Cry A Meriva

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

The production version of the new Opel Meriva will keep the concept’s suicide doors, say Carscoop. Nope, no stylish, efficient people movers in the GM stable. Keep moving people. Nothing to see here.


Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Eh_political Eh_political on Dec 23, 2008

    Rough in parking lots, but on the other hand those suicide doors would be a godsend for parents struggling with car seats, or anyone struggling with a big bulky object to load. Overall a nice vehicle, and an obvious midsize sedan replacement for many young families or smart people. I added the second category, because I think GM is wise to refrain from introducing "new" at this time. The Astra is a solid vehicle, worthy in many ways. I wouldn't consider one, because as RF pointed out prior to it's launch in NA, it was destined to fail. GM must pare the products it offers to the bone, and only return to innovation when the consumer is open minded and paying attention again. Possibly cars will be hovering at that point, I can't say...

  • Gfen Gfen on Dec 23, 2008

    Suicide/clamshell doors are assy for loading kids, because I inevitably have to do it in the parking lots where the awkwardness of the doors is a serious PITA. Sliding doors are _awesome_. That's why my wife won't drive the Element, but drives the Mazda5.

  • Theflyersfan The wheel and tire combo is tragic and the "M Stripe" has to go, but overall, this one is a keeper. Provided the mileage isn't 300,000 and the service records don't read like a horror novel, this could be one of the last (almost) unmodified E34s out there that isn't rotting in a barn. I can see this ad being taken down quickly due to someone taking the chance. Recently had some good finds here. Which means Monday, we'll see a 1999 Honda Civic with falling off body mods from Pep Boys, a rusted fart can, Honda Rot with bad paint, 400,000 miles, and a biohazard interior, all for the unrealistic price of $10,000.
  • Theflyersfan Expect a press report about an expansion of VW's Mexican plant any day now. I'm all for worker's rights to get the best (and fair) wages and benefits possible, but didn't VW, and for that matter many of the Asian and European carmaker plants in the south, already have as good of, if not better wages already? This can drive a wedge in those plants and this might be a case of be careful what you wish for.
  • Jkross22 When I think about products that I buy that are of the highest quality or are of great value, I have no idea if they are made as a whole or in parts by unionized employees. As a customer, that's really all I care about. When I think about services I receive from unionized and non-unionized employees, it varies from C- to F levels of service. Will unionizing make the cars better or worse?
  • Namesakeone I think it's the age old conundrum: Every company (or industry) wants every other one to pay its workers well; well-paid workers make great customers. But nobody wants to pay their own workers well; that would eat into profits. So instead of what Henry Ford (the first) did over a century ago, we will have a lot of companies copying Nike in the 1980s: third-world employees (with a few highly-paid celebrity athlete endorsers) selling overpriced products to upper-middle-class Americans (with a few urban street youths willing to literally kill for that product), until there are no more upper-middle-class Americans left.
  • ToolGuy I was challenged by Tim's incisive opinion, but thankfully Jeff's multiple vanilla truisms have set me straight. Or something. 😉
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