This is survey shows what vehicles became "loved", opposed to those who not necessarily hated their vehicles, but knew what they were getting and felt the vehicle they got lived up to their expectations.

You could call these people "enthusiasts" because these are vehicles that buyers became crazy about within 90 days of owning the vehicle.


You better be sitting down when you read this, it has a few surprises.
http://autos.msn.com/advice/article....c=msn&GT1=5472

 

Nice job GM!

I guess Chevy really did do a nice job on the "homely, lagging behind-the-Japanese" Malibu after all.

 

Im pretty sure there was a thread about this already. The APPEAL Awards.
I am very happy with my Maxx...despite its "homely, lagging behind the Japanese" construction. And it seems to catching on as Malibu sales are up over 140% the past two months.

 

The 18 APEAL vehicle category winners for 2004 are: Compact Car-MINI Cooper

I sold my Camaro back in July and bought a new Mini Cooper-( pic- http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/picture41728.html ) and while its nowhere as fast as my Camaro the mini its alot of fun to drive (it takes turns better then anycar I have ever driven) and in Socal's ever worsening traffic and conjestion smaller sometimes is better.

Its funny to think that I sold my Camaro which had over 300HP and replaced it with two Cars (Cooper and Quadcoupe) and the HP of both of the cars combined is less then my Camaro had. I will be in the market in 2008 (after cars are paid off) and will most likely get a new Camaro (if there is one) but I couldn't wait to 2007+(GM's starting to lose us one-by-one).

 

REPOST!!!
ha, had to do it

 

I'm still not sure about the merits of a really small car in the USA - and even most of Europe. Still, the Mini is nicely finished, can be had with all the safety features of a BMW, offers a nice BMW buying experience, and doesn't even have the "stigma" that's normally part of owning a small car.

 

Recent crash test results have shown that the driver of a new Mini Cooper suffers less injury then a driver of a new Ford f150 in a duplicated crash tests.

The Mini is just so much fun to drive around the cities and suburbs and it opened up a ton load of space in the garage to say the least. Nothing beats the Camaro in low end torq and 0-60 thats for sure but since I sold the Camaro to my dad its still in the family so I have no regrets

I was also able to buy the new Mini for $18,000 and there are few cars that are as much fun for that price.

 

I'll second it. Mini's are fun. Most people don't understand, but then again if they did, it by default wouldn't be cool.

 

I have a friend, who's father owned an original Mini. You can bet when the new one was announced he was thrilled. He has every toy on the car... And its freaking cool to see the lever for the moonroof is marked "Ejecter Seat"... And isnt there an "Owner's Misuse Handbook"? He has something like that and I flipped through it. The new Mini is really an awesome car.

Good to hear the Malibu is doing so well also. 140%?? Are you serious? And the Equinox - which I have yet to drive or really look at...

 

Hit the Mini with the F150 (instead of a frontal or offset frontal into a barrier) and see what happens.

Hope the Mini driver's life insurance is up to date...

 

Good point. While a stationary barrier is the only fair way to judge a car's crash worthiness against other vehicles, those tests don't always reflect real-world results. How often do you drive straight into a brick wall at 40 mph? The logical bet would be placed on the F150 in any scenario.

 

What is the Subaru Baja doing on any list that doesn't include the word 'grotesque?'

Jeff

 

Well, you can still buy a brand spankin' new Grand Marquis for $18K. I've had plenty of "fun" with Grand Marquis rental cars.

 

Maybe in bizzaro world $25,000 with a $2,500 rebate is $18k. Why do I get the feeling that this is just going to lead to one of your attempts to be "cool" by talking about how you beat up on cars that aren't yours?

 

I bought the mini cooper because its fun to drive (especially in more conjested areas like SOCAL), affordable, unique, safe (for it relative size), gets great gas milage, and there is a healthy aftermarket for them so I will have many happy years modding the car how I want (I already have put lightweight (15lbs each) forged alloy 18inch wheels on it). http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/gallery_3482.html

I didnt get the Mini because it was super-fast because it isnt, but in the days of 400hp family sedans and when huge HP numbers no longer get me excited because it has become so commonplace (especially out here in Socal) I have found going to a smaller super-handling car makes for a very rewarding driving experience.