, and not allowing me to select a gear without really jamming it in (It is a 5spd manual trans). And I've also had it in for the door being off it's hinges a bit, and when I got the car back it looked like it had cheap body work performed on it. My car has spent the last week at the dealer, and when I got a call last friday I thought Great, it's ready... so I went to the dealer after hours, but I had my spare key's and was anxious to get my car back. When I pull up the salesmen I purchase the car from (who I will admit has been great) came out and told me the rattle in the steering is still there, they wern't able to fix it. so I took it for a quick drive, to see if anything else was still out of whack, and surprise surprise the shifter had recieved no attention, the door was still not alligned properly (better, but not as good as it could be), but! the steering wheel was finally straight!

So does anyone else have a cobalt/pursuit/G5/Ion with a 5spd manual transmission coupled with the 2.2 ecotec, and do you ever find it difficult to select a gear, for example, you'll be shifting, and all of a sudden you can't get it into a gear without really forcing it? It happens to me quite a bit too when I'm sitting at a stop light and I go to put it in first, and it wont go in, so I try any other gear, and it's a no go... it feels as if I'm trying to shift without the clutch... I've tried pumping the clutch and double clutching... no luck. Does this seem normal to anyone else? I don't think it's normal, I've driven 3 cars with cable linkage systems and I've only had problems like this with one of my vehicles, and it would only happen with one gear, which I'm pretty sure had bad synchro's. I've never not been able to force it in, but I have to be so rough with it I feel like I'm doing damage, which troubles me, especially with a manual transmission, because I know the clutch is not covered under warrenty as it is a wear item.

I'm just looking for input, because this is really bothering me, and I've told them I'm not accepting the car until they fix it completely and right. It went back into the body shop today to have the door panel re-adjusted.

I also want to warn people about the steering issue, because aparently alot of cars with GM's electronically variable steering (The G5, Torrent and G6 just to name a few, I'm sure there's others) have similar problems. While the dealer has told me they pose no safety problems, it's very frustrating spending all this money on a car that rattles worse than my 11 year old Ford Escort that I traded in. It only happens at slow speeds, like parking lot speeds, and you can even feel the steering rattling if you're attentive enough. I'm sure there are people who have had wonderfull experiences getting warrenty work done at the dealer, but I do not recomend them. Too much run around, too many instances of my car coming back looking like it's had cheap repair work done on it.

What's the good of a warrenty if they can't even screw a wheel back on straight?

[Rickster]

Sounds to me like a car that was manufactured on a Friday or Monday,lol. Seriously though perhaps if you got in touch with manufactuer ( call GM yourself) and let them know what their representives are putting you through. They may step in and offer you another car. I would certainly pursue this as another option. Should have bought a Honda(just kiddin'). - Rick.

[SV513]

i own a 2007 G5 GT 2.4 in it, 5 speed

i got mine at brets. mostly because the sales people at the other unamed gm dealer tryed to charge me way too much but hey he almost sold me trying to toss in mud flaps for me .. WOW!.. thats going the extra mile. . good job bozo. needless to say i walked and went to brets

iv had the car almost 2 months.
i find it stiff going into first unless at a dead stop. 3rd gear i gotta force sometimes. i talked myself into thinkin i was catching on the side of one. its happened a few times iv been unable to get any gear till i mucked around a bit. i took it down. me and the service manager took it for a spin he tryed to tell me it was super charged (he was the one driving) i told him its a G5.. he still wasnt bleiving me. then he told me i need to put the cluch down all the way to the floor when shifting .. hmm maybe if i get them bobble heads for my back window ill do that.

anywho there story is if they dont hear it or feel it its not a problem. they have been nice and all. but if im dishing out this kinda money im gonna be picky. so ill keep takin it back.

notice the ghost in the trunk effect?
start my car i hear a knock or 2 .. sometimes when i stop at the lights. ill hear it. i keep thinkin someone is traped in the trunk. also dont happen wile the car is down at the dealer.

a few other members in my car club have cobalts and g5 no one saying of the shifter stiff. but everyone hears the ghost in the trunk.

cars all have problems i guess. i just thought the diff between $25k and $500 beaters would be a lot bigger..

