Poor underhood finish and paint mismatch

[TransAmRocker]

Personally I like the look of the fifth gen but there is something about it that just doesn't fly with me. I will say that it is the best looking of the new age muscle (2008+) however, it seems like a long walk around the car when compared to fourth gens. If I was going to pay $40k for a car I would opt for a fifth gen later down the road, as with all cars the first year is really a try out year. But, I think I will stick to my third gens and their easily fixed flaws.

[meissen]

Hey Jeff - no worries. A lot of us just enjoy a good ol' fashion debate on our opinions. I think a lot of us must have been on a debate team in our previous lives.

[69LT1Bird]

I didn't mean to get everyone's shorts in a bunch, I was just expressing my opinion on the cars that I saw.

As for the guy who said that they never clear the paint under the hood hasn't looked under the hood of cars too much. They did for years, it helps keep the dirty and grim off plus adds a layer of protection from chemicals and road salts etc. for people who will drive these year round. When you see the bolts from the hood hinges to the hood and they look like you painted them with a cheap paint brush, that is unacceptable. Some may not care if it looks good, I personally do.

In the terms of quality, that will not be determined for a long time. As a bogey, Chrysler usually has good "Initial Quality" but long term goes in the tank. I have first gen so I like my Camaro's and Firebird's so I am not a basher, just hoping GM survives to keep building them.

[meissen]

Trans issues that shouldnt have happened.
Battery problems, but how many cars were recalled? And this isnt even dealer preped is it?

What about the mis match paint?

I dont see why the cars didnt come with stripes, graphcs, ect from the factory.

Problem is, if we blame the dealers they get made and talk about its not their fault because they already do so much. Someone has to take blame for these mistakes.

I admit though, Mustang had its problems in 2005 too.

Not being sarcastic on the trans issue, I just haven't heard anything in too much detail about it. It was my understanding that the transmission delay was due to a supplier/supply issue, not a mechanical issue or anything like that. What have you heard?

For the battery issue, they recalled the vehicles that were already pre-delivered and delivered. Again, they didn't have the issue on any of the captured test fleet vehicles or the Australian/Milford engineering vehicles - they only discovered the issue with the battery cable after two customer cars had issues and they recalled all of the SSs that left the factory to make sure that it wouldn't happen to anyone else.

Not sure what you mean about the stripes/graphics/etc considering they do come from the factory with stripes.

In any case, brand new car, it's going to have its issues and I'd say the issues that it's had is pretty darn minor so far.

[JoeliusZ28]

So, you want a fully painted and cleared engine bay? You know, there's probably a damn good reason they don't do that - cost, is one... Unless you want to pay $35,000 for a 1SS with no options, in that case - be my guest.

gimme a break, a painted engine bay is not gonna drive the price of a car through the roof.

and lets not get ahead of ourselves saying quality is uncomparable to previous gens. Autoweek said the same exact thing about 4th gens when they were new. The quirks of a car are often not obvious until a car has a good 50k miles on it.

[MP81]

Yeah, quality between years previous and the 5th gen is uncomparable - the 5th gen has better fit an finish than most any stock previous generation.

I think the best car GM has out right now for fit and finish is by far the Malibu - my brother's (well, it's his wife's) is absolutely stunning - and the new Camaro is right up there as well.

The GFX issue, yes, it seems kinda like a iffy method of mounting them - but hey, if DEALERS would install them how GM instructed them to, I doubt we would have the issues that are being seen. Who should take the blame? The Dealer, if you ask me.

So, you want a fully painted and cleared engine bay? You know, there's probably a damn good reason they don't do that - cost, is one... Unless you want to pay $35,000 for a 1SS with no options, in that case - be my guest.

I didn't notice it at all on Fred's car, or any other 5th gen for that matter.

Personally, I'd take a 5th gen over any 4th gen F-body any day, and I would love to own a 4th gen.

[Lucky SOB]

the batter cable was a factory recall/problem. The cable was routed incorrectly on 40-60 SS cars. Mine was one. 10 minute fix. not a big deal at all.

[nascarnate326]

Trans issues? All I've heard is that they have delays in getting it out to the market. Battery cable? Two, count 'em, TWO people had issues... hardly something to hold against GM. Ground effects? Blame the dealerships, not GM. GM is coming out with a new design to make up for the idiots at the dealerships that can't follow instructions.

