Have to say, other than a little extreme styling on the first version, it was a pretty interesting car that was ahead of its time in the crossover market. Not a huge GM fan but at least they gave it a go!
I worked for one of the top Pontiac dealers in Missouri at the time of the Aztecs release. Several of the sales staff were upset that they had to try and sell them because it was so ugly and a few actually left and went to sell cars for other companies. Somehow Dave Cross Motors has continued to flourish and still proudly sells GM products and is one of the oldest car dealerships in the Kansas City area.
Bought a 2001 with 134,000 miles for $1,000 a year ago. Drove it to Central Texas from Denver and back twice. Drove it to Roswell NM this summer. With wife and 2 teenagers. AC on the whole time. The aztek never missed a beat did great the whole time. Wife uses it as a daily Only complaint is the cup holders for the back seats could be better. They're integrated into the bottom of the rear doors. The cooler between the front seats is a great addition, fill it with ice and bottles of water and your good to go.
Keep in mind though that these car companies are ONLY WORRIED ABOUT new buyers. This kinda reminds me of the elastic straps in the magazine door holders of my hyundai trajet. At 19 years old.... it's stretched absolutely beyond the joke. SURE they were a great idea when new, but they're junk now. But hyundai was ONLY WORRIED ABOUT when they were new.....
@@OffGridInvestor yeah true, the car company don't make a dime after the first sale, so they ain't gonna give a second thought about what happens to it after year one. But as a used car buyer, it's something to look out for if you know what you're supposed to get with the car.
I recently sold my Honda Element which had a manually removable sunroof along with a storage bag for it that would connect to the cargo tie-down points. I made sure that storage bag was in there when I sold the car.
Truly ahead of it's time. My own generation trends towards anything with a hatch, but when this came out most of us were still in school (I graduated HS the year they discontinued it). Ten or twelve years later and this'd have quite possibly gone sailing out of the lots... and the price of a well-optioned example today really confirms that.
I think if Pontiac had sold this in the European market it would of sold like hot cakes. I always thought this was a euro vision car being sold to US customers. There are different tastes across the pond, none of which are wrong or better, just different. Another great video, shame about so many ads, but I appreciate the reasoning. That V6 was a very solid engine too. I didn't know GM had a reputation for not being innotive, I think of them of being up there with Renault
The best feature of the Aztec was the folding-down tailgate. You can load so many more things with a folded-down tailgate. It's a pity station-wagons don't have tailgates anymore.
I used to have a Honda Element which had a similar clamshell tell you it was handy if you needed to leave the top half open while keeping the bottom half shut. I was transporting a chipper vac which what's similar to a lawn mower but it's a little bigger and heavier and because of some other stuff I already had in the car I couldn't get it all the way in in the handlebars didn't fold down on that model. So after getting it in I just shut the bottom half of the tailgate and left the top open.
I saw one in 2004 when I was on holiday in the States. I thought it looked great. Different but I really liked the styling. But I do like cars that stand out and look different to the other stuff on the road. I had a Citroen Cactus because I loved the wacky styling. Plenty of people don't though. I nearly bought a 2nd gen Nissan Cube once as well. I still fancy a 1st gen Cube even now. I drive a Suzuki Ignis now. It's not very different to other cars about, but still a bit quirky looking and not as common as a Ford Fiesta. I'd have an Aztek any day if they'd been sold over here in the UK. Great video, always good to see a new video from Big Car!
the Cactus, cube and 3th gen.Ignis are out of the box designs. They are weird designs but not Ugly The Aztec or a Ssangyong Rodius are and will be ugly!
5:47 i now see the problem. the production vehicle is far from what was shown as a prototype to the focus groups and at the show. wtf its a different car!?
My mom bought one in 2004 brand new, we had it for 14 years and never had any issues with it, only sold it because of the fuel efficiency and it was over 100,000 miles so she moved on. We loved it, I drove it to college and honestly it was one of the most reliable car she had...
You Sir are a legend. Love this channel and your choice on vehicles. I was just thinking of this car, and low and behold i see this video. Always liked the Aztec and Multipla. Keep up the good work.
Another superb video! :D Marmite is wonderful on toast, the best way to start any day! :D As for the Aztek, there truly were some endearing features to the car, and to an extent it was ahead of its time concerning crossovers, but it was unfortunately one of those 'taken-at-face-value' machines. I wouldn't want one myself, but it's a car you can appreciate for more than for what the press made it out to be. :)
I got my Aztek new in 2003, still driving it today. Great gas mileage. It has the towing and camping packages. Twenty years old and will probably still be on the road 5 years from now, maybe more. I love my Azzie!
