gmc == poor service after the sale

GMC FAQ » GMC Sonoma » gmc == poor service after the sale

Question:

Yesssss….with a nice charcoal grilled rare steak, french fries, maybe a salad, nice summer tomatoes….don’t have that stuff in Russia…. Got questions? Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

Response:

What yew sayin’ Cletus? Dat u’s some sort uh commie GM TECH? Work’n fur dat gawd dang tax payin organization i’z suport’n all thoz gawd dang communikts over d’erein Russia. Where’s my six pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon, Or make it a case rather, GC

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > independent from G.M. we have to pay for there product just like you not > to mention being a G.M. dealer we have to follow there rules but Service > Mng. have the right to help people with there problems just because you > had a bad experience with one dealer don’t blame G.M. just find a > different dealer cry baby > P.S. I’m a G.M. TECH and your giving my > dealer a bad name and your dumb azz self hasent even been there. so shut > up.

Response:

I was amused by the string of notes on the subject of GM washing their hands of troubles after a sale is made. The technician, who lacked basic grammar skills, is not likely indicative of all of the GMC technicians. Good thing! I have a 1999 Jimmy SLE. When I purchased this vehicle last June, I grilled several people about the reliability of General Motors products. All had told me it improved. Having that information, I purchased the vehicle. Since that time, the following items have either been repaired or replaced: – Rear window wiper (Replaced) – Passenger seat belt (Replaced) – Alternator (Replaced…with a remanufactured unit) – Exhaust "O" gasket (Replaced) – Rear door hinge (Replaced) – Body-side molding on drivers side (re-fitted) – Passenger seat trim (Re-adjusted) At the moment, there are still rattles that haven’t been addressed. Throughout all of these repairs, I have found the GMC dealerships to be severely lacking in customer service skills. Note that, due to a job change, the vehicle had been taken to three dealerships throughout this past year. Consistently, the customer service was lousy and confrontational. In the latest service (15K and a hissing sound from the engine area), the vehicle was returned with duct tape wrapping a series of wires…and the check engine light came on a day later. I contrast this with the prior Toyotas and Hondas I’ve had. I never had any major work done on either of these vehicles throughout their life spans. (I generally keep vehicles about three years.) I did have squeaks and rattles about a year after purchase. The dealers, however, were courteous and actually listened to what it was I was saying. At no time did the burden of "proving" something was wrong fall on me. I told them the symptoms, they fixed the problem, they told me what they did to resolve the problem. My post is not about a Japanese vs. American car manufacturer. It is about paying a large sum of money for a vehicle ($29K in my case), and expecting that the vehicle will be reliable. In the event it is not, the expectation is that the seller of the product will do whatever it takes to make it work as advertised. In short, it’s about the total customer experience. The marketplace will dictate a correction; that’s the beauty of a market-driven economy. GM will continue to lose market share, and people like me will accept that GM products are not worth buying again. When we have to face the issues of dealing with warranties, making time to take a vehicle in, etc., it becomes clear that the cost of the vehicle is far greater than the initial purchase price. (Not just speaking in terms of dollars, but also looking at time availability, hassle, etc.) Joel

