LEMONS!

[irvingj]

One thing I've learned over the years is that no manufacturer has a monopoly on lemons-- they ALL make 'em once in a while (some more than others, of course).

I had a 1980 Honda Civic wagon... I mean, a HONDA! We had to have a hole in the floor replaced after only 4 years, and I tend to maintain my cars well.... After the third --yes, the third-- head gasket blew I towed it to the dealer, found a Colt Vista 4WD, and just said, "Where do I sign?"

On the other hand, my 1972 Chevy Blazer lasted me thirty years....

 

[Builder]

One thing I've learned over the years is that no manufacturer has a monopoly on lemons-- they ALL make 'em once in a while (some more than others, of course).

I had a 1980 Honda Civic wagon... I mean, a HONDA! We had to have a hole in the floor replaced after only 4 years, and I tend to maintain my cars well.... After the third --yes, the third-- head gasket blew I towed it to the dealer, found a Colt Vista 4WD, and just said, "Where do I sign?"

On the other hand, my 1972 Chevy Blazer lasted me thirty years....

Well said. I think it's a mistake to begrudge someone forever for a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes once in a while. When a company makes millions of cars and you get a bad one, you can't assume all the rest are junk. Best thing to do is do your research and skip over bad years of production. In '07 I skipped over the 6L Ford diesel because of the thousands of complaints I read about it in favor of the GM DMAX and never once second guessed my decision. That lowered my risk of exposure to a "lemon".

I'm pretty sure the Home Depot John Deere's were well known to be compromised in quality. IMO, Deere made a huge mistake. You think they would have learned after the "sabre" line of tractors. :laughing:

 

[johnrex62]

Sounds like the '83 S-10 pickup I had. That POS cured me of ever buying a GM product ever again.

So you held a grudge from 1983-2010. 27 years. Man, I'd hate to be on your bad side. :laughing:
I think all American car companies were building lemons in massive quantities back in 1983. They've improved a tad since then. :laughing:

I would hope so. I had an '83 Pontiac 6000 that was the worst mistake I have ever made in my life. It got to know two dealerships intimately, and I bartered computer services for repair work with a couple of the senior mechanics after the warranty was out. I finally junked it after the engine, transmission and much of the electrical system was replaced while repairing the same set of symptoms, which I though had to be computer module related but was repeatedly informed computer modules either work or they don't and dying at highway speed is not a symptom of ccm failure, and when the CCM finally reported an error they told me it was the source of all the other failures and by the way the engine needs replacing again :smiley_aafz:


I have held a grudge and still do. I won't buy a Pontiac even if you throw in a free Kubota!!!!! I am shooting for a 65 year grudge. :drink:

 

[Bird]

I think it's a mistake to begrudge someone forever for a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes once in a while.

I agree, but isn't it OK for a few years?:laughing::laughing: When it comes to lemon automobiles, I doubt that anyone has ever gotten a worse one than the 1966 Ford Fairlane 4 door sedan that I bought new. I figure it must have come down the assembly line at 60 mph on a Friday afternoon. After 2 years, I got rid of that piece of junk and there's no way you could have sold me a Ford product for nearly 25 years. But since the Fall of 1991, I've been driving Fords almost exclusively and been very happy with them.:laughing:

 

[Diamondpilot]

Just goes to show you how differences can occour. I had a 05 Dmax that was traded in after 9 months. What a POS. I currently own 2 Ford 6.0's with nothing but a bad dash cluster on one.

I hold a grudge with GM and Chrysler. I have had nothing but troubles out of both of them. I would still buy a Chrysler if the deal was right but never a GM. Too many bad memories and I do not support the bailout and management.

Chris

 

[TripleR]

1998 Case CX80 my father in law bought new. I doubt there is enough space to describe all the problems including the FEL falling off, yes falling off three times and wrecking the bodywork. AC problems, poor 3-point power; safety switches going out regularly and overheating. We finally got tired of pouring money into it and "traded" it in on a Kubota M8540 this year.

