Dead at 21: Why Would God Take Such a Promising Life?

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What year did the 1985-2005 Chevrolet Astro get a heated rear window standard?

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M5Power
Indeed - I've not only heard this, but I've seen pictures. Worse, the full-size Buick Roadmaster wagon is similarly 'really cool' in Japan - and they mod both vehicles to crazy lengths.
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HA! I wanna see one of those turned into an Impala SS wagon, wouldn't that be nifty?

M5Power
Anyway - I told the person I was discussing the Typhoon and Syclone with they probably got around 340 horsepower, though the rating was 285. This is the only time I've ever heard of a manufacturer intentionally rating an engine low in the last 20 years (or, more appropriately, it's the only believable time - everyone always says 'the manufacturer says it's got 250hp but I think it's more like 280!' but who buys that?).
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You mean american manufacturer :P. The Japanese do it all the time because of that 'gentlemen's agreement' that says they can't make cars with over 280hp
M5Power
...if they were to re-do the Typhoon to today's standards it would have about 470 horsepower. Truthfully, Cadillac should get the platform just to do a V-series model so they can have a Porsche Cayenne-beater.
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It's crazy, but I like it. (I also hate Cayennes). The rapper market alone would have the project paying for itself instantly :D.
 
That GMC Cyclone was awesome. I have one of those little profiles on it and its got a 0-60 in 4.5 seconds rating on it...thats faster than the Ferrari 512M! It did 0-60 in 5.3 seconds (according to one of the little profiles). Man that little V6 sure churned out. I hope we're both talking about the truck...right?
The Chevrolet Cavalier is being replaced by the cobalt? OMG. I NEVER KNEW THAT. SINCE WHEN IS THIS HAPPENING?! :dunce:
I hope the same can be said for the Sunfire. Hate that thing.
 
VIPERGTSR01
When I was in Japan I saw a few Chevrolet Astro's, Infact I saw quite a few american cars like Lincon town car (late model), H2 Hummers, 80's Trans am, GMC Envoy and many others. They seem to be quite popular in Japn.
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Astros were quite popular import in Japan. They do love their vans, import or domestic.

U.S. manufactures and the government couldn't understand why Japanese people wouldn't buy their Taurus, Saturns, etc., while trying to shove those cars down the Japanese consumer's throat in the late 80's to early 90's, because of the trade deficit. U.S. didn't realize that the Japanese really didn't want to pay more(they had higher price tag in Japan) for American imports that came with kind of reliability issue, that they haven't seen since the 70's. While these Saturn type, Japanese wanna be cars didn't sell well in Japan, true Ameircan cars, such as the full size sports cars, vans, SUVs were very well liked over there(unfortunately didn't sell that well due to the high cost and the huge size). Cars VIPERGTSR01(user not the car) saw in Japan like H2, Lincoln, Trans Am, they are all wonderfully unique American cars. Envoy is a surprise though!

I've always liked the Astro's design, even more so lately. I think they kind of got that Scion xB, or Honda Element type look to it. My coworker just bought an used GMC Safari for nothing and while checking it out, I remembered how much I liked those vans(I've driven it just once). Maybe it's the Japanese thing.....
 
Emohawk
You mean american manufacturer :P. The Japanese do it all the time because of that 'gentlemen's agreement' that says they can't make cars with over 280hp
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Aren't sold here, don't care.

It's crazy, but I like it. (I also hate Cayennes). The rapper market alone would have the project paying for itself instantly :D.
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Not sure if it'd be good for Cadillac's image to have three SUVs.

PublicSecrecy
The Chevrolet Cavalier is being replaced by the cobalt? OMG. I NEVER KNEW THAT. SINCE WHEN IS THIS HAPPENING?!
I hope the same can be said for the Sunfire. Hate that thing.
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Cavalier is being cancelled soon, Cobalt is already out. Then again, Colorado "replaced" S-10 and yet S-10 dragged on for another year; Blazer's still going on despite Trailblazer being out in 2002, and Tracker stuck around a while after Equinox appeared, so Cavalier might not drop out just yet.

