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Gentry, AR Car Consumer Discussions

Re: Front end noise on my AWD [gentry]

by jaredc1128 on Thu Jun 05 01:46:11 PDT 2008

I have a 99 expedition awd and i had the same clunking noise at low speed cornering. it winds up then pops. i posted numerous forms trying to find out what was wrong before paying top dollar but got no response. my dealership said it was the ball joints but i had a tranny place look at and turns out all it was is the rear driveshaft speed sensor. the clunking was because the transfer case could not tell thow fast the rear shaft was spining. the part is hardwire to the transfer case motor which costs alot but a good shop should be able to find a old motor with a working sensor for cheap. My truck drives perfect again for under $200.

preferences, predictions please

by applecore323 on Sun Feb 24 02:40:18 PST 2008

Want to start a rolling brainstorm -- predict the 2005 Subaru lineup. Rules are: Make it a combination of your preference and prediction -- don't assume Subaru has unlimited $, even w/GM. Do assume Subaru wants to sell more cars, and that means reaching more market niches if not mainstream market, yet does not want to stray from core strengths. To stir it up, here's my lineup suggestion using existing platform lineup: IMPREZA -- becomes sub-brand and expands ... 1.base model -- sedan and sta wgn., 2.5 engine but better mpg figures, price kept low to challenge Civic, Corolla, Protege, Focus it's a dealer advertising loss leader 2. Plus model -- same engine, 6 sp. manual, nicer insides including opt. leather, seat warmers, power driver seat, trip computer 3. WRX -- 6 sp. man., Recaro seats, possible Panoz model (appearance add-ons only), finds itself in buff book comparos with BMW 3-sries and winning handily. coupe returns 4. High-mileage hybrid-engine model? Only if GM pops for it. FORESTER -- becomes sub-brand w/3 models 1. current model redesigned 2002/2003, bigger than current model or new Impreza (backseat woes solved) now called the Forester Sacajewea (can't spell it) after the FEMALE scout who led Lewis & Clark; breakthough name to aggressively appeal to female market (hey, it's a brainstorm, Okay? no bad ideas in a brainstorm) 2. STX pickup -- base modeal and LL Bean model with outdoor add-ons to execute Aztek concept the right way 3. Macho looking but slightly undersized minivan (a la new Mazda), but has the six cyl. to solve Mazda's problem, AWD of course, nicely tricked out to further eat away at big 3 minivans, handles well, accelerates well, designed for the soccer mom w/attitude who doesn't mind breaking a nail now and then, and the husband who feels embarrased in an Odyssey, Town and Country or other. LEGACY -- fading, loss leader base sedan and wagon (blaah --stays in lineup only so dealers have newspaper ad price leader along with Impreza base) OUTBACK -- expanded to three models 1. Outback Classic -- continuation of current wagon with current features, engine w/ more low-end torque, possible addition of nav. system, OnStar, smoother transmission thanks to GM; appeals to people whose previous car was Grand Cherokee or other landed gentry SUV, but now want something smaller, more manageable -- but still virile -- in their AARP years. 2. Outback Summit -- new, true SUV, built off Legacy platform but 4-6 inches longer, 1-2 inches wider and 3 inches higher with more macho look (Sub's version of Toyo Highlander)and the 6-cyl with hp. beef-up, hits the 20 mpg EPA city mark, auto. only of course. Possible name: Summit (used before, but don't forget, Plymouth once called their wagons "Suburbans" yet Chevy continues to succeed w/the name) 3. sedan -- I'm stumped -- more GT-like or more Outback like? Does it die -- if so, no Legacy sedan at all because Legacy base model sales won't fund cost of the sedan body. Sub. should not try the Accord/Camry/Taurus/Intrigue/etc. Hopefully learned its lesson in the mid 90s.

