Chevy? Chrysler?

[jillybean1852]

Ok, I need some help ppl. My Grandfather would be kicking my butt for this bc I didnt pick Ford (he was Indiana's largest Ford dealer for like 4 decades! lol) but lets get realistic here. I need a good dependble vehicle and I am having nothing but probs with Chrysler. What I need is ppls personal experiences or their personal hearsay on Chevy (mostly) and Chrysler.
Heres my problem....

I bought a new Dodge ram quad cab, and it was a lemon. It was only a 2wd. The tranny kept jumping HARD! when downshifting, it constantly needed an alignment, (which is got I might add). and a few other things. I took it in, they did the alignment and then it still pulled extremely hard to the left. I took it back, they said it didnt do it so I told him to get his mechanic I am taking him for a test drive. So I did. I pull out of the dealership (on a 7 lane road), hit the gas, and let off and let go of the wheel, the entire truck went across 3 lanes, the center turn lane and almost into head on traffic in about 50 feet. Mind you this was towards the crown! (aka, uphill!) He says he sees it, I go back, 4 hours later they try to tell me a rear wheel 2wd truck has torque pull at 40 mph. SHYEAH RIGHT!!! I said, well, a lot of choice words and left and soon after traded it in on a Town & Country. Well, now with the van. I got it with 5 miles on it. At 12,000 miles, the engine starts knocking. They have replaced lifters in it 2x now and its doing it again. Not to mention the van has been stuck in start mode twice now where NONE, and I mean NONE! of my gauges worked! It was like the van was shut off but I was driving it. Nothing electrical worked. I took it in for that, a bum sliding door, all the power issues and they said they fixed them. about 2500 miles later the engine knocks again!! >:-( I am FUMING!

Chrysler issue is it seems to have problems finding the problems. and when it does, they alway seem to come back. Its SOOO frustrating!!!

So, my question is, I am looking at the new silverados. The hybrids actually, or maybe a yukon/suburban or something chevy. I have 3 kids of my own and then 10 nieces and nephews so room is kind of a factor...lol. Does anyone have any experience with chevy and their vehicles and repair rep?

I dont know if I should keep and pay off my van this summer or trade it in on something else. I just want to get the service I deserve after paying them thousands of dollars for a vehicle, not to mention what I paid for, you know? Im so confused!

HELP! \:-(

[Drumachine09]

If I didn't have a ford, I would have a chevy. Most people are either die hard ford fans, or die hard chevy fans. I think they both make a great truck or SUV, and I see no problem with liking both of them.


I don't think you will have problems with chevy.


A loooong time ago, I guess my grandpa bought a crysler, and he used to say "chrsylers aren't worth the powder to blow them apart!" Gives you an idea of their lineage I guess.

[jillybean1852]

LOL! thats great! I like that line!! Thanks so much for the advice! :) Im at wits end over it all. Bc I am buying a house so if I have to get a vehicle too, that seriously will affect the amount I can spend on a house, you know?

[Drumachine09]

If money is an issue, there is nothing wrong with going with a certified used car. You may get it with a few thousand miles on it, but you will save a fortune.



EDIT: I just sounded like a total car salesman there, huh? lol

[jillybean1852]

Oh, I know. :) I have just had sooo many problems with the last two vehicles that I have bought that I am scared to not go new with the full bumper to bumper warrenty now, you know? Im just very leary now. Plus, if I go big, I wont be able to afford the gas if it isnt a hybrid....LOL! Its almost $4.00/gal here!!! :((

[stevensr]

I have always chosen Chevy's when building hotrods butI have been driving Toyota pickups here of late. My first Toyota I put 318,000 miles on it before selling it and now I have my second one. Have never done anything to them other than general maintenance and never had a problem.

