GM, what a useless website

[jigen]

Originally Posted By: dparm
I don't find any of those to be particularly easy to read. Not enough contrast and the numbers are too small. They should be horizontally oriented digits, too.

I have had a few Cruze rentals lately and their clusters drive me nuts compared to the Nissans/Toyotas I get.

Perhaps my Audi has spoiled me in that regard.

To me that is the perfect looking instrument cluster. Simple, easy to read, and not too busy.

 

[rpn453]

That Audi cluster looks great, dparm. Clean and simple. The new S4 isn't quite as nice but still decent and does provide the option to display the speed digitally in the center. I'm not a fan of having a bunch of separate pods and thick, unnecessary, overstyled trim rings. My Mazda3 is guilty of this and it's the one thing that gave me tinges of buyer's remorse as I was looking through the brochure the night after I put my deposit down. But it's tolerable in day, and looks pretty good at night.

Most auto manufacturers' websites are difficult to use, with GM and Chrysler giving me the worst browsing experiences in the past. It's like they're trying to make you give up and go to the dealership. I remember Honda having an excellent one back around 2000, but then they downgraded it shortly after.

 

[eljefino]

Thanks Nick, your pictures are actually useful!

I found the "interior" button on chevy's website, color slate on charcoal. Some reject art student made the website "too slick" and hindered its usefulness. Then they took pictures of macho guy bracing his arms against the steering wheel. I want a picture of the whole dash layout without a couple of strangers sitting in the seats!

Also, GM needs to buy a wide angle lens; most of the pictures are close ups of the stitching on the steering wheel or the gas gauge or some [censored]. Again, I want to see the "whole picture". Sad/Glad BITOG was able to outdo the 2nd largest carmaker in the world.
MIL is presently driving a (drumroll) 2000 Lesabre. She was mad at the death of Oldsmobile.

 

[MrHorspwer]

I'm gonna have to disagree with Bill... I think the Sonic cluster is a fantastic piece of very usable design.

The problem with most of the subcomnpact cars is that they only typically include three gauges: Speedo, tach, and fuel. Look at the Fit. Big tach on the left, big speedo in the middle, and a big fuel gauge and PRNDL on the right. Guess which one looks completly out of place? Yaris is the same way; the fuel gauge is the same size as the tach.

Edit: Just browsed by the Toyota site. Think the Equinox pictures are bad? Look at the interior pics for the Yaris. Seven pictures, two of them are simply the radio, and one is a photo of a Domokun USB drive plugged into the USB port.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: MrHorspwer
I'm gonna have to disagree with Bill... I think the Sonic cluster is a fantastic piece of very usable design.

The problem with most of the subcomnpact cars is that they only typically include three gauges: Speedo, tach, and fuel. Look at the Fit. Big tach on the left, big speedo in the middle, and a big fuel gauge and PRNDL on the right. Guess which one looks completly out of place? Yaris is the same way; the fuel gauge is the same size as the tach.

Edit: Just browsed by the Toyota site. Think the Equinox pictures are bad? Look at the interior pics for the Yaris. Seven pictures, two of them are simply the radio, and one is a photo of a Domokun USB drive plugged into the USB port.


What about this one, out of the old lumina? Jeez.

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Thanks Nick, your pictures are actually useful!

I found the "interior" button on chevy's website, color slate on charcoal. Some reject art student made the website "too slick" and hindered its usefulness. Then they took pictures of macho guy bracing his arms against the steering wheel. I want a picture of the whole dash layout without a couple of strangers sitting in the seats!

Also, GM needs to buy a wide angle lens; most of the pictures are close ups of the stitching on the steering wheel or the gas gauge or some [censored]. Again, I want to see the "whole picture". Sad/Glad BITOG was able to outdo the 2nd largest carmaker in the world.
MIL is presently driving a (drumroll) 2000 Lesabre. She was mad at the death of Oldsmobile.

Glad to help. If you have any other questions about it let me know.

 

[Hokiefyd]

As long as we're talking instrument clusters, here's the CR-V's. It's easy to read at a glance and all the pertinent information is easily readable on the digital display.

If the CR-V is a joke, then Honda's laughing all the way to the bank.

