GM employees

[highslice]

Compared to the Explorer it would be about $10K less for a comparably equipped vehicle.

I "had" an in at a dealer. My son-in-law's college roommate and best friend married the daughter of a guy who owns a Ford & Hyundai dealership in another state. Back in 2016 when I got my Escape, they gave me a hot deal that was about $4.5K better than what anyone here in Chicago offered me.
So when I started looking at the Palisades I contacted them. Got a response of "No Deals, Sticker price" and "People are giving us deposits for vehicles and we do not even know what is coming in. Inventory is gone before we receive it."

OK, Fine... I do not need a new car, I only would like one...

With inflation and higher interest rates, I am hearing auto sales are slowing (As a cutting tool manufacturer, we review that type of market data).

Lastly, the first Hyundai dealer keeps calling and sending emails now... after 6 months of silence. I think they are getting hungry...

Unfortunately we were in the position that we HAD to replace my wife's CX 9. The Volkswagen dealer had a fair amount of inventory with deliveries increasing. So we gat a fair discount from sticker. We paid less than the Edmund's survey for our area said we should pay. Not like the old days when I would start at the invoice amount and negotiate down from there.
The interest rates do suck. We financed part of the purchase, but I suspect my wife will tire of making those payments and just write a check for the balance.

So the Kia we looked at was their top of the line with a sticker price of $50K. I have not looked at the Explorer (my wife had a bad experience with one in the mid 90s and refuses to even consider another Ford). Are you saying a similarly equipped Explorer would be $60K?

 

[Steve S]

Unfortunately we were in the position that we HAD to replace my wife's CX 9. The Volkswagen dealer had a fair amount of inventory with deliveries increasing. So we gat a fair discount from sticker. We paid less than the Edmund's survey for our area said we should pay. Not like the old days when I would start at the invoice amount and negotiate down from there.
The interest rates do suck. We financed part of the purchase, but I suspect my wife will tire of making those payments and just write a check for the balance.

So the Kia we looked at was their top of the line with a sticker price of $50K. I have not looked at the Explorer (my wife had a bad experience with one in the mid 90s and refuses to even consider another Ford). Are you saying a similarly equipped Explorer would be $60K?

Pretty much. I was looking at the Palisade Caligraphy model (Top line, all options)and would about $53K. The Platinum Edition Explorer is about $63K.

 

[techmitch]

Pretty much. I was looking at the Palisade Caligraphy model (Top line, all options)and would about $53K. The Platinum Edition Explorer is about $63K.

The Explorer is a far superior vehicle.

 

[b_arrington]

The Explorer is a far superior vehicle.

My mechanic advised that Kia and Hyundai start well, but small things start go around 60k miles. Stuff like switches, lamps, window motors, etc. He feels they are not built for the long haul, and we keep cars a long time.

I had a VW that was great to drive but it had a lot of technical issues. My in-laws had a couple Audis with so many problems he swore off and VW related car. The Atlas looks nice but I don’t trust the German engineering and repair costs.

All that said, not impressed with our current 2019 Honda Pilot. Transmissions is jerky, leather seats are wearing that well, and the graphics for the transmission buttons and other switches are wearing off. It had a bunch of recalls too - not what I was expecting from Honda.

 

[techmitch]

My mechanic advised that Kia and Hyundai start well, but small things start go around 60k miles. Stuff like switches, lamps, window motors, etc. He feels they are not built for the long haul, and we keep cars a long time.

I had a VW that was great to drive but it had a lot of technical issues. My in-laws had a couple Audis with so many problems he swore off and VW related car. The Atlas looks nice but I don’t trust the German engineering and repair costs.

All that said, not impressed with our current 2019 Honda Pilot. Transmissions is jerky, leather seats are wearing that well, and the graphics for the transmission buttons and other switches are wearing off. It had a bunch of recalls too - not what I was expecting from Honda.


View attachment 138676

We do those Honda transmissions all the time. Hondas are not what they used to be. And,... I wouldn't want to be ya in a Kia, or a Hyundai for that matter.

 

[b_arrington]

We do those Honda transmissions all the time. Hondas are not what they used to be. And,... I wouldn't want to be ya in a Kia, or a Hyundai for that matter.

I’ll take my 10 years old Nissan Maxima every time. Great performance, very reliable. I actually like the CVT transmission in it.

 

[techmitch]

I’ll take my 10 years old Nissan Maxima every time. Great performance, very reliable. I actually like the CVT transmission in it.

Doing a Altima CVT right now with a Maxima and another Altima outside waiting. How many miles on your Maxima?

 

[b_arrington]

Doing a Altima CVT right now with a Maxima and another Altima outside waiting. How many miles on your Maxima?

161k. I drove an older one 90k miles.

 

[highslice]

My mechanic advised that Kia and Hyundai start well, but small things start go around 60k miles. Stuff like switches, lamps, window motors, etc. He feels they are not built for the long haul, and we keep cars a long time.

I had a VW that was great to drive but it had a lot of technical issues. My in-laws had a couple Audis with so many problems he swore off and VW related car. The Atlas looks nice but I don’t trust the German engineering and repair costs.

All that said, not impressed with our current 2019 Honda Pilot. Transmissions is jerky, leather seats are wearing that well, and the graphics for the transmission buttons and other switches are wearing off. It had a bunch of recalls too - not what I was expecting from Honda.


View attachment 138676

We drove a new Pilot and it was a POS. Loud and rough riding. Interior felt cheap. We had a 2004 Odyssey and 2005 Pilot. They were much nicer than the new one. My wife was disappointed.

