2005 Pontiac Aztek ?

[Seth W]

In less than a year I will be getting my drivers license and my parents are getting me a car as long as its used and under $10,000 and I was looking at a final year Pontiac Aztek. Would it be a bad decision to buy this car since it's discontinued ?

 

[lbhietala]

RUN DON'T LOOK BACK

The Aztek was possibly the goofiest looking car GM ever produced. Now admittedly, it doesn't have any glaring mechanical problems - the Buick Rendezvous is essentially the same car and has much less...questionable...styling.

It's actually a pretty good car to drive and keep up with. But to clap eyes on it may make you want to stab them out with a fork. Be warned.

At least with the '05 they tried to tone down the styling. It didn't work, not entirely. Dealers finally sold the last new '05s somewhere in the middle of '07 - if that doesn't tell you what the styling's effect is on normal humans, nothing will.

 

[edthespartan]

Actually a 2005 Aztek is an excellent choice in practical terms. It's based on the same platform that was used for the Buick Rendezvous, Chevy Venture, Pontiac Montana and Olds Silhuette, and its 3.4L V6 was used in all of the above and a dozen other models (Chevy Impala, Pontiac Grand Am/Grand Prix, etc.), so replacement parts are plentiful.

It's safe (dual front & side airbags, available ABS & traction control, daytime running lights), fuel efficient (19/27, which is awesome for an SUV), comfortable and drives great. Plus if you can find a model with the upgraded stereo, the tunes are amazing.

If you're looking at an '01-'04 Aztek, check out to see if the intake manifold gasket was replaced...that was a huge problem with the 3.4V6 engine GM used in those model years, and it's a costly repair. I believe this problem was fixed in the 2005 model year.