[oasis]

Defiantly contact GM. When the dealer can not fix the problem they will want to know why. My brother in law had the same problem. (Different car though) After contacting GM the dealer called him in. They gave him a loaner until his was fixed. When he got it back it was finally working right! One problem he had was his gas pedal. You would start off and get to about 25kps and the gas petal would go no further. You had to punch the petal to the floor to get ot past this spot. When he complained to the dealer they told him it was a SAFETY feature!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How safe is it when you need to violently force the gas pedal to the floor to get above 25 kph!!!!

[Nail]

Try taking it to a Reputable garage around town. Have them take a look and give suggestions, maybe even take a quote. You can present that to the dealer so they actually know whats wrong with it...instead of relying on their acne-riddled, teenage mechanics.

[s4q19]

Oh I've got a loaner now, and I told them I'm not accepting the car until it is 100% fixed. I've been 8 days and counting without my car. My next step is to contact GM directly... I was just trying to give the dealer one last chance to fix the issues.

If it was just the rattle or just the trans sticking, it would be a different story. I would not be so frustrated. But the fact that whenever they take something off the car, it goes back on all screwed-up is what bothers me. There's no reason that a car that's 6 months old should look like it was T-boned and I hired some backyard mechanic body shop to put it back together.

SV513:

My issue seems to be every gear... like first is stiff if I'm downshifting, but I think that part's normal.. but if I roll up to a light in neutral or something, and try to shift, I can't get into any gear without really jamming it... and sometimes it happens while I'm driving. I'll go to shift, and I can't get into the next gear (regardless of the gear I'm in).

It also concerns me that they are selling these cars, not telling people that their steering wheels will (or atleast could) rattle.. If I went in tomorow and dropped 40 grand on a brand new car and it was rattling I'd be livid.

[Clancy]

I have the ghost in my truck to! I told the guy I bought it from and he told me it was the e-break, but now I am getting it when stopping as well. Should I take it back to have them look at it? G5 coupe se, so far thats the only problem I have had. Oh except the other day I noticed my windshield wippers were sticking.

[nasoj007]

My issue seems to be every gear... like first is stiff if I'm downshifting, but I think that part's normal.. but if I roll up to a light in neutral or something, and try to shift, I can't get into any gear without really jamming it... and sometimes it happens while I'm driving. I'll go to shift, and I can't get into the next gear (regardless of the gear I'm in).


Sounds like less of a transmission problem and more of a clutch problem. If I'm not mistakin GM's use a hydrolic clutch and if it acts up you can experience these problems (Cavalier, grrr). It may not be 100% disengaging the clutch which makes it hard to get into any gear. If say the clutch disengages 95% than the transmissions syncro's try to take up the slack and you get a clunk going into gear rather than the usual grinding. With the hydrolic clutches the problem can come and go until it fails all together.(In my experience anyway)

PS. Sorry for the dealer troubles. I think we've all been through that at one time or another. I had the Cavalier a total of 2 days before the shifter cable broke and I was told it was "wear and tear" and not covered under the warrenty !@#$.

[s4q19]

That's rediculous, 2 days and it's wear and tear? Did you drive it for 48 hours straight or something?? Even then, there wouldn't be enough time to consider it wear and tear.

Yeah, I've thought about the clutch.. it's weird though, it's a pretty random problem.. I know there was a batch of cars that were recalled because of mismatched clutch & flywheel problems... but aparently mine wasn't one of them. The funny thing is I'm having a very very similar problem as they were having.. Aparently the car is in the shop today having the clutch re-adjusted... So maybe that will help, I'm not sure.

[kaj27]

I've had several cars with a hydraulic clutch and haven't had one issue. To me the shifter problem sounds like crappy bushings.

[Nail]

Cant put into gear and rough down shifts? That really sounds like a clutch issue.

