IMO, it would have appealed to a few more enthusiasts if they
A) had actually advertised the damn thing had one on the lots to show off C) offered it with a manual tranny like the more popular sedan D) gave it a Lexus-like interior instead of the cold, industrial one it ended up with.
I loved the idea of the Sportcross, it was points B and C that kept me from ever buying one. :sick:
When I was at the AMG factory, I must have seen a dozen late model wagons hanging around - all too cool for this market. If I could find a nice colors W211 E63 wagon, I'd almost be tempted - just impossible to find not in black or silver (and with double digit sales each year, hard to find anyway)
" some kind of newish Aston - I get them all mixed up"
Isn't that the truth? I saw coverage of the Geneva show, new Astons all looked like each other and all the existing ones. That's gotta hurt somehow, if the cheapest one looks like the most expensive one...(excluding the ugly/wierd/inexplicable Cygnet, that is).
Actually the Cygnet was introduced to help out Astons (well um actually Consortium groups) CAFE scores. With nothing but V8's and V12's in your lineup, the penalties are huge.
A 4 cylinder Toyota engine that gets mileage in the 40's does great at offsetting the terrible mileage of the rest of their portfolio...
While I agree on the Crosstour, I've not understood the heat Toyota takes on the Venza. Pretty much a Ford Edge kind of vehicle, not nearly as offensive to me. I have no need for 3 rows, so 2 roomy rows with decent storage works for me.
I have a pretty hot young woman, probably mid thirties down the street from me who drives one. Has a couple of kiddies (can't tell by looking at her! ) that she takes to school in it every morning. Heck, she certainly makes her beige workhorse look good!
I like the Venza myself, it's one of the more "daring" Toyota designs to come along in a while for them. It's a Camry wagon for this decade...
I wish they were like that here. Last one I remember seeing was driven by a "new" motorist going around a corner at about 4mph.
Indeed, it's a Camry wagon ...but one that doesn't have enough self confidence to be a wagon, so it pretends to be a SUV/van mix. Wanna get my respect? Make a Camry wagon with dual rear wipers again.
I like the overseas version better, I think it's called Mark X Zio, some strange name like that. It has a 3rd row and far less busy styling on the outside.
.........what it is. Its a higher, wider , heavier , quieter , AWD Accord hatchback that'll take 3 booster seats in the back plus a couple of kid bikes and other junk, and go thru snow.....great highway cruiser. Some say its ugly, some think its cool. I prefer its drivability to that of the Venza. Haven't driven an Outback. So........have any of you guys put in seat time in all three?
I guess if I wanted all that and needed a Honda, I'd just go all the way and get an Odyssey. But I don't have any rats and don't haul a lot of junk, so I don't have to look into it, not complaining either :shades:
I guess even closer than a Venza is a Camry wagon, the Crosstour is the (NA) Accord wagon. We get the Euro Accord wagon, finally, in kind of a dumbed down form as the new Acura Sportwagon - haven't seen one here yet but I saw several Euro Accord wagons in Germany.
Saw a Juke today - looked like a very basic model, fresh plates, no plate frames. Windows were all down when parked at a gas station. Given Nissan's rental propensity of late...rental car?
This continues to make me question the wholesale switch to turbos we seem to be experiencing. They test well on the EPA cycle, but real-world experience seems to be much worse, at the expense (literally) of highly-stressed engines. CR has the 335i as 'much worse than average' for repairs, while the 328i is 'better than average', I think. Not a good sign.
The poor showings oof the 335i and the 135i on the FOR charts seems to have more to do with the high-pressure fuel pumps (HPFP) than the turbos or the engines themselves.
A 1991 Accord stick was ~2850-2900 #s. I bought a new 1991 Mazda 5 door stick, and that was only about 2700. Actually pretty sprightly with a 110HP/ 130 lb/ft engine.
I saw a red Chevy Volt headed the opposite direction from me this afternoon. I'm fairly sure that Illinois is not yet in the zone for Volt sales so I'm not sure where this one came from.
Saw a new Explorer while driving home Friday, another while coming in today.
These are big and pricey, so I don't think they'll do the volume the old models did, but seems like they're off to a good start.
Also saw a Juke coming in. The tail lights look like boomerangs. I got out of the car at a light. Tossed it a couple of times, put it back, and the driver never even noticed. LOL
I saw quite a few HS hybrids over the weekend. No CT's yet but they have piqued my wifes interest for her next commuter car purchase.