Blimey, your up late. Just dragged my sorry flu ridden backside downstairs to find another excellent video by yourself. A pleasant surprise on an otherwise dreadful night. Keep up the good work. 🤒
Ah, the Rendezvous. Remember the "Harley Earl's ghost" ads for that? Ha! Earl would have loathed that top-heavy jellybean...he liked cars long, low and wide, everything the Rendezvous wasn't...
OMG! I didn't know you had already made a video about an American car when I commented on your other video like a week ago. Rock on Big Car!! PS: in case you can't tell, I'm a big fan of your channel
Unfortunately my mainly British audience doesn't watch videos of US cars. I have wanted to do the Ford Flex for a while, but haven't I feel it won't do well.
@@BigCar2 I had commented on a video about a month back but I had no idea you made this video about an American car I'm happy to take anything you make lol and yeah the Ford Flex was def an odd quickly forgotten car here in the US. I think we both got the Chevy Volt you guys got an Opel version maybe. Take care, promise I'll get you something on patreon soon too
It is strange that some would vote down this video. What, I wonder, were they expecting ? Even if they dislike the Aztek, the video is informative and slick.
There are always those in society who hate success, because it makes them feel worthless. It's called 'envy'. I also wonder if it adversely affects revenue?
Always love your videos. Discovered your channel recently and have been making my way through your archive. Just one note, the Terrain you showed wasn't the North American model but rather an unrelated, Chevy Captiva/Opel Antara rebadge sold in the Middle East.
1:26 think it was in 2000, me and several of my colleagues went to Italy on a job, and we where picked up at the airport in a fiat multipla, we did not believed our own eyes, and I think we where insulted by driven in such a car, but after a few days we loved it, it was a very nice car
i had a friend who had one, i got to drive it a couple times, and absolutely loved it. the buttons on the inside felt like cheap plastic, but otherwise thought it was a great ride, very comfortable, great visibility, somehow hers would get around 30 miles per gallon, mostly highway.
mike clements internal combustion motor has been the engineering term for over a century. A motor is a machine that does work. Motor car is the classic term for the petrol/ gasoline powered automobile. Electric cars. Dont get me started 😟
@fordlandau ....Because early cars were originally ELECTRIC, the name “motorcar” was applied. (Same was true for “motor” cycles). When internal combustion ENGINES gained popularity, the name “motor” car (and “motor” cycle) stuck. My friend, who owns a Tesla, made the comment that, since a Tesla is ELECTRIC powered, the classic term “motorcar” could correctly be used! So the engineering terms are as follows: electric=motor, and internal combustion=engine.
I like the Aztek because I think that not every car needs to be pretty. Before Breaking Bad, It was featured in the TV show Dark Angel which is set in a post-apocalyptic future world and it was absolutely perfect for that show. I thought that in that context it looked good. Maybe it's my nostalgia talking because I'm absolutely in love with the story of Dark Angel and it brings back many great memories but I thought the Aztek really did well in capturing a modern cyberpunk feel and state of mind that was present in that show and that era.
Fun fact: this is not the first GM car with a tent accessory. The mid 70’s x-platform (nova, skylark, omega, Phoenix) hatchback versions had an available snap in tent that attached to the extremely large and heavy rear hatch. No idea how popular this was, but hey, recycled idea is recycled. Good video, and love these
You should make a video about the SKODA 130 RS The underdog that thrived in every rally championship And how an eastern block country managed to achive such huge success
Another fantastic Big Car video. I now know so much about a car I had barely heard of beyond being the wheels of choice for Walter White! Thanks Mr Big Car. ~-)
👍 Great Job .... I Love the story telling of your videos ... the Aztec story was very interesting .... could you do one on the Kia Soul, another unconventional styled car, but in this case, a popular seller ..... apparently it was based on a Wild Boar !!!
Big Car ... I understand ... i love the Aztec background .... helps it make a lot more sense .... If the Kia Soul, that would be great , as I own one but I am still puzzled by it, sort of like the Aztec!!! Thanks
It was a popular car with field service techs who didn't need or want a full-sized van or even an Astro mini-van because it was reliable and roomy. You didn't bump your head getting in and out and with the rear seats folded down you could put a lot inside. Not a competitor the later Ford Transit Connect fit the same niche and was very popular for the same reasons.
Another great video Andy, well done to GM for trying something different, perhaps the controversy has kept The Aztek in the public's memory and, like you said, it's not the weird looking vehicle it was when introduced so it has some appeal, certainly not as common as other vehicles of its era, so why not, I'd probably buy one.
I guess I was the target market because when I saw one at a car show in the early 2000s, I really wanted one, despite the looks. The tent was a big selling point.
The strange part is the first gen. duckbill multipla has become an icon. As a family car it is still a wel thought over, liked and usefull vehicle. People who have them (up)keep them. There are not so much of them left because the most were used as taxi's
@@obelic71 That's certainly true that people took care of this car. For some reason, people don't let their Azteks fall into a state of disrepair. I drove flatbed tow trucks for many years, and in that whole time, I only ever towed one Aztek. They're still around, in fact I still see them quite often, and when I do see one, it's always in very good condition, and it's someone's daily driver.
both the Aztek and the Multipla had their loyal customers Fiat killed off the Multipla when they redesigned it to be boring, noone really wanted one any more and now they have those hideous oversized 500 offshoots that make the Multipla look attractive in comparison, but they sell
Thank you for this video. I've been a long-time apologist for the Aztek. It's not the prettiest car no, but it was advanced considering how many creature comforts and practical add-ons it came with. If a similar concept would have been revealed 5, even 10 years ago, it would have been an immediate hit and possibly even saved Pontiac. It was just the worst time and place for it.
And now the newest generation of Hyundai's crossovers' front fascia look like a modernised version of the Aztek's face. It's amazing how little power they've squeezed out of a 3.4l V6.
Great video, but I'd posit that the Columbia black and yellow parka was hardly obscure at the time here in the US. I bagged a lot of groceries to get mine back in HS lol
I have walked around this car. Driving around in a bit of "post modern irony" appears attractive now, go back to a showroom in 2001. 1) Due to the market segment, this vehicle purchase needs the approval of two. The salesman might hook the guy with features, but the woman will take one look and say "no way". This kills the "energy" around a car. 2) The car is tough to market, because you cannot find one angle that can be "promoted". Both in the sales photos, or in the flesh in the showroom. Most cars have at least one angle. So again difficult to create any energy with the car. 3) The car was at the transition in car manufacturing. You could design any ideas virtually, but still had manufacturing limitations in transferring these to reality. Essentially, how can we make this shoe box different and interesting? Which wouldn't be so bad, if there had been some coherence. "less is more" seems to have been forgotten here. Everyone seems to have chipped in with ideas and had them accepted. I like ugly cars, I like box shape cars (Imp, Uno, Forester, Pajero) but this Aztec had no cohesion. Of course, it stands the test of time much better, because time has given it a character. We all love a good pantomime character.
@@obelic71 Wow I didn't think it was even possible to top GM Aztek on ugliness but the SsangYong Rodius, only thing I can say is wow my eyes hurt. Who ever designed these vehicles need to be FIRED! ASAP if they're still working
i love the idea of making a vehicle ultra versatile, it's just a shame that it didn't had the right looks or a true offroad ability. I think it could be interesting a video about the Nissan Bluebird. being in production for nearly 50 years with FWD RWD and AWD drivetrain in multiple generations, racing history, rally prepared trim levels and even was produced in China and the UK, dying as a bland mundane saloon in the early 2000's. Excellent and interesting video as always!
Great, thanks for this. I heard someone say it looks lie the front and back were designed by different design teams. That said, you can do North American videos, and I look forward to seeing Saturn. GMs almost successful (well successful for a while) new approach. You can include the SR2 and SR3 midsize products with the in-line 6 that never saw that light of day. :)
as much as i (in theory, never owned one unfortunately) liked the AMC Eagle, and even better the coupe version the AMC Eagls SX/4 (basically a rally car) it was definitely not the first.. subaru also beat them, with 1975 "4x4" wagons.. or at least that's the earliest one i found with 4wd. i actually did own a 1979 4wd subaru wagon, oh so ugly, i bought it for $100 to learn how to drive stick shift, drove it for about 8 months, until the front end rusted thru and the strut well was leaning on the engine.
I remember when these were new. Hated them then and hate them now. They wanted something sporty and a combo of a Camaro and Blazer and ended up with something neither of them were, a front wheel drive minivan.
I liked the Aztek in photos and advertisements... What a shocker when I saw one in Broklyn some years ago! I could not believe that I found it so ugly, and the overwhelming feeling of wanting to faint at the sight!... But you know, if I had the change... I would have gotten myself one, I kinda like it, the looks grow on you.
That thing would be a hit right now, imagine hybrid options & removing top like open air Jeep like concept, the tent option would be well received by the outdoorsy live off the grid types
I really don't know why I like this video; maybe it's the presentation. I strongly believe some cars are better forgotten than remembered... (Remember Multipla anyone? There is a reason to wake up crying in the night)
I saw it at a mall in Atlanta when they released it in 2001. I found it very appealing due to its many unconventional features. It is probably the only car designed for car camping from the factory, even today. The external styling is kinda weird, but I care more about features than look. Too bad that not enough people share my sentiment. GM created a crossover before the term was even invented.
