"X" vs. "A"

[Century7667]

What was it that made the "X" so awful and how did the "A" improve on it?

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Thanks,
Ken T.

[SCREECH]

There were reliability issues - the cars quickly garnered the reputation as "lemons", but I haven't ever done the digging involved to ascertain exactly what sorts of problems they experienced.

The steering rack being mounted on the firewall certainly wasn't the best idea - just like the J-bodies the mounts can rot and then you're hosed. They did change this in '82 when they started with the same cradle as the A-bodies that were released that year - the racks were then mounted on the back of the cradle for the final 4 years of production. The dash design with the vertical radio was certainly a very unwelcome design. Thankfully the A-body dash will apparently bolt into the X-body.

It should be noted, one user one time raised a very interesting point that I certainly don't believe is without merit: the X-bodies were seen as an "econo-box" when first released, so if people neglected them as such, reliability could easily be affected. In the hands of an "enthusiast" the car could be a completely different story. Personally I could see myself having an X-body after my current projects are completed.

[lemons bob]

I think part of the problem was that the x body's had a lot of recalls for the first year or two. I heard someone say one of the x body's has the record for recalls for a car, followed closely by the others. These recalls were probably fixed in the a-body platform.

[RIPBARNBURNER]

What was it that made the "X" so awful

I want one. And apparently I only want 'crappy' cars rofl

[a1veedubber]

The problem Citations were the first two years. The Citation was redesigned in 82 and it and the A are the exact same cars with different bodywork. The firewall, floorpan and inner structures are almost exactly the same. If the bodylines were the same Citation coupe doors would even fit a Celebrity!

I always think of the Celebrity as a Citation MkII.

The Eurosport should have been the Celebrity X22!! :)

[RIPBARNBURNER]

The Eurosport should have been the Celebrity X22!! :)

I like that!

[85_Ciera_Rebuild]

The steering rack being mounted on the firewall certainly wasn't the best idea


L platform (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_L_platform)

1987–1996 Chevrolet Beretta coupé
1987–1996 Chevrolet Corsica sedan
1987–1992 Pontiac Tempest (Canada)

Last time I looked on my Beretta, it has steering rack mounted to firewall.

"L platform was very similar to the GM N platform," and "Both platforms were used to replace the GM X platform platform."

[86euro]

L platform (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_L_platform)

1987–1996 Chevrolet Beretta coupé
1987–1996 Chevrolet Corsica sedan
1987–1992 Pontiac Tempest (Canada)

Last time I looked on my Beretta, it has steering rack mounted to firewall.

"L platform was very similar to the GM N platform," and "Both platforms were used to replace the GM X platform platform."

The Grand Ams and others also had the rack mounted on the firewall. I've seen them rust right off the firewall too. I had a Beretta for a while and was not really happy with the rack setup, for reasons I really can't recall though.

[Sport Omega]

The other problem with the rack mounted to the firewall was that under cornering situations the cradle which is mounted with the usual rubber sandwiched body bushings is that the cradle deflects ever so slightly(almost negligible). So as the cradle shifts under hard cornering the rack does not move with it. Of course I know this is not much, but when you're running through a slalom course such as the car magazines do when testing them for handling this produced some ill effects. With the rack bolted firmly to the cradle it is a much better idea.

[85_Ciera_Rebuild]

The other problem with the rack mounted to the firewall was that under cornering situations


Here's what my 1988 Beretta GT has:

Z51 Suspension Package (http://www.beretta.net/model_info/1988.htm) (only available with Beretta GT, consists of a special rally tuned system, featuring larger solid stabilizer bars, firmer bushings and performance tuned front struts and rear shocks on Goodyear Eagle GT+4 P205.60R-15 all season radials mounted on 15 inch styled steel wheels).


these cars were capable of 0.92 G on the skidpad, (http://www.motortopia.com/cars/1988-chevrolet-beretta-24931)

[Century7667]

There were reliability issues - the cars quickly garnered the reputation as "lemons", but I haven't ever done the digging involved to ascertain exactly what sorts of problems they experienced.

The steering rack being mounted on the firewall certainly wasn't the best idea - just like the J-bodies the mounts can rot and then you're hosed. They did change this in '82 when they started with the same cradle as the A-bodies that were released that year - the racks were then mounted on the back of the cradle for the final 4 years of production. The dash design with the vertical radio was certainly a very unwelcome design. Thankfully the A-body dash will apparently bolt into the X-body.

It should be noted, one user one time raised a very interesting point that I certainly don't believe is without merit: the X-bodies were seen as an "econo-box" when first released, so if people neglected them as such, reliability could easily be affected. In the hands of an "enthusiast" the car could be a completely different story. Personally I could see myself having an X-body after my current projects are completed.

I heard also that the x-bodies had handling/braking issues. So long ago, I just can't remember.

Ken T.

[85_Ciera_Rebuild]

I heard also that the x-bodies had...

10 Cars That Damaged GM's Reputation (With Video)
(http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/vintage-speed/4293188?page=2)
...
...
...
2. 1980-1985 X-Cars

The problem wasn't so much the basic engineering of the X-Body cars as it was that no one apparently spent any time doing the detailed engineering that determines a car's success. So customers complained of disintegrating transmissions, suspension systems that seemed to wobble on their own mounts, and brakes that would make the whole car shudder every time they were applied. There were so many niggling faults and a seemingly endless series of recalls that sales of the car almost tanked by its third year. Still, through 1985, a few million escaped to the public, souring hundreds of thousands on GM.

[Century7667]

10 Cars That Damaged GM's Reputation (With Video)
(http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/vintage-speed/4293188?page=2)
...
...
...
2. 1980-1985 X-Cars

The problem wasn't so much the basic engineering of the X-Body cars as it was that no one apparently spent any time doing the detailed engineering that determines a car's success. So customers complained of disintegrating transmissions, suspension systems that seemed to wobble on their own mounts, and brakes that would make the whole car shudder every time they were applied. There were so many niggling faults and a seemingly endless series of recalls that sales of the car almost tanked by its third year. Still, through 1985, a few million escaped to the public, souring hundreds of thousands on GM.

Ironically, the Aztek was listed. Nissan is selling something that looks like a Aztek rip off. Except that now, the styling of the Aztek would look fine. It was before its time.

Ken T.

[Zaloryan]

Ironically, the Aztek was listed. Nissan is selling something that looks like a Aztek rip off. Except that now, the styling of the Aztek would look fine. It was before its time.

Ken T.

You're right, but I must say: The Aztek isn't very attractive to begin with.

[white89euro]

The big difference is that all the A-body cars are named with a "C" or soft "C" name - Ciera, Century, Celebrity or 6000. The X cars on the other hand all start with "X"
For example the Buick Xylophone (had musical door chime), the Olds Xanax (a real sleeper but had a calm, tranquil ride), the Chevy Xenurine (owners were pissed off about that one), and the Pontiac Xerox (people said it looked too much like a copy of the Olds Xanax).

George

1980 Olds Xanax pictured below

http://www.joesherlock.com/11-08-80Omega.jpg

[white89euro]

More about the X-body cars here:
Curbside Classic: 1980 Chevrolet Citation – GM’s Deadliest Sin Ever
By Paul Niedermeyer on December 21, 2010
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/12/curbside-classic-1980-chevrolet-citation-gms-deadliest-sin-ever/

It's a great write-up except that the author is not aware of the changes and improvements to the X-Cars that were mentioned above. He does mention the A-body cars having their foundation in the lowly X-body cars - but even then says too little about the PHENOMENAL success of the A-body cars.

George