SVT Focus replacement

[Vinsanity]

I'm not worried about parts since it uses the same powertrain as every other V8 GM car.  The interior is crap though.

I'd do a little more research on this, just to make sure. I recently read somewhere about a guy who once had to wait a month for a replacement radiator for his GTO to come in from Australia.

[GoCougs]

I'm not worried about parts since it uses the same powertrain as every other V8 GM car.  The interior is crap though.

Though related to other GM drivetrains it is a unique engine + transmission. They exist in GM's massive parts catalog as Pontiac part numbers. If in the future you need an exhaust manifold or intake gaskets you don't go buy those for the 6.2L of a Silverado or Camaro. Also, most of the parts on the car are unique to the G8 and GTO. Imagine what it will take to get a window motor or seat heater?

It's a moderate concern. I imagine you'll still be able to get parts but it won't be quick and easy.

[hotrodalex]

My order:

1. G8 GXP (if you can find one)
2. 550i
3. G37
4. 535i

The 535i would be fine, but I'm not sure about the turbos. I'd have to do more research on it, and of course it's still not as cool as the V8.

[Onslaught]

I'm not worried about parts since it uses the same powertrain as every other V8 GM car.  The interior is crap though.

You can get most parts but not all of them. We're having a really big problem getting Pontiac bumpers and stuff at work. And the aftermarket (junk by the way) makers can't keep up with the demand now that the OEM stuff isn't around. And a few of the little body parts can't be bought from GM anymore. So you can get the things still used in cars still made. But some of that smaller stuff made just for Pontiac won't be around forever.

I had to make a G6 bumper out of something that should have been thrown in the dump about 4 months ago because you couldn't get one in the US at that time.

So I'd never buy a car from a brand that's dead. Even if it's parent company's are still around.

[SVT666]

You can get most parts but not all of them. We're having a really big problem getting Pontiac bumpers and stuff at work. And the aftermarket (junk by the way) makers can't keep up with the demand now that the OEM stuff isn't around. And a few of the little body parts can't be bought from GM anymore. So you can get the things still used in cars still made. But some of that smaller stuff made just for Pontiac won't be around forever.

I had to make a G6 bumper out of something that should have been thrown in the dump about 4 months ago because you couldn't get one in the US at that time.

So I'd never buy a car from a brand that's dead. Even if it's parent company's are still around.

Those are good points.  Something to think about.

[r0tor]

Labour at the Ford dealer is $105 an hour, so I don't see the problem there.  The oil thing does bother me but Bimmers only get oil changes every 15,000 miles which is roughly 1 a year.  How much does an oil change cost?  How common is an iDrive failure, or power steering failure?  Sure they might be the most common things to go wrong, but how often does it really happen?  The way you talk about it, you would think that BMWs are the most failure prone vehicles on the market and that the car will always be in the shop. 

Oil changes at the BMW dealer are about $350...

[hotrodalex]

Those are good points.  Something to think about.

You could always get a Commodore front clip if you needed a new bumper and couldn't find one.

[MX793]

Hmm, I do love the G8.  But I've a feeling that it's going to be very tough to get parts for that car in a few years.  AFAIK, it and the GTO (and maybe the Catera) were the only cars on that platform sold here, so stuff is not readily available and can be pricey.  That would be worth looking into.

GTO and Catera aren't on the same platform as the G8.  The GTO/Monaro and Catera were on the V-body platform.  The G8 is on the Zeta platform (same as the Camaro and very closely related to the CTS's Sigma platform) which was a ground-up new design that replaced the older V-body back in '07.

[SVT666]

Oil changes at the BMW dealer are about $350...

$350 a year for a single oil change is not bad.

[the Teuton]

Oh, I also forgot about VANOS failure...

[SVT666]

What is VANOS?

[S204STi]

Camaro.

They may technically share a platform, but hardly anything else. Pirate's concern is still valid.

[MX793]

What is VANOS?

BMW's variable valve timing system.

[Laconian]

Double the VANOSes, double the failure rate!

[Onslaught]

Oh, I also forgot about VANOS failure...

I was on a BMW M3 site onetime and the guys all talked about that. Many had problems with BMW coving the problem. If I remember correctly?

[SVT666]

So are BMWs really that shitty?

[CALL_911]

So are BMWs really that shitty?

Expensive repairs≠shitty

[SVT666]

Expensive repairs≠shitty

No, but the way these guys are talking, the damn thing will be in shop all the time.  Between my Focus, Explorer, Freestyle, Ram, Mustang, Sunfire, and Alero we have had our cars in the shop for repairs exactly twice in the last 8 years.  Both of those shop visits were for the catastrophic engine failure my Sunfire suffered.  The only other times the cars have been in the shop have been for wear and tear items like brakes and routine maintenance like a coolant flush and stuff like that. 

[the Teuton]

I love a lot of BMWs, but there are few I would own out of warranty as a daily driver. That's just called being realistic.

[SVT666]

I love a lot of BMWs, but there are few I would own out of warranty as a daily driver. That's just called being realistic.

So it's inevitable it will break down?  I'm just trying to get realistic info here because cars don't break down anymore.  At least not like they used to.

[the Teuton]

So it's inevitable it will break down?  I'm just trying to get realistic info here because cars don't break down anymore.  At least not like they used to.

BMWs don't break down more than any other high tech car. But when they do, they're more expensive than a night with a D.C. hooker to fix.

The V8 and I6TT have shown to have more issues than the I6 NA models, though.

[SVT666]

Great.  So the top two cars on my list are a car that if I get into an accident with, I will have to have the parts shipped from Australia, and the other is a car that will be in the shop all the time and put me in the poor house.

[Cookie Monster]

Within the first week that my mom had her 7 I had to take it in for something wrong with the keyless go, and then I had to take it in for a broken window shade. Luckily my parents got the extended warranty.

[Onslaught]

I don't really keep up with BMW's all that much. But I know that my friends that drive them all buy and like the older ones more. They don't feel that the modern ones are screwed together as well.
I'm not saying that this is a fact because I don't know, or care for that matter.  Just that people I know who spank their monkeys to the Roundel think this way. And one of them works on BMW's for
a living and has been doing it for about 23 years.

[sportyaccordy]

What's the budget cap & age limit? I know of a few people who've had decent experiences with 00-03 (E39) M5s. If you're willing to turn a wrench those are probably your best bet. The 04-09 5 series (E60) is too much of a crapshoot electronically; performance wise the 550i is like an exhaust + LSD away from being on par with the old M5.

[omicron]

Great.  So the top two cars on my list are a car that if I get into an accident with, I will have to have the parts shipped from Australia, and the other is a car that will be in the shop all the time and put me in the poor house.

Well, you could stop driving into things for a start.

And if you lived in a proper country, then I could suggest one of these for you:

[SVT666]

What's the budget cap & age limit? I know of a few people who've had decent experiences with 00-03 (E39) M5s. If you're willing to turn a wrench those are probably your best bet. The 04-09 5 series (E60) is too much of a crapshoot electronically; performance wise the 550i is like an exhaust + LSD away from being on par with the old M5.

Well, by the time I'm ready to buy, I will be looking at 2009-2010 cars.  I'll probably add the Magnum R/T to the list.

[93JC]

And if you lived in a proper country, then I could suggest one of these for you:

"Proper country"? They sell those things in New Zealand; are you saying you consider New Zealand a "proper country"?

[r0tor]

Great.  So the top two cars on my list are a car that if I get into an accident with, I will have to have the parts shipped from Australia, and the other is a car that will be in the shop all the time and put me in the poor house.

Exactly!

[SVT666]

Exactly!

Thanks for the confirmation.

I'll probably look at the G8 GT (GXP will probably be too expensive), Magnum R/T, and the Infiniti G37.  I know I can get 2009 Infiniti G37 sedans for $22-24,000 right now, so I will probably be able to get a fairly new car when I'm ready.