I don't even want to go into the S-10/S15 problems from 86 to 97; nope never again.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I don't even want to go into the S-10/S15 problems from 86 to 97; nope never again.

Dont count out the 88&89's I had a 99 S-10 Blazer that was sorry. It was a 4x4 with the 4.3L. What a pig. Blew the motor up at just 29,000 miles and the transfer case went out at 35,000 miles. Cracked exhaust manafolds finally made me get rid of it. Had to replace all the wheels and wheel studs after 4 months plus the AC never did work right. Traded it with just about 36,000 painful miles for a Toyota 4 Cylinder truck that would out work it any day of the week. I traded it at 160,000+ miles with out any major issues. Biggest thing was a slave cylinder on the clutch at 125,000 miles.

Chris

 

[TripleR]

Dont count out the 98&99's I had a 99 S-10 Blazer that was sorry. It was a 4x4 with the 4.3L. What a pig. Blew the motor up at just 29,000 miles and the transfer case went out at 35,000 miles. Cracked exhaust manafolds finally made me get rid of it. Had to replace all the wheels and wheel studs after 4 months plus the AC never did work right. Traded it with just about 36,000 painful miles for a Toyota 4 Cylinder truck that would out work it any day of the week. I traded it at 160,000+ miles with out any major issues. Biggest thing was a slave cylinder on the clutch at 125,000 miles.

Chris

That sounds a lot like my son's experience with his new 97 S15. He traded it in on a Tacoma a year later at 11,000 miles. He was in the Navy and stranded, so he just cut his losses and bailed. I have seen where the replacements were just as bad. I won't bad mouth a whole company on one vehicle, but I might over six or so. The transmission went out in our GMC van at 30,000 too. We still have it as it is needed, but if Toyota made one...

Oh and let's not forget the Vega.

 

[Diamondpilot]

That sounds a lot like my son's experience with his new 97 S15. He traded it in on a Tacoma a year later at 11,000 miles. He was in the Navy and stranded, so he just cut his losses and bailed. I have seen where the replacements were just as bad. I won't bad mouth a whole company on one vehicle, but I might over six or so. The transmission went out in our GMC van at 30,000 too. We still have it as it is needed, but if Toyota made one...

Oh and let's not forget the Vega.

I have given GM 4 tries. The 89 Blazer, a 05 3500 Dmax, and 2 Saturns. The Blazer and Dmax were a nightmare. I keep the Blazer for 2 1/2 years but bailed on the Dmax after 9 months. Both Saturns were decent but used oil like crazy, a qt every 800 - 1000 miles, and tons of little nickle and dime items broke. I sold the last one in May and will not be back.

Chris

 

[TripleR]

I have given GM 4 tries. The 99 Blazer, a 05 3500 Dmax, and 2 Saturns. The Blazzer and Dmax were a nightmare. I keep the Blazzer for 2 1/2 years but bailed on the Dmax after 9 months. Both Saturns were decent but used oil like crazy, a qt every 800 - 1000 miles, and tons of little nickle and dime items broke. I sold the last one in May and will not be back.

Chris

They may be making good products now; seems like Consumer Reports has upgraded their ratings, but I just don't know if I could go down that road again.

 

[Builder]

I agree, but isn't it OK for a few years?:laughing::laughing: When it comes to lemon automobiles, I doubt that anyone has ever gotten a worse one than the 1966 Ford Fairlane 4 door sedan that I bought new. I figure it must have come down the assembly line at 60 mph on a Friday afternoon. After 2 years, I got rid of that piece of junk and there's no way you could have sold me a Ford product for nearly 25 years. But since the Fall of 1991, I've been driving Fords almost exclusively and been very happy with them.:laughing:

Sure it's OK for a few years Bird man, but 25-30 years??? Come on.

 

[Builder]

Just goes to show you how differences can occour. I had a 05 Dmax that was traded in after 9 months. What a POS. I currently own 2 Ford 6.0's with nothing but a bad dash cluster on one.

