GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Now I realize why they're doing so poorly and cutting 30,000 jobs.When getting my transmission fluid changed a GM dealer wanted 13$ a quart. A Toyota dealer wanted 4$ a quart. When installing my intake I saw there were some push-pins missing on the fender guard. GM wanted 3.83 per pin! Toyota dealer wanted .82 per pin. GM obviously takes advantage of people because there is no excuse for a difference like that. I could see a 10% markup because they're not used to getting Toyota parts in, but come on! Anyone have any similar stories?

That is insane and just down right WRONG!

I know GM is having a tough time - and this isn't the first time they have gone through this. Thank god the dealership here is pretty reasonable - I usually get my little odd and end work done no charge (like getting vent visors put on, cigarette lighter fixed and replaced) but maybe that's just a part of my expensive warranty package. Although you did mention their huge mark-up and I think they are like that everywhere, simple things like floor mat's - It's down right ridiculous what they get away with charging people.I dread the day I have to go in for major work!

Quote, originally posted by viberationz »I know GM is having a tough time - and this isn't the first time they have gone through thisthe price for SPO parts has been high from GM for quite a few years now. it hasn't just started and they didn't raise the prices just because they are going through a bad time.

Actually, it was explained to me by my APM once. GM has to buy the part from Toyota, repackage it, give it a GM part #, and then stock it. They have no contract (or contact) with the vendor on the part, and in many cases Toyota gouges THEM (them being GM) on the price of the part. OH, and one last factor, GM has to put product liability insurance on the part.

the GM dealer told me I needed the whole rear wiper arm and that they dont make refills..came out to like $25 or so and Toyota sold the refills for $4

Quote, originally posted by tnpartsguy »Actually, it was explained to me by my APM once. GM has to buy the part from Toyota, repackage it, give it a GM part #, and then stock it. They have no contract (or contact) with the vendor on the part, and in many cases Toyota gouges THEM (them being GM) on the price of the part. OH, and one last factor, GM has to put product liability insurance on the part.i was going to post something similiar to this. you beat me to it.good response.

Again, on this one, I have a reasonable explaination.......GM isn't offered a refill for the rear wiper, only the complete blade. Some other parts may very well prove to be similar, anytime GM has had a captive import, whether it be from Toyota, Suzuki, or Isuzu, there have been parts issues. I really don't expect that to ever change.

well think of it this way.....toyota make sthe part.marks it up 100% then sells it to GM....then Gm marks it up 100%.....so it does not take long for the price to be crazy......inner tie rod end for passanger side was with tax 190$CDN.....and that was with a discount.wish i still had my 10$ part cavy.lol

My air filter at the GM retard dealer 32.00 and change with tax.....toyota dealer 26.00 and change same dam filter!!!!!!!!!!

If you think paying that for quart of fluid is bad, wait until you have to buy an entire automatic transmission. It's pretty cheap really, I mean it will only set ya back $4,295.90 for that damn thing with torque converter, new from the dealer. By the time they added the fluid to go in it, the bill came to $4,425. 'course I'm still puzzled how they got a total of 10 quarts in there that showed up on the invoice, maybe they ordered extra (it only calls for 7.something, IIRC.) But I'm not questioning it as I could really care less, none of that was my money. GM had to pay for all that. The parts pricing for just about everything is pathetic on this car. I need 5 lugs ASAP for my alloys but that will be like $200 or something from what I gather. Yikes. And it needs lots of other stuff too that I've been putting off, like that $100 piece of milk jug plastic that goes under the front bumper up to the fender. And various other bits and pieces that I broke which will could probably add up to several hundred dollars if I let it. The Vibe is a great car, but in terms of service and parts, it sure can leave lot to be desired. I hate to say it, but I'm not going to miss the service nightmare this car has been thanks to nobody having a clue... And I certainly won't miss the thought of having to sell various bodily organs on the black market just so I can afford replacement parts.