I was talking to John and he was telling me about how they had discovered one dealership with the GFX issue had used their own cleaner to clean the bumper before attaching the GFX (and tape) to it. Boggles my mind why he did it as the GFX package is supplied with cleaners specifically for the installation, but the guy decided not to use it and use something else and then they had a problem - go figure.

Again, blame the dealerships that mess up - I wholeheartedly believe that's what happened to the two people with their battery cables... why is it that out of all the Captured Test Fleet vehicles, the engineering vehicles driving around in Australia and Milford's proving grounds - not one of them had this issue prior to it getting into the customer's hands? Because they weren't dealer prepped.

Trans issues that shouldnt have happened.
Battery problems, but how many cars were recalled? And this isnt even dealer preped is it?

What about the mis match paint?

I dont see why the cars didnt come with stripes, graphcs, ect from the factory.

Problem is, if we blame the dealers they get made and talk about its not their fault because they already do so much. Someone has to take blame for these mistakes.

I admit though, Mustang had its problems in 2005 too.

[JoeliusZ28]

the 6 speed V6 cars have been delayed so i imagine there are some trans issues.

[meissen]

Trans issues, battery cable, mis matched paint, ground effects...ya. For a company living on my tax dollars, I expect basic things, like battery cables, paint, and ground effects to be rock solid. The m6 trans issues for the V6...I can live with.

Trans issues? All I've heard is that they have delays in getting it out to the market. Battery cable? Two, count 'em, TWO people had issues... hardly something to hold against GM. Ground effects? Blame the dealerships, not GM. GM is coming out with a new design to make up for the idiots at the dealerships that can't follow instructions.

I was talking to John and he was telling me about how they had discovered one dealership with the GFX issue had used their own cleaner to clean the bumper before attaching the GFX (and tape) to it. Boggles my mind why he did it as the GFX package is supplied with cleaners specifically for the installation, but the guy decided not to use it and use something else and then they had a problem - go figure.

Again, blame the dealerships that mess up - I wholeheartedly believe that's what happened to the two people with their battery cables... why is it that out of all the Captured Test Fleet vehicles, the engineering vehicles driving around in Australia and Milford's proving grounds - not one of them had this issue prior to it getting into the customer's hands? Because they weren't dealer prepped.

[Lucky SOB]

one of many reasons I'd never own a 5th gen, among others.. the biggest thing that bothered me was they seemed like freaking boats out there next to our fourth gens. Massive body panels the whole way around the car. It does not seem sleek and refined at all. If I wanted a boat I'd buy a family car. I'll stick with my nice sleek 4th gen trans am mmk.

How can you even begin to compare a 4th gen to a 5th gen? Have you ever looked at the body panel gaps on your car??? Do that, then go look at a 5th gen. And a boat? really? It weighs in like 300# more than a 4th gen. Not to mention oh idk, window motors, cracking door panels, 10 bolt, squeaks, etc. I'm not trying to put down the 4th gens, I love them. But every car has there flaws. Especially for $40k and below. If you want a perfect car (cleared over engine bay or w/e) go buy a Ferrari. And I don't really care if the engine bay is clear anyways. It still looks amazing and neat and tidy compared to any other car out there right now. I have been a victim of a few small flaws, but nothing that the dealer hasn;t taken care of and haven't been a real big problem. I think GM really out did themselves on this car. I love it.

[nascarnate326]

Yep there is that - and there is also the bumble bee stripe.

I dont remember who it was but someone dared me to walk up to Scott Settlemire, point at it, and be like "Fix This!!" and they really need to, it looks bad!!

Berger is fixing it, the yellow car Gib's wifes car has it fixed. But yes, that hockey stripe drives me insane.

[JoeliusZ28]

Yep there is that - and there is also the bumble bee stripe.

I dont remember who it was but someone dared me to walk up to Scott Settlemire, point at it, and be like "Fix This!!" and they really need to, it looks bad!!

[1BADAIR]

when I was gonna clear my engine bay I talked to alot of painters. They all said I couldn't just spray clear over it cause its not painted to begin with. They said is colored primer under hood and underbody.
That being said they would have to add a few more steps to do it correctly

[nascarnate326]

. People - these cars have only been out for a few months, pre-production cars or not, it's still bound to have a few kinks for a few months after you start producing the car...

Trans issues, battery cable, mis matched paint, ground effects...ya. For a company living on my tax dollars, I expect basic things, like battery cables, paint, and ground effects to be rock solid. The m6 trans issues for the V6...I can live with.