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Couple of questions, how is the 100 series AM/FM CD and 6 speakers that come with 1SB? Is this a decent stereo? I'm not looking to blow the doors off, but I would like a decent radio.
Where are the 6 speakers located? I imagine a total of 4 are in the doors, but I don't know where the other 2 are. Are there tweeters or are the other two in the cargo bay?
Is it easy to replace the speakers, or do they have proprietary wiring or something stupid that would make it hard ( ex. the Infinity speakers you can get on Chrysler products).
Finally, I have a Jeep Wrangler so I don't care about off road ability. I want good traction in the snow or camping. Is traction control on FWD good enough?
Thanks,
Eric
checheche - what color was the one you saw in Nebraska? We were just there a few weeks ago in our green Aztek GT (MI plates) visiting in-laws in Omaha...
and i respond...
i cant remember the colors, because we actually
saw a few! we passed one on the freeway - the 80 - going west, and got up close, and actually WAVED... was that YOU??? i think that one was a green one, but i cant remember. it was also near the end of our trip, probably between des moines and omaha around august 18th???
wouldnt THAT be a hoot! also saw alot on the 35 which goes from des moines to duluth. mn. thats where we saw the most azteks.
i felt "at home"...
wem003 - Our Aztek has the 6-CD stereo, and it's the best stereo I have yet had in any car. four spkrs in the front doors and two large spkrs in the cargo hold. sorry no knowledge of the wiring.
$3000 rebate and cavernous cargo capacity. I took
it to the local street and parked. When i
returned, the car wouldnt start. At first, I
thought it was the anti-theft system that was
causing the trouble. However, the service guy
from the anti-theft manufacturere couldnt fix it.
So, I had to tow the vehicle. The car has 198
miles on it. I've never had this kind of problem
in any of my new and used cars before and this
incident just shocks me. I am speechless.
The car is only 3 days old. Will I be eligible
for the full refund on this car? Will the dealer
take away some fees they had charged me(such as
advertising, license fees)?
Any input will be appreciated. Thank you.
So we took the plunge! The wheels were $189, and we got some 235/55HR17 Dunlop SP Sport A2 tires at $111 apiece as well. They look great, handle much better than the stock tires and have no additional noise from what I can hear. Plus they got very good survey ratings from other tirerack customers.
Take a look at our wheels at www.mwshowgo67.com/kermit/index.htm !
I love my Aztec--it's a high quality vehicle at a bargain price. Even got the 5 year, 0 percent financing! Almost bought a Toyota Matrix for the same price. I knew the Pontiac Vibe was a Matrix twin, so I wanted to drive that as a comparison. While in the showroom, the salesman showed me the Aztec, and it didn't take long to see that in every feature, the Aztec was superior. I had reservations about the styling, and still am not used to the look. In fact, I think the 2001 version with the black plastic lower panels actually looks better. Also, I insisted on having a moonroof, and the dealer had to go out of state to find one. I got all the features I wanted, plus some, including an excellent 10 speaker sound system. However, in a perfect world, I would have opted for the 5 spoke aluminum wheels rather that the three spoke wheels, which look somewhat odd.
The Aztec has a very smooth and quiet ride--in fact, it is the quietest vehicle I have ever driven. Wind noise is non-existant. The only complaint I have is a low pitched vibration when traveling at low speeds on concrete surfaces, such as the street I live on. Has anyone else noticed this? Other than that, I have zero complaints, and I'm about as fussy as they come! I bought the factory seat covers to protect the upholstery--They really are terrific because I don't have to yell at the kids about ruining the seats!
Sometimes, I catch myself looking at people to see how they react to my Aztec. I thought I would get all kinds of stares and odd looks, but really haven't noticed anything. Maybe the look is catching on. Beware though, this vehicle is definitely NOT a chick magnet. It has "married with kids" written all over it, so if you are looking for a true mid life crisis vehicle, try a red Mustang!
Posts and pix to come.
C
-The following are from the New York Times 10/23/02 which did a huge auto section.
Article about Cross-Over Vehicles:- by Phil Patton
"The century, in fact began with one failed cross-over experiment, the Pontiac Aztek, which is already legendary for it's ugliness, and another that succeeded beyond expectations: the Chrysler PT Cruiser."
