Introducing my 2001 Pontiac Montana(the one on the right). The other is also an 01 but not the focus of this thread.
And here's why I think alot of GM's products arn't as bad as some people make them out to be:
That's 608,000km or 377,000 miles! A little history on this vehicle:
-bought new in late 2000, immediately put into service as a taxi in my fleet.
-0-250,000km: mostly city driving. 5000km OCI with dino+WIX filters. Service performed by my mechanic.
-trans flushed every 50k with dino ATF
-250k-present: mostly hiway driving. 40,000km OCI with XD3 0w30 and Amsoil BMK-13 bypass kit.
-Amsoil ATF installed along with a BE-90 bypass filter. ATF and filter changed once at 450k. All other fluids changed every 100k.
Parts that are factory original:
-engine
-trans
-radiator, condensor and fans
-windshield
-cat-back exhaust
-alternator
-PS pump
-a/c compressor
-water pump
-all tensioners and idlers
-steering rack
-O2 sensors
-PCV valve
-heater motor and core
I could list alot more but basically anything you wouldn't think of as a wear item has not been replaced. She's alwyas made it home safe, never been on a tow hook!
Parts that were replaced once:
-ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, shocks, struts @300k
-brake calipers @ 500k
-axles @450k
-fuel pump @300k (never failed, replaced as preventative maintenance)
-catalytic converter @250k
-intake gaskets(duh!) @160k
Stuff that sucked(to be fair)
-some actuator for the windshield defrost that cost $800 in labor to replace.
-wheel bearings that cost $450 each! They're much cheaper now though.
-ABS harnesses strung underneath like christmas lights. I fixed broken wires a couple times and then cured the problem forever with a piece of electrical tape over the ABS light in the dash...lol!
-power window regulators made out of tin foil. After a couple replacements, I went in with my mig welder and reinforced them. No problems since.
-all the crappy plastic trim that always breaks.
-replaced the thermostat several times and it's not an easy job.
-I'd like to slap the engineer who made the air filter, oil filter, battery, rear spark plugs, headlight bulbs and many other things difficult to service. I've done all of them so many times now that I find it easy but the first few times are a nightmare.
This van is still in my fleet doing 1000km/day. Still runs like a champ, gets the same fuel mileage as new and consumes about 1L of oil/10,000km. She'll be going into semi-retirement at the end of the month though. I budget for 500k on these vans so this one doesn't owe me anything. It'll stay in my fleet for the next 12-18 months as a spare/backup vehicle incase one of the others breaks down or gets in an accident and can't be repaired for several days.
None of my other 4 vans have this high of mileage yet but so far, no issues have popped up except the ones listed above. I'm not a GM fanatic, just a fan of stuff that does it's job cheaply and reliably. Considering I can now buy these at auction(just off lease) for $10k CDN, I'll probably keep using them for the next several years.
And here's why I think alot of GM's products arn't as bad as some people make them out to be:
That's 608,000km or 377,000 miles! A little history on this vehicle:
-bought new in late 2000, immediately put into service as a taxi in my fleet.
-0-250,000km: mostly city driving. 5000km OCI with dino+WIX filters. Service performed by my mechanic.
-trans flushed every 50k with dino ATF
-250k-present: mostly hiway driving. 40,000km OCI with XD3 0w30 and Amsoil BMK-13 bypass kit.
-Amsoil ATF installed along with a BE-90 bypass filter. ATF and filter changed once at 450k. All other fluids changed every 100k.
Parts that are factory original:
-engine
-trans
-radiator, condensor and fans
-windshield
-cat-back exhaust
-alternator
-PS pump
-a/c compressor
-water pump
-all tensioners and idlers
-steering rack
-O2 sensors
-PCV valve
-heater motor and core
I could list alot more but basically anything you wouldn't think of as a wear item has not been replaced. She's alwyas made it home safe, never been on a tow hook!
Parts that were replaced once:
-ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, shocks, struts @300k
-brake calipers @ 500k
-axles @450k
-fuel pump @300k (never failed, replaced as preventative maintenance)
-catalytic converter @250k
-intake gaskets(duh!) @160k
Stuff that sucked(to be fair)
-some actuator for the windshield defrost that cost $800 in labor to replace.
-wheel bearings that cost $450 each! They're much cheaper now though.
-ABS harnesses strung underneath like christmas lights. I fixed broken wires a couple times and then cured the problem forever with a piece of electrical tape over the ABS light in the dash...lol!
-power window regulators made out of tin foil. After a couple replacements, I went in with my mig welder and reinforced them. No problems since.
-all the crappy plastic trim that always breaks.
-replaced the thermostat several times and it's not an easy job.
-I'd like to slap the engineer who made the air filter, oil filter, battery, rear spark plugs, headlight bulbs and many other things difficult to service. I've done all of them so many times now that I find it easy but the first few times are a nightmare.
This van is still in my fleet doing 1000km/day. Still runs like a champ, gets the same fuel mileage as new and consumes about 1L of oil/10,000km. She'll be going into semi-retirement at the end of the month though. I budget for 500k on these vans so this one doesn't owe me anything. It'll stay in my fleet for the next 12-18 months as a spare/backup vehicle incase one of the others breaks down or gets in an accident and can't be repaired for several days.
None of my other 4 vans have this high of mileage yet but so far, no issues have popped up except the ones listed above. I'm not a GM fanatic, just a fan of stuff that does it's job cheaply and reliably. Considering I can now buy these at auction(just off lease) for $10k CDN, I'll probably keep using them for the next several years.