Russell Steedman It’s rather fitting you mention the P76 in an Aztec video, vehicles uglier and more unloved than the Leyland are like rocking horse poo. Personally I think this channel has covered the failings of the various UK car industries ad nauseam and them failing on another continent for basically the same reasons would be like digging up that dead horse to flog it some more.
I REALLY want an Aztek. To keep in my garage next to a MK1 Multipla.
ah, I see you're a man of culture as well
@@Aprill264 I drive a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. The closest modern day interpretation of the Aztek and the closest I can find in the UK!
Congratulations! That makes you the owner of the two ugliest ever produced!
And a Nissan Joke, sorry Puke, oh bugger I meant Juke
Good for you buddy 🤣
Have to say, other than a little extreme styling on the first version, it was a pretty interesting car that was ahead of its time in the crossover market. Not a huge GM fan but at least they gave it a go!
I worked for one of the top Pontiac dealers in Missouri at the time of the Aztecs release. Several of the sales staff were upset that they had to try and sell them because it was so ugly and a few actually left and went to sell cars for other companies. Somehow Dave Cross Motors has continued to flourish and still proudly sells GM products and is one of the oldest car dealerships in the Kansas City area.
Bought a 2001 with 134,000 miles for $1,000 a year ago. Drove it to Central Texas from Denver and back twice. Drove it to Roswell NM this summer. With wife and 2 teenagers. AC on the whole time. The aztek never missed a beat did great the whole time. Wife uses it as a daily Only complaint is the cup holders for the back seats could be better. They're integrated into the bottom of the rear doors. The cooler between the front seats is a great addition, fill it with ice and bottles of water and your good to go.
Would have been perfect for racing weekend! Ended up with a wagon and was a great set of wheels!
I'm driving an Aztek, and I love it. I have the cooler and the tent. 222,000 miles.
Anything on a car that can be removed, is just something to be missing if you buy a car second/third or fourth hand.
Keep in mind though that these car companies are ONLY WORRIED ABOUT new buyers. This kinda reminds me of the elastic straps in the magazine door holders of my hyundai trajet. At 19 years old.... it's stretched absolutely beyond the joke. SURE they were a great idea when new, but they're junk now. But hyundai was ONLY WORRIED ABOUT when they were new.....
@@OffGridInvestor yeah true, the car company don't make a dime after the first sale, so they ain't gonna give a second thought about what happens to it after year one. But as a used car buyer, it's something to look out for if you know what you're supposed to get with the car.
I recently sold my Honda Element which had a manually removable sunroof along with a storage bag for it that would connect to the cargo tie-down points. I made sure that storage bag was in there when I sold the car.
Truly ahead of it's time. My own generation trends towards anything with a hatch, but when this came out most of us were still in school (I graduated HS the year they discontinued it). Ten or twelve years later and this'd have quite possibly gone sailing out of the lots... and the price of a well-optioned example today really confirms that.
I think if Pontiac had sold this in the European market it would of sold like hot cakes. I always thought this was a euro vision car being sold to US customers. There are different tastes across the pond, none of which are wrong or better, just different.
Another great video, shame about so many ads, but I appreciate the reasoning.
That V6 was a very solid engine too.
I didn't know GM had a reputation for not being innotive, I think of them of being up there with Renault
The best feature of the Aztec was the folding-down tailgate.
You can load so many more things with a folded-down tailgate.
It's a pity station-wagons don't have tailgates anymore.
I've never used a car with a folding-down tailgate but I don't really see any advantage over a hatchback for loading stuff
I used to have a Honda Element which had a similar clamshell tell you it was handy if you needed to leave the top half open while keeping the bottom half shut. I was transporting a chipper vac which what's similar to a lawn mower but it's a little bigger and heavier and because of some other stuff I already had in the car I couldn't get it all the way in in the handlebars didn't fold down on that model. So after getting it in I just shut the bottom half of the tailgate and left the top open.
@@Ozuhananas - A folding-down tailgate increases the floor space for loading oversize stuff. THAT is the advantage over a hatchback.
I saw one in 2004 when I was on holiday in the States. I thought it looked great. Different but I really liked the styling. But I do like cars that stand out and look different to the other stuff on the road. I had a Citroen Cactus because I loved the wacky styling. Plenty of people don't though. I nearly bought a 2nd gen Nissan Cube once as well. I still fancy a 1st gen Cube even now. I drive a Suzuki Ignis now. It's not very different to other cars about, but still a bit quirky looking and not as common as a Ford Fiesta. I'd have an Aztek any day if they'd been sold over here in the UK. Great video, always good to see a new video from Big Car!
