My vote for GM's lamest innovation
07-14-2018, 06:21 PM
#21
Race Director
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C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Bean counters rule design. It's not necessarily the part itself, since time of assembly is a big factor. Saving $40 on part costs pales in comparison to an hours worth of assembly time.
07-14-2018, 07:21 PM
#22
Le Mans Master
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Well, I'm sorry, too about my cavalier (whoa, there's a car for ya) attitude. Truth be known, there was a cheaper version of the Mercury Grand Marquis (is that an oxymoron?) in my family. Well, to be honest, it was my dad's Ford Crown Victoria. He bought it new when he was 80. Loved them plush velour seats...like going down the road in a Barcalounger. He even let me drive it. Once. 
07-15-2018, 11:33 PM
#23
Safety Car
The battery terminal looks different, but often do you even mess with it? I touched it for the first time when I replaced my battery last month. It came loose easily, and tighten back up. It will be another six years or so before I mess with it again.
07-15-2018, 11:42 PM
#24
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2016 C6 of Year Finalist
07-16-2018, 07:49 AM
#26
Team Owner
The EU outlawed all lead in cars except for the battery(and it has extremely strict recycling regulations), so when the auto manufacturers had to get rid of the lead connectors to be able to sell in Europe, it made sense to use the new design connector on all vehicles.
Even the bearings inside the motor had to be redesigned to eliminate the lead.
Even the bearings inside the motor had to be redesigned to eliminate the lead.
07-16-2018, 11:20 AM
#27
Pro
Must be an office at GM that does nothing but redesign perfectly good items just to make them more complex with no regard to reliability or how they function. How anyone could look at a standard battery post clamp on terminal and think this piece of crap would be an improvement is beyond me. Sorry about the lack of focus, my camera doesn't do good close up.
07-16-2018, 11:30 AM
#28
Pro
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St. Jude Donor '16-'17, '19
The Vette has been -- and continues to be -- one of the best price performers in the performance car marketplace. My '07 post clamps looks brand new; no rust. I think there is a fine-line between "cheap" and "inexpensive" -- and as has been pointed out...pennies here and there X a large quantity X multiple years is how the Corvette division can make their business case year after year.
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Cooter Tech (07-16-2018)
07-16-2018, 04:56 PM
#29
Melting Slicks
That is a bizarre battery clamp but it doesn't hold a candle to some of GM's worst:
Oldsmobile diesel - nearly every engine replaced, nearly killed the entire US diesel market
Cadillac 8-6-4 engine - first attempt at "displacement on demand" but the software, processors & hardware were not up to the job. One year production.
Cadillac HT4100 - Did HT stand for hook & tow?
Pontiac Fiero - Engine fires, horrible Chevette suspension & brakes, "iron Duke" 4 cylinder, claustrophobic interior. I loved that the first hop-up part they offered was a new block.
Oldsmobile diesel - nearly every engine replaced, nearly killed the entire US diesel market
Cadillac 8-6-4 engine - first attempt at "displacement on demand" but the software, processors & hardware were not up to the job. One year production.
Cadillac HT4100 - Did HT stand for hook & tow?
Pontiac Fiero - Engine fires, horrible Chevette suspension & brakes, "iron Duke" 4 cylinder, claustrophobic interior. I loved that the first hop-up part they offered was a new block.