Here are a list of vehicles that are either pointless or horrible. Enjoy!
(In no particular order)
Cadillac Escalade EXT
Avoid: If you're going to buy a pick-up truck. To do things that normal pick-up truck drivers do. Why not buy a Chevy Silverado? Or maybe a Nissan Titan? Why one earth would anyone spend $60,000 on a pick-up truck that won't be used for it's real purpose?
Saab 9-7x
Avoid: Just because you put Swedish styling on a Chevy, does not make it a Saab. This has to be one of the worst Saabs to ever see production. It was so embarrasing that Saab never sold it in Europe. If you want a true Saab SUV. Wait for the 9-4x. It's promised to be a real Saab inside out.
Chevy Aveo/ Pontiac G3
Avoid: You'd think that small cars couldn't get any worst than this. You're very wrong! Very wrong indeed. The Chevy Aveo is one of the worst economy cars you can buy. It's poor handling, medicore power and steller styling makes it feel like a nightmare on four wheels. Makes you wonder, do people buy this to torture themselves? Pontiac offers a rebadged version of the G3. No wonder Pontiac is going out of production. With cars like that in it's line-up.
BMW X6
Avoid: The BMW X5 is pretty nice looking. The X3 is outdated in design. But still nice looking. The X6, well I don't know where the X6 fits in this picture. But the biggest question is, what is it supposed to be? A four-door SUV coupe? If you really want to stand out and have hefty pockets. You can buy one. But why would you when the X5 is much roomier, more practical and cost less.
Mercedes CLS
Avoid: This was the first four-door coupe. A coupe is a two-door car. So why would anyone want a sedan with a coupe profile? With a hefty price tag and limited headroom for rear passengers. It makes the rear doors pointless. The whole car maybe attractive in design. But if you want a coupe buy a coupe. Want a sedan buy a sedan. Why on earth would you want a four-door coupe?
Smart Fortwo
Avoid: The whole concept of a urban city car is great! The idea of having a small carbon foot print while having a stylish safe car is also a plus. But why did Smart have to attach the most awful transmission they could find? When you accelerate, the transmission pauses then shifts. The jerkiness of the shifting makes the idea seem horrible. You see one and love it. But when you drive it, you hate it.
Jeep Compass
Avoid: Jeep has a hertiage known for off-road vehicles. But if you ever came across this in Jeep's line up. You'd be embarrased for Jeep. It's a very bad poseur. It should be good for some off-roading like the Land Rover LR2 (which stays true to the brand). Why would anyone want to buy a Jeep that doesn't do what Jeeps are supposed to do? Pointless!
Volkswagen Routan
Avoid: Some ideas should be left ideas. The Routan is one of those ideas. Using the Dodge Caravan to design a minivan with 'German Engineering'. But in reality both vans are made in the same factory. The only difference is the cosmetic changes to both exterior and interior. Plus the handling is slightly better on the Volkswagen. But what minivan driver will be testing the handling? And who on earth would spend $40,000 on a minivan?
Mercedes R-Class
Avoid: You'd think minivans couldn't get more expensive. Nope you haven't seen the R-Class. Based on the now gone Chrysler Pacifica. Supposedly a luxurious crossover for those who don't want to drive a minivan. But seeing the many cheaper better options. It makes you wonder, are you really that fearful of your image? And do you really need to pay $50,000 for a crossover that any other crossover can do better and are cheaper to buy and own? The only thing it has going for it is the badge.
Mazda Tribute
Avoid: You have the Ford Escape. You have the Mercury Mariner. So where does the Tribute fit in this equation? All three are identical and all three use the same engines. So why do you need three copies of the same vehicle?
Kia Borrego
Avoid: It would've been nice if Kia relased this vehicle in 1990. When body-on-frame SUVs were popular. But with many SUVs switching to car platforms. You wonder why would anyone give up the smooth ride of a crossover, for the harshness of a body-on-frame SUV?
Hummer H3
Avoid: It was supposed to be the 'Baby Hummer' with easy to park size. Softer and more aimed towards city dwellers. But the blind spots are huge. It drinks gas like a Hummer. It's slow and heavy like a Hummer. With a strictly four-seat cabin. There are better SUVs out there that are better to drive. Good on gas and are much less 'in your face' styled.
Dodge Nitro
Avoid: Based on the Jeep Liberty platform. Both vehicles are horrible. The blind spots are large, the ride comfort is harsh. Thanks the large 20 inch alloy wheels. The interior quality is only so-so. The engines are only so-so. Fuel economy is below average. Almost like you're isolating yourself from the road and the world.
Pontiac G5
Avoid: The Chevy Cobalt (I did a little test drive of that in a earlier blog) is pretty much terrible. So Pontiac thought it would be a good idea to add an entry-level coupe to their line-up. It seemed like a good idea? Wrong! First of all, Pontiac is supposed to be a performance car company. Honestly we see why Pontiac is dying. Look at the products it has to show in it's line-up. (The G8, Vibe and G6 are the only good Pontiacs.)
There you go dissing the Routan. It's built on the best selling minivan chassis in America. The ride is improved, and so are the cosmetics. Volkswagen started with something they knew would sell in America and improved some of its weaknesses. On a cynical note, since so many people will buy the Chrysler/Dodge minivan, here is a way to get one backed by the 2nd largest car company in the world.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, at release Volkswagen said they wanted to capture 3-5% of the US minivan market. As of September, 2009, the Routan represented 3.87% of all minivans sold in the US for calendar year 2009.
I am one of those minivan drivers who tested the handling.
The list price of the Routan may be higher than the equivalent Chrysler/Dodge, but you get a lot more standard so it is a better value for the money. Also, Volkswagen can afford to buy market share. They offer the dealers large concessions, so the dealer can offer a better deal than the Chrysler or Dodge dealer can.
To David:
ReplyDeleteI would like to take the opportunity to thank you for reading the blog.
This isn't a diss on the Dodge Caravan or its counterparts. The Volkswagen Routan is stylish. Trying to capture the minivan market is very hard. Seeing vehicles like the Volkswagen Touran and Sharan sold everywhere else in the world, kind of made me wonder why Volkswagen didn't just make a Mazda5 competitor or maybe something more aimed at crossovers. Don't get me wrong, minivans are very nice vehicles. But minivans are decreasing in popularity. More people are going towards crossovers. Like the Ford Flex for example. The Mazda5 is a crossover. One of those people movers that's sold in Europe. Mazda wasn't sure if it would sell here in the United States. Yet sales are strong and still remain strong for that vehicle. I know cars share platforms. But in my opinion I think that Volkswagen could've ditched the Chrysler engines. Used their own engines and maybe spiff up the interior a little more to look less like the Dodge counterpart. Not to say the Dodge Caravan is a totally bad car. Just with minivan popularity decreasing. Most people are trying to break from the minivan image. I would like to apologize if I offended you. This is solely based off opinion. But in no way to diss minivans. Or the Volkswagen Routan. I value your opinion and I thank you for reading my blog.