 

[sciphi]

Agreed, GM's website stinks.

I never use my Cruze's analog speedometer. It's useless since the demarcations are every 5 mph, and the spacing between the demarcations are too small. The digital one in the center of the IP is much easier to read, as well as more accurate.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Glare city. Your photos prove it. Both of them.

Don't like the rings going different directions. Like the middle one over the top one by far. But the glare kills it for me.

As someone who spends way too much time in a vehicle I'm picky.

Bill

PS: The Sonic is just stupid in design. It IS a deal killer for me. I *like* the sedan from the outside but once I saw the cluster it was over.


Agreed, the clusters are gaudy.

The picture dparm posted is exactly what I like: A nice, CLEAN, not over-done cluster that presents to you the information you need.

E39 cluster:

E46 cluster:

Audi Q7 cluster:

 

[hattaresguy]

Well they are German of course they are better, not really a fair comparison IMHO.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Well they are German of course they are better, not really a fair comparison IMHO.



That's funny because the cruze is a german car in design. It was designed by Opel, in Russelheim, Germany.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: Nick R


What about this one, out of the old lumina? Jeez.

Hey it has a temp gauge! I've seen cars with the 3.5" fuel gauge, speedometer, and idiot lights for everything else. Buick skylarks, centuries, even my 1999 XJ cherokee!

 

[jigen]

Nothing necessarily wrong with the new American car dash's, they are just a bit too busy for my tastes. I actually felt that way about many new American car's interiors when shopping for a new vehicle. Especially the fords.

 

[45ACP]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Even with the correct interior part of the website located Chevy still stinks!

Looking at other web sites that actually SHOW the interior unlike Chevy on the model that the OP asked about.

Look at the following;

Look at Ford and their Edge. Shows the interior.

Kia and their Sorento

Toyota and their Highlander.

And so on.....

All ACTUALLY show the interior instead of stupid pics of things that don't really matter like close ups of the Onstar button, stitching of the seat (which most models DON'T have leather) and console shots. The only photo of the seats is the one shot of the rear. Really?

So I agree with the OP even after we found the interior section. Their web shots stink. Esp when compared to the other manufactures that are competing for the customer.

And GM needs to do their instrumentation clusters better (Actually most mfg do) The Sonic which I saw the other day must have designed by someone who rides way too many motorcycles. That alone would make sure I never bought one!

You are nitpicking the instrument panel? Wait a minute, what exactly is wrong with this?

Or this?

I quite like them. I don't like the old simple style like the cavalier had. I don't find anything wrong with it actually looking nice. I quite like the sonic myself, it's a cool looking cluster- and most reviewers agree. It's personal taste, but I like them.

Or the malibu

Out of those four, i like the one at the top the most and the 3rd down the least. What cars did they come out of?

Also, would you choose the Terrain or Equinox? For a second i thought an Acadia was Equinox twin.. ok, its not.. I am unsure where i got "Uplander" from, seems t is a discontinued minivan. (Discontinued due to redundancy ad mediocrity i think.)

I do haul passengers that tend to be taller/bigger adults to this Equinox (again shall i look at Terrain? Equinox looks ok, thoughts Nick R?) looks attractive.

I have not really looked at it before htis thread and i hear the 4-cyl has an "Eco" button. That sounds.. interesting. Anything i can do at 70MPH to save fuel in a 4-cyl even with over 1000lbs of gear (6-speed auto, yes? Eco button.. is that overdrive or a cylinder bank disabler? What is it?) Non-turbo, correct? Non-Hybrid?

Tell me more about the Terrain, i like GMCs but this Chevy is SHARP and id like to know the shared-platform difference, even if its "only sheet metal." With GM, im never so sure GMC/Chev diff. Please tell me specifics to this shared model. Thank you! (Nick R you know your stuff on this. I see you really like the truck. I appreciate that. You are making me take a second and third and fourth look. its pretty. Ill give you that. And roomy. Priority is for passengers.. not so much "me" but i do like it....)

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: 45ACP
Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Even with the correct interior part of the website located Chevy still stinks!

Looking at other web sites that actually SHOW the interior unlike Chevy on the model that the OP asked about.