Re: GM Cadillac and Toyota [douglasr]

by jimbres on Tue Apr 24 13:05:22 PDT 2007

Good post. I have to wonder, though, if Cadillac can ever regain mindshare from the imports - the Germans in particular - in the coastal markets -- particularly at the top end. When I was growing up 45+ years ago in an affluent NY suburb, the local gentry almost always drove Cadillacs. In the country club parking lot, you might see a few Lincolns & an occasional Imperial, but Cadillac had a lock on the luxury market. That's what successful bankers, brokers, doctors & lawyers drove in the 1950s & 60s. If you were a young professional with your foot on the 1st rung of the ladder, you aspired to Cadillac ownership. And Cadillac advertising effectively played to that. While rummaging through some old National Geographics at a neighborhood garage sale, I found a 1956 ad that didn't even show the car -- just 2 attractive young upper-class types standing outside of a theater, waiting for the valet to bring their Coupe de Ville around. At the bottom of the ad was the Cadillac crest & the motto, "Standard of the World". It was pure snobbery, & it worked. How times have changed! Cadillac may still be an aspirational brand in the Midwest & South, but on the 2 coasts, the Germans are top dogs & have been since the early 80s. If you're a successful plumbing contractor, you might be satisfied with a Cadillac, but not if you're at the managing director level of an investment bank or partner in a blue-chip law firm. A 1st-year law student pounding the books doesn't daydream about the Cadillac he'll buy when he makes partner -- he's lusting after a 5-series BMW. Look in the parking lot of an exclusive country club in lower Westchester or the North Shore of Long Island, & apart from an Escalade or two (& those are giving way to Range Rovers, which are this year's hot large luxury SUVs), you'll see few if any Cadillacs. The CTS looks like it'll be the best Cadillac in decades, but will it turn the tide? Cadillac used to own the top end of the market. Can Cadillac get it back?

Front end noise on my AWD

by gentry on Sun Feb 18 20:32:27 PST 2007

My 1999 Ford Expedition has AWD. It makes BAD noises in the front end at slow speeds and when you first start moving or make a turn from a stop. It's a grinding or popping. The Ford dealer in Blue Springs, Mo says its normal and very common. The dealer said to just drive on!

Re: Cars on this side of the Atlantic Ocean

by jlbl on Fri Feb 16 09:13:19 PST 2007

"It seems like that's exactly what is happening. The top brass at both companies have finally realized that their Euro divisions make great cars. Saturn's got both the Opel Astra and Vectra. (lexusgay)" Right. Opel Astra is very popular. Opel Vectra is a well-seller in the Entry LPS niche, as it is Ford Mondeo. The concurrence there is real tight, not only with Series 3 BMW, Series 4 Audi and Series C MB but also with PSA-owned Peugeot and VW-owned Skoda. Both Opel and Ford models have the advantage of being cheaper than the German Gentry. However, they have a variety of good engines, both gasser and diesel, with power and little consume. In particular, Opel Vectra is felt as having a high standard of quality. So, American corporations are making cars than are successful in Europe. But I do not see all these cars succeeding in the American market. To start with, all are manuals. May be they are too much rough-riders for the fancy of many American drivers, IMO. On the other hand, Fiat and Citroen (PSA owned as it is Peugeot) have lost a lot of ground in recent times. Fiat has almost disappeared. Citroen gave up the LPS and HELC segments to become best seller of cheaper cars. Now has announced its intention to come back to build more sophisticated cars such as a new C-something model that they say it will be the Tiburon of the XXI Century. Regards, Jose

Re: Brightness [pat]

by laurasdada on Fri Oct 20 13:22:58 PDT 2006

Actually, Pat (begin dating myself...now!) I believe that that year was the genesis of "Divisions" in MLB. The Amazin's beat the Braves in the NL playoffs and then went on to allow Tom Terrific Seaver to become the first pitcher in NY Mets history to lose a World Series game! An honor he retained until '73 and the stinkin' Oakland A's... And I'm sure most of those players drove HELM back in the day, too! Except maybe Bobby Pfeil... And then I (age-wise only) grew up, graduated college, fell in love on the ski slopes, married the ski-bunny, moved to Boston and was swept up by the formerly forever a bridesmaid Boston Red Sox. Thirteen years later, the Sox pulled an Amazin'! Of course back in '86 I still bled blue and orange... And someday I hope to drive a HELM, as I'm sure Dr. Gary Gentry does! :D End of stream of consciousness...?