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I had a Pontiac under warranty. The transaxle started acting up. The > dealer had be sign for a $600 removal and tear-down estimate to see whether > it was warranty work or not. > It was. > He wanted to rebuild the transaxle in his shop. > I asked how much for a factory remanufactured unit. > He said $165 more. > I said, "I’ll take it". > That warranty repair cost me $165. One of the best $165 I ever spent. > You gotta appeal to their greed. > Read Remar Sutton’s book "Don’t Get Taken Every Time". > TR > General Motors is your best friend — between the > time you walk in and the time you sign the > contract. Then it’s all over, except for the > squeeling. > The GM dealers in my area start forcing you to > sign "inspection estimates" before they will tell > you if the repair is warranteed — this starts > about a year after purchase. If it’s not > warranteed, you either have to pay their high rates > for the non-warranted repair, or pay the estimate > fee to get your vehicle back and take it somewhere > else. > Nowhere in the warranty book does it say that the > dealer is going to change the treatment of warranty > inspections over the warranty period. At the beginning > of the warranty period, the inspections said "0.0". > When I talked to the service manager, he was very > candid: > Q: Brake repairs. Doesn’t everyone give free > inspections? Why do you make me sign a non-zero > estimate when my vehicle is still under warranty? > A: We have to protect ourselves from people who > get their brakes checked, find it’s not covered, > then take the vehicle away. Someone has to pay for > the technician. > Q: Didn’t I pay for the technician when I bought > the vehicle and warranty? > A: No, the technicians are paid by day, by > vehicle, by job. > Q: You advertise free brake inspections. What’s > the difference between a free brake inspection and > a inspection that is to determine if the repair is > under warranty? > A: The warranty brake inspection is more detailed > and takes longer to do. > Q: I ask again, my vehicle is under warranty, and > you appear to have changed the terms at 14000 > miles. Please give me a free, no obligation brake > inspection. > A: I can’t do that. > GM "Customer Assistance" is little more than a > mouthpiece for the dealerships. "We’re sorry, we > don’t agree with the dealer, but there’s nothing > more we can do" > I’ll never, ever, buy GM again. My brother works > for GMC, but drives a beemer. You do the math. > — > John

Response:

