Trade your Honda/Toyota SUV for a GMC Acadia

[GreenMachine]

Originally posted by Ogre


I am a extremely satisfied GM customer, so I will jump into this discussion. I own a GMC diesel, and there is a history of a certain mechanical deficiency with said truck (much like the tranny problems with the Hondas apperantly). The injectors have been know to go bad on this particular motor (years 01-03). The statement quoted above is false, GM has stepped up to the plate and extended the warranty on this particular problem out 7years, and 200k mi.


Another point to this message is the fact that going into one of these forums is extrmely subjective. I assumed I would get domestic bashing in this forum, just as I get import bashing on my GM diesel forum. It's like I tell the folks over there. I don't base any loyalties or allegance to any manufactuer until they earn my continued business. GM has done so over the years for me, and Honda has for my wife over the years.

I would gladly have purchased a new Saturn Outlook, unfortunatley, they cost nearly twice as much new as my wifes (new to her) 04 pilot did. All in all the Outlook, Acadia, Enclave are excellent vehicles, between their style, utility, and innovation. (Speaking of innovation, Why is Honda still using 4 speed transmissions?, heck my truck even has a 5 spd auto and the new Outlooks are 6 speed autos.)

I am happy for you that GM is standing behind their product, however, your problem is just one of MANY they have with their cars and trucks. Warrantying all those repairs just might put them out of business considering their present financial state. I was glad to read they made a decent profit this quarter, and I wish them well. I would not mind at all buying a GM once the reliability has been addressed over a number of years. Your statement about the Acadia, which I think is a very nice looking SUV, does not address long term ownership. Having style, utility, and innovation does not mean anything to me if the reliability is below average. I guess we'll just have to see.

I imagine, like most manufacturers, that since you have a heavy duty truck they want you coming back to GM to get another one, not Ford or Dodge. Figure in the service costs the dealers get along with the fact big trucks are their bread and butter, and you can see why they might do a little more to help than say the person with the Cobalt or Sunfire.

As for transmissions, your wife's Pilot has a 5 speed auto like was mentioned before. It has had a 5 speed since its first year. I am trying to think about any Honda that still has a 4 speed auto. I can't think of any. Maybe someone else here can help us out. Yeah, no 6 speed yet, but you can be sure one is in the pipeline.

Oh, you really should be talking about manufacturers still using 4 speed autos since GM is STILL using them in their brand new line of full size pickups and SUV's. I believe the Escalade and the Denali are the only versions that get a 6 speed auto. The Saturn Aura hybrid that is supposed to be built for great fuel economy still has a 4 speed auto.

BTW, I like that new G8 with the 6.0L or maybe that new Camaro. So I do hope that GM continues to improve. You can thank Toyota and Honda for that. Gotta love competition.

[Ogre]

Originally posted by GreenMachine


I am happy for you that GM is standing behind their product, however, your problem is just one of MANY they have with their cars and trucks. Warrantying all those repairs just might put them out of business considering their present financial state. I was glad to read they made a decent profit this quarter, and I wish them well. I would not mind at all buying a GM once the reliability has been addressed over a number of years. Your statement about the Acadia, which I think is a very nice looking SUV, does not address long term ownership. Having style, utility, and innovation does not mean anything to me if the reliability is below average. I guess we'll just have to see.

I imagine, like most manufacturers, that since you have a heavy duty truck they want you coming back to GM to get another one, not Ford or Dodge. Figure in the service costs the dealers get along with the fact big trucks are their bread and butter, and you can see why they might do a little more to help than say the person with the Cobalt or Sunfire.

As for transmissions, your wife's Pilot has a 5 speed auto like was mentioned before. It has had a 5 speed since its first year. I am trying to think about any Honda that still has a 4 speed auto. I can't think of any. Maybe someone else here can help us out. Yeah, no 6 speed yet, but you can be sure one is in the pipeline.

Oh, you really should be talking about manufacturers still using 4 speed autos since GM is STILL using them in their brand new line of full size pickups and SUV's. I believe the Escalade and the Denali are the only versions that get a 6 speed auto. The Saturn Aura hybrid that is supposed to be built for great fuel economy still has a 4 speed auto.

BTW, I like that new G8 with the 6.0L or maybe that new Camaro. So I do hope that GM continues to improve. You can thank Toyota and Honda for that. Gotta love competition.

My bad, on the Honda tranny, however if we are comparing apples to apples, like I said the Acadia.. have 6 speeds BTW, all GM HD trucks (equipped with Allison after 06' IIRC) also are 6 speed. I am hoping for the best on the reliability on the Acadia etc. as well. At least they went in the right direction, and by that I mean the opposite of their Equinox and Pontiac Torrents. Those my friend are about the cheapest, crappiest crossovers that we looked at.

