2005 Chevrolet Equinox [cute-ute] Preview @ C&D

[thomsbrain]

ok, so GM makes a wanna-be SUV that's based on a car, and in profile looks nearly identical to the MDX. and this isn't "me-too?" hello? everyone once in a while, even Car and Driver drops the ball. just another butt-ugly late-to-the-game wanna-be from GM.

 

[Genesys]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: KGB

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

And that wretched, scratchy cruise-control kludge on the left stalk is gone, replaced in the loaded LT version we drove by buttons on the wheel.

So 18 years after Honda put the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel, GM finally follows suit. But only on the high-end models. Way to go boys. You're only at least 13 years behind Ford too.

ZV

What's wrong with the cruise control stick? I went from a 79 Olds....83 Century....95 Bonneville...01 Astro and I've becoming pretty accustomed to it. Just because it's different does not make it inferior.

For starters, the button is too small. It requires removing a hand from the wheel to operate. It takes up stalk space that can be better used by something like variable intermittant wipers. It can easily and cheaply be added to the steering wheel which is a better position.

By your reasoning, everything should still use drum brakes, carburetors and 3 speed automatics because they work.

It's an ancient design. Everyone else moved on years ago. It's about bloody time those dips at GM got with it.

ZV

vehicles should use carburation IMO, i like the sound they make a lot better. fuel injected engines sound like ass.

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: MovingTarget

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
It actually looks like a decent value when you consider the inevitable rebates, although I don't love the styling. Certainly a lot more competitive than the Blazer it's essentially replacing.

Meh, I'd rather have a blazer than that thing. The styling isn't very appealing for that type of vehicle imho. Besides, wasn't the Blazer a "truck" with a body on frame design and RWD/4WD? This seems more like one of those "mixbreed" crossovers. I'll take the Blazer anyday.

The Blazer was more of a truck, yes, but the market is demanding crossovers like the Equinox, which is why I said it will be more competitive.

Plus, the current Blazer has hardly changed in what, 10 years? Chevy has kept it around basically as a lame duck for the last few years, not bothering to improve things like the crappy interior.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Genesys
vehicles should use carburation IMO, i like the sound they make a lot better. fuel injected engines sound like ass.

Fine. You take a carb and I'll take EFI. My car will start in the winter, have better driveability, and get better mileage.

ZV

 

[MovingTarget]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth

Originally posted by: MovingTarget

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
It actually looks like a decent value when you consider the inevitable rebates, although I don't love the styling. Certainly a lot more competitive than the Blazer it's essentially replacing.

Meh, I'd rather have a blazer than that thing. The styling isn't very appealing for that type of vehicle imho. Besides, wasn't the Blazer a "truck" with a body on frame design and RWD/4WD? This seems more like one of those "mixbreed" crossovers. I'll take the Blazer anyday.

The Blazer was more of a truck, yes, but the market is demanding crossovers like the Equinox, which is why I said it will be more competitive.

Plus, the current Blazer has hardly changed in what, 10 years? Chevy has kept it around basically as a lame duck for the last few years, not bothering to improve things like the crappy interior.

Yeah, I can see how it would appeal to the crossover buyers. However, it would be a mistake for them to market it as a real "truck" like they would a blazer. I'm sad to see it go. Those were good, useful vehicles in my experience. If they had updated the interior and maybe did some fine tuning with the mechanics of it over the years (nothing major), then it would still have a future. Traditional Chevy owners are going to be somewhat dissappointed if they expect a vehicle similar to it. But if this gets GM the $$ by tapping into a growing market, then more power to them. I just have a distaste for crossovers....

 

[UNCjigga]

Originally posted by: Sluggo
Chevrolet has begun a trend of offering butt-ugly front ends.

While I understand a "brand look" like the BMW kidney grill, or even the Buick ovalish grill, Chevrolet seems to have done an amazing job of making all of their new front ends look craptacular by trying to slip in the full width horizontal bar grill of their pick-ups.

Equinox

Colorado

Malibu

Silverado

Express van

Trailblazer

SSR

Seeing a trend here?

Agreed, its nasty. That chrome bar looks totally out of place on the Malibu...and then they put another one on the back!

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
The Blazer was more of a truck, yes, but the market is demanding crossovers like the Equinox, which is why I said it will be more competitive.

Plus, the current Blazer has hardly changed in what, 10 years? Chevy has kept it around basically as a lame duck for the last few years, not bothering to improve things like the crappy interior.

who the hell buys a blazer these days? trailblazers are flying off the lot.

 

[codeyf]

Not bad, I'd look in to it if I were looking at a small to mid-sized SUV.

BUT

WTF is with the nasty lookin, factory "Altezza" bullshyt tailights? :disgust:

 

[EvilYoda]

well, for a cheap car, we have a Blazer...and then we have a Trailblazer too. Depending on how I go, I might be the first to get an import in the last 5-10 years...both parents work for EDS, what do you expect.

 

[Sluggo]

And speaking of ass-ugly, today I saw a new Colorado pick-up. It wasnt the nice one you see in all the pictures, this was a purely base model fleet type truck, and the front end on that was the most hideous creation to ever roll out of GM even beating the Asstek. I searched Google and was unable to find a pic of one, obviously because this grotesque creation disgusts even the most kind-hearted automotive journalist, and they dont want to rub Chevrolets nose in the crap they created.

The whole grill area is the dark argent that you see on Chevy work trucks, it had the high up turn signals, and regular old rectangle halogen headlights, stuck oddly into the hole where the sleek aerodynamic headlights of the LS trim level go.

It looks like a cross between some kind of Frankenpick-up, and the Family Truckster from Vacation.

A face only a mother could love.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Genesys


vehicles should use carburation IMO, i like the sound they make a lot better. fuel injected engines sound like ass.

Um, yeah, ok.

For one, the intake on an engine isn't going to change the exhaust note that much. For two, even if it did.. a fuel injected engine is going to offer better throttle response than a carburetor. That sounds better when you step on the gas.

Basically, carbs suck. As ZV said, they're only tunable for a small range. It's even worse when you only have 1 carburetor feeding multiple cylinders.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Genesys


vehicles should use carburation IMO, i like the sound they make a lot better. fuel injected engines sound like ass.

Um, yeah, ok.

For one, the intake on an engine isn't going to change the exhaust note that much. For two, even if it did.. a fuel injected engine is going to offer better throttle response than a carburetor. That sounds better when you step on the gas.

Basically, carbs suck. As ZV said, they're only tunable for a small range. It's even worse when you only have 1 carburetor feeding multiple cylinders.

I think throttle response is supposed to be better with a carb.