quote:
Originally posted by Rickey:
Agreed that BMW made the smart move of not using timing belts. Honda/Acura however has been another story hasn't it? Acura is just an overpriced hyped up Honda with its associated transmission and valvetrain integrity issues. BMW, just another point of disposal(maintenance costs) for that six figure income. This somehow buys "snob appeal" and little else. Not a single rattle in my new (6K miles now)Impala. It says 26.7 MPG right now on the average MPG calculator. I have seen 34 MPG or better average on highway trips. I think that its cam in block VVT is a rather elegant and efficent use of technology. Why must some continue to ignore the obvious superiority of GM's designs? Their TurboHydromatic transmissons and small block engines are legendary for bulletproof reliability. Nisan had their flirt with improperly implimented Nicasil technology too I believe. Does BMW still attempt to use this cylinder lining material? I believe that Porsche was the only manufacturer to get this right.
BMW and six figure income? I think that is a little bit of a generalization as not everyone buys a BMW new (me). Let alone they seem to be a dime a dozen out here so they aren't too expensive to come by after a few years of depreciation. Also only in America would BMW be considered a snob appeal, this a worldwide company with vehicles that start as spartan as a econo car in others areas of the world.
I do not doubt your W-body's fuel mileage capability or reliability granted there should be no excuse for those things as they have been using the same stuff for decades! What I do find fault for GM is there continuation of using old designs for saving money. Why support a company that is just trying to short change the buyer? Like I've said before, I believe cars evolve at a certain pace and I respect companies that take pride in making great pieces of machinery at a current point in time. That could range from safety, suspension design, electronics, mechanical features, the overall fluidity in the way the car functions, etc.
I look at BMW and respect their mechanical engineering/suspension design and see a company that is trying to to make an impressive product. I look at Audi and see a company who takes pride in making a great looking and ergonomic interior backed up with sharp exteriors. I also see Lexus who take stride in making a very luxurious automobile that is also reliable.
Obviously a Chevy Impala should have less to go wrong than a new 3-series...there is a ton less gadgets/engineering into the Impala! The Germans love to over engineer everything and usually be the first to do so then have the Japanese copy down the line making a more reliable version of whatever it may be. There is a reason 98% of American cars are laughed off around the world, it's sad but the reality is that these huge corporations are slow to move and like to nickel/dime every little thing. I think they under estimate that a buyer is willing to pay a bit extra for a better product. Also if GM's products were so fantastic they wouldn't be near bankrupt even with those Unions? They have a long road ahead of themselves and they surely need people like you supporting the stuff they put out now because as generation x and y people age they are running out of the older crowd that grew up buying their cars. A good deal of the 30 and younger crowd have grown up with import vehicles and will continue to buy them...this is a big problem for these companies.
I can only hope the people running GM don't think in the manner you do. If they truly feel their product is that great for the reasons you described then our country will be saying goodbye to them in the not too distant future.
Like I already said before the Nikasil was used on the V8 in the 5/7's of the early/mid 90's and this was a US related problem due to our high sulfur content in fuel. BMW took care of the problem by replacing the blocks on those cars.
[ September 02, 2006, 10:09 PM: Message edited by: windnsea00 ]