Cars for the Young & Restless:-
"Another Crossover vehicle, the Pontiac Aztek, illustrates - none too prettily - the pitfalls of trying to change a tiger's stripes. Designers' attempts to hide the Aztek's mini van origins simply made it look bizarre, and its sales have been disappointing despite its innovative interior features."
An article about Bob Lutz coming back to GM:- (Bob Lutz is as legendary as Harvey Earl in Auto history):-
"More than anything, Mr. Lutz is shifting GM.'s culture.
"I encourage dissent", he said, adding that a "cultural defect", in which employees had avoided criticizing the company, had existed before his arrival. He cited the Aztek, an awkwardly pubescent cross between a car and an SUV. Some people, he said, "voiced doubts that the Aztek was the right thing to do".
"They were taken to the woodshed and told, "Listen, a failure to support the Aztek is tantamount to corporate disloyalty".
I LOVE IT !!! Gave me a good breakfast chuckle !!
Later...
Real cool observation dude!!!!
You really shouldn't throw rocks if you live in a glass house
~Ken
gehe, since you dream of a VUE (and seem to have one now), I hope you will be happy with it, but leave TEk owners alone! I think the VUE is boring and a little bit on the ugly side, I feel that the TEK looks interesting, is cutting edge and very modern!
all that of course, is in the eyes of the beholder!
Shouldn't take more than 4-6 weeks of engineering work. It would add to the cargo volume as well.
I drove the VIBE first, drove the AZTEK second. All I had to do was open the door to the Aztek and that was all she wrote. THAT CAR ABSOLUTELY ROCKS. I have dreamed of it ever since.... My dealership oddly enough has a loaded 2001 model in their showroom...sticker is 30K!!!!! (SHOCK!) but since it is a 2001, they kinda said they'd make me a deal. Unfortunately I do not want leather seating (which the 2001 they have, has), and I don't want BLACK (since I have nobody to help wash it! I asked the car salesman if, somewhere on that sticker price, there was included someone to help wash it, since it was black and would show every single dirt spot??!?!)
ANYHOW I had to write and share my absolute enthusiasm and I'm writing Santa right now and telling him I've been a good girl this year...
Waymoresblues - At 45,000+ miles I'm out of warranty. However, I'm not surprised by your experience with the dealer. Probably half of the MANY trips I went to the dealer for warranty repairs were to redo what they hadn't fixed right the first time.
How long does this insult get to remain on the site?
Until we get a really funny answer! :-)
tidester, host
No pun intended but we should all lighten up! :-)
tidester, host
Thanks.
Peggy.
We paid $111 + 189 times 4 = 1200 plus about 65 shipping. It makes a big impact on how 'sporty' our Aztek looks, IMO. Also improves handling on freeway ramps
I guess even re-done the name would have been too much a problem, even though most of it is unjustified.
I have my eye on a 2003 AWD Aztec with the Basic Plus option group.
The MSRP (including Destination charge is $24,890)
By my calculations, I should be thinking of stating negotiations at the price (invoice minus 4% holdback plus invoice of options plus destination), that is $21,429 - $746 + $797 + $575 = $22,055.
Any ideas how much profit above this number I should be willing to offer? (I also have $2000 cash allowance and $1500 from my GM card points, so even if he gets all the holdback I could still walk away with the Aztec for $19,301. Is it reasonable to expect I could pull something like this off? Thanks for you input.
Not sure were you numbers come from, but GM holdback is 3% of MSRP less destination, therefore it includes options. Also many dealers, not just GM , have advertising assessments added to the invoice (1% is popular but could be higher). But your estimate is probably in the ball park.
My only concern on the Aztec is that it will be relatively worthless on resale in about 4 years and that makes me lean more towards something like a Forester.
Anyone else have this problem? Kevin never wrote back to say how it was fixed.
Kermit: 17" tires sound too pricey for my budget
but tempting nonetheless. Had a Fender bender the other day and waiting for an estimate.
Steve, Host
Subarus don't have good resale value either.
tidester, host