The Cactus looks cool. Not the Aztec though...
Boy what is your favorite brand of window cleaner.
I know, I need help! 😄 If I'm the only person who likes the look of the Aztek then maybe there's no hope for me 😳
@@robsterbob580 don't come to Minnesota they are all over here even though it can't Handel snow for shit.
the Cactus, cube and 3th gen.Ignis are out of the box designs.
They are weird designs but not Ugly
The Aztec or a Ssangyong Rodius are and will be ugly!
5:47 i now see the problem. the production vehicle is far from what was shown as a prototype to the focus groups and at the show. wtf its a different car!?
Congrats on your first US car. Great vid.
My mom bought one in 2004 brand new, we had it for 14 years and never had any issues with it, only sold it because of the fuel efficiency and it was over 100,000 miles so she moved on. We loved it, I drove it to college and honestly it was one of the most reliable car she had...
I knew this highschool chemistry teacher from Albuquerque who had one of these things... I wonder what he's up to now...
My Pontiac Aztek almost died in the mountains of Lake Tahoe, CA 😆 I drove the hell out of that thing. Will always have a special place in my heart.
This makes the AMC Pacer award winning
this channel is pure gold and reminds me of the 90's.
You Sir are a legend. Love this channel and your choice on vehicles. I was just thinking of this car, and low and behold i see this video. Always liked the Aztec and Multipla.
Keep up the good work.
I wish I could have an Aztek! To bad it wasn't sold in Europe! Thank you for this amusing video and story!
Another superb video! :D
Marmite is wonderful on toast, the best way to start any day! :D
As for the Aztek, there truly were some endearing features to the car, and to an extent it was ahead of its time concerning crossovers, but it was unfortunately one of those 'taken-at-face-value' machines. I wouldn't want one myself, but it's a car you can appreciate for more than for what the press made it out to be. :)
Erratum: Tom Peters also did the 6th generation Camaro (that you see in the photo).
@IngLouisSchreurs :-) So it is an Errata then, as that's two mistakes! I hated Latin at school...
I love the blindspot. It blocks all headlights behind you. Brilliant! No more irritating lights in your rearview mirror.
This channel is a gem ... You have inspired me 😉
I got my Aztek new in 2003, still driving it today. Great gas mileage. It has the towing and camping packages. Twenty years old and will probably still be on the road 5 years from now, maybe more. I love my Azzie!
Crazy how much modern day SUVs look like the Aztec, the public just wasn't ready back then lol
I love how GM totally skipped the GM EV1 in that Volt commercial.
Aztek lives on through the Lamborghini Urus and other crossovers
I think the concept for it looked rather good
The Lamborghini Urus actually looks like someone tried to make a modern version of the Aztek
@@patrickmartin3322 ye
Saying you're reaching is an understatement. Murican mental gymnastics 😂
Blimey, your up late. Just dragged my sorry flu ridden backside downstairs to find another excellent video by yourself. A pleasant surprise on an otherwise dreadful night. Keep up the good work. 🤒
Richard Weeks Hope that flu goes soon!
@@nimeshchokshi1921 thanks Nimesh
I'm glad I can bring just a little joy. 'Flu is the worst...
@@BigCar2 thank you.
Ah, the Rendezvous. Remember the "Harley Earl's ghost" ads for that? Ha! Earl would have loathed that top-heavy jellybean...he liked cars long, low and wide, everything the Rendezvous wasn't...
OMG! I didn't know you had already made a video about an American car when I commented on your other video like a week ago. Rock on Big Car!! PS: in case you can't tell, I'm a big fan of your channel
Unfortunately my mainly British audience doesn't watch videos of US cars. I have wanted to do the Ford Flex for a while, but haven't I feel it won't do well.
@@BigCar2 I had commented on a video about a month back but I had no idea you made this video about an American car I'm happy to take anything you make lol and yeah the Ford Flex was def an odd quickly forgotten car here in the US. I think we both got the Chevy Volt you guys got an Opel version maybe. Take care, promise I'll get you something on patreon soon too
@@95blahblahhaha Well, tomorrow's video is something that's sold in the US - the Prius. I promise it's not boring!
It is strange that some would vote down this video. What, I wonder, were they expecting ? Even if they dislike the Aztek, the video is informative and slick.
There are always those in society who hate success, because it makes them feel worthless. It's called 'envy'. I also wonder if it adversely affects revenue?
I can still see a few of this on the road. The owners agree that is not the most stylish vehicle but it is very comfortable to ride on!
Thanks again BC, from a Marmite (but NOT Aztec) lover!!
