The Chevy Vega: the Worst Detroit Car Ever?

Former 1971 Vega GT Owner

I bought a new 4 speed 1971 Vega GT in June of 71. I was working as an auto Mechanic at a Chevy dealorship at the time. I loved the car, but I do admit that it had its share of problems. Since I took good care of it, and never let it overheat, I got close to 50,000 miles on it before I had to do the first engine rebuild (under warranty). Since they were made out of Compressed rust, the fenders rusted through in the second year and they were also replaced for me under warranty. In the winter it was all you could do to get any heat out of it because the aluminum block radiated so much away. I can't understand the one readers claim of getting 50mpg out of his because I got 25-27 on a good day. Maybe he got one of those "Secret" carburetors you hear about in the urban legends. Lol. All in all I loved the car and wish I could buy a new one today, maybe with some modern upgrades to the engine and chassis.

Warren of NY @ Jun 28, 2009 17:21:25 PM

Vega :The smartest engineered small car ! Yet to date !

The U.S. public abused this EXCELLENTLY engineered car..The General Public can and does destroy almost everything ! The BEST in Handling;LOOKS;Power-per-weight-ratio;Gas-Mileage;Rear- wheel-drive;EASIEST to work on..Nothing wrong with the Chevrolet`s Vega Series..Been driving these cars since 1981,and still driving my 1973..The only reason I hate to die..I wouldn`t mind dying,if I could take my Vega and Boxer dog with me..Ex-109 Messerschmitt pilot..DRIVE CHEVROLET..MORE PEOPLE DO!

L.D. Lee of NC @ Jun 05, 2009 06:03:24 AM

Vega vs. Pinto

I would agree the Pinto was a better car than the Vega. While both had the same basic design objectives---the proof of the pudding was shown on the race track. I drove a Pinto for 2 years in the SCCA's Showroom Stock Division and raced against many Vega's and foreign cars that were allowed in that racing class. The Pinto was by far the most reliable and best car for the money in the class. Most Vega's overheated before the end of even shorter races due to their undersize radiator and dependence on expelling heat via the aluminum engine block.

It did not take long for this racing class to be void of Vega'a

due this serious design problem. The Pinto was superior in quality and braking by far and that included most foreign makes at the time. The Pinto I raced was listed new at $1800 and it came with a radio and a heater. Not much else but it got an honest 28 mpg. I raced the car for two years and was lucky to avoid major crashes. As a rear driver it handle pretty good for a stock suspension. I kept the car for 3 years after I raced it in 12 races and sold it for $800---rollbar included. Only expense to me for the entire time was tires and front brake pads and disks. I have owned many cars of different makes but that was the one I remember the most. Favorably. I would buy Ford again today in a heartbeat.

Bill Kenzik of WI @ Jun 01, 2009 20:14:16 PM

72 Vega Got OVER 50 MPG

'Splain it to me, Lucy. Over 50 MPG at 70 mph. In 1973, My husband, a friend and I were driving from Omaha to Detroit and got stopped by a policeman who took ALL of our cash. We had a full tank (or close to) leaving Omaha, but we couldn't stop for gas without money. We made it to Detroit on what we had, with some to spare. 770 miles on one tank of 13 gallons and lots of praying. Do you believe in miracles? I do.

Jane of MI @ May 30, 2009 11:43:04 AM

1971 Vega

I got a 1971.

The first engine burned oil at 12,000 miles, even after 2,000 mile oil changes.

Spider gear out at 7000 miles-I didn't baby this piece of junk.

The second engine started burning oil at 7,000 miles, and I sold it.

I wish I had $600 more to get the Toyota Celica I had really wanted.

What a great way for GM to scare off future customers.

Al A. Bama of AL @ May 29, 2009 11:50:04 AM

Vega's Role at the Dealership

as per the vega it was if GM was told to build a small economy car

Everyone sabotaged the process so in the end its ultimate role was to be the car to get you into the doors of the dealership - for the salesman to bump you up into a vehicle that made everyone in the industry more profit

Yet by being so foolish GM offered no entry level vehicle for future buyers as they moved along the path of life

Those people who purchased Toyotas and Datsuns are now driving Lexus's and Infiniti's all very profitable for their firms while GM had to market their vehicles at lower prices - that they were just as tood as the other only less money to purchase the vehicles

www.wpgauto.com

Riteway Strokon of FL @ May 24, 2009 20:15:03 PM

Two Corvairs for me now

To rebut the other comment, I've owned a Corvair since the late 70's. It has never stranded me and even after sitting in my garage for months at a time will start up in under 15 seconds of cranking. I currently own two and have owned 4 over the years.

The Corvair was designed in the late 1950's. Technology was not what it should have been in some respects so far as sealing materials, alloys, etc. I have to give Chevy kudos for trying something different though by trying to make an American equivalent to the VW Beetle. The interesting thing to me is to look at the cars GM started building 20 years after the Corvair- the "X Body" cars. They shared many dimensions and characteristics of the Corvair, from the wheelbase to the engine being over the driving wheels.

One car I had that didn't start? 1984 Mazda RX7. The apex seals went on it with less than 100K miles, oil flooded the chambers, and no-go. Just like the Corvair scenario, others have not had this problem, so maybe the prior owner abused it somehow.

Best thing I did for that car was put a Chevy V8 into it along with a T5 manual transmission.

I'm not opposed to foreign cars at all... I own four: Datsun 280Z, Toyota Supra, Mazda RX7, and BMW 5 series wagon. Did I mention that every one of them now has a Chevy V8 and Tremec manual transmission? :)

Swap A. Holic of FL @ May 20, 2009 04:36:11 AM

Chevrolet Corvair

The Vega was an absolutely horrible car. I can only be glad I didn't buy it. My dumb ass company bought a whole fleet of the things and tortured the employee body by making them drive them. Of course senior manangement would come close to one. the Vega could be beat out as worse car by the Chevrolet Corvair, which I did buy. I got rid of it when it quit starting for no apparant reason. After forty-five years of never thinking of buying a Chevrolet, I was thinking about buying a Chevrolet Malibu. But why would I buy any GM product that will be made, sold, and serviced by the Fed Government and the UAW? I like my 2003 Dodge 2500, but ditto for Chrysler. Hello Toyota, Nissan, or Hundai.

Gerald McDaniel of GA @ May 01, 2009 11:31:28 AM