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Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)
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And depending on how much it weighs I think it is out gunning everything in its class by 30 or 40 horsepower so that whould be intersting too.
Interesting that a fully loaded V6 model goes for close to $30k...
I still think that the 2WD model should be called the RAV2.
It's also really not wide enough inside to have 3 across in the back seat (middle row) so don't think for a minute that you and 6 of your adult buddies are going to cruising together out to the big game or anything.
The loaded RAV4 isn't a very good value but most high-end versions of lower-end cars aren't. I will be the first to admit a $16,000 LX Civic is a better value than a $21,000 EX NAV model.
My wife has an '04 Saturn VUE AWD V6 that has the Honda 3.5L engine stuffed into it .. 250HP and approximately 3600lbs makes for a pretty fast machine. I'm guessing that it would give the RAV4 with the V6 a run for its money.
You would be a little out of the range but I fit fine at 6 feet even and a little over 200 lbs.
As to the VUE the RAV4 claims to have a 267 hp V6 so that outguns the 250 hp depending on final weight of course. I thought the VUE was using some funny Opel V6. Last time I worked on one it had a silly euro cannister filter in the front of the motor instead of the little tiny spin on filter off to the passenger side like honda V6 models.
I've always theorized that advertisers use pygmies and dwarfes in these types of photo shoots, but the people in this pic don't look too cramped in the back.
Reminds me of the kiddie pool I bought last summer that was 3' deep. On the cover there is a family of 4 all up to their chests in water. Of course Mom & Dad are on their knees.
Similarly, he's driven my Intrepid and would always move the seat up a bit. But then I wish it went back a bit further. On longer trips I'll usually drive barefoot, which effectively gives me the extra legroom I need. Guess it's a good thing I'm not a female impersonator, I bet high heels would really be a drag to drive in! :P
My '03 L300, OTOH, has that "older" 3.0L V6 that was sourced from Europe .. really odd 54 degree configuration .. this is the same engine that was found in the Cadillac Catera. In the Catera, the engine was tuned for 200HP, and in the Saturn it makes only 181HP.
Still, plenty quick when you put your foot into it.
I guess my bone of contention with your comment was that the RAV4 had "30 to 40" more HP than anything else .. with the VUE, it's only 17HP. Yeah, I know, nit-picky, but I'll defend my Saturns.
(even though the L300 needs new brakes, front and rear, which will probably run north of $500)
What V-6 did later versions of the L-300 use? Or did they use that Opel 3.0 right up until the end of the line?
Now, the Aura, which is slated to come out later this year, is supposed to have the same 3.6L V6 as the CTS. Not sure if there are plans for a smaller V6 or a 4-cylinder in lower trim levels.
I vaguely remember the commercial .. when the L came out in 2000, what was the HP rating of the Accord V6? I believe it was 200, which meant that the Saturn was still down on ponies in comparison.
Truthfully, even nowadays when you look at road tests, an Accord or Altima V-6/automatic usually comes in around 7.2 seconds. Now someone like C&D or MT might trick it into the mid 6es, but for a "real world" figure, I usually see around 7.2.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Saturns are ok low to mid range people movers but that is it just people movers.
I think someone that planned to use the extra seating for something other than a coatrack would be better off with a Mazda5, which has a really small--but useable--rear seat. That thing is a really neat hauler.
When the 2003 was bought, I looked at (what else) Accords, Camrys, Altimas and the VW Passat. I was looking for a V6, automatic, ABS, leather and sunroof - everything else was negotiable. The L300 priced out $2000 to $4000 less than anything else I looked at. Add in 0% financing and GM Supplier pricing, and it was an easy sale.
Two years later, the wife wanted a small SUV. We drove the Santa Fe and Escape in addition to the VUE. Wife really liked the acceleration of the VUE (who wouldn't?) and the plastic panels were a plus, too.
I know, I know - there are those who disdain the polymer panels because of the extra-wide gaps between them. When the Focus and VUE are parked next to each other in our garage the difference is quite apparent. However, it's nice to know that you won't ever get door dings. And, from what I've seen on older Saturns, they hold up real well over time.
Anyway, count me as a Saturn fan. I'm not happy about the transition to steel, but I suppose that can't be helped. I'm very excited about the new Saturn products coming out in the future - Sky, Aura, Outlook, new ION (which I think will be a rebadged Opel/Vauxhall Astra).
They introduced the Aura concept at the same time they introduced the Sky concept. While everyone was drooling over the Sky, I was wondering what the big fuss was over a badge-engineered Solstice, and I was looking at the Aura instead.
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd
As far as "rebadged Opels", the General seems to not have a lucky hand in bringing it off.
The Cadillac Catera never approached the Opel Omega in driving pleasure or in reliability; the Catera being one of the worst American cars in that regard, while the Omega is a fine vehicle by all accounts.
Then there is the Saturn L series, which is not a big success either; a good friend has a 2003 he inherited from his Dad; the stupid thing has 20k or so on it and has already caused more trouble than his 100k '99 Solara. Electrical problems, doors locking on their own and only unlocking after many tries; transmission hunts on level ground while pulling a trailer; 26 mpg on the freeway, and that was the high-water-mark; power windows that will absolutely, positively, open the fifth or eight time the button is pushed... that sort of thing.
But Ford can't do it either; the Focus was a sad hash until 2003, by which time the reputation of this fine car was completely trashed... and the Contour/Mondeo was no success either this side of the ocean.
-Mathias
The others are good examples of subpar assembly, sub-contractors and execution rather than poor design. The Focus and Mondeo have very good reliability records in Europe from their launch year, but obviously not so much here. I guess when I think re-badged, I think RE-badged, not re-designed, re-formatted, re-spec'd and built here with re-sourced components. You will not find an Opel on the German market that you'd mistake for a Saturn L; seems more like a platform share then a rebadge.
