Chevrolet Equinox

Kirstie_H

A major newspaper is looking to interview people who recently bought small cars after previously
driving larger cars or SUVs, despite whether you traded from big to small or if you still have the larger vehicle. He's especially looking for drivers of the Mini Cooper, Honda Civic, Ford Focus, Dodge Neon, Hyundai Tiburon and Mazda Protege. Please respond to jfallon@edmunds.com by Tuesday, October 28, 2003 with your daytime contact info and the type of vehicles you had and have.
Thanks!

dindak

Saturn is good with the VUE on options, almost all sold individually. Adding the options even if they are sold individually to the LS would cost too much anyway, LT will be the way to go.

XM is not available up here yet, but I can't see every getting it anyway. I do want an MP3 player though, Saturn now has one as an option.

vuefor2

The Vue is very easily optioned. We only added ABS to our AWD, no package needed and most other options were individually available.

It will be interesting to see how the Equinox compares with the Vue in price. Chevrolet has had some major discounting going on this past year so I wonder if that will translate to the Equinox. Judging by the looks and what it's based on, my guess is no as I think it's about the best looking SUV I have seen. I love my Vue, but the Equinox is gorgeous.

regfootball

the Equinox is a styling accomplishment for Chevy and GM. Usually Chevy botches every sedan styling exercise, and generally does just ok with trucks. But the Equinox should cross over from just the 'BUY AMURCHAN' typical Chevy customer and grab some import intenders as well.

joey2brix

I always liked the Vue, but never cared for the plastic panel styling or the interior materials used. Vue options are very limited on the V6 models. FWD or AWD, ABS, leather, sunroof are probably the only real factory options that can't be changed. Radios, rims and all the small items are all dealer changeable. The Nox LT and LS option packages are strange. Already they're grouping ABS with map pockets and body colored bumpers. Too many different versions of the car seems waste full. Saturn's option structure seems better to me.

vuefor2

Saturn is very flexible no doubt.

If you didn't like the interior before, check out a 2004 Vue. The V6 models have been nicely upgraded. I would love to trade mine in, but that makes no sense since ours isn't that old.

dindak

I have a feeling our family car choice will come down to the NOX vs VUE. Have to wait till next year but the NOX wins the looks dept. though I do still think the VUE is very nice also.

regfootball

the Vue has the powertrain advantage.

dindak

I agree. That said I can live with a 3400 variant so long as it's smooth, reliable and efficient.

The key for me is I want an SUV with decent power and decent mileage numbers.

wheelz4

No, joey...brix, I'm not refering to the seatback moving back & forth (although it does that too). The CRV's seat base slides back & forth on tracks.
See pic:
http://www.hondacars.com/images/banners/2004/cr-v/interior_galler- y/photo_02_large.jpg

Also, you can check out post#'s 2541,3009,4196,4331 and many others in the CR-V forum. Also note that post 3009 mentions that the RAV-4 and Suzuki XL-7 also have this "unique?" feature.

dindak

I see no tracks in that picture?

joey2brix

CR-V: 60/40 Split rear sliding fold and tumble seat. I think this means it slides forward to tumble up against the front seat for a fuller flat cargo area. Not a sliding seating adjustment for the bench seat cushion.

vcjumper

Are they still planning on having this as the introductory engine? Seems pointless not to move to the improved 3500 engine used in the Bu.

infinia1

anyone else seen the nox brochure yet? just wondering your opinions...it's only shown in silver...it's not too comprehensive. upon receiving it, i was asked to participate in a nox survey. i was told i would be kept up to date about the release of the nox. i'm wanting to replace my tracker. i agree on using the 3500 instead of the 3400. the 3400 should be replaced entirely by the 3500.

dindak

3400 is sourced from China and it's a done deal. I'm sure it's a good will export deal to help GM gain favor with the communist government there.

joey2brix

It's the base engine for so many models. The new 3500/3600 is only in Cadillac CTS and will be in the Buick Rendevous in January. I guess they only want to use the new engine in high end (expensive) cars. The 3.5L Honda engined Vue with AWD is basing around 26K. The Red Line option package will probably add another grand if not more. I guess the 3.4 from China is another way to keep the car under 25K. (We hope.)

dindak

I think the engine that was suggested is the new 200hp OHV 3500 in the new 04 Malibu. It is a very redone 3.4L and is getting good reviews in the press for refinement, efficiency and quietness.

