GMC Terrain that bad?

[sirgerman]

Quick update

Wife did not like 2010 GMC Terrain, even though the seller lowered the price to $6250, not much I can do
She did like this car;
https://cars.ksl.com/v2/listing/10293429
2014 Chevy Captiva, price not bad, and lower mileage

positives I guess ? Ecotech 2.4 engine and 6 speed, based in a Saturn VUE
Negative; it was sold to rental companies

What do you guys think ?

thanks for all the help

 

[super20dan]

forget it. 2,4 ecotec is trash. especially early ones

 

[vwmaniaman]

I am in the Mazda group. We have two and both very reliable and go in snow in Kentucky with 2 wd.

 

[addyguy]

Captiva hasn’t been made for years, doesn’t have the 2.4 Ecotec AFAIK, getting parts will be difficult.

 

[TacoFergie]

I'm not sure what area you live in, but there are some very good compact to midsize SUV's in the same catergory under $10k with AWD from Ford, Lincoln, Toyota, Honda and Subaru. The late 2000's and early 2010's era GM SUV's are selling cheap for a reason. Most of them were rental grade build quality at best.

Toyota Venza would be a great, it has the 2gr V6, AWD and basically an Avalon SUV sized bwtween the RAV4 and Highlander, very under rated vehicle. If you can find aa Rav4, especially a V6 Rav4 AWD that would be a score. A 3.6R Subaru Outback is an awesome vehicle, though maybe not in your price range unless your lucky. Highlanders are fantastic no matter the year, even better with a hybrid. Lexus RX and NX are very nice, though not sure about price. Honda Pilot, Passport and CRV are pretty good, though the Pilot and Passport does have a timing belt on the V6 that requires changing. Ford had a few SUV's in that era that aren't bad. Lincoln MKX (Ford Edge based) was a good vehicle as well, though not common. Mazda has a few SUV's that are pretty good, but they do have unique interior layouts and infotainment systems. I wouldn't touch a Nissan from that era assuming you even find any still on the road.

Another option is possibly a Honda Ridgeline if she's into a truck based vehicle. They are outstanding vehicles, but I haven't kept an eye on prices.

 

[sirgerman]

forget it. 2,4 ecotec is trash. especially early ones

The ecotec is an older engine, Saturn had a 2.2 ecotec too
are all the ecotec pretty much the same ?

 

[dishdude]

The ecotec is an older engine, Saturn had a 2.2 ecotec too
are all the ecotec pretty much the same ?

The older ones with port injection are better than the later ones with DI.

 

[clinebarger]

The DI/VVT 2.4L is trash, The earlier 2.0/2.2/2.4 port injected engines were actually decent.

 

[Jmlo96]

The Captiva is the same as a Saturn Vue. Which is the same platform as the Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain. The 2.4 direct injection motor in those cars are known for burning tons of oil. You’re lucky to get 100k out of one of those motors. That doesn’t even account for all the other issues the platform has. When I worked at the Chevy dealer in college one of the service advisors said “this is the biggest piece of Junk GM has made since the Vega.”

 

[dishdude]

The Captiva is the same as a Saturn Vue. Which is the same platform as the Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain. The 2.4 direct injection motor in those cars are known for burning tons of oil. You’re lucky to get 100k out of one of those motors. That doesn’t even account for all the other issues the platform has. When I worked at the Chevy dealer in college one of the service advisors said “this is the biggest piece of Junk GM has made since the Vega.”

I think it suffers from the same exact design defect as the H/K Theta II. The DI washes oil away from the cylinder walls causing scoring, which results in oil consumption. Since no one checks their oil, engine goes boom from lack of oil.

 

[Lawnman23]

The DI/VVT 2.4L is trash, The earlier 2.0/2.2/2.4 port injected engines were actually decent.

I had a 2.2 in a ‘08 HHR and can concur, solid engine with no issues with it for the ~85k I had it for.

 

[Jmlo96]

I think it suffers from the same exact design defect as the H/K Theta II. The DI washes oil away from the cylinder walls causing scoring, which results in oil consumption. Since no one checks their oil, engine goes boom from lack of oil.

Yes agreed. I’ve also heard these motors dilute the oil with fuel pretty bad. The timing chain part is also made worse by the fact there is only one small oil squirter to lube the timing chain. If that gets any dirt or sludge then the chain goes dry. I just had a friend who had a 2017 Terrain with the 2.4 have his timing chain break and destroy the motor with about 90k on it. He was keeping oil in it too.

 

[super20dan]

right as usual