Click Banner for Details on this Saabnet.com Classified

Problems with design:

1. Ugly, ugly snout. Headlights and turn signals do not work well together. Too bulbous. The hood is too high, which compounds the problem.

2. Wheel arches should not be square and they should be less pronounced -- there's too much open space between the arch and the wheels, which makes it look like the wheels are too small for the car.

3. The car has a leaning forward stance that just looks silly (this stance is also accentuated by the squared-off wheel arches).

4. The tail looks too chopped-off, and the little protrusion at the bottom of the tail of the car is inexplicable.

5. The door windows don't line up with the rear hatch windows. Looks sloppy.

6. The car is simply too chunky, too body-cladded, too plasticky looking, and it also looks too narrow and tall. It needs to be more squat. The body-colored panels thankfully get rid of the awful, cheap-looking gray plastic that surrounded the car's lower half in prior models.

There's more, but that's what hits me in the face when I look at the linked picture.

Positives:

I have always like the *idea* of the Aztek. It's kind of a neat, even Saabish idea -- space utility, versatility, neat hatchback, even an outdoorsy camping theme. But the idea is poorly translated into reality by a terrible and sloppy design, an anemic engine, excess body weight, and a couple of other problems.

The fact that Aztek went into production is both good and bad -- good because the idea is a creative one and one that appeals to me as a Saab lover; bad because the design is so awful, so sloppy, so homely that you wonder what moron at GM gave the go-ahead to produce based on *this* design.

It needs total revision as a design matter, but the core idea is noble and worthy of encouragement.

posted by 208.200.18...

• Is 2002 Aztek any better than the old one?, Anton, Wed, 21 Nov 2001 10:44:41
  • sure is, it's one year closer to discontinuation, Camm , Thu, 22 Nov 2001 22:29:39
  • herbie does acid. n/m, chrisx, Wed, 21 Nov 2001 19:10:10
  • Thats nothing compared to this car..., AdamB , Wed, 21 Nov 2001 13:58:47
    • I agree, first time I saw a Multipla, I..., bluenose, Wed, 21 Nov 2001 15:48:00
    • Ghastly looking dashboard - Anti-ergonomics n/m, RS , Wed, 21 Nov 2001 14:19:27
    • Looks lke they had different design teams...., Dave Westlake, Wed, 21 Nov 2001 14:09:34
    • ack! hideous indeed! n/m, otto, Wed, 21 Nov 2001 14:06:12
  • Here are my problems with the Aztek (& some positives), Hood, Wed, 21 Nov 2001 13:30:39 <-- Viewing This Message
  • yes...the wheels are much rounder..., Bill, Wed, 21 Nov 2001 10:55:16

No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.

• Prev by Date: Saab service - Marietta,GA, Arby, Wed, 21 Nov 2001 13:11:24
• Next by Date: Re: Saab service - Marietta,GA, RS, Wed, 21 Nov 2001 13:32:09
• Main General Bulletin Board

StateOfNine.com

SaabClub.com

Jak Stoll Performance

M Car Covers

Ad Available

The content on this site may not be republished without permission. Copyright © 1988-2024 - The Saab Network - saabnet.com.
For usage guidelines, see the Mission & Privacy Notice.
[Contact | Site Map | Saabnet.com on Facebook | Saabnet.com on Twitter | Shop Amazon via TSN | Site Donations]

Random Saabnet.com Member Gallery Photos (Click Image)