One year after....
spike88
03-30-2010, 01:36 PM
It was exactly 1 year ago today, my wife & I bought (took delivery) of a brand new 2009 Montana Ext van. Base 1SB package with a few other included options. re: Upgraded quad seats, rear AC/Heat system, side air bags, food management trays and remote starter. For me, I purposely focused on: NO DVD / Entertainment system, NO electronic / power Sliding doors and NO rear suspension load leveling system. We even got the van in the color we wanted. This van only had 74 kms on its meter. Not even close to 50 miles.
Since its purchase, we performed the following upgrades to it:
- Installed Class III hitch - for my utility trailers and canoe trailer towing needs.
- Installed trailer wiring "T" connector - instead of splicing into factory wiring.
- Installed Husky Electric Brake controller - for my lager size trailer (that has its own electric brakes).
- Installed 7 pin connector - for connectint electric brake trailers.
- Installed Timbrens SES units in its rear - instead of using over priced / high repairs factory "load leveling / air based" system.
- Installed Hayden HD aux transmisison cooler - rated for 5,000 lbs trailer. Went with larger size aux cooler because transmissions in GM vans always run hot.
- Installed a front grill area bug / wind deflector. Thus, help reduce frontal area stone chips.
- Purchased / installed 4 x Winter Tires (on their own steel rims). Thus, allowing low cost "seasonal" tire swapping every spring / fall.
- Installed extra signal and brake lights - under its rear bumper. re: http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w251/Spike99-Pictures/Montana%20Van/Rear-Lights-2.jpg
- Installed a cargo net in its rear. This cargo net was from our previous GM van and luckily, it fits our new GM mini-van as well. This vertical net stops items from falling out its back - when we lift its rear hatch. This netting install was well worth the effort.
- Replaced its factory LOW Beam H11 bulbs with much brighter H9 bulbs. Now, its low beams are much brighter - using off-shelf low cost H9 bulbs. This low cost upgrade was worth it as well.
- It received Krown under coating last Oct. Will get its yearly rust proofing treatment this Oct as well. re: http://www.krown.com/#pricing/minivan
- Filled 2 holes (located in upper front windsheid rubber trim) with external clear silicone. Thus, stopping water entering into these holes. To me, these holes should NOT exist.
- Got its 3rd brake light replaced (under warranty). I also applied clear external silicone around this light as well. Thus, keeping water out of its outer edges.
- Lowered both front seats approx 1.25". Due to my longer torso body, its manual seats needed to be lowered. For me, well worth its modification time. To me, line of sight out its front window is much better.
- Got one of its factory remote button units replaced. It stopped working and on the 2nd time it stopped working, my GM dealer replaced it. The new remote button unit works great.
- Removed the sliding door springs (which is a bent piece of steel strapping), put into my vice and bent into a more 1/2 moon shape (instead of its factory 1/3 moon shape). When our van is backed up our drive way (on a low slope), its manual sliding doors now remain open. With factory spring being bent into 1/2 moon shape, both sliding doors lock into open position (when parked on a low slope hill).
During our 1 year ownership, our new GM mini-van has 22,500 kms (or approx 14,000 miles). For our "usual" yearly usage, this number is high. If wondering, we often do 15,000-18,000 kms per year. Did extra traveling last summer and winter due to ill family members.
After one year usage, the following items comes to mind:
Pros:
- Very light weight vehicle. Its 3.9L VVT engine easily pulls it chassis weight around. Especially up hills / while pulling attached loaded down trailer. Even its down shifting is smooth.
- Compared to our previous GM Safari/Astro van, its easy to park between the tight yellow parking lines (that seem to be getting tighter every year). Its sliding doors instead of cross-over hinged outward doors are great in tight parking spaces as well.
- NO problems with its manual sliding doors either. Glad I got manual sliding doors (instead of known troubles with power doors) - just like in our previous GM van.
- For a mini-van, it doesn't have too many blind spots. One can "see around it" when backing into tight parking spots.
- On the hiway, I find it gets acceptable MPGs. At times, great MPGs and other times (like when loaded down), its loves the gas much more. But for a van of this engine size, its MPGs is acceptable.
- Had a battery replacement - which was under warranty.
- Had Onstar computer module replaced - which as under warranty.
- Its manual sliding doors are great. They work and NO problems with them (compared to the optional power sliding doors).
- Its rear AC works great as well. Its electric controlled rear vented windows are a great feature as well.
- Majority parts are the same as the Pontiac Uplander. If for some reason we need replacement parts, majority of parts can be used from Chev Uplander line. re: Body panels, sliding doors, light assemblies, etc.