joey2brix

The LX9 V6 in the Malibu is the same 3.4L in every other GM with a larger bore and stroke. The only nice thing about this engine is the extra 20 lb of torque that comes on very low in the RPM band: 3300. C&D only gave the Malibu an OK review. Just another rental car model. 200HP should make a small car peppy. Not very attractive, IMO. I think the NOX will be a hot seller, better then Malibu, and still no fanfare from Chevy and still a March/April intro date.
Now why does GM still bother making 3 or 4 versions of the same OHV 2 valves per cyl, iron block, alum head V6 is another waste. Just use the 3.5L for all brands until the DOHC alum motors trickle down in a few years. Probably the old Vue 3.0 V6 could have been bored out to a 3.2 or 3.4 for more power, but that would be too logical for GM. The cause of GM's loss in world/domestic market share is very easy to explain with planning like this.

dindak

I suspect that GM had to import the 3.4L from China for political reasons, nothing else. The NOX is being built at a Suzuki/GM joint venture so the UAW could not raise a stink so really it all makes sense. I suspect the 3.4L will be fine but the 3500 would have been better.

I know C&D only gave the 04 Bu a luke warm review, but I have read other magazines that give it rave reviews so who knows. I am actually going to look at the MAXX version as a cheaper alternative (insurance / gas wise) to the NOX and other small SUVs. Have not tested a Bu sedan, but it looks better in person and it's well asembled.

Actually I have read the 3500 is much more than a larger 3400. I will try and find a link for you.

joey2brix

A waste IMO. Just get a nice sport wagon. Look at the Mazda6 wagon comming out in the spring. Looks like the Saab/Benz/BMW wagons probbaly at half the price (well almost half) with the Ford/Mazda 3.0L V6. A real DOHC! I would dump my Pontiac sport seadan for this car in a sec but the CRV gets replaced first next year. You should get great cash back deals on the MAXX, cause that car is gonna pile up on dealer lots also.

dindak

The 6 will be about the same price but won't be as big or have the features the Maxx will. If the Maxx piles up so will the 6 hatch. Mazda 6 sedan isn't selling that well as a sedan in the first place.

wheelz4

In the CR-V pic, the 40% side is forward while the 60% side is shown slid back (with a "ghost" image of it in the forward position). And I'm talking about the seat cushion, btw, not the seat back. Have another look. Maybe this is clearer:
http://www.honda.co.jp/CR-V/interior/images/space/ph10.jpg

ateixeira

The Maxx has a *much* roomier rear seat than the Mazda6. The 6 wagon's cargo space is a lot bigger, though. Too bad you can't get both. )

I saw the 6 wagon at the NY Auto Show, April 2002! What took them so long?

Saw the Maxx last weekend at a Chevy intro event for the 'bu sedan.

And another vote for the 3.5l. Iron block and pushrods and all, it's a nice, torquey powerplant. Most surprisingly, it's very fuel efficient, beating the Camry and Accord V6s easily.

NOX intenders should lobby to get that engine. Who says they can't build the same design in China? If they are related the switch should be easy.

-juice

dindak

wheelz4 : Maybe that's the japanese CRV only? I don't know, I never saw this feature when I looked last year and it was never mentioned by the sales rep. I'll take your word for it though.

ateixeira : Maybe we will get a surprise in January. Hopefully the 3.4L will be good, the NOX sure is a looker.

joey2brix

Dindak: Quote from www.media.gm.com on the MAXX:
"The standard engine in the Malibu Maxx is GM's new 200-horsepower (149-kw), 3.5L 3500 V-6, which is mated to a Hydra-Matic 4T45-E four-speed electronic-shift automatic transmission. The 3500, based off of GM's 3.4L V-6, features many performance, fuel efficiency, and noise, vibration and harshness improvements." It should be a nice engine, they've have almost 30 years to improve it!

wheelz4: Chevy kinda makes the sliding rear seat sound like rocket science! But I'd rather have the rear hatch glass open seperately. I guess this follows Vue design. Nox looks and size has me sold. I just hope the Chinese 3.4L helps keep the MSRP down. A fully loaded MAXX LT MSRP is just over 27K!

ateixeira

Only the block design is that old, really.

Camrys break $30k. Don't even get me started on Maxima prices...

-juice

dindak

joey2brix : 3500 is very nice from what I hear and has the best fuel economy in it's class. Not bad for an old timer. Not sure if it's able to do 4WD for the NOX though.

Chevy had a big color pull out in the paper yesterday featuring only new models like the Optra, Epica, Malibu, Maxx, Colorado, SSR and the Equinox. Looks like Chevy is trying to push a new fresh image big time. Nice to see, the division has been neglected for years on the car side especially. New Cobalt next year also.

ateixeira

Chevy was neglected for a long, long time. Except Chevy trucks.

Cavalier is ancient, and the other cars were Geo left overs made by other manufacturers.

-juice

dindak

Well Aveo, Optra and Epica are all Daewoos so they aren't all really Chevys.

