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

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Messages Page 3109 of 3201

#31079 of 32000 Re: Malibu excluded from comparo [ateixeira] by berri

Jan 22, 2013 (7:05 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 22, 2013 6:36 pm)
Surprised the Altima finished so low
 
I've had a fair number of those as rentals. Nothing really stood out, just blah riding and driving, but yet not as smooth as a Camry even. I haven't driven the new model yet. Some rave about the new seats, but others say they get tired after an hour or two??? I think Ghosn (or however you spell it) and his cost cutting has started to show in Nissan's.

#31080 of 32000 Re: Malibu excluded from comparo [xrunner2] by dieselone

Jan 22, 2013 (7:08 pm)

Replying to: xrunner2 (Jan 22, 2013 6:23 pm)
Saw Motorweek on Velocity tonight. A comparo of mid-size sedans. They said that Malibu was excluded because it was priced too high.
 
I DVR Motorweek and I saw that episode last week. I don't agree with them regarding their exclusion of the Malibu, but it's their test.
 
Their requirement was for the price to be a max of $26k and IIRC each car had to have an EPA FE average of 28 mpg. The Malibu was excluded because the regular model didn't meet the FE number and the Eco was to expensive. They should have just tested a regular Malibu and then scored it accordingly if the FE came up short.

#31081 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [berri] by fintail

Jan 22, 2013 (7:07 pm)

Replying to: berri (Jan 22, 2013 7:01 pm)
I don't know about Audi chasing down MB just yet, esp on a global basis.
 
It is kind of amusing that both Chrysler and MB had some of their worst products during the partnership.

#31082 of 32000 Re: "dealer enthusiasm is very, very strong" [ateixeira] by scwmcan

Jan 22, 2013 (7:14 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 22, 2013 11:47 am)
I know they say they expect it to compete with the x1, but really we know it doesn't and so do they, there is a reason it starts at under $25,000, it is really a competitor to the x1 which starts out much higher priced ( and quickly goes up from there). This isn't to say the encore may not be a good trucklet but it is sort of in a classic its own, not big or powerful enough to compete with the luxury crossovers and too luxurious ( maybe) to compete with the mainstream minutes, it may actually work for them, time will tell.

#31083 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [fintail] by scwmcan

Jan 22, 2013 (7:25 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Jan 22, 2013 7:07 pm)
And don't forget that Mitsubishi was supposed to be their Aisian brand to get them into the mass market there, I think Dailmer just didn't know what to do to try and grow their business at that time.

#31084 of 32000 Re: "dealer enthusiasm is very, very strong" [scwmcan] by ateixeira

Jan 22, 2013 (8:06 pm)

Replying to: scwmcan (Jan 22, 2013 7:14 pm)
Yeah, X1 is $6500 more and options packages a bunch more. Most are high $30s cars.
 
I don't see them competing.
 
Could help Buick, to be the bargain upscale mini-ute.

#31085 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [xrunner2] by tlong

Jan 22, 2013 (10:25 pm)

Replying to: xrunner2 (Jan 22, 2013 8:02 am)
Chrysler invented the minivan concept just as Ford invented the pony car concept with their Mustang.
 
I never could understand the minivan claim. VW had the van first.
 
Smaller than a regular van - check
Sliding side door - check
Hactch in back - check
Three rows of seats, middle row narrower for rear seat access - check
 
The only thing Chrysler did with that concept is put a front water cooled engine in it which made the rear floor lower and flat.

#31086 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [tlong] by andre1969

Jan 23, 2013 (4:36 am)

Replying to: tlong (Jan 22, 2013 10:25 pm)
The main thing that Chrysler brought to the table was making it more comfortable and car-like. And unlike the VW, your legs didn't double as the crumple-zone!
 
The Voyager/Caravan were probably closer in concept to those raised Toyota, Nissan, and Honda Civic wagons, just built on a larger scale and with sliding side doors.
 
In a way, the Voyager/Caravan did to minivans what the 1964 GTO did for musclecars. Or the Corvair Monza did for the pony car market. None were truly the first their kind on the market. But they all opened up their respective markets, made them popular, and got everyone to jump on the bandwagon.

#31087 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [andre1969] by fintail

Jan 23, 2013 (8:06 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Jan 23, 2013 4:36 am)
I think the "car like" part is what makes the Chrysler vans important. None before were as easy to drive or as normal to ride in.

#31088 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [fintail] by dieselone

Jan 23, 2013 (8:11 am)

Replying to: fintail (Jan 23, 2013 8:06 am)
I think the "car like" part is what makes the Chrysler vans important. None before were as easy to drive or as normal to ride in.
 
Definitely, plus they got better fuel economy than a full-size wagon. Though those early 4 cylinder vans had to be painfully underpowered with the a/c on and a full load.

Messages Page 3109 of 3201

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