- So far, NO repairs outside of warranty. Our van still sounds and acts like the day we obtained it. re: Simply "turn its key and go!!!!"
Cons:
- I find its steering too sensitive. During future builds, wish GM would use lower ratio gears in their steering box. I find the steering ratio gears in our Buick vehicle much better. Too high of gearing ratio in steering box isn't always a good thing.
- To me, its outer chassis metal is thin. Too thin. Great for keeping its total chassis weight lower (for better MPGs) but I find its outer shell "too tinny". When waxing by hand, I can feel its sides and roof bow inwards - and I don't press down very hard. The outer shell on our Buick and previous GM van is much thicker (which to me, is much better). Thus, one of the main reasons our Montana van gets yearly rust protection spray.
- I find its front seats NOT very comfortable. To me, its front seat design (assume seat size was built for average size adult) was made for a 5'5" person. I find its front seats "too small" for my larger body size. Vision sliding on a glove that's too tight for one's hands. The seats in our Buick and our previous GM Van are much more comfortable. To me, next factory build needs to use larger size front seats.
- Our 2009 GM mini-van loves the gas in the city. Our other vehicle (Buick with 3.4L engine) gets better CITY MPGs then our van's 3.9L engine.
- Its 12V power plugs are on the floor level. I would have placed them much higher on the dash.
- Its Cruise Control is on the steering wheel's right side - on its own control arm. My other GM vehicle (Buick) and previous GM van had its cruise control on its left signal control arm. To me, GM needs to make a "common" steering wheel location for its Cruise Control. At times, I get both GM vehicle controls confused.
- Its temp control is on the right and its gas guage is on the left. In our other GM vehicles, these 2 guages are in opposite directions. We often get these guages confused. Just last week, my wife glanced down and thought we had lots of remaining gas. While on the hiway, an alarm went off. Seems she was running on RED light - because she got the guage locations confused with its temp guage position (that's opposite position on our other GM vehicle). To me, ALL GM guage locations should be same layout / position on its dash.
Would I pick this van again? YES. Especially at our initial "huge" discounted purchase price.
So far, our '09 Montana van has treated my family well and "gets the job done". For $15,000 less then other mini-vans (of its shape and 6-7 passenger seating class), I don't expect perfection. Thus, I ignore some of its "old school" interior plastic design and its "at times" uncomfortable (for my larger body size) front designed seats. For $15K savings (compared to other mini-vans of its class), I can now afford to send one of my kids to future college / university. Thus, I "tolerate" its minor design imperfections - compared to other mini-van designs. Hopefully, our new 2009 GM Montana van will continue to treat my family "good" for many more future years.
Hope this "one year after" helps others...
.
Since its purchase, we performed the following upgrades to it:
- Installed Class III hitch - for my utility trailers and canoe trailer towing needs.
- Installed trailer wiring "T" connector - instead of splicing into factory wiring.
- Installed Husky Electric Brake controller - for my lager size trailer (that has its own electric brakes).
- Installed 7 pin connector - for connectint electric brake trailers.
- Installed Timbrens SES units in its rear - instead of using over priced / high repairs factory "load leveling / air based" system.
- Installed Hayden HD aux transmisison cooler - rated for 5,000 lbs trailer. Went with larger size aux cooler because transmissions in GM vans always run hot.
- Installed a front grill area bug / wind deflector. Thus, help reduce frontal area stone chips.
- Purchased / installed 4 x Winter Tires (on their own steel rims). Thus, allowing low cost "seasonal" tire swapping every spring / fall.
- Installed extra signal and brake lights - under its rear bumper. re: http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w251/Spike99-Pictures/Montana%20Van/Rear-Lights-2.jpg
- Installed a cargo net in its rear. This cargo net was from our previous GM van and luckily, it fits our new GM mini-van as well. This vertical net stops items from falling out its back - when we lift its rear hatch. This netting install was well worth the effort.
- Replaced its factory LOW Beam H11 bulbs with much brighter H9 bulbs. Now, its low beams are much brighter - using off-shelf low cost H9 bulbs. This low cost upgrade was worth it as well.
- It received Krown under coating last Oct. Will get its yearly rust proofing treatment this Oct as well. re: http://www.krown.com/#pricing/minivan
- Filled 2 holes (located in upper front windsheid rubber trim) with external clear silicone. Thus, stopping water entering into these holes. To me, these holes should NOT exist.
- Got its 3rd brake light replaced (under warranty). I also applied clear external silicone around this light as well. Thus, keeping water out of its outer edges.
- Lowered both front seats approx 1.25". Due to my longer torso body, its manual seats needed to be lowered. For me, well worth its modification time. To me, line of sight out its front window is much better.
- Got one of its factory remote button units replaced. It stopped working and on the 2nd time it stopped working, my GM dealer replaced it. The new remote button unit works great.
- Removed the sliding door springs (which is a bent piece of steel strapping), put into my vice and bent into a more 1/2 moon shape (instead of its factory 1/3 moon shape). When our van is backed up our drive way (on a low slope), its manual sliding doors now remain open. With factory spring being bent into 1/2 moon shape, both sliding doors lock into open position (when parked on a low slope hill).
During our 1 year ownership, our new GM mini-van has 22,500 kms (or approx 14,000 miles). For our "usual" yearly usage, this number is high. If wondering, we often do 15,000-18,000 kms per year. Did extra traveling last summer and winter due to ill family members.
After one year usage, the following items comes to mind:
Pros:
- Very light weight vehicle. Its 3.9L VVT engine easily pulls it chassis weight around. Especially up hills / while pulling attached loaded down trailer. Even its down shifting is smooth.
- Compared to our previous GM Safari/Astro van, its easy to park between the tight yellow parking lines (that seem to be getting tighter every year). Its sliding doors instead of cross-over hinged outward doors are great in tight parking spaces as well.
- NO problems with its manual sliding doors either. Glad I got manual sliding doors (instead of known troubles with power doors) - just like in our previous GM van.
- For a mini-van, it doesn't have too many blind spots. One can "see around it" when backing into tight parking spots.
- On the hiway, I find it gets acceptable MPGs. At times, great MPGs and other times (like when loaded down), its loves the gas much more. But for a van of this engine size, its MPGs is acceptable.
- Had a battery replacement - which was under warranty.
- Had Onstar computer module replaced - which as under warranty.
- Its manual sliding doors are great. They work and NO problems with them (compared to the optional power sliding doors).
- Its rear AC works great as well. Its electric controlled rear vented windows are a great feature as well.
- Majority parts are the same as the Pontiac Uplander. If for some reason we need replacement parts, majority of parts can be used from Chev Uplander line. re: Body panels, sliding doors, light assemblies, etc.
- So far, NO repairs outside of warranty. Our van still sounds and acts like the day we obtained it. re: Simply "turn its key and go!!!!"
Cons:
- I find its steering too sensitive. During future builds, wish GM would use lower ratio gears in their steering box. I find the steering ratio gears in our Buick vehicle much better. Too high of gearing ratio in steering box isn't always a good thing.
- To me, its outer chassis metal is thin. Too thin. Great for keeping its total chassis weight lower (for better MPGs) but I find its outer shell "too tinny". When waxing by hand, I can feel its sides and roof bow inwards - and I don't press down very hard. The outer shell on our Buick and previous GM van is much thicker (which to me, is much better). Thus, one of the main reasons our Montana van gets yearly rust protection spray.
- I find its front seats NOT very comfortable. To me, its front seat design (assume seat size was built for average size adult) was made for a 5'5" person. I find its front seats "too small" for my larger body size. Vision sliding on a glove that's too tight for one's hands. The seats in our Buick and our previous GM Van are much more comfortable. To me, next factory build needs to use larger size front seats.
- Our 2009 GM mini-van loves the gas in the city. Our other vehicle (Buick with 3.4L engine) gets better CITY MPGs then our van's 3.9L engine.
- Its 12V power plugs are on the floor level. I would have placed them much higher on the dash.
- Its Cruise Control is on the steering wheel's right side - on its own control arm. My other GM vehicle (Buick) and previous GM van had its cruise control on its left signal control arm. To me, GM needs to make a "common" steering wheel location for its Cruise Control. At times, I get both GM vehicle controls confused.
- Its temp control is on the right and its gas guage is on the left. In our other GM vehicles, these 2 guages are in opposite directions. We often get these guages confused. Just last week, my wife glanced down and thought we had lots of remaining gas. While on the hiway, an alarm went off. Seems she was running on RED light - because she got the guage locations confused with its temp guage position (that's opposite position on our other GM vehicle). To me, ALL GM guage locations should be same layout / position on its dash.
Would I pick this van again? YES. Especially at our initial "huge" discounted purchase price.
So far, our '09 Montana van has treated my family well and "gets the job done". For $15,000 less then other mini-vans (of its shape and 6-7 passenger seating class), I don't expect perfection. Thus, I ignore some of its "old school" interior plastic design and its "at times" uncomfortable (for my larger body size) front designed seats. For $15K savings (compared to other mini-vans of its class), I can now afford to send one of my kids to future college / university. Thus, I "tolerate" its minor design imperfections - compared to other mini-van designs. Hopefully, our new 2009 GM Montana van will continue to treat my family "good" for many more future years.
Hope this "one year after" helps others...
.
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