Someone mentioned windshield wipers sticking, i have the answer! If it was on monday this week, the rain we were recently having on and off was the most polluted i've ever seen. My car was and still is covered with small oil droplets. They build up on your windshield and make the wipers move slow and then they skip. I cleaned off my windshield with some cleaner and also wiped the wipers off. When i looked at the cloth afterward, it was covered in a black oily substance---FROM THE RAIN!

[SV513]

you know what. when i took my car in about the problem with lack of gears. i was told i was the only one havin the problem. clearly they sell a lot of the g5 cobalts. today at timhortans 5 mins it took me to find any gear i finaly ramed it into 3rd and was able to roll a bit then get my others back. mine seems to be doing it more and more. seems so if i drive it around a bit first.

so ill tell you what. i work at 4:00 tomorrow. ill probably take some time off and start late. ill take my car for a bit of a drive. and if its sticky im going to the dealer. if they tell me im crazy ill come back and a few of us can arange a time and show up with all our cars at the same time with the same problem then lets see them tell me its all in my head .

im tired of almost getting at the point to where i think "hey maybe if give it a kick with my foot it will go into gear."

[s4q19]

Yeah, me too.. My biggest worry is doing permanent damage to the clutch/flywheel/transmission. While the trans would be covered under warrenty (hopefully) I highly doubt they'd own up to the clutch and or flywheel damage that would ensue.

I'm not even sure if I want them opening the hood of my car though.. If they can't put a door back on straight, I'd hate them working on my transmission.

[K-AFBP]

Hey all; I have an '06 Cobalt and had problems with the clutch, one friday driving home after work, I went to go to 4th gear and it wouldn't go, couldn't get any gear, no clutch! I managed to slip it into OD once the speed synced up and was able to pull it into neutral but would have to roll to the right speed to get it back in, or, start the car in 2nd gear. Drove it to the dealer that way. Anyway, they had to wait for parts, 2wks it took them to replaced the pressure plate.

I really like the car, but certainly these issues reduce the satisfaction. I got the ghost too but seems only when I park it. Don't much care about that.

Go to GM Canada and call or send e-mail to the cust service line, I guarantee that they will do something for you, remind them that they still own most of the car.

Oh! One more thing and watch this! IF you get a dealer or anyone else for that matter, to do the oil change, there is a strong possibility that they will not do the filter. I caught them twice. How? When the car was at 1000Km, I changed the oil and put a Fram filter in it. At 5000Km, they did the oil, I checked the filter, still a Fram, not AC and no tool marks or spills near the filter. The filter is in an unusual place, located at the rear of the block under a big plastic cap that looks like a sewer cleanout, it's like a MC filter, access from top, you will need an 1-1/4" socket.

They really pissed me off when I brought it up, like I'm some stupid insane chick that doesn't know anything about cars. I do the oil now, I get the oil I want and I get it done right in 30min without having to wait around all day.

And I love the idea about a bunch of us showing up all at once to nag them, don't forget the video camera!

Cheers! TGIF
SeeYa
Michelle

[s4q19]

I have a camera! lol. I got my car back yesterday, still riddled with rattles. I told them my biggest problem was what if something happened at like 70,000K with the clutch and I got boned for a 1000 dollar repair bill... so he mentioned GM's goodwill warrenty, and it would be looked after until 100,000K. So when I went to pick up my car, I wanted that in writting, as well as the fact that I've had my car in several times because of the transmission (because they've yet to write it on one of the service slips).

Yeah, I change my own oil too... CDN tire had a good deal not too long ago where you get a free fram filter with the purchase of the oil. The one time I did get the dealer to do it I watched them like a hawk... for a few reasons though.

I'm definetly calling the GM cust. help line... I'm just sick of dealing with it for now. My last thing this week is I'm going in and asking for a copy of the service bulletin for the steering column rattles... because suposedly the recieved one. If they can't fix it then I should be entitled to know why.

[kaj27]

You're worried about GM changing your oil; yet you use a FRAM filter.


Hmmmm.

[s4q19]

Fram is the only manufacturer that makes them outside of buying it from the dealer for now... trust me, I wouldn't willingly pay 13 bucks a filter.

