Nitro

Alan Mclennan · Post by **Alan Mclennan** » August 14, 2009, 10:08 pm

Ok guys, Miss Lynny wants to get rid of her PT cruiser due to it being uncomfortable on long trips and I have to agree!, she`s had her eye on the Dodge Nitro since she saw one at the Iowa state Fair last year, SO, have any of you heard any feed back from owners of them? and what motor is best the petrol or the Diesel. Thanks,

Post by **Greg D** » August 14, 2009, 10:13 pm

You want luxury, spirited driving, decent fuel economy, and some definite style - Ford Fusion. Just wonderful on long trips.
You want to go Mopar - get a Viper or Challenger. Neither is exactly the family sedan though.

MadMaxetc · Post by **MadMaxetc** » August 14, 2009, 10:28 pm

I had one as a rental in Montreal.

NO guts. it truly was gutless.
Bad seats. I had a 20min drive to the airport from down town and my but hurt.
VERY bad under steer. There is a 2 lane round about (25ft skid pad)

next to the office park. I plowed the curb 2 times @ 20mph. Just to compare I dis 30mph with the I4 corola. The sebring could only hold 15 mph. All 3 very pathetic. We had a G6 that did 40mph with no problem.

I know that most say "well we don't drive like a maniac so it doesn't have to handle that good" well if you have to evade the other idiots on the road (ME

) then you do need it to handle good.

I have yet to drive a newer Dodge car/suv that I like.

ezernut9mm · Post by **ezernut9mm** » August 14, 2009, 10:43 pm

subaru wrx alan. that's all the mrs. needs. great power, handling and the seats are awsome. i miss my 05 wrx wagon.

ezernut9mm · Post by **ezernut9mm** » August 14, 2009, 10:49 pm

rightie for ya.

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » August 14, 2009, 11:19 pm

Alan, thats kind of funny because my brother called me today and told me he just got an 08 pt cruiser, said the dealer basically begged him to buy it. after he looked at it a week ago they called every day to sweeten the deal.
wonder how he will like it after some long trips.

fmartin_gila · Post by **fmartin_gila** » August 15, 2009, 8:29 am

Alan,

I drive for Enterprise Rentals, so I Drive any and all types of vehicles. I despise driving any of the later Chrysler Products. Very uncomfortable for any length of drive, they don't seem to get very good gas mileage, and we seem to have more mechanical troubles with them than any others, and we do have all brands both domestic and foreign. The Ford Fusion, at this point in time, seems to be about the best thing going, at least as far as a reasonable priced car is concerned. The Fusion is comfortable, easy driving, gets good mileage, and overall we seem to have the least mechanical troubles with the whole range of Ford products. My recommendation would be to go and get a good hard look at the Ford Fusion. The styling may be a bit uninspired, but that is made up for with all things considered.

Fred

Obsa · Post by **Obsa** » August 15, 2009, 9:35 am

Alan,
Does Ford offer the Flex over there the styling is somewhat simular to the Nitro?

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » August 15, 2009, 10:05 am

I don't think Alan can get a Fusion , they have Falcons over there that fill that gap in the lineup. Probably at least equally as good a car and likely a better one.
Amazing to me that anyone would want a Dodge Nitro. They are uglier than the gates of Hell. Every time I see one, I figure that's what a Stanley Steamer would look like if they still made 'em

Also funny is the fact that Lyn thinks a PT is uncomfortable on long trips.
My buddy Ward, who's last girlfriend had a PT cruiser, the one thing he raves about them is, he figured they were a nice car for highway driving!

ABA · Post by **ABA** » August 15, 2009, 5:33 pm

Well I was going to recommend the Chebbie HHR...but after driving my wife's for the first time about an hour ago I decided NOT to recommend it...unless your under 5'5" tall.
It has plenty of head room but no leg room at all. To get my knees out of the dash I wouldn't be able to reach the steering wheel.

Now that I think about it, the HHR was built in Mexico and Mexicans aren't known for their height but I bet you could squeeze 47 of them in that HHR.

Alan Mclennan · Post by **Alan Mclennan** » August 15, 2009, 7:32 pm

Well the Nitro is out the door!, had a look at one yesterday, the interior looks like it was made by Airfix and the legondary seats seemed the same!, we had a 2001 PT and the seats in that were very comfortable and the car all round was better made and better features.
We dont get the Ford Fusion out here, we do get the mondeo, had one of them years ago real nice little car. Might have a look at the Falcon XR8 it has the BOSS 290 engine with twin overhead cams

or a Ford G6E a inline six with turbo, I am told it flogs the v8`s
the G6e
http://www.caradvice.com.au/17031/2008- ... -review/3/

The XR8
http://www.caradvice.com.au/11910/2008- ... fications/

ABA · Post by **ABA** » August 15, 2009, 8:32 pm

Aussie FORDs kick butt...why don't they built'em like that in the states?

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » August 15, 2009, 11:06 pm

Aba that would make far too much sense.

The XR8 Ranchero would sell like freakin' hotcakes. Can't have that

BIGTRIP · Post by **BIGTRIP** » August 15, 2009, 11:34 pm

ABA wrote:Aussie FORDs kick butt...why don't they built'em like that in the states?

the falcon and ute would slay mustang sales.

ezernut9mm · Post by **ezernut9mm** » August 15, 2009, 11:49 pm

gm tried with the last gto. over priced and didn't sell too well.

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » August 16, 2009, 2:37 am

we have 2 of the little scion xb's at the hospital where I work. They have alot of room and get around 30mpg's. I fit in the back seat with plenty of head and feet room. (remember that I am 6' 3'' at 300 pounds) Don't know about long trips since the hospital just covers around 4-6 blocks. Anthony

http://www.scion.com/#xB

deviant1 · Post by **deviant1** » August 16, 2009, 9:46 am

That Ford G6e would be a great replacement for my wife's car. Too bad it is not here or I would seriously look at one.

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » August 16, 2009, 11:14 am

ezernut9mm wrote:gm tried with the last gto. over priced and didn't sell too well.

Pontiac has/had the G8 (Holden Munaro)and they were supposed to have the G8 El Camino too. but gm, as you know, is a FAIL.

G8's were selling fairly well, so they shut down Pontiac.

Buicks sold to no one who wasn't born before or during the nineteen twenties, so they kept them.
Go figure.

MadMaxetc · Post by **MadMaxetc** » August 16, 2009, 1:24 pm

ABA wrote:Aussie FORDs kick butt...why don't they built'em like that in the states?

I know...WTH??

Alan Mclennan · Post by **Alan Mclennan** » August 17, 2009, 3:00 am

I am totally amazed that you like our fords that much!, have you noticed that they are all 4 door?, the only 2 door thing with any grunt is the holden monaro and other than 2 doors they look like Falcons , commodores, magna`s, mercedes ( not the Smart car version ) and even some bmw`s, our super V8`s race cars are all 4 door as well, but they look great in their race livery colours and the extra doors are hardly noticable

This is the (Vodafone) champion teams number one car, a Ford that Ford will not sponser so they are changing to Holden next season!

http://www.teamvodafone.com/888-specifications