Always love your videos. Discovered your channel recently and have been making my way through your archive. Just one note, the Terrain you showed wasn't the North American model but rather an unrelated, Chevy Captiva/Opel Antara rebadge sold in the Middle East.
1:26 think it was in 2000, me and several of my colleagues went to Italy on a job, and we where picked up at the airport in a fiat multipla, we did not believed our own eyes, and I think we where insulted by driven in such a car, but after a few days we loved it, it was a very nice car
i had a friend who had one, i got to drive it a couple times, and absolutely loved it. the buttons on the inside felt like cheap plastic, but otherwise thought it was a great ride, very comfortable, great visibility, somehow hers would get around 30 miles per gallon, mostly highway.
GM tried the built-in-tent idea here in Australia as an option on the Holden Torana circa 1976, they called it the "Hatch Hutch" as I recall.
The front of the concept Aztek looked way better than the production version.
Man, i really loved the B Model of my 8865 too!
I loved this car when I owned one in the mid-2000s. Great suspension.
Great choice of a truly eccentric motor car. Thanks! If you had one today it would be super cool.
@fordlandau ....since MOTORS are electric, and ENGINES are combustion, wouldn’t the correct term be: “engine car”? 🤔🤔🤔
mike clements internal combustion motor has been the engineering term for over a century. A motor is a machine that does work. Motor car is the classic term for the petrol/ gasoline powered automobile. Electric cars. Dont get me started 😟
@fordlandau ....Because early cars were originally ELECTRIC, the name “motorcar” was applied. (Same was true for “motor” cycles). When internal combustion ENGINES gained popularity, the name “motor” car (and “motor” cycle) stuck. My friend, who owns a Tesla, made the comment that, since a Tesla is ELECTRIC powered, the classic term “motorcar” could correctly be used! So the engineering terms are as follows: electric=motor, and internal combustion=engine.
Almost didn't watch this video because I don't care about the Aztek at all..but I'm glad I did. Very interesting. Nice work sir.
This car was years ahead of its time and if you look at the facilities that came with it it was pretty incredible and should not be mock
Thanks so much. Love this car cross over.
I like the Aztek because I think that not every car needs to be pretty. Before Breaking Bad, It was featured in the TV show Dark Angel which is set in a post-apocalyptic future world and it was absolutely perfect for that show. I thought that in that context it looked good. Maybe it's my nostalgia talking because I'm absolutely in love with the story of Dark Angel and it brings back many great memories but I thought the Aztek really did well in capturing a modern cyberpunk feel and state of mind that was present in that show and that era.
Fun fact: this is not the first GM car with a tent accessory. The mid 70’s x-platform (nova, skylark, omega, Phoenix) hatchback versions had an available snap in tent that attached to the extremely large and heavy rear hatch. No idea how popular this was, but hey, recycled idea is recycled. Good video, and love these
Thanks for the video! I kinda want one now! I love weird cars! Lol
Great video- strange car but oddly likeable
You should make a video about the SKODA 130 RS
The underdog that thrived in every rally championship
And how an eastern block country managed to achive such huge success
Another fantastic Big Car video. I now know so much about a car I had barely heard of beyond being the wheels of choice for Walter White! Thanks Mr Big Car. ~-)
Glad you enjoyed it Wilf!
👍 Great Job .... I Love the story telling of your videos ... the Aztec story was very interesting .... could you do one on the Kia Soul, another unconventional styled car, but in this case, a popular seller ..... apparently it was based on a Wild Boar !!!
Maybe. I've got a LOT of cars backed up!
Big Car ... I understand ... i love the Aztec background .... helps it make a lot more sense .... If the Kia Soul, that would be great , as I own one but I am still puzzled by it, sort of like the Aztec!!! Thanks
It was a popular car with field service techs who didn't need or want a full-sized van or even an Astro mini-van because it was reliable and roomy. You didn't bump your head getting in and out and with the rear seats folded down you could put a lot inside. Not a competitor the later Ford Transit Connect fit the same niche and was very popular for the same reasons.
Another great video Andy, well done to GM for trying something different, perhaps the controversy has kept The Aztek in the public's memory and, like you said, it's not the weird looking vehicle it was when introduced so it has some appeal, certainly not as common as other vehicles of its era, so why not, I'd probably buy one.
I guess I was the target market because when I saw one at a car show in the early 2000s, I really wanted one, despite the looks. The tent was a big selling point.
Fecenating as always. Thank you .
I see what you did there. 💩🚾 Thankfully, I can't smell it.
I think the design was just _too_ different for customer tastes. It was the same issue that eventually hurt the Fiat Multipla.
The problem was it looked like a minivan. They should have stuck with the prototype design.
The strange part is the first gen. duckbill multipla has become an icon.
