knudsen (09/01/82)
Many thanks to all the responses I got on the X & K-car info requests.
I can't possibly mail individual replies to everyone!
Summarizing -- nobody disliked the X cars as cars. Only one person
had lots of problems ("something breaks every month").
Most had some troubles, but about typical for cars, period.
Two had essentially no trouble, and one said "ignore Consumer Reports
completely, they test everything and therefore can judge nothing well."
Nobody mentioned K-car experience.
Now for what my wife & I learned in two days of intensive shopping.
K cars have balky engines, weak, very rough-shifting automatic,
and ride about like a Citation. Wife did not like at all.
K cars and Citations both have one problem wife can't stand,
namely, the seats are lousy -- uncomfy benches.
The '82 X 4-cyl engine is very drivable (fuel injection) but not
real powerful. The older 4's vary tremendously as individuals.
We tested a gutless, poor-riding '80 Olds Omega, then an equally
old '80 Buick Skylark. What a difference -- we were sure the Buick
had a 6-cyl, but it was just a 4! Ride, seating comfort, and
interior of Buick were way ahead of Citaions and K's --
so we bought the 2-year old Buick X.
Wish us luck -- and thanks for the comments.
mike knudsen ihnss!knudsen