Chevy Cruze first drive

[Kroze]

God damn all these companies nothing they make excites me, will someone please make a fun car that isn't wrong wheel drive and costs a fortune? Is that too much to ask?

2011 Toyota FT86

small, lightweight, RWD,

 

[WackyDan]

I'm done with GM. I like how the new stuff looks.

Between the Government bailing them out, the PR debacle they chose to air in regard to paying the bail out funds back when it was just a slight of hand, and the fact that my 2005 Malibu LT bought New in 05 is falling apart. Buttons that no longer work. The finish wearing off the buttons. Multiple issues with the steering column, and the interior not holding up well. 52,000 miles on it so far.

I know it is a budget sedan for the most part, but I paid more for it than my truck... and my truck as a 1999 model has held together far better. I've heard GM's quality has gotten even better since my 05 malibu was built, but I'm not touching one again for some time.

 

[Vette73]

I'm done with GM. I like how the new stuff looks.

Between the Government bailing them out, the PR debacle they chose to air in regard to paying the bail out funds back when it was just a slight of hand, and the fact that my 2005 Malibu LT bought New in 05 is falling apart. Buttons that no longer work. The finish wearing off the buttons. Multiple issues with the steering column, and the interior not holding up well. 52,000 miles on it so far.

I know it is a budget sedan for the most part, but I paid more for it than my truck... and my truck as a 1999 model has held together far better. I've heard GM's quality has gotten even better since my 05 malibu was built, but I'm not touching one again for some time.

Name a car company and I can give you the same type of problems. EVERY car line has issues at some time and for some reason. If you did not buy a car for what you just said then you need to build your own car.

Between being a auto tech and me and my wife owning Asian, American, and European cars they all have issues. Their is not perfect car to everybody.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Name a car company and I can give you the same type of problems. EVERY car line has issues at some time and for some reason. If you did not buy a car for what you just said then you need to build your own car.

Between being a auto tech and me and my wife owning Asian, American, and European cars they all have issues. Their is not perfect car to everybody.

i thought you were in "HR".

 

[Vette73]

i thought you were in "HR".

I am NOW. But I am also 35 and have been in HR for the last 3 years.

Had to pay for college one way or another. That and my first car was a 1985 Firebird V6. First year of port injection, so I got a lot of on the driving exp. :awe:

Worked at parts stores, lube shops, sears tire, drove a tow truck and at the end worked for myself.

 

[exar333]

Impressive. :thumbsup:

+1. This is impressive. Most econoboxes get their torque at buzzy RPMs. This could be a fun little car to drive.

 

[evident]

dont know if it will do enough to erase the sins of the cadavalier and cobalt, at least in my head, but it's a start!

 

[Mermaidman]

Will the US Cruze have a shorter run than usual because it's already been sold overseas for so long? (i.e. Maybe a 3-year cycle before the next generation comes out instead of the usual 4 or 5 year cycle?)

 

[PricklyPete]

I think this looks like a solid effort from GM. It doesn't have to be the sportiest...just competent and comfortable with decent gas mileage. The Cobalt was such crap, that this thing looks wonderful. I think it will easily hold its own in the Forte/Elantra/Corolla/Civic/Focus/Jetta realm. Sure the new focus will probably be nicer, but will also likely cost more. Not everyone is looking for "sporty". Competent is more than enough in this segment (think Civic/Jetta).

 

[WackyDan]

No duh. I realize that. I should have put in that the malibu is my first GM purchase since the early 90's... That was an S-10 that was one of my best vehicles to have ever owned.

But... I don't mind if a vehicle has issues. But most of them should be pretty problem free for at least the first five years if properly maintained.

As well... Look up issues on the 05 Malibu design. They all have steering column issues and GM has been pretty lazy about addressing it as a problem with the design. That same column implementation is used on other GMs of that time frame with the same issues. I've had every commonly known Malibu issue crop up and repeat itself.

My current truck has had only a couple of predictable repairs based on that design and that manufacturer - both were covered under warranty/recall.

The malibu was a safe if very cheaply built car and it shows.

Name a car company and I can give you the same type of problems. EVERY car line has issues at some time and for some reason. If you did not buy a car for what you just said then you need to build your own car.

Between being a auto tech and me and my wife owning Asian, American, and European cars they all have issues. Their is not perfect car to everybody.

 

[JMapleton]

Looks like another granny car.

