Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site ihu1m.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!ihu1m!heneghan From: heneghan@ihu1m.UUCP (Joe Heneghan) Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Re: Info wanted on Nissan Maxima and Pontiac Grand Am Message-ID: <484@ihu1m.UUCP> Date: Mon, 1-Jul-85 11:28:51 EDT Article-I.D.: ihu1m.484 Posted: Mon Jul 1 11:28:51 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 2-Jul-85 05:28:12 EDT References: <5493@cbscc.UUCP> <1091@mnetor.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 36 > > I'd like to recount some experiences that I've had, that will point out > the problems of buying a new-model car, particularly the Grand Am: > > My wife and I were looking at a Grand Am a little while ago, with the > intent of possibly buying one. We liked it a lot. Being a small-scale > do-it-yourselfer, I looked under the hood to see whether I could do > some of the routine maintenance. The engine (I'm not sure of the > size), was a mechanical masterpiece. It seemed to be a rectangular > block of Aluminum (or some other metal - doesn't really matter) with > wires, pipes, and hoses sticking out. I thought that the engine was > really neat. But, then I tried looking for the oil filter. The sales > rep and I looked for 15 minutes and couldn't find it. (No > flames/corrections - If I bought one I'd look it up in the manual). > Later, I thought some more and remembered that there are major > problems with cars using new subsystems: > > 1) Ordinary mechanics don't know how to repair them (yet) - > so you are a prisoner of the dealers and they always charge more. > And it will take longer. *** It's getting where ordinary mechanics can't fix anything newer than an 81 model anything *** . . . > > > The Grand Am sure was neat, but I've never seen anything like that engine > before. I wouldn't buy one until the engine has proven itself and has > become somewhat of a "standard". Slant-6's - I love 'em! My sister bought a Grand Am with a 2.5. She loves it. The oil filter is changed from underneath. You don't have to move any wheels. The only problem she's had was that a flywheel loosened up once about 3 months ago. !!!