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Comments
Well those two between the Toyota and the Montana
say it all...!!
Koolguy and Aztec2 keep talking about the "neat features" well I guess they do not get the big picture SAFETY, that's what it's all about. SO people who have family's need to be very carefull when choosing a automobile for their two year old...and NOT for the neat camping package. or even it's looks be it ugly or not...
Oh and "russki" I for one do not think everyone in this room are "smartasses".
All the B.S. aside Jmatero's pictures speak volumes and it's his intelligent statements and other like him that help people make "intelligent decisions" when looking for a car for the family....
Maybe the class is :
"Vehicles that look like pot-bellied pigs"
Why? Well, the NHTSA crashes a 3500+ pound sled, simulating an average size passenger car into the vehicles. SUVs and minivans have an advantage because the passengers are seated much higher off the ground than in a regular passenger car. This elevated seating position allows the dangerous impact forces from the sled to be directed downwards and away from the occupants, hence the excellent side impact crash results (at least 4 stars, but more frequently 5 stars) for all SUVs and minivans.
The problem with the NHTSA test is that the sled only simulates a car. What happens if you are hit by another minivan/full-size van or an SUV/pickup truck (quite likely with the proliferation of these vehicles on the road)? The height advantage disappears completely. So keep this in mind when reviewing the side impact crash test results. Not all vehicles offer equal side impact protection. For example, would you rather be t-boned when riding in a MB M-class SUV with front and rear side impact airbags, or a Toyota 4Runner (no side impact airbags but 5 star side impact results)?
What I find very impressive is when cars do well in the side impact crash tests. For example, the Volvo S80 (with side impact airbags and side airbag curtains) achieving a 5 star result for both front and rear passengers. Or the Subaru Legacy (frameless doors and no side impact airbags on the test vehicle; side airbags are available as an option though) receiving 4 stars for front and rear passengers - quite amazing, IMHO.
Drive carefully and enjoy the ride!
Drew/aling
Townhall Community Leader/Vans Conference
As for whether or not it is safe, life isn't really safe. You start life, dying. Sure, you do what you can to minimize the risk, but you can't sacrifice all of your time worrying about what if's.
Killer stereo, funky looks, auto just about everything, great ride, super versatility, a tent package for god's sakes , , the only thing missing is the kitchen sink. I love it!
And for those of you who worry about added safety features, all you need is the available accessory bubble wrapping.
I am pretty sure that every vehicle has its weak spot. So they happen to hit a weak spot in one test and then claim that the vehicle is crap.
BTW. I live in the Toronto area and I have seen 3 in the past 2 weeks.
Demolishing 100 Azteks would be a good thing to do.
Answer this, if you had the choice of two vehicles, both functionally itdentical yet one was shown to have very poor crash ratings, while the other had very high ones, which would you choose?
"Sure, you do what you can to minimize the risk,"
Excatly. Buying a vehicle that has decent crash ratings is minimizing risk.
"you can't sacrifice all of your time worrying about what if's."
Nobody is saying stay indoors the rest of your life to avoid accidents. Safety should be a factor, not the sole factor mind you, in choosing what you buy and what you do.
"killer" looks
killer crash rating
On a lighter note, I guess disgust for the Aztek could even bring Demos and Repubs together on a least one issue. :-)
This would allow passers-by to admire the Aztek while serving to protect the environment.
very nice-- we leased one. It really grows on you!
For every negative response on this board, I can only ask--test drive one-open your mind and try it out. Then you should form your opinion :-)
resale. And I'm not talking a crystal ball
here to predict that.
What I liked about it most was it is a practical vehicle. I could care less that it looks odd. I drive an 86 Fiero GT anyway and it's never given me one bit of trouble.
If the Aztek can come half as close to the sales numbers as the Fiero, Pontiac will kill it off for certain. They have habit of doing that with anything that works. Sure there are going to be some bugs, it's a first model year.
I do plan on going back tomorrow and having a go at buying one. Not the GT however.
Why all the bad vibes about it's looks? We know what it looks like so let's talk about how it performs.
Even if they do a panicked restyle it will doom the current "aesthetically challenged" ones to orphan status.
No, it wasn't me who said something about the PT cruiser.
I think what gonzo says about the Aztec selling with big discounts so early in it's first year out say a lot about it's resale value.
GM cars inherintly are over produced to where many of their adds at the end of the year promote $5-$6k off MSRP. I know MSRP is a joke to begin with but usually the manufacturer gets it on the new stuff.
No, it wasn't me who said something about the PT cruiser.
I think what gonzo says about the Aztec selling with big discounts so early in it's first year out say a lot about it's resale value.
GM cars inherintly are over produced to where many of their adds at the end of the year promote $5-$6k off MSRP. I know MSRP is a joke to begin with but usually the manufacturer gets it on the new stuff.
69,681 YTD
Aztek- 2,926 up from 2,009 in Sept.
6,681 YTD
no need for a recount there
PT Cruiser sales are still strong
But I think Pontiac will have to come out first and admit the whole design was a mistake and they really meant to build something people wanted.
Will the Aztec protect social security and deliver our children to a better education. Will it provide jobs for Americans and bring the people together.
Does anyone request a recount?
Personally, if it goes easier on my eyes with time like some other homely vehicles like the new Chevy Truck, Focus wagon, Maxima, Acura TL (the one with the crease down the middle) -- then this homely little thing could be a great used car buy, with its value dropping like a brick. What a better used vehicle (in economic terms) than one who loses tons of value in first two years? I can get one for about $5k pretty soon...or less.
If they restyle it totally, it may make it. But I wonder what focus group gave the nod to that design. A more aero look would have gone a long way.
Slope
ajvdh- You beat me to it. Heard the same on the news last night. Me thinks there was a little wishful thinking by somebody. As the old saying goes: misery loves company. ;-)
-Frank P.
;-)
They did say it would share a 6 cly 180 hsp engine -the same one that is in the Saab. The base model with have a 4cly 138 hsp. engine (yikes).
How many Azteks sold?
0 Azteks ... 0 sold
Both are recently introduced, smallish, 4 door , front wheel drive SUVish Minivanish, vehicles with unconventional stying based on mundane platforms.
The contrast is in how differently GM and DerChrysler understand the wants of the public.
Admittedly, the Aztek is far more useful.
The marketplace rejection of the Aztek compared with the frenzy around the PT speaks volumes about the sad state of GM as well as the "style-over-substance" tastes of the car buying public.
Thanks for your comments. ;-)
Pocahontas,
Edmunds.com/Roving Host
-Frank P.