100,000 mile report.

[Rockymoutain driver]

Man this will be a long list but let me first say that if I didn't buy the extended warranty I would be so P****** OFF about buying my 1.4 turbo. I am very displeased with how GM conduct has been with the continuous problem(s). I still really like the car but Chevy nor GM can take credit for the best of the car but smart enough to have bought a great engine/trans from the U.K.

Now the List...

13386 miles. Popping noise in passenger front when turning to right and happens when reversing and turning wheel to right. Dealer unable to duplicate.

19885 miles. Popping noise in passenger front when turning to right and happens when reversing and turning wheel to right. Dealer replaced passenger strut and mount.

40689 miles. Engine dies at idle when coming to a stop with AC on. Note only at 70 degrees and greater. Very random. Dealer unable to duplicate.

65886 miles. Popping noise in passenger front when turning to right and happens when reversing and turning wheel to right with additional rubber binding noise. Dealer replace passenger front strut.

65892 miles. Binding noise in front passenger side. Dealer replace strut mount.

75922 miles. Rattle or clunk noise in suspension. Dealer replaced stabilizer bar end links per recall.

82943 miles. Squeal/squeak from engine compartment. Dealer replaced cooling fan assembly due to worn bushing/bearing.

86660 miles. Excessive road noise from front end. Heard a growling or humming noise at 55 mph or greater. Hub, bearing and knuckle replaced.
Pop and rubbing noise from passenger front. Dealer replaced strut mount.

93626 miles. Popping and binding noise in front end. Dealer replaced lower control arm.

99167 miles. Binding noise in passenger front end. Verified by dealer but work denied by GM due to being in litigations on the issue but still under warranty! Engine returns to stalling at idle with AC on at 70 degrees and greater. Still very random. Dealer unable to duplicate.

101237 miles. Attempt to replace spark plugs. During disassembling one of four spark plug boots rips. Only 8 found in the country and dealers info states that boots are for 1.8 engines and not shown for 1.4 turbo models. Thanks Chevy for not using boot grease! Thankfully I was able to modify a standard spark plug wire to replace, boot and spring design with just cut and trim work and boot grease.

 

[ChrisJ]

Don't have anything to add other than as far as I know neither the engine or trans are from the UK?

Trans is from Austria though I don't know where it was designed.
1.4 is built in USA but I think was designed between US and a few other places.

Either way both are GM designs.

 

[$ub$onic]

Interesting list.....

 

[Crazzyboy]

Interesting indeed. Now of course I do not know the exact circumstances here, but those seemed to be rather nit picky issues. I mean I expected a bit more dramatics explosions when you said you would be so pissed without the extended warrenty

 

[JimmyQ]

How the hell have you driven 100k already is what I want to know...

 

[Tommyboy4725]

Hmm

 

[Mlib26]

Jeez Have you stopped driving since you got the car?....

 

[rodslinger]

How the hell have you driven 100k already is what I want to know...

It isn't that hard. If you are in sales or support and have to cover a large geographical area you can rack up miles quickly. Especially if the locations you have to go are close enough that time and costs spent flying and renting cars is cost prohibitive.

I did a road trip a few weeks ago to train users on a new system. From a Sunday evening to Friday evening went from:

Atlanta, GA
Columbia, SC
Norfolk, VA
Chesapeake, VA
Richmond, VA
Charleston, WV
Johnson City, TN
Louisville, KY
Nashville, TN
Memphis, TN
back to Atlanta.

There was some misc miles for meals, hotels and other local routes but ended up at about 2350 miles. Typically had to be in one location in the morning, the next about 3pm in the afternoon then at the next city that evening to prep for the morning after.

 

[ColonelPanic]

It isn't that hard. If you are in sales or support and have to cover a large geographical area you can rack up miles quickly. Especially if the locations you have to go are close enough that time and costs spent flying and renting cars is cost prohibitive.

^ This.

Knew a guy on another board who was in sales and traveled extensively. He racked up similar mileage in a similar time frame. He was on car 40-something at that point in his career -- buy a new car, rack up 100k or so in no time, get another.

I was driving 40k a year at one point in my younger years.

Anyway, that's a lot of suspension problems that the OP had. Looking around, suspension complaints seem to be common around here... opcorn:

 

[Rockymoutain driver]

How the hell have you driven 100k already is what I want to know...

Almost every day except Sundays.

 

[Larry]

If that's all that went wrong, I feel pretty confident in my purchase

 

[Eric Smit]

so many milesssss.

 

[AJH]

One year my dad (sales) did almost 100,000 miles in a Ford Granada (yucck!)

 

[sonic13rs]

So, what tires have you been using? When did you buy it (see your avg miles a month)? Also, what oil and how often do you change (go by % left)?

Thanks, I driver thru Grand Junction about 4 times a year.

 

[Rockymoutain driver]

So, what tires have you been using? When did you buy it (see your avg miles a month)? Also, what oil and how often do you change (go by % left)?

Thanks, I driver thru Grand Junction about 4 times a year.

Interesting, I lived in Berthoud for almost a year.

I have to laugh on the tires because I have been running Firestone Winterforce. They are great for anti-hydroplaning and hwy speed control. I am getting a min 45k on them an that is the same as the stock tires and under 400.00 for the set. They also have a low roll resistance and get me a combined hwy and city of 45. I am sure that the mileage is mostly due to using Valvoline full synthetic. My top average is between 60-70 degrees F with an average of 60mph, getting 56mpg with these Firestone tires. I don't recommend these tires unless you do 90% + hwy driving or dirt road. Horrible stopping in town on wet and dry conditions. Amazing in snow but only fair on ice.

Average 6,250 miles a month.

I try to keep oil changed at 50% oil life and that I about 7500 miles. I made the mistake once and let it go until reminder light came on at 5% remaining and I was at 10k miles. 7500 mile and the oil filter is nearly black, so you wouldn't want to go much longer. I change the gear oil at 45k because lab testing is showing that break down starts to increase and so does acid content. Note: I have a 6speed standard.

 

[ColonelPanic]

Your OLM and mine are quite a contrast. That is very interesting!

Mine appears to be dropping by 1% every ~70-75 miles. This is with gentle interstate driving and some around town. Never really short tripped, but rarely driven for over an hour unless we're on a trip.

I did my first OCI at 5600 mi and 27%. I figure from here on, I will run synthetic and change when the OLM starts crying which looks like will be 7500 or sooner. What a difference all that highway driving makes. Either that or the 2013's OLM is less optimistic.

 

[Rockymoutain driver]

Your OLM and mine are quite a contrast. That is very interesting!

Mine appears to be dropping by 1% every ~70-75 miles. This is with gentle interstate driving and some around town. Never really short tripped, but rarely driven for over an hour unless we're on a trip.

I did my first OCI at 5600 mi and 27%. I figure from here on, I will run synthetic and change when the OLM starts crying which looks like will be 7500 or sooner. What a difference all that highway driving makes. Either that or the 2013's OLM is less optimistic.

The sonic requires a min of semisynthetic and when I went to full synthetic my mpg and oil life increased. Note: I got a 5mph on hwy
increase going to semisynthetic Valvoline and a 10mpg when Valvoline full synthetic.

 

[$ub$onic]

The quality of oil really does make a difference

 

[lambertsonic]

The quality of oil really does make a difference

I've been using Castro syntec since my first oil change . It definetely helped when i changed to synthetic , and my oil change interval is 6000-8000 miles .I was wondering what you guys think of the pennzoil platinum synthetic ? It on sale for 25.99 compared to 50$ for Castrol . Is Castrol really worth the prenium ?

 

[$ub$onic]

It is good stuff. Nothing wrong with it.