If you truly are a GM technician named "Stephen", I have to say the idea of someone like you repairing any of my property is frightening. Sending the following email to my address is bordering on harrassment, so if you have any kind of rational argument to hash out with me, get on with it or stop sending these wastes of time to me. — John – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Just to let you know. GM? is one of the largest compaies on this > planet. So Im really really not affriad of you or your cronies putting a > loser like me out of work. If you can call me a (six figure a year > income) loser. I believe losers have something more in common with you, > being that you and them try so hard to discredt a company that has > helped built this nation > I, hardheaded cynic that I am, honestly can’t let Mr. John McBride’s > misinformation and misguided arguments about GM? go by without > comment. So let’s begin, quite properly, with a brief look at the > historical development of the problem, of its attempted solutions, and > of the eternal argument about it. Generally speaking, it’s wishy-washy > for him to supplant one form of injustice with another. Or perhaps I > should say, it’s negligent. Once again, the problem with him is not that > he’s cruel-to-the-core. It’s that he wants to destroy our sense of > safety in the places we ordinarily imagine we can flee to. > Mr. McBride’s activities don’t accomplish anything useful, because they > don’t deal with the real issue. The real issue is that whenever there’s > an argument about Mr. McBride’s devotion to principles and to freedom, > all one has to do is point out that small minds are little troubled by > this. That should settle the argument pretty quickly. Here’s a specific > example of the way in which the inhumane tone used by Mr. McBride in his > assertions clearly shows what kind of person he really is: He wants to > spread hatred, animosity, and divisiveness. The most beer-guzzling > good-for-nothings you’ll ever see often act with a mob mentality. Sure, > it sounds presumptuous. Blame that on disgraceful delirious purveyors of > malice and hatred. Let’s look at the facts. First, there is a vast > empirical literature on this subject. Second, as conscious, sentient > beings aware of our actions and capable of response, we must take stock > of what we know, identify areas for further research, and provide a > useful starting point for debate on his petulant despicable demands. And > finally, I cannot promise not to be angry at him. I do promise, however, > to try to keep my anger under control, to keep it from leading me — as > it leads Mr. McBride — to dismantle the guard rails that protect > society from the brain-damaged elements in its midst. > If the mass news media were actually in the business of covering news > rather than molding public attitudes to insult the intelligence, > interests, and life plans of whole groups of people, they would indeed > report that I have to wonder where he got the idea that it is my view > that two wrongs make a right. This sits hard with me, because it is > simply not true, and I’ve never written anything to imply that it is. Do > you understand the implications of what I have been telling you? Are you > awake? Then you probably realize that like a verbal magician, Mr. > McBride knows how to lie without appearing to be lying, how to bury > secrets in mountains of garbage-speak. I like to speak of him as > "abhorrent". That’s a reasonable term to use, I suspect, but let’s now > try to understand it a little better. For starters, Mr. McBride teaches > workshops on deconstructionism. Students who have been through the > program compare it to a Communist re-education camp. > As it turns out, some of the facts I’m about to present may seem > shocking. This they certainly are. However, his hypocrisy has reached a > new low. Of that I am certain, because his cronies believe that "we have > no reason to be fearful about the criminally violent trends in our > society today and over the past ten to fifteen years." First off, that’s > a lousy sentence. If they had written that Mr. McBride’s grievances are > a prissy carnival of gangsterism, then that quote would have had more > validity. As it stands, we must investigate Mr. McBride’s > irreligionism-oriented principles, ideals, and objectives. Our children > depend on that. Mr. McBride is typical of incoherent degenerates in his > wild invocations to the irrational, the magic, and the fantastic to > dramatize his objectives. > I don’t know if I speak for anybody but myself on this, but his > philosophies are an icon for the deterioration of the city, for its slow > slide into crime, malaise, and filth. I find Mr. McBride’s manuscripts > rather petty, don’t you? More concretely, Mr. McBride wants all of us to > believe that the best way to make a point is with foaming-at-the-mouth > rhetoric and letters filled primarily with exclamation points. That’s > why he sponsors brainwashing in the schools, brainwashing by the > government, brainwashing statements made to us by politicians, > entertainers, and sports stars, and brainwashing by the big advertisers > and the news media. > He, perhaps more than anyone, should take seriously the challenge to > focus on the major economic, social, and political forces that provide > the setting for the expression of a crude agenda. It’s a pity. I assume > that he is unaware of his obligation not to reduce human beings to the > status of domestic animals, as this unawareness would be consistent with > his prior displays of ignorance. Mr. McBride wants to encourage a deadly > acceptance of intolerance. What’s wrong with that? What’s wrong is Mr. > McBride’s gossamer grasp of reality. > To get even the simplest message into the consciousness of disruptive > cowards, it has to be repeated at least 50 times. Now, I don’t want to > insult your intelligence by telling you the following 50 times, but if > he thinks I’m too prurient to work together towards a shared vision, > he’s sadly mistaken. Those who confuse, befuddle, and neutralize public > opposition must be held accountable for their actions. How does Mr. > McBride deal with this fascinating piece of information? He thoroughly > ignores it. I mean, he believes that he is forward-looking, open-minded, > and creative. Sorry, but I have to call foul on that one. Throughout > history, there has been a clash between those who wish to grant people > the freedom to pursue any endeavor they deem fitting to their skills, > talent, and interest and those who wish to flush all my hopes and dreams > down the toilet. Naturally, Mr. McBride belongs to the latter category. > He has, on a number of occasions, expressed a desire to threaten > national security. On all of these occasions, I submitted to the advice > of my friends, who assured me that I, for one, unmistakeably wouldn’t > want to offer hatred with a pseudo-intellectual gloss. I would, on the > other hand, love to begin a course of careful, planned, and coordinated > action. But, hey, I’m already doing that with this letter. Mr. McBride > will overthrow democratic political systems when you least expect it, — > not necessarily by direct action, but by convincing his lackeys to > "solve" all our problems by talking them to death. This is abject > cynicism! > I correctly predicted that he would worsen an already unstable > situation. Alas, I didn’t think he’d do that so effectively — or so > soon. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but Mr. McBride should think > about how his harangues lead the most depraved insurrectionists I’ve > ever seen to funnel significant amounts of money to the most immature > scamps you’ll ever see. If Mr. McBride doesn’t want to think that hard, > perhaps he should just keep quiet. If you can go more than a minute > without hearing him talk about commercialism, you’re either deaf, dumb, > or in a serious case of denial. > I cringe at the thought of how Mr. McBride might some day palm off our > present situation as the compelling ground for worldwide immoralism. > Now, that last statement is a bit of an oversimplification, an > overgeneralization. But it is nevertheless substantially true. It takes > more than a mass of rancorous diabolic politicos to investigate the > development of gnosticism as a concept. It takes a great many thoughtful > and semi-thoughtful people who are willing to reinforce notions of > positive self esteem. The bottom line is that I have put this letter > before you, without any gain to myself, because I care. > GM tech, Stephen

