It would be easier to list what has not gone wrong with the car. Let's start by saying the original owner was a little old lady who only drove it to bingo and Wal-mart. I KNOW this because she was my mother, so I know it was not an abused car.
When I got it the power door lock on the passenger side was broken and the carpet had a hole in it. My mother had already replaced the carpet once under warranty. This was not due to negligence, it is just plain cheap carpet.
A couple of months after I got the car the battery and alternator failed.
At 38,000 the tires needed replaced, even though they were rotated and balanced on a regular basis.
Next the brakes had to be completely rebuilt.
At 78,000 things got really expensive! That is when the head gasket blew filling the entire block with antifreeze and ruining it. Another engine and a couple of thousand dollars later I was back on the road.
Two weeks ago the battery had to be replaced again. (This is no minor task)
It would be easier to list what has not gone wrong with the car. Let's start by saying the original owner was a little old lady who only drove it to bingo and Wal-mart. I KNOW this because she was my mother, so I know it was not an abused car.
When I got it the power door lock on the passenger side was broken and the carpet had a hole in it. My mother had already replaced the carpet once under warranty. This was not due to negligence, it is just plain cheap carpet.
A couple of months after I got the car the battery and alternator failed.
At 38,000 the tires needed replaced, even though they were rotated and balanced on a regular basis.
Next the brakes had to be completely rebuilt.
At 78,000 things got really expensive! That is when the head gasket blew filling the entire block with antifreeze and ruining it. Another engine and a couple of thousand dollars later I was back on the road.
Two weeks ago the battery had to be replaced again. (This is no minor task)
These problems would not be quite as bad if the car was comfortable or useful, but it is neither. After 30 minutes of driving the driver seat is killing my back. My wife says it is comfortable, but she is 5'3" and I am 6'0". Of course, while writhing in pain from the seats, GM was thoughtful enough to make the car into a sauna since the A/C is only marginally useful on a hot day even on MAX with the fan wide open. (Oh yeah, you shouldn't think you will be able to hear the radio over the roar of the fan)
As far as being, useful the engineers made what appears to be a huge trunk. That is until you try to close the trunk lid with something in the trunk. That is when you realize the trunk hinges take up half the space.
It could be just a lemon :)
First of you complain about replacing the battery and alternator. These are bound to go sooner or later. The tires are also REGULAR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE which are replaced on all cars. So you can stop complaining about replacing normal parts like my Aunts' JUNK Honda.
Hmm you know you could buy a 10 year old car that was hardly driven with only oh say 10,000 miles on it and it would still have these problems. metal likes to be used... not just sitting in the same ol position all the time (unless it's a building or something that is supposed to say in the same position). the Lumina was a great automobile, just wish they continue to make them.
Lumina's suck.
Head gasket and manifold gasket (I was lucky I only had exhaust getting into my antifreeze, (air locks-overheating), and not the dreaded antifreeze in the oil.
And what about those anti lock brake sensors. Replaced all four, then the main return feed, and it started again a week later. And, when the light was out, the ABS would engage on it's own on a dry street (summer), and you would be pulsating through an intersection - real safe GM. Gave up on that, unplugged the sensors, removed the dash ligh bulb, and brakes work great. Then there was two back struts, a broken front spring, and your usual assortment of tie rod ends and ball joints. (No we didn't drive off a cliff, regular city driving appears too rough for GM).
Drives great now :- (
Note: A Comments RSS Feed 
is available. New comments appear in the Members Area before the main site