The Sunfire's going to continue being sold for sure at least through calendar 2005. In Canada the Chevrolet Cobalt is also badged as the Pontiac Pursuit, but that's not necessarily destined for the US market; Canada has had several unique Pontiacs in the past. With the Spring arrival of the Solstice Pontiac is really trying to built their brand around a sporty image and the Cobalt/Pursuit isn't a very sporty vehicle, but sometimes sales figures win out over brand image. We'll see.
 
skip0110
It's been done. Plenty of times. For example, take this 454 Roadmaster.
http://impalassforum.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=002307

Or peruse the rest of the site, there are SS wagon clones there and other wagons that pull 11s. Pretty good for such a boat.
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Hey, thanks!
I probably could have.. y'know.. googled it or something, but whatever.

M5: Canada gets more Pontiacs? Uh, whee. I'm totally enraptured, and stuff.
As long as the Sunfire dies, I can't really complain though.
 
Emohawk
M5: Canada gets more Pontiacs? Uh, whee. I'm totally enraptured, and stuff.
As long as the Sunfire dies, I can't really complain though.
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My favorite was Canada's version of the Chevrolet Corsica, known as the Pontiac Tempest, which I'd buy if I found locally.
 
As the owner of a Pontiac Tempest/LeMans, I find that almost as offensive as the Korean-built "Pontiac LeMans" from the late '80s. Though at least the Corsica was a midsize sedan, like at least one version of the real Tempest.
 
That's nothing, you guys. Way back in the early 90s, my dad's company started doing the "company car" thing. As he was still somewhere in the middle of the corporate ladder then, he got one of the less desirable vehicles. Namely, a light grey Astro with BRIGHT NEON PINK GRAPHICS DOWN THE SIDES! I was too young to care at the time, but if I'd had my license, I would have refused to drive around in it. It was, bar none, the ugliest minivan ever created, painted the ugliest colours on any car, ever.
 
Anderton Prime
Namely, a light grey Astro with BRIGHT NEON PINK GRAPHICS DOWN THE SIDES! I was too young to care at the time, but if I'd had my license, I would have refused to drive around in it. It was, bar none, the ugliest minivan ever created, painted the ugliest colours on any car, ever.
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Dude, thats pimp 80's style. :D

Hey, with the right wheel setback and stance, you could have had a pro-street Astro.
 
I think you're thinking cool graphics, while most graphics on any late 80s / early 90s van are pretty lame. Anyway, I was too young to care, but looking back I can see the thing was absolutely horrid-looking.
 
neon_duke
As the owner of a Pontiac Tempest/LeMans, I find that almost as offensive as the Korean-built "Pontiac LeMans" from the late '80s. Though at least the Corsica was a midsize sedan, like at least one version of the real Tempest.
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Almost as offensive! Sounds like an endorsement!

I saw a Chevrolet Corsica-based Pontiac Tempest - once. I was so proud. I'm adding the Tempest to the list of cars I'm going to get once I get a warehouse. It joins the 1998 Grand Cherokee 5.9, the GMC Typhoon and Syclone, and the 1997 Toyota Paseo convertible. And the 1994-1996 Acura Legend 6-speed coupe. Maybe a few more. Oh, the early-90s Toyota Camry All-Trac. And a right-drive USPS Jeep Cherokee. Oooh, this is fun.
 
M5Power
I saw a Chevrolet Corsica-based Pontiac Tempest - once. I was so proud. I'm adding the Tempest to the list of cars I'm going to get once I get a warehouse.
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The people a couple doors down from my house own a Corsica-based Tempest.

I'll take a picture of the rust-bucket piece of **** for you to ogle. :D
 
Firebird
The people a couple doors down from my house own a Corsica-based Tempest.

I'll take a picture of the rust-bucket piece of **** for you to ogle. :D
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Yaay! In the US we had a rare Chevrolet Corsica trim with leather; did the Tempest ever have optional leather? Not that you'd necessarily know offhand.

I want to add the 1995 Volvo 850 T-5R sedan to that list. And the mid-90s Chevrolet Silverado SS with the 7.1-liter V8. And the second-generation Mazda RX-7 convertible.
 
