Hey, I am the second owner and I love my Aztek. Loads of room in back for plywood ,merchandise, etc. It has the best A/c of any vehicle I have driven or have ridden. Try that for Arizona heat. You have to love the looks as no one else does. The back window does have a positive. During night driving, there is no glare coming through from vehicles behind you. I have had no problems, mileage is in the 20’s in city driving and it has speed at the start from a light. Each to his own.
i just bot a 2005 aztec and i love it.
i got a great deal and a 3 year, 36000 mile warranty, so who cares if the engine is hard to work on, not my problem. the car is cool looking and drives and handles great. i hope it lasts for years.
South Dakota likes them to!! Sister in Law has one and I an now in the market for either a 2003 Town and Country Limited Minivan or a Pontiac Aztec…yes…after riding in her car I fell in love!! Lot’s of room in the back seat for my two teenager boys who are 6 feet…and when I out grow the car they will want to drive a Aztec over a Minivan…
The Aztek has been a mixed bag for me. I’m the original owner of a 2001 that just ticked over 150,000 miles. The transmission needed new gears at 65K, the gas guage is bad, the AC died the usual death, and the BCM is going out on me now, the hatch won’t open (I rewired the key switch in the tailgate to work the liftgate solenoids). Oh, and it needs the intake manifold gaskets done but I’ve been putting it off after the 6 hour spark plug changing experience. OTOH, the paint and body look great, it still gets 25MPG in mixed city/highway (closer to 30 on the open road) it’s still comfortable and it is still the best vehicle I’ve ever used on the job. I’ve never had to add oil between changes and it starts at -25F without being plugged in.
And best of all, I don’t have to look at it while I’m driving, but you do. Take that bitchez!
I was at the Woodward dream cruise over the weekend in Michigan and saw an older VW beetle that had a moving wind-up crank on the back of it, like a little wind-up mouse! My husband and I busted out laughing and I said I wanted one of those for the back of my 2004 silver rally edition AZTEC!
Face it folks, you have to suspend your sense of reality, and have a sense of umor about yourself, and care more about how the car feels, handles and drives than what it looks like!!
I found mine used with 9800 miles on it in April, the original owner had it as a lease, and it even still smelled new. The very first time I sat in the car and drove it (several years ago I tested one)I felt SAFE and COMFORTABLE. I have two bad hip joints, cannot get out of cars that sit low to the ground any more, and this car is a blessing in a wind-up toy kind of way.
Who out there remembers the “thing”? Was that ahead of its time or what? Now everyone wants a hummer, it’s really just an overgrown THING!
I don’t care if you are Amish and drive a horse and buggy, don’t knock what you have not tried, and don’t impose YOUR ideas on me. That’s a big problem with the world today, and as my Aunt Delores told me years before I met my husband, there’s a lid for every pot, and for some of us, the lid that best fits the car is the Aztec.
I would like to see them come back in some form. Tell you something else, in the Detroit area on the used car lots, these cars don’t sit long, they get purchased quickly by people who missed them the first time around or just want another one.
And the seat, well folks, when the car dies I am taking the seat with me, its the BEST engineered car seat I’ve ever had! This car is MINE and has even turned skeptics around!!!
My ten year old son pointed out an 03 Aztek on a used car lot locally. We were hating our 99 Kia Sephia with a passion at the time. He said, “Hey mom, that one looks COOL! So futuristic! You ought to drive it!” Heh.
I raised my eyebrow and smirked. I didn’t want to tell my enthused kiddo that I thought the monstrosity looked like a VW Thing combined with an Airstream camper and then had a tree dropped on it.
Now, I’ve always bought cars for function rather than form. I’m all about trying new things and there was no reason not to indulge my kiddo with a test drive. What the heck, right?
A week later I joyfully bought a bright shiny silver 05 Aztek at Carmax based on that test drive. It was absolutely awesome; the most comfortable and useful car I have ever driven. I suspect poster ‘Tom’ above also got his Aztek at Carmax; since I also have that lovely 3 year 36K warranty!
My buying and driving experience with this car has been great. I absolutely love it, my family loves it, and we’re looking forward to using it to its full potential.
I’m also thinking about having it decked out in vinyl to look like a badger. Heh heh.
the aztek is the freaking best car you will ever have in your life.
i dont care what they say -i love mine!!!
Aztek named one of the 50 Worst Cars of All Time
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1658545_1658544_1658540,00.html
Eric Sohn:
“Hey, I love my Aztek!”
That’s the first time I’ve ever heard that from anyone. Seriously, all the benefits you say you love about the Aztek are also true of the Honda Odyssey and the Odyssey doesn’t look dorky and drives pretty damn well I might add.
I recently bought a 2004 aztek. Living in the mountains of Pa
I am wondering how it goes in snow. Do I need studded tires?
