That Pontiac Grand Prix weighs about 15,000 pounds and can't take a corner over 30 degrees. Sometimes taking a beater to work as a loaner from the dealer is the only option

 

 

I hate american cars just as much as the next person, but i'm not embarrased when I drive my Ram truck?

 

Agree and understand your point. Please understand it was not my intent to state the obvious, which is that a Pontiac does not compare to a Porsche; two very different price points. My point was that I am very surprised at how pathetic this car is within its own class. The fit quality is poor, attention to detail is non-existent, etc. I guess where I was coming from is that I had read in automotive reviews that GM has made significant improvements to their product quality but I just don't see it. The Grand Prix is in the same price category as a Honda Accord, so it is possible to design and construct a quality product at that price, GM just seems unable (or unwilling to do so).
I wonder if the GM executives ever drive these cars, or if they are all driving European cars??

 

Let's see, my loaner for tires was a Cayenne S, and for the 15K service a Boxster.................

 

GM owns Saab... And Cadillac.

 

Hey - we're renting one of those right now while we're in Maryland. Although I would not catagorize it as "stylish", it is certainly "functional", and the power is pretty good. The Porsche certainly couldn't haul the wife, three kids, and 5 suitcases, a stroller, travel crib, ......

It could have been a, what was that a few years back? Pontiac Transsport?

 

I had an HHR from Hertz in Columbia, SC last month. It is just wierd. On one hand it is almost decently screwed together. On the other hand it has a totally anemic engine with no power. Perhaps the strangest thing is that the engine does not sound like an internal combustion engine. It has sounds like the Singer sewing machine my mom had 40 years ago. When I drive a "truck" I kind of expect it to sound like a truck.

And because all the windows are small with rounded corners, the visibility is limited. The gauges are small chronometer-like dials, with a tach so small as to be pointless, that look like they belong in a sporty sedan, not a truck. All in all, it is an unexplainable combination of details and strangeness that I would never buy.

 

Actually, Grand Prix is one of the better rental cars. At least it doesn't start to get loose at 75 mph.

I also had a DTS as a rental. Total bling but car couldn't corner better than a 20 yo Buick. Totally squeal in any turn over 20 mph.

There are decent American cars out there as rental cars. I'd never buy one though. American automakers only excel in two things: cheap prices and large SUVs.

 

Tom - that last line had me rolling! That's a classic!

 

The more dissapointing part was that Porsche would let this happen...

I could see this from an airport or something...

-Keith

 

my daily driver is a suburban

 

Do you have a tanker truck follow you around?

 

no, but i have a 42 gallon fuel tank that takes me 500 miles between fillups. this creates the illusion of having a 14 gallon tank in a camry that goes 500 miles

 

for my work vehicle, i drive a suburban loaded with equipment (and a V1 and Lidatek laser jammer!). its interesting to notice that some gas pumps used to shut off at $50 - which sometimes wasn't enough to fill it up. now i've found that they shut off at $75!!