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32000 messages,  Last post on Feb 14, 2013 at 7:24 PM

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#30241 of 32000 Re: Opinions [bpizzuti] by andre1969

Jan 06, 2013 (7:00 pm)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 06, 2013 6:54 pm)
I have a friend with an '03 Accord EX, and I've logged a lot of seat time in it. It didn't seem unduly harsh to me. I do remember, after an hour or a little more, my hamstrings would get a little achy and I'd get a bit fidgety. But, at that point, it's already ahead of the pack, as I have a problem sitting still for too long, and in many cars, I don't make it even that long!

#30242 of 32000 year end rehash by steve_ HOST

Jan 06, 2013 (7:10 pm)

Well, the timeline really starts in '08.
 
Key events in the fall and rise of General Motors (washingtonpost.com)

#30243 of 32000 Re: Opinions [andre1969] by andres3

Jan 06, 2013 (7:41 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Jan 06, 2013 7:00 pm)
I had the '03 Accord Coupe V6, and it was far from stiff in my opinion. First, the coupe is supposed to be a bit sportier than the sedan (and I imagine a bit more tuned), but back then, they were still putting tall skinny 205/65/R16 tires on it.
 
It could have been a bit tighter in my opinion, and should of had 215/60/R16.
 
But it was a great all-around cruiser.

#30244 of 32000 Re: Opinions [imidazol97] by berri

Jan 06, 2013 (8:04 pm)

Replying to: imidazol97 (Jan 06, 2013 2:13 pm)
I've owned and rented a lot of import brand and D3 vehicles. I know a lot of people are blaming D3 on the UAW, but really assembly quality has become pretty similar in my experiences. Where D3 still seems to have some catching up to do is more in engineering and purchasing. For example, lately I've rented a lot of minivans and 3 row crossovers. The far back row shows the difference. A Toyota or Honda is usually pretty easy and quick to raise or lower the third row. That's not always the case with D3. The domestics often seem to have more steps involved and the levers and pulls often seem balky or hard to work. That's engineering and low bidder purchasing, pure and simple. The T&C minivan and new Ford Explorer seemed particularly bad in these respects to me. However, the GM Lambda's like Traverse and Acadia were very good, as were rented Highlanders and Sienna's. I had an Ody that was also very user friendly. Detroit just doesn't seem as focused on the user as Toyota or Honda. The little stuff does matter because it affects consumer perceptions.

#30245 of 32000 Re: Opinions [berri] by andres3

Jan 06, 2013 (8:10 pm)

Replying to: berri (Jan 06, 2013 8:04 pm)
The little stuff does matter because it affects consumer perceptions.
 
I can't agree more!
 
Instead of death by a thousand daggers or nails (like when you find yet another cost savings or cost cutting feature in your car), it is great to find somewhere in the vehicle where you got unexpected value where the maker didn't skimp on costs.
 
For example, the aluminum door sill plates and no black bar seams on the roof of my A3. Two things I didn't necessarily notice or buy the car because of, but that I was appreciative of when I noticed them later.

#30246 of 32000 Re: Opinions [andres3] by andre1969

Jan 06, 2013 (8:23 pm)

Replying to: andres3 (Jan 06, 2013 8:10 pm)
I thought those aluminum sill plates on the Altima were a nice touch...until I found out they were extra-cost!
 
As for those black bar seams, I hate them as well, but truth be told, I hate 'em even when they're painted body-color. To me they just reek of cost-cutting. I could understand having them on a cheap economy car, or a work truck, but they have no place on a luxury car or even a medium-price car.
 
My 2000 Park Ave has those strips, but even worse than that, the rear quarter panels seem to be bolt-on. Or at least, there's a seam at the base of the C-pillar, where you can tell the quarter panel is separate. Probably makes it easier and cheaper to replace/repair in an accident, but I think it looks a bit cheesy.
 
As a used car that I only paid $7500 for, I really don't care. But, if I was looking at this car when it was brand-new, I have a feeling I would've been turned off.

#30247 of 32000 Re: Dec sales [uplanderguy] by uplanderguy

Jan 07, 2013 (3:32 am)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Jan 06, 2013 4:11 pm)
Feb. they tested mid-size sedans. The Malibu 1LT 2.5L, they gave a higher overall number score to than an Optima, Legacy, and Passat. They did say it stickered higher, and that 'rebates seem inevitable'. I think that's already happened since press time. Don't know about the others.
 
I left, by mistake, the Altima out of that list above, also.

#30248 of 32000 Re: Opinions [andre1969] by uplanderguy

Jan 07, 2013 (5:59 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Jan 06, 2013 8:23 pm)
Speaking of visible seams, I had my '81 Monte Carlo stolen in '82. It was never recovered. I was given as a rental, an '81 Mercury Cougar (not XR-7--this one was like a Zephyr/Fairmont). Besides looking like a box and having no wheelcovers and one of four lugnuts on one wheel was missing, it had right at eye-level on the "C" pillar, a seam filled in with a plastic or fiberglass cover (body color). At that time, there was nothing at GM like that, especially in that size/price class. A total turn-off to me. The styling inside was as boxy as outside. I think "The Deuce" went for that boxy/blunt styling, but I hated it, even though a lot of folks say their quality was better than GM's at the time.

#30249 of 32000 Re: Opinions [uplanderguy] by andre1969

Jan 07, 2013 (6:38 am)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Jan 07, 2013 5:59 am)
I don't remember the seam at the top of the C-pillar...one thing I do remember though, was a fake plastic vent/grille thingie at the base of the C-pillar. I thought it was kind of neat at the time (my grandparents had an '81 Granada coupe), but now that I think about it, that was probably put there to hide a lower seam. Probably cheaper than filling it in properly.
 
One thing I miss is how, in the real old days, they'd actually go through the effor to finish off the seams of the panel that fits between the rear window and the trunk lid, where it joins the rear quarter panels. That gave the cars a classier, more finished look, IMO. I don't know how far you have to go back to see that, though. My '57 DeSoto is finished off like that, but my '67 Catalina isn't, and neither were my Darts, or my '76 LeMans. In later years, I think that piece just became a panel that you could unbolt and take off on many cars. Nowadays, most if not all trunk lids go right to the rear window, so that panel probably a thing of the past by now.
 
I never really liked the Fairmont, at least the base model with the single headlights. But the quad headlight models, as well as the Zephyr, I kinda like. But I'll confess that I do have sort of a soft spot for the '81-82 Granada/Cougar, and the XR-7. Never liked that '80-82 T-bird, though.
 
My grandparents replaced their '81 Granada with an '85 LTD. It seemed like a nice car at the time. When I was learning to drive, I logged a lot of hours on that car, as well as my Mom's '80 Malibu. The LTD seemed a bit more nimble, probably because of the rack and pinion steering and stubbier wheelbase. But the Malibu just seemed like a more solid, substantial car. Definitely roomier inside too, despite it being a coupe and the LTD being a sedan.

#30250 of 32000 Re: Opinions [andre1969] by uplanderguy

Jan 07, 2013 (7:57 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Jan 07, 2013 6:38 am)
Here's the upper seam 'cover' on the C-pillar.
 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/daveseven/4686124661/

Messages Page 3025 of 3200

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