Cars far worse than their competition?

"jkm7680" (jkm7680) 05/18/2015 at 20:28 • Filed to: None

8

100

What were some cars that were much worse than their competition?

My vote would go to the 2nd generation Dodge Durango. Personally, the Durango is probably the shittiest SUV to come out of the United States. Compared to the Tahoe and Expedition of the time they look horrible. Extremely unreliable, thirsty, worst build quality I’ve ever seen and dated looking from day 1.

So what do you think are some examples of cars that fall far behind their competition?

TheHondaBro > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:31

6

Next question.

MLGCarGuy > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:31

3

whoarder is tellurium > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:32

1

That face says “Someday, someday they’ll accept me”

jkm7680 > TheHondaBro 05/18/2015 at 20:33

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I always wanted to give the Civic SI a chance, but it does always fall behind the FiST, WRX and GTI though.

Grindintosecond > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:33

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Dodge Nitro. I’ve never seen Consumer Reports rip a car to shreds with black circles and comments before and the Nitro was the first I ever saw like that. Everything about basic life was a black circle with comment in the nitro.

jkm7680 > whoarder is tellurium 05/18/2015 at 20:33

1

No, that face says “Lemme throw a rod right quick now.”

jkm7680 > MLGCarGuy 05/18/2015 at 20:33

0

Blegh

MLGCarGuy > TheHondaBro 05/18/2015 at 20:33

0

But Smarts don’t have competition. Because the iQ is certainly dead.

TheHondaBro > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:34

1

Too expensive to compete with the FiST, not fast enough for the FoST. Hopefully they new one will be an improvement.

whoarder is tellurium > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:34

3

burn a valve* 4.7 lol

jkm7680 > Grindintosecond 05/18/2015 at 20:34

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I used to think that the Nitro looked pretty cool after seeing a yellow one at an autoshow. Think it was an R/T if that even existed.

jkm7680 > TheHondaBro 05/18/2015 at 20:35

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Agreed, I used to actually like the looks of the SI. But the competition was more appealing to me.

GeorgeyBoy > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:36

2

Yes. Yes. Yes.

My roommate has a Durango. Words cannot express the mediocrity.

Grindintosecond > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:36

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It did. 260hp 4.0 v-6, the SXT had a 6-speed manual. Interesting concept but when it came out, it was a usual dodge fall-apart-masterpiece.

jkm7680 > Grindintosecond 05/18/2015 at 20:38

0

Really there was a 6-speed manual?

It’s just too bad that the interior build quality of those things was shit, along with the overall durability of those things. GM seemed to be making pretty durable SUVs at the time while Dodge was making fairly shitty cars all over the place.

Jcarr > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:41

7

But what a redemption:

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:42

2

Just awful

jkm7680 > Jcarr 05/18/2015 at 20:42

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I’m surprised that their reputation wasn’t completely killed by the last generation, haha.

The first gen had rust issues I think, the second gen had reliability and build quality issues.

carcrasher88 > Jcarr 05/18/2015 at 20:43

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I so agree. The latest Durango certainly redeemed itself, and has become a real competitor in it’s class.

jkm7680 > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/18/2015 at 20:44

0

Goodness, that’s an interesting looking car. Looks sort of like the new Chinese MG made it.

Milky > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:44

2

You charge how much for something from 1997?!

jkm7680 > Milky 05/18/2015 at 20:45

2

It’s kinda cute how they keep pretending to redesign the Navigator, while it’s still basically the same car with a different skin on it.

AM > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:47

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You mean like the reputation of the 200?

Jcarr > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:48

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Yeah, I think I see about as many 1st gens as I do 2nd gens on the road anymore. I always thought the 1st gen R/T was a looker.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:48

5

There’s a damn good reason the Sonic isn’t called the Aveo.

You bought an Aveo because you had to have a new car but couldn’t really afford it and this was the cheapest option.

jkm7680 > AM 05/18/2015 at 20:48

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I’m pretty sure that the only people that buy those things are rental car companies, and then all the other people who buy those things are the same people who buy old rental cars.

AM > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:49

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It’s also kinda cute how people still think it competes with the Escalade.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:49

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You’re almost there, but you’ve got it backwards. The Chinese used this hunk of shit as the basis of the MG 3 SW.

