You'll never get it.... the point is that EVERY manufacturer has issues of some sort. But I did enjoy that fact that you wasted time searching for those videos. Here's one for you that's akin to posting a cavalier video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRbwTutw-Hk



btw - go to this link:

http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings...e-#page-anchor

or how about this one:

http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/new...spx?ID=2008115


funny how all of those GM products are higher in the list than VW.... facts are facts. But i'm sure you'll find another video from 10 years ago with another cavalier lol

__________________
Get busy living, or get busy dying - Ellis Boyd Red Redding

I've been thinking of trading in my '04 Escalade ESV for a smaller SUV. My oldest turns 15 in a couple of days, and she doesn't want to learn to drive in a jumbo truck. I was thinking of getting her an X3. With gms pricing, maybe I'll trade the Big Boy for a SRX. I'm sure that will quite affordable with that deal.

Also, as a BTW, I'm placing my order on Monday for the new CTS-V. I will be number 1 on the list for this part of Florida, and probably in the first 500 to retail customers in the US. No gms pricing on that one, though.

I will say the Escalade has been as nice of a vehicle to drive as the X5 was. They were equal in terms of fit, finish, and the ability to stand up to family abuse. Of course, the X5 is more fun to drive, but the Escalade is more fun to take a vacation in.

The first-gen CTS-V had some really good points, and some really bad ones. All the bad ones were covered by warranty, and after 4 years and 65k miles, it's time to move on. The only repair that I have paid for on the V was when I ran off the road during Hurricane Jeanne (thought the storm was over, went to check on my second house) to avoid a pine tree that snapped like a twig and came down on top of me. I buried it in the mud, and tore the front suspension up. GM paid for anything else that up (like when I finally grenaded the rear end).

So, they all have their good and bads. I was actually looking at a 3 series for my DD, but she wants a SUV-type vehicle, to haul friends and stuff.

Maybe I'll keep the Escalade and buy her some lower-end GM vehicle, because as I type this, I'm thinking no 15 year kid should have a brand new Cadillac, or a BMW, for their first car! She sure as hell ain't driving my new CTS-V.

__________________
Proud Direct Descendent of the Salzburgers in Georgia, and still trying to live up to their ideals 280 years later:
The year after the founding of Savannah a shipload of Salzburgers, Protestant refugees, a deeply religious people, sailed into the mouth of the Savannah and, led by Oglethorpe, they founded the town of Ebenezer (from Eben Ezer - stone of help, monument to God). The colony differed from all others also in prohibiting slavery and the importation of intoxicating liquors.

I personally don't think that the JD Power rankings mean much at all. Anyway, I will play. According to that chart, GM has 4 brands ahead of BMW and 4 below. I would call that a wash. Also, predicted reliablity ratings from Consumer Reports has all but one GM brand (Buick) below BMW. So, what is more important, having an issue on a new car with a warranty, or on a older car just out of warranty? I personally have never purchased a car less than 4 years old, so initial quality means pretty much nothing to me. I am more concerned with long term reliablity.

Even if the GM car doesn't need to have some parts replaced, you will probably want to get rid of it because of it's outdated looks and low resale value. That is why these initial quality ratings are so important to companies like GM, Ford, Dodge and so on. They design their cars as if they are disposable. For the most part, every new model is not an evolution of the previous car like the Europeans do it, it is a completely new car that make not look anything like the old one. Planned obsolescence at it's finest.

Malibu, the car of the year...more like the car that nobody wants. That is why domestic brands need to offer employee pricing, huge rebates, gas for 2 years, 60 seconds in the money booth, etc. to get people in their cars. Their cars can't sell themselves.

I am not saying that BMW doesn't need to improve in some areas though. They can use some work. Especially with anything over a 5-series.

gm employee pricing is pretty easy to get ALL the time. All you have to do is look around and you can find someone to give you a GMS number. you also get the rebates , and you won't find a better deal on a gm then this.
but yeah thats a pretty good deal, but take it from me stay away, stay far away. I been there done that.

