Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, 76-90, 91-93
OK my friend, a lesson in simple math.
A smaller engine, i.e. an Accent 1.6L is SMALLER than a G.M. 3.8l or 3800 as you put it. That said, the larger engine will have lower r.p.m.'s at 70 M.P.H. than the smaller one. Why don't you find out how much fuel economy you get at the Accent's rpm level, then you can compare. If your friends Accent is getting 30-ish at 3700 rpms, and your Pontiac is getting 29 at 2200 rpms, then when you Pontiac is doing 3700 rpms it is only getting around 25mpg max. Simple math. And good luck getting any warranty coverage or dealer service with your Pontiac pretty soon... it is what it is.
"And good luck getting any warranty coverage or dealer service with your Pontiac pretty soon... it is what it is."
First off, the Pontiac has a 100,000 mile warranty. Secondly, the 3.8 is one of the most reliable engines made. GM doesn't even recommend a TUNE-UP until 100,000 miles.
My current Pontiac has 85,000 miles and has had absolutely nothing except for 1 set of tires, 1 battery and front brake pads at 70,000 miles (the rear are still the originals). I don't ever worry about needing repairs or service. Pontiacs need virtually none.
"I don't even worry about service or repairs, Pontiac needs none"
Yeeeaaaah, good luck with that. Especially if you are constantly driving around at 85 mph+.
You see the problem with your argument is that you are trying to convince a Master Technician and Shop Foreman for one of the largest car dealers in Louisiana.
Yes, the G.M. 3800 series engines are a very reliable and well designed powerplant, but if you are always on them hard (like it sounds like you are) then they will not last much past 100k miles. If you have done no preventive maintenance, such as coolant changes every year or 30k miles, a new thermostat, injection services, or basic oil changes at least every 5000 miles, then I don't care what you drive, from Hyundai to Bentley, It WILL NOT LAST!!!
And unless you are living under a rock or in a cave, then you've heard that Pontiac is literally a "dying breed". Do you really think that you will get any decent warranty coverage out of a Chevy dealership after they are gone? Not that it matters anyway, your car has 85k mile, your warranty is almost up.
Oh one more thing F.Y.I, you did not mention if your 100k warranty was bumper to bumper or just a powertrain warranty, that tells me you don't know either. Another simple lesson, this time in warranty... a POWERTRAIN warranty covers ONLY THE ITEMS THAT MAKES THE CAR GO. That's it, no sensors, no injectors, no radiator, just block, heads, transmission (which for this car is garbage) and maybe axles (some cover them, some don't) Like I said in my last comment, have fun with that...
"First off, the Pontiac has a 100,000 mile warranty. Secondly, the 3.8 is one of the most reliable engines made. GM doesn't even recommend a TUNE-UP until 100,000 miles.
My current Pontiac has 85,000 miles and has had absolutely nothing except for 1 set of tires, 1 battery and front brake pads at 70,000 miles (the rear are still the originals). I don't ever worry about needing repairs or service. Pontiacs need virtually none."
I think what the person was trying to say was that Pontiac has gone down the tubes, so getting GM to honor the Pontiac warranty is going to be difficult.
"I think what the person was trying to say was that Pontiac has gone down the tubes, so getting GM to honor the Pontiac warranty is going to be difficult."
This is a common myth (usually perpetrated by import dealers). Pontiac was GM. GM HAS to honor the warranty. Even if GM itself went out of business tomorrow (highly unlikely) it is FEDERALLY MANDATED that all warranty claims on all past or present GM cars MUST be honored. Remember Oldsmobile? Thousands of Olds owners still get warranty work done on their extended warranties. Our local Olds dealer simply switched to GMC and went right on honoring the Olds warranties all along. Please get the facts before spreading unfounded stories that hurt American businesses.
"And good luck getting any warranty coverage or dealer service with your Pontiac pretty soon... it is what it is."
GM will honor ALL warranty claims on a Pontiac well after Pontiac is gone just like Oldsmobile. They will also be able to service the cars after that due to most of the parts being from different cars in their lines.
"None of these come remotely close to GM's compacts in terms of quality, and only Hyundai offers a warranty to equal GM's."
