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Everyone has vehicle brands they like and are loyal to for reasons of their own. For every person who says they love a brand, you'll find another that hates it.

I have a 2009 Hyundai Sonata that I bought new. I just rolled over 140,000 miles and have done routine oil, filter, etc. I have had one full set of brake pads put on and replaced a starter. That's it. I might also say that car is the first non GM vehicle I have owned, and it has absolutely been the best.

I will not bore you with the GM horror stories I have. I worked for GM Bowling Green Assembly for 7 years and was born and raised in a GM household. I finally got fed up with the issues. I am currently looking at vehicles because I want to step up to a luxury model. I looked at a Cadillac SRX, but honestly I'm scared to death to buy another GM. I really wish Hyundai made a luxury SUV as a step above the Santa Fe. I would buy a Genesis sedan in a heartbeat, but I want the room to haul goodies. :)

I've been looking at the Lincoln MKT because I love the size and interior, but the back end of that thing is awful. I probably will just keep driving the Sonata because I honestly can't find anything I like as much as that car. My decision would be easy if Hyundai made a Genesis or Equus level luxury SUV; I would snap it up. There is a Porsche Cayenne at the Luxury Import dealer here though... LOL :) One can dream, right???
 
Re Hyundai

My mother traded her '13 Passat in for a '15 Sonata Sport 2.0T with the 18" wheels and sport suspension. Even with the latter on it it still rides very smoothly and is comfortable on the highway, better than the Passat and any of her previous cars.

On the note of American vs "foreign", my mom had a 2010 Ford that was a total lemon, needed a trans job at 9,000 miles, again at 19,000 and after that still wasn't safe to be taken far. That was her last American car and will probably continue to be.

My Nissan isn't perfect but it's mechanically been reliable, now at 28,000 miles. It almost "floats" down the highway reminiscent of an old Cadillac but retains a fairly tight and well handling suspension which I'm happy with, a perfect balance. I've driven Cadillacs from when they were still like that and everything is so numb it actually scares me to drive.
 
Not true...

"In about 2003, GM lengthened the Northstar cylinder head bolts and took care of the oil pan leak problems.
It figures since it went out of production in 2010."

 

We were told that too when we got our '07 DTS High Performance.....said they fixed that oil problem and it wouldn't do it....bull!  When we hit 90K miles it started blowing oil just like our two previous Cadillacs with older Northstars did....guess what we did, went back to Lincoln.  Our previous 4 Lincolns and my granny's old Grand Marquis never leaked one drop...and one was 20 years old and another one went to more than 200k miles and was still going when we traded it in!  Look under some of the newer Northstar Cadillacs and Buicks and you will see the telltale oil.  Our MKS V6 has as much power as the Northstar V8 had and is much smoother running believe it or not...and it doesn't even have the EcoBoost turbocharger. 

 

I like the new Caddys and I hope that 3600 turns out to be a good engine for GM.  That XTS is sharp, it's currently my favorite Cadillac.  I can't wait to see the new CT6 Big Daddy Caddy.  I just wish they would go back to names like Fleetwood, Seville, Deville etc.  Lincoln at least is bringing back the Continental name.  I got behind the new replacement for the SRX (XT5) a couple weeks ago on my way home...it had a manufacturer's license plate on it and it went to the GM plant in Spring Hill, TN where it is being built along with the GMC and Chevy Equinox (former Saturn plant).  That thing was so sexy on the road!  I used to be a nurse at the Saturn plant, that was a fun job to watch the Vue and Ion being built right outside our office doors.
 
Greg,

Well, I can't say I'm surprised. GM is, or was full of liars.
I'm glad they reopened Spring Hill though. Good jobs for people.
A friend of mine has a 1998 DeVille. He keeps it immaculate. It is hardly ever driven on salty winter roads.
He bought it at 90,000 miles for $6,000.00 He has had a few minor electrical problems, and rebuilt the transaxle, and replaced the alternator, blower motor, and coolant pump. It now has well over 160,000 miles.
He knows to never allow it to overheat because the heads will warp.
I will never again lease or buy a new GM.
My step son will be working for Ford come spring as a software developer, so he will have the family A-plan discount available.
 
On the way home yesterday was stopped in traffic and looked over next to me and there was a Lincoln Towncar. It was an elongated suv. I had no idea that they had changed over to that style. 1st time I have noticed one. Is this something new that has come out or did they do the change over awhile back and I just never noticed because they are all looking the same?

Jon
 
I guess I've been lucky. I've driven nothing but American cars since I got my drivers license in 1990 and NONE of them ever left me stranded. Most had no issues at all...others were just minor things that were more annoying than anything else. I drove a 2002 Monte Carlo SS for 7 years and I did have to replace the intake manifold gasket on that 3800 engine but somehow I missed the GM recall (or whatever) for it so I had to pay for it myself.

I have 2 friends that have Hondas and they both had issues with their cars (brakes and radiator that kept leaking). So I guess any car can have issues.

I'm still very loyal to American brands and probably always will be. I have no reason not to be honestly. But to each his own right?
 
