Car and Driver Praises Chevy Equinox

10175 Views 67 Replies 35 Participants Last post by Equinox, Apr 12, 2004

Tone

Discussion Starter · Mar 11, 2004

Car and Driver did a road test of the new Chevy Equinox and were pretty impressed by it.

The article concludes that "The Equinox suggests a whole new attitude at Chevrolet."

See - http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?se...article_id=7878

I'm not much of a fan of SUVs, but I have to admit, this one looks very good. Especially considering how most of these vehicles are actually used.

41 - 60 of 68 Posts

Rabbit

· #41 · Mar 18, 2004

Also, the IRON block 3.9 V6(like its little brothers 3.5, 3.4, 3.1, and 2.8) will weigh around 350 pounds. The much larger(physically) ALUMINUM Nissan 3.5 V6 weighs around 460 pounds. Interesting, isn't it?

MelvinJ

· #42 · Mar 18, 2004

Thanks, Rabbit. Very interesting. Good visual comparison also.

thehemi

· #43 · Mar 19, 2004

I will take an OHV any day of the week!

BTW- When is the Equinox going to be on lots?
The wife is looking this year and she could be
in the market for one (the TB is too expensive).

joey

· #44 · Mar 19, 2004

Some dealers have a few Nox's already. (Not sure about West coast yet). I'm seeing cheaper TB's then Nox's right now with the discounts.

Posting those 4.6L 90 degree V8 makes the engine look worse. One GM alum block is still using iron sleeves. It's also hard to find engine weights when comparing. On the big 8's OHV and CI blocks might still make sense, but I'm talk'n 6's. I don't think an OHV 4cyl exsists anymore and finding a cast iron 4 cyl block is rare. GM followed the pack on the I6 , I5 , I4 truck engines. All Alum, DOHC 4 vales per cyl. VVT is much easier to implement in OHC. Adding a complicated VVT implementation in your simpler OHV doesn't make sense to me. I'll stay away from any 3.9L car for a few years until this experiment is proven.

Rabbit

· #45 · Mar 19, 2004

The 3.9 isn't much different from the tried and true 3.4, 3.1, and 2.8. What's not to trust about it?

joey

· #46 · Mar 19, 2004

VVT on OHC is usually done by moving the cam to a different lobe position. I would think tring to do that down inside the block would be more complicated. If it were easy it would have been done by now. Dropping the pan each time to fix or adjust something sounds like trouble to me.

Tone

Discussion Starter · #47 · Mar 20, 2004

Actually there are two components to variable valve timing. One is advancing and retarding carm timing in relation to the crank. The other is using a second, different cam lobe for high and low speed operation (i.e. Honda).

My understanding is that GM did some research and discovered it could gain most of the advantages of variable valve timing by adjusting cam timing alone. Thus, all will be required is an adjustable cam timing gear and related sensors and electronic controlers.

TRBON8R

· #48 · Mar 20, 2004

Great, a Chinese motor and a Jap transmission...... :argue: This is so sad. It's gotten to the point where I wonder why even be "GM guy" or American car fan? Part of driving a GM car or truck for me has always been enjoying the feeling of taking great pride in what American engineering and manufacturing can accomplish. Might as well buy rice now.

Maybe after the U.S. has finally finished exporting all of our industrial base we can see if China will be kind enough to make our tanks and aircraft for us..... :flush:

I'll crawl back under my rock now.

Ben
'87 Buick GN [email protected] on radials and a piss poor state of tune

Rabbit

· #49 · Mar 20, 2004

Gotta beat the Japanese somehow. They get unfair advantages with a weak yen, no unions, and less retirement benefits.

leadfoot85

· #50 · Mar 22, 2004

Originally posted by TRBON8R@Mar 20 2004, 03:16 PM
Maybe after the U.S. has finally finished exporting all of our industrial base we can see if China will be kind enough to make our tanks and aircraft for us..... :flush:

This is the fault of Presidents Bush Sr., Clinton, George W. Bush, and all of Congress who voted for NAFTA.

That is what is killing our mfg base. When we bleed close enough to death in this country by unemployment and recession, maybe our leaders will stop accepting the PAC money and foreign persuasion to do the right thing and repeal NAFTA.

lasma:

originalstarlite

· #51 · Mar 22, 2004

Seriously, will someone post comments related to Car & Driver Praises Chevy Equinox. Somehow this thread became an area for general GM discontent.

leadfoot85

· #52 · Mar 22, 2004

Originally posted by originalstarlite@Mar 22 2004, 12:43 PM
Seriously, will someone post comments related to Car & Driver Praises Chevy Equinox. Somehow this thread became an area for general GM discontent.

No GM discontent in my comment above.

