Chevrolet to increase European sales
Discussion
GM says it will develop the Chevrolet brand in Europe from January 2005 by the introduction of new models (p.27 Financial Times 24/9/04). GM, which has a substantial stake in the company, will re-brand Daewoo products to sell under the Chevrolet name. This is expected to address the negative associations of the Daewoo name and double European sales with an expansion of the Chevrolet dealer network from 1,800 to more than 2,000.
Another marketing coup for the General.
Another marketing coup for the General.
Um, confession time, I actually bought my wife a Daewoo Leganza once. It was actually quite a nice and very reliable car. Almost worthless though at time of sale, but then I knew it would be when I bought it. Like has been said before, cheap and cheerful and does what it says on the tin. 
I think it's a mistake but what Chevrolet need is to sort out a dealer network and stop worrying about the damn cars and what they're called. Toyota and Nissan built a whole empire on marketing bland, dull, boring cars with a fantastic dealer network and they ended up with the 350Z and the Celica, MR2 etc and a nice profit.
FRom what I was told recently, a certain Chevrolet main dealer leaves much to be desired in this area.
FRom what I was told recently, a certain Chevrolet main dealer leaves much to be desired in this area.
I would imagine that the Holden...sorry, Vauxhall Monaro service outlets will be able to service the C5 and I'm sure the diagnostic computer will read the GM computer codes. Just watch they don't jack the car on the sills. Some horror stories on US forums about useless service places who have wrecked whole sill sections.
LuS1fer said:
I would imagine that the Holden...sorry, Vauxhall Monaro service outlets will be able to service the C5 and I'm sure the diagnostic computer will read the GM computer codes. Just watch they don't jack the car on the sills. Some horror stories on US forums about useless service places who have wrecked whole sill sections.
Not that I have personally allowed my garage to do it, but the C5 works manual "allows" jacking up on the sills, so what gives here?
The jacking is fairly strict on the C5 requiring lifting on the cross-members. No doubt the factory jack is the correct fitment but the jacking issue relates to the use of trolley jacks. The C5 has jacking "eyes" which have to be used as the sills are fibreglass so careless use of a jack will break the sills. In the US, they sell jacking pucks which replace the round cradle on the trolley jack with a dedicated "puck" which slots into the receiver and ensures no damage.
There are many horror stories on Corvette Forum of cars being jacked up incorrectly and the sills shattering and the repair is not simple because the sills are part of the structure of the shell.
Here are the pucks:
Other issues to watch out for on C5's are electrical problems often caused by the underhood earth connector corroding and batteries that fail and leak straight onto the computer underneath them. I recommend you visit Frost's website and buy a battery mat. Most US owners swop out the AC Delco battery for an Optima Red Top which has gel rather than liquid innards.
There are many horror stories on Corvette Forum of cars being jacked up incorrectly and the sills shattering and the repair is not simple because the sills are part of the structure of the shell.
Here are the pucks:
Other issues to watch out for on C5's are electrical problems often caused by the underhood earth connector corroding and batteries that fail and leak straight onto the computer underneath them. I recommend you visit Frost's website and buy a battery mat. Most US owners swop out the AC Delco battery for an Optima Red Top which has gel rather than liquid innards.
Yeah, I bought a jacking puck early on and it's useful to have. With this type of car I reckon you have to choose VERY carefully where to get your MOT done or sort out tyres because of the very limited ground clearance for ramps, risk of idiot jacking and risk to your tyre pressure monitor system.
As regards servicing etc, BM are still the only people authorised by Cadillac Europe. Being old fashioned I wanted an oil change on mine after the first 3000 miles (and not whichever is the sooner of the DIC, 15000 miles or 12 months) and eventually got Cadillac to agree that my local Monaro dealer could do the oil change provided they used the recommended oil and factory parts. I had the correct oil filter and eventually got Cadillac to agree that the Mobil 1 viscosity used on the Monaro was ok in the Vette. Oil changed, warranty intact, mind put at rest and best part of £100 lighter. I suspect that BM will have to do the first service though. However the Monaro dealers should come in very useful for error codes etc if you are out of warranty.
As regards jacking pucks, they are a must. Forget the posh Ecklers alluminium ones (or similar). Your local BMW dealer can supply them for next to nothing as they were used on a 3 series. Also they stay in place on the car (unlike they alluminium ones). Mine are there all the time with "JACK" painted on them so there can be no doubt how I want my car jacked.
As regards jacking pucks, they are a must. Forget the posh Ecklers alluminium ones (or similar). Your local BMW dealer can supply them for next to nothing as they were used on a 3 series. Also they stay in place on the car (unlike they alluminium ones). Mine are there all the time with "JACK" painted on them so there can be no doubt how I want my car jacked.