Hyandai catches on fire;

In Roxbury Mass. as a couple were on their way to church yesterday for their wedding.
Not a very old one either! Source, Good Morning America news.
 
Pete,

Here also more Lincolns. Could it be because Mercury is gone? Our neighbor just traded in her low mileage 2008 Sable for an MKC.
Another neighbor owns both a 1955, and a 1967 Mercury Montclair.
 
Retro-man (Jon),

I think what you may have seen was a Lincoln MKT. That is the official replacement for the Town Car/Continental. That is the vehicle I am leaning toward most right now, even with the super strange rear end.
 
I have 75,000 on my Lacrosse CXS now and it's been bulletproof.  I had three GM's (olds and buick) that had the 3800.  A fine engine!  I'm curious as to whether or not the 3600 will have that same mileage longevity of the 3800 it replaced.  This thread has got me wanting to go shopping for a Cadillac again.
 
Lincoln's, Buick, 3600 V6, etc.

Gary, True, few were seen until last fall here also. the MKC has only been out a year.
Stephanie, the MKT was not the Town car replacement. The MKS was, but, they are built on the same platform as each other, and also as the Ford Taurus, and Explorer now is.
The MKZ shares the Fusion platform.
joelippard, Do you have a previuos generation Lacrosse before 2009? A "W" platform 3800?
The 3600 is a high feature V6 with a 54 degree cylinder bank. All aluminum. Variable intake, and exhaust valve timing, and also I think direct injection.
The old venerable 3800 was essentially a Buick 350 V8 less the tow rear cylinders. Iron block, and heads. The series III was the best with an aluminum intake manifold vs. plastic for the series II.
The newest Impala, Lacrosse, and Cadillac XTS are all Epsilon II platform cars.
The only powertrain difference is on the base Impala which is a 4 cylinder. All use the 6 speed automatic.
 
The High Feature V6 aka 3600 has been around since 2004, and debuted in the CTS. I'm sure there are plenty of examples around of how well they hold up. As to how its reliability compares to the 3800, I'm sure the 3800 would still win hands down due to the High Feature engines more complex nature.
 
I have had excellent service from all the GM vehicles I've owned, only one left me on the side of the road, and that could have happened to any brand (transmission line blew). The only non american built car I've had was nothing but trouble. Not saying all foreign cars are bad though, my Grandma drives a 96 Nissan with over 250,000 on the clock, original engine and transmission, and it runs and drives just like a brand new car.
 
I will say I'm quite loyal to GM, while I have had a bad one, it wasn't horrible compared to issues some people have with any brand of car.
I've had the following GM cars:
1990 Buick LeSabre 3800 v6
1991 Buick Century 3600 v6
2002 Chevy Impala 3400 v6
1996 Buick Roadmaster Estate LT1 5.7 v8
2001 Cadillac DeVille 4.6 Northstar v8
1999 Buick Park Avenue 3800 series II v6
2000 Buick Park Avenue 3800 series II v6
2008 Buick Lucerne CXL 3800 series III v6
And currently I have a 1996 Buick Park Avenue with the 3800 series II and the Cadillac XTS

Of the GM cars I've had I was disappointed with the Impala as the 3400 engine was underpowered for that car, had I had the upper trim one with the 3800 I'd of probably liked it.
The DeVille burned oil, the rt. rear brake caliper leaked brake fluid, the transmission was replaced at 58k due to a faulty component, and as soon as it started running warm I unloaded it.

As noticed I've owned every version of the 3800 v6, the LeSabre had 180k and running strong when it was sold, the 99 Park Avenue had 175k and the 00 Park Avenue had 130k and I sold it because it was starting to have some subframe rot issues.
However I was not as pleased with the performance of the series III, it didn't seem as powerful, and I got about 3-4 mpg less in comparison to the series II

I have also had a LincolnContinental, Town Car, and a Ford Taurus wagon. While none of them were problematic cars, I just never enjoyed them like I did the GM products.

I came from a heavily GM family, grew up with them, my maternal grandparents only bought Chevy, and paternal grandparents were Oldsmobile people, but in the end owned a ford.

As stated by someone above I have no reason to not be loyal to American cars, though I tried one import I hated it and will not be straying from GM
 
As for the talk of the Lincolns earlier, around here there are a fair amount of late model Town Cars on the road, and the MKX and MKZ are extremely popular.
Hardly any MKS or MKT, or Navigators here. It seems in the case of the MKT market people here choose a Buick Enclave/GMC Acadia over it, and the GMC Yukon/YukonXL Denali and Cadillac Escalade are chosen over a Navigator
 
Petek,

Peter, I'm with you. Alpha numeric names went out of style with the Pontiac 6000, and G6/G8's.
I'll take a Town Coupe', a Designer Bill Blass, Mark Cross, Cartier, or Givenchy anyday. The Continental is returning, although sans' a V8 engine.
 
Letter / number naming

Came about due to globalization.

 

Lee A. Iacocca told in his book.  "IACOCCA"  that they had a problem with marketing of the Ford Pinto in Brazil.   Apparently Pinto, "Small Horse" in our language translates to "Small Genitalia" in their language.

 

The Chevy Nova had a similar problem in Latin America where Nova means "Won't go."

