Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site mnetor.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcs!mnetor!clewis From: clewis@mnetor.UUCP (Chris Lewis) Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Re: Info wanted on Nissan Maxima and Pontiac Grand Am Message-ID: <1091@mnetor.UUCP> Date: Wed, 26-Jun-85 13:40:09 EDT Article-I.D.: mnetor.1091 Posted: Wed Jun 26 13:40:09 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 28-Jun-85 11:40:58 EDT References: <5493@cbscc.UUCP> Reply-To: clewis@mnetor.UUCP (Chris Lewis) Organization: Computer X (CANADA) Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada Lines: 59 Summary: In article <5493@cbscc.UUCP> co@cbscc.UUCP (Corinna Owens) writes: > >I am considering buying the Nissan Maxima or the Pontiac Grand Am >(automatic with a 3.0 V6 engine). I would appreciated any >info/experiences netters have had with these autos. >... >They do say to beware of GM autos their first year. What do you think? 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. 2) New subsystems frequently have problems, eg: a) 1980 Citations had severe problems with their transaxles (My mother's car has had the bushings replaced twice - once under warrantee, the second by my father and I - NOT a nice job - even though we managed to do it without removing the transaxle). They didn't really get rid of this problem until the '82 model year. b) 1980 Citations are very difficult to work with because the engine is "odd" (you gotta take off the right front tire to change the oil filter, replacing belts sometimes requires removing the air-conditioner and some body struts, and replacing the ignition subsystem may require hoisting the engine - a $500-$800 CDN job!) 3) It takes 2-3 years for 3rd party parts manufacturers to make parts for them - if they ever do. Again, you are a prisoner of the manufacturer's higher price parts. The problem is worst when your model is the only one that uses a part - we're still looking for wiper blades for our '83 Century! (GM doesn't seem to make them anymore, nor the adapter, and I refuse to buy new wiper arms with a different mounting mechanism!) Even now, my 75 Valiant's air filter is 1/4 the cost of a 80 Citation's. 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! -- Chris Lewis, UUCP: {allegra, linus, ihnp4}!utzoo!mnetor!clewis BELL: (416)-475-8980 ext. 321