As for Equinox...I have seen much of it, but the interior could be slightly better. The exterior is awesome! I can't wait to see one.

As for C&D - wait until they do a real production model test drive! That's where the "rubber meets the road". Their judgement and opinion will follow. :type:

TRBON8R

· #53 · Mar 23, 2004

Originally posted by originalstarlite@Mar 22 2004, 05:43 PM
Seriously, will someone post comments related to Car & Driver Praises Chevy Equinox. Somehow this thread became an area for general GM discontent.

Funny, but I thought I did post specifically regarding the Equinox and my dissatisfaction with the Chicom motor and Jap trans. Are comments only welcome if they heap praise on GM and the Equinox? Oh well, can't please everyone.....

Ben
'87 GN [email protected] on radials and a piss poor state of tune

BigAls87Z28

· #54 · Mar 23, 2004

Originally posted by TRBON8R+Mar 23 2004, 11:36 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (TRBON8R @ Mar 23 2004, 11:36 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-originalstarlite@Mar 22 2004, 05:43 PM
Seriously, will someone post comments related to Car & Driver Praises Chevy Equinox. Somehow this thread became an area for general GM discontent.

Funny, but I thought I did post specifically regarding the Equinox and my dissatisfaction with the Chicom motor and Jap trans. Are comments only welcome if they heap praise on GM and the Equinox? Oh well, can't please everyone.....

Ben
'87 GN [email protected] on radials and a piss poor state of tune [/b][/quote]
dude, get a grip. Its not the 1940's anymore. After all that asian soursing...money still comes back to GM. Dont get all fussy about what is built where. The baddest engine GM has right now, the LS6 is made in Mexico. The nicest sports coupe GM has right now is made in Australia. This is just GM flexing its international muscle. Why do people look negitivly on GM on almost every aspect? When Toyota started making cars here, people praised them and thought that it was a great idea that Toyota bring some of there manufacturing here to the US. But when GM goes to other countries, it is some how bad? Face it, GM cannot and will not be confined to the boarders of the US. Get over it. Chassis are being designed in other countries, power plants are being built in other places, designs are being crafting in another. Everyone gets all pissy about this chineese motor, but over what? Because why? Because its not "Made in America"? Please. I will continue to buy GM. To be nieve and keep everything here in the US is just selling GM short. GM is flexing international muscle. They are taking parts made from all around the world, and building them here in the US for a quality product. I dont see how this is bad. Just another double standard for GM. Its ok when others do it, but when GM does it, shame on them. GM should be praised for what they are doing.

See less See more

TRBON8R

· #55 · Mar 23, 2004

Originally posted by bigals87z28+Mar 23 2004, 02:26 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (bigals87z28 @ Mar 23 2004, 02:26 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Originally posted by [email protected] 23 2004, 11:36 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-originalstarlite

Click to expand...

@Mar 22 2004, 05:43 PM
Seriously, will someone post comments related to Car & Driver Praises Chevy Equinox. Somehow this thread became an area for general GM discontent.

Click to expand...

Funny, but I thought I did post specifically regarding the Equinox and my dissatisfaction with the Chicom motor and Jap trans. Are comments only welcome if they heap praise on GM and the Equinox? Oh well, can't please everyone.....

Ben
'87 GN [email protected] on radials and a piss poor state of tune

dude, get a grip. Its not the 1940's anymore. After all that asian soursing...money still comes back to GM. Dont get all fussy about what is built where. The baddest engine GM has right now, the LS6 is made in Mexico. The nicest sports coupe GM has right now is made in Australia. This is just GM flexing its international muscle. Why do people look negitivly on GM on almost every aspect? When Toyota started making cars here, people praised them and thought that it was a great idea that Toyota bring some of there manufacturing here to the US. But when GM goes to other countries, it is some how bad? Face it, GM cannot and will not be confined to the boarders of the US. Get over it. Chassis are being designed in other countries, power plants are being built in other places, designs are being crafting in another. Everyone gets all pissy about this chineese motor, but over what? Because why? Because its not "Made in America"? Please. I will continue to buy GM. To be nieve and keep everything here in the US is just selling GM short. GM is flexing international muscle. They are taking parts made from all around the world, and building them here in the US for a quality product. I dont see how this is bad. Just another double standard for GM. Its ok when others do it, but when GM does it, shame on them. GM should be praised for what they are doing. [/b][/quote]
#1. I've got a "grip"
#2. I will not "get over it". I will simply go elsewhere to spend my money or buy older vehicles and fix them up instead of making the Chinese rich.
#3. Back to your regularly scheduled Equinox thread.

By the way, thanks for the tip on the LS6 motor. I wasn't aware that America's sportscar had a Mexican heart.

