I am considering a new GM vehicle and wondered if you GM Service professionals would give me your real world opinion on a few new GM cars I am considering this week. Looking for a dependable new car that will serve me well for the next 8 to 10 years that wont be to costly to maintain. My driving will decrease going forward thinking 10,000 a year. Here is my short list 2019 Malibu 1.5 with the turbo 4 Cyl , 2019 Impala with the 3.6 V6, Buick Cascada 1.6 turbo 4 Cyl, and my curve ball choice a 2018 Volt electric car . The tax credit has me considering this vehicle. Thanks in advance for any comments you can share. Signed : Dreaming About A New Car
We have the least amount of issues with the Impalas over any of the other GMs as far as cars go. I'm also a fan of their interior and outside styling a lot more. The 3.6 is a good engine, just keep up on oil changes as they can have some timing chain/tensioner issues (Google 3.6 timing chain and you'll find quite a bit), but other than that, they've been great. Yachtsman Bill and Pat got an Impala 3.6 last year after he posted a similar question, and I think they're delighted with it. Maybe pm him and he'll give you a straight answer as a real deal owner. My second choice there would be the Volt, but we've only got 4 or 5 of those driving around this area, so my sample size is quite small....we do run into some charging system issues with those but otherwise haven't seen much go wrong on them.
Lucas, Thanks for your input! Driving both tonight hope to make a decision. Bill got back to me. Guess you are the only GM Service Pro on here.
Not what you are looking for but I have a 2016 Chevy Silverado with just over 40,000 miles on it. Not one issue with it yet. I have never owned a new car that I can say I had no issues with it in that time.
I’d skip the Volt (being discontinued) and pass on the 4-cylinder turbo engines unless you can determine if GM figured out how to keep the pistons from cracking. Too bad the Cruze is being discontined too. I’ll second the 3.6L Impala. Most of the big bugs have been worked out on the 3.6L, and for once GM is sticking with a decent engine platform and refining it rather than starting all over with another engine design that is “value engineered” (aka 80% engineered and let the public find the bugs..). It’s supposedly cheaper that way (in their mind). If you do decide on a 3.6L engine (or actually any engine!), I would strongly suggest using the oil minder @ 50%! GM is a little overzealous on how far they think the oil can make it. You will likely have the common short-lived wheel bearing issues and some ticky-tack annoying stuff that GM is famous for. But at least they are usually easy to diagnose and relatively inexpensive to repair.
Thank Bob , Dave , and Lucas. The wife will drive it occasionally as well since I would like to keep the miles down on the Truck she currently drives as her daily driver, so I included her input more than usual for "our" car Unfortunately that ruled out a 6 cylinder Camaro and the Cascada. So the winner was ...
Bob, I agree with this quote. "You will likely have the common short-lived wheel bearing issues and some ticky-tack annoying stuff that GM is famous for. But at least they are usually easy to diagnose and relatively inexpensive to repair." I have a 2012 Malibu and had a few Bonneville's and a Buick LeSabre in the Kid fleet so I have replaced a couple wheel bearings at home in the last 12 years. I agree on the oilminder my Malibu seems much too long if I take it to 10% . I have 128,000 on it but the 2.5 seems to be getting louder to me. Thanks again for the advice! Tony
Nice! I forgot to mention, no on an extended warrantee or any other dealer “add-ons - Zeibart, Scotchgard, etc. they make more money on those things than they do the car itself. If you truly are planning to keep it 10 years and being that you’re from Ohio, I’d recommend a corrosion inhibitor such as Corrosion Free, Rust-Check or Krown. I’ve used the first two, and prefer Corrosion Free. Good luck!
Bob, Thanks , Yes I said NO to everything and told the finance lady I enjoy waxing my cars , which I really do. I undercoated the 2014 F150 and the Daughters Buick at home . I was planning on doing the Impala . I will check out your products mentioned above and find who has them decide what to use . Do you have a recommendation for the leather treatment? I tend to use some products my wife uses on the leather horse saddle but that's because she has it available. A lift would be nice maybe I can talk myself and the checkbook into it. Unlike the classic cars it will have to see some weather and brave the snow , salt , and what ever other products they dream up to spray on the roads. Tony
I clean my truck’s leather with just mild dish soap and water, and use Gratiot’s once in a while. I had an 03 Sierra for almost 15 years, and the driver’s seat heater eventually quit so I replaced the heating pads and upper and lower seat covers while things were apart. The passenger and rear seat still look good to this day. I handed the truck down to my son and it’s retired at the moment, resting with the Buicks.
Lucas, Bob , Thanks again for the guidance . I sold the Malibu and now have about a week of driving the Impala I am really impressed with the smoothness and power the 3.6 has shown me so far. I think it might outrun the F-150 with the 3.5 Eco-boost but I am not sure the wife will go along with that request .