Someone mentioned poor resale, If you think resale on a GM is bad, you would really pitty those poor souls who buy Dodge trucks.

[jl_ss]

Originally posted by Ogre



Someone mentioned poor resale, If you think resale on a GM is bad, you would really pitty those poor souls who buy Dodge trucks.

The resale comment was in reference to imports versus US manufacturers. GM versus Dodge is just comparing levels of bad. You can wind up with a troublesome Honda/Toyota and it doesn't hurt the wallet too much to get out of it. It hurts a whole lot to get out of a bad GM/Ford/Chrylser.

[chmp3]

OK, I will add my 2cents here.
I have an 05 EX-L I got from my step mom and I have a lot of respect for Honda,in fact have an S2000 as well (Probably the best car I have ever owened). The Pilot is awesome and it would definitly take a lot to get me away from it, especially after I just got it accessorized the way I like it (I've only had it 2 months). I also have a pathfinder SE, that my wife drives. I have to say the Pathfinder is a really great car too. And here's the kicker...We rented an Acadia for 9 days in Minnesota this summer, and I have to say it was an excellent vehicle as well, just in terms of driving experience and cargo and passenger capacity.

I highly doubt however that any GMC will EVER last as long or be as maintenance free as a HONDA, so would I ever trade...Probably not.

But the Acadia is pretty kool, for an american product. If they made a hybrid version which got 30 MPG and had a 120K warrante on it I'd be more likely to consider it the next time. Hondas Are The BEST.

[driver8]

Originally posted by andyschneider
[B] My litmus test over the years has shown results all over the map. In my 30+ years of owning cars:

81 Mercury Lynx - POS
85 Olds Cutlass Cierra - great
86 Volvo 740 Wagon - POS (within 2 months)
86 Chevy Cavalier Wagon - great
90 Acura Integra - POS
91 Acura INtegra - Great
93 Acura Legend - lemon law buyback
96 Acura RL - great
01 Chevy Tahoe - excellent!
03 Pontiac Aztek - great till 36,003 miles then POS
05 Honda Accord - great except brakes, which were POS
04 Honda Pilot - OK
06 Honda PIlot - great

So, there is no golden manufacturer. /B]

no golden? I see you have never owned a Toyota. I've owned three toyotas and three honda (as well as two fords, two GM's and a mitsubishi). Our current Toyota, a 94 Rav4 has 1720,000 miles, mostly city, my wife learned to drive a 5 speed on it and I have done the following. Change tires every 60k or so, change front brakes every 40k or so, rotors for the firs time at 160k, changed oil every 12k and filer every 24k, changed trans oil once, changed wiper blades twice, changed first an only bulb to fail (upper brakelight) at 150k miles, changed battery at 120,000 miles, bought new floor mats last year. Changed coolant fluid at 120k. changed plugs, cap, air filter at 100,000 k. one egr

I did that all myself.

Nothing else!

original water pump, original timing belt (!), original clutch(!)

my 04 pilot's is a well made vehicle but door locks died after 50k the front windshield broke twice (both oem!), the rear ac failed.

As far as GM...sorry .. no way! When I bought my pilot there was a huge, i mean HUGE give away on envoy/trailblazer. On top of the deep discounts I had $2400 additional I could have gotten off via my gm card points. we looked at those vehicles. parts were falling off in the lots! There main advertisement was how foot ball players could fit in the third row.
When driving on the highway you could see a trailblazer or envoy every few seconds. where did they go? I'll tell you, GM builds three year cars. If you are going to die in three years and have heirs you hate, buy a GM, otherwise don't.

check the stats. toyota/lex is the top of the major bradns for dependability. Honda/accura is good but it is second. GM and ford have a deep rooted corporate culture that places dependability at the bottom. their vehicles cost twice as much over the long term as your out the door price

[donx]

I have driven an 08 Acadia as replacement for my Pilot for almost 10 days when it is still in the body shop after a sideswipe accident. I like the look, size and ride of Acadia, but I would still buy Pilot if I have option to choose. To me, Pilot is more fun to drive even as an SUV, and I don't even want to mention quality issue since there is no comparison(I have never sent my Pilot to dealer once except regular maintenance for 2 years ownership, but the brand new Acadia I am driving now already has a couple of issues I noticed). Anyway Acadia is a great SUV, I love driving it as a rental , but to own it? no!

[bengelking]

Pay $10,000 more for a GM product that will be worth $10,000 less than a Pilot in 5 years? Seriously? I'll admit that The Acadia is a sharp looking vehicle inside and out, but GM needs to establish a proven track record before I even consider going back. By that time, my '03 Pilot will be on it's second 100,000 miles (just flipped 102,000 last week).