5USA said:
Yeah, I bought a jacking puck early on and it's useful to have. With this type of car I reckon you have to choose VERY carefully where to get your MOT done or sort out tyres because of the very limited ground clearance for ramps, risk of idiot jacking and risk to your tyre pressure monitor system.
When I changed my tyres I used ATI. I advised them of the X-member jacking points. They put the car on the lift, very very carefully up the ramp and I confirmed the exact points for them. Highly recommended although no idea if they are a franchise operation.
Now as for the TPMS, have any of you fitted flashy metal valve caps? - don't. The one thing ATI did badly was to replace my original plastic caps with new shiny metal ones. One of them corroded and during the service the Frost mechanic broke the valve trying to get it off. So new valve with integrated sensor at £90!! In the end Frots's did not actually charge me but you have been warned!.
LuS1fer said:
...
Other issues to watch out for on C5's are electrical problems often caused by the underhood earth connector corroding and batteries that fail and leak straight onto the computer underneath them. I recommend you visit Frost's website and buy a battery mat. Most US owners swop out the AC Delco battery for an Optima Red Top which has gel rather than liquid innards.
Thanks for the battery info Wayne, had not heard of that on before
C5RagTop said:
However the Monaro dealers should come in very useful for error codes etc if you are out of warranty.
Anyone know if the Monaro dealers will be able to do Vette software updates? I have an outstanding warranty claim for BM to update my software with the udate to "fix" the fuel guage problem. Rather drive from Poole to bournemouth than Poole to Manchester!
Actually interesting story. The guage went again, about a week before the warranty ran out, 28th June. So on the 28th I called Frosts. Helpful but they couldn't help because thay have had no software updates for several years. Gave me a number to call at BM. They passed me on to Caddy Europe. Caddy logged the warranty claim and gave me a ref number. Said that BM would collect the car from Poole. Could be a while becuse they would time it with a trip down to the South. Fine but I was not enthused. I figured when BM called I would talk to them about the possibility of sending the sofware update to Frosts, who had the equipment, so I could drive there to have it done - and not lose my car for God knows how long. Needless to say a week later the guage started working and has done contunuosuly I have had never had a call from BM or Caddy. But I will get atround to calling them soon!
Interesting story about BM. They charged me £30 a side for Euro sidelights and everyone I sent there to buy them for their imports got charged £15 a side. Go figure. I also heard an amusing story about a query about SVA work which elicited a tale of total drivel and an estimate of £1400 for such work. Not damning them in any way, it may be that labour rates and light conversion kits and SVA test fees take the price that high at "UK rates" but I am enquiring about that price difference!
I will service and maintain my Z06 myself and will not, under any circumstances, visit any dealer unless absolutely necessary. Most do more harm than good.
I will service and maintain my Z06 myself and will not, under any circumstances, visit any dealer unless absolutely necessary. Most do more harm than good.
LuS1fer said:
Don't use the Mobil 1 0w-40. The US has a different viscosity of 5w-50 or something like that which is what Vettes get as standard. I use the Mobil 1 Rally formula which is thicker. Castrol RS also do a thicker formula. The 0w-40 is too thin.
Would have to put a different view on that. For road use in temperate conditions, with modern oils, 0/40 or 5/50 does not make a lot of diddly squat. Far more important that you change oil and filter regulalry. Corvette UK dealers, having to support warranty, used 0/40. If you go to the Mobil corp website you will see that the American version does not meet certain EU specifications and the EU 0/40 version does. Which is not to suggest one is better than the other, only that the subject is somewhat more complex than one might think.
yellowshark454 said:
Don't use the Mobil 1 0w-40. The US has a different viscosity of 5w-50 or something like that which is what Vettes get as standard. I use the Mobil 1 Rally formula which is thicker. Castrol RS also do a thicker formula. The 0w-40 is too thin.
Would have to put a different view on that. For road use in temperate conditions, with modern oils, 0/40 or 5/50 does not make a lot of diddly squat. Far more important that you change oil and filter regulalry. Corvette UK dealers, having to support warranty, used 0/40. If you go to the Mobil corp website you will see that the American version does not meet certain EU specifications and the EU 0/40 version does. Which is not to suggest one is better than the other, only that the subject is somewhat more complex than one might think.
When I was looking into this I confirmed that both Frosts (my nearest ex North American Dealer) and BM used 0w-40. Also GM themselves have confirmed to me in writing (see their e-mail below) that 0w-40 is ok.
Vauxhall Customer Assistance wrote:
Thank you for your recent e-mail regarding your Chevrolet Corvette.
I can confirm that the following engine oils can be used safely with your vehicle.
Mobil 1 - 0 - 40W
Mobil 1 - 5 - 40W
Mobil 1 - 5 - 50W
Thank you for contacting Cadillac Europe and allowing me to comment.
Yours sincerely
Trina Whiteside,Customer Service Manager,Cadillac Europe
Gassing Station | Corvettes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff