Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
The IDEA of the Aztek is solid, the features are solid, the utility, build quality, ride, etc are solid. So why did Pontiac wrap it in such a polarizing body? It seems so counter-productive becasue I think if they had wrapped it in a more conventional 2-box body, they would be selling as many as they could make.
On an completely different point, I notice how many people talk about how well the Aztek drives compared to other SUV's. I always chuckle at this since it is far more indicative of how BADLY traditional SUV's drive as opposed to how well the Aztek drives. CAR drivers say the Aztek is floaty and leans a lot in turns, and SUV drivers say it is solid and rides better then any SUV they tested. Let's face it, mini-vans drive VERY nicely and have far more interior space then SUV's in general, and the Aztek IS A MINIVAN in SUV-Clothing.
See.. we can discuss this vehicle's pros and cons withour resorting to name calling and labeling. :-)
-Frank P.
However the execution of the concept is the cause for my ire. The prototype was actually kind of cool looking. It was one color, without any gray plastic. The wheels appeared to fit. It had some curves to it as opposed to the angular and slab sided look of the actual thing.
Once again GM ruins a good idea with poor execution and lets the accountants run the show.
http://www.autoextremist.com/page4.shtml#e
Just wanted to share that bit of info.
By the way, I was in an accident with my new Aztek. That gray plastic protected the paint and didn't even crack. You can't tell my vehicle was even in a fender bender. But the Grand Am that hit me has a huge dent in the front and the damage is very noticeable!
To all you new Aztek owners, ENJOY!!
By the way, we are not "LAYED" off pontiac engineers. We are Americans that like our vehicle. Are you jealous because maybe you can't afford one?
Or maybe you all are strict conformists?
The good news is that you can probably get a good deal on an "executive-driven" Bonneville, Park Avenue or Caddy. Might be the best thing about the Aztek.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Does anyone know if one can get the larger tires put on the base model? I don't like the small tires.
of the mini-van and the SUV. Not a bad idea.
The execution was a catastrophe. Voted as the ugliest production vehicle since the Matador and Gremlin,
the Aztec is rumored to be terminated next year if sales continue
to not happen. Not to mention, even moreso risky to
purchase because it is built by GMs lowest end brand. The dealer near me jokes that he can't give 'em away for anything close to the minimum of what they are supposed to get for it. Fortunate for him, he sells alot of mini-vans and Bonnevilles.
At year end, they'll sell you one for $15,999 loaded. What a waste of money. May the [non-permissible content removed]-Tek rest in peace.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
There are some good Aztek jokes in the current edition of Autoweek mag.:
A family accidentally drives their Aztek off the road into a lake. The fish, after seeing the Aztek, get together to remove the water pollution.
After hearing that GM is already redesigning the Aztek a Ford designer said "Hopefully they are just going to make the tent big enough to cover the whole thing"
1975 Pontiac Astre (Vega clone)
1979 Buick Century Sport Coupe (the fastback)
1981 Olds Omega (X-car)
1986 Chevy Cavalier (not weird, just boring)
1990 Geo Storm (not sure how history is treating this one)
I strayed to a Honda del Sol in 95 until I got my current Olds (RIP) Alero in 99. So given my colorful GM past, it's only natural that the Aztek has completely won my heart.
I rented one on a recent weekend trip and was amazed at its high build quality, comfort, versatility and practicality. Three other people were with me and everyone enjoyed the ride, and one even complimented its looks! (The other two didn't say anything, maybe to be polite.) My mom and dad thought it was neat too. I had a total blast in that hmmm... vehicle.
Let's see... with fire sale pricing, and another $1K from Oldsmobile, and dealers so anxious to sell that they'd probably inflate my trade value, I may be riding in style by next week! OK, not everybody's idea of style, but it's a "style" just the same.
ride well and are comfortable--even somewhat safe. The problem seems to me that the Pontiac brand is questionable--and the exterior is absolutely hideous. However, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks,...If you like it, you should get it. I still think the idea behind it is great. As a designer, I'm not wild about the looks.
Ford Escape XLT $33,455 CNDN
Mazda Tribute ES $34,150 CNDN
Hyundai Santa Fe GLS $29,250 CNDN
Toyota RAV4 $33,965 CNDN
Pontica Aztek $41,270 CNDN
I am very much aware of the strengths and shortcomings of all of these vehicles and will spare you from having to read all of that again here. I am retired and long of tooth as well. The next vehicle I buy will undoubtedly be my last. I want a 4x4/AWD because I am too old and pooped to push in the snow. MSRP and gas mileage are issues because I don't have deep pockets. Of course I don't know what I would actually have to pay for any of the above but I assume a correlation between purchase price and MSRP.
From my perspective the Aztek is just too expensive to be included in the same group as the others. At the moment it appears that I am going to have to do my best to "escape" the Aztek's higher MSRP. At these prices I just can't afford brand loyalty.
Nevertheless I must also say that, if I could afford it, I'd just love to scare my neighbors!
Just read an interesting article in the 12/18 issue of Business Week. One of the main points they made was that the Aztek is over priced for it's 20 something target. Probably true. This vehicle seem to have more young fans and since it's made in Mexico, one would think GM could drop prices a bit. I'm sure if they did, sales would go up. Restyling the front would also help a lot.
As for restyling the front end, I agree, it is bad... but not nearly as bad as the back! It looks like someone welded a Wonder bread truck onto a minivan.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
I am a sci-fi buff and recently had a chance to watch an old logan's run tv show episode, and what did the vehicle look like? An Aztek!!!
So it would seem that the Aztek was predicted by the series, or maybe the designers of the Aztek happened to be fans of the show. . . . .
The moral: The Aztek proves that man's ability to tamper with the forces of nature exceed his ability to comprehend what he has wrought.
(Fade to scene in which an Aztek rises from Lake Michigan and destroys what is left of GM)
I like my Aztek. It may not appeal some, many , any, you pick the adjective. I do not understand why the same half dozen people continue to complain about it. No matter what you say, this thing gets a lot of attention. But that's not why I bought it. It's not a bad deal considering it's capabilities. And the prices quoted around here, well the low ones are closer to the truth. If you know how to buy a car that is.
There are several dealers here advertising give-away deals on them. One dealer is advertising "Every Aztek $4,000 off MSRP- No add ons"
We shall bow our heads...
"Please forgive them, for they know not what they do". And I thought the highway billboards were ugly...they just stood still. These things move around. However, it's their money.
Diversity makes the world go 'round.
By the way,...The shadow of my hand looks almost identical to the shadow of my German Shepard. For some weird reason, the dog still makes a better pet.
I made the switch from GM and couldn't be happier.
I want to purchase an Aztek: it is useful, drives incredably smooth, and is drastically different. It worries me that they have not sold well however. It seems that Pontiac may have to try to do something different. Are they planning to restyle the Aztek? Have sales picked up lately as my local dealers are claiming?
FWIW, I believe less than 300 Azteks have been sold in the whole of Canada since its debut. Not a very impressive showing, considering that the population is about 30 million. I have noticed that the Azteks that were hidden in the backlots have just recently been placed at the front of the dealerships. I wonder if the GM HQ had anything to do with this? Why, oh why, do they have to use that hideous (IMHO) almost neon green Aztek though?
Drew
Host of Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards