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The Current State of the US Auto Market
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Neither has 305hp.
I get the sticker shock, I feel it, too. But that's what a large car costs loaded up.
So, if a fully-loaded 2014 Impala is "only" ~$40K MSRP, considering it's going to have leather, nav, a bigger back seat, and a whole host of other features and improvements, I'd say it's worth it!
And yeah, I get the sticker shock, too. Part of it is because I remember the $22,389 that my old 2000 Intrepid cost, out the door. Its MSRP was $20,950 with freight, but then there was tax, tags, an extended warranty I never used, etc. Simply adjusting for inflation, that Intrepid would be $29,195 today! And it was a bare-bones model. Only option it had was a 12-disc CD changer I had them throw into the deal.
The last Impala our family had was a 1972 that my grandparents paid about $5000 for. Adjusting backwards, $40K today would be like $7200 back then. I'm sure that if my grandparents had gotten a Caprice, ordered the biggest engine, power everything, an 8-track player, etc, it wouldn't have been too hard to fluff that $5K up to $7200 or so.
I know the feeling. That was about what my '99 Quest cost - and that's about $2,000 higher than my first house cost back in '74.
I never enjoyed driving it as it felt really tipsy, and the steering wheel felt loose but it had a ton of space and could take a heavy load when the back seats were taken out. Fuel economy wasn't the greatest either but for what he used it for it did the job that a unibody minivan couldn't do, and it was smaller than a full size van which would be too big to work as family/material hauling vehicle.
I think there is a bit of a cult following for these vans, mostly tradesmen wanting them and the occasional family that wants a spacious van with decent towing ability.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Really? For a Chevy that's not a Corvette??
OK.... :confuse:
2012 'Vette w/4,192 miles
What I don't get is why with too many divisions and too many models, GM has to go and produce two non-identical models with THE SAME NAME? I mean, really. I guess their marketing experts know things that I don't.
That's because the Astro was DESIGNED as a Cargo van, and then adapted to be a passenger van - which explains its miserable design and driving position - but its rugged construction and power.
The Aerostar was designed (on a truck frame) to be a passenger van, and was converted shortly to a Cargo model, just by pulling all the nice stuff out and putting a grate behind the driver. Of the two, and I've had lots of both, the Astro was hands down the most durable - but also the most uncomfortable, hottest and least efficient of the two.
Both of them are quite plentiful around the "lonely" side of town around here, but the Aerostar is quite easily the favorite of the 30 year old minivan club. Good thing it doesn't rain here - they started rusting in the showroom, I think.
Not to be confused with the HP patent attorney across the street with the diesel VW pickup. :shades:
Now, I wouldn't go for a fully-decked out, $40K Impala. But, I've seen V-6 Chargers and 300's MSRPed up to that, and I think you can get the Taurus up there with little strain. So, I still don't see it as being overpriced.
As for the Lexus ES? Honestly, not that impressed. At the DC auto show, I remember looking at some Acuras, seeing how plasticky they're getting inside, and thinking damn, they're a big step below Lexus these days. Until, that is, I sat in a Lexus! Seems like they're all cutting corners here and there, these days.
The ES is also a LOT smaller inside than an Impala. To get Impala-sized room out of a Lexus, you need to make the jump to an LS. Maybe even the extended wheelbase model. The new Impala really is that big inside. While it doesn't quite have the shoulder room, I'd say that in most other respects, it's as big inside, if not bigger, than the older, "real" full-sized RWD Impalas and Caprices of days gone by.
Turbo V6, 8-speed automatic for redone Cadillac CTS
A lot of people don't want the size or ride of SUVs vs. sedans.
And, I'm one of them. Although, I am finding that, the older I get, a high seating position is kind of nice. My '85 Silverado is just about perfect for me, while my '12 Ram seems a bit too high. But, after driving either of those two for any length of time, my 2000 Park Ave suddenly seems kinda small, and hard to get in and out of. And my older cars, even worse.
Something like a Traverse probably isn't any longer or wider than the new Impala. Or if it is, we're probably talking negligible numbers. But, there's just something about the styling of the that feels bulky and ponderous. And, the few times I've sat in a Lambda, I wasn't impressed with the seats. Kinda low...high seating position relative to the road, but low with respect to the floor. And I didn't find the second row to be very comfortable, whereas the 2014 Impala's back seat rated up there with some of the better full-sized cars of years gone by.
I think it's hard to make a really comfortable second or third row SUV or minivan seat, because they have to be versatile...either removeable or foldable, and that's going to sacrifice some comfort.
Hopefully this is a ways off, but the next time I'm in the market for a new car, I'm thinking about something Impala/Charger-sized. I'm not about to pay $40K for one though!
I like the layered dash, it adds depth and texture to break up the usual monotony.
But, the piece over the gauge cluster, and the piece over the Nav screen look a little tacked on.
I've also rented a Traverse a couple of times, and in my opinion the interior was very plastic/cheap (perhaps the rental grade ones are different?). I also thought that for it's size and bulk, it didn't have that much room inside. Perhaps I'm spoiled by our Odyssey, which feels a lot more car-like yet has more space and better mileage. Not a lot to actually recommend the SUV unless you want to tow, or have some image problem with the minivans.
