OT Most Unturdlike Car

[gundog]

I like the top Camaro the best but the Challenger runs a real close second that bottom Camaro is but ugly I like what Evan did to it. Why don't these auto makers go find some custome car guys and run these designs by them before trying to sell them to us that would stop things like that but ugly Camaro and some of the other disasters they come up with. A good example is the front end on the 2003 chevy pu I just sold one and that ugly front end never grew on me in the 3 years I owned it. It was a great truck just ugly. I see they came out with a new front end on the half tons for 07 but they are still using the ugly front end on the 2500 & 3500 what gives?
GD

[BadDog]

I'm generally a GM guy, though I've owned many others including a few Mustangs, and a '70 ‘Cuda 340 Magnum (originally a 318 car). And the ‘Cuda was the first car I ever owned. Built from a junk yard *hull* purchased for $70 *delivered* with no drive train other than the rear axle (which I learned was a built Dana 60 from it’s previous life with a B-Block 440 as a drag car. To give you an idea, the seats were in the trunk and the hood was slid through the driver’s glass that was rolled down!

That said, I have to admit that whoever is in charge of GM styling is an absolute freaking moron. Just look at the "Angry Chinaman" truck styling on Chevy trucks in 2003+. And that '49 retro is only "tolerable". WTF? Why pick one of GMs LEAST memorable trucks for a retro??? Why not the 55 Cameo or something? Maybe a '39? Not to mention some of the most forgettable styling across the board for the last WAY too many years. Then they go on to the Camaro and could have had a winner with the first one pictured. I would ABSOLUTELY buy that one! Instead, we get that second abomination. But I do think the latest Vette is a huge improvement.

Oh well... I actually accelerated my decision to buy a new truck at the end of '02 when I saw the new line coming out. I knew I could never tolerate that new style, and considered waiting to get a GMC which still looked nice, but I really did like that “Power Bulge” hood style that was reminiscent of the ’67 Chevy truck hood (had one of those years ago too). I just couldn’t pass up the last of that 2 year run, combined with Duramax and Allison in the 2500HD 4x4. When my son totaled my wife’s Supercharge Bonneville SSEi, we didn’t like the newer Bonne’s at the time, so we got her a (see below) Grand Prix GTP “Competition Group” (Limited edition targeted at armature SCCA racing). Very fast for a family 4 door sedan, and handles like slot car. Lots of fun to drive, very practical, still gets decent mileage, and looks pretty decent I think, all without breaking the bank. But it still has to work to keep up with my chipped crew cab in straight line acceleration.

[BadDog]

Oh and on the Monaro/GTO, I agree in that it does not evoke the GTO gut reaction on looking at it, and I don't have any urge to own one. But it does somewhat fit the original genesis in that they took an existing platform and simply shoved in an available larger displacement, higher powered engine and sold it at a somewhat approachable price. But at least they stuck a special hood on the first GTO, other than that, it was really just a Tempest with a 389 from the Bonneville/Catalina line...

[wierdscience]

BadDog,you mention the Duramax,how do you like yours,any trouble so far?I have two friends with them and several customers that have them.The engine/tranny combination seems to be bullet proof although one dropped a pump at 55k.The electronics/chasis however seems to be highly overrated.Everybody here has had trouble showing up around 35k.One guy lost his dash board/odometer/lights etc and ABS.Another had a rearend failure at 65k.One in particular drove though a mud puddle with his 3500 4x4 and lost his ABS.And the last guy had a shifter problem that took a week to find,cheap plastic buching in the linkages.

It seems they have a rock solid engine/tranny surrounded by a somewhat flimsy electrical/chasis.Any thoughts?

[BadDog]

Can't say much about the problems you mention, mine has not even been back to the dealer (or any other shop) for anything except some recalled lanyards that hold the tailgate (apparently in northern states they rust through inside the plastic sheath). Really, all I’ve done is change filters/fluids and general PM. There was a problem with injectors, particularly on ‘01s, but GM sent me documents increasing fuel system warranty to 200,000 miles (engine has 100,000 mile warranty). But, I can definitely see problems in the future as everything on this truck is not only computerized but interlinked to the other systems. So the engine control system talks to the trans control systems talks to the ABS systems and so on.

Anyway, so far it's been the best truck I've EVER had, and that includes Dodge and Ford representatives (it replaced a '98 Ram). Puts down about 450 hp, 750 ft/lbs (typically that's where I leave it, I've got 2 more higher settings that I don't generally use due to worry about the trans), and gets about 18 mpg mixed mode, a high of 19.9 on the highway, with around 15 mpg typical when loaded to 15k+. And it will haul that 15k lbs up a 6% grade at 80 mph in OD without breaking a sweat. I’ve also got a 30k rated goose/fiver hitch in the bed and it tows a 20k gross *load* without great difficulty. Factor in my upgraded 60 gal fuel tank and I can drive as long as I can stand (and then some) without stopping for fuel.

[jmm360]

These had style:

[wierdscience]

Ya,so far it looks to be mostly electrical as the primary culprit.You being in a dry climate will probibly help,lots of water here.

I'm not a GM truck man,I have spent too many years in the cabs of GM trucks with those p---poor squeeky clutch pedal bushings and starters that fall off.I guess I am gun shy.

I think the problem is trucks,just aren't trucks anymore the way they are designed now.Everything is more complicated and materials are getting thinner.I welded the frames on a few Dodges,the passenger side rails would break between the cab and bed from the engine torquing up.I think they finally fixed that,it was the first year they updated the body style from the old look.

I remember the Ford 6.9 being good too,but that was before computer everything like now.