That is quite the opposite as Hyundai had the warranty long before GM ever thought of it. GM's warranty is also only 5 years, so most people won't even get close to that full 100K miles of warranty. Plus did you forget that Kia has the same and Suzuki does as well?
To the Oct 26 comment, your discussion of the need to compare the GP at the same RPM as the Accent is irrelevant. Point is the 3800, as I call it, drives at 70 MPH at a lower RPM than the Accent. The reason the GP 3800 runs at a lower RPM is because of available torque from the larger V6 engine.
The lower RPM provides a longer lasting engine, lower noise level in the car, a heavier car for better ride and a much better crash protection. Small lightweight cars don't provide anywhere near the protection in a wreck.
People who buy a Hyundai for the better warranty are sucked in to buy a piece of junk!
"Remember olds?"
That is true, GM technically has to honor Pontiac warranties, but like I said in my earlier comment, "Good luck getting DECENT warranty coverage..." the key word there was decent. Yes GM has to and will cover Pontiacs, but you can bet they will not do it well, not like they ever really did, but that's another story. I do not spread falsehoods, and I DO have MY facts straight, if you are going to contradict someone, make sure your facts are equally as straight.
And I would not bash American car companies if they did right by their customers. I happen to own nothing but American cars, (all from the 60's and 70's, but American cars none the less.
" To all commentors comparing the Pontiac 3800 to the Accent 1.6l"
Am I the only one who sees that you are comparing apples to oranges??
The Accent and the GP are in two totally different vehicle classes.
And to the person who says that people are fooled into buying junk with Hyundai... Yeah, I guess Car and Driver, Motor Trend, and J.D. Power are also fools, huh? Have fun with your domestic brands with all the slip-shod build quality and questionable dealer "service" that they have to offer.
"People who buy a Hyundai for the better warranty are sucked in to buy a piece of junk!"
60,000 miles without ONE SINGLE problem is a piece of junk? I love my Hyundai. It's an extremely well-built vehicle. It easily rivals Honda and Toyota in build quality, and in some areas, I would say it even surpasses them. Compared to the domestics I've owned (and I've yet to have one that makes 30,000 miles without some sort of major repair) this Hyundai is great.
I know Hyundai owners with the following issues.
New car with no antifreeze, it froze in Minnesota the first day she owned it. A locksmith friend who says the Hyundai locks have more problems than any other car.
Accent owner gets low 30 MPG is wondering how to improve 3700 RPM at 70 MPH.
Accent owner asks how to improve leg room, he is 6 feet and very uncomfortable.
As far as comparing a GP to Hyundai, if you can compare a small economy car to a midsize GP and they get comparable MPG at same price, it doesn't speak well for the Hyundai.
"Yes GM has to and will cover Pontiacs, but you can bet they will not do it well, not like they ever really did, but that's another story."
Not true at all here. Our former Olds dealer gives better service on Oldsmobiles than our Ford dealer does on our new Fords.
"It easily rivals Honda and Toyota in build quality, and in some areas, I would say it even surpasses them."
I'm a staunch domestic supporter and I've never owned a domestic that ever required ANY repairs before 100,000 miles (and very few after that) but I DO strongly endorse the Hyundai. Hyundai has proven itself to be a very good car company and yes, they surpassed the Honda and Toyota brands years ago. In a 2006 Car and Driver comparison of 4 mid-sized cars the Hyundai beat out the Camry (which came in dead last).
"I know Hyundai owners with the following issues.
New car with no antifreeze, it froze in Minnesota the first day she owned it. A locksmith friend who says the Hyundai locks have more problems than any other car.
Accent owner gets low 30 MPG is wondering how to improve 3700 RPM at 70 MPH.
Accent owner asks how to improve leg room, he is 6 feet and very uncomfortable.
As far as comparing a GP to Hyundai, if you can compare a small economy car to a midsize GP and they get comparable MPG at same price, it doesn't speak well for the Hyundai."
Is it really the fault of the quality of the car that someone forgot to add antifreeze to it before delivering it?
Slow Down! Drive 60 at 3,000 rpm's and you'll get 37 mpg.
Buy a bigger car... did they not test drive it??
And where can you get a GP for the same price as a $9K Hyundai... unless it is used. Oh that's right, they don't make the GP anymore! Comparing a used car to a new one doesn't make much sense does it?