I've checked around... and I couldn't find anything other than Fram... mind you I didn't search high and low for them...

[Dreamweaver]

Should have bought a Toyota or a Honda.

LOL - there, I'm brave enough to say it...that's right...bring it ooooonn nnnn.:rofl:

[s4q19]

well, I happen to like the G5 better.. Honda is way overpriced and the dealer is filled with snobs, and the the corolla just didn't suit me. It's a great car, I'll agree, but I'd like a car, not an appliance. When I'm 60 I'll think about a toyota, but aslong as I still have a heartbeat, I want a car with soul.

I'm not a fool, and I wasn't not expecting to have on average more issues with the car. That's not the point here. The point is returning the car 3+ times to get any issue fixed. Any manufacturer can have a lazy, incompotent dealer in their dealer chain. It just doen't come up for Honda & Toyota as much because on average their cars spend less time going in for work.

[kaj27]

Drive to a different dealer, like in Moncton or something to get your work done. Then bring your slip back here and make them pay your gas.


Should have bought a Volkswagen, lol! j/k

[SaskSask]

It just doen't come up for Honda & Toyota as much because on average their cars spend less time going in for work.

I feel for ya...but, you pretty much said it

I took a look at pricing Corrola vs G5 and the base price on a Corolla is $15,785 vs G5's 15,225. Even at the other end of the scale (more options)...Corolla @ $ 22,160 vs G5 @ $21,465. Those Corolla's with the sport package..I thought they looked pretty good.
Now the Honda is high...but those buggers run forever also.

We own 2 toyota's...1998 Corolla with 170,000km. Service to date...Brakes all round (once), one muffler and a frost plug seal..oh and a windshield.
Second toyota is a 2003 Matrix XRS 6 speed 17" wheels (with celica GTS engine). Service to date (87,000km) brakes all round.

Overall it is just a matter of personal preference and enjoying your purchase.....but right now...it doesn't sound like your enjoying it much.....and neither would I.

[s4q19]

Oh don't get me wrong... Toyota's are great. IMO the corolla is the best small car on paper right now... my own personal opinion... I don't even find them back to look at, interior is very well laid out and everything. I was so disapointed when I test drove one... like if I was buying a vehicle for my wife or something who didn't really care about how the car drives, it would most likely be a toyota... Dependable as the tides, reasonably priced, and their equipment level is up there. I drove a vibe GT (Probably 95% identical to a matrix xrs) and it was really nice... with the 6spd and it was the same year, which if I'm not mistaken was the most powerfull year... they started tunning down the engine after that to get rid of some of the harshness... but regardless, it was a nice car. unfortunatly toyota took out the XRS' this year, not to mention I wouldn't have had that much coin to drop on one anyways. Oh yeah, and the rolla I test drove was with the SE package, with the wheels, sunroof, 5spd.. it would've been PERFECT for me.. and I think it was around the same as what I paid for my G5.. would've been a little more monthly but it had more equipment.

I did look at the new civic... and I wasn't extremly impressed by it.. Again, dependable as the tides, but the interior is too... different for me. Plus a civic that had the equivalent package as my car (with a couple extra features) was close to a hundred dollars more a month... I'm a student on a pretty strict budget so I had to pretty much rule that out. I did apply for a loan on a used one, but I wasn't approved, I've been told it's harder to finance a used car.. and GM financed me because I'm sure they're desperate to sell... lol

I like my car, but you're right, the overall purchasing experience has been less than pleasent. The only thing I can do now is fight to have my car fixed, and warn others of the poor quality of service recieved from the dealer.

On a little side note, I was in the dealer one day and saw a friend of mine, told him to leave now and go look somewhere else. So he did, and he bought a car elsewhere... lol..

But, you live and learn... I'll never purchase another vehicle there... and thankfully my issues with the car itself have been somewhat minor.. not causing the car to actually not work, just more of annoyances.

Oh yeah, I did consider the VW city line (The rabbit was somewhat out of my price range), but once you get a few options on it, they get quite pricey, and I'm not a huge fan of VW's N/A 2.0L ... but that's a whole other discussion... lol

[s4q19]

So the thread has turned into exactly what I didn't want it to... lol... but ohwell, good conversation nonetheless..

