Pontiac Wave sedan

[!!!TED!!!]

A few pictured from the Barrie autoshow in Ontario. Taken by polish_kris.

Here is the new Wave sedan, available only in Canada and Mexico (as the G3) for now.

It blows the Toyota Yaris out of the water in terms of interior design and refinement. Despite being a Chevy Aveo clone, it has unique guages that glow red, different instrument pod, metal-like trim, different wheels, and all-red tail lights, lending it a sportier look.

[the_yellow_dart]

Those really look like Malibu tails...

[Croc]

Those really look like Malibu tails...

194280[/snapback]

No...?

Edited September 17, 2006 by Croc

[Cory Wolfe]

Well, it does look better than the Aveo... but meh... those wheels still look hideously tiny.

[Croc]

I too like this better than the Aveo. Classier, even though they are just a few random changes...they do add up.

[loki]

simple, but nice

[Croc]

after further inspection, I have 3 gripes:

The temperature knob

The air flow knob

The dead button

The first two should have been the same button (slightly different sizes maybe?) as the fan speed button...same design at least.

The dead button just shouldn't be there.

[ToniCipriani]

So they did fix the red dash problem... My friend's Wave glowed green at night.

[ToniCipriani]

after further inspection, I have 3 gripes:

The temperature knob

The air flow knob

The dead button

The first two should have been the same button (slightly different sizes maybe?) as the fan speed button...same design at least.

The dead button just shouldn't be there.

194387[/snapback]

I don't agree about the blank. It's there for symmetry.

[Croc]

I don't agree about the blank. It's there for symmetry.

194392[/snapback]

Um...I know why it's there...but DO SOMETHING WITH IT instead od just being blank. Looks cheap!

[ocnblu]

It should be used as the "Croc Eject" button. A very useful purpose. :AH-HA_wink:

I like these taillights much better than the so-last-week chromed Aveo housings. The Aveo should have had these lights, and the Wave could have had smoked lenses to differentiate it.

The interior is very nice, more attractive than the Cobalt's, imo.

[Croc]

[Polish_Kris]

So they did fix the red dash problem... My friend's Wave glowed green at night.

194390[/snapback]

Ya I drove the new Wave, and the gauges are nice red now

[Polish_Kris]

more attractive than the Cobalt's, imo.[/b]

194403[/snapback]

Better built too

[the_yellow_dart]

No...?

194317[/snapback]

You're right, I was thinking of the wrong car. Where did I get Malibu from?

Here's something a little more accurate:

[Flybrian]

Um...I know why it's there...but DO SOMETHING WITH IT instead od just being blank.  Looks cheap!

194396[/snapback]

Dude. Its a $12,000 car. Hyundai's $30k+ Azera has two dead panels. Bitch about that.

Anyway, Yaris what? They should be fighting with each other because they can't compete with this.

[Cory Wolfe]

Ya I drove the new Wave, and the gauges are nice red now 

194408[/snapback]

Yay.

Dude. Its a $12,000 car. Hyundai's $30k+ Azera has two dead panels. Bitch about that.

Anyway, Yaris what? They should be fighting with each other because they can't compete with this.

194462[/snapback]

Yeah... my Millenia has a few of those, but then again... its almost 12 years old now.

As for the Yaris.... Atleast its body fits its wheels.

[Croc]

Dude. Its a $12,000 car. Hyundai's $30k+ Azera has two dead panels. Bitch about that.

Anyway, Yaris what? They should be fighting with each other because they can't compete with this.

194462[/snapback]

See, I'm not biased so I bitch about all dead panels. I don't care if it's a $12,000 car. It doesn't cost $$$ to design a center stack that doesn't need a dead panel.

I checked several sites, and not a single shot shows any icon on that dead panel. If anyone can verify, I almost think that there isn't an option there...it's just a black plastic circle in the design...tacky. Put a dash speaker there or something...

[Flybrian]

Put a dash speaker there or something...

194542[/snapback]

Just like that $h!box Azera. Again, I can accept it somewhat on an economy car. I'm sure something does go there. In any case, the hazard lamp button needs to be placed back on the steering column like it was for use. Its one of the least-used ugliest buttons usually stuck square in the middle of the dash.

Also, BV, the Yaris is also too big for its wheels. The sedans look especially awkward. In fact, many cars today seem to have dinky wheels, like the M3/45 and the Passat.

