[canadian_bacon]

Hi, I am new to the forum.
I'm about to get one today, the GM stealership around here as a nice deal on a '07 XR with 80Km on it.
Is there anything in particular I should ask them about the car?
Are there any known problems with this car that I can finger point today and avoid costly repairs down the road?

Thanks

 

[6Sixathome]

Ask them to show you the maintenance records (if they can), make sure all recalls have been done and the rest is just going by your gut, look it over well and drive it. Good luck!

 

[canadian_bacon]

I've been reading a bit and it seems to be worse than expected! I have been driving GMs for so many years and I never had a single problem with my Roadmaster (250.000 miles), Regal, Cobalt...and now I am reading about the issues the owners here have with the wave plates and timing chains? I was always under the impression that the 3.6 pair is a rock solid solution! Apparently not.

Honestly, I am hesitating now.

 

[khansen30]

You can read just as many if not more positive things about the Outlook as you can the bad. I also suggest you take a look at the Acadia and Enclave sites (link at top right of the menu) and see the positives and negatives.

You are buying the first year model which did have problems, as did the 08's. Most were corrected by the 09's. I traded in my 07 Outlook because of the sunroof problems. I got an 09 Acadia with a sunroof and have had no problems with the sunroof, timing chain,...... I have had the water pump replaced and the steering column and box replaced. Other than that it has been problem free for 39K.

Like others have said, drive it (it is a nice ride) and look at the VIN history for repairs and recalls. A friend of mine bought an 07 Outlook used this year and has not had any problems with it.

 

[canadian_bacon]

09s are kinda over the budget...
probably not all of them have these problems....
but I know I will go crazy if the chain goes down or the tranny needs work. I come from a small car and was going to take the mpg giving the fact i am getting a reliable car...

 

[medicrxdoc]

If it has a sunroof, pass on it. To many issues with MY07 sunroof leaks, even after the recall work was done.

 

[canadian_bacon]

No sunroof, timing chain changed at 80km, car now at 88km
TCM and ECM software updated, TCM twice.
Dealer cant tell if rental or company car or personal lease.
I think I will pass on it. Car at the dealership for over 6 moths.
Something does not add up.

 

[6Sixathome]

No sunroof, timing chain changed at 80km, car now at 88km
TCM and ECM software updated, TCM twice.
Dealer cant tell if rental or company car or personal lease.
I think I will pass on it. Car at the dealership for over 6 moths.
Something does not add up.

IMO, run.

 

[salguod]

If a small car suited you fine and you're looking at older SUVs with more miles, I'd honestly look at Pilots or Highlanders or even Rav-4s or CRVs. Less space than a Lambda (Outlook, Acadia, Enclave and Traverse are all 'Lambdas'), but more than your small car. Since you're in early Lambda territory, I'd stay away. Older Hondas or Toyotas have a better chance of being trouble free.

 

[canadian_bacon]

Thank you everybody for the replies. I decided to bite the bullet and got a 2012 Chevy Equinox, base model. Got VERY good money on the trade it, an 08 Cobalt with >160.000km on it.
So far so good, the new interior is absolutely amazing and the standard features are very good.

 

[ponchonutty]

Personally I don't think the Traverse has as good styling as our Outlooks. Plus, the way the back windows are makes backing up a PITA!!!

 

[6Sixathome]

Personally I don't think the Traverse has as good styling as our Outlooks. Plus, the way the back windows are makes backing up a PITA!!!

He said that he bought a Equinox.