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And you're right. I posted the government crash test rating. I screwed up.
For a more accurate representation I would go here:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ncap/cars/2001SUVs.html
and compare all the vehicles against each other. And here:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ncap/cars/1733.html
for the side impact report. My, my.... look at all of those stars.
And children, due to greater bone flexibility and diminutive size, are LESS likely to be injured in automobile accidents than adults when they are properly restrained.
What does the government give it for crash ratings?
Don't get me wrong, I do not believe that the Aztek (or any modern vehicle on the highway) is a deathtrap. But when it comes to vehicle design safety, GM is lagging the competition on many of their models.
Let's just say the #1 priority in our most recent vehicle choice was saftey, and the criteria was that it had to do well on both the IIHS and NHTSA tests. Next, throw in state-of-the-art active saftey systems to compliment the passive saftey features.
No vehicle is "safe" since driving is an unsafe process. But I like tilting the odds in my family's favor just in case the inevitable happens.
We won't talk about my 1999 Pontiac GA... had I done my homework like I should have back then, I never would have bought it. Though I vowed I would never put a price on my family's saftey, I'm having a hard time trying to make the decision to sell it for something else. Had I known (once again, didn't do my homework back then) how bad GM vehicles like this take a hit on depreciation, I would have thought twice about buying it and instead leased it.
Oh well, live and learn...
P.S., any vehicle (ANY) can be rolled, all you need is a way to trip it. Aztek isn't a Montero or Samurai.
I was going to buy an Aztek this Friday but have been very conflicted - not because I don't love the car but because of your message that they are being redesigned and the price is being lowered. I am shocked!!! I love the car.
How can I find out what the changes will be?
I am very disappointed with this news but at the same time, very glad that I read your posting. Please speak more to this if you have the time. Thanks for the news.
1) A point is a point is a point - If I complain that the hatch didn't work well at first or needed to be greased, it counts the same as if I said that the engine blew up. They make no distinction between major and minor issues.
2) My POC there said that she really wasn't at liberty to say but when I asked her to review the results of those Aztek Owners that had a complaint, and tell me whether she would classify any of them as "Major" or involving hundreds of dollars to repair, she said she couldn't answer that. I asked, "Could I surmise by your statement that the majority weren't major?" She replied, "I can't tell you but if I could I would probably agree with that statment."
My guess is that the majority of the complaints were the notorious gas cap, and rear hatch issues.
As for safety, and the three stars, those of you that are so concerned about that aspect of things need to get out of your disinfected bubble, bubble wrap houses and live a little. A wise man once said, ". . . There are none so not alive as those that live in constant fear of death."
Center of gravity, overall width & length, weight at the top 1/3 of vehicle, weight at center of Gravity, weight at lower 1/3 of vehicle.
I then figured out these ratios and how that would effect the vehicle at different speeds as the car was travelling perpendicular to the direction of travel and also factored in the median coefficient of friction of the tires that come standard on the Aztek.
I figure that it takes a lot more to flip an Aztek as opposed to almost all of the others if anyone wants to see the math, e-mail me at garthodinson@yahoo.com and I will e-mail you the complete monograph.
The Daytona 500 Pace Car will be there!
Lots of Free stuff!
We will be camping out! By the way, if you bring along a small tarp you can take the seats out and be much more comfortable in the back!
http://userweb.nni.com/aztek
CHECK IT OUT!
I will use the new wheel tire combo for the next 7,000 miles. When rotation time comes I will put back the original wheel tire combo. And the rotation cycles goes.....
Would I not have a problem moving up from 215-70-16 to 235-60-17 tires??? Is this tire rotation pattern a good idea? Would I be better off with the 235-50-18 tires instead?.
The 235/50/18 is shorter than stock. This would be a more dramatic change. Your speedo would read over 2% too fast.
