2005 Chevrolet Equinox Review Oklahoma

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Chevrolet Equinox -- Review: Chevrolet and SUVs go together like ice cream and apple pie, Vegas and gambling, SpongeBob and SquarePants. After all, Chevrolet pioneered the utility segment with the 1936 Suburban, added a dash of sport with the Blazer in the late 1960s, then downsized SUVs with the original S-10 Blazer in 1983. Today, each of these models lives on in some form.

Where Chevrolet has not been a leader is the small SUV slice of the market, and the whole crossover movement seems to have taken this General Motors division completely by surprise. For better than a decade, the diminutive Tracker was GM's sole combatant in this increasingly competitive arena, first under the Geo banner and then as a Chevrolet product. But with consumer preferences shifting to car-based utility vehicles designed to look tough and rugged like a traditional SUV but ride and drive like a family sedan, the underpowered, undersized, body-on-frame Tracker was at a distinct disadvantage.

Enter the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox, the first crossover vehicle to wear a gold bowtie on the grille and one that deftly straddles the line between mini-SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4 and larger mid-size sport-utes like the Toyota 4Runner. It's based on the same platform that underpins the Saturn Vue, albeit stretched a bit in terms of length to provide additional cargo space and a more unique exterior appearance. The result is a vehicle sized exactly right for the general consumer looking for a roomy family conveyance that looks good, drives much more like a car than a truck, and can duke it out with snowstorms if not the Rubicon Trail. But while the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox has the basics covered, the details need improvement, especially in the hardware department.

YESTER-TECH MOTOR

Under the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox's hood is GM's venerable 3.4-liter overhead valve motor, constructed with a heavy cast-iron block and lightweight aluminum cylinder head. Rated at 185 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 210 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,800 rpm while quaffing regular unleaded, the engine drives the front or all four wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission and is charged with motivating the Equinox's 3,660-pound curb weight (3,776 for AWD models). The 2005 Chevrolet Equinox can tow up to 3,500 pounds.

STRESSED TRANSMISSION

Refined would not be the right word to characterize the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox's powertrain. Coarse, grainy, noisy, and torquey are more accurate. The Equinox offers solid punch off the line and feels sprightly in the city, but out on the highway the engine labors a bit. Under extreme power demands, like flattening the accelerator for passing power, the five-speed automatic transmission changes gears harshly and behaves in a confused manner. Drive like a tourist in a new city, and the transmission shifts unobtrusively. Just make sure to shove the selector all the way into park when you've finished your drive - on one occasion we didn't and the Equinox emitted an incessant chime until we randomly discovered the source of the problem.

 

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Sävy Strategic Creative

The Finest in European Automotive in Bend.

1.541.359.3068
Service Rd
Bend, OK
http://www.getsavy.com/

The Finest in European Automotive in Bend.
The moment one walks through the doors at German Master Tech in Bend, Oregon, its meticulously kept, white floored shop currently home to an impressive lineup of detail and restoration in progress: the bright silver Porsche spec racer being built in the center of the room, the Porsche 911 S undergoing a full restoration and the variant of others, from BMWs to Ferraris, it is quickly understood why German Master Tech, with some of the finest European auto technicians and restoration specialists in the country, supports some of the finest European cars on the West Coast. This German-apprenticed, master-trained company, that refers to its work as “a craft”, is known to many by the unmatched service and support they provide their racing and restoration clients across the country, to others by the niche expedition preparation service they provide all-terrain vehicles, and still to their most dedicated customer, the fine European car enthusiast, German Master Tech is truly the one to many in this town.
German Master Tech’s President, a BMW Master Technician, Tim Morris, brings with him over 25 years experience in the industry and has been awarded several achievement and master technician status awards though BMW specialized factory schools. Tim has also achieved BMW’s Center of Excellence Award twice and is a seven-time BMW President’s Club Technician. German Master Tech’s co-founder and past partner, Jay Audia, won the 07 SCCA Regional Championships for GT2 in his German Master Tech-prepared Panoz. The company’s third founder is one of Bend’s most passionate Porsche enthusiasts, John Audette.

“Restorations have been a large part of our focus,” said Morris, describing some of his company’s award winning roots. “From our very first restoration, a 58’ BMW Isetta 300, which we took to the Forest Grove Concours d’ Elegance in 05 and won our class, in addition to taking home the President’s Award, which was judged by Pacific College’s President as “the car the college student would most want to drive,” said Morris. “I drew on my past car show and restoration experience to pull off a surprise win. It was a good deal of timing and the right car, with the right colors. We stole the show with a micro car, it was great!” Morris said standing next to his red Porsche hot rod parked inside his shop. “Car shows and racing are my passions,” he said with a smile.
“Our tuning business is the best around,” continued Morris of the company’s capabilities. “The application of our developed performance packages to already great cars really creates a ‘wow’.” German Master Tech provides full warranty BMW performance upgrades as a Dinan-authorized dealer, and Porsche performance programs that take the 911 to the next level. “Our tuning business has led us to organized racing, which has been a life-long dream of mine.” Included in German Master Tech’s list of champion racing cars are a 64’ BMW 1800 TISA owned by Steve Walker of Salem. The 1800 TISA is BMW’s first post-war racer based on a production car in regional vintage racing. A 911 Porsche racer owned by Bend’s Mark Powell will be racing in one of the West Coast’s fastest growing amateur racing classes, Spec 911. “Mark’s car is special as it ties together the whole business: a restoration with an extreme tuning package.”

“German Master Tech has worked on all my cars, including a Range Rover, BMW, three Ferraris and a Porsche,” said Ervin Richards, a long-time German Master Tech customer. “I bring my cars here because they consistently do it better and because they’ve always gone way beyond the call of duty in their service and support of my vehicles.” “If I can bring it to German Master Tech,” said Richards, “I will.”
To learn more about German Master Tech, contact them directly at 541.322.9647.