I won't comment further on this thread so that it will stay on the topic of Chevy's newest ******* child from the Orient.

Ben
'87 Buick GN [email protected] on radials and a piss poor state of tune

See less See more

gp2

· #56 · Mar 30, 2004

B) Well I'm not impressed. Stopped by to see one today. The interior looked very austere (cheap). The mileage is not worth singing praises over. The gas tank is too small.

The thought of a chinese engine is pretty scary. Then I recalled when the folks at Powertrain sold the old line to the chinese. Somehow I knew this would haunt the good folks at Tonawanda. Fortunately for them GM has been pouring a lot of dough into the plants over the years and they continue to produce fine engines. (Well mostly, I have an '02 saturn L200 with the I4 they built there. Plenty of power, fact is I passed on the six because I couldn't discern enough of a difference. Anyway the engine on mine, like all the other folks I know with one continues to have electrical problems even though my dealer has had it in several times. On deceleration all the lights flash on and off. )

Anyway, the mileage thing is a real wonder. I've had two 3800's (one in a '98 Bonneville the other in an '04 Grand Prix). They perform incredibly. I get 30 MPG highway doing 70+! And it has 200HP! How they can't get all their engines that stingy is a crazy. That's 20% better then nox's paultry 25. That's a lot.

As for the gas tank 17 gallons? I had a Ford Escape (the company stuck me with it while I waited for GP) with the mini tank and really shlocky mileage, around 22 on the highway. I was in the gas station every other day. Doesn't anyone ever think about these things? 20 or 22 would have been much better.

Is there going to be a Pontiac version of this?

See less See more

paul8488

· #57 · Mar 30, 2004

GM doesn't decide to send jobs away from american soil and then determine the cost savings/benefits. that's all figured out upfront... these aren't simple decisions GM makes. it's not on a whim, and it's not to be unpatriotic. it's to make more money. look into where the levis you're wearing were made. i'll bet you an equinox it wasn't in the states. i'm curious to know how GM will remain as profitable with north american manufacturing facilities if they stay put and leave everyone else to build in the cheapest location. i've said it before... i don't laugh this off, or wish ill on any single american worker... but how will this trend ever be stopped?

and did we ever come to a conclusion... what makes more sense (patriotically speaking)? buying a car from an overseas company with an american plant, or buying a car from an american company that has been imported into the states? in the first case you're helping out the local economy with jobs, but the profits end up in a land far far away. in the second case you're supporting manufacturing in that far away land, but the money finds its way back to GM... an american company... which in turn can then invest it in the facilities it does have in the states.

i'm canadian... so i can't buy domestic. though perhaps teh equinox is closest. i'm off to find a bricklin... oh wait... mustang motor. ah! we be dammed up here!

See less See more

joey

· #58 · Apr 1, 2004

The highest cost to a company is payroll and benefits, so at least most of the money Honda, Toyota makes stays here. I know Honda Accords have a very high local content percentage. So many parts are comming from the US along with the assembly work.

When GM went global years ago in Latin America, Europe, Australia, etc. The only way they were alowed in these markets were to build local plants because of high import duty or laws requiring local content.

Canada has a very large trade surplus with the US relative to it's population size.
What do you mean you can't buy domestic? Chrysler, Honda, GM all have assembly plants in Canada, probably due to import duty. All of these plants went in before NAFTA. If you think about it, why bother building a plant in Canada if you could have just ship cars right over the border to the smaller market. I can't believe socialized medicine saves that much for the company.

I'm sure CAMI had a special deal with the CAW to allow a higher import content to get the jobs. GM/Toyota probably did the same deal on NUMI out in Calif.

Bottom line: outsourcing will help short term profits, but when the local market has no jobs left, how are they gonna buy your product?

The world defines free trade as the US running a trillion dollar trade defficit while they all have surpluses and jobs.

See less See more

UofMRon

· #59 · Apr 5, 2004

Aren't we forgetting about GM's awesome new I-5 engine?
I would think that this would be just awesome in this vehicle. It is just as compact as the V-6...I checked this engine out in a Colorado. And its horsepower and torque are amazing for 5 cylinders.
What do you guys think?

TaHoE

· #60 · Apr 5, 2004

Originally posted by UofMRon@Apr 5 2004, 12:48 PM
Aren't we forgetting about GM's awesome new I-5 engine?
I would think that this would be just awesome in this vehicle. It is just as compact as the V-6...I checked this engine out in a Colorado. And its horsepower and torque are amazing for 5 cylinders.
What do you guys think?

It would be fine if the Equinox were RWD, I think Equinox's engine bay would be way to narrow (Horizontally) to adjust the I-5 two FWD duty, plus a new Trans, its just too much work, the 3.5 is the simplest solution.

41 - 60 of 68 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.