A Smart Purchase
I purchased my 2017 Chevrolet Equinox new at Lamb Chevrolet in Prescott, Arizona, utilizing the Costco Auto Program. I was living in Rio Rancho, New Mexico at the time. I was specifically seeking an Equinox with the LT trim, all-wheel drive, and the V-6 engine. Little did I know how difficult my search would be, as very few Equinox models were equipped with the V-6 engine option. Also I had no idea that Chevrolet dropped the V-6 engine option for the 2018 model year, as I was considering waiting until the 2018 models were introduced to make my purchase. The V-6 engine was an excellent choice. It provides ample power for driving over high mountain passes while simultaneously delivering reasonably good gas mileage. This engine has been one of the most reliable engines I've ever had. In seven years of ownership, I've driven this vehicle nearly 150,000 miles. The vehicle is comfortable to drive; the controls are well-laid out and convenient, and the cargo space is sufficient for packing items, as well as several suitcases and items for a long vacation. I ski frequently, and the cargo space easily accommodates two sets of skis and a large ski bag. It also easily accommodates my golf clubs for summer play.
This isn't to say that the car has operated flawlessly. This is not the case. The transmission completely failed at 129,000 miles. The transmission has never shifted completely smoothly (it has always been a bit jumpy), even when brand new. A few months prior to it completely failing, the transmission became rather balky when downshifting. When it failed, I contacted GM and was informed that there were only 9 new transmissions available nationwide, and that all of them had been sold to other dealers / customers. I was fortunate to have had the transmission fail within a mile of (what turned out to be) a very honest and reliable independent transmission repair shop (The Tranny Shop in Swisher, Iowa (near Cedar Rapids). The shop owner (Brandon Kahn) worked diligently to locate a remanufactured transmission for me (that came with a 3-year unlimited mileage warranty). To date I've driven 18,000 miles on the remanufactured transmission with absolutely no issues (save for the slightly balky shifting -- which I'm guessing is a common issue with these transmissions, as I've heard of similar complaints from folks who own Chevrolet SUV's).
Some of the maintenance on this vehicle has been time-intensive and costly. For example, replacing the engine drive belt took several hours and cost several hundred dollars, mostly due to the mechanic having to move a significant amount of other engine components aside just to reach the belt. Also replacing the spark plugs required the mechanic to take several additional steps to reach the spark plugs in the back portion of the engine; again at a cost of a significant amount of time (labor) and money. These issues are no fault of the vehicle; rather I believe that the layout of the engine compartment with regard for maintenance issues could have been far better effectuated by Chevrolet's Engineers. [For the record, I am a retired engineer].
One other issue I have would fall under the "Fit and Trim" category. Both rear passenger doors have never fit quite precisely into their respective openings. As a result, they take a bit more effort to close. Regardless, the vehicle is watertight during rainfall events, and there is no wind noise around the door openings.
Overall, I've been quite pleased with my purchase of this vehicle. I plan to drive it for several more years.
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