100 Days of New GM: Product

[Smellhound]

Originally Posted by Gagarin

Perhaps ala
"The Mostly Ruthless Destruction Of The 1981 Dodge Omni" ?

http://www.sixfoot6.com/omni/


In fairness, NO, I do not own a car with the 3.0 V6, and I won't anytime soon, and I have no capacity to buy one with one if I wanted. But it's just been slagged in reviews of otherwise good/great products, and it's LESS of an engine all around from what I can read.

Not great performance, not stellar fuel economy, pretty much just as expensive to make as some of the smaller or larger engines in the goold ol' parts bin? Wow... I don't get it.

I don't get it either. I was highly dissapointed with what I read about the new 3.0, but I didn't want to slam it too much until I test drove one. Well, we drove an Equinox with one last week.

It isn't a BAD engine, just with how it sounds, feels, and the fuel economy it gets, it would have been a GOOD engine in 2003 or 2004, not now. The one we drove was a bit rough and loud (maybe the dealership just got it off the truck and they didn't have a chance to 'tune it' up), but when you hit the gas on the highway, it kinda sounded like a motorcycle was a few vehicles behind you.

I'm not sure If we would have considered a Terrain or Equinox next year. But I can tell you that we would probably wait a few years to buy one with the V6 until GM can update it or replace it with something better. It just isn't worth the extra money to get a V6 in a vehicle like that....that while it isn't a horrible engine, it is CLEARLY inferior to some of the competition and some other Engines GM already offers.

The worst part is, my father-in-law was on the test drive. He hasn't bought a GM product in almost 20 years. He currently drives a 5 year old Hyundai Santa Fe. He likes the styling of the new Equinox, and he was 'excited' to see what it drove like when he heard it had 260+ HP. After driving it though, I don't think he is considerign it anymore. He still loves the vehicle, but I think he was let down by the engine. He was expecting something that was a bit slower, but at least close to how the 3.5 feels in the Rav4 (the other vehicle he is considering), but he said it really wasn't even close.

[Exploder]

That was perhaps as neutral and factual - in other words, the closest to the perfect tone as one could get evaluating the new GM. Good article. Definitely worth bookmarking.

[Ghrankenstein]

Thanks for the kind words, all. We worked really hard to take the whole project to the next level. The coolest part was how everybody took the criticisms of their early drafts in stride, and produced a much better final product.

[steve333]

Originally Posted by mikmak

I can hear what you are saying but only sales will be the ultimate grading. For that assessment we'll just have to wait. Personally, I rate them for overall goodness, thus:

1. Mazda 3 (noisiest and arguably ugliest but most fun with a strong petrol option)
2. Cruze (best accommodation, space, value, modern design and refinement, but needs help with the 1.8)
3. Focus (Like the 3 but still old gen. needs a serious refresh, up there for fun)
4. Kia Cerato (good value but you get what you pay for, including fresh design but sub par materials)
5. Civic (all the handling finesse of a legless grasshopper with poor engine choice and NVH)
6. Corolla. Completely uninspiring. Interior is okay.
7. Elantra is rubbish.


It would be reasonable to assume that segment preferences would transfer the attributes of the Cruze to number one spot if the 1.4 is all that (or just better than the 2.0 in the Mazda 3) and Cruze needs to watch its back when the new Focus arrives, which will no doubt be a certified cracker. Still the upper end of the Focus range will be tackled by the Astra, giving consumers a choice. I fail to see how that is not a strong strategy.

I guess you guys get a different Civic than we do. Almost every car mag rates it at the top or second to the Mazda 3. The Euro Focus will be coming here in NA at the same time as the Cruze and will most likely be a much better car, with IRS, than the Cruze.
I would be shocked to see the cruze do exceptionally well here when it comes out but pleasantly surprised if it does. I will be needing to replace my Cobalt soon and right now I'm leaning to the Focus but with almost 2,000 GM Points to take off a new GM car I would rather go with the Chevy. I'm going to see if I'm turned off by the car when it comes out and see how it stacks up next to the Focus.