[SaskSask]

Lol s4q19, I feel your pain. Cause I had to live and learn as well (couple of vehicles). Way I look at it now..is after 4-5 yrs of payments on a toyota..chances are, your going to get another 5-10yrs on top of that....are in your favor. Before you start to consider (well speaking for myself) a new vehicle.

Hopefully your troubles get fixed up...so you can enjoy that car. I have to admit the G5's do look pretty good.

Hehe the Holden VE Commodore SS-V, is the only GM car I would even consider buying.
http://www.motortrend.com/photo_gallery/112_0704_2007_holden_commodore_ssv_gallery/photo_01.html

But I don't think we will ever see them in NA.

[s4q19]

actually, they're coming here... in form of the 2008 Pontiac G8... they don't actually look too bad.. not identical, like the NA model probably wont have the racy body kit on it.. but it will come with an optional V8 lifted from the vette...

I called GM's customer service line yesterday, they're going to call me back on thursday or friday... I have a feeling they're going to do dick all though, so I'm bracing for that. The next stop is consulting with a lawyer, because if they can't fix something under warrenty then there is something extreamly wrong there...

[cornerofeden]

My daughter just bought a 2007 G5 automatic about 3 weeks ago. I sure hope the automatic doesn't have any problems!
I owned a Toyota Corolla and it was a great car. But eventually my shift started doing the same thing...trying to shift it into gear and it just kept getting worse. I would be driving and try to shift and I would be pushing to get it into the next gear and sometimes it just wouldn't go.
So, one day while going through the same problems, I came across the big sale they have for Fords on the west side...pulled in, bought a Focus and have had it since. (2000) But the Focus had it own set of problems from the very beginning.
I sold the Corolla and the guy told me it was the clutch that was gone.
I guess you can get all kinds of problems; just because they are new doesn't mean a thing. Even under warranty we still have to fight.
Back to the Focus, I was getting water in my car every time it rained. I'm sure it was brought in 4 times before I went to the manager. I talked to him and he had paged the head of the service department. He asked him what was going on that my car was in that many times for the same problem. He told him to give me another car and do not call me until it was fixed. Guess what? It was fixed a few days later, they found the problem. Apparently while on the assembly line there was something wrong with the gun that sealed the windows...it skipped a little. So they removed it and recaulked it. Not a problem since. Oh by the way; they told me if they didn't get it fixed this time they would give me a new vehicle.

[s4q19]

Yeah, I've taken it back aswell with that resolution in mind... but no luck.. I just think if they can't fix the problem under warrenty, and have refused to fix it, I should be compensated in some way or form. The only pontiac I would take now though is a vibe... ohwell, The battle continues, I should be recieving a call tonight from the GM customer service line... however I don't expect that will solve anything.

[notfarnow]

... and the the corolla just didn't suit me. It's a great car, I'll agree, but I'd like a car, not an appliance. When I'm 60 I'll think about a toyota, but aslong as I still have a heartbeat, I want a car with soul.


A G5 has soul?!? Holy smokes, GM cars are the worst "appliances" out there. I have never driven a 5 yr old sunchicken or cabalier that didn't drive like it had been driven to Tajikistan and back. The door chime should say "Hello Walmart shoppers..." The interior fit & finish is rivaled by Tonka, and the styling looks like it was done by a 13 yr old.


Should have bought a Volkswagen, lol! j/k

A VW?!? VWs are overpriced, unreliable eurocrap. I've owned 4. I drive a 96 right now, and I will never, ever own a VW again. I owned a $300 Renault LeCar with a bad headgaskets that was more reliable. I'm NOT kidding.

[s4q19]

Atually GM has come quite a ways for their newer cars in terms of interior quality. You could argue that the cars are still behind in quality, but you no longer have 1/4 inch gaps in the interior panels. If you took your head out of your arse and actually looked at one, you'd could see that.

