Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options
Comments
I don't believe Isuzu had anything to do with design or engineering.
Whomever mentioned the wood paneling on the Roadmaster wagon...that was optional and I have seen a couple without it.
According to Wikipedia though, it was a joint design among GM's North American division, Brazilian operations, and Isuzu. Isuzu's version of the truck was called the I-series. I don't think I've ever seen one though.
I do remember the [non-permissible content removed]-ender, but that was based on the Trailblazer.
Basically an I series with the engine displacement in the name.
The Colorado had one very neat feature - you could set the rear gate to a height that matched the top of the fender covers, and lay a sheet of plywood flat on there.
Brilliant feature, but I don't think they ever advertised that.
Man, I can't find ONE google image of that, no wonder the pickup never sold. GM never got the message out about that. :sick:
919,000 Jeeps, overly eager air bags.
A neighbor up the road has one, has to be at least 10 years old. I don't know
how it runs but it looks brand new. I always liked the looks.
GM recalling 2012 cars for faulty airbags
Regards,
OW
Shenanigans Notwithstanding, Hyundai Still Gets The Best Mileage :P
Regards,
OW
Figures that we've finally about cleared the air of tobacco stench in most places that this gets traction. Can't do brownies either or the fat police will go boinkers.
Here's a different way to get your thrills at Disneyland.
"Guests on the new ride will design a car, truck or mini-car using digital touch screens. There will be lots of color choices, graphics, wheel designs and other things to choose from to personalize the vehicle.
"Your input, plus the Chevrolet know-how and a dash of Disney magic, equals your very own concept custom car," said Melissa Jeselnick, project manager for Walt Disney Imagineering.
Riders will test that car through hills, hairpin turns and straightaways on a track. They will find out how their car fared based on how well they balanced capability, efficiency, responsiveness and power."
GM powers do-it-yourself virtual cars (Detroit News)
Auto Design Through Eyes of A 12-Year-Old Reopens at Walt Disney World Epcot (Inside Line)
BTW, man, that's a great qualifying statement in the link, too..."Shenanigans Notwithstanding..." LOL
The section on trucks actually gives Ford a better than average fuel rating...
Also, read the very last line of the article...
As discussed here previously, for those many posters who are fans of CR, Hyundai models are below GM for problems in late models. I just thumbed through the Dec. '12 C&D at the store, where I finished reading up on their 40K mile Sonata. For a company that is supposedly the one to watch (no pun intended for Renault's old tagline), their car had an oil leak, peeling chrome inside, a shift lever recall, and gasoline odor inside the car (cured by a hose replacement). All that stuff was warranty, fine, but I never had anything like that with my dirt-cheap Cobalt. What's up with that?
Hyundai does build a v8 for the Genesis and Equus. Granted those are sold in small numbers.
...and yet the Sonata's ranked reliability is still well above the first year of the Cruze (which btw was not the real first year of the car since it was out earlier in other countries). I don't think there's anything to crow about re: GM and their smaller cars on reliability, though I do like the look and the interior of the Cruze compared to the Cavalier.
And incidentally, unlike other manufacturers, every Cruze ever sold in the 'States was built in OH. They were never imported here from God-knows-where.
What are your comments about Sonic's reliability in its first year, per CR, which so many here point to?
I generally believe that CR is pretty accurate, although I also agree with you that their methodology is not foolproof. But it's not all black and white.
If GM ranks above Hyundai for 10-12 (have not verified that), then it's probably true and that's great for GM.
I will say that one of GM's historical issues is that they don't age as well as other makes, so it could be that those rankings will change as vehicles get a bit older. But obviously we can't know how that will pan out for the newer models.
And incidentally, unlike other manufacturers, every Cruze ever sold in the 'States was built in OH. They were never imported here from God-knows-where.
It's a positive when vehicles are assembled here.
What are your comments about Sonic's reliability in its first year, per CR, which so many here point to?
It's great that GM is finally (after 40 years) starting to have competitive small cars. Kudos to them - it's too bad it took BK for them to get religion on delivering a competitive smaller car. Over time, their much better smaller cars will help to improve their reputation for those disillusioned with them after so long. All good.