M54B30 > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:49

2

Those Durangos are junk.

The Hummer H2 and H3. They literally did not one single thing better or on par with their competition.

Ride quality? Fuel mileage? Reliability? Much worse than the Japanese competition. Off road “ability”? Better bring a Grand Cherokee to get you unstuck.

Literally - not one category did it do better than its competition. Unless there was a “looks stupid” category.

AM > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:50

1

On the bright side, with the intro of the new 2015 200, I’ve seen tons of them driving around. Most of them are actually the 200C so definitely not a rental car.

M54B30 > Jcarr 05/18/2015 at 20:51

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They’re amazingly expensive, though. Cheap ones are penalty boxes and decent ones are priiiiicey

mazda616 > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:52

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Really, GM?

Milky > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:53

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Hell even the skin has been the same since 2003, just different facias.

Same thing goes for the damn F-250, gawd I hate that newest refresh. But at least there is a new one coming.

jkm7680 > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/18/2015 at 20:53

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oh goodness ew

jkm7680 > AM 05/18/2015 at 20:53

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The Escalade is at a point where the only thing that it competes with is itself.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:53

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Let me get back to my computer...

jkm7680 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/18/2015 at 20:54

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They are really shit cars, thank Daewoo for that one.

jkm7680 > Milky 05/18/2015 at 20:54

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The hood on the bottom one looks pretty horrible for...... seeing what’s in front of you.

Jcarr > M54B30 05/18/2015 at 20:56

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I know, I’d love to trade our GMC in for one, but I can’t find anything decent with relatively low miles for under $26k-$28k.

AM > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 20:57

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It’s also at a point where it’s really the only thing keeping Cadillac out of the red.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > mazda616 05/18/2015 at 21:01

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And that wasn’t even worst in its class!

Oh how shitty America used to be at making compact cars...

AM > mazda616 05/18/2015 at 21:04

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Was just about to post the same thing.

mazda616 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/18/2015 at 21:09

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I caught a lot of shit for buying my Mazda3 in 2009. Should’ve bought American, according to my family. I was looking at 2008 models. My choices if I bought “American” we're the Cobalt, the Caliber, and the Focus. Not the current Focus. The dumpy one before this one. I'd have been an idiot to pick any of those over my 3.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > mazda616 05/18/2015 at 21:11

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The only reason I could see buying one over your 3 would be if you bought an SS or SRT4. Even then though, Mazda had the Speed3. There was literally no reason to at all.

Vicente Esteve > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 21:12

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Let’s be honest, it isn’t the fastest, the most advanced, the newest or the freshest in it’s segment. It is a damn great car though:

not for canada - australian in disguise > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 21:12

1

Mirage

Is

Always

The

Answer

M54B30 > Jcarr 05/18/2015 at 21:12

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You and me both. Now we are leaning closer to a Kia Sedona. For $33k, tons of lux, space, and comfort plus 10/100k warranty.

The Journey has a new Crossroad trim which looks really nice, but the same high load floor level is why we are replacing our Montero - strollers and crap get too heavy to lift up like that constantly

AM > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 21:14

2

Sure are a lot of GM cars in the comments but let me add another:

jkm7680 > not for canada - australian in disguise 05/18/2015 at 21:14

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But compared to the competition in it’s price bracket?

jkm7680 > AM 05/18/2015 at 21:14

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Also do include the Malibu Maxx.

mazda616 > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/18/2015 at 21:15

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Yep. I didn’t have insurance enough for any of those, so I was only comparing base models. My car was light years ahead of all the pedestrian models.

not for canada - australian in disguise > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 21:16

1

In Canada, it’s more expensive then the far better Micra.

So yes, yes it is.

AM > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 21:18

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How could I forget. Even came in an SS model for those who wanted high speed performance.

Grindintosecond > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 21:19

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yep. Read a bit here . It reads like the SXT had it up until 2009.

