How do you decide on a new car?

[Hans Jaeger]

Maybe this is something to keep in mind...

Ford, GM & Chrysler

'CNN Headline News did a short news listing regarding Ford and GM's contributions to the relief and recovery efforts in New York and Washington .

Here are their findings:

1. Ford -- $10 million to American Red Cross matching employee contributions in the same amount, plus 10 Excursion SUV's to NYC Fire Dept. The company also offered ER response-team services and office space to displaced government employees.

2. GM -- $10 million to American Red Cross matching employee contributions in the same amount, and a fleet of vans, SUV's, and trucks.

3.. Daimler Chrysler -- $10 million to support of the children and victims of the Sept. 11 attack.

4. Harley Davidson motorcycles- $1 million and 30 new motorcycles to the New York City Police Dept.

5. Volkswagen -- Employees and management created a Sept 11 Foundation, funded initially with $2 million, for the assistance of the children and victims of the WTC.

6. Hyundai -- $300,000 to the American Red Cross.

7. Audi -- see VW

8. BMW -- Nothing.

9. Daewoo -- Nothing.

10. Fiat -- Nothing.

11. Honda -- Nothing despite boasting of second best sales month ever in August 2001

12. Isuzu -- Nothing.

13. Mitsubishi -- Nothing.

14. Nissan -- Nothing.

15. Porsche -- Nothing. Press release with condolences via the Porsche web site.

16. Subaru -- Nothing.

17. Suzuki -- Nothing.

18. Toyota -- Nothing despite claims of high sales in July and August 2001. Condolences posted on the web site .

When the time comes for you to purchase or lease a new vehicle, keep this information in mind. You might want to give more consideration to a car manufactured by an American-owned and/or American-based company.

[Toastmaker]

Good point. As a GM/Pontiac fan, I'm really sorry to see the Indian go into retirement.

[Willy]

Me too Toast. I've bought Pontiacs when I wanted a car since the mid 70s. They should have kept 'em and let Buick go. At least they're keeping GMC Truck (so far). As long as I can get a GM product, I'll buy 'em when I need another vehicle.

Edit: To answer the question though, I look at a lot of things when I get a new vehicle (usually a pickup). But I fully intend to buy domestic, preferably a GMC.

[Hans Jaeger]

My first car was a 1965 Rambler American.

My first good car was a 1968 Pontiac Parisienne 2-door hardtop fastback with a 327 motor. Silver exterior, black vinyl roof, black interior. Man, I LOVED that car.

[Willy]

My first Pontiac was a 1967 GTO Ram Air I. Even with an almost worn out engine it was almost too much car for me. I traded it in on a 1975 LeMans Sport Coupe with a 455 engine that was one of my alltime favorite cars. That's the Pontiac that I really miss. Damn that thing was fast. The GTO was quicker and had the better 1/4 mile time. But that LeMans had more usable top end and was more civilized.

[Snuffy]

I had a 1966 Pontiac Catalina 4 door land yacht. 396 big block with a 1 barrel carb and a 25 gal gas tank.

I could cruz along at 60 - 65 from Richmond, VA (with a full tank) to Buffalo, NY and still have a quarter of a tank of gas by the time I reached my destination.

Of course you know what Pontiac stands for right? :emot-angel:

[Toastmaker]

Quite a sled you had there, Hans.

Snuffy - do tell please. . .







:beach3:

[Foggy]

Hans, can't see enough of your lady model in the passenger seat!

[CybrSlydr]

First thing I think about - does it look like something I'd like to drive?

Second - How do other drivers feel about the car?

Third - Reliability?

Fourth - Can I afford it? :D

[Snuffy]

... Snuffy - do tell please . . .


Poor
Old
Nut
Thinks
Its
A
Cadilac

[MaskRider]

I ask myself: Is it a Honda Element?

[Toastmaker]

Snuffy, yes, I remember now. Although I heard a more specific version of it and thanks for using the generic one here. . . !

:D

[CybrSlydr]

I ask myself: Is it a Honda Element?

And if the answer is, "No", you buy the car because the Element ranks as one of the fugliest vehicles to ever go into production, right?

Right??? :faintthud::emot-angel: :D

[MaskRider]

Right, cyber!

