Wait...Threxx owns an Aura? Either someone gave it to him for free, or he went drunk car buying one day?

 

I agree, I love the remote start that came on our Torrent GXP very handy when its hot or cold.

 

That's all great and wonderful, until Toyota comes back with an ad that says "RAV4 beats Equinox in V6 power and fuel economy". Unless your product is better in ALL respects, that kind of stuff can be spun back around rather easily. That, and a new RAV4 comes out in MY 2011. Something tells me they will tweak their I4 to better the Equinox's numbers, especially if GM calls them out in an TV ad.
My point is, if you're going to advertise your stuff is better than someone else's, it shouldn't just be one model/one engine that is; the whole lineup should be better.

 

Im building one now, and loaded to the tilt with the rear DVD's, navi, sunroof, its 36k.
The Edge I saw at the Ford dealer was at least 3 grand more, and didnt have nav.

I like that Chevy gives you the ability to get the LTZ with the 2.4

 

Can't GM do the same thing?

 

Hah... close enough to free, anyway. I guess it was my contribution to the domestic economy.

http://picasaweb.google.com/threxx/2009SaturnAura#

Sticker was $26k and by the time I got done with all the discounts I qualified for (including my GM card's limit being completely uncapped so I could use 3500 from it on the Aura instead of the usual 1000-1500, USAA rebate, lease owner rebate, recent college graduate supplier discount, and then all the normal rebates on top of that) I was looking at $16,000 for a brand new nicely equipped mid sized sedan with very good ride comfort and fuel economy.

The only thing that I am waiting to see is if it's reliable. If it's not then this is it for GM... I'm done with them. I'd say I've given them enough chances over 15 years of their cars. But I'm hopeful that it will be. With a couple of exceptions the quality so far seems to be pretty good.

 

My parents drove a new Equinox on Saturday...both were very impressed with the smoothness and quietness of the 4 cyl AWD they drove. Both also agreed the interior was very well done, and that while it wasn't the peppiest thing in the world (both drive V8 Explorers at the moment), both agreed the power was acceptable. They'll likely buy a FWD anyway, saving additional weight and improving acceleration.

onebadponcho,
Just admit that, for the moment, GM has handed Toyota its own ***...will ya?? By all accounts, the Equinox is simply better.

 

Not quite ... the author, Jim Kenzie, is probably Canada's best known automotive journalist, and is based out of Toronto. He gets plenty of snow and cold weather. He's been reporting on cars for probably 25-30 years now and is sometimes a bit of a curmudgeon (though not as bad as, say, Jim Mateja), hence his stance against remote starts. My guess is that his position is based on the fact that modern cars require virtually no warm-up before driving, and that idling is just wasting fuel.

 

GM remote start is awesome. Author probably has a nice garage thus little or no need for remote start.

 

I have remote start on my G8 and virtually never use it. Yes it is garaged, but at work (or other destinations) it's out in the open. In most cases where I sit is not within range of the remote starter, so to start my car ahead of time would force me to get up and get closer to the car which kinda defeats the purpose. And starting it on my way out the door doesn't give any benefit. But realistically, I just don't see the need for it. It'd have to idle close to 5 minutes to get decent heat into the interior, or you can just get in and drive it and have heat within 2. Personally I can tough it out for 2 minutes until the heat gets flowing.

 

The problem is, RAV 4 is due for a redesign in the next year or two and will likely leapfrog it again.

 

I'm happy to see that at least they are playing leap frog with the others with so much of their lineup. Not that long ago all they did was watch from the side lines and whining about how their skills were just as good as everyone else's but everybody was biased against them.

 

The guy sounds like a complete idiot. When shopping I always park way out away from everybody else that way our Torrent GXP doesn't get door dings. As I exit the store I use the remote start and by the time we get to the car it has cooled down somewhat. Really helpful on 90+ degree days. Remote start is handy year around.

On GM cars the remote start only runs for 10 mins and shuts off.

 

By ALL accounts? Is that your final answer? Did you miss the part about RAV4 having better V6 power and fuel economy?

reading comprehension > Jason E



My points are these:

Why is it that GM didn't put a better V6 in the Equinox? With our government (US) now paying the bills, you'd think they'd stop cutting corners. That 3.0L - unless it has some sort of FI tied to it, doesn't even cut the mustard against a 3-year-old non-DI Toyota. I guarantee they could've put the DI 3.6L in it and gotten better hp/torque/fuel economy than the 3.0L (see the thread about the Cadillac SRX).
Plus, if I'm shopping for an SUV that's over 2 tons that I expect to regularly carry 4 people, cargo, and the ability to tow, I'm not buying a 4 cylinder. That "acceptable" power, with a passenger in the front seat, suddenly isn't so "acceptable" when you add 2 more passengers and their cargo in a 4100lb vehicle. There's at least 5 other much lighter 4 cylinder SUVs I'd consider that would carry that amount of passengers/weight, while having "acceptable" power/acceleration.

 

Reading comprehension is better than me, eh??

https://www.camaroz28.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=700495

Read the Automobile link, and weep. You've been a Toyota nuthugger every time I've dealt with you on here. You and I both know it. The Equinox in the link beat a Highlander. Its certainly better than the far inferior RAV4, better V6 or no. I've driven several RAV4s. They feel tinny, and look cheap inside. And define "better" with respect to the V6. I thought the V6 version was somewhat coarse. Have you driven both yet? Something tells me no As for your question, does Toyota put all its "better" Lexus engines in all its Toyota offerings? Yeah...didn't think so. There's nothing wrong with the 3.0 in the Equinox. At all.