I hold a grudge with GM and Chrysler. I have had nothing but troubles out of both of them. I would still buy a Chrysler if the deal was right but never a GM. Too many bad memories and I do not support the bailout and management.

Chris

REALLY??? Never heard that before!!:confused2:

 

[Builder]

I have given GM 4 tries. The 99 Blazer, a 05 3500 Dmax, and 2 Saturns. The Blazzer and Dmax were a nightmare. I keep the Blazzer for 2 1/2 years but bailed on the Dmax after 9 months. Both Saturns were decent but used oil like crazy, a qt every 800 - 1000 miles, and tons of little nickle and dime items broke. I sold the last one in May and will not be back.

Chris

Sounds like my Fords & transmissions. Must have put 5 rebuilt transmissions in the last 2 Fords I owned. Nothing "super" about those superdoodies. Never going back for more of their junk. last time the tranny was yanked, a tranny tech with 40 yrs experience showed me the cheap little plastic parts they put in their transmissions to save money for stockholders. What a POS. I sure kept the trans rebuilding companies busy though. Won't go into the number of sets of brakes I went through, but basically all 4 sets replaced at almost every annual inspection. Then there's ball joints. My gosh the ball joints those trucks went through ate my money. On top of that, it rode like a stagecoach.

Looks like it's ON for brand bashing!!!:laughing:

 

[Diamondpilot]

No brand bashing, just stating the facts.

Chris

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Oh and let's not forget the Vega.

Yep, I've herd stories all my life about my mom's first car, the Vega...:laughing:

 

[Builder]

How bout the PINTO!

rear collision = KABOOM!!!! :laughing:

 

[tungularafishcamp]

Have tried all the brands over the years. Best was a 91, 2500 chevy with a stick and a 6 banger. Still going strong and all 4 of my kids learned to drive a stick with it. A couple of starters and a water pump, n brakes that's been it. Kids wouldn't give it back so then I picked up a 05 duramax hd 2500 that has been great, pulled my Kubota up the alcan in Feb on a 35' boat trailer, 3000 lbs of lumber, brush hog, boat windows, door and who knows what else and didn' miss a beat. What was wrong with your 2 that you got rid of them so quick??
Rick

 

[Diamondpilot]

What was wrong with your 2 that you got rid of them so quick??
Rick

If that is aimed at me and my 05 Dmax. Here is the short list.

Bed repainted
Bad U joint in the drive shaft
Leaking tranny cooler lines
Leaking transfer case
In two time for bad injectors
Glow plug issues
Constant blown fuses
Broken hood hinge (I attribute this to it being opened so much for service)
Overheated with 15,000# behind it.
ect.

I sold it after 9 months for a new 2006 6L Ford F350. I make a living with my trucks and the down time was a killer. Only issue with the F-350 has been a bad dash cluster. Actually a bad fuel gauge.

The S-10 Blazer is documented a page back.

Chris

 

[JoelD]

2005 Honda crv replaced transmission at 80000 miles that was painful
Best vehicle ever owned is 2002 ford ranger 2.3 4 banger this truck has been the best first rear brake job at 150000 miles

Only done brakes tires thermostat u joints ac recharge front rotors and bearings

I'll buy another when the time comes

I bought this one for 5k in 2005 when it had 36k on the clock the best deal I've ever had on a car

Joel

 

[mjncad]

Oh and let's not forget the Vega.

I called my S-10 the 'Vega Incarnate' among many other things.

They may be making good products now; seems like Consumer Reports has upgraded their ratings, but I just don't know if I could go down that road again.

I put little stock in Condemner Reports as they think they're experts on everything. The local news ran a story on CR recommending wine for Thanksgiving dinner.

I see Motor Trend named the Chevy Volt as car of the year. Wow, how many years has Chevy been promising this over priced subsidized ride based on the Cruze platform?