 

[PricklyPete]

Looks like another granny car.

Relative to what? The new Jetta? The Kia Forte? The Toyota Corolla? The Honda Civic? The Ford Focus that hasn't come out might have a little more "sportiness", but lets face it...these things are econoboxes and this Cruze is a pretty decent looking econobox relative to what is out there.

 

[vshah]

22k? i bought my civic si sedan for that much....

 

[PricklyPete]

22k? i bought my civic si sedan for that much....

That's the top of the line Cruze...with a lean toward comfort/kit/economy vs. sport. The Si is the top of the line Civic with a lean toward sport. What's the issue?

 

[mb]

22k? i bought my civic si sedan for that much....

Wow so cool! I can price a Civic SI Sedan on honda.com for $30k right now. But shit, that's reaching BMW territory, so you might as well get a 3 series. But ya know that maxes out at north of $50k, so just get the 5 series. Hmm, that goes to $80k. Ah screw it, just skip all the nonsense and get a Ferrari.

What was your point again?

 

[LTC8K6]

Still can't see why anyone would pay $32K for a Volt...but I repeat myself...

Then again, maybe I ought to buy one since I'm paying for them anyway...

 

[vshah]

That's the top of the line Cruze...with a lean toward comfort/kit/economy vs. sport. The Si is the top of the line Civic with a lean toward sport. What's the issue?

no issue, i guess I was just letting my personal preference show through

if comfort is more important to you the cruze does look much nicer (leather, 6spd auto etc). will probably get better fuel economy as well

 

[PricklyPete]

no issue, i guess I was just letting my personal preference show through

if comfort is more important to you the cruze does look much nicer (leather, 6spd auto etc). will probably get better fuel economy as well

cheers! :awe: I was just trying to point out it is really just different strokes for different folks and you get that. I personally would fall into your preference, but I understand that I'm probably in the minority here in the US for car tastes:

1) Don't enjoy driving trucks or SUV's
2) Prefer high strung engines to low-end grunt
3) Prefer manuals
4) Prefer hatchbacks/wagons to sedans
5) Taut suspension over cushy

I think the majority of people in the US are thinking of one of a few things:

1) Is it comfortable/do I fit in it?
2) Is it safe?
3) Is it dependable?
4) Does it look cool?
5) Does it seem "luxurious/upscale" (nice materials, quiet)
6) Does it get good gas mileage...even if I have to pay out the nose to get the better gas mileage defeating every economic principal?
7) Does my iPod hook up to it?

The Cruze hits all of these points (well dependable is up for grabs...but GM has gotten much better on this front in the last decade). I'm not convinced that small cars is where the demand is...but what demand there is should be pretty happy with the car.

If I were shopping for a similarly sized car, it would be a Mazda 3 hatch, GTI, Civic Si, or upcoming Focus that would interest me. I don't think the Cruze is going for this customer though.

 

[speedy2]

More import fanboy attitudes in this thread. *Facepalm*

PricklyPete hit the nail on the head.

 

[LTC8K6]

6) Does it get good gas mileage...even if I have to pay out the nose to get the better gas mileage defeating every economic principal?

Thanks!

 

[Instan00dles]

Would buy one if it comes in a hatchback, trunks on compact cars are so useless the opening is always so small.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

More import fanboy attitudes in this thread. *Facepalm*

PricklyPete hit the nail on the head.

I had the unfortunate distinction of owning a first gen Cobalt and will NEVER AGAIN own a "government motors" POS

 

[speedy2]

Even worse. Now you're going to form an opinion of an entire company on 1 car and discontinued one at that.

 

[DarkThinker]

2011 Toyota FT86

small, lightweight, RWD,

Well, I was talking about 4 door sedan to be more precise.

A RWD 4 door sedan that has a a decent 6 cylinder option (Hell, Inline turbo 4 I would not mind either), manual transmission option 5 or 6 speed would be fine and doesn't cost a fortune ($20K and below would be excellent base price). But all of that seems like way too much to ask.

Because almost all of the cars with such options are the German ones (expensive by nature) and the Luxury Japanese ones (Almost just as expensive). Meanwhile American sedans have some RWD options but usually difficult to get in Manual and they are still just as expensive.

And these days,to top it off, they are mostly leaning towards AWD. So to hell with that, if I wanted an AWD car I would get an Lancer Evolution and be done with it, at least I can get that in manual.