"It takes just five minutes of driving to learn that the Cobalt works harder for your love. Your eyes fall on a dashboard where the plastic panels merge as a seamless, flush-finished unit. No jagged part lines or glaring gaps to signify where the nickels were squeezed out. Your fingers feel, well, almost nothing of the vibrations generated by the engine or road blight. They are absorbed by a stiffened structure and better-isolated suspension. Even approaching the 6500-rpm shift point, your ears hear just a distant thrum from the engine room, its noise damped by specially molded acoustical pads, doubled-up door seals, and sheets of multilayer Quiet Steel"

Just incase it confuses you as to why I'd put a quote about a cobalt in here, the cobalt and the g5 are identical... And yes, they're identical no doubt in an effort to save money

That's a direct quote from C&D... Probably the people with the most beef against domestic automakers (Not saying I'm blaming them, just stating a fact). Sure, they go on to say it has rental-car styling and doesn't quite perform as well as the new focus and mazda3, but quite frankly styling is about 95% subjective, and while it might not drive as well as those other two, it's still better than some.

[notfarnow]

"It takes just five minutes of driving to learn that the Cobalt works harder for your love. Your eyes fall on a dashboard where the plastic panels merge as a seamless, flush-finished unit. No jagged part lines or glaring gaps to signify where the nickels were squeezed out. Your fingers feel, well, almost nothing of the vibrations generated by the engine or road blight. They are absorbed by a stiffened structure and better-isolated suspension. Even approaching the 6500-rpm shift point, your ears hear just a distant thrum from the engine room, its noise damped by specially molded acoustical pads, doubled-up door seals, and sheets of multilayer Quiet Steel"

So basically, C&D says they aren't as bad as they used to be? I don't see any praise in there. Kinda like saying "Our fast food now has less transfats". It's still fast food.

Atually GM has come quite a ways for their newer cars in terms of interior quality. You could argue that the cars are still behind in quality, but you no longer have 1/4 inch gaps in the interior panels. If you took your head out of your arse and actually looked at one, you'd could see that.

FWIW, I rented one a few weeks ago for work, and drove it to Halifax & back. I thought it was a foul little machine.

'Nuff said. I know you don't want this to turn into a foreign vs domestic debate, but I had to address your comment about cars "with soul".

[s4q19]

Let me guess, you'd consider a car with soul to be a 92 civic with a 10" exhaust that you can hear from hampton?

And no, there is no praise there... but when you compare it to what it used to be, when it's clearly not, how fair is that?

If you don't have anything constructive to say, I'd suggest going and starting a new thread. I started this thread to warn people about the poor service I've recieved from a dealer.

[notfarnow]

Let me guess, you'd consider a car with soul to be a 92 civic with a 10" exhaust that you can hear from hampton?

wrong, kiddo

I have an ecclectic taste in cars. Renault Lecar,Toyota Corrola, Suzuki Samurai, several VW diesels, Mazda 323. I've owned 24.5 cars.

I consider a car that is well designed and well made to be a car with soul. That can be a yankee, asian or european car.
Heck, even poorly made cars can have soul. Take my VW, it's an awful car, but it has soul... the soul of a filthy, hateful wench.

It's rare to see a good design nowadays...
I really don't think there's been a good-looking US car since the '67 Corvette. Most cars are designed by committee with no real vision. Even upper-end cars like Porsche suffer from this. One of the few exceptions is the new Civic, it's a great design.

And no, there is no praise there... but when you compare it to what it used to be, when it's clearly not, how fair is that?
LOL... you're the one who posted it!

If you don't have anything constructive to say, I'd suggest going and starting a new thread. I started this thread to warn people about the poor service I've recieved from a dealer.

Fair game, I'm done. You're the one who opened the door calling Toyotas cars with "no soul" though. Sounds like your car has a soul, alright. Just not one I'd want to be paying for monthly.

[kaj27]

A VW?!? VWs are overpriced, unreliable eurocrap. I've owned 4. I drive a 96 right now, and I will never, ever own a VW again. I owned a $300 Renault LeCar with a bad headgaskets that was more reliable. I'm NOT kidding.

