OK, so Tuesday I bought a new car, a Pontiac Vibe. See as a friend just pointed out I've been giving US automakers grief here, and I bought a Vibe... But see This is a GM / Toyota venture. It's basically a Toyota Matrix with a Pontiac logo and flair. Why did I have to buy a new car? Well the Suzuki Verona I had turned out to be the biggest piece of junk I've owned in years. It had major engine work at 25k, an Oil leak at 30k, and now it was stalling and it almost got me killed. So I called the dealer to make ANOTHER appointment, and I was told my warranty had expired (only 36 months) and I'd have to pay for this service. Well I lost it, went to the local dealers and started checking out cars. I was actually looking for a Honda or something, but the "low end" pricing you keep hearing about on TV doesn't exist unless you DON'T want air conditioning or anything. Then the sales weasel tells me about this Pontiac leftover and told me GM had a 0% finance deal going on. SO... I bought it.
OK, now if anyone from a US automaker reads this listen up, these joint ventures are good for you guys. You learn how to make a quality car, at a decent price. You should do this more often!
...end of soap box speech.
1 comment:
Oh, I so need to comment here... I dont know why you are shouting out at the American automakers about quality when it was a Suzuki that left you high, dry, out of warantee and out of luck... I've had great luck with american cars and Im always proud to drive around in my US-Steel.
Dont get me wrong, this doesnt mean I dont like asian (in fact, see my earlier comment under 'wives'about the sweetest women on the planet), but it does mean that I think that often US auto makers get a bad rap simply for being US auto makers. Much is their own fault - the arrogance and stint of eternal-crap-boxes in the mid-80s has destroyed the repuation of the entire industry. But nowadays, most american cars are made outside of the US - in Canada and Mexico (can someone say 'cheap labor'?) Bottom line - I'll take a Ford Mustang over a Mitsubishi Eclipse anyday (although that Infinity G35 coupe looks good too)
Ramble ended
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