1988 Chevrolet Corsica from North America - Comments

Transmission Internal Solenoid.

Cooling System.

Heater.

Rear Window Defroster Knob continually breaking off.

Brake Problems. Replaced each six months, but could not hold the car on a steep hill.

No Power, Makes a lot of noise when stepping on the accelerator, but nothing happens.

Window raising mechanism broken.

Replaced alternator twice.

Poor heating system.

No AC system.

No intermittent wiper system.

4 cylinder engine, but no fuel economy which did not compensate for no acceleration.

Took forever to defrost the windows

(at least 30 minutes)

I have owned a succession of GM cars

1966 Pontiac Laurentian

1971 Buick Le Sabre

1971 Buick Skylark

1975 Pinto (was wife's when we married, had a hassle with Ford about the gas tank recall)

1988 Buick Estate Wagon

1988 Corsica (1996 - 2003)

These vehicles were always in the shop

Expensive for what we got and expensive to run since they were the shop for major $500 - $1500 repairs every few months.

Also

1991 Toyota Cressida

Two (2) 1998 Toyota Camrys

2001 Toyota Highlander

I have had no problems with the Toyota products. Great value for the price

and they are rarely in the shop. The vehicles have had no repairs required other than general maintenance and servicing. Nothing goes wrong with these things.

I had a 2003 Buick Century for a rental and could not keep it on the highway at less than maximum speed 40 Mph in a 60 mph zone. It went off on a curve due to the small size tires (195-70 R14). The rented Grand Prix (215-70 R15) was better on the road, but it overall it does not compare with the Toyota products for value and reliability.

On 27 Sep 04 I took delivery of a new Toyota Highlander. Beautiful.

I am never buying another North American product again after experiencing what Toyota gives me for the same bucks. No amount of advertising by the Major North American manufacturers is making me go back.

Here's a tip: the size of your tires has nothing to do with going off the road. You go off the road when you try to take a curve too fast. Try taking that Highlander around a curve too fast and see what happens!

If you couldn't keep a 2003 Buick Century on the road at 60mph, you don't know how to drive. Their suspensions may be tailored more towards comfort than handling, but unless you were ripping into highway turns at 100mph or driving in 60mph cross-winds, you shouldn't have a problem. My old Mazda Protege had 13" tires and it was a great highway cruiser, even at 100mph (yes I ran this car hard, and it responded very well). Granted, bigger tires may help a bit, but really have no impact on normal driving unless you're throwing the car into sharp corners at unsafe speeds to begin with.

Since when did GM make the Pinto?

It seems to me that your GM products were not very new at all during the time that you owned them (judging by the age of the Corsica during the time you owned it). The Toyotas that you listed are far newer vehicles and it doesn't take rocket science to expect reliability for a newer car. My father drives a Toyota and has put well over $1000 of repairs into it, my Buick doesn't even close to that in cost of ownership. FYI Buick is rated higher in initial reliability than your HIGHLY overated Toyota.

I have to agree on the switch to Toyota--I also had several GM cars, (2) Corsicas a century, a Cutlass supreme, a Celebrity all 88,89,90--anyhow I also bought a 86 Corolla, and a 96 Corolla, a 97 Camry a 96 T-100 truck and the Toyotas now all have over 100k the 86 has over 200k and they ALL have the same engines, and transmissions---the GMs were lucky to get to 80k and EVERY SINGLE ONE of the GMs had to be painted, and still peeled--they said "acid rain"---BULL--I will NEVER, EVER buy a new GM product--I will pick one up if it's a 300 buck beater, but NEVER spend big money on a new one---they had there chance---SEVERAL SHOTS--with me--one saving grace--My 90 Chevy c 1500 pickup with the V-6 and manuel trans is still with us, at 190k --smokes, and has ZERO paint on it---but still hauling heavy loads--I like my old truck--much tougher than the T-100, but I know the t-100 will outlast, and the t-100 has ALL its paint---just thought id let you know, I know how you feel---those older GMs you had the 66,71 up till 77 I thought they put out pretty good stuff!!!--and what style--they lost it in the late 70s GREED took a big hold on GM.