Jcarr > M54B30 05/18/2015 at 21:20

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I hear you. I still want to be able to pull a decent size trailer if I need to so I want to stay in an SUV. A lower load floor would be nice for our huge ass stroller and pack ‘n’ play.

jkm7680 > Grindintosecond 05/18/2015 at 21:21

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Not bad, I’ll bet nobody bought them though still.

jkm7680 > AM 05/18/2015 at 21:21

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I never understood the point of those, haha.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > M54B30 05/18/2015 at 21:22

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Actually the H3 could hold it’s own pretty well, the H2 was pretty much a straight up poser mobile.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 21:23

1

It looks like a marshmallow.

carcrasher88 > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 21:24

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Well, itself and the Mercedes-Benz GL. That’s probably the closest thing to the Escalade when it comes to being able to compete with it.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Grindintosecond 05/18/2015 at 21:24

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They also ripped the CLA to shreds.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 21:26

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The CLA250. Consumer Reports said consumers would be much better off/happier with an Accord.

jkm7680 > carcrasher88 05/18/2015 at 21:26

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The price points are horribly different though, a top spec Escalade is the same as a G-Wagon base model.

RR also I guess.

AM > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 21:26

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I honestly have no idea. It doesn’t have any performance upgrades over the regular Maxx. Then again, they have done SS versions of a few cars that didn't have any performance upgrades over the basic model.

jkm7680 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 05/18/2015 at 21:26

5

COugh, peopleonlybuytheseasstatussymbols.

carcrasher88 > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 21:27

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Indeed. The only decent Daewoo that ever came to the US was in the form of the Suzuki Forenza.

We had a late model (facelifted) one as a rental, and it actually turned out to be a pretty decent car. No wonder it’s still available in China as a Buick.

Jedidiah > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 21:28

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I actually like the first gen Durango and the Magnum 318...

My nominations are Jettas. Pretty much any year will do.

jkm7680 > carcrasher88 05/18/2015 at 21:29

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no

jkm7680 > Jedidiah 05/18/2015 at 21:29

0

no

carcrasher88 > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 21:29

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No, not the G-Wagen, the GL, aka the oversized ML.

Jedidiah > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 21:34

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Horribly unreliable, not well built, and anyone I know whose ever owned one has not said anything nice about them.

Googling Jetta reliability gets you a 1.6 out of 5 from these consumer reviews according to this site

https://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/vw_…

jkm7680 > Jedidiah 05/18/2015 at 21:36

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Uhm, not really.

TDi engines will hit 300k easy.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 05/18/2015 at 21:38

2

Lincoln MKS, MKZ, MKX, and MKT

Dodge Journey

Cadillac ELR, which I have to assume technically competes with the Tesla and kind of the i8. Can’t say the XTS because it’s a decent car and I have less than no idea what it competes with.

BMW 7-Series, until they update the damn thing.

The entirety of Mitsubishi

Chevrolet Traxx

Kia K900 (even the Equus is better)

And that’s just the new stuff.

Back in the day we had...

A number of the products from the US between 1980 and 2009. Remember, someone picked a Dodge Stratus over a Honda Accord.

Mitsubishi Eclipse (final gen)

Jaguar X-Type

I’m sure some people will argue with me that these cars are not in the same class. They can sit and spin.

Jedidiah > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 21:40

1

It’s hard to believe every one I’ve come across has been a lemon.

They were even worse when they built them in the Mexican plant (93-96??)

A friend of mine had a 01(?) that leaked like a bucket with a hole in it.

Another friend of mine had one (don’t remember year but looks similar) that had firewall drainage issues and fried its own electrics.

Yet another friend of mine had some extreme rust issues and it wasn’t ever in a salty environment because stayed in TN its entire life.

They haven’t really made a good impression.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 21:45

4

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 22:00

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First gen Durango with the LA Magnum engines were good looking and generally reliable for a Chrysler product.

Second gen were garbage. I mean, we kind of expected Daimler to dump Chrysler but the second gen Durango and its corollary Dakota were just making it obvious. The only decent vehicle on that platform was the Commander and those still only survived because they were purchased by “Jeep people”

My answer is too obvious:

Was barely adequate in 2004 when it was introduced and lumbered on until the 2013 model year. At which point people wandered by Mitsubishi dealerships and said, wow. They still make those?

