Pontiac continues to have the edge in style...

[BlackArcher101]

Originally posted by Table 5@Oct 3 2004, 08:40 PM
well, in the Elements case many of its best features lie in its ability to reshape the interior to many variations ( it has over 60 seating and cargo configurations ). Side cargo doors with no B-pillar open from the center and allow for easy loading of bulky items. For sports gear like mountain bikes, snowboards, surfboards and other equipment, the rear seats flip to the side to create a vast cargo area. Seatback bungee cords allow equipment like skateboards to be stored behind the seats. The rear seats also lay flat to form a bed with the front seats, or can be removed entirely. The clamshell rear tailgate bottom opens down - creating room for two to sit - while the upper part of the tailgate opens up and creates a canopy. It has a removable skylight as well, which is rather cool I think.

Funny, my small 93 S10 has all those features too! Except of course the seats turning into a bed... but it's never stopped me before.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Wow, that is some serious Driving Excrement..err Excitement there Pontiac...

Looks like a typical GM rebadge effort - converting the Chevy Aveo to Pontiac duty. GM's business strategy has always been dubious in this regard. Ever see an import brand try and sell the same car (not platforms) under three different badges? Montana / APV / Sillohuette minivans anyone?

[browna]

Originally posted by Table 5@Oct 3 2004, 03:37 PM
personally I think GM has done much worse than this car ( Avalanche anyone? )....

Yes, I have an Avalanche....liked the first one so much, I got a new one in the Spring.
Roomy, utilitarian, distinct.
Love it.


(not mine, but will be very similar in the SPring)


For the record, the Wave and Aveo (and Epica and Optra) are designed and made by Daewoo, a Korean subsiduary of GM.

With the Cavalier being phased out, replaced by Cobalt, GM has to have a bottom end car.

The wife got an Optra, not an Aveo/Wave, and she loves it. The desgin might not be the greatest, but I'll take the GM dealer network then have to deal with fellow Korean cars in the same price range in Hyundi or Kia.

[BlackArcher101]

Speaking of asian designed cars... here's one that's being sold in Canada..
It's called fortwo made by Smart... what a great name eh... seats two, so why not call it fortwo... genious

Anyways, here's some pics.. takes a while to load

http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread.p...threadid=57399

[ChipOne]

as mentioned above the wave is the same as the chevy Aveo. my sister in law has one and it's great. she gets about 4 million miles to the gallon.

you have to keep in mind that there is a class of people - lower income, likely students, likely first time car buyers (or middle-income earners looking for a second vehicle) - that this makes perfect sense to. it costs nothing to run, the car payment is $169/month and the insurance is dirt cheap.

the design is similar to every sub-compact car on the market right now. i didn't like it much at first (and the focus still grates my sack the wrong way) but it's growing on me. for $300/month including insurance and gas, it's a good little car.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally posted by browna@Oct 4 2004, 05:51 AM
Yes, I have an Avalanche....liked the first one so much, I got a new one in the Spring.
Roomy, utilitarian, distinct.

Distinctly hideous?

[CaramonLS]

God I hate the Avalanche!!

Such a hidious piece of work!

[Bill Bumface]

Poor Browna... You should buy an Aztek and an Element just to show them :darnkids:

[browna]

Poor me nothing.

Just because I am not a card carrying member of the cookie cutter Civic Nation (sorry FDW, I know you have an Audi Wagon..but if Civic had a wagon, it would look like a Civic too), and drive a vehicle that I like, have use for its capabilities, and can depend on..

Maybe if I got a 4 foot high wing, some 3 point race belts, some under-carrige neons and a 6 inch diameter pipe you'd guys would accept me more?

[CaramonLS]

Browna... we just want you to conform... conformmmm

[BlackArcher101]

Hey Browna, you going to tow something with that thing? A nice toy perhaps?

[newts]

Browna's avalanche is a sweet rig. I didn't like them until I rode in Browna's, it's a thing of beauty. Drives well in the city, you can sleep in it, and is great to have when your moving (nudge, nudge, wink wink Browna).

As for the more compact models discussed in this thread, I think you'll find that automakers are generally going to continue to produce more smaller vehicles. As these companies continue to globalize, global strategies are often influenced by where they are generating the most money and opportunity. For as long as the auto has been around, it seems like it has been the North American consumer driving the strategy. But now that China is starting to open up, with the potential of being the largest automarket in the world, I think you're going to start to see a lot more compact cars all over the world, which is a necessity in China obviously, due to the dense population. Automakers seem to be trying to manufacture a model that has all of the features of a sedan, but is compact. I just got back from Europe, and it seems that 99/100 cars are compact. There will though, always be a market for "big rigs" like Browna's Av, but expect to see many more "Waves".