I drove an Astro once. I could forgive the pickup-truck ride, coal barge handling, mediocre acceleration, and ignore the horrid styling.

What I couldn't forgive was that the centerline of the pedals felt like it was about 4 inches to the left of the centerline of the steering wheel. It was the most uncomfortable driving position I ever felt.
 
Well, there's some good things about the influx of Canadian visitors to South Florida: occasionally you saw some oddballs like the Hyundai Pony, the Pontiac Tempest, and two years ago, a Renault Espace minivan.

My wife thought I was nuts when I wanted to run home and get my camera.
 
M5Power
Yaay! In the US we had a rare Chevrolet Corsica trim with leather; did the Tempest ever have optional leather? Not that you'd necessarily know offhand.
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Not a clue.

And unfortunately, the Tempest down the street is MIA. :grumpy: They kept it parked in the back, but now it's gone! They probably sold it as scrap (I don't think it moved under its own power in at least three years).
 
M5Power
They put in the center brake light long after it was federally required, and were a year late on the passenger airbag, too. That right there is guts.
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No, it takes more than guts. It takes a sheer unrelenting hatred for everything good and pure. That's GM.
 
pupik
Well, there's some good things about the influx of Canadian visitors to South Florida: occasionally you saw some oddballs like the Hyundai Pony, the Pontiac Tempest, and two years ago, a Renault Espace minivan.

My wife thought I was nuts when I wanted to run home and get my camera.
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Don't forget the Acura 1.7 EL !!! you americans can't get that !
 
M5Power
They put in the center brake light long after it was federally required, and were a year late on the passenger airbag, too. That right there is guts.
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martialstax
No, it takes more than guts. It takes a sheer unrelenting hatred for everything good and pure. That's GM.
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And the irony is more delicious yet! Not only did they ignore the Federally-mandated CHMSL, but at the same time, they added the totally unneccessary and annoying Daytime Running Lights, because they assumed they would be required, when in fact they never were (thank god)!
 
Actually in a GM its very easy to turn of the daytime running lights. You just push the dome light override button 4 times.
 
Firebird
Not a clue.

And unfortunately, the Tempest down the street is MIA. :grumpy:
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I'd be grumpy about that too. :D

BlazinXtreme
Actually in a GM its very easy to turn of the daytime running lights. You just push the dome light override button 4 times.
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It's easier in my car - since they don't exist.

DRLs on the Chevrolet Tahoe I especially hate, because of their height - it's as if the driver has her bright lights on in the day. Stop the DRL madness!
 
TwinTurboJay
Don't forget the Acura 1.7 EL !!! you americans can't get that !
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Yeah, at Lexus we were having a great time with that one on http://www.acura.ca ...I can't fathom a Corolla-based "Lexus CS180" in the US. I'd laugh at that customer, and likely, get fired.
 
Yes DRL suck, I've just pulled the fuse on my truck so I don't have to work about them. I kept burning out bulbs because of them since I would put the Xenon bulbs in. For some reason they hate DRL.
 
skip0110
How is that for evidence? 30 hp from an air filter and exhaust? I doubt it.
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1. I don't.
2. Seven percent fluctuations in either direction can be believed (and expected) off the showroom floor.
3. How do we know an air filter and exhaust is all it's got?
 
pupik
Well, there's some good things about the influx of Canadian visitors to South Florida: occasionally you saw some oddballs like the Hyundai Pony, the Pontiac Tempest, and two years ago, a Renault Espace minivan.

My wife thought I was nuts when I wanted to run home and get my camera.
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What does that have to do with Canadians? I've never in my life seen someone driving a Hyundai Pony, Renault Espace (i've never seen a Canadian owned and driven Renault period) , and certainly never a Pontiac Tempest.


[edit] I may have seen the pony, but unlikely.
 
I don't know where the hell you're living, but both the Pontiac Tempest and Hyundai Pony were sold in Canada. At the time it was sold in Canada (mid-80s), the Hyundai Pony was a rebadged Hyundai Excel, while the Tempest was a rebadged Chevrolet Corsica.

I don't think the Renault Espace was ever sold in North America.
 

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