Our new car

We got a new car last month.  It’s a 2004 Chevy Malibu Classic.  We really like the car so far.  The fuel pump went out as we were driving it back to the dealership to sign the paper work.  They felt pretty bad about it and had it fixed for us (we didn’t have to pay for the repairs).  The dealership even let us borrow another car off of their lot for a few days while they made the repairs.  I checked into it and found out that the fuel pump actually had a problem out of the factory (it is technically a problem with a sensor on the pump).  We’ve had one other GM before (an Oldsmobile Intrigue) and we really like them.

Krystal and I wont buy another Mazda because of the problems we had with my 626.  Mazda is partially owned by Ford now, and the car had a mixture of American and Japanese parts.  According to the forums I read online, the problem with that car was that the computer was Japanese, and the transmission was American made.  The computer didn’t communicate properly with the transmission and caused it to start hard shifting as though there was something wrong with it (when there really wasn’t).  Then it blew out the transmission.  This was a problem in every 626 from 1994 to 2001 (mine was an 01).  Mazda shoved it under the rug and refused to take the blame for it.  Any mechanic I’ve talked to that has dealt with the problem knows it, because it’s almost impossible to find a replacement transmission unless you buy it straight from Mazda, because all the used transmissions are dead.

So, we’re thinking we’ll stick with GM vehicles for now.  We also thought of buying a Toyota, but I’m not sure I want a car with a run away gas pedal 🙂

Stitch gave up the ghost

My Mazda 626, lovingly named Stitch (after the Disney movie character Experiment 626) has finally given up for good.  The transmission started to give out a year ago, but, with some help from my uncle, we were able to keep it going for another year.  I was driving it home from work a month or so ago, and the transmission stopped shifting all together.  We were able to get a whopping $600 out of it.  Now we have a 2004 Chevy Classic, which we both really like.