I had no idea that the GTO had that many problems.

 

Strut rub is really only on cars that were built in about a 6 month period, fuel rail covers cutting fuel lines was only on 04 models, and I have no idea about the rear end whine since that's the first I've heard about it.

 

This right here is my biggest fear. They will say what they think needs heard to get a check and run back to Detroit and continue on with business as normal. GM needs to stop "considering" killing overlapping brands and start doing it.

 

In addition to GM's bureacracy that makes a simple product decision a long, painful, torturous journey is GM's bureacracy that often doesn't stick to a good decision when it makes one. The RWD Impala & Roadmaster, the revolutionary Kappa that was supposed to span a wide range of models, the moves away from badge engineering, the focus on getting away from incentives even if it meant less sales, and the "Road to Redemption" campaign.

Then there's the notion that the collasping economy is strictly to blame for GM being at the edge of extinction. Let me point out that the stock market and the economy began imploding dramatically the 1st week of October. GM would likely be in the same position (though a few months later). GM attenpted to merge with Ford last summer, and when they were trying to merge with Chrysler, they said if it didn't happen they and Chrysler wouldn't make it past the winter. This was back when the economic meltdown was just starting. Also, GM's stocks still lost over 70% of it's value independent of the meltdown in less than a 12 month period.

The lack of credit is the reson for GM's current prediciment? Yea, right.

I think the bdemands the government is likely to place on GM will be a good thing. It will cut through the disasterous decision making route they currently have and seem unable to shake. It will also not just focus, but keep focused changes GM makes and needs to make.

Another member IMHO nailed a issue that GM has. Someone initiates a change at GM or starts a project, and he or she's moved to another position and the next person who takes their place changes everything and puts their own agenda in place. As a result, GM has had countless reorganizations and very little to show for it.

 

Strut rub is a potential issue for any GTO with 17" wheels. Also, I do recall seing people on LS1GTO.com mention the fuel rail cover issue with their 2005s. Even if you look at it as only a 2004 issue, then you're conceeding that 39% of All GTOs have this serious design flaw that GM never contacted me about.

 

Corporate GM had some real issues about listening to customers, or treating them correctly- even their recalls were selective- the dealer would check your vehicle and see if it qualified for the fixed parts-

My local dealer has been great, though- really treated me well, acted like he appreciated my business- would do whatever he could to make things right, loaner cars, warranty work- I have no issues with the local company, but the big juggernaut that the company is never responded to emails, never contacted me directly except through mass mailing of recall notices- treated me like I was absolutely insignificant to their business- I suspect they have offended millions over the years, and you really can't do that if you want to stay in business-

I am a GM fan, and come from a family that bought GM for decades- they have pretty much worked themselves out of the market for me- I want RWD, V8 power and reliability, and enough capacity for kids, dogs, the occaissional canoe or backpack- maybe even to be able to pull a small trailer- the only thing they build close to that now is a truck, and I don't like the handling, the mileage or the weight- The GTO was close, but didn't last long, in part because of the half-baked job they did on it-

They built decades of cars I loved, bought, hot-rodded- Cutlass, Buick Century (RWD!) decades of Impala/Caprice/Bel Air- Olds 98, Malibu- even the old Nova could be bought in SS trim for a sporty 4-dr sedan with a V8 driving the 'correct' wheels- My LT1 powered Caprice was the acme of cars, highway mileage in the 20's, faster than most of what else is one the road- GM has a guaranteed 60,000 units a year for police and municipal sales, but they dropped it to sell higher-profit trucks- and today we see where that decision took them-

We need them to succeed, and we need the manufacturing ability in this country, but they have to wake up to the fact that they are a customer-driven company- and, if you keep alienating their customers, their jobs will be out-sourced to someone else that will build what America wants- I can buy that RWD V-8 from Infinity, from Lexus, and any number of european manufacturers- I would prefer to buy American, but only the Ford/Mercury dealer sells what I want- is it any wonder that Ford is weathering the economic downturn so much better than GM?- Heck, I can still but a V-8, RWD pony car from Ford, if I want- thanks for nothing, GM corporate-

 

Strut rub was caused by the 245 series tires on the stock 17" wheels which GM did not use on the Monaro down under. In an effort to speed up bringing it over here since the 18's weren't certified they took the sedan wheels and slapped them on with larger tires. If the alignment had 0 toe and 0 camber it was fine and didn't rub or wear unevenly, unfortunately that was not the case in most instances. I had the problem (slight rub, def too much negative camber). I even fought with them to cover the tires but the dealership refused to help (and even told GM that it was an alignment issue out of warranty so GM shouldn't cover it).

Fuel rail cover issue was mainly with 2004's (although a few 05's and 06's reported it as well) and it didn't burn cars to the ground as the other poster stated. The car that caught fire and initially blamed the fuel rail covers I believe turned out to be a nitrous issue (I was watching that post very carefully). It still was a cause for concern with most people since it did actually rub the one fuel line (mine had marks but was ok and the dealer fixed the line so it wouldn't rub).