As for your rotation cycle, I could forsee your tires lasting for many years this way, but the normal way to rotate is to move the fronts to the back and backs to front. Switching between two very different sets of tires would require you to get used to the different way your vehicle will handle and drive each time you switch. If you live in a snowy area, this is a good time to use your stock wheels to mount up a set of winter tires. FWIW, I had the uniroyals on my S-10 and hated them. Got rid of them at the first sign of wear.
its red with the moonroof, camper package, and
probably the only one in SoCal.... SoCool....
there are FEW here in SoCal, i have to admit, have only seen one in palm springs, one on the 210 freeway, the rest sitting on the dealers lots. my red one gets ALOT of attention - people will come up to me in parking lots wanting to see it, or will ask me to roll the window down to ask how i like it. and they are impressed, or are good actors....
i LOVE how much room it has - for hauling band gear - p.a. system, 4-5 guitars, mic stands, duffles, and still i can fit 5 people in it! i had had a 1989 blazer which i LOVED, and bought a 1999 blazer - via ordering it - and HATED it....
the AZTEK handles so well - my band doesnt get motion sick in it like in the 99 S10 blazer.
and i thought i was a blazer grrl forever.
my folks live in SW PA, and they are seeing TONS
of them there, but in that area, they are bigtime
american car buyers more so than here in L.A....
i have enjoyed all of your posts in these aztek forums previous to purchasing mine - but once i saw the interior and how much crap i could fit inside, i was SOLD.... dont plan on rolling over, but if i do and i die, so be it.
i will be a happy grrl.
some roads that i travel check to make sure that you are carrying cables/chains, and others have police that make you put them on.
thanks!
http://WWW.CARS.COM/carsapp/national/?srv=parser&act=display&tf=/features/mvp/pontiac/aztek/aztek_overview.tmpl
going to need cables for the AWD, HAVE to carry them and sometimes HAVE to put them on, even with AWD or FWD in the places where i am going (california ski resorts) -
anyone have any ideas/suggestions??? doesnt look like there's much clearance on those fron tires - and i certainly do not want them for all 4 tires.
help!
thanx
Smooth comfortable. Feels like the Mercedes ML that my brother in law test drove. No way would I buy that ML for$ 65,000 Cdn when I could get the AZTEK for $32,000. Sorry Dindak.....took out the RV. For the premium......prefer the Tek.
Luv to one and all........ Still wearin the AZTEK smile ; )
Miss me??
She put us in touch and he asked me to email a list of things that I really loved about my 'Tek from an owners perspective. I did so and then heard from his wife with a few more questions, along with the comment that she was 'just a bit' swayed by my lists.. She specifically asked about the turning radius, viewing angles and if any parts would be expensive to repair/replace.
We arranged for a tire-kicking and test drive get-together last night, and I think I had her sold on it by
the time we finished looking at the pull-out cargo tray!
They were especially impressed by the back-seat room, the storage and the car-like driving with
enough pep. Just goes to show that this wonderful car of ours needs a very hands-on approach to selling it.
Robyn
SE Michigan GT
Any pictures of the 2003 Aztek yet? I hope it looks like that Salsa version I saw a few months ago.
Dan
Thanks.
Saw this is today's USAtoday article. This is the best pic yet of an Aztek IMHO. Just for the record, it's still not my cup o'tea but this version cleaned up nicely. I like the lack of cladding and wider/larger wheels. The paint scheme's not bad either. Hopefully, this is the direction of the redesign or rather refreshening.
Any opinions on this look?
Stephen
The bottom line for this forum: it is what it is, there's just no interest or information. Even kissfan only pops in every once in awhile. That says a lot.
Hey, that's my favorite Clint Eastwood movie.
It is a big improvement (yes Tony, the rear still needs some work).
????
My sister-in-law is a loyal Saturn customer, was really excited about the Vue. Couldn't wait though and had to purchase another Saturn coupe about a month ago.
talking about pictures of 2002 Aztek. Where can
I see them?
