Recalled GM Cars See Bigger Price Drop Over Other Used Vehicles

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

Are your children about to start college? Maybe it’s their senior year in high school? Looking for a cheap vehicle and don’t mind if it’s been recalled to death by its automaker? Then a vehicle caught up in the General Motors recall parade might be the one, as prices have fallen hard as of late.

Jalopnik reports a study by iSeeCars.com says the six vehicles that kicked off the parade — Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Ion, Saturn Sky, Pontiac Solstice, Pontiac G5 and Chevrolet HHR — saw their used car prices drop 14 percent between March and June 2014, compared with 6.7 percent for other used vehicles in the same period.

The biggest loss leaders were, of course, the Cobalt and its sister G5, with a 13.7 percent drop in price. That said, if you ever wanted a Cobalt SS coupe or sedan ( or XFE for that Prius-esque fuel economy without the hipster connotations), or a Saturn Sky Redline, this might the time to pick one up.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • Icebluerose1 Icebluerose1 on Sep 22, 2014

    Just how many recall notices am I going to received telling me my car is unsafe to drive, but the parts to fix the several issues with the 2005 Malibu Maxx are unavailable? I bought this car new in 2005, and GM was aware of this problem with the .57 ignition, airbags not deploying etc..for several years now, and this year (2014), I've received several notices that translates to: "we sorry, we know we gambled on no one discovering our lack of manufacturing a safe, dependable, quality vehicle, and it caused at least 13 deaths that we'll admit to, but we don't have the parts to correct the defaults. However, when the parts become available, we will inconveniently schedule an appointment to repair the life-threatening defaults at our cost", Well big frigging deal. How generous of you! What is the consumer to do if this is the vehicle used in the daily commute and there isn't an other available option like public transit? GM could at the least provide (safer) loaners or replace the affected vehicles. This is one of the reasons many American consumers discontinued purchasing American made vehicles several years ago beginning in the eighties in the first place . Just when we thought it was safe to buy American automobiles again, not only is the vehicle unsafe, there's no consumer resolution unless there's injury or death. Well you fooled me once, but never again GM. Not only will I not purchase your vehicles, I will prevent anyone else as well and as you know, 'word of mouth' is the most effective. I want a resolution to this potentially fatal negligence immediately.

  • PonchoIndian PonchoIndian on Sep 22, 2014

    You could always go out and buy a Honda, their airbags work. The only problem is that their airbags shoot shrapnel at you when they go off and you may lose and eye or bleed out after it gets you in the neck. Of course, they've only known about it since 2007.

  • Kwik_Shift_Pro4X I've mentioned before about being very underwhelmed by the Hornet for a $50000+ all in price tag. Just wasn't for me. I'd prefer a Mazda CX-5 or even a Rogue.
  • MaintenanceCosts Other sources seem to think that the "electric Highlander" will be built on TNGA and that the other 3-row will be on an all-new EV-specific platform. In that case, why bother building the first one at all?
  • THX1136 Two thoughts as I read through the article. 1) I really like the fins on this compared to the others. For me this is a jet while the others were propeller driven craft in appearance.2) The mention of the wider whitewalls brought to mind a vague memory. After the wider version fell out of favor I seem to remember that one could buy add-on wide whitewalls only that fit on top of the tire so the older look could be maintained. I remember they would look relatively okay until the add-on would start to ripple and bow out indicating their exact nature. Thanks for the write up, Corey. Looking forward to what's next.
  • Analoggrotto It's bad enough we have to read your endless Hyundai Kia Genesis shilling, we don't want to hear actually it too. We spend good money on speakers, headphones and amplifiers!
  • Redapple2 Worthy of a book
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