[Cory Wolfe]

See, I'm not biased so I bitch about all dead panels.  I don't care if it's a $12,000 car.  It doesn't cost $$$ to design a center stack that doesn't need a dead panel.

I checked several sites, and not a single shot shows any icon on that dead panel.  If anyone can verify, I almost think that there isn't an option there...it's just a black plastic circle in the design...tacky.  Put a dash speaker there or something...

194542[/snapback]

Atleast with my Millenia, it's because I don't have the added options of the Millenia S.

[Cory Wolfe]

Just like that $h!box Azera. Again, I can accept it somewhat on an economy car. I'm sure something does go there. In any case, the hazard lamp button needs to be placed back on the steering column like it was for use. Its one of the least-used ugliest buttons usually stuck square in the middle of the dash.

Also, BV, the Yaris is also too big for its wheels. The sedans look especially awkward. In fact, many cars today seem to have dinky wheels, like the M3/45 and the Passat.

194549[/snapback]

I like dash mounted hazard buttons.

As for the Yaris. Not nearly as bad as the Aveo. And those others... Stop smoking pot.

[Croc]

GM can't just match the competition, they have to exceed it if they wanna win back sales. And designing a dead panel into the dash is something that makes an economy car feel cheap, detracts from the design, and would have likely been cheaper had the plastic surround not needed to be cut to make room for it.

It's little things, little details that impress.

As empowah said about the 2007 Navigator's headlights...they just look "designed" instead of placed. DETAILS DETAILS DETAILS!!!

[Cory Wolfe]

Let's compare...

Aveo:

Yaris:

And for those of us who enjoy smoking pot:

[ocnblu]

The 3 door Yaris is still decent, imo. I wish the Aveo came in a 3 door. Vipes, I hate to tell ya, but the Yaris looks big for its wheels too. Your pictures prove it. It's no better than the Aveo.

[Cory Wolfe]

Oh Blu... I'm not denying that it looks big for its wheels, just that it's not nearly as bad as the Aveo. In pics, in person... you can tell the difference. And the fact that I found the most flattering pictures of both doen't help. The Aveo can really look bad in some pics.

[Flybrian]

Yeah, but the Yaris hatch looks bad no matter what. It seriously looks like the head of a newborn with Down Syndrome on wheels.

As for the Passat, take a look at one with stock wheels. As for the M3/45, it has a big, dumpy ass.

[Croc]

I too have issues with the M styling...I prefer the Q.

[ToniCipriani]

The 3 door Yaris is still decent, imo.  I wish the Aveo came in a 3 door.  Vipes, I hate to tell ya, but the Yaris looks big for its wheels too.  Your pictures prove it.  It's no better than the Aveo.

194577[/snapback]

They do, but they just don't sell it here. They have 3-door Kaloses in the UK. They even have a Sport model, which I think looks hot.

http://www.chevrolet.co.uk/models/kalos_3d/t2_index_0.htm

I just don't get why GM keeps on saying "people don't want this". Much like Dell with AMD.

Edited September 18, 2006 by ToniCipriani

[Croc]

Because the number of people who want it is not enough for it to make good business sense to sell it here.

[rueben44]

Damn people here are never happy! Just remember and say it with me.......12K economy car.....12K economy car......back to reality. Very nice car though the Aveo should have the gauges and I love the wheels.

[the_yellow_dart]

They do, but they just don't sell it here. They have 3-door Kaloses in the UK. They even have a Sport model, which I think looks hot.

http://www.chevrolet.co.uk/models/kalos_3d/t2_index_0.htm

I just don't get why GM keeps on saying "people don't want this". Much like Dell with AMD.

194632[/snapback]

I really don't understand why they just didn't give the Aveo those headlights in the first place.

[FAPTurbo]

They do, but they just don't sell it here. They have 3-door Kaloses in the UK. They even have a Sport model, which I think looks hot.

http://www.chevrolet.co.uk/models/kalos_3d/t2_index_0.htm

I just don't get why GM keeps on saying "people don't want this". Much like Dell with AMD.

194632[/snapback]

I find it kind of funny that the company we North American's know of as "Chevrolet" is often associated with Camaro's, Corvette's and Malibu's... and in the rest of the world save perhaps the Middle East, Chevy is the badge applied to dowdy ol' Daewoo's...

