The old Nox and Torrent are not that good. They are ok but nothing to write home about.

As for japanese built it means nothing anymore they have as many recalls as anyone else.

E85? does anyone really use it?

The only Nox worth having are the new ones. Sorry they are out of the price range.

 

Can't get a bicycle in mine without removing the seat or front wheel. Lots of space is wasted by plastic.

 

My alternative was the Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe. They were more reliable with slightly better fuel use. Also looked at the Nissan Versa but rear seats did not fold flat though they could be taken out.

However, the HHR Panel won out because it was a van that offered privacy in the rear for sleeping and storage. Also, the HHR with the options seemed to be better priced and packaged for those features I wanted..

 

I looked at the Vibe, Escape, and HHR. Then I drove an HHR SS

 

True, but many people want a non-compact vehicle or the SUV pretention, and 'ok' is good enough.

Right, but I don't mean recalls, I mean reliability issues (a fine line I know). Still its a statistical argument, you are 'less likely' to have an issue in the XL7 vs. the sister torrent/equinox/vue. Doesn't mean you won't have one though.
Is it coincidence that it is made in japan vs. Canada US or Mexico, maybe, but those are the stats.

Yes.

 

If the Orlando is going be the replacement for the HHR, from the pictures I've seen, I'm likeing my HHR more and more.

 

There are few vehicles you can get a bicycle in today. But I had a 63 Ford that would eat an entire 10 speed laying on it's side.

 

Chris' 24" bike fits perfect in the back laying on it's side. I have to take the tire off my 26" to fit it in. Thankfully I have a quick release tire. It's nice to be able to throw both bikes in the back and head out to the bike paths.

 

Probably but not sure why you would. Even alot of the enviromentalist are becoming more and more agianst it. Plus w/ the worse mpg of it you spend the same $$ if you would have bought normal regular fuel.

 

To me it is just a gimick.