PS Petrucci - 30,000 jobs not being removed, over the next 3 years attrition will be eliminating over 80% of them,,

a big problem with gm is the efficiency of each factory, according to sae in a recent mag, if i remember correct, there are like 30 gm plants ranging from 6-109% efficiency, why any plant is running at 6% is beyond me but toyota has about 6 ranging from 96-120% efficient.

Quote, originally posted by coldmm803 »according to sae in a recent mag, if i remember correct, there are like 30 gm plants ranging from 6-109% efficiency, why any plant is running at 6% is beyond me but toyota has about 6 ranging from 96-120% efficient. I'd like to see data on that. cause i don't really believe 6% and to run 120% I don't believe is possible because once you reach 100% you set a benchmark.

i will gladly post the data after i get the mag, i left it at home and i'm in college 2hrs away, will be heading home in a week or 2

i got that article and scaned the page

Attached files

O.K. I thought the article was going to be about the efficiency of the product being built. I mean labor hours per vehicle.but it is about how quickly the floor area and assembly line can be changed to accomodate new changes. GM has made big strides in this area by doing things like Toyota, team process, creaform racks on wheels, syncronization of parts at out buildings, flat tracks, ect.I remember back in late seventys we would have a couple of months off for a changeover to a new model year. now GM has it down to weekends. boy, I sure do miss those months off good article though. long ago the big 3 thought they would be the only ones to build vehicles at the plants they had.

Is there any data that backs up that GM buys their parts from Toyota?? I think GM buys their parts from the suppliers, just like Toyota does.. so Yazaki, Denso Michigan, the fascia manufacturers, etc etc... GM doesn't buy the headlamp from Toyota.. it's unique to the Vibe, same with almost every exterior stamping (black metal is probably identical - door inners included, B-pillar etc..) I find my Canadian dealer to be on par with Toyota for many of the items, yes, Toyota as a general rule is much cheaper than any OEM for parts over the counter.. indeed.. But, I thought the cabin air filter box was the same, (thinking the same filter even).. well, it's not.. so, there are indeed differences.. (why did they bother engineering another cabin air filter/box ?!?! setting up a tool for it, different part number, etc etc..., it costs a LOT of money to do something minutely different.. that's why the Chevy Aveo5, Pontiac Wave5, and Suziki Swift are all totally identical, less the instruction manual, badges and grille insert!!! Anyhow, I'd like to know more about GM buying their parts from Toyota, could be?!? dunno, but the alliance works for both parties.

usually small interior parts and many of the engine parts i have got came in a toyota parts bag with a big GM parts sticker over it... ie. the infamous shift interlock coverbut headlights and other parts unique to the vibe (cabin filter) are obviously in standard GM trim.I can not figure out why that cabin air filter is different... but it is. Especially in something as complicated as the HVAC system.

shift interlock cover: GM tried to charge me $10 for it, went a few blocks over and got it at the toyota dealer for $1.74

old post** but i just got my o2 sensor from toyota which was about $50 less than gm

How about looking at just about any part you buy for your Vibe. You'll plainly see that a GM part # sticker is put directly over the Toyota part # ....I'll look around tomarrow and see if I can find anything in the warehouse to take a photo of to show you........Quote, originally posted by 2006Vibe »Is there any data that backs up that GM buys their parts from Toyota?? I think GM buys their parts from the suppliers, just like Toyota does.. so Yazaki, Denso Michigan, the fascia manufacturers, etc etc... GM doesn't buy the headlamp from Toyota.. it's unique to the Vibe, same with almost every exterior stamping (black metal is probably identical - door inners included, B-pillar etc..) I find my Canadian dealer to be on par with Toyota for many of the items, yes, Toyota as a general rule is much cheaper than any OEM for parts over the counter.. indeed.. But, I thought the cabin air filter box was the same, (thinking the same filter even).. well, it's not.. so, there are indeed differences.. (why did they bother engineering another cabin air filter/box ?!?! setting up a tool for it, different part number, etc etc..., it costs a LOT of money to do something minutely different.. that's why the Chevy Aveo5, Pontiac Wave5, and Suziki Swift are all totally identical, less the instruction manual, badges and grille insert!!! Anyhow, I'd like to know more about GM buying their parts from Toyota, could be?!? dunno, but the alliance works for both parties.