Plus, the Ion hasn't been exactly a home run.
Last, can you imagine Mr. Goodwrench's face whenever he opens a hood and sees, argh, a OHC V6? The humanity...I'd guess that these car's faults, Catera included, have been done no favors by their local service departments. You'd have to be a pretty rangy mechanic to go from a DeVille with whitewalls to an Escalade with 'dubs' to the German 'Caddy that zigs' on a given day... :P
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0 / 03 Montero Ltd
I have a Problem, Honestly I do! I was Brought up in VA. and at 13 I had no interest in reading, well to be fair I couldn't (Dyslexic), so my parents in desperation bought me a Copy of the Auto Trader! I read it Cover to Cover, my mother had to look up what Posi-Trac was! and I was so interested I asked for next weeks copy. I have been in trouble ever since I started saving my pocket money.... I have cars, trucks, boats, RV's and Assorted Machinery stashed all over the UK and Some Parts of Europe, Thats the Problems with traveling with your job!
Anyway I have a small selection of them that are interesting on my Carspace.com camp. I'm always buying and selling, its an addiction, I dont care what anyone says and I cant give it up! The places like Ebay and Autotrader.com just make it so much easier now to browse and choose the next target.... With any hard core Car Nut, Distance is No object! I will travel to the end of the world (feels like I do sometimes) I there is a cheap car or anything with an engine with various faults! That £50.00 BMW or a £200.00 Merc SEL or a Combine Harvester with a Blown Engine!
As with any nut, I do have a Core batch of cars but they are always being revised, modified and improved. for Example, the Citroen 2CV 'Sam' Has now got locking doors! First time in 4 Years I can lock the Doors!
So anyone else got the bug?
Somehow I think she will be with me for a long time, we've been through a lot together, this is her second trip across the US and Canada. She will make another trip in June when we go on vacation for a month. I figure I'll be completely out of warranty (60k powertrain) by the end of the summer.
I never realized how much I loved Alaska, Texas was nice but Alaska is where I want to be.
Hang onto the Tiatan, you got all the bugs worked out and they are really nice trucks.
I see from your profile you're from Kentucky, so I'd say "yeah". Being from Michigan myself, the removal of the snow tires is normally an April Fools' activity.
On your 3-series or Canyon, I'd say "definitely not yet".
The Canyon has the factory General all-seasons, which are bad in the dry, terrible in the rain, and after seeing it in the rain, I'm too scared to drive it in the snow.
Oops, just remembered I stopped at the Volvo dealer last month for some reason, so I didn't do as good as I thought..
Anyway, I wanted to check out a Caliber, so i stopped at the Dodge dealer at lunch. I also happened to be the only customer for the ~10 minutes I was there as best as I can tell.
On a side note, tell the salespeople to move the smokers lounge away from the main door lobby. Some people don't like getting gassed out, and they won't miss any ups if they stand 10 feet away.
I actually liked the Caliber. I think they will have a winner if the driving dynamics (and quality) are there. Nice looking interior, very roomy, great flexibility, tons of neat little features, all at an attractive price.
I was amazed at how roomy the back seat was. I sat behind myself, and had inches of kneeroom to spare, enough headroom to where a cowboy hat, and even tons of footroom under the front seat (the seats are elevated off the floor, almost like a minivan).
You might not like the shape/styling (I do), but it really leads to a very functional interior.
They also put other makers to shame with some of the goodies. 115v outlet, aux plug on the headunit face, flip up holder for a cell phone or ipod, the chiller box, etc.
Anyway, it could give the Mazda3 a run for it's money if it drives right, and other than that, there really isn't anything quite like it on the market (I guess the Matrix/Vibe somewhat). I expect it to do well.
Not as nice an interior as the Accord though!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Someone in my office has been waiting for it to come out. I told him that I would check it out at the Philly Autoshow. I could not believe they only one they had available was behind ropes. I ended up asking the model if she could sit in it in different positions(clean up your thoughts, it was not like that)so that I could see the head and leg room in the front in back. I thought it looked pretty roomy.
So my co-worker tried it it out on Saturday and did not like the driving position. He's one of these guys with a bad back and needs the seat at a 90 degree angle. He did not even test drive it after waiting 6 months for it.
Fwiw I liked it but thought it looked to much like the Malibu Maxx.
I don't think it looks that much like the Maxx. Much shorter, and different proportions. You really need to see it up close to form an opinion, but I think it looks neat.
one likely problem (sommon with this body style) is the blind spots off the c pillar, but I would have to drive it to know for sure.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
So.. anyway, my choices are March 17th or March 31st.
Since I can remember once sitting in Riverfront Stadium on Opening Day, in the snow... wearing a parka.. I think I'll wait till the 31st..
The summer tires on the Sport Package are awfully squirrely when the temperature gets down to freezing.. I wouldn't be in a hurry.. If you were putting all-seasons on, it wouldn't be a big deal...
regards,
kyfdx
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BTW, I got 3 magazines when I was 14--R&T, Playboy, & some audio rag.......it's been downhill ever since......
Bauer's daughter showed up at CTU. The Russians got a hold of McGill's key card and were able to plant a container of Syntox in the ventillation system... Oh, wait, that was last night's episode of "24."
I admit, my plan does have a couple of minor drawbacks.....altho it's way easier to take the snows off (out of the trunk) come Spring.....
I have never bought snow tires for any of my cars. My thinking is that as soon as I buy winter tires it will never snow again.I don't want to be the one responsible for global warming.
Actually, I am just to cheap (and lazy) to drop 5 or 6 hundred bucks for the two or three bad snow storms we have each winter.
With the convertible, I'd have to put the top down, just to get one tire in..
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Rocky
Rocky