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > John said: > Just for fun, I’ll throw in another fine experience with GM "Warranty" > service. Shortly after buying the truck (2-3 days) I heard a rattle from > the front of the vehicle. I noticed the bottom of the grill assembly was > not attached. When I showed it to the service rep, he said "It’s a > safety feature, the bottom is supposed to be loose like that". > Since there was an identical model, new, only a few feet away, I walked > over and pulled on the bottom of the grill. Tightly attached. Here’s the > best part — the service rep *glared* at me, then started banging away > on the computer keyboard. > General Motors absolutely SUCKS. Nice V6 and V8, I guess, but they don’t > give a rat’s ass about the customer once they have your money. In my > case, they changed the terms of their warranty 14000 miles into the > supposed "36000 mile, 100% covered, B to B Warranty". > See, John, this is what I was talking about with my rather rude reply the > other day. This dealer you’re going to is a joke. It’s not necessarily the > way it is with all dealers. You need to write a letter to GM about it. > They *might* not do anything, but then again…. > This little story you told above is indicative of what’s wrong with the > industry. People have experiences like this with one business and presume > that it is the same with all…that is simply not the case. > Ken

Ken, Well, I tried the two closest dealers, and they both agreed that after 14000 miles the burden for proof on the brake warranty transfers to the owner. I guess I could travel to pontiac, but that would be a bit of a drive Interestingly, I got a nasty message from a GM Technician about my posts — I can’t tell you how happy I was to have someone from GM really pissed at me. Turnabout is fair play, I guess. — John

Response:

TR, Yes, this is a good point. I wouldn’t be suprised if the factory rebuild was better than both the original or dealer-rebuilt units. In my situation, I just have a hard time getting past the fact that other people in the line with me were being offered "Free Brake Inspections", which were not applicable to me, when the service manager told me the problem could only be pads or the master cylinder. It seems a "Free Brake Inspection" would certainly include examining the front pads, thus removing all doubt as the the warrantability of the repair. Imagine the customer in front of you being offered a free trans. removal and tear down, with her vehicle out of warranty, but you being forced to sign the $165 because your removal and tear down was more complicated, being a warranty issue. I’m not sure you would have felt the same way about the dealer as you do now. But yours is a story of success with the dealer, it’s a good point for people to remember on their way in — who is to say the dealer wouldn’t have simply replaced a single part to get the tranny through the rest of the warranty, leaving you up for a huge repair bill down the road (sorry) while you got a full factory rebuild for $165? sounds like a great decision. i will note that book on my list ‘o’ reads… — John – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I had a Pontiac under warranty. The transaxle started acting up. The > dealer had be sign for a $600 removal and tear-down estimate to see whether > it was warranty work or not. > It was. > He wanted to rebuild the transaxle in his shop. > I asked how much for a factory remanufactured unit. > He said $165 more. > I said, "I’ll take it". > That warranty repair cost me $165. One of the best $165 I ever spent. > You gotta appeal to their greed. > Read Remar Sutton’s book "Don’t Get Taken Every Time". > TR

Response:

Ken Over the past 12 years I have lived in 4 states and my wife and I "tried" at least 7 GM dealerships… They may not ALL be like that. But I haven’t found a good one yet… — You_Know_Who~ Cat software amd Windows help: http://home.att.net/~You_know_Who/ —– "I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it. It is never of any use to oneself." Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) —–

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> John said: > Just for fun, I’ll throw in another fine experience with GM "Warranty" > service. Shortly after buying the truck (2-3 days) I heard a rattle from > the front of the vehicle. I noticed the bottom of the grill assembly was > not attached. When I showed it to the service rep, he said "It’s a > safety feature, the bottom is supposed to be loose like that". > Since there was an identical model, new, only a few feet away, I walked > over and pulled on the bottom of the grill. Tightly attached. Here’s the > best part — the service rep *glared* at me, then started banging away > on the computer keyboard. > General Motors absolutely SUCKS. Nice V6 and V8, I guess, but they don’t > give a rat’s ass about the customer once they have your money. In my > case, they changed the terms of their warranty 14000 miles into the > supposed "36000 mile, 100% covered, B to B Warranty". > See, John, this is what I was talking about with my rather rude reply the > other day. This dealer you’re going to is a joke. It’s not necessarily the > way it is with all dealers. You need to write a letter to GM about it. > They *might* not do anything, but then again…. > This little story you told above is indicative of what’s wrong with the > industry. People have experiences like this with one business and presume > that it is the same with all…that is simply not the case. > Ken

Response:

>independent from G.M. we have to pay for there product just like you not >to mention being a G.M. dealer we have to follow there rules but Service >Mng. have the right to help people with there problems just because you >had a bad experience with one dealer don’t blame G.M. just find a >different dealer cry baby >P.S. I’m a G.M. TECH and your giving my >dealer a bad name and your dumb azz self hasent even been there. so shut >up.

You never disputed the facts, just call names. That means you are exactly like what the original poster stated. You prove HIS point, not yours. — # If HMOs ran the post office, 44.3 million Americans would get no mail. # # Phono FAQ: http://www.pagesz.net/~henryj/phono.htm. # # Support Medicare for All Ages. Urban Myth FAQ under development. # # Support Cygnet Horns for Edison Firesides-george conklin, KB4NCI #

Response:

>the thread here demonstrates exactly the problem with GM >"your dumb azz self hasent even been there. so shutup ". >Unable to write coherent sentences >Calls customers dumb when they have a problem with the car >Tells customers to shut up when they complain. >No wonder GM is losing market share!

Absolutely correct. The mechanic who posted is proof of the original problem. Those dealers do exactly what GM wants them to do. — # If HMOs ran the post office, 44.3 million Americans would get no mail. # # Phono FAQ: http://www.pagesz.net/~henryj/phono.htm. # # Support Medicare for All Ages. Urban Myth FAQ under development. # # Support Cygnet Horns for Edison Firesides-george conklin, KB4NCI #

Response:

i agree to that but dont blame G.M. for the problem with the dealer blame the dealer!

Response:

independent from G.M. we have to pay for there product just like you not to mention being a G.M. dealer we have to follow there rules but Service Mng. have the right to help people with there problems just because you had a bad experience with one dealer don’t blame G.M. just find a different dealer cry baby P.S. I’m a G.M. TECH and your giving my dealer a bad name and your dumb azz self hasent even been there. so shut up.

Response:

the thread here demonstrates exactly the problem with GM "your dumb azz self hasent even been there. so shutup ". Unable to write coherent sentences Calls customers dumb when they have a problem with the car Tells customers to shut up when they complain. No wonder GM is losing market share! — You know who~ Windows Help, Cat Pictures and Software at http://home.att.net/~You_know_Who/ "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society" Mark Twain (1835-1910)

Response:

John said: > Just for fun, I’ll throw in another fine experience with GM "Warranty" > service. Shortly after buying the truck (2-3 days) I heard a rattle from > the front of the vehicle. I noticed the bottom of the grill assembly was > not attached. When I showed it to the service rep, he said "It’s a > safety feature, the bottom is supposed to be loose like that". > Since there was an identical model, new, only a few feet away, I walked > over and pulled on the bottom of the grill. Tightly attached. Here’s the > best part — the service rep *glared* at me, then started banging away > on the computer keyboard. > General Motors absolutely SUCKS. Nice V6 and V8, I guess, but they don’t > give a rat’s ass about the customer once they have your money. In my > case, they changed the terms of their warranty 14000 miles into the > supposed "36000 mile, 100% covered, B to B Warranty".

See, John, this is what I was talking about with my rather rude reply the other day. This dealer you’re going to is a joke. It’s not necessarily the way it is with all dealers. You need to write a letter to GM about it. They *might* not do anything, but then again…. This little story you told above is indicative of what’s wrong with the industry. People have experiences like this with one business and presume that it is the same with all…that is simply not the case. Ken

Response:

If you want to know who’s the king of crappy service then go buy a dodge and then take it in for service. CC cares more about used toilet paper than they do their customers.

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>General Motors absolutely SUCKS. Nice V6 and V8, I guess, but they don’t >give a rat’s ass about the customer once they have your money. In my

LOL! That’s been my experience with just about every business I’ve ever dealt with. Why am I not overly concerned/alarmed that GM behaves this way. As long as they keep their engineers happy and well paid so they can keep designing those nice V6’s and V8’s, that’s all I’m concerned about. As for GM management, dealer management/sales people they can all go fuck themselves. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->case, they changed the terms of their warranty 14000 miles into the >supposed "36000 mile, 100% covered, B to B Warranty". >John

Response:

I had a Pontiac under warranty. The transaxle started acting up. The dealer had be sign for a $600 removal and tear-down estimate to see whether it was warranty work or not. It was. He wanted to rebuild the transaxle in his shop. I asked how much for a factory remanufactured unit. He said $165 more. I said, "I’ll take it". That warranty repair cost me $165. One of the best $165 I ever spent. You gotta appeal to their greed. Read Remar Sutton’s book "Don’t Get Taken Every Time". TR

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> General Motors is your best friend — between the > time you walk in and the time you sign the > contract. Then it’s all over, except for the > squeeling. > The GM dealers in my area start forcing you to > sign "inspection estimates" before they will tell > you if the repair is warranteed — this starts > about a year after purchase. If it’s not > warranteed, you either have to pay their high rates > for the non-warranted repair, or pay the estimate > fee to get your vehicle back and take it somewhere > else. > Nowhere in the warranty book does it say that the > dealer is going to change the treatment of warranty > inspections over the warranty period. At the beginning > of the warranty period, the inspections said "0.0". > When I talked to the service manager, he was very > candid: > Q: Brake repairs. Doesn’t everyone give free > inspections? Why do you make me sign a non-zero > estimate when my vehicle is still under warranty? > A: We have to protect ourselves from people who > get their brakes checked, find it’s not covered, > then take the vehicle away. Someone has to pay for > the technician. > Q: Didn’t I pay for the technician when I bought > the vehicle and warranty? > A: No, the technicians are paid by day, by > vehicle, by job. > Q: You advertise free brake inspections. What’s > the difference between a free brake inspection and > a inspection that is to determine if the repair is > under warranty? > A: The warranty brake inspection is more detailed > and takes longer to do. > Q: I ask again, my vehicle is under warranty, and > you appear to have changed the terms at 14000 > miles. Please give me a free, no obligation brake > inspection. > A: I can’t do that. > GM "Customer Assistance" is little more than a > mouthpiece for the dealerships. "We’re sorry, we > don’t agree with the dealer, but there’s nothing > more we can do" > I’ll never, ever, buy GM again. My brother works > for GMC, but drives a beemer. You do the math. > — > John

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> Exactly the reason I no longer drive a GM and why my wife is about to > trade her Olds for a Honda. > bk > http://home.att.net/~brkingsley/max/ > General Motors is your best friend — between the > time you walk in and the time you sign the > contract. Then it’s all over, except for the > squeeling.

Hi, Thanks for the reply. I am still suprised at GM’s behavior — nearly everyone gets free brake inspections, even the customer in front of me (at the dealer), but not me. Why? because a "free brake inspection" is not detailed enough to determine if my brake problem is the master cylinder or the pads…according to the service manager. Truly pathetic. Just for fun, I’ll throw in another fine experience with GM "Warranty" service. Shortly after buying the truck (2-3 days) I heard a rattle from the front of the vehicle. I noticed the bottom of the grill assembly was not attached. When I showed it to the service rep, he said "It’s a safety feature, the bottom is supposed to be loose like that". Since there was an identical model, new, only a few feet away, I walked over and pulled on the bottom of the grill. Tightly attached. Here’s the best part — the service rep *glared* at me, then started banging away on the computer keyboard. General Motors absolutely SUCKS. Nice V6 and V8, I guess, but they don’t give a rat’s ass about the customer once they have your money. In my case, they changed the terms of their warranty 14000 miles into the supposed "36000 mile, 100% covered, B to B Warranty". BTW, I don’t know if it’s my netscape, or whatever, but I couldn’t navigate your web page very well. — John