It was big inside, but no bigger than an Altima or Camry. It had cheap plastic interior and wound up being the go-to for people who were willing to commit fraud just to get a car loan.We finance everybody!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 22:03

0

And the Mercedes GL, Infiniti Bus, Range Rover, thecnically the ‘Gator, and one or two others.

jkm7680 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 05/18/2015 at 22:03

2

But those aren’t as pimp.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/18/2015 at 22:04

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I would still love to know what sane person chose this over, say, a Golf, or a Civic, or an Imprezza.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Jedidiah 05/18/2015 at 22:06

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That’s what I think when I think “You bought *insert crummy American or Korean hatchback from 1990-2008* instead of a Jetta or Civic? I would say the current one is the only case where that might apply, and even that is kind of competitive.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 22:09

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I’d rock one.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Vicente Esteve 05/18/2015 at 22:09

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I will take back the keys to that RS5 I gave you now.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > jkm7680 05/18/2015 at 22:10

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Nothing is.

Jedidiah > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 05/18/2015 at 22:13

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I can’t really think of a quality car in that segment anyway. They’re all horrible.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 05/18/2015 at 22:15

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It took the Neon/PT Cruiser and polished a turd. The funny thing is that stupid people thought they were something.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 05/18/2015 at 22:20

2

Hasn’t driving a Mitsubishi been a sign you had bad credit since at least the end of the second gen Eclipse?

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Jcarr 05/18/2015 at 22:24

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I have barely ever seen a second gen. First gens are sometimes seen still plying the roads. They were relatively reliable as Chrysler products went, as far as I'm aware.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Milky 05/18/2015 at 22:28

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Aside from brodozers, I thought the vast majority of these were work trucks or rarely-driven tow vehicles. Having parts that don't change for over a decade is a good thing for something for these purposes. It's practically a road-going tractor.

Vicente Esteve > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 05/18/2015 at 22:31

1

BUT IT’S TRUE.

NO!

*Sprays water*

Milky > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 05/18/2015 at 22:34

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Then boy do I have a car for you!

QCGoose > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 05/18/2015 at 22:58

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Was just getting ready to post the same thing. The H3 was actually pretty capable off-road, especially being smaller and lighter than the H2. Not a bad “SUV” at all, honestly.

The H2, though... *plugs nose* What a turd. They were cool for all of five minutes when they were first released, and then they should have just gone away. My father-in-law bought one new back in ‘05 and owned it for about 4-5 years before he was finally able to unload it, and that thing was just a squeaky, rattly shitbox with horrible road manners and no room or comfort when in it. I felt like a total douche just riding in the thing.

One of my aunts also had one for a couple years; again, just a miserable pig of a vehicle.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Milky 05/18/2015 at 23:01

0

Love it.

Personally, I think the Unimog is the ultimate utility vehicle. It basically is a tractor. Too bad they're not ubiquitous in the U.S. The F-250/350 is our next-best thing.

Grindintosecond > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 05/18/2015 at 23:04

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ohhhh...how bad?

QCGoose > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 05/18/2015 at 23:04

1

I'd venture to say this is at least better than its generation-twin Durango, which just had THE worst exterior design of any vehicle in the past few decades. It looks like a hippo with the dopiest front end of anything out there. See the OP's top pic posted for reference. Just awful. Everytime I see one on the road, I can't help but look at the driver and think "You poor bastard."

QCGoose > whoarder is tellurium 05/18/2015 at 23:07

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Dopiest, frumpiest front end of any vehicle produced in the past... ever. Christ Almighty that's such an ugly truck. It was ugly when it was introduced; today it's 100x worse.

QCGoose > MLGCarGuy 05/18/2015 at 23:08

0

“...It's a car!"

MLGCarGuy > QCGoose 05/18/2015 at 23:10

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“…It’s a cancer tumor!”

FTFY

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Grindintosecond 05/18/2015 at 23:14

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They said a V6 Accord was better in every.single.way.

QCGoose > AM 05/18/2015 at 23:17

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I’m not sure if they did anything with suspension tuning, but with the SS of that generation of Malibu (Maxx included), it got the 3.9L 240hp V6 also found in the G6 GTP, where the standard Malibu V6 was the 3.5L with 200hp.

So if anything, it was at least a lot quicker than the lower trim levels. That 3.9 packed a surprising punch, though it was still hooked up to a lousy 4-speed auto (but you could get it with a 6-speed manual in the G6 GTP).

QCGoose > MLGCarGuy 05/18/2015 at 23:26

0

Yeah, that's probably a bit more accurate lol.