Ongoing General Automotive Thread 2.0

[puffnstuff]

There is a Chevette parked in the lot at the local Canadian Tire all the time. It moves around a bit so I assume its owned by someone who works there. I am always tempted to ask who owns it...

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by puffnstuff

There is a Chevette parked in the lot at the local Canadian Tire all the time. It moves around a bit so I assume its owned by someone who works there. I am always tempted to ask who owns it...

If you put a GPS tracker on it you could find out where they live, then go knock on the door and say "hey, nice car" and then stand there awkwardly and maybe ask if you can just quickly grab your tracker back and to have a nice day.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Table 5

When you combined the build quality of a 90's GM economy car, with the lackadaisical attitude towards maintenance within their ownership group...I'm not sure those things ever stood a chance.

I wonder at times if it was the advent of the 'disposable asset' culture.

"If we build them like crap they'll have to keep buying new ones!"

It seems like right around the right timeline.

[Table 5]

There's a whole term around it that... Planned Obsolescence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence

It's been around a lot longer than the Sunfire, but coincidentally enough GM was one of its first proponents, when they started putting out yearly model changes in the 1920s in order to create more turnover (and of course when you have more turnover there's no need to build things to last as long).

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Table 5

There's a whole term around it that... Planned Obsolescence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence

It's been around a lot longer than the Sunfire, but coincidentally enough GM was one of its first proponents, when they started putting out yearly model changes in the 1920s in order to create more turnover (and of course when you have more turnover there's no need to build things to last as long).

Oh I'm familiar with it.

Its why people complain about their fridges and stoves, etc. They're designed to last a certain amount of time.

And then their parents will wile away about how their dishwasher lasted 30 years!

Yeah. Companies learned that making quality products that last is a poor business model. So on top of all the other crap we have to deal with we need to keep in the back of our minds that our cars will fail.

I ditched my old Jeep with the CVT transmission, even though I loved it, because I was told by about 5 different, but experienced people, that the CVT craps out right around 180K. It needed a whole bunch of other work as well, but I figured I'd just 'cut-bait' and move along.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Locke

Lol! My sister had that exact car in College. Bright red Sunfire.

Of course when maintenance was required who drove it? That thing was just a despicable POS.

Hey, no matter how bad your sister is, you shouldn't be calling her a thing.

[chedder]

Originally Posted by Locke

Companies learned that making quality products that last is a poor business model. So on top of all the other crap we have to deal with we need to keep in the back of our minds that our cars will fail.

Don't I know it. House is 17 years old. Every appliance has been replaced and dishwasher twice. I know I'm close to the whole cycle repeating again shortly.

Cars, though, really suck because they are so expensive now. Makes me think I should have kept the perfectly good 2012 instead of upgrading in 2022. I do have a 1991 little pickup that I'm slowly fixing up.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Table 5

When you combined the build quality of a 90's GM economy car, with the lackadaisical attitude towards maintenance within their ownership group...I'm not sure those things ever stood a chance.

I will say the one lone thing GM had that was solid in that era was the 3800 V6. That engine was very stout and reliable for that era of domestic vehicles.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I will say the one lone thing GM had that was solid in that era was the 3800 V6. That engine was very stout and reliable for that era of domestic vehicles.

We had an early 90s Buick Regal with that engine, and it was indeed super solid. As a kid I loved that car and it's plush 80s interior.

[Bill Bumface]

The first car I drove regularly was my parents' maroon Buick LeSabre with the ridiculous faux soft top, complete with maroon crushed velvet interior. We bought it off of my Grandpa, of course.

That car was so cushy and floaty. If you pumped the brakes you could get the whole suspension oscillating and recreate your favourite rap video, making your teenage friends laugh as you declared you installed hydraulics.

Luckily when the police pulled you over for that they were good sports about it.

The 3800 was a tank that wouldn't get you anywhere too quickly, but would never die.

Like this, but more vinyl:

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

Don't forget the venerable Neon.

PT Cruiser coming in late....

In fact yesterday I was driving through Mackenzie Towne and there was a PT Cruiser waiting to cross 52. It was majestic, have fake wood paneling that was was put on with stickers. AS I pulled up to turn right the dude looked at me and gave a "#### yeah" nod.

Looked like this

[Acey]

Picking up a brand new 230i next week, with almost all the goodies. Test drove the M240i and they are criminally fast, but to get one with everything I wanted pushed it a bit out of my range. 230i is plenty of performance for me.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by habernac

And Chevy Cavaliers. They were everywhere… then they were gone.

Before the Sunfire and Cavalier was the POS Chevette.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Table 5

We had an early 90s Buick Regal with that engine, and it was indeed super solid. As a kid I loved that car and it's plush 80s interior.

Ah yes...with the plush faux-velour interior! You could melt into those seats!

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

PT Cruiser coming in late....

In fact yesterday I was driving through Mackenzie Towne and there was a PT Cruiser waiting to cross 52. It was majestic, have fake wood paneling that was was put on with stickers. AS I pulled up to turn right the dude looked at me and gave a "#### yeah" nod.

Looked like this

Like I've said, my mom had the OG faux-wood panel Chrysler Mini-Van!

But my daughter had a PT Cruiser! No faux-wood paneling unfortunately but she got something even better...

My dad bought it from the Auction so it came with one of those loud-ass beepers when it's in reverse! Like its a huge truck but its this little PT Cruiser.

And yes. I know how to remove that solenoid. But she didn't and I wouldn't.

Because...I thought it was hilarious!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Dion

Before the Sunfire and Cavalier was the POS Chevette.

Look at that beauty! That is nearly Automotive Perfection. I want to see a drag race between that and a Gremlin.

My buddy had a Chevette...god we beat the crap out of that thing!

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Acey

Picking up a brand new 230i next week, with almost all the goodies. Test drove the M240i and they are criminally fast, but to get one with everything I wanted pushed it a bit out of my range. 230i is plenty of performance for me.

Being xdrive should be plenty quick and I think this may be one of the lowest entry prices to get into a ZF8 transmission which is probably the best automatic transmission in the industry.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Locke

Look at that beauty! That is nearly Automotive Perfection. I want to see a drag race between that and a Gremlin.

My buddy had a Chevette...god we beat the crap out of that thing!

I had a Chevette. My friends and I would rip that thing behind the Safeway in Crowfoot at top speed and there was this deep impression in the pavement that was exactly Chevette sized. The suspension would compress and then pop out with all four wheels in the air. If you're familiar with skateboarding it felt exactly like a nollie.

Fk that was dangerous. Jumping a GD Chevette.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Being xdrive should be plenty quick and I think this may be one of the lowest entry prices to get into a ZF8 transmission which is probably the best automatic transmission in the industry.

Absolutely. I've had 5 manuals in a row going back 15 years now... it's going to be an adjustment.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Dion

Before the Sunfire and Cavalier was the POS Chevette.

This was the same vehicle our asshat neighbour owned when he mocked my parents for buying a 1980 Honda Civic.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Table 5

When you combined the build quality of a 90's GM economy car, with the lackadaisical attitude towards maintenance within their ownership group...I'm not sure those things ever stood a chance.

My buddy drained a 500ml pop bottle worth of oil out of his Cavalier, that thing still ran for a few more years to my total amazement.