Edited September 18, 2006 by Captainbooyah

[Intrepidation]

Hmm, my gf's Prizm has a dead space below the left air vent closest to the door., but my Shadow doesn't. Models without fog lighst for example had different housings so they didn't have blank buttons.

[the_yellow_dart]

Here's a theory about the dead button.

The dash looks like it would swap from LHD to RHD pretty easily. If you were to swap the steering wheel, would it not also make sense to flip all the controls (including the hazard light button) to the other side of the car?

[Croc]

Here's a theory about the dead button.

The dash looks like it would swap from LHD to RHD pretty easily. If you were to swap the steering wheel, would it not also make sense to flip all the controls (including the hazard light button) to the other side of the car?

194749[/snapback]

That's what I was thinking...but then why not just design the center stack with a single, centered place for the hazard light? Having a dead plate in any car, economy or luxury, looks fricken cheap.

[Cory Wolfe]

As for the Passat, take a look at one with stock wheels.

194593[/snapback]

Um... those are stock wheels.

I too have issues with the M styling...I prefer the Q.

194629[/snapback]

Heh, me too. The M is my least favorite Infiniti sedan. I was just making a point.

They do, but they just don't sell it here. They have 3-door Kaloses in the UK. They even have a Sport model, which I think looks hot.

http://www.chevrolet.co.uk/models/kalos_3d/t2_index_0.htm

I just don't get why GM keeps on saying "people don't want this". Much like Dell with AMD.

194632[/snapback]

I always wondered that as well... especially the better looking headlights and fascias and such.

Here's a theory about the dead button.

The dash looks like it would swap from LHD to RHD pretty easily. If you were to swap the steering wheel, would it not also make sense to flip all the controls (including the hazard light button) to the other side of the car?

194749[/snapback]

That's why my Millenia has a certain dead button. The other's for a missing option.

[Dsuupr]

Not bad, but tacky for Pontiac to have such a vehicle. I know Canada laws make GM do weird things, but that's just not good for Pontiacs long term image.

[ToniCipriani]

I find it kind of funny that the company we North American's know of as "Chevrolet" is often associated with Camaro's, Corvette's and Malibu's... and in the rest of the world save perhaps the Middle East, Chevy is the badge applied to dowdy ol' Daewoo's...

194692[/snapback]

But the Middle East gets rebadged Commodores as well... which a LOT of the people here want.

[the_yellow_dart]

Not bad, but tacky for Pontiac to have such a vehicle.  I know Canada laws make GM do weird things, but that's just not good for Pontiacs long term image.

194803[/snapback]

Is it really Canadian law that makes them do this? Or just whiny Canadian Pontiac dealers?

[Intrepidation]

They do, but they just don't sell it here. They have 3-door Kaloses in the UK. They even have a Sport model, which I think looks hot.

http://www.chevrolet.co.uk/models/kalos_3d/t2_index_0.htm

I just don't get why GM keeps on saying "people don't want this". Much like Dell with AMD.

194632[/snapback]

Dell is stupid, plus they suck hard. AMD is far superior to Intel, both in performance and cost. Back to the topic at hand.

[I hope GMRULES again]

Its the dealers not the law. Pontiac dealers in Canada need all the help they can get.

[sciguy_0504]

I like this interior better than the Aveo's.

[Chicagoland]

Not bad, but tacky for Pontiac to have such a vehicle.  I know Canada laws make GM do weird things, but that's just not good for Pontiacs long term image.

194803[/snapback]

Well GM Canada has had rebadged Chevys as Pontiacs forever and ago. Seems that the 'long term image' hasn't hurt it. Had PMD versions of Vega, Chevette, Metro, and Nova.

And what is so bad about a nice compact sedan in this day and age? Pontiac is not 'just muscle cars'.

[daves87rs]

It has a cleaner look on the outside, which I like.

Inside is also better than the Aveo.....

[Northstar]

Unless I'm mistaken, the Aveo can have this same interior, it just so happens Ted's pics have the tan interior instead of the black, so it's really a moot point.

[Cory Wolfe]

Of course... although its the little things that make the difference.

[Mule Bakersdozen LS]

I too like this better than the Aveo.  Classier, even though they are just a few random changes...they do add up.

194340[/snapback]

Ditto.

[Imaj]

What a shame! There should be some consistency between USA and Canada lineups.

[Viperfan07]

No...?

194317[/snapback]

They look like Ford 500 taillights...