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redisigned 2002 Aztek.
Kiss fan states " Aztek delivers Toyota/Honda quality fit and finish"......
Well, I would like to hear this you five years from now, not the first 10 months of production..!!
I am also sure that Edmunds, Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Consumer Reports, JD Powers, Intellichoice.com, IIHS, and at least 80% of most automobile consumers might disagree with this statement....!!!!!
P.S> Thanks ICE..!
Also, we are all interested in your take on the 3-star Driver frontal rating the Aztek received while you were away. Not including the PT Cruiser and GMC Jimmy (and it's sister models) the Aztek got the lowest Driver Frontal rating in its class (minivans and suv's).
Look, you're back from Holiday, all rested and relaxed... don't try to read too much into these posts (well, MINE anyway...) I'm not trying to dish out "dis-information" like TASS or something. I'm just trying to provide the readers with important information regarding their vehicles. Glad your trip was problem free... did you fix that windshield?
Looks like our 'Tek purchase has been delayed (can't sell our old car and reluctant to trade it in prior to any potential increased incentives after April 2).
TIP: I did not know this.......If you get a chip. Put piece of scotch tape on it. It is the dirt/grime that gets in that causes the chip to spread. Particularly in Northern Climate when you put defrost on front class.
; )............the AZTEK smile!!
the
the
PS: Now I get to terrorize the Toyota Board.....hehe
Keep on enjoying the Aztek and of course....that new 2001 Toyota Corolla!
The Impala smile! ;-)
And a redesigned Camry this fall.
I guess he'll never learn.
The 2003 Corolla is not even in the market yet and it will be probably another 7 to 9 months or may be longer before it does.
Likely, he needs that car today and not in a year; besides, in terms of price he might be better off buying the 2001 model.
get real Vadp!
Critics are every where!! I had few days off up here in Toronto after Florida trip. I went to GM dealer where I bought the AZTEK. Gave them a chance tried the Sunfires and Grand Ams and really was not happy with fit or finish and feel of those vehicles.
Compared to the AZTEK the rest of the Gm line simply does not measure up (Particularly to my GT model)
The 5 speed Corolla is Spartan but I like it's jump in the 5 speed.......So a Corolla beside an AZTEK.
Wish me luck.......
The Prizm is identical to the Corolla. Assambled in the same line with the same parts. Plus you might take a good incentive rebate on the Prizm, something that you may not get in the Corolla.
Just my $1000
Never..."
The full story:
http://www.autonews.com/html/main/stories/flintspeech.htm
Especially the part about the Powertrain. The 3.4 V6 in my Pontiac is great, but it's so noisy because of old design it's rediculous.
Wow, great article.
If the old man has the recipe to turn around GM, he should immediately apply for CEO...actions speak louder than words.
All I can say is that Flint is certainly starving for attention and publicity..well he got both.
he is got the biggest *Cojones* this side of Texas...
Flint: More action and less blah, blah , blah.
Hey what about the Sentra?? Thoughts?
Kissfan, have you bought the Corolla yet? If not, have you considered the new Honda Civic or the Nissan Sentra as well? The former did well, scoring a "Good", in the recent IIHS 40mph offset crash test. IIRC, it did well in the NHTSA's front and side impact crash tests as well.
Good luck!
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
It confirms my contempt for GM.
http://www.autonews.com/html/main/stories/flintspeech.htm
By the way, I am considering a GMC Sierra- A sales flop available for $2000 under invoice.
Just wait for the new aztek incentives in the first week of April
As you know my vehicle history is:
1977 Honda Civic (Loved it)
1985 Toyota Corolla Gts (Kick it vehicle..loved it)
1987 Grand Am (most poorly finished vehicle I ever drove....Company car..thank god)
1987 Astro (Great hauler.....got it cheap....poor fit and finish)
I came to the AZTEK purchase with a decided ANTI-AMERICAN stance (easy to do being Canadian).
I was really close to buying the Toyota Sienna when I saw the AZTEK. I sat in the AZTEK GT at first the knobs appeared CINCY (first thing I noticed)........But then I took the time to play with everything. The more I sat and inspected the more impressed I was. The test drive was great.
The features astounded me.....the fit and finish was very un GM like. In fact it was very Toyota like.