As a family car it is still a wel thought over, liked and usefull vehicle.
People who have them (up)keep them.
There are not so much of them left because the most were used as taxi's
@@obelic71
That's certainly true that people took care of this car. For some reason, people don't let their Azteks fall into a state of disrepair. I drove flatbed tow trucks for many years, and in that whole time, I only ever towed one Aztek. They're still around, in fact I still see them quite often, and when I do see one, it's always in very good condition, and it's someone's daily driver.
The design was just too utterly shite for human consumption
both the Aztek and the Multipla had their loyal customers
Fiat killed off the Multipla when they redesigned it to be boring, noone really wanted one any more
and now they have those hideous oversized 500 offshoots that make the Multipla look attractive in comparison, but they sell
Thank you for this video. I've been a long-time apologist for the Aztek. It's not the prettiest car no, but it was advanced considering how many creature comforts and practical add-ons it came with. If a similar concept would have been revealed 5, even 10 years ago, it would have been an immediate hit and possibly even saved Pontiac. It was just the worst time and place for it.
There were some good innovative features, but I couldn't get past those looks!
I've always been curious about the Dodge Caliber, a similar concept to the Aztek. It might be worth doing a video on too!
Car was definitely ahead of its time.
I'm neither here nor there on Marmite to be honest. Bovril on the other hand is flippin amazing, it's like beef jam.
I tried Marmite once and thought it had gone bad, but I was informed that apparently it was supposed to taste like that on purpose.
A fair appraisal, but not completely without flaws. I was a sculptor at GM at the time and I could tell you a few stories......
And now the newest generation of Hyundai's crossovers' front fascia look like a modernised version of the Aztek's face.
It's amazing how little power they've squeezed out of a 3.4l V6.
6:14 the face of the security. ahahah
I tried to buy one of these a few years ago and my wife flat out forbade it.
Great video, but I'd posit that the Columbia black and yellow parka was hardly obscure at the time here in the US. I bagged a lot of groceries to get mine back in HS lol
It's a South Butt parka.
I have walked around this car. Driving around in a bit of "post modern irony" appears attractive now, go back to a showroom in 2001.
1) Due to the market segment, this vehicle purchase needs the approval of two. The salesman might hook the guy with features, but the woman will take one look and say "no way". This kills the "energy" around a car.
2) The car is tough to market, because you cannot find one angle that can be "promoted". Both in the sales photos, or in the flesh in the showroom. Most cars have at least one angle. So again difficult to create any energy with the car.
3) The car was at the transition in car manufacturing. You could design any ideas virtually, but still had manufacturing limitations in transferring these to reality. Essentially, how can we make this shoe box different and interesting? Which wouldn't be so bad, if there had been some coherence. "less is more" seems to have been forgotten here. Everyone seems to have chipped in with ideas and had them accepted.
I like ugly cars, I like box shape cars (Imp, Uno, Forester, Pajero) but this Aztec had no cohesion. Of course, it stands the test of time much better, because time has given it a character. We all love a good pantomime character.
:-) Have you thought about writing my scripts?!?
@@BigCar2 I am guessing you were joking? You do a consistently good job.
The first time I saw an Aztec, I said "thats a buttugly car". My opinion has not changed.
The debate is still out, is the ugliest car the Pontiac Aztec or the Ssangyong Rodius?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SsangYong_Rodius
@@obelic71 Wow I didn't think it was even possible to top GM Aztek on ugliness but the SsangYong Rodius, only thing I can say is wow my eyes hurt.
Who ever designed these vehicles need to be FIRED! ASAP if they're still working
@@WHO9119 I think the designers designed them on a company party just as a joke.
The joke went out of hand when the managment found the designs !
Toyota has asked us to hold its beer...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Alphard
Nothing uglier than the sea of gray Camry's while I drive to work so I can eat and sleep and then die.
When you going to do the Pontiac Firebird story, Now That's a COOL US car.Informative as ever great video 💯
What about the Pontiac Vibe? Please could you do a story on that one sometime soon, Big Car?
i love the idea of making a vehicle ultra versatile, it's just a shame that it didn't had the right looks or a true offroad ability.
I think it could be interesting a video about the Nissan Bluebird. being in production for nearly 50 years with FWD RWD and AWD drivetrain in multiple generations, racing history, rally prepared trim levels and even was produced in China and the UK, dying as a bland mundane saloon in the early 2000's.
Excellent and interesting video as always!
The Bluebird video would be about three hours long!!!
Congrats on your first American car video! :)
This thing was way ahead of its time! Look at the Toyota CHR now, people can’t get enough of them. Not hugely different but the Aztec more practical
And now we have al kind of high coupes like this
Great video as always. One small point... the shelving behind you looks tilted due to the camera angle. My OCD could look at nothing else !
You're not going to like any of my other videos then!
@@BigCar2 I love them. I'll get over it :-)
Great, thanks for this. I heard someone say it looks lie the front and back were designed by different design teams.
That said, you can do North American videos, and I look forward to seeing Saturn. GMs almost successful (well successful for a while) new approach. You can include the SR2 and SR3 midsize products with the in-line 6 that never saw that light of day.
:)
The prototype looked nice.
The all-one-colour aztek looks like a cross between the Vauxhall Antara and a CityRover from the front :D
Great video as usual. Would love to see a story of the fiat panda video
Yeah, the Panda would be fun!
@@BigCar2 absolutely. Would be fascinating. I love the 2003-2012 Panda the most.
It looks better pictured in your story than I remembered in real life. It was hideously ugly in real life. The utility was cool.
You should do one on the AMC Eagle The fist crossover 4x4.
Amen. Plz do Sir.
Top idea
I'm afraid the Polski Fiat 125p Kombi 4x4 was older
as much as i (in theory, never owned one unfortunately) liked the AMC Eagle, and even better the coupe version the AMC Eagls SX/4 (basically a rally car) it was definitely not the first.. subaru also beat them, with 1975 "4x4" wagons.. or at least that's the earliest one i found with 4wd. i actually did own a 1979 4wd subaru wagon, oh so ugly, i bought it for $100 to learn how to drive stick shift, drove it for about 8 months, until the front end rusted thru and the strut well was leaning on the engine.
Subarus were also around long before the Eagle, and sold worldwide.
i love your clips please activ more
I remember when these were new. Hated them then and hate them now. They wanted something sporty and a combo of a Camaro and Blazer and ended up with something neither of them were, a front wheel drive minivan.
I rented 1 once on a business trip. See, we’ve had our share of interesting cars too.
I really wanted to buy this pontiac aztek cuz it have a lot of features. it's perfect for long roadtrip. sadly, in indonesia, there's no pontiac
You guys have the far less uglier, cheaper Kijang instead. Just buy that.
There's no Pontiac ANYWHERE these days, thankfully. GM made a mistake in killing off Oakland, and keeping the cheaper, junior companion marque.
2:51 it looks really funny when rock music is playing in the background but he still looks so calm. Tell me, are you dead from inside??
Aztek looks like it got it's inspiration from the Truckster from the movie National lampoon vacation
Question that remains is:
How big was Breaking Bad's part in that the Aztek hasn't already been forgotten?
The Buick Rendezvous was a cool car.
As a member and Naturaly born of Royal Azteca Mexican nobility,i do approve of the Magnificent Aztek Automobile
I liked the Aztek in photos and advertisements... What a shocker when I saw one in Broklyn some years ago! I could not believe that I found it so ugly, and the overwhelming feeling of wanting to faint at the sight!... But you know, if I had the change... I would have gotten myself one, I kinda like it, the looks grow on you.
Camouflage wrap. If they had wrapped it in Camouflage vinyl wrap they probably could have sold alot more....even pink Camouflage wrap.
Australia’s Vegemite is even harder to love !
Nah, Vegemite is awesome!
That thing would be a hit right now,
imagine hybrid options & removing top like open air Jeep like concept, the tent
option would be well received by the outdoorsy live off the grid types
I always liked the Aztek!
10:42
Almost pissed myself, when I saw the similaraties between this thing and the DeTomaso Mangusta!
OMFG!
Honestly all the features are pretty damn cool.
I really don't know why I like this video; maybe it's the presentation.
I strongly believe some cars are better forgotten than remembered... (Remember Multipla anyone? There is a reason to wake up crying in the night)
Can't wait for the Volvo 850 video.
I saw it at a mall in Atlanta when they released it in 2001. I found it very appealing due to its many unconventional features. It is probably the only car designed for car camping from the factory, even today. The external styling is kinda weird, but I care more about features than look. Too bad that not enough people share my sentiment. GM created a crossover before the term was even invented.
it needed the 4.3T from the typhoon & syclone ... and another stacked set of hood scoops ala Olds 442 ... drenched in black to 11
and take my money
Hey there,I love this channel and would like to see if you could feature an Australian car, maybe the Leyland P76, designed and built in Australia
You're not the first one to ask for that, and I've taken a cursory glance at the story. It's on the list for the future!
Russell Steedman It’s rather fitting you mention the P76 in an Aztec video, vehicles uglier and more unloved than the Leyland are like rocking horse poo. Personally I think this channel has covered the failings of the various UK car industries ad nauseam and them failing on another continent for basically the same reasons would be like digging up that dead horse to flog it some more.