By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/February2004/19/c2124.html
-juice
The Equinox ribbon cutting ceremony shows a new blue Nox coming off the line so I'd assume a few cars better be asembled in a day or they'll never get to 150K units right?
As for the engine, too bad they couldn't fit the I-6 from the Trailblazer.
Mr Bots: No hate, just constructive suggestions to deaf GM executives. I'd really like to buy one, but I don't like the RDV threads and web sites dedicated to the leaky 3.4L intake manifold gasket failures that have cost owners thousands right after 3yr/36thousand warrenty quits. I realy get ticked off when this same problem exsisted in the early 90's TO ME on my 3.1L Chevy. Luckily it started within the first year.
If GM can't spare cheap Mexican 3.5L that could have the same gasket problem. How about the 3.2L DOHC CTS V6 from England that makes 220 HP and lbs of torque. Only use it one Caddy, not a super high volume. I'll even live with the cast iron block. Sorry can't make Caddy look bad, Chinese 3.4L for you Chevy boy. I'm tired of getting a half polished product from GM. Nox will be out in 3 weeks or so. I'll rest now and I'll bring my bag of I told you so's in May when the reviews come out. Good night.
I think the 210 lb-ft is certainly adequate, but the Nox won't be light, so don't expect it to compete with the Vue Redline and Forester XT in acceleration.
I just don't get why they didn't use the 3500 from the new Malibu, 200/220 sounds pretty good plus it's more fuel efficient.
-juice
I rented a Montana with the 3.4l and don't recall it fondly. I drove the Malibu and that thing chirped the tires in 2nd gear, all while getting the fuel efficiency of a 4 banger.
So why not use it here? If anything, the Equinox is more worthy of that better engine than the Malibu is.
Just my humble opinion.
-juice
They should have put the 3800 in the van, the 3500 in the Equinox, make both buyers happy.
-juice
In any event, while it's fun to bash the Nox, my wife liked it a lot and if it's available at a reasonable lease price in May when our Envoy lease expires, we'll probably lease one.
It's a good size, the styling is great (much better than VUE) and the rear seat adjustment makes for a lot of legroom.
do you know for sure that 4 wheel disks are available on the LT with the ABS? I assumed this platform is packaged like the Saturn Vue, disk/drum for all models. one of my disappointments with the Nox is has been advertised as disk/drum only. the 05 escape/tribute seems to be 4 wheel disc brakes on all models, so I read anyway.
(AWD cannot have Traction control).
Only on the FWD LS is ABS optional. LT's must have it also and LT FWD gets Traction control.
Disk/drum on all models.
As an aside, I drove a Chevy Venture a few weeks back with the 3.4L and I was surprised how peppy, quiet and smooth it was. I'm not sure why some people are so down on the motor, I found it as good if not better than the 3.0L in our Vue.
I've never been a big Chevy fan, but the Malibu, Equinox and up coming Cobalt are slowly changing my mind on the brand.
-juice
For instance:
- While Honda and Toyota can put more into the CRV and RAV4 GM cannot do the same with the Equinox because GM has far more divisions to sell that same product from.
- You have to keep in mind that Chevrolet is GMs (poor mans automaker). That means Chevy will always make its vehicles at GM's minimum quality standards.
- GM has under its belt; Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile (to be discontinued), Pontiac (sport division), Chevrolet (poor mans division), Saturn (Import fighter), SAAB and Opel, GMC and Hummer
With that many divisions GM has to be very careful not to pit too many vehicles up against eachother. Its bad enough that they have to fight Toyata and Honda but they also have to fight to keep from loosing ground against Ford and Chrysler.
So you should never expect to see Buick type quality in a Chevy and you should never expect to see Cadillac quality in a Buick.
Im not sure how many divisions Honda has but I believe they only have Acura as their luxury brand. Toyota has Lexus as its luxury brand and they have the new Scion line but im not sure if its a division.
Because of their small size, Toyata and Honda have the advantage of being able to move faster and adapt to ever changing consumer trends and it also eliminates the need to make their (everyday people) models into (poor man) models.
Its my opinion, that GM needs to let go at least two more of its divisions. My first pick would be Buick and as much as I'd hate to see it happen, my second would be Saturn.
GM gives its very best to Cadillac. And its been proven over the years as many automotive firsts have been lead by Cadillac.
What do you all think?
Chevy/GM has a gazzilion more resources than a smaller company like Honda. They have a parts bin larger than any other manufacturer in the world. If Honda blows the design of the CR-V, there goes 10% of their product line. That's pressure! The 'Nox only represents something like 1% of GMs.
Honda has the CR-V and Element competing on the same showroom floor. At least the Saturn and Chevy are in different lots.
I agree that Honda has more flexibility and speed, but it has nothing to do with their size. Toyota ain't exactly small, so I don't buy them having their advantage because of size.
Chevy has been sitting on the sidelines, watching, and learning since 1996. When they developed the VUE, they purchased 12 CR-Vs to use as test mules for developing the CVT drivetrain. They've had plenty of time to find a niche or figure out a way to compete with the volume sellers. That's a real advantage.
-juice
I am certain GM will do what it usually does and offer discs and a bigger engine next year. Why can't they get it right the first go around?
As said, all the parts are there in the bins, they just don't try to put out the best product.
BTW Someone commented how great GM trannies are, well why was a Japanese tranny used along with a 1980 vintage V6? I hope the bumpers are better then the Malibu's. I'll still consider it, but not at MSRP.
That's OK, but not good. Their CR-V was quicker using a 4 banger and more efficient. The Escape is also a couple of tics ahead. The Forester XT is in a different performance class entirely.
I'm tellin' ya this vehicle deserves the new 3500 engine from the Malibu. Even the vans get that, the Equinox has soooo much more potential than those vans.
-juice
In the pictures they did not include one of the hatch area , but they liked the usefulness of the strut towers/shelf.
A comment was made that chev. would put rear discs on the nox in a year or so,,,,that never happened with the vue.