__________________
Alpine White Tobacco Nevada Leather Cold Weather Premium Pkg Premiun Sound Rear Climate Sport Pkg w/ 20 wheels, EDC Comfort Seats Automatic tailgate Comfort access Running boards 3rd row seating heated rear seats rear entertainment dvd ipod usb heads up display hd radio satellite radio Tinted windows Clear bra Technology pkg
2008 x5 4.8 AW loaded(sold)
2008 E93 M3 AW/FR
2008 Toyota Tundra CM

I totally agree, German/Asian cars are simply better. GM until just recently has created totally unsafe deathtraps with disgusting interiors, ESPECIALLY their midsize suv trio, that car has terrible seats, subpar safety and horrid fit and finish. Also, every American car I have ever driven in has been a huge rattle trap. Not to mention they are simple vehicles, not nearly the complex vehicles German cars have evolved into. The Asian cars have finally started to evolve (ex: Toyota) and it has really taken a toll in their reliability rankings. So taking the complexity of their vehicles into account I would rank the German cars a bit higher.

Drive a Jetta then drive a Sebring, same price, Night and day quality, and you wonder why American cars are in trouble....

Here is a comparison, both my friend and I bought vehicles at the same time, mine:

2008 VW Tourareg msrp: 45k
Friends:
2008 Chevy Tahoe LTZ 4x5 msrp: 52k

We had both our vehicles appraised at the same time, his miles: 16k, mine 28k

Trade in value avg from 3 dealers for me: 29.5k
Tahoe: 20k average

that is a HUGE difference!

__________________
RIP Equality, It was nice to meet you this summer...

Why, they're doing just fine. Thank's for asking. Have they removed the bulb for the "Check Engine" light on yours yet?



But hey, I'll tell you what. Double that $30K of YOURS that's burning a hole in MY pocket so I can get a Corvette and I'll do it! That's THE ONE GM car I would love to have. A friend at work has one and I took it for a spin. I don't know what year it is but it's the latest body style, very nice...

__________________
'05 X3 3.0i Alpine White/Gray Leather/Alum. Trim
Sport/Steptronic/Servotronic/Panoramic
Prem. Sound/Staggered 18" Style 114 Y-Spokes

GM = Appliance. Mass produced for McConsumers, who like big and inefficient things in general.
BMW = built for driving, safely and in comfort and performance.
VW = pretty damn good too. Mine has 90K and hasn't had any major problems*

*first model year

Ish -
no check engine lights on any of my gm cars in the last 10 years. but thanks for asking (3 SUV's and 2 Vettes)

For everyone in general (no pun intended):

What people don't understand, and it's not a tough concept to master, but seems to escape many people, is the the big 3 make hundreds of thousands of cars in a year for the MASSES. They are not a boutique manufacturer like the BMW's, MB, Porsche, Audi's, Vdub, infiniti, lexus type manufacturers who make tens of thousands of cars that are marketed to a higher income bracket. In order to make those cars affordable to the masses, the big 3 can't load them up with top grain leathers, and have 1micrometer gaps in body panels, etc etc etc. (however, GM does make a lot of innovations that beat the boutiques to market: MSRC, heads up display, PDC, onstar to name a few). If they did, the average american wouldn't be able to afford them, it's a simple concept.

Also, the US economy is heavily reliant on the big 3, 1 in 8 US jobs is in some way related to the automotive industry. It's everyone's right to be critical, but to be undeservedly critical of a US manufacturer that has come a long way in the last 10 years and is part of the foundation of teh US economy is absolutely short sighted and ignorant. (there's that word again )

Do I buy American exclusively ? Nope, I'm a car guy, every car has it's pros and cons for different lifestyles, but I won't completely disregard US brands because of historical stereotypes that no longer hold true for many models.

On a side note, what is also embarrassingly evident about this board, is that when other makes/models are discussed there are too many haters, snobs, ignorant comments, etc., which is the stereotypical knock on BMW/Audi/MB/etc owners (good natured joking aside). What's my point?
Sure this is a BMW board, but how about being open to becoming "car people" and not "brand people" so that some intelligent discussions can occur instead of the way these threads go time in and out.


Rant over.

Hold on, Vdub is in the same exact price point as Chevrolet with the Jetta, Rabbit, GTI, Passat etc, so how do you explain their higher quality vs say a Cobalt?

I agree that GM and Ford (Not Chrysler) have made huge strides to improve their interiors, and both have made massive changes since even a few years ago, but what they always seem to fail to do is understand cutting corners on the little things matters. Take my friend's Tahoe LTZ 4x4, beautiful interior, tons of gadgets, BUT Why couldn't GM use at least decent looking plastic wood and in god's name WHY couldn't they put at least leatherette on the doors, instead they elected 1 huge piece of molded plastic, that just screams cheap in an otherwise well executed vehicle