Look at the following;

Look at Ford and their Edge. Shows the interior.

Kia and their Sorento

Toyota and their Highlander.

And so on.....

All ACTUALLY show the interior instead of stupid pics of things that don't really matter like close ups of the Onstar button, stitching of the seat (which most models DON'T have leather) and console shots. The only photo of the seats is the one shot of the rear. Really?

So I agree with the OP even after we found the interior section. Their web shots stink. Esp when compared to the other manufactures that are competing for the customer.

And GM needs to do their instrumentation clusters better (Actually most mfg do) The Sonic which I saw the other day must have designed by someone who rides way too many motorcycles. That alone would make sure I never bought one!

You are nitpicking the instrument panel? Wait a minute, what exactly is wrong with this?

Or this?

I quite like them. I don't like the old simple style like the cavalier had. I don't find anything wrong with it actually looking nice. I quite like the sonic myself, it's a cool looking cluster- and most reviewers agree. It's personal taste, but I like them.

Or the malibu

Out of those four, i like the one at the top the most and the 3rd down the least. What cars did they come out of?

Also, would you choose the Terrain or Equinox? For a second i thought an Acadia was Equinox twin.. ok, its not.. I am unsure where i got "Uplander" from, seems t is a discontinued minivan. (Discontinued due to redundancy ad mediocrity i think.)

I do haul passengers that tend to be taller/bigger adults to this Equinox (again shall i look at Terrain? Equinox looks ok, thoughts Nick R?) looks attractive.

I have not really looked at it before htis thread and i hear the 4-cyl has an "Eco" button. That sounds.. interesting. Anything i can do at 70MPH to save fuel in a 4-cyl even with over 1000lbs of gear (6-speed auto, yes? Eco button.. is that overdrive or a cylinder bank disabler? What is it?) Non-turbo, correct? Non-Hybrid?

Tell me more about the Terrain, i like GMCs but this Chevy is SHARP and id like to know the shared-platform difference, even if its "only sheet metal." With GM, im never so sure GMC/Chev diff. Please tell me specifics to this shared model. Thank you! (Nick R you know your stuff on this. I see you really like the truck. I appreciate that. You are making me take a second and third and fourth look. its pretty. Ill give you that. And roomy. Priority is for passengers.. not so much "me" but i do like it....)



The first is the Equinox, the second is the Cruze, the 3rd is the sonic, and the last is the current gen malibu.

I would go with the Equinox myself. I just like the styling better than the Terrain, which is too boxy for me. The Acadia is a Traverse twin. The terrain is the equinox twin.

The 4cyl has an eco button. iirc it changes the shift points, and ECM programming slightly for Injection and VVT. But if you are going to be hauling anything, go for the V6. Non turbo. 2.4L Inline 4, Direct Injected.

The V6 is a 3.0L DOHC, VVT Direct Injected unit. Both engines come with a 6 speed auto and available AWD.

The only real differences between the equinox and terrain are again the sheetmetal, small interior styling changes. That's really it, they are the same vehicle underneath. It's a bit different than the old badge engineering, because they are taking a good car, and just having different styling for different tastes. Unlike oldsmobile/cadillac/buick/chevrolet where all 4 looked the same, with a different badge and price.

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted By: dparm

Perhaps my Audi has spoiled me in that regard.

To me that is the perfect looking instrument cluster. Simple, easy to read, and not too busy. [/quote]

My 98 Buick's is the same set up, well same guages. Tach, Center Speedo and temp and Gas.

Except it dosen't have a goofy display telling someone who should understand the basics of driving if they are sitting in the drivers seat that they need to press the clutch to start the car.

It does however guage that is selectable. It has the boost guage and mpg stuff.

 

[subiedriver]

I think the terrain is the fugliest SUV I've ever seen and the Equinox has the typical sea of plastic cheap interior.

 

[45ACP]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: 45ACP
Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Even with the correct interior part of the website located Chevy still stinks!

Looking at other web sites that actually SHOW the interior unlike Chevy on the model that the OP asked about.

Look at the following;

Look at Ford and their Edge. Shows the interior.

Kia and their Sorento

Toyota and their Highlander.

