paco's opinion....

pacodiablo · March 2, 2002

i just got back from a car show and decided to share my opinion on the cars....

Best Mid-Size SUV: TrailBlazer

Best Full-Size SUV: *TIE* 02 Escalade/03 Expedition

Best Small Truck: Dakota

Best Full-Size Truck: F-250

Best Mid-Size Car: Malibu

Best Large Car: Impala

Best Crossover: Escalade EXT

The not so goods....

Worst Full-Size Truck: Silverado (sorry guys): uncomfortable seats, ugly colors, cheap feel

Worst Crossover: *TIE* Avalanche/SportTrac: both had very uninviting interiors, priced way to high

Worst Small Truck: *TIE* Ranger/Tacoma: both had horrible interiors

Worst Cars: Vibe, Matrix, Rondevous, Aztek: I don't think I need to explain why I did not like these

Worst SUV: Wrangler: I felt like I could break it in half

Other comments:

The SuperCrew King Ranch edition was nice, but the saddle leather had a very bad smell

The new Ram is an improvement, but some parts are still cheapish and there should be more rear seat room

I saw a supercharged Escalade that I would have bought...if it wasn't $70,000

siume99 · March 3, 2002

PACO...you a very brave man (silverado basher j/k)

Kudos to your decision on the best full-size SUV ESCALADE (Please give more info on the 2003 ford expedition. What is so cool?

General Lee 01 · March 3, 2002

Well, the 2003 Expedition is basically a bigger explorer.

I picked up what I thought was an Explorer brochure last week at the show here in Richmond. Well I get home and read it and come to find out it's the redesigned expedition.

It's a carmon-copy of the explorer, just bigger.

And what sucks the most about the 2003 Expedition, it'll be the first fullsize SUV with IRS.

siume99 · March 3, 2002

And what sucks the most about the 2003 Expedition, it'll be the first fullsize SUV with IRS.

General, ford can keep their IRS agents. I don't want them.

*tech question* What is IRS?

I thought they were just enlarging the Explorer, not redesigning the Expedition too.

Kansas Kid · March 3, 2002

*tech question* What is IRS?

Independent Rear Suspension

Truth be told, I don't like IFS on my trucks, so I would not even think about buying a truck with this setup.

sincityZ71 · March 4, 2002

Yeah I dunno about that IRS stuff. If they would really put sometime and money into developing a superior IFS and IRS system, it would be killer setup. Look at the Humvee, it has a full independent suspension and is a great off-roading vehicle, but that is also why it cost 2-3 times the price of a truck. But how it is now for the trucks/suvs, it just isn't worth it one bit. Maybe one day they will figure it out someday. ???

CMNTMXR81 · March 4, 2002

Best Full Size being the F-250??? What the #### are you smoking? I think seeing things on 20+" rims has messed up your rational thought process.

chevy4x4trucks · March 4, 2002

It's a carmon-copy of the explorer, just bigger.

Hey general, what's Carmon?

J/K, I know what you mean.

General Lee 01 · March 4, 2002

I know it's probably not how it's pronounced, but that's how i hear it.

hogger999 · March 4, 2002

I know it's probably not how it's pronounced, but that's how i hear it.

Little help here General (it's carbon copy) for future reference.

I know what you mean I used to think it was convader belt

and Paco I don't think anybody puts out cheaper interiors than ford trucks

CityTruck · March 5, 2002

Best Mid-Size Car: Malibu

OK... I've got nothing against the Malibu, but if you think that's the best Mid-Sized Car around, I think it explains the rest of your answers too ;)

CMNTMXR81 · March 5, 2002

Best Mid-Size Car: Malibu

OK... I've got nothing against the Malibu, but if you think that's the best Mid-Sized Car around, I think it explains the rest of your answers too ;)

Hey, the G/F has a Malibu. It's actually a pretty nice little car! Easy to service too!!

CityTruck · March 5, 2002

I said

I've got nothing against the Malibu

Even if it's a great car (and if you say it is, I believe you), you're not going to say it's the BEST midsized car are you???

pacodiablo · March 6, 2002

i liked the malibu...it was a whole lot for the price.

the silverado had the cheapest interior (IMO). the "leather" was so thin it could get a paper cut

the f-250 was very comfortable and didn't seem cheap to me.

the escalade had the best looking and feeling interior peices of all the vehicles there, the seats were very comfortable and all the controls were easy to reach and use. my favorite vehicle there was a black customized escalade w/ 20" rims and a supercharger along with a few other goodies

CMNTMXR81 · March 6, 2002

i liked the malibu...it was a whole lot for the price.

the silverado had the cheapest interior (IMO). the "leather" was so thin it could get a paper cut

the f-250 was very comfortable and didn't seem cheap to me.

the escalade had the best looking and feeling interior peices of all the vehicles there, the seats were very comfortable and all the controls were easy to reach and use. my favorite vehicle there was a black customized escalade w/ 20" rims and a supercharger along with a few other goodies

My faux leather is pretty thick. Much thicker and more durable than the real stuff in my Aurora and the Aurora has top notch leather.

Gauges on the Silverado are big and brite. You don't need a telescope to see them like in the F-series, the HVAC controls are easily visable and big enough to be safely operated when wearing gloves as is the big buttons on the stereo. Not the mess of incongruent buttons on ford's busy radio face plate.