This whole thread makes me lol. Summary? Some cars are lemons, some parts are lemons, some people/shops are lemons, w-bodies are w-bodies, and routine maintenance is a good idea unless you like spending money on parts or want a new vehicle.
FWIW, here's a list of issues I've had with my 2004 GP in order (135k miles, beaten the **** out of):
-Used up all the gas in the tank (oh noez! +1 dislike for Pontiac)
-Burnt out bulbs (at this point the maintenance is just getting to be too much, not sure if I like Pontiac)
-Needed an oil change (now I'm really hating Pontiac)
-Replaced 3 wheel bearings, only one of which was needed (this is when I decided Pontiac was pure evil and should be avoided at all cost)
Maintenance?
-New full-synthetic/filter every ~3k (a couple times it was more like every 5k lol)
-New tires at ~120k
-New platinumish plugs at ~134k
-New huge Sceptre air filter at ~135k, gonna built an acrylic CAI box for it (Why acrylic? Because I like things that are clear *****!)
Still on the stock tranny even though I piss-grind that mother****er after every stop I make. Still on the stock alternator. Probably gonna replace the battery pretty soon. I'll replace the fuel filter when I switch to E85. The transmission can kiss my ass, the sooner it suicides the sooner I have a reason to fund a new fully built TEP trans.
Currently the car is at the dealership where I bought it for a nice fix after banking that mofo into some ice and hitting a domed (wtf?) manhole in someone's front yard (more wtf?). Broke a bunch of ****, my fault. Oops.
All in all I think I got a champ of a car. Not a serious issue has been had that isn't my fault.
