Hi Scotty,
I'm currently looking at buying a 2012 GMC terrain FWD with the 2.4 4 cylinder engine. The car is at about 85,000 miles but I would be buying it from a local mechanic who has outstanding reviews and he recently replaced the engine with one that has about 55,000 miles. The reviews on the car have been pretty mixed with some saying they love it and it's lasting great and others saying to steer clear. Was hoping to get your opinion on whether the replaced engine is a good thing or a sign of future issues to come. I've test-driven it and loved the way it rides and I am aware of the oil consumption issues, but I want to make sure this car will last me for at least the next 4 years until I'm done with college.
Thank you for any help you're able to offer!
What’s the price?
Would be getting it for about 7k, also plan on installing an oil catch can to help prevent oil burning.
I've been on the forum a while and I can't tell you how many members have experienced problems with those. Mechanic Car Wizard has videos showing that maintenance and repairs costs are as much as a BMW, and the quality is subpar. After 100k miles they fall apart. The 2.4 engines burn oil, they blow up.
Stay away! Most of the good reviews probably aren't long term owners. They probably got fooled with the intial good quality of GM for the first 90 days or something. If you value your time and money, avoid any modern GM SUV, or for the matter any of the big three's SUVs.
You will be lucky to get a few months out of it. Odds are its also overpriced.
Thank you so much for the advice. The price is actually a big factor in why I was interested, it's decently below KBB so I would be able to buy it in cash. Do you think installing an oil catch can would be able to combat the issues with the engine or are the GMCs just a lost cause?
It was a joke about the original forum rules but alright,
Also, $7k is too much. I wouldn't pay $4000. You should look at the KBB trade in value not the private party values those are heavily inflated as KBB is part of the same company which sells cars through Autotrader. I personally would just walk away from the vehicle.
Do not even think of that car. The combination of GM quality and 4 cylinder engine just result in a disaster. You said the engine was replaced at 85k miles, what else do you want to see in the lack of quality of a car?
My brother-in-law had one of those units. Other than using a quart of oil every 300 miles the car was reliable. Finally crapped out at 220k miles as the cats all clogged up.