 

If you drive a MKZ at least you won't be accused of having a small PP that can't go.

 
 
Presently

I have a late 2010 Lacrosse CXS Touring.  Prior to that I've numerous cars with the 3800.  Here's the list

 

1986 Olds 88 Royal Brougham (had the pre 3800 SFI engine)

1989 Buick Park Avenue

1990 Buick Park Avenue Ultra

1991 Cadillac Eldorado Biarittz

1995 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi

 

The Bonneville was what took me away from GM for a while.  It had that supercharged 3800 and by 70k it had ruined the transmission (a 4T60E)  After that I went import and bought a brand new 2003 Mazda 6s V6.  By 40k problems began and endured of a various nature on up through to the 110k miles I kept it.  I got my current Lacrosse in Nov 2010. 
 
"After that I went import"...

It's funny because Mazda was using a Ford Duratec 3.0 V6 at the time. Same engine found in the Taurus (as an upgrade option) and Escape. If your problems all originated around the power train it wouldn't surprise me hahaha.
 
GusherB, Harley,

Gusher, Mazda and Ford were partners for decades. The Ford Courier pick up truck was a Toyo Koygo, or Mazda imported from Japan Rust buckets.
The later Mazda B2000 truck was a re badged Ford Ranger. very durable, and reliable in 4 cylinder, or 4 litre V6 guise. That was a 90 degree banked cast iron Windsor built 2 valve per cylinder engine.
The Duratech was a 24 valve engine with aluminum heads, yes a Mazda design. It debuted in the 1989 Probe, which was based on a Mazda 626.
Not to be confused with a Ford Vulcan 3 litre 60 degree V6 out of Lima Ohio, which had nodular iron heads, and 2 valves per cylinder. Both very reliable.
Mazda 6's were assembled in Flat Rock Michigan until after the Tsunami hit Japan.
Harley, yes, true. Nova means No Go, so GM marketed the rear drive X body car in South America as the Chevrolet II, or Malibu.
The Ford Pinto equivalent was the Corcel.
 
Haha, the engine is the only thing that didn't give problems, at least until near the end of my ownership when I had to have a few sensors replaced.  I'll not start the long list here but I will say that little b***h burned through brakes every 40k and CV axles every few years.
 
Ford 4.0 V6

a lot of these engines used in the Explorers, Rangers, and Aerostars, Mazda Navajo and B4000 of past years were made in Cologne, Germany.

 

I'm partial to German cars just because of the way they handle...that said, our MKS handles as good as or better than any of our previous 3 Mercedes, 1 Audi, or 3 VW's.  The MKS/Taurus/Sable were built on a Volvo platform from when Ford owned Volvo.  Our next Lincoln will probably be an MKC like Gary's.  My next commuter car will likely be a Subaru since I'll not likely be able to replace my current TDI with another TDI (thanks alot VW)!
 
joelippard, Greg,

joe, if you hammer the gas half the time, Cv joints wear faster.
Greg, the Cologne, and Essex V6's were never larger than 3 litres in displacement.
The 4 litre was a Windsor 90 degree engine.
 
not trying to start a war

but I remember the stickers on the Explorers and Aerostars saying "Engine: Made in Germany" back when I worked on the Aerostar line

 

From Ford Wiki:

 

The 4.0 L pushrod (242/245 CID; 3958/4009 cc, with a 100.0 mm (3.94 in) bore and a 84 mm (3.3 in) stroke.) version, although produced in Cologne, Germany, was only fitted to American vehicles.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference">[3]</sup> The OHV engine was produced until 2000 and was used in the Ford Explorer, Ford Aerostar, Mazda B4000 and Ford Ranger. Output was 160 hp (119 kW) and 225 lb·ft (305 N·m). Though there is some variation, typically 155 hp (116 kW) is quoted as horsepower for 1990-92 applications.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space: nowrap;">[<span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (June 2008)">citation needed</span>]</sup>

This evolutionary redesign of the American 2.9 solved many of the reliability issues that plagued its predecessor. A stronger cylinder head design eliminated the 2.9's common failure of cracked heads. Hydraulic roller lifters replaced the simple hydraulic lifters used in the 2.9, which were sometimes overly sensitive to oil contamination, often requiring the lifters to be replaced prematurely. However, one major design fault was not completely eliminated: Valve rockers and upper pushrod tips still received poor oil supply, resulting in eventual wear to these areas, and consequential valvetrain noise as a result of the increased clearance. Required replacement of these parts is common in older engines

http://www.ford-wiki.com/wiki/Ford_Cologne_V6_engine
 
Greg,

No offense taken! Back then, I only drove GM's. I never even looked at Fords.
I was dumb then as well because Ford had fuel injection a year or so before GM.
I never would have bought a V6 car or truck then either.
When my cousin who worked for Ford saw that my '86 Grand prix V8 had a 4 barrel carb, he said GM was
living in the past.
Speaking of Whirlpoo, I know, the accent there is that way. I was in Little Rock one spring, and all I heard was "there's a tornada comin, an I gots to git home and pick my taters, and don't trip on the crack in the Ceement.
 

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