I want to burn this damn car to the ground!

"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
11/02/2014 at 20:13 • Filed to: Piece of shit car

My wife and I got back late last night, after our first adult night out since I can't remember when. I was quite tired, and I ended up parking about a foot behind where I normally do. Today I noticed an oil spot. My car with 43k miles on it, is leaking freaking oil.

I've complained about this car before, but here is a little background about it. I picked it up as a CPO car with 36k miles on it back in January, as a nice daily driver/family hauler. It broke down twice in the first four weeks (Bad throttle body, followed by dead battery). A couple months ago, with 41k miles on it, the car overheated on a beautiful mild day. The water pump shit the bed. Last week I noticed the brakes were sticking, and today I see it's leaking oil.

I don't trust this damn car as far as I can throw it anymore. I certainly don't trust it to reliably carry my daughter and pregnant wife around during the cold winter. I'm fed up with this fucking albatross around my neck. It's time to cut my losses (and there will be losses) and go back to daily driving my trusty '06 Sierra.

DISCUSSION (26)

Funktheduck > shop-teacher
11/02/2014 at 20:19

That sucks a lot. Have you hit up Steve to see if there's any legal action you can take to get them to take it back? Lemon law or something?

shop-teacher > Funktheduck
11/02/2014 at 20:22

Used cars don't qualify for the lemon law under Illinois law.

TheHondaBro > shop-teacher
11/02/2014 at 20:22

Is the car due for any recalls?

thebigbossyboss > shop-teacher
11/02/2014 at 20:23

That blows. I don't understand how my GM is so reliable and everyone else's is such junk. Guess I got lucky. Cavalier FTW!!

ly2v8-Brian > TheHondaBro
11/02/2014 at 20:26

probably a TSB. These are usually solid cars. His has a temperamental personality.

shop-teacher > thebigbossyboss
11/02/2014 at 20:27

I've owned my Sierra since new. It certainly hasn't been perfect, but it's never left me stranded, or made me question if I can rely on it. Malibus have a rather good reputation for reliability, but this one has been trouble from the word go.

My sister had a Cavalier just like yours. It was a hardy little car, she put it through a lot, and it kept going.

JGrabowMSt > shop-teacher
11/02/2014 at 20:30

I feel you man. My DD just had the power steering tensioner shit the bed. I'm babying the car around at lowest revs possible to keep the noise down. To get the tensioner pulley off, I have to pull a whole bracket off the side of the motor, which means taking off the power steering belt, pump, and unbolting the motor mounts so I can raise the motor enough to reach the 3 bolts that hold the damn bracket on the motor, so I can get to fricken hex bolt that holds it in place.

I'm going to see if my friend will let me use his heated shop to wrestle with it for a couple hours....It's too cold for me to deal with this in the driveway....

Steve in Manhattan > shop-teacher
11/02/2014 at 20:31

Impala? Malibu? Still under warranty?

And there's the possibility that, in a week, you'll have fixed everything that's wrong, and the next owner will drive it for 100K without incident.

thebigbossyboss > shop-teacher
11/02/2014 at 20:31

The Cavalier is technologically ancient....but they tend to last quite a while. What "grade" is your sierra? I drove a 06 2500 quad cab up BC's coquihalla highway. GREAT truck to drive. Such POWAH!!!

thebigbossyboss > shop-teacher
11/02/2014 at 20:35

You know what I'm thinking? Trade that thing for this thing. Sure it was hopelessly outclassed, but cabbies liked them...that's cause they are cushy and they eat up the miles.

Just a thought.

Kinja'd!!!

shop-teacher > thebigbossyboss
11/02/2014 at 20:40

It's a base model 1500 crew cab 2wd with the 4.8L V8. It's only options are the towing package and a locking rear end. Its been a great truck.

signintoburnerlol > shop-teacher
11/02/2014 at 20:41

Found your replacement.

Kinja'd!!!

dogisbadob > shop-teacher
11/02/2014 at 20:54

Why did we bail them out again?

They should buy you a Camry or an Accord :)

Kinja'd!!!

shop-teacher > thebigbossyboss
11/02/2014 at 21:01

I considered it, I've rented those a few times for road trips. They are great at them.

shop-teacher > TheHondaBro
11/02/2014 at 21:03

It's only recall was for athe brake light wiring harnesses, which was already done.

thebigbossyboss > shop-teacher
11/02/2014 at 21:04

Yup. Drove one from Ottawa ON to Washington DC after work one night. Great car for such a trip.

shop-teacher > Steve in Manhattan
11/02/2014 at 21:04

Malibu. Still under warranty. That is possible, but I'm fed up.

shop-teacher > signintoburnerlol
11/02/2014 at 21:08

I'd love to! Maybe someday. I'm going to enjoy no car payments again for a while.

shop-teacher > dogisbadob
11/02/2014 at 21:11

I wish I would've spent a bit more and bought a new base model Mazda 6.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > shop-teacher
11/02/2014 at 21:23

It sucks you got such a lemony Malibu, because they are really are nice cars, and usually really reliable.

Steve in Manhattan > shop-teacher
11/02/2014 at 21:27

Try this - ask the mechanic who fixes the oil leak to go through the car and see what else is required. I learned from dating a Mercedes assistant service manager that the service department generally gets paid OK for the repairs, and it pays to do them. The mechanic might be willing to spend 15 or 20 minutes checking the car over to see what else is needed, and perform the repairs.

And I understand frustration. RR window motor in my '87 300D replaced 3 times. LR once. Trap and turbo failure stranded me on the highway. Sunroof motor failed just as a thunderstorm approached - barely made it to the dealer. Groaning under heavy braking problem never solved. JBL in-trunk CD changer replaced by Ford on my '97 SHO five times.

mazda616 > shop-teacher
11/02/2014 at 22:21

We had a 2006 Malibu that was horrendous as well. Electrical issues all the time, random overheating, abysmal fuel economy, laughable build quality (interior pieces would fall off in your hand), etc. Thw next gen (like yours) seemed to be better but obviously not 100%. :(

shop-teacher > mazda616
11/02/2014 at 22:40

This gen has an excellent reputation, but mine is not living up to it. A friend of mine has an '06 Malibu Maxx, that has been rock solid for him. I guess we're just lucky.

mazda616 > shop-teacher
11/03/2014 at 08:07

Are you stuck with it at this point is there a relatively painless way you can get rid of it? We got hosed on getting rid of our Malibu because they gave us a stupid low trade-in value, but we were just happy to get rid of it.

shop-teacher > mazda616
11/03/2014 at 08:53

It will cost me a bit, but I should be able to get out of it. It's a fully loaded version of a very desirable model. I just dropped it off at the dealer, fortunately it is still under warranty.

mazda616 > shop-teacher
11/03/2014 at 11:39

That is good. My friend has a '12 LTZ with the V6 and he put some Magnaflow tips on it and man it sounds amazing. Sorry, I digress. Haha. I bet you're glad it was a CPO with a warranty!