25th Jun 2020, 01:31
I totally AGREE with you! If you want a car to last (more than 12 years) get ANYTHING but a GM product!
GM just can't get their head screwed on right. They just killed that wonderful twin-turbo V8 (Blackwing) they spent a bazillion dollars developing for Cadillac. Typical GM, develop something, then ball it up and throw it away... only to start a with a clean sheet for the next project, only to make a series of mistakes then improvements, then maybe get that next car about right after 6 model years... then kill it off, too.
Examples:
Fiero: By the time they replaced the Chevette front suspension, and got a nice Getrag 5spd manual in the car with a V6... POOF!, it's gone. Oh yeah... to GM's credit, they DID figure out how to keep the 2.5 Iron Dukes from bursting into flames in the early years of the Fiero.
Pontiac G8/Chevy SS: Adapt the sweet Holden Commodore for USA, then POOF!, it's gone.
Buick Regal GN/GNX: Finally get the ceramic turbo, fuel injection AND intercooler all working well together, then POOF!, it's gone. At least this engine had a reprieve in the Pontiac Trans AM... but then, POOF!, that was gone too!
1995 Impala SS: Drop the 'vette motor in the (lowered) full-frame RWD Caprice... GREAT IDEA... then POOF!, it's gone.
Saturn Sky: Turn a hot Opel coupe into a screaming USA roadster... then POOF!, it's gone.
18th Jun 2020, 21:58
For the most part your comment speaks the truth. Especially in regards to modern day vehicle's complexities with just about everything being electronically controlled with costly repairs. Engine blocks and internals themselves may be built well, but it's all the components and technology features that you have to watch out for.
However I have to humbly disagree about the late 70s and early 80s. In an extended family we had a few large and intermediate GM cars from the time that never had major quality and reliability issues, if any.
The one that stands out the most was a 1980 Cutlass Supreme Brougham sedan with the small 260 V8. That car was bought from an auction at only 3 years old and it already had a little over 100,000 miles on it being an ex-fleet car. After that it was driven into the early 90s without any major issues and topped out close to 280,000 miles before the transmission started to slip. By then it wasn't worth fixing, the car did it's job and didn't owe a dime.