Vehicle Question

In article said:

Ryan Cousineau said:

Quoted message said:

Yep, GM has the worst designers on the planet. Top 3 ugliest motor vehicles
of the last decade, Aztek, Avalanche, and any Cadillac.

Quoted message said:

And as for the Cadillacs, I understand that the "Art & Science" design
theory is not for everyone, but the newest cars from them are very, very
interesting.

You want ugly? I'll give you ugly. These look much worse in real life
than any picture can do justice:

http://www.cadillac.com/cadillacjsp/models/gallery.jsp?model=escalade

Yeah but the EXT is the real babboon's ass, it "blows" the Escalade
away in my humble opinion.

dvt said:

The Nissan underwent significant changes for 2004, so the prior models
may be slightly cheaper. The new one is quite a bit larger.

Yes, indeed. That's the one. I think that's about the best looking minivan
I've ever seen. Some friends of ours just bought the new Maxima, and if the
van is anything like the new Maxima, it's going to be quite a vehicle.

Quoted message said:

For a low-price minivan, you might try the Mazda MPV. It's slightly
smaller than the new Nissan or any recent Honda. It also has a little
less power (200 HP vs 220, I think). And I don't think you'll fit 4
people and 4 bikes *inside* the vehicle. Maybe 4 people plus 2-3 bikes
would fit. But it is thousands of US$ less expensive, at least around
here.

Yeah, I'm beginning to think 4 bikes + 4 adults inside is just too much to
hope for without buying a Suburban or something similar sized, which is
exactly what I want to get away from. I'm starting to think a station wagon
of some sort would be better in the end...lower roof height = easier putting
bikes on top.

I'm surprised no one other than me has mentioned the VW Eurovan. It used to
be in the "old days" when my older brother was a roadie (back in the day
with toeclips and sew-up's and posters of Eddy in the garage) that the VW
van was pretty much the standard vehicle for lots of starving roadie's and
hippies. I guess things have changed. I was thinking one of those
Eurovan's with pop-top (not the camper, just the poptop...called a
"weekender" I believe) might work pretty well. It'd be nice to be able to
park, pop the top and have standing room to change clothes and such.

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Paul Southworth) said:

In article said:

Ryan Cousineau said:

>Yep, GM has the worst designers on the planet. Top 3 ugliest motor
>vehicles
>of the last decade, Aztek, Avalanche, and any Cadillac.

Quoted message said:

And as for the Cadillacs, I understand that the "Art & Science" design
theory is not for everyone, but the newest cars from them are very, very
interesting.

You want ugly? I'll give you ugly. These look much worse in real life
than any picture can do justice:

http://www.cadillac.com/cadillacjsp/models/gallery.jsp?model=escalade

Yeah but the EXT is the real babboon's ass, it "blows" the Escalade
away in my humble opinion.

Oh yeah, full-size SUVs in general are pretty sad vehicles, and I would
sooner own a 10-year-old sedan than one of those brutes (and in my
income bracket, I am free of the burden of such a decision).

That said, the recent trend in new SUVs seems to be shrinkage and
wagonization. Note the Nissan Murano, which is basically a modestly
elevated short station wagon with a V8. Note also that Volvo and Subaru
are absolutely convinced they can make a go of SUVness by selling
station wagons with extra ground clearance. And what's that in the
Cadillac lineup?

http://www.cadillac.com/cadillacjsp/models/gallery.jsp?model=srx

SRX you say? I say slightly-elevated wagon.

Check out the "Cargo Management System," surely the most pretentious
name ever for floor bins.

Ironically, SUVs are now morphing from my least favourite type of
vehicle (SUVs) into my favourite type of vehicle (wagons and
hatchbacks). This is a good thing! I am not looking forward to the
upcoming used-market glut of SUVs, but a few years after that, when the
wagons come up for sale, I'll be happy.

My Tercel sedan swallows a bike nicely thanks to its fold-down rear
seats,
--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden] http://www.sfu.ca/~rcousine/wiredcola/
President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club