GMC reliability Options

[96bluevert]

Has anyone had experience with GM cars, specifically GMCs?

I'm thinking about getting a GMC Jimmy for the winter months (4wd), but seen mixed reviews online, so just wondering if anyone here has ever owned/known someone who's owned a GMC before and any major issues you might have come across.

[njccmd2002]

heard a lot of nickel and diming.

why not get a 4x4 toyota

newer gms may come with no trouble. but back in the old days, mmmmhhh,

i would stay away..

.02

[96bluevert]

I'd love another Toyota, but this seems like a good deal on the GMC, so I'm contemplating it.

[richee3]

I've never really trusted Jimmy's/Blazer's/S10's but I think that is because of the people I know who owned them. They haven't taken care of them at all and any care will give under lackluster maintenance. However, every Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra I've seen has been stellar. I don't see why a properly maintained Jimmy would be terrible.

[Bitter]

4.3 V6 have the typical intake leak problems, there's a lot of front end parts to wear out and they do on a regular basis (30-50K). the 4.3 V6 is a DOG, the auto trans is nothing special, the 4wd system is very basic, the front diffs are somewhat known to break or have issues. its just your typical cheap truck really.

[Stambo]

x2 with bitter, actually alot gm's with the vortec engines have lower intake leak problems leaking coolant.

[96bluevert]

hmm....maybe not then, I really do like the look of the Jimmy's, but if there's that many common problems with the suspension and engines, makes me iffy.

From what I've heard, they have great handling in snow (main reason I want AWD/4WD). If I do meet up with the guy, I'm going to have a good mechanic look at it first for sure.

This post has been edited by 96bluevert: Mar 30, 2010 - 11:15 PM

[Espo]

hmm....maybe not then, I really do like the look of the Jimmy's, but if there's that many common problems with the suspension and engines, makes me iffy.

From what I've heard, they have great handling in snow (main reason I want AWD/4WD). If I do meet up with the guy, I'm going to have a good mechanic look at it first for sure.

My buddy has a jimmy, his rear axel rotted out at 120k miles, had to have it replaced. But we live in Buffalo, where they like to salt the roads and spray anti icing chemicals which rust your car to pieces.

The 4wd is excellent in dirt...idk about snow. I would stay away from GM products, I've had nothing but complaints about them from my friends - for instance, my buddy's 94 firebird just sprung 4 leaks and now leaks oil everywhere, and there's a crack in his block of a good size.

Just my two cents.

[96bluevert]

^^ 4 leaks? damn.

I used to have an Oldsmobile and that thing was the MOST reliable car I've ever owned. So not all GMs are bad, but yeah IDK about GMCs, Pontiacs and such.

[Random_Stranger]

Honestly, I never heard of problems with the S10..... Chevy has been known to have very reliable trucks.. Vs a Toyota though? I can't say for certain. I just know I hated trucks until I have laid eyes on the more recent model of the Tundra, and I am in love. Also for further reading, the 5.7 Tundra dbl cab, is said to be known as the biggest truck available on the market.

This post has been edited by Random_Stranger: Mar 31, 2010 - 12:18 AM

[CelicaST_CALI]

Giant Mounds of Crap

[Bitter]

x2 with bitter, actually alot gm's with the vortec engines have lower intake leak problems leaking coolant.

make that 'any GM 60 degree V configuration engine' from the 90's through 2003ish and you've got it. 5.7, 7.4, 3.1, 3.4, 3.8, 3.8 supercharged, am i missing a couple? probably. they all have the same issues with coolant and gaskets and the lower intake whether they used paper gaskets or plastic framed rubber. the series 3 3.8's used an aluminum carried nitrile rubber gasket with load limiters which should be OK until the rubber dries up.

[Stambo]

x2 with bitter, actually alot gm's with the vortec engines have lower intake leak problems leaking coolant.

make that 'any GM 60 degree V configuration engine' from the 90's through 2003ish and you've got it. 5.7, 7.4, 3.1, 3.4, 3.8, 3.8 supercharged, am i missing a couple? probably. they all have the same issues with coolant and gaskets and the lower intake whether they used paper gaskets or plastic framed rubber. the series 3 3.8's used an aluminum carried nitrile rubber gasket with load limiters which should be OK until the rubber dries up.

sounds like you've worked on a bunch of lower intake jobs on gm's too....

I'd personally would drive a blazer/s-10/bravada/jimmy or whatever you wanna call it. As long as you fix those few problems it should be a good truck.

[96bluevert]

That's what I've heard. If they aren't driven hard at some point throughout their life, they are actually very dependable vehicles.