I have only had the suv for a month but so far love it and am
trying to get used to the bar in the window. (it does block out
headlights very nicely though!)
M.A. in Pa
Sorry folks, ugly is ugly is ugly.
I will give the aztek this, apparently they are good driving and comfortable vehicles. My buddy who worked at a Pontiac dealership attests to that. Its a shame GM screwed the pooch on the styling. I could not believe that GM even pushed that thing out the door, finding out it was designed by committee explains so much.
And no matter how nice a car drives, I DO have a sense of style, and of self-respect, so I would never drive such an ugly mechanical monstrosity. Every unloved car has a fan club, so I guess all 37 members have posted here.
I stumbled on the the white low mileage Aztec by accident. After I did my research, I still bought it! Without a doubt, it is a unique design, but so what! We are an extension of our cars and there are a lot of us out there who are unique. I actually feel like my car fits me. I agree with the person who said, at least I can find it in the parking lot. The last three cars I owned were the ones where there are a million on the road. I got tired of meeting myself all the time. Now, I actually look forward to seeing one like me. Another thing that I don’t think anyone has mentioned, it’s great for dogs. My two medium sized babies love to ride in the back. The low rear window is perfect for them to see out as we go down the highway. However, they are low enough in the back they can’t get to the grandchildren sitting in the seats in front of them. It drives and rides great and didn’t cost me an arm and a leg. I don’t care about trade in value, anyway, because by the time I trade a car in it’s worn out and has a million miles on it.
Hey, I just bought one too. I thought they were ugly at first, but after looking around, I think that they are great value. Plus, the polarizing style is like a finger in the eye of convention.
Mine is a bright yellow, one owner car. The stereo is great, it runs smoothly on the highway, and so far the gas mileage is better than my former car, a Honda Element. Plus, the Aztek cost half of what a used Element would cost.
I’ll admit I’m one of those people that thought the Aztek was one of the ugliest cars that was ever made and questioned the mentallity of aztek owners. Then I sat in one. now I’m proud to say I own one and LOVE it. It is by far the most spacious comfortable car I’ve ever owned. I can’t believe all the storage space for tents, chairs, sleeping bags, coolers, skies, grills or whatever your into. It’s unique looks definately grew on me( looks to me like an urban assualt vehical.)Rides well It’s all wheel drive FANTASTIC in the snow or moderate off roading. Great sound system and innovative interior design and function and good on gas for a four wheel drive. And best of all a 2003 with 60,000 miles a STEAL at 8,500. So haters hate on I’m laughing all the way to the bank.
I have a 2002 Aztek and have never had a problem with it. I keep it properly maintained and go wherever I want in it. I’m diabetic and must keep my insuling with me to take after meals while at work. The built-in, removeable cooler is great. I just fill it with ice each morning and the cooler stays cool the whole day, even in 100 degree Georgia heat. You naysayers don’t know what you’re talking about. If you’ve never owned or driven one you’ve missed the best driving experience of your life. The Aztek is THE MOST reliable car I’ve ever owned. Low maintenance, 22mpg in the city, economical- whatelse could you want? So what if you think it’s not cute. Cute means nothing to your pocketbook.
Hey I just brought a 2003astek I like it so far. It looks a little different, but who wonts the same thing everyone eles has. I would not say it is ugly, just different.All cars need to be mantained. If you think the car is ugly then dont buy one but just because some dont think the same way as you do dont make them odd just more broad minded then most people. love to all astek owners who has the courage to me different.
Hey I just brought a 2003 astek I like it so far. It looks a little different, but who wonts the same thing everyone eles has. I would not say it’s ugly just different. All cars need to be mantained. If you think the car is ugly then don’t buy one but just because some dont think the same way as you do don’t make them odd just they have more of a broader mind then most people. Love to all astek owners who has the courage to be different. May God bless you in the choice that you made.
I bought a 2005 aztek. I was one that thought they were a very ugly car too. But I really loved mine. I do have to say that I did lose it. Someone drove threw a red light and hit my car. No one even got hurt, thank goodness. I think that it was a very safe car in that instance. I just hope I can find another to replace it. They are roomy, and they drive like a car. I put people back in their place when they make fun of the aztek.
Pontiac Aztek = Ford Edsel 45 years later.
Nuff said.
I live in a small city in Ohio, i can tell you that this thing can drive like a sports car when you have it wired. I have mine hocked up on premium gas and an octane booster, I out drove a mustang off the light and it had its engines roaring. HOWEVER, this car has stopped on me before in bad spots, and the back blindspot where the spoiler thingy is, is horrible. I own a bright yellow 2002 model and may very well be the most vivacious driver in my town. People know and fear my Aztek.
PS…does nobody mention the heads up display? Its so good not having to look at the damn mileage wheel when it just digitally displays it on the glass.