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FNG Never Expected A Terrain

6K views 12 replies 7 participants last post by  RIT333 
#1 ·
I see nobody posts in this section. But I'm new with a new 2017 Terrain SLE-1 so here's a brief. I was actually looking for a Soul! because my recently-leased Mazda6 caused major aches and pains for my wife.

If you follow The Neanderthal Times, you'll know the Maz6 did not work and I went fishing. Number one choice was a 2017 KIA Soul! turbo. However...given that KIA sales people are apparently not interested in selling actual cars, I looked elsewhere.

Area KIA dealers are such slugs, I can't believe it. I traded the Maz for a white '17 GMC Terrain SLE-1 FWD.

It's a 2.4 6A, white. It's not quick and in fact it feels stronger on "Eco" than not. If I were racing this vs. my '15 Soul+, I'd probably bet on the Soul. But let me break this boy in, we just have 300 miles on it so far.

It sits high, seat height is about 28", an inch higher than Soul. It surprisingly doesn't lean a lot in corners, it feels pretty firm and solid in curves and turns. The brakes feel good, no problem there, no grab etc. LOTS of space, the rear seat slides back and forth and the backs tilt. This car is like a limo. Probably the most comfortable car I've had since the 200 V6.
It has a real fake spare.

The toys supply is limited. That to me is preferable to the Maz, or the Challenger for that matter, but the Maz was more geek-oriented in that getting from Part A to Part B to Part C was complex, slow, and illogical.

Standard AC, no automatic temp control which I don't want or need.
No Nav, thank goodness, which had issues in the Maz. In fact, the Maz6 Nav was downright stupid. Like Tom Tom two generations ago.
The seats are comfy and roomy. My wife remarked at the vast expanse of SPACE in front of her. No claustrophobia here!

Stock tires are Michelin Latitude Touring, 235.55.18. So-so tires from what I read. For the same price they could've fitted Michelin Premiere LTX.
That said, these LatTours don't squeal in corners, they have no obvious issues (haven't been in the wet with them yet) and TR reviews indicate most owners seem to like them pretty well.

A big, bulky car that I didn't expect to be looking at. If not for KIA (and Maz) sales ineptitude, I wouldn't be in something this comfortable and roomy!

A couple of weeks back, I talked to my Maz sales guy about looking at a Mitsu Outlander Sport. To trade the Maz6 in on.
He said he'd get back to me and never did, until a Thursday email saying hey don't forget our 4:00 pm appointment today (June 8).
I knew nothing about that "appointment," I never made that appointment, and nobody at Maz ever contacted me including his sales manager who said he'd call back days earlier. Tomorrow perhaps.
WTF with all these slugs? Fingers all broke? Selling cars is too much work for them?

At any rate, I was cruising by the local Chibby dealer and I flashed back to a test I'd read of the 2005 Equinox 3.4 with the then-new 5A. It ran pretty well for what it was, and I thought (at the time) gee, that would have been an alternative to the '04 Impala I bought. We'd just retired and moved and a hauler like the 'nox would've been very handy. Oh well.

So, I thought as I drove by the Chibby dealer, GM always has tons of bucks on the hood. I stopped in, they DID have tons on the '17 'nox.
I drove one, it was a decent ride and it fit right. The sales guy was pretty sharp.
It wasn't over-tech, which the Maz6 with the two packages is, in my opinion.

I fished and found the Terrain is the 'nox in different form. It's like an SRX for Enlightened People. Like Yours Truly!

Went and checked one out at the local Buick dealer, drove it for a 15 mile test and decided to run with it. Signed the papers the next day, it's a handsome boy and to me the biggest difference is the 'nox looks more smooth and feminine and the Terrain more square and masculine.
I never really paid much attention to those cars, they're everywhere (ubiquitous, I like that word!) they weren't on my radar, but when I dug around a bit that was the diff. That and the Equinox models I was shopping had 17s and the Terrain has 18s. Don't confuse 17" and 18" tires with 2017 and 2018 model year cars. It's easy to mix up numbers.

The '17s have dough on the hood, the new downsized turbo'd '18s have been out two or three months and I've read a number of complaints about the shifter and other aspects including styling cues that I just don't notice.
There's a MT test and it's not all sweetness and light.

So this car will work fine. I ate big equity and covered some of it with GM cash, that gig will be gone in 36. The 2.4 6A Terrain is a slug compared to the Maz, I've read mid-8s to mid-9s for 0-60. Quick enough for 99% of my driving.

Someone at GM doesn't know where to put dash vents. They don't include a cargo cover in a $28,000 vehicle. The "Eco" button seems to give better acceleration than standard running.
And who designs the modern instrument panels? I'm guessing kids 20-25 years old. Now, wait! Wait! I DON"T mean the mature, intelligent, thoughtful whippersnappers here. I mean the geeky not-real-world "designers" and "engineers" who never drive the cars they have a hand in designing.
The temp and fuel gauge are hidden up at the top where you can hardly see them. On the plus side is a 19 gallon fuel tank which should give generous range.

It IS very comfortable, and comfort trumps cornering-on-two-wheels at this point in our lives. Too bad the Maz didn't work out. I'll do a post-mortem at some point.
 
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#3 ·
Welcome.
Thanks for the info on your search.


Few items. the 3.6L models- come with a 21 gal tank vs the 2.4s 19.

As for the cargo shade....
just buy one on ebay.

I bought my Equinox a 'used' shade.
Seller had it in his new Equinox- used it a couple of times.
Took it out and into the garage..... Eventually sold the Nox... and well I got a really good deal on a used shade....

I installed it- and the thing was in PERFECT condition. My wife uses it all the time.



Also
bought some used splashguards... from a member on here. In very good condition.
bought a used weathertech cargo cover from a member on here- who had a new Nox that was wrecked in an accident... and was local to me.
bought a new cabin filter from a member on here (sold his Nox).

just have to search and monitor some of the for sale stuff here.
 
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