"theloudmouth" (theloudmouth)
05/17/2014 at 10:48 • Filed to: None
9
35|
"theloudmouth" (theloudmouth)
05/17/2014 at 10:48 • Filed to: None | 9
| 35 |
All the recent talk of the Cadlliac Cimarron and GM's awful badge engineering remind me of the bright spot I happen to own, the Saabaru 9-2X Aero.
What makes the Saabaru such a fantastic vehicle is that it gives you a WRX you can actually be seen in, go out for business lunches in, and basically be an adult on the outside. Yet it also has all the hoonabiliity of the WRX. It corrected all my complaints about the WRX. Beyond fixing the boy racer looks of the WRX, the extra sound deadening killed the excess noise, it unbelievably has almost zero rattles despite having lived 9 hard years on Michigan roads, and it has a just enough of a step up in all the critical interior materials that it feels so much more upscale. As GM screwed up the marketing so terribly and sales were a complete disappointment I hold little hope Subaru will bring a similar vehicle to market themselves, but if they did I would go buy one tomorrow.
With that I pose a question I don't recall ever actually being asked on here.
What is the BEST badge-engineered vehicle?
EDIT: For round 2, I think I'll have to ask for the best Non-GM badge engineered car, as they're so overwhelmingly taking the responses.
crowmolly
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 10:50 |
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4th gen Pontiac Trans Am
PanchoVilleneuve ST
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 10:57 |
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First gen Scion xB. You couldn't get a 5-speed in the original Toyota Bb. You could in the Scion, though.
KnowsAboutCars
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 11:01 |
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Vauxhall VX220 and VXR8 come to mind. Not any better than their counterparts but awesome nonetheless.
Diesel
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 11:05 |
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Cygnet. Looks and economical.
Fred (FreddsterExprs)
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 11:10 |
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I really really like the idea of the 9-2X. Too bad they never made it to Europe.
carcrasher88
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 11:27 |
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A few of my favorites:
- Eagle Talon TSi AWD. It had the better looking spoiler compared to the big basket handle on the Eclipse GSX.
- Saab 9-7X Aero. The TrollBlazer with a Corvette V8 under the hood. Definitely deserves to share the spotlight with the 9-2X.
- Pontiac G8 GXP. The G8 was a short lived North American version of the VE Commodore, and the GXP was the top version with 415 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, with the awesome Tremec TR-6060 6-speed manual transmission.
- Buick Verano. Sure, it's technically a US version of the Chinese Excelle, but what it truly is...a US market Opel Astra sedan, but better. How is it better? Available 250 hp/260 lb-ft torque turbocharged 2.0 I-4 with available manual transmission, something the Astra sedan doesn't offer. It's as close as you can get to a non-existant Focus ST sedan.
Justin Young
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 11:33 |
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Easy.
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theloudmouth
> Diesel
05/17/2014 at 11:33 |
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Hahaha, that is the perfect example of reductio ad absurdum from my starting point of making a more "luxury" oriented version of the WRX.
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theloudmouth
> Justin Young
05/17/2014 at 11:37 |
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I was really surprised it took this many replies to put these out there.
Except here's my issue, which one is the badge engineered version really? And why is it better than the other?
Mikeado
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 11:41 |
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I wish they made a right-hand-drive 9-2X. It's one of precious few US-market cars I wish were sold in the UK. Jelly!
Also I didn't realise they made that many interior changes.
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Justin Young
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 11:44 |
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The first question: still a mystery...
The second one: the 86 is more focused on being fun while the BRZ is more composed.
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Diesel
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 11:49 |
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I don't understand Latin. Maybe try Korean next time, M'kay?
KirkyV
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 12:15 |
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To your first question:
As for the second... I don't know, I think the Toyota has the cooler name?
IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 12:16 |
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Vicente Esteve
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 12:24 |
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My choices are two of my favourite new cars for sale. The Dacia Duster and Nissan Terrano. Nor Dacia or Renault have much of a nameplate and recognition to be offered in 1st world countries, this could be USs opportunity to have it in their market. People trust more a Nissan product, and the looks of the Nissan give it a more an upscale aura. Thanks to all these luxury improvements, the harshness of the Dacia is hidden away under a blanket of technology, plushness, and HIDs. That is what will make this sell like hotcakes. ( I mean, look at the Escalade) :
Taylor Hedgie
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 12:30 |
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Oh god thank you for reminding me of this car so much.
