Drew Dowdell

Cutlass Classic

Quality problems plaguing the new XF Link to AutoBlog Few would argue that the Jaguar XF is a great looking car and those who have driven it admire its dynamic characteristics. Unfortunately, as soon as you get in and press the start button, you can't help but wonder if the disastrous quality reputation that British cars have seemingly carefully nurtured for decades will afflict this car as well. The gear selector knob that rises out of the center console and the vents that roll over to expose themselves seem like bits that are destined to fail in time. If the results seen by Automobile Magazine and respondents to TrueDelta's Car Reliability Survey are any indication, those fears are likely to come true. Automobile's long-term XF has been afflicted by a litany of issues ranging from faulty window regulators and bad rear axles to a failed power steering system. TrueDelta surveys owners and has found the XF requires far more trips to the dealer than competing models such as the BMW 5 Series, Cadillac CTS and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. While the other models range from 33 to 97 dealer visits per year for every 100 cars, XF owners ended up back in the service bay 141 annually per 100 cars. Hopefully these are just first year production glitches, but this sort of news does not inspire confidence. Thanks for the tip, Leo!

What cars? The w-body Cutlass having it's original interior too long without major refreshing. Renaming Cutlass to Intrigue and not offering a two door. The Achieva. What actions? Killing the 88 and expecting the Aurora to pick up the slack. The Aurora was the "New Olds!" replacement for the 98, not the 88. Continuing to produce the Cutlass Ciera past 1987. Being late to get the 3.5DOHC into the Intrigue. First year came with the 3800. Putting Quad-4s in W-bodies.

Show of hands. How many here are fine with the J-Body?

BV, get yourself a UPS Account, and start E-baying that stuff out!

I could see James Bond driving this car. It's sexy without being garish.

Tough place for sure, but appropriate for not taking action and voting out senior management.

Make sure while you're under there that the secondaries open at full throttle. Do this with the car off of course.

Lots of carb cleaner sprayed in the carb and check the vacuum hoses. Sounds like it could be a fouled jet. Edit: I'm guessing it's a Quadrajet carb. I'm pretty sure that's the only one they put on the 307.

Under slow acceleration or fast or doesn't matter? After the shift to second I'm guessing? How is the idle?

I have to say, in Chapter 7, someone would buy Cadillac and someone would by Chevy. As long as that someone isn't Toyota, I would probably still buy one of those two..... even if it were Hyundai. I have to begrudgingly admit that their hardware lately has been impressive.

Used GMs. If you're talking new, I'd end up with a Mercury or Lincoln. The AWD loaded Milan is a screaming deal for what you get.

Welcome back! And I agree.

4-cylinder or 3.6? Both engines have been pretty well shaken down.... I'm surprised to hear this.

I agree.

We're very near the end of this stupid fascination with SUVs. You can see the turn back to cars with that ugly squished Aztek thing that BMW is coming out with. Aston Martin getting and SUV is like Camino buying a Civic. It's just wrong. The final nail in the coffin will be Jaguar getting an SUV. Edit: Oh look! Someone finally took my suggestion of bringing back push button transmission. Edit 2: Chrysler called, they want the ass end of their Imperial concept back.

Hinckly has been allowed to go home from time to time

You don't beat the imports by trying to disguise yourself as an import. You beat the imports by providing superior domestic product.

I really wish Cadillac had gotten the upper Kappa instead of Saturn. I would have deposit money on that one. I wish the G6 had gotten the Aura interior and a refresh instead of Saturn getting the Aura. I wish the Astra had come over to replace the Vibe and was available in more body styles. I wish the Relay and Montana had never been born and instead the money had been spent on a better Uplander and Terazza. I wish the new-Vue had been the new Buick Off-Roadmaster.

G3/Aveo = Rebadge G5/Cobalt = Rebadge Acadia/Enclave = Platform sharing Sky/Solstice = platform sharing The Acadia and Enclave go for very different people. The GMC is for people who view themselves as tough and maybe a little outdoorsy. Hauling bags of mulch home in their SUV isn't above them. They tow their own boat to the ramp. The Enclave is for people wanting a luxury SUV that exudes class and style. Something that wouldn't look at all out of place pulling up to some rich restaurant. Lowes can deliver the mulch. The boat stays at the yacht club.

I agree on the Ion. The L-series was too unknown to do damage and it was a new segment that Saturn hadn't been in before. So the Ion not being a home run is what started it, Following up with a sudden shift to trying to bring Saturn up market with the Astra, Aura, Sky, and second gen Vue just confused customer who really just wanted another S-car. The Crossover sport vans were just an abomination in and brand. The LS, especially in later years doesn't deserve the reputation it has. For a generic family sedan, it isn't bad.... and for DOHC humpers, there was narry a pushrod in sight.

Build fewer G6es/Malibus/Aura.... and when you have enough, stop. Don't just keep the line running and then have to dump them at firesale prices to move them...... but that would require some flexibility from the UAW..... A more flexible platform lineup would be better also. I've thought a lot about going back to division specific platforms.. Chevy gets Delta and epsilon two wheel bases each. Pontiac and Buick get the Zetas and Kappas, 3 different wheel bases. This also means no Camaro. Firebird and Transam instead. Cadillac gets Sigma or whatever is replacing it. 3 wheelbases. Saturn, Opel, Saab get their own two platforms to muck around on. this would be the new "Euro" Division. Holden just picks whichever platforms it likes best and slaps a Holden badge on it. in the U.S. only Chevy/GMC, Buick, and Cadillac get SUVs/CUVs

I like the idea. But the Oldsmobile guy in me sees more '68 Toronado than '72 Firebird in that front clip. Good looking either way

I've been with you for a while that Rick W. needs to go.

I gave it back at the end of August. It was causing friction between me, my friend, and his BF.