Every study known to man could determine GM is #1 in reliability and it wouldn't change the likely hood of my buying a GM product. If I don't like the vehicle, I won't buy it regardless of reliability or where it's built.
FWIW, on True Delta, the Elantra is marginally rated better than the Cruze in terms of reliability, though they are fairly close and both have good ratings which are still below those of the Civic and Corolla.
That said, in the compact market, I'd likely chose between the Cruze and Focus.
Also, on True Delta, the Sonata is rated better than the Malibu every year except for two (2011, 2008) going back to 04.
Correct. Reliability is but one important aspect of the purchase. Some important factors are:
1. Price
2. Efficiency (mpg)
3. Utility
4. Style/appearance
5. Interior features and quality
6. Patriotic factor
7. Reliability
8. Driving/handling
9. Drivetrain refinement
Everybody has a reason they buy what they buy. For GM, their advantages have been typically 1, 3 (for SUVs and trucks), and 6. Other makes emphasize other factors. For example, the German makes are known for 4,5,8, and 9, but not 7. The Asian makes are often strong at 7 and 9, but not 4.
I can't say this is universal, but everyone I know who currently drives an import, started off with domestics and left for a reason. Even in the last couple of years, both of my neighbors went from driving 100% domestics to 100 % imports. So it's not like they never owned a domestic car, they left for a reason.
And the Equinox is just too huge for a compact SUV.
1. Style/appearance
2. Interior features and quality
3. Reliability
4. Drivetrain refinement
5. Driving/handling
6. Price
7. Patriotic factor
8. Utility
9. Efficiency (mpg)
Just about all Asian makes immediately fail my first priority. I just can't stand their appearance. I don't care if a car has all the other factors in spades if I think it's ugly or weird-looking.
If what you're looking for is some little cute-ute, like the old Tracker, or the 90's Rav-4 or CRV, then the Equinox is pretty big in comparison. But yeah, it's not so huge that you're going to use it to illegally haul 500 cases of Coors east of the Mississippi...
One aspect of the Equinox I've always been impressed with was legroom. Both generations are only rated at 41.2" in the front seat, but they feel much more generous than that. In the back, the first-gen was 40.2", while the current is 39.2"...and I had plenty of room in both.
Gave directions to a woman last night in a very new Acadia and naturally asked her how she liked it. She was effusive in her praise. I was a bit surprised that it had a built-in GPS instead of OnStar.
I can think of 3: Spark, Sonic, and CTS "wagon".
I'll take a CTS-V, please. :shades:
On that model I wouldn't care about reliability, you can outrun any problems chasing you. LOL
What about the EVO, FR-S/BRZ, and G37 coupe?
LOL, yeah, it depends on your perspective. Now that I've been driving full-size SUVs for nearly a decade, anything smaller than a Expedition feels diminutive.
When I drive my wife's Taurus, I feel like I'm driving a compact car, well at least until I pull into the garage and realize its exterior is damn near as big as the Expedition.
I checked out a new Durango a few weeks ago (very nice SUV), but it's to small for my needs. To bad, because I really like the the looks inside and out.
As for Coors, I think in the 70's they expanded their distribution, and that whole trend of "bootlegging" fell off. Technically, I don't think it was "bootlegging", when vacationers and such would buy a case or 6-pack out west and then bring it back home to to the east. But, because it wasn't available here, it added to the mystique. I'd imagine bringing an 18-wheeler's worth over though, even if it's for a private party, would be a bit of a no-no, though!
Or, maybe in some states, even a little bit would still be illegal? For intsance, I've heard stories of PA busting its residents for driving over the border to Maryland, buying beer, and brining it back home.
It is big compared to the compacts it mostly competes against. In fact I think it's categorized as a mid-sizer.
The Rogue is 183.3" long, on a 105.9" wheelbase. I guess we're a far cry from the old Tracker days when it comes to small SUVs. A friend of mine had a 1998 Tracker, the 2-door convertible style. I just looked up the specs...86.6" wb, and only 143.7" long overall! Even the 4-door version was only 97.6" and 158.7", respectively.
The CRV uses interior space efficiently. A friend of mine used to have an '08 CRV and I was always impressed by it, in terms of being well built and reasonably roomy.