For styling......I hated the butt......But loved the front. The style was unique and DIFFERENT so it appealed to me.
When I drove the Honda CRV I was amazed at how absolutely SPARTAN the vehicle was and how TIN like the feel was. Then the RAV4......same feel and way to small for the price . The Rav4 CRV Aztek are all similar price in Canada.
Well.......I took the leap of faith bought the AZTEK and as you know......Love the vehicle.
Here is the kicker all you GM bashers will love......... After buying the Tek and being extremely satisfied with the vehicle the fit the finish.....and yes Toyota like quality.
I decided to give GM every opportunity to win my business for the second. Well my friends there is not one vehicle I drove that remotely impressed me in any facet.
So I found myself on the Toyota lot.......(Buy the way DREW.......checking out the SENTRA.....it was on my hot list.....to do today)
With regard to the AZTEK.......Mr Flint heard it was a dud and yes the styling is ABSURD for the whitebread homogenized target market where every vehicle looks the same. But the vehicle is unlike anything I've inspected from GM........(I suspect it has to do with the Mexican Plant).
Clearly , the high powered journalist has not seen, sat in or inspected the vehicle.
All this said...... my claim is the AZTEK is the lost misguided ugly duckling that has a ton of things right.....but all the things wrong (Styling) to keep it from commercial success. In this vein I agree with Gonzo/TopGun/Matero.
(Having sat in the PT CRUISER and driven it and inspected it.....it is the polar opposite. Terrible finish Cramped seating positions......but it's got styling..thereby....Car of the Year)
Anyways........long message.....just sharing some musings on a Friday morning prior to my visit to Nissan.
still wearing the
For Americans among us. Tim Hortons is Canadian Starbucks/KrisyKreme.
They are running promotion called "ROLL UP THE RIM TO WIN". AZTEKS are the prize.
Well I just got back from my coffee stop. The Hortons is usually packed. I went in....When I came out their were 8 people surrounding the TEK. They were swamping the vehicle asking question.....They all stood around chattin bout it. Gave them my usual quick tour.
They all want one....... I detect a BUZZ starting......It ain't dead yet.
GM needs better marketing....on this Product!!
I don't know if the Escort is still available up in Canada, but it is a very solid and reliable little car. It uses Mazda Protege mechanicals which explain the good reliability ratings for this model. Speaking of reliability, the 97-01 Ford Escort/Mercury Tracer are the only Ford products recommended by CR as used car buys.
My wife has a '97 Mercury Tracer LS and the car hasn't given us any problems in almost 4 years of ownership.
The Mazda Protege is another Sentra, Civic, Corolla alternative but priced higher than the Escort.
I agree with the Nissan proponents. Nissans are great cars. I think there quality is even superior to Toyota, for less money.
I still wish my wife would have picked the Xterra. Simply because I know the Xterra would have lasted 100k miles without incident, where with the Aztek I'm sure I will have a good $4000 in repairs by 100k miles. I still hate American cars.
Well I've spent all morning researching the Sentra and I'm test driving one at 12:45.
I agree for the money I demands a close look.
theiceman
Civic: Good quality/reliability, EXCELLENT crash protection, HIGH resale value
Sentra: Good Power, fun to drive, most "bang for buck" but resale is poor (if that's an issue).
Protege: BMW of the group (ES for 2001 model with new 2.0 engine), inexpensive, pretty reliable/safe, POOR resale (again, if that's an issue)
I've driven all three (2001's) and I found the Protege ES to be the most fun to drive with the nicest styling and the interior with the most personality. The civic was typical Honda... buttons, handles all excellent with PERFECT build quality and nice ride. A little lacking in power, but not enemic. The Sentra I ruled out because, while it was fun to drive and inexpensive, it was had to locate models with ABS and Side airbags. Also, it was LOUD compared to the others. The Protege also has 16" wheels/tires and 4-wheel discs with ABS along with side airbags. Check it out!
Mark
(hoping this post conforms to Aztek content requirements) theiceman
Yes, the French would love the Aztek. Unfortunately, the sales potential in that particular US market is rather limited...
theiceman
P.S. FYI, "French Canadians" comprise approximately 23% of Canada's population.
You'll be amazed at how quickly your DIC (pronounce the letters, do NOT say as one word)will be programmed. My Bonneville took me about 5 minutes - or about 1/4 the time it took me to read about it in the manual. These DIC's are quite intuitive.
Good luck with your new vehicle rotterdamron!
theiceman
Anyways.......did the deal. I pick up the Sentra SE 145 HP on Monday. Enough said bout non AZTEK.
PS: As I was in Nissan Dealership. A husband and wife were in looking at the XTERRA. Well my gleaming BLACK AZTEK was sitting outside. As the sales guy was doing his pitch........The woman pipes up...... I QUOTE "WOW LOOK AT THAT AZTEK.....We have to check out that vehicle"
I was sitting there doing my deal on the SENTRA with another sales guy when the SALES GUY PITCHING THE XTERRA......SHOT ME A LOOK THAT WOULD MELT PAINT.
The couple leave.....I'm stiing there looking into lot and guess what I see......The couple outside pining over the TEK.....All in a NISSAN DEALER PARKING LOT.
Gotta Laugh!!
proud owner of new Sentra
Does Aztek's Versatrak have anything that would make a skid like this more manageable? What does one do with either a 4-wheel or FWD to manage a downhill skid?
Louis
The technology for VSC has existed for some time now. It only adds about $600 (at most) to the final vehicle cost. Lexus, MB, BMW, Subaru, and Toyota offer it on thier SUVs, wagons and some cars. GM has the technology (surprise, surprise) but elects to only offer it on the Cadillac Escalade.
I'm sorry, but GM is "asleep at the wheel" when it comes to vehicle safety. Sure, they offer the standard stuff nowadays, but they refuse to take a leadership position and lead by example. They just keep cranking out the same old drivel.
Funny about the Xterra, but to me, the Aztek and the Xterra don't seem to be 'cross shopped' vehicles. I wonder what the couple will buy?
Tonychrys, from your post, that's why I'm leaning towards the ML when I replace my Jeep. I want side curtains, ESP, etc....all of the safely and traction control features. The Escalade is waaaay to bulky looking for me.
Mark
As far as handling goes, at least the Aztek has traction control and ABS. While certainly far from the best systems out there, they should keep you out of most problems - provided that your driving doesn't put you in impossible circumstances.
theiceman
But it helps.
"Technology never replaces common sense.
But it helps."
This is a dead on statement for the following simple fact: Doesn't matter how good a driver you are, there is always the other guy. So unless you are the last person on earth driving alone or are a world-class NASCAR driver, there is a good chance you might experience an undesirable driving situation not of your making that you will not be able to come out of on your own. Even the NASCAR drivers have state-of-the-art safety systems and structural designs to help them.
If you are on the highway and somebody cuts you off, you will need to make a high speed emergency lane change. ESP/VSC will allow you to do that without putting the vehicle into a skid condition. This is just one example of what active safety systems can do that most humans can't.
Still not convinced? Here's a movie that explains things in a visual manner.
Hmm, 3.8L supercharged with AWD perhaps?
No, I'm not planning on getting one, just would like to see what GM can do right installed in as many vehicles as possible. The Aztek certainly needs all the help it can get.
Well during the recent horrid snow storm I was going down this hill at 11:30 at night. Not a soul was on the road. Well I played with the vehicle.........The the ABS and the heavily weighted AZTEK. (AZTEK has lot of weight in front end and lighter back end) was simply outstanding.
Furthermore on my recent drive to Florida I drove through Buffalo area. Well , same story. Off ramp in Buffalo a stupid guy dring an ASTRO lost it. Well that forced me into a hard stop.
AGAIN ROCK solid the TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS performed perfectlly.
WWEENS......If you own an AZTEK......Take it from a Canadian who has driven in the Laurentians that this VEHICLE eats snow.
By the way......I only have the Front Wheel drive with Traction Control. If you had the the AWD you would even have more options in a skid or CRISIS type situation.
If you want to know more from a REAL owner: kissfan@raidersfan.net
Nissan Sentra SE with 145 Hp engine. Picked up another Black Vehicle. Black AZTEK and black SENTRA. I'll be washing cars all the time. Being a Raider fan is the Pitts gotta have Black.
I bought rather then leased.