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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. !!!