We got our Aztek last March and have to admit I
fought test driving it. Lease was up on our Montana and didn't really need van anymore. Tried
every SUV GM makes and all seemed too small. Finally my husband talked me into driving a Tek and I've been in love ever since. Have only seen
3-4 others in our area, sure hope they don't quit
making them!
have you folks who are dissing this car ever taken one for a test drive or have you laid in the mattress that comes with the camper package?
have you taken it to the mountains or desert to watch a meteor shower?
have you been able to get very excited when you can throw in that extra set of golf clubs, or a few more duffles and also still fit people in the back seat???
every time i park my car, people come over to me to talk about this car! they are impressed! only one person said that it was ugly, and then they added "in a cute ugly duckling kind of way........."
it's cuter than a bugs ear!
http://www.checheche.com/jpg/chescar2.jpg
it seems so much smaller (outside looks) than my old 99 2dr blazer, yet you cant even compare the space inside, which was key to me.... the ride is so smooth, the turning radius (another key point with me since i was a victim of an attempted car jacking and actually was able to drive away without hitting a wall or a telephone pole, thanks to the turn radius... 99 blazers sucked BTW, 89 blazers were the BEST) is AWESOME, i am totally digging the sun/moon roof, the sound system rocks, and although i am not the target AGE, i do have the lifestyle that pontiac is trying to target with this vehicle: skier, camper, surfer, musician who carries lots of gear, active person who needs a great car with good mileage thats fun to drive. and looks cool and different......
the only down part is my best friend and i, when we think guys are flirting with us on the freeway, realize that they are just looking at the car!
i love my aztek, so there.
the clearance on the front tires is not very much...
thanks!
If that is me you are catching looking your way, I can assure you that I am looking at you and not your car!
Any surfer, skier, camper gal gets my attention no matter what they are piloting. You are so few and far between. I can go to the local Pontiac dealer and spot a whole row of Aztecs.
The new vibe looks great. It has different sheet metal, look at the b pillar.
Anyway, the Aztec is not for me, but it is certainly functional, and a great buy for people who like the way it looks. Sounds like checheche is using it for its intended purpose, unlike 90% of buyers in this category, who car more about looks than functionality.
I honestly would love to storm a few dealers and bargain on the Aztec. It would be so much fun for both of us. It is like a dream come true for the bargain hunters of the world.
Enjoy your Aztec!
-Nate (propective Liberty buyer)
http://www.geocities.com/uglymoney/colorado.html
I've been around it, in it, even under it (on the dealers floor), drove it, studied it for hours (was waiting for my Grand Am to be serviced).
Everything you say you do in the Azztek can be done in a good mini-van or well designed SUV.
I'm glad you like your Azztek, after all, that's what counts the most!
But for the experienced car buyer (20+ years, import and domestic), automotive enthuisist, and GM owner, it typifies everything that is wrong with GM. Mediocre execution in concept, marketing, and effort at best-in-breed design.
Enjoy the miles.
# is 754881, TSB # 00-08-64-013. They should install a rubber bumper P.N. 10103036,and re-align lift gate. Tell him to use labor OP #
B5700- lift gate align. That should cure the problem, Service Research used that TSB to fix mine this afternoon.
This is the TSB required to fix the latch problem. This was posted over on Edmunds....Thought you may be interested.
Here is the info........you requested.
By the way Tony I watch like a HAWK. When issues of importance arise I am there to debate. By the way I've owned a mini van.......And the AZTEK does not perform like my old VAN. You may think so.......I have driven and owned both....... HAVE YOU??
Yours remain an opinion......Mine remain the testimony of an owner who has lived with both.
Up to 23,000 KMS......... and LU MY AZTEK!!!
Best vehicle in it's class!! That delivers an ; ) AZTEK SMILE!!!!!!!!!
Anyone using the bike rack on the roof and the rack inside or get the bike package seat covers?
Anyone mount a receiver hitch on an AWD, if so what brand hitch?
I'm having the same A/C water problems you've described. It's been in twice, they've said they've fixed it, but it's still having the same problems.
Any chance you could tell me the name/phone number of your garage that finally fixed yours? I'd like to give it to my garage and tell them to call and get instructions on how to fix it.
M
msw4@cornell.edu
Stephen
Abandonded? I've read every post in this column. Just 'cuz I'm not posting doesn't mean I've abandoned the site.