I also think the vans like Sienna and Odyssey have really nice second row seats. Even the third row is not bad. In general I guess I'm just underwhelmed by the midsized SUVs on the market. If I were going to get an SUV at all, it would be a small one. I really like smaller vehicles, but can see the appeal of more storage space. A smaller vehicle with a lot of space puts you in the small-SUV or hatchback category.
There's a seat option that basically comes all the way out and picks up a person with a disability.
For the price you got your last Cobalt for, I'm not sure your choosing to support the finances of US companies either! :P
Agreed, but that's score wise, reliability wise Ford and Buick have done poorly with their new models, even in 2nd years out. Jury's still out on the ATS but if it isn't reliable... ditto.
In my 20's I didn't care about seat comfort, but as I get older, I suppose that will become more and more important. I never really paid any attention to it, unless the seat was unusually Uncomfortable, which has never happened in a test drive. I did notice the Volvo's had some comfy seats in 2006.
I still put reliability at the top of my buying list for consideration, because I'd much rather visit shops to do parts upgrades (go faster upgrades) by choice, not visit shops because I have to in order to keep it running.
In case you've been living on Mars since 2007, GM went bankrupt, was bailed out against tax payers' wishes, and is still struggling and the tax payer is virtually guaranteed to lose 11 digits of money!
that's well over $10,000,000,000 (nearly double by most estimates) in losses thanks to the insane idea of bailing out GM.
Not made up, but exaggerated. For instance, we will never know for sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if Honda extended the warranties on any part with a 2% or larger failure rate. On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if Chrysler required a 51% failure rate in order to admit a problem.
Having read that, I immediately thought, without having read the rest of your post "Do they give you a free loaner every time you go to the dealer to have it fixed (or towed to the dealer)? That would be something to care about in regards to reliability, even under a lease. I'd imagine maybe the luxury car makers have a lease loaner clause?
Still, even with that you have lots of wasted time.... the best warranty is one you never have to use.
And, I'm one of them. Although, I am finding that, the older I get, a high seating position is kind of nice. My '85 Silverado is just about perfect for me, while my '12 Ram seems a bit too high. But, after driving either of those two for any length of time, my 2000 Park Ave suddenly seems kinda small, and hard to get in and out of. And my older cars, even worse.
I never thought I'd say this but I prefer an SUV over a sedan. Or I should say, I prefer my Expedition over the sedans my wife gets for company cars. Her current Taurus does nothing for me.
The Expe is only a few inches longer and a has a similar turning radius. I find it much easier to park too, because I can see out of it. Plus the Expedition is far more comfortable. I don't sit in the back seats, but both of my kids prefer riding in the 2nd row of the Expe vs. the rear seats in the Taurus. I think it's mainly due to having more room. The seats maybe firmer in the 2nd row of the Expe, but everyone feels claustrophobic in the Taurus. Plus I find it much easier to get in and out of the Expedition too. I don't have to bend my stiff back as much;)
Also, the Expedition rides better under most conditions and is far easier to get and in and out of. My wife has been off all week and the Taurus hasn't moved since Friday. Anywhere we need to go, we take the Expedition.
I agree. I don't like that at all. Overall though, I think the Impala looks pretty good. I'm not sold on the rear styling, but I can say that about a lot of cars.
To bad GM didn't have offered a turbo 4 like Ford did with the Taurus. No way would I want a N/A 4cyl in a car of that size and weight.
Pricing seems on par to me. With the variety of options available $40k is easy in that market. I'd think if you chose options and packages wisely an adequately equipped Impala could be had in the $32-35k range.
The recall affects Buick LaCrosse full-size cars and Cadillac SRX crossover SUVs from the 2013 model year.
The company says a software problem can cause transmissions to unexpectedly shift into sport mode. That can override any slowing effect from the transmission, increasing the risk of a crash.
General Motors recalls about 34,000 Cadillacs, Buicks to fix problem with transmissions
After that it depended on how long they thought it would take to fix it, sometimes I got a loaner, others I didn't. The dealership tried but they were beholden to Chrysler corporate on a lot of things. One day when it was over 100 degrees the whole center stack decided to stop working, no HVAC, no radio, etc. The dealership was very proud that within a couple of hours they had diagnosed the issue as a loose wire in the console. I appreciated them fixing it the same day, but a wire coming lose in 2012? That convinced me that my Jeep was built by one of the workers who was drunk on the assembly line.
Between bailouts every few years, and people like you, they manage to stay in business, I don't get it. :mad:
I'll confess that I rather like the latest iteration of the Dodge Durango. Part of it though, is that it seems a bit less "trucky" to me, and more like a jacked up station wagon.
So far, the Japanese and German based car companies have nothing to worry about, as they simply don't make anything nearly as troublesome as my domestic experience. I don't see them ever losing my business in this lifetime.
I'd wager a lemon from Honda is more reliable than the "show car" made for auto reviewer/writers/testers from Chrysler.
Exactly, you could own a 90 year old Honda before you are in the shop 9 times for repairs. What is Chrysler doing to refund burned customers? Nothing is the answer. They just keep looking for new suckers that are born every minute.
Hey now, I helped Chrysler out too, about 6 months ago when I bought this new lawn ornament from them...
So far, so good, although it only has about 2,000 miles on it. So, I'm not exactly one to use as a benchmark for reliability.