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Comments
-mike
It does look small, though, and I agree that it looks more like a tall wagon than an SUV. That's fine with me - but that makes me cross shop it with the Highlander.
In other words, it doesn't "look" expensive.
-juice
-mike
Now I wonder what the Magellan will look like - probably even more Passat wagon-ish.
-juice (who likes the Tour-Egg shape)
Bob
It will do fine on the wet soccer fields though.
-mike
-juice
-mike
-mike
Fitz is also an Isuzu dealer to I'll have her sit in one just to see what she thinks. The warranty is a big appeal, even though it's not really what we're looking for (can you imagine a suburban soccer mom with 2 kids off roading while she tows a boat we don't own?).
-juice
<< Firstly: The Touareg is a full-blooded off-road vehicle. Power is transferred to the driven wheels via a transfer box, which has off-road gear ratio reduction fitted as standard, and three locking differentials. The multi-plate clutch, fitted as standard, is automatically controlled by the running gear electronics – depending on conditions, up to 100 percent of the traction force can be transferred to either of the two axles. A rotary control switch in the cockpit can be used to activate the differential lock manually. The four-wheel EDL, fitted as standard, determines exactly in which ratios the power is distributed to the wheels. An electronically controlled rear axle differential lock with multi-plate clutch, and as part of the off-road package, a front axle lock and variable anti-roll bars, are planned for heavy off-road driving. >>
Bob
http://motioncars.com/autobuzz/articles19/2003_vw_touareg.html
So does the Envoy/Trailblazer/etc and all that one is is an automatically controlled LSD in the rear.
We'll just have to see how it all gets worked out in the end when they start shipping.
-mike
Anyone came across this article? And could point me to the driection of more details
-Dave
They said Porsche gets more of a RWD bias, so it may feel like FWD in daily driving.
-juice
Bob
-mike
Daewoo Lanos for about $9-13k
Accent $9-11k
Kia Rio $9-11k
Spectra $10.5k and up
Echo $10-11k
Not much of a list. Echos are completely stripped for that price, so add anything and it's $12 grand or more, if he can stretch. In order I'd pick Echo, Spectra, Rio, Accent, and Lanos.
But if he can go just a little higher, you have much more choice:
Cavalier $13k and up
Neon $12k and up
Focus $12.5k and up
ZX2 $12.5k and up
Civic DX, $12.1k and up
Elantra $12k and up
Protoge $13k and up
Lancer $13.5k and up
Sentra $11.5k and up
Saturn S $11k and up (retail)
Esteem $13.2k and up
Maybe a stripped Sentra would be good.
-juice
-Brian
-juice
-Brian
Daewoo Lanos: 500-1000
Neon: 2000
Escort ZX2: 1000-2000
Focus: 1000-1500
Cavalier: 3000
Prizm: 2002
Elantra: 750
Accent: 500
Spectra: 2000
Optima: 1500
Rio: 750
Protoge: 1000-1500
Mirage Coupe: 2000
That gets several choices down close to $10 grand. Happy shopping.
-juice
Any idea what the corolla is worth?
-mike
If you are buying used, use Edmunds' pricing.
Rios are cute. I like the Cinco. I'm not sure reliability is all that, but who cares with that warranty. The price makes them disposable, anyway.
-juice
Bob
http://TheCarConnection.com/index.asp?article=4873&sid=173&n=156
Caddy will also be getting a version of this as well, the SWB model, and a suburban LWB clone of the full-sized.
Interestingly I saw and ad on TV for the 4-door Blazer, not the Trailblazer. Didn't realize they still made that. GM has way too many SUVs.
-mike
Bob
http://industryclick.com/microsites/Newsarticle.asp?newsarticleid=304077&srid=10250&instanceid=5216&pageid=1120&magazineid=1004&siteid=26
Bob
Ford Trucks
Ford Cars
Mercury (upgraded Fords for consumers)
Lincoln (Luxury versions of the Ford and Mercury)
GM should adopt this and have:
GMC Trucks
Chevy Cars
Buick (upgraded GMs for consumers)
Caddy (Luxury)
If they want to be a little different, move the corvette over to Pontiac and make the pontiacs the "sports car" brand. There was talk of spinning off the Corvette Name as a brand. IMHO that could take the place of the pontiac brand as the "sports car" brand.
-mike
-Brian
-mike
That Fiat's not too bad.
I agree with paisan's list, but might even delete Buick and Mercury.
-juice
-Colin
Why keep Pontiac around. I see a lot more Pontiacs around here (Gran Prix's and Am's) than I do of Cavaliers or Malibus. Sportyness sells. It even sells Azteks around here.
-Brian
People cross shopped the current Passat with the A4 and A6. The W8 is only going to increase that trend. VW is trying to keep a more utilitarian image vis-a-vis Audi, but the lines are becoming quite blurred.
Ken
-mike
Pontiac, maybe, but drop all the Chevy clones and offer the GTO and Solistice, that's it. Maybe move the Corvette to Pontiac, then it would be a real sporty division instead of a fake one.
Audi's gonna be hurting in a couple of years. The new A4 styling didn't impress, and once the newnews of the A6 wears off...
Saturn's vehicles aren't impressive, but I say use that sales model for all of GM. That's right, no-haggle flat pricing. Of course, I say make the prices lower to being with, drop the rebates.
It's absurd that a brand new 2002 car comes out with $2002 rebates right from the start. Did you know you pay sales tax on that $2002? It's an extra $100 for the state of MD.
-juice
Did you mean the A6 didn't impress and the newness of the A4 wears off? I actually like the looks of the A4 quite a bit. There are a few in my company parking lot.
Ken
-Colin
NEAR $30k? The A4's/325's/330's I was looking at with my friend who bought the A6TT were all around 38k. ???
Jim
P.S. That chat was fun last night. I just happened to be sitting at my computer when I remembered that the timing was about right. My first time, ah, I'll never forget it.
Bob
-Colin
Jim
If you can resist the options, you can keep prices on German sport sedans reasonable. An A4 w/1.8T and Quattro starts at around $27K.
Ken
When I was younger (half my age and below), I remember figuring out how to distinguish different vehicle makes just by hearing them start or run.
* Ford: had a rumble type starter (rumbula, rumbula, rumbula)
* Chevy: cringing sounding starter (rrieeeeeee)
* Chrysler: higher pitched ticking? type starter (tai, tai, tai)
* Jeep I6 engines have a certain exhaust tone that you can recognize. Much like V6 and V8's sound different than I4's.
Anyone else think I'm nuts? ;-)
-Brian
Besides that obvious fact, there is some truth what you are saying. You could often tell what kind of car by the sound of certain features, such as the starter, etc.
Brian, must be a slow day at work, or TGIF!
Bob
Serge
-Brian
I'd say it's the solid lifter noise:
"chaka chaka chaka chaka"
or the nice burble exhaust note of the boxer engine:
"brulba brulba brulba"
Ken
Interesting - someone has an older RR at work. Kind of sounds like a fan motor more than anything (it's quiet).
-Brian