The VW comes with a 4 year 60,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty, so hopefully any issues shake out in that time.

 

[techmitch]

161k. I drove an older one 90k miles.

Don't think I've seen one last much past that. The lowest one we have done was only 67K and most don't last past 90-110K they have an extremely high failure rate. Even the reman's from the dealer only have a 12/12 warranty on them.

 

[b_arrington]

Don't think I've seen one last much past that. The lowest one we have done was only 67K and most don't last past 90-110K they have an extremely high failure rate. Even the reman's from the dealer only have a 12/12 warranty on them.

Well, I hope that's not the case for me. I'm a believer in preventative maintenance and have had the CVT taken care of along with the rest of the car. Perhaps about 10-15k miles ago the CVT didn't feel quite right and I was hearing a metallic whirring sound from it. I had my mechanic change (not flush) the transmission fluid and filter unit and it went back to it's normal performance. Between the two Maximas, I can't recall if that was the 2nd fluid change for this one or if I had it done on the first one too. Anyway, it feels very good now.

Recently I noticed the elastomer insert for the engine torque mount had some cracks so I had that replaced. I also just had the air con compressor replaced because it was making a squealing sound and the clutch was failing. My mechanic said other than that the car is in great condition, and don't get rid of it because Nissan built that gen Maximas very well and they are not nearly as good now.

 

[highslice]

Don't think I've seen one last much past that. The lowest one we have done was only 67K and most don't last past 90-110K they have an extremely high failure rate. Even the reman's from the dealer only have a 12/12 warranty on them.

My neighbor bought a Murano with the CVT. At about 80K miles he was out of town and the radiator was acting up so he took to a dealer where he was. They fixed the radiator and told him there was a recall on the CVT and he was just under the wire mileage wise. He wasn't sure if he got a new transmission or a reman (not a car guy) but his son is driving that Murano and it has over 200,000 miles on it. I have owned 2 Maximas and loved them both. That V6 is strong and bullet proof. I just couldn't get used to the CVT.

 

[b_arrington]

My neighbor bought a Murano with the CVT. At about 80K miles he was out of town and the radiator was acting up so he took to a dealer where he was. They fixed the radiator and told him there was a recall on the CVT and he was just under the wire mileage wise. He wasn't sure if he got a new transmission or a reman (not a car guy) but his son is driving that Murano and it has over 200,000 miles on it. I have owned 2 Maximas and loved them both. That V6 is strong and bullet proof. I just couldn't get used to the CVT.

I think Nissan had some issues with the CVT in my first Maxima (2009). I didn't have any issues with it, but they extended the warranty to something like 10 years 100,000 miles. I traded it in for a newer Maxima before I got near that. I know there's a lot of hate for CVTs in the car world but I rather like mine with the regular, sport, and "manual" shifting modes. My son is learning to drive and he finds the Maxima CVT much more refined, responsive, and easier to drive than the Pilot's 9 speed auto.

I'd love to still have a manual like was in my Volkswagon, but the practical matter is a manual sucks for stop and go commuting. And my wife has some issues that prevent her from driving a manual anymore.

 

[Espos4]

Don't think I've seen one last much past that. The lowest one we have done was only 67K and most don't last past 90-110K they have an extremely high failure rate. Even the reman's from the dealer only have a 12/12 warranty on them.

I think Ive got one for the record books. One customer of mine got 239,000 miles out of his 2011 Rogue CVT before he had it rebuilt a few months ago.

 

[Jus Cruisin]

Thanks to my anonymous CSR member, I'm picking up the GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate 1500 in a couple of hours. First ever GMC. Pretty stoked about it.

 

[Pirate Lady]

My mechanic advised that Kia and Hyundai start well, but small things start go around 60k miles. Stuff like switches, lamps, window motors, etc. He feels they are not built for the long haul, and we keep cars a long time.

TOTALLY disagree. My 2013 Veloster 105k miles. 1 battery, 2 tire sets, 1 set sway bar ends. In excellent condition.
Wife former Sonata went 100k, 1 set tires, 1 battery, gave to daughter. In perfect condition. Wife just bought Elantra. We have never had any brand of cars as repair free as Hyundai.

 

[northshore]

TOTALLY disagree. My 2013 Veloster 105k miles. 1 battery, 2 tire sets, 1 set sway bar ends. In excellent condition.
Wife former Sonata went 100k, 1 set tires, 1 battery, gave to daughter. In perfect condition. Wife just bought Elantra. We have never had any brand of cars as repair free as Hyundai.

I can also tell you that Hyundai/Kia is dropping a boatload (pardon the pun) of money on vibration test equipment with my company.

 

[northshore]

Blue, this is from the GM Family First website.

"GM Supplier Discount for Friends is a program that allows eligible employees to extend the same discount that GM suppliers receive to cousins, friends or neighbors."

I was looking at our copy of the GM Supplier discount paperwork and looks like it's a when you buy, you can get the same discount for a friend up to two friends per year"

Might be different for GM employees

 

[Pirate Lady]

Oh, brakes. We did have to replace brakes on Veloster and Sonata.
I got 150k from my previous car, 2001 eclipse. Dam I loved it but it started electrical problems and had to go. I suspect this Veloster will surpass that now that retired and barely drive any miles.

 

[Great lakes pirate]

I was looking at our copy of the GM Supplier discount paperwork and looks like it's a when you buy, you can get the same discount for a friend up to two friends per year"

Might be different for GM employees

One per month for the GM folks.