Yet mine works fine, How odd. Maybe you did something terrible in a past life?

[notfarnow]

Yet mine works fine, How odd. Maybe you did something terrible in a past life?

What year is yours?

The A3 series golf & Jetta (93-98) was the dawn of a new, dark age for VW. Poor quality control, faulty electrics, and reusing inadequate brakes & suspension form earlier (a1 & a2) VWs.

I'm told that the 99+ VWs are better, but I have heard horror stories about them too. A $14k cobalt will be a better built, more reliable car than a VW, hands down. VWs may be nice cars, but they sure aren't good cars.

[kaj27]

What year is yours?

The A3 series golf & Jetta (93-98) was the dawn of a new, dark age for VW. Poor quality control, faulty electrics, and reusing inadequate brakes & suspension form earlier (a1 & a2) VWs.

I'm told that the 99+ VWs are better, but I have heard horror stories about them too. A $14k cobalt will be a better built, more reliable car than a VW, hands down. VWs may be nice cars, but they sure aren't good cars.

Mine is a Jetta Mk3 '94 223,xxx KM 1.8L Gasooooline! Loads of life left in her. I wouldn't mind having a 2007 GTI Mk5 though, muhahahhaha

[notfarnow]

I did look at the new civic... and I wasn't extremly impressed by it.. Again, dependable as the tides, but the interior is too... different for me.

+1

I don't know what they were thinking with the interior. Tacky. The designers must have been watching too much Start Trek.

As for your issues with the dealer, consider spending ONE DAY with your car parked along the street with a picket sign. They won't ignore you then.

[s4q19]

Yeah... I mean it's neat, and different.. But I like the sort of swooping dashes... like mazda 3 and even the corolla... I will admit though, what the civic lacks in style on the inside, it makes up for ergonomics... it may be ugly but atleast it has purpose... in my personal opinion.

Yeah, I've considered that... strangely enough.. lol I'd go all out with a megaphone and everything. I'm going to wait and see what GM says... knowing it's going to be nothing, I'll figure out what to do. If it gets to that, I'd really like it not too, but you never know... But If GM is not willing to compensate me at all for not being able to fix my car, they're going to regret it. I don't care if I have to picket outside to make sure that every person walking in knows about the issues...

[notfarnow]

Yes you just need to ensure you are doing it legally. Could be difficult, because there is no street parking in front of their building. What you could do is picket though, or have a sign on your car and drive around.

Yeah, I change my own oil too... CDN tire had a good deal not too long ago where you get a free fram filter with the purchase of the oil. The one time I did get the dealer to do it I watched them like a hawk... for a few reasons though.


Don't use Fram filters on ANYTHING you care about. I have one that I cut apart: 2/3 the surface area, the seam at the top was off by 1/8", and the bypass valve at the bottow sat crooked by almost 1/4". Safe to say that very little oil was actually going through the filter element.

If I'm in a pinch, I'll change the oil and leave the old filter on. That is better than a Fram. Wix makes a good aftermarket filter

[s4q19]

Yeah, I've priced out those magnetic signs... 90 bucks for a set of 2x2 magnetic signs...

Well, people have warned me about their manufacturing quality, but so far they're the only ones I've found short of going to the dealer and asking for them... They are the cartridge type, no outside casing or anything, just drop in the paper filter into the slot on the block than screw the cap back on... I'd prefere not to use them anyways, they're like 15 bucks a piece.

What would you guys recommend for oil? I though about sticking to what GM uses, Valvoline, but instead went with Castrol GTX. I don't really see a need going to full synthetic, I've just got the base 2.2 and I change my oil ever 5,000k regardless of the oil life monitoring system.

[SV513]

hey i dont have the time to read much of the replys since my last post. but i havnt yet had the time to go back in with my car. once i do ill let you all know how iv made out. sadly i been busy. and latly the car as shifted like a dream. so easly so smooth. soo perfect. with the odd day of having to force it but not nearly as often. maybe its because im just slamin the cluch to the floor each time . seem if done slow it will stick. i could be wrong. but still going to take it in sometime and ill report back.