Also, saw a couple of new Explorers and redesigned Edges. I still like the Edge more...
And a bunch of those goofy looking Nissan Jukes. My gosh, talk about covering the bases for blind spots. Not only to you get the poor rearward visibility from the downward sloping roofline, you also get the raised front end that probably has worse visibility over the nose than a mid seventies Ford LTD. :sick:
Comments
The big question is will Americans accept a hatchback Lexus?
They didn't before:
The idea appealed to me, but it was such a small little wagon.
I think it will go over better than the "sportcross"
A) had actually advertised the damn thing
C) offered it with a manual tranny like the more popular sedan
D) gave it a Lexus-like interior instead of the cold, industrial one it ended up with.
I loved the idea of the Sportcross, it was points B and C that kept me from ever buying one. :sick:
Sadly, I feel the same way about the TSX wagon...
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/01/2012-mercedes-benz-c63-amg-estate-geneva-debu- t/
When I was at the AMG factory, I must have seen a dozen late model wagons hanging around - all too cool for this market. If I could find a nice colors W211 E63 wagon, I'd almost be tempted - just impossible to find not in black or silver (and with double digit sales each year, hard to find anyway)
Isn't that the truth? I saw coverage of the Geneva show, new Astons all looked like each other and all the existing ones. That's gotta hurt somehow, if the cheapest one looks like the most expensive one...(excluding the ugly/wierd/inexplicable Cygnet, that is).
But we get winners like the Crosstour and Venza that nobody else gets, that makes it all better.
I guess the Rapide is easy to distinguish too, the rest, all too similar for my eyes.
A 4 cylinder Toyota engine that gets mileage in the 40's does great at offsetting the terrible mileage of the rest of their portfolio...
Really, kind of representative of what is left of the British auto industry.
If it makes you feel any better, the Outback is absolutely clobbering both of those in sales.
The other two are almost offensive somehow, crazy how they came to be. Focus groups at work, no doubt.
Those who drive them don't help the image either.
I have a pretty hot young woman, probably mid thirties down the street from me who drives one. Has a couple of kiddies (can't tell by looking at her!
I like the Venza myself, it's one of the more "daring" Toyota designs to come along in a while for them. It's a Camry wagon for this decade...
Maybe that's what they should have called it?
Indeed, it's a Camry wagon ...but one that doesn't have enough self confidence to be a wagon, so it pretends to be a SUV/van mix. Wanna get my respect? Make a Camry wagon with dual rear wipers again.
I guess even closer than a Venza is a Camry wagon, the Crosstour is the (NA) Accord wagon. We get the Euro Accord wagon, finally, in kind of a dumbed down form as the new Acura Sportwagon - haven't seen one here yet but I saw several Euro Accord wagons in Germany.
Similar experience at the Toyota dealer, checked out the Venza but drove the Sienna.
I've driven the Subie.
2011 Nissan Juke SL AWD: Who's Laughing Now? (Inside Line)
From the link, it sounds like sales are on target.
This continues to make me question the wholesale switch to turbos we seem to be experiencing. They test well on the EPA cycle, but real-world experience seems to be much worse, at the expense (literally) of highly-stressed engines. CR has the 335i as 'much worse than average' for repairs, while the 328i is 'better than average', I think. Not a good sign.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I saw a Juke this weekend - still haven't gotten used to them.
A small turbo like that will work hard all the time. Especially if they get the young buyer they market towards.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Saw 3x new Optima doing fleet service at ATL, along with a few new Explorers and Grand Cherokee
http://www.insideline.com/mini/countryman/2011/2011-mini-cooper-countryman-s-all- 4-full-test-and-video.html
Wonder if that even kills a few convertible sales?
Saw a new Elantra today, rental. Also a newish Maserati Coupe.
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2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
These are big and pricey, so I don't think they'll do the volume the old models did, but seems like they're off to a good start.
Also saw a Juke coming in. The tail lights look like boomerangs. I got out of the car at a light. Tossed it a couple of times, put it back, and the driver never even noticed. LOL
Another HS. Lots of hybrids here in DC.
Also, saw a couple of new Explorers and redesigned Edges. I still like the Edge more...
And a bunch of those goofy looking Nissan Jukes. My gosh, talk about covering the bases for blind spots. Not only to you get the poor rearward visibility from the downward sloping roofline, you also get the raised front end that probably has worse visibility over the nose than a mid seventies Ford LTD. :sick: