Chevy Club Ph. Calling all Chevy out there!

**cbcnestormn** · November 26th, 2007 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by userfriendly

For parts try Thunder Automotive. Just look them up in the yellow pages. I cant recall tell nos. They have a store in Quezon Ave corner Aaraneta Ave. Main branch somewhere in Binondo yata. They carry parts for most American brands.

Their prices are usually a lot cheaper than casa. I got an oil filter for an Expe for 350. Venture oil filter same price. Got my Ventures rear brake pads for 3500 vs 8000 from casa.

Hello Userfriendly and all other Chevy Enthusiasts:

Hello Userfriendly and all other Chevy Enthusiasts:
I need a family van and need versatility of a 7 or more seater vehicle.
I am thinking of buying either a 02 Zafira php 275K or a Venture php
350k..what would you prefer if my concerns were reliability and costs of
maintainance. Pls set aside gas mileage as an issue. Both cars have horror
stories posted on this website but I am hoping that the lower acquisition cost
will offset future problems and if I am lucky I might save in the end.
Is the Venture really prone to the ff problems I have seen posted? How do I
avoid them:
1) Overheating, a top overhaul costing Php 30k +
2) Electrical system troubles, an ECU costing Php 80k?
3) Front wheel bearing/ axle shaft costing Php 80K?
4) Fuel pump conk out cosing PHp 30k
5) Suspension troubles?

Any other things to check before I buy? The unit I saw today has supposedly
32Tkms only, seems clean, rode and drove smoothly except the engine has a
noisy bearing noise in that the Chevy casa told the owner is normal tsk tsk.
the owner showed me receipts for replacement of crankshaft pulley, alternator
idle tension bearing. I saw there are 3 other tension bearings but the owner
claims the casa said those were still ok so not to worry.
The Zafira I saw has an indicated 26TKms, also a clean interior, (since this is
a car dealer unit it was obviously given a thorough detailing job), nice shiny
copper brown metallic paint ( the only one I have seen). But I doubt the
mileage because I note the brake discs are deeply worn about the thickniess
of a 1 peso coin. How many tkms before this level of wear is seen? I wonder.
Can digital odometer readings be easily tampered?
The engine has the famous tick tick sound indicative to camshaft belt and
tensioner wear...I did not test drive the unit but the Zafira is one cute neat
MPV....and initial cost is Php 75k less.
But then again this saving is nothing if I had to:
1) Replace a busted ECU - Php 65 at Thunder
2) Replace a busted power steering electic motor and gear assy Php 100k?
3) Shocks cost Php 8k each?
4) Cost of Brake Discs ?
What would be the better bet?