Quote, originally posted by meistees »the GM dealer told me I needed the whole rear wiper arm and that they dont make refills..came out to like $25 or so and Toyota sold the refills for $4I can second that..except Toyota here sold me the refill for $3 and change. If you look at it, the whole arm has a Toyota part number, I had to take the Toyota service guy out to the parking lot to show him, but in the end an insert was all it took.

Quote, originally posted by tnpartsguy »How about looking at just about any part you buy for your Vibe. You'll plainly see that a GM part # sticker is put directly over the Toyota part # ....I'll look around tomarrow and see if I can find anything in the warehouse to take a photo of to show you........Don't see how that shows that GM has to buy the parts from Toyota rather than directly from the supplier. If I'm a supplier with Toyota as my primary customer I might very well ship the product in bags/boxes with whatever part number and label that Toyota wants. Then if someone else places smaller orders it's easiest to ship them the part the same way but with a new label over the old one.OTOH, I've got an engine air filter sitting here in a box printed with ACDelco logos but the filter itself is labeled as Toyota - Denso, Made in USA. And the cost was less than $11 from an online parts place (needed a $50 minimum for free shipping when buying the cruise-control stalk so I also got a couple air filters).

Quote, originally posted by bodhi_tree777 »I can second that..except Toyota here sold me the refill for $3 and change. If you look at it, the whole arm has a Toyota part number, I had to take the Toyota service guy out to the parking lot to show him, but in the end an insert was all it took. I bought the refil blade for about $2.50. Toyota P/N 85214-12310

I guess the reverse is also truehttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=33933Toyota part cheaper at GM. lol

Quote, originally posted by Petrucci914 »Now I realize why they're doing so poorly and cutting 30,000 jobs.When getting my transmission fluid changed a GM dealer wanted 13$ a quart. A Toyota dealer wanted 4$ a quart. When installing my intake I saw there were some push-pins missing on the fender guard. GM wanted 3.83 per pin! Toyota dealer wanted .82 per pin. GM obviously takes advantage of people because there is no excuse for a difference like that. I could see a 10% markup because they're not used to getting Toyota parts in, but come on! Anyone have any similar stories?When I replaced my catalytic converter, I went with stock instead of aftermarket. The converter assembly cost $442 from GM, Toyota wanted $1100 for the same part.

In my search for a new fog light I ended up in my local Toyota dealership. Their parts guy matched up the right part but quoted $230 (roughly, I tuned out at about "two hun...) GM dealer said he could get me one new for $120, but he offered to call around and find one used for about $70. But for other parts it might be worth a look to see what it costs from Toyota.

It really depends on who was responsible for the part originally... A lot of them are cheaper at Toyota, but some are cheaper at GM. I shop around online before buying what I need. Examples...Blower resistor...GM MSRP $46.52Toy MSRP $9.42Headlight switch...GM MSRP $79.60Toy MSRP $192.28It pays to shop around...

I know this is an older post but I was bored at work and came across this.I found out the price difference between Toyota and GM real quick. Yes transmission fluid price is quite different between them, as is most parts. An example I found was the rear window wiper, GM $15, Toyota $1.50 and it's just a refill. Lug nuts through GM $9, Toyota $2. All because GM buys the parts from Toyota at cost, and then jacks the price up because they usually repackage the part as a GM part.Ford does the same with Mazda and Merkur as well. I had a 1987.5 Ford Escort EXP years ago with Merkur (European Ford/Mercury) driving lights. Ford bulb replacement $35, Merkur cost $7.50.I can only imagine what will happen with GM and the other carmakers.