Response:

Exactly the reason I no longer drive a GM and why my wife is about to trade her Olds for a Honda. bk http://home.att.net/~brkingsley/max/

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi: > never heard of this >sign "inspection estimates" before they will tell >you if the repair is warranteed > I have found that you get much better service if you go to the manager, > complain to him or her articulately and politely. If it doesn’t seem to go > your way you might (carefully) suggest that you may start building a website > that slams chevy’s and that particular dealer. It is absolutely amazing how > much decision making power they can "discover" when gently pushed to the > wall. > the real trick is "gently" > that being said nothing gets past the simple reality that a 64 Beaumont is > more likely to be trouble free today than a 94 corsica (for example)

thank you for your reply. actually, it was the service manager from the dealer where i made my purchase who was nice enough to explain what was going on — he was quite candid about the whole thing, and honestly didn’t think they were altering my warranty by changing the terms of inspection 14000 miles into the warranty. we didn’t exchange any harsh words, i just said i wouldn’t agree to an inspection fee, and he said there was nothing he could do. end of story but thanks for the idea of making the website — it’ll be a nice way to vent my frustration… re : owning an older car and keeping it fixed up — i remember a story my dad tells me once in awhile. it may be an urban legend, i don’t know. apparently, Ford financed a independent study in the 1950’s that they beleived would show that the cheapest way to own a vehicle was to buy a new one every so often. unfortunately, the results were the opposite — the cheapest way to own a vehicle was to buy used, and keep it maintained properly, even if it means replacing the engine, trans, etc. every so often. my dad claims ford tried to keep the results under wraps, but since part of the study was funded by government money, thay had to publish it. i’m strongly considering ditching my sonoma and getting a older truck (1950’s? — not a GM!) and do just that. i really am angry that my warranty is not being respected by GM. — John

Response:

Hi: never heard of this >sign "inspection estimates" before they will tell >you if the repair is warranteed

I have found that you get much better service if you go to the manager, complain to him or her articulately and politely. If it doesn’t seem to go your way you might (carefully) suggest that you may start building a website that slams chevy’s and that particular dealer. It is absolutely amazing how much decision making power they can "discover" when gently pushed to the wall. the real trick is "gently" that being said nothing gets past the simple reality that a 64 Beaumont is more likely to be trouble free today than a 94 corsica (for example)

Response:

General Motors is your best friend — between the time you walk in and the time you sign the contract. Then it’s all over, except for the squeeling. The GM dealers in my area start forcing you to sign "inspection estimates" before they will tell you if the repair is warranteed — this starts about a year after purchase. If it’s not warranteed, you either have to pay their high rates for the non-warranted repair, or pay the estimate fee to get your vehicle back and take it somewhere else. Nowhere in the warranty book does it say that the dealer is going to change the treatment of warranty inspections over the warranty period. At the beginning of the warranty period, the inspections said "0.0". When I talked to the service manager, he was very candid: Q: Brake repairs. Doesn’t everyone give free inspections? Why do you make me sign a non-zero estimate when my vehicle is still under warranty? A: We have to protect ourselves from people who get their brakes checked, find it’s not covered, then take the vehicle away. Someone has to pay for the technician. Q: Didn’t I pay for the technician when I bought the vehicle and warranty? A: No, the technicians are paid by day, by vehicle, by job. Q: You advertise free brake inspections. What’s the difference between a free brake inspection and a inspection that is to determine if the repair is under warranty? A: The warranty brake inspection is more detailed and takes longer to do. Q: I ask again, my vehicle is under warranty, and you appear to have changed the terms at 14000 miles. Please give me a free, no obligation brake inspection. A: I can’t do that. GM "Customer Assistance" is little more than a mouthpiece for the dealerships. "We’re sorry, we don’t agree with the dealer, but there’s nothing more we can do" I’ll never, ever, buy GM again. My brother works for GMC, but drives a beemer. You do the math. — John