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Taylor Hedgie
> carcrasher88
05/17/2014 at 12:31 |
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It's a breath of fresh air to hear someone liking the Talon over the Eclipse.
feather-throttle-not-hair
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 12:32 |
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One of my best friends drives a gto. Just to really drive the badge engineered point home, he replaced the front bumper with the Holden version. Here's a video of his car and mine, which isn't quite badge engineered thanks to a longer wheelbase and a pair of backseats in the g35 coupe.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
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Taylor Hedgie
> Justin Young
05/17/2014 at 12:32 |
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And there you have it sports fans.
Tom McParland
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 12:36 |
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G8- remove Holden badge, add Pointiac logo. Best sedan GM ever built
You left us too soon
Plastic-Innovations
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 12:56 |
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Does this count:
AthomSfere
> carcrasher88
05/17/2014 at 14:07 |
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I think you are sooooo freaking wrong about the Talon. I guess someone has to like the talon over the Eclipse though.
Logansteno: Bought a VW?
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 14:11 |
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Pontiac G8 > VE Holden Commodore
Saab 9-4x > Cadillac SRX
If you want basically a badge swap: Saturn Vue from Opel Antara
It's better for one reason: Optional 3.6L V6. Something Europe doesn't get.
DoubleDragon
> Justin Young
05/17/2014 at 14:15 |
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Yaay !
llamaguy
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 14:22 |
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Porsche 924S/944/928/968. Even though the original 924 was turd slow, they handled better than anything American for decades. Once turbos were inserted and Porsche replaced the engine, these cars were just amazing. And if that isn't enough for you, the sales saved the 911 from becoming extinct.
Coty
> theloudmouth
05/17/2014 at 22:26 |
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Maybe?
D
> theloudmouth
05/18/2014 at 03:53 |
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I think of the Toyota as the badge engineered one, as the car is largely Subaru. Although the fact that it is wholly neither one is awesome
hendo1983
> Tom McParland
05/18/2014 at 07:58 |
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Cops are getting Holden Caprices rebadged as Chevys with the same 6L V8 as the G8 GT. The market will be full of them used for cheap soon.
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theloudmouth
> Plastic-Innovations
05/21/2014 at 08:00 |
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If it did it would win this hands-down.... Sadly it's a Buick based off of a Buick so I don't think it really counts (whether the Buick is based off a Chevy is another story). Most of all, I think it's because it's just so clearly its own model, rather than a parts bin special where calibrations and some other changes added up to s superior car to the car it's pretty much mechanically identical to.
All that aside, I want one sooooooooooooooooo bad.
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theloudmouth
> Mikeado
05/21/2014 at 08:03 |
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Yeah, GM had Subaru raid their parts pin for the best quality parts they had, then added a few different surfaces and retaining clips. It was almost parts pin plus some different fabrics, but the effect vs. the WRX was unbelievable.
If not for the red mist that's slowly claiming the quarter panel wheel well (common problem, but given my regular washing and efforts still doesn't make me happy) I'd keep it for a long time.
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darthd
> Vicente Esteve
05/25/2014 at 00:39 |
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The terrano looks awesome. Why is this not the Rogue?
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Vicente Esteve
> darthd
05/25/2014 at 09:45 |
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Ive got no idea! This IS Rogue!
ben loves his new "real" SUV
> theloudmouth
05/31/2014 at 04:20 |
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I give you my baby....1997 Lexus LX450. A Land Cruiser fzj80 with some extra options. I had no intention of buying a Lexus, but I found this and had to have it.
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theloudmouth
> ben loves his new "real" SUV
06/03/2014 at 06:54 |
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Okay now that is awesome.
HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> ben loves his new "real" SUV
01/10/2015 at 10:57 |
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plus every once and awhile you get to pretend your a rapper from the 90's.