;-)

Cavalier is very old, Cobalt is long overdue and the Tracker should have been replaced 2 years ago also. Suzuki is still making them though, unreal.

ateixeira

The 2 seat drop-top Trackers are kinda cool.

-juice

dindak

I guess though they are small and unrefined. Good for touring a beach strip in the summer.

nick29

The Cami plant will no longer be producing any Suzuki's. Apparently it will be strictly G.M. vehicles. Im not sure what Cami plant will build as a replacement for the Vitara will be but it will be another G.M. model.

dindak

Actually the Suzuki production will continue for a while and then Suzuki will get a variant of the Equinox. Local paper had an article on the plant, I live about an hour away.

joey2brix

Chevy sells Suzukis under the Chevy label in Canada right? I think you get a Chevy Verona and some other model. Does Suzuki sell the Verona under it's own label also? You're nominated our Nox scout in the great white north. Keep your eyes peeled for the first cars off the line. The CAMI web site is down, maybe they'll finally update it with new info.

theo2709

Chevy sells Daewoos in Canada, and the same Daewoos are sold here as Suzukis (and the Aveo as a Chevy). Canada is a surprisingly different market.

joey2brix

Suzuki only makes the XL7 and Vitara?

a_l_hubcaps

The "true" Suzukis are the XL7/Vitara and the Aerio. The Suzuki Verona/Chevy Epica, Suzuki Forenza/Chevy Optra and Suzuki Swift/Chevy Aveo are all built by Daewoo in Korea and rebadged (when GM bought out Daewoo, it opted to drop the Daewoo brand in North America and sell the models under existing badges).

-Andrew L

dindak

a_l_hubcaps has the facts right. Chevy is selling 2 additional Daewoos up here as the small car market is bigger than in the U.S. Also, all Chevy dealers here are Oldsmobile dealers so I think GM felt they had to add a couple of models for them as Olds is done after this model year.

I will look out for the new NOX. Don't think I will see anything until the new year.

nick29

a_l_hubcaps, soon the "true suzuki" will be difficult to distinguish. The redesigned XL-7 will be based on G.M.'s Theta architecture , which
as we know is the VUE aswell as the Equinox.
It will be very different than the Equinox and Vue. Theses vehicles will be extremely in demand.
Coupled with the exceptional design and built in the Cami plant known for quality. I suspect this will be an award winning vehicle.

theo2709

http://www.chevylaunch.com/pdfs/equinox_ordwkbk.pdf

All the info you'll ever need. Enjoy!

theo2709

Hey wanna know why all the GM pre-production models are in silver? According to the factsheet posted above, they expect 25% of the Equinoxes sold to be... silver! The next highest is black, at 13%. There is a method to GM's madness.

joey2brix

We'll get more info out of you then any car rag or chevy Web site! Nothing great on those colors. I see why so many GM SUV's use the sandstone. Well, I guess on GM's calander the Spring Equinox is in April, not March. At least I can get my shopping listed put together durring the winter.

dindak

theo : Great link, thanks!! Silver is the #1 color for all vehicles these days. They are EZ to keep clean which is the main reason I think.

nick : CAMI plant has had excellent quality. Interesting how many Suzuki models are not their own. Their new new cars Swift and Verona are both GM-Daewoos.

bigdaddycoats

get me info like that on the 2005 CTS, please!?

theo2709

Check the CTS forum.

dindak

"GM Canada today announced pricing for the all-new 2005 Chevrolet Equinox. As Chevy's first crossover based utility, the Equinox will be available in the spring 2004 in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) will start at $26,560 for the base FWD and $29,170 for the base AWD".

Nothing on the LT models though......

explorerx4

but the nox looks pretty good in pictures. so now i think i know why ford is releasing the '05 escape so early.

joey2brix

That's CAD$ I hope.

dindak

Yep.. Figure on a less than $20K US starting price.

jerrywimer

I bought my Trailblazer earlier this year to replace my 1997 Malibu (which was becoming a money pit and spending far too much time in the shop). My other vehicle is an even older 1992 Toyota Corolla- our "beater" car.

The Toy is my stay-at-home wife's vehicle but I want to replace it in the next year or two. I'm (okay, WE, with the emphasis on SHE) are going to be seriously considering an Equinox LT AWD. She's starting to enjoy being pampered by all the extra goodies on cars, so that rules the LS out (gotta have the uplevel exterior trim and 17" wheels :P).

If the US MSRP stays as low as predicted, it won't be much (any?) more expensive than a Malibu LT sedan would be. But it will still give her the extra utility (taller cargo space) as well as the security of AWD. And of course, the fact that it's car-based means that most likley it will drive more car-like that truck-like. (She likes driving my Trailblazer, but is much more comfortable in cars).