[invadertoast]

I'm a Ford person, but I pretty much like anything. My sister had an '02 Caravan and they told her they "couldn't do" a wheel alignment on that type of vehicle (wtf??) and it needed thousands of dollars in repairwork to get the a/c to work. It was reliable mechanically, but it had too many stupid little problems. She just bought a used Freestyle and loves it! I know a couple people with older (mid-late 90's) Chevy trucks, and the only recurring problem seems to be breaking outside door handles.

I've only driven Lincoln Mark VII's since I got my license, my '88 has over 170k and is still going strong! It's basically a heavy Mustang in a tux, nobody knows what it is, lol. Repairs are also cheap, even though it's an obscure luxury car... not that you're looking for advice on a 20 year old vehicle!

[jillybean1852]

LMAO!! I LOVE Mark VII's!!! I had an 88!! I miss that car SOOOOO bad!!! It was the lsc burgandy with the same leather interior and limo tint on the windows...I have actually thought about buying another one! LOL!!!!! I LOVED that car!!!!! The only reason why we got rid of it, other then carseats not fitting really well, LOL!, was bc the brain was going and took the suspension compresser with it and by the tiem we were done it was thousands to fix. We traded it in on a grand cherokee laredo 4x4. Which I LOVED and never had any probs with. Didnt love it as much as my lincoln though...lol. I actually was hit in that car too with 2 babies in the back by a full size custom van and allo it did was move the rubber on the bumper!! not even a scratch!!! The van had a huge dent too! They just dont make cars like they use to!

[Rue]

I prefer the Fords...have had less issues with them than with the others...

[jillybean1852]

I actually have an '86 F150 that I am going to be restoring too. (well as long as I can for decent money that is. Otherwise Ill keep it the way it is and add a little here or there.) but it is a king cab so there is NO fitting the kids in there with me...lol Thats my "fun" truck. (heehee)

[Rue]

To be honest...for hauling kids and 'stuff' you can't beat a van. Our kids are now 18, 16 and 13 and we just lost the van and got a Ford SportTrac...

As much as I dislike the curb appeal of the van, I miss it's handiness...if for no other reason, I can no longer take the entire family - 3 kids and 3 dogs - for outings in the same vehicle.

I like the look of the SportTrac...and maybe for city use the covered back would be handier, but whenever we use it...by the time we've covered the gravel roads back out to our acerage...everything is coated in dust...you know...like the groceries...

[invadertoast]

Jillybean- you're right about them not making cars like they used to!!! I had an '85 Mark and hit a patch of ice and ended up on top of a giant boulder with both front wheels off the ground. The only damage it caused was bending a little of the plastic grille under the bumper. The rest was scratches on the hood from the tow-truck lifting it off. I drove it home no problem. I love my car, it's a dark titanium LSC with burgundy leather, my uncle bought it in '92 and gave it to me a couple years ago. My '85 was kind of a dog and had a 302 w/ CFI instead of "real" fuel injection, it only had 140hp and got about 17 mpg, lol, but I loved it anyway (it had a cloth roof and NO options whatsoever.) I love my HO 302, 225 horses and 26 mpg :D

Back on subject - I guess if you're used to a van it's hard to go to something else, lol. My sister was really used to the Caravan, and though she loves the Freestyle (it has a TON of backseat leg room and seats 4 adults and 3 car seats no problem) it's totally lacking the height of the van. It's not really a problem, unless you always have huge cargo to carry around.

Edit: I LOVE 80's Ford trucks too! My parent's had an '85 Bronco that they bought new, and my boyfriend has an '89 f-150 with a straight 6. I LOVE that truck, it's just plain as can be, brush painted brown, no options, and I LOVE it, lol. I think it's the only truck in Canada that still has it's original rear wheel wells in place (it only has tiny rust bubbles, it's insane, lol)

[jillybean1852]

well, I just found a chevy trailblazer, used '06 with 3rd row seating & 21,000 miles for only $16,900. so i might go that way if its still there in a couple of weeks. Its a 2wd v6 so the gas wouldnt be completely outragious. Anyone with thoughts on trailblazers? I have rented one from enterprise before but only hd it for a couple of days.