As for Chevy, who the hell names a pickup the "SS"??
Posted on 02/27/2005 8:02:13 PM PST by CHARLITE
Many people have many problems with many things. Some you have control over and some you don’t. The real problem begins when you can’t get your problem solved. “What? You won't help me? But? You have my money! My product doesn’t work!”
Have you ever been in this situation? I have had problems with products or services several times and they are usually quickly resolved. Well, over the past year I have had several problems that just haven’t gotten resolved. So, what better place to take them than to the public.
I may even make this a recurring column and discuss other people’s problems.
In October 2003 I purchased a Chevrolet SS pickup truck for my soon-to-be wife. The sales rep, which happened to be the manager, told me this truck was the best truck on the road. Well, having owned Chevrolet’s all my life and trusting this sales rep and dealership, away I went in my new truck.
Things were good for the first few months. Then, my wife drove the truck to see her parents an hour away. She called me and said the truck was vibrating so much that it was giving her a headache. When she took it by the dealership they told her it was normal and couldn’t be fixed. At the time I didn’t have a chance to deal with the situation because of a race for Congress. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to wait a few more months.
In August of 2004 I took the truck to the Chevrolet dealership. They said they found nothing technically wrong with the vehicle. Technically? Interesting term in customer service. After several more visits to the dealership and after being turned down by the GM rep to have a meeting I contacted the Better Business Bureau.
I filled out the normal paperwork for the Bureau and waited to hear back. After I did not, I contacted the GM Corporation Customer Service Center. I was promptly contacted by "Regina." Hmm, getting places, I thought. Several, several weeks later -- and three skipped conference calls by Regina -- I was told that my Chevrolet SS pickup truck comes standard with vibration. Can I get that in writing? "No. We can't give you anything in writing."
Excuse me? Regina with GM told me that the shaking and rattling in my brand new SS was normal. But, but Regina, GM and my local Chevrolet dealership? Why would you sell me a brand new SS that vibrates and then refuse to fix it?
Like I said before, I have driven Z71’s and Tahoe’s all my life. They don’t come standard with vibration.
My wife and I now have a six-week old baby. For those who have children you know it is a feat to get them to sleep. Well, we can’t even drive the “best truck on the road” because it wakes our baby. Now, Chevrolet is proudly releasing an entire line of SS trucks and cars. The commercial is catchy and brilliantly put together. However, instead of driving a car that is smooth like a record it feels more like an accordion.
Chevrolet says it has better resale value then Ford or Dodge. Well, the SS pickup’s sticker price is over $40,000 new and you can buy a year and a half old one for $24,000.
My advice to consumers is to only purchase these vehicles if you want a ride that will give you a headache, chatter your teeth and keep your baby awake. So, buyer (and stock-holder) beware. The new Super Sport is one sport short of being super. Your best bet? Get a few horses and a log wagon, it's a lot cheaper and just as “smooth”.
Comments:nathan@nathantabor.com
A broken belt in one of the tires...just one, front or back...can cause this. And it might not even be visible.
Not to be contrarian (I only buy Japanese myself), but I had a friend (ex boss) who bought a Lexus GS400 and it had a vibration problem too. Never was able to get it fixed so he just traded it in for something else.
Oh. I thought he was singing "Like Iraq," meaning you never know what will happen next.
If i was one of the Big Three i would ensure that when people think of my products there is a positive image attached to it. Sadly i doubt any of the Big Three truly care about such things.
former and banned (I think) freeper Nathan Tabor has finally found his true calling
lol... he would probably not admit it, I don't think he likes us anymore... =0)
I don`t need Consumer Reports, I spent 17 years working on these darn vehicles. I left 3 years ago to start my own business. Unrelated to auto service/repair industry.
There are issues with many vehicles, there is no doubt about that ( even Japanese built vehicles ).
All American auto manufacturers make quality cars and trucks, you just have to know which ones they are ( Like what engine and transmission combinations are more dependable than others ).
I do know the "big three" are having quite a few quality control issues the past few years. Ford seems to be the worst of them all ( they have a safety recall on the new Ford GT !! Something about front end component(s) cracking !! They are actually picking the cars up from the customers. I guess if you spend that kind of money you get your butt kissed ).
If I had to purchase a new car tomorrow, it probably wouldn`t be one of the " big three " models. It is sad to say that, but it is true.
But there are also some foreign built cars I wouldn`t touch either.
So I will keep my high mileage fleet for a little while longer.
302k on my first, a 1977.
165k on my second, 1993.
Working on my 3rd Toyota and have been stranded a total of one, yes one time.
My friends who buy American spend alot more on towing and repairs.
One day I hope we can build a truck worth buying.
well, duh! since the vibration is 'normal' then it seems like it is meant to be there, thus nothing that requires fixing ... he had the answer in his own statement ... he should proofread more often
ps. buy a subaru
"Char, Please let them know the vehicle has been in the shop more than five times.
They have changed tires, balanced tires, etc.
The problem is simple. It is a poorly built truck.
Nathan
Vehicle design issue. We bought more than one new set of tires attempting to fix the problem. Finally got an Isusu rep to quietly admit that Rodeo's had a problem with "wheel hop".
Seems the rear suspension has a resonant frequency at just about the wheel rotation speed. I suspect they went all out to avoid a control problem like the Ford Explorer has that they sacraficed ride in trade for safety. I'd have thought they could have fixed the problem with a bit of carefully placed ballast on the rear axle to change the harmonic.
How bad is this vibration? Varies with speed or rpm or both? Lot's of possible causes. Drive shaft or harmonic damper gone out of balance or a rough running engine due to misfiring or a pollution control sensor that's gone bad. I've had all of these happen. But my bet would be on a bad tire or a wheel that has thrown a large wheel weight if it happened suddenly.
Perhaps that advice only applies to domestics. I had a first-year Honda Odyssey, followed by a first-year Honda Pilot and the worst trouble I've had is a minor water pump issue...
Truth be told, with all the information available today, you'd have to be stupid to buy almost all domestics.
Sorry, but the Japanese (Particularly Honda/Acura and Toyota/Lexus) have all the domestic marques sucking wind.
Curb or chuck hole. I'd change the tires (swap with a new one) all around and see which one is the offender with the broken belt. Might even be two of them.
American cars have never been better (the 70s and much of the 80s were the worst for US cars), but still, US cars are designed to wear out and be replaced in a relatively short time. That is not the philosphy with some manufacturers like Lexus/Toyota, which designs cars to last as long as you want them to last.
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