Seriously, though, I don't think they are fugly at all. I think they are beautiful. Great cars. :thumbs up:

[CybrSlydr]

hahaha!

Knew you were a good sport. ;) :D

[Hans Jaeger]

Hans, can't see enough of your lady model in the passenger seat!

Here she is with my brother and an Austrian cousin.

These pics are scans from old slides... not good quality I'm afraid. :)

[Snuffy]

I ask myself: Is it a Honda Element?


OHHH!! Honda Elements ...

I thought it was the new Honda pushme-pullyou ...

:emot-angel:

[MaskRider]

Hehe! LOL! :D

[AckAck]

And if the answer is, "No", you buy the car because the Element ranks as one of the fugliest vehicles to ever go into production, right?

Right??? :faintthud::emot-angel: :D


In keeping with the apparent theme of this thread, Pontiac, and relating to the above, I present the fugliest vehicle (at least recently) - the Pontiac Aztek

[MaskRider]

Now that is fugly!!

Reminds ne of that car Chevy Chase and family drove cross country in Summer Vacation.

:D

Makes my little Element look like a beauty queen!

BTW, just so you'll know our family still have a little patriotism left in our auto spending preferences, my daughter drives a 2006 Pontiac Vibe! ;)

[Willy]

Ken Stallings used to brag about his Aztek. :doh:

[Hans Jaeger]

Sorry, I think the Aztek has some style, whereas the Element looks like a box tacked onto a box. Ford Flex, same thing. Anti-style, almost. :D

The Vibe is a Toyota Matrix with different a sheet metal shell. Toyota parts assembled by GM. Nice car.

Here's my Matrix - manufactured in Cambridge, Ontario...

[MaskRider]

... whereas the Element looks like a box tacked onto a box. Ford Flex, same thing. Anti-style, almost.

Ooohh, thems fighting words!! Watch it. We Element owners are fiercely loyal! :D But you are right. The Element is totally styless. No doubt about it!

WRT the Vibe, yes we are all very happy with that little rig. The Toyota connection was a big selling point as was its being assembled here in CA.

[bzhyoyo]

funny... I never took any pics of my cars, except once... it was upside down!

[Foggy]

Now that is fugly!!

Reminds ne of that car Chevy Chase and family drove cross country in Summer Vacation.

:D

Makes my little Element look like a beauty queen!

BTW, just so you'll know our family still have a little patriotism left in our auto spending preferences, my daughter drives a 2006 Pontiac Vibe! ;)

The Vibe is a rebadged Toyota Matrix - which is a great car in itself. :thumbs up:

[Foggy]

Ken Stallings used to brag about his Aztek. :doh:

You know - if someone asked me to guess what car Ken would have owned - I would have guessed the Aztek...

The reason Oprah Winfrey gave an Aztek to every member of her audience on one show - the Aztek was a sales dog for Pontiac. :dead:

[Foggy]

Here she is with my brother and an Austrian cousin.

These pics are scans from old slides... not good quality I'm afraid. :)

I bet she is still with you! :)

[Hans Jaeger]

I bet she is still with you! :)

YES!

Unlike the '68 Pontiac, she aged very well. :)

[CrashnBurns]

Excuse me, but Oprah gave a Pontiac G-6 to all of her studio audience members, not an Aztek. I was at the Lake Orion Assembly Plant the day she came for a tour. She was treated like royalty. As soon as the workers saw her, more than a few left their stations and ran after her. I bet the repair bays were busy that day!

And anyone who "PROUDLY" owns a Honda Element, should not be throwing rocks at anyone's choice of vehicle! I'll take my Aztek any day.

Crash

[MaskRider]

And anyone who "PROUDLY" owns a Honda Element, should not be throwing rocks at anyone's choice of vehicle! I'll take my Aztek any day.
That does it. You are definitely off my Xmas card list.

[RickN]

funny... I never took any pics of my cars, except once... it was upside down!

Me either, except for the crash that I walked away from without a scratch. Car looked like it had been through a cheese grater.

My favorite Pontiac was a 68 GTO convertible. Favorite car of all time was my 1976 Ford Elite like the one below. A gas hog but a real car for long trips.