And so on.....

All ACTUALLY show the interior instead of stupid pics of things that don't really matter like close ups of the Onstar button, stitching of the seat (which most models DON'T have leather) and console shots. The only photo of the seats is the one shot of the rear. Really?

So I agree with the OP even after we found the interior section. Their web shots stink. Esp when compared to the other manufactures that are competing for the customer.

And GM needs to do their instrumentation clusters better (Actually most mfg do) The Sonic which I saw the other day must have designed by someone who rides way too many motorcycles. That alone would make sure I never bought one!

You are nitpicking the instrument panel? Wait a minute, what exactly is wrong with this?

Or this?

I quite like them. I don't like the old simple style like the cavalier had. I don't find anything wrong with it actually looking nice. I quite like the sonic myself, it's a cool looking cluster- and most reviewers agree. It's personal taste, but I like them.

Or the malibu

Out of those four, i like the one at the top the most and the 3rd down the least. What cars did they come out of?

Also, would you choose the Terrain or Equinox? For a second i thought an Acadia was Equinox twin.. ok, its not.. I am unsure where i got "Uplander" from, seems t is a discontinued minivan. (Discontinued due to redundancy ad mediocrity i think.)

I do haul passengers that tend to be taller/bigger adults to this Equinox (again shall i look at Terrain? Equinox looks ok, thoughts Nick R?) looks attractive.

I have not really looked at it before htis thread and i hear the 4-cyl has an "Eco" button. That sounds.. interesting. Anything i can do at 70MPH to save fuel in a 4-cyl even with over 1000lbs of gear (6-speed auto, yes? Eco button.. is that overdrive or a cylinder bank disabler? What is it?) Non-turbo, correct? Non-Hybrid?

Tell me more about the Terrain, i like GMCs but this Chevy is SHARP and id like to know the shared-platform difference, even if its "only sheet metal." With GM, im never so sure GMC/Chev diff. Please tell me specifics to this shared model. Thank you! (Nick R you know your stuff on this. I see you really like the truck. I appreciate that. You are making me take a second and third and fourth look. its pretty. Ill give you that. And roomy. Priority is for passengers.. not so much "me" but i do like it....)



The first is the Equinox, the second is the Cruze, the 3rd is the sonic, and the last is the current gen malibu.

I would go with the Equinox myself. I just like the styling better than the Terrain, which is too boxy for me. The Acadia is a Traverse twin. The terrain is the equinox twin.

The 4cyl has an eco button. iirc it changes the shift points, and ECM programming slightly for Injection and VVT. But if you are going to be hauling anything, go for the V6. Non turbo. 2.4L Inline 4, Direct Injected.

The V6 is a 3.0L DOHC, VVT Direct Injected unit. Both engines come with a 6 speed auto and available AWD.

The only real differences between the equinox and terrain are again the sheetmetal, small interior styling changes. That's really it, they are the same vehicle underneath. It's a bit different than the old badge engineering, because they are taking a good car, and just having different styling for different tastes. Unlike oldsmobile/cadillac/buick/chevrolet where all 4 looked the same, with a different badge and price.



Well i just took a look-see and i will agree with you that the boxyness looks a LOT like DM's 03 Envoy, if not exact i can see the same lines and almost proportions! Blech.

Equinox wins here. And i normally like GMXs. I ddid take a look.

Quote:
The 2012 Terrain is available in the base model GMC Terrain SLE-1 model, GMC Terrain SLE-2 model and the fully loaded GMC Terrain SLT-1 trim levels and GMC Terrain SLT-2 trim levels.


Equivalent Chevy trims? Thank you!

 

[Nick R]

Equinox gets the base LS trim, 1LT, 2LT, and LTZ. Edmunds lists the standard equipment and options for the different trim levels.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: subiedriver
I think the terrain is the fugliest SUV I've ever seen and the Equinox has the typical sea of plastic cheap interior.


The equinox interior isn't any more plasticky than it's Japanese and Korean counterparts though. It's par-the-course for the segment.

 

[MrHorspwer]

Terrain gets standard projector headlamps on all trim levels.


You have to go all the way to a top-level LTZ in an Equinox to get projector lamps.