So I picked up the SRX and drove it back to our house for Jamie to assess. This was the first time we did anything with this one other than sitting in it. It's the same one I linked to in a previous post.
Some specs:
Curb weight: around 4,442 but may be as high as 4,700. Not really sure.
EPA MPG rating: 13/20
Tows either 2,000 lbs or up to 4,250 with V92 tow package. Not bad.
116.4" wheelbase (0.5" longer than my Caprice).
0.37 coefficient of drag which is pretty decent.
20 gallon gas tank
2007 C/D comparo with a BMW X5, Acura MDX, MB ML350, Lexus GX470, Volvo XC90, VW Touareg, Land Rover LR3 and Cadillac SRX:
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons ... v-8-page-8
It placed 2nd, as one of the oldest designs in the group. That's something.
Interior
Unlike the CTS wagon, this SRX may have every option. It is a V8 (Northstar) AWD with Ultraview Plus roof, Sport package, 20" wheel package, 3rd row and DVD rear seat entertainment. The big deal here is 41" of rear legroom. The front seats are nice, also. It has a power folding 3rd row. The interior was updated for 2007 on these. I am going to list the standard features and then attempt to list the options I think it has:
Interior Features
Front Seats
•Multi-level heating driver & passenger seat (3-way back/bottom and selectable 3-way back-only)
•8 -way power passenger seat
•8 -way power driver seat
•Passenger seat with power adjustable lumbar support
•Driver seat with power adjustable lumbar support
•Height adjustable driver seat
•Height adjustable passenger seat
•Leather
•Bucket front seats
Rear Seats
•Split-folding rear seatback
•Folding with storage center armrest
•Rear ventilation ducts
Power Features
•Remote keyless power door locks
•Power mirrors
•Heated mirrors
•4 one-touch power windows (auto up/down on front doors, auto down on rear doors)
Instrumentation
•Clock
•Tachometer
•Trip computer
•External temperature display
•Low fuel level warning
•Compass
Convenience
•Cruise control
•Cargo net
•Front, rear and 3rd row cupholders
•Front door pockets
•Retained accessory power
•Front seatback storage
•Speed-proportional power steering
•Universal remote transmitter (for garage door, security system, etc.)
•12V rear and 12V cargo area power outlet(s)
•Rear parking sensors
•Tilt-adjustable steering wheel
•Audio controls on steering wheel
•Remote engine start (in cold weather, it turns on the rear defroster and heated seats automatically. Will run for 10 minutes and can be extended once for another 10 by holding down the remote start button again. After a max of two 10 minute remote start sessions, or a contiguous 20 minute session, the vehicle must be started with the ignition key)
•Selectable auto tilt down side mirrors in reverse (driver, passenger, both, or neither)
•Auto headlights when wipers on for more than 6 seconds (my CTS-V has this)
Comfort
•Dual zone climate controls - driver and passenger
•Cargo area light
•Wood trim on center console
•Wood trim on dash
•Wood trim on doors
•Front and rear reading lights
•Leather steering wheel
•Rear floor mats
•Heated steering wheel
•Electrochromatic inside rearview mirror
•Dual illuminating vanity mirrors
Memorized settings
•Memorized settings includes audio system
•Memorized settings includes climate control
•Memorized settings for 2 drivers
In Car Entertainment
•Diversity antenna
•Bose premium brand speakers
•8 total speakers
•AM/FM stereo
•Satellite radio satellite radio
•Auxiliary audio input
•1 subwoofer(s)
•Radio data system
Telematics
•Voice directions only via subscription service navigation system
•Hands free phone
•OnStar telecommunications service
Exterior Features
Roof and Glass
•Variable intermittent wipers
•Privacy glass
•Rear defogger
•Intermittent rear wiper
•Roof rack
Tires and Wheels
•Polished alloy wheels
•18 x 8.0 in. wheels
•Steel spare wheel
•P255/55R V tires
•All season tires
•Underbody mounted spare tire
•Temporary spare tire
Doors
•Fixed lifgate window
•Rear power liftgate door
Towing and Hauling
•Cargo tie downs
Safety Features
•4-wheel ABS
•Front and rear head airbags
•Dual front side-mounted airbags
•Child seat anchors
•Remote anti-theft alarm system
•Emergency braking assist
•Front and rear ventilated disc brakes
•Rear door child safety locks
•Daytime running lights
•Engine immobilizer
•Front fog/driving lights
•High pressure washers headlamps
•Auto delay off headlamps
•Dusk sensing headlamps
•Xenon high intensity discharge headlamp
•2 front headrests
•3 rear headrests
•Passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation
•Rear center 3-point belt
•Front seatbelt pretensioners
•Stability control
•Traction control
•Electronic brakeforce distribution
•Rear height adjustable headrests
•Post-collision safety system
•Tire pressure monitoring
Phew.
I don't have the formal build sheet yet but options it seems to have:
- Rear A/C
- Wood steering wheel (upper area)
- Additional 12V outlet (4 total)
- Power adjustable pedals
- 3rd row seating w/ power folding seat back (this is for small children only, but can be handy sometimes)
- In-dash single CD (a "downgrade" option from the in-dash changer), possibly related to:
- Rear seat entertainment (plays DVDs, aux input, screen, individual left/right headphone jacks with individual volume controls, branded Panasonic)
- BOSE 5.1 Surround audio (not sure if they are all the 5.1 system or not but this one has it), may also include DVD-audio compatibility
- Navigation w/ voice activation and touch screen (ooo, modern)
- Sport package (seems to include unique front/rear fascias, body colored grill and fancier exhaust tips)
- 20" wheel package (255/50s all around, also includes standard limited-slip diff!!)
- Ultraview Plus roof (not just the big-ass glass moonroof with big-ass power sliding shade, but a rear glass roof over the 3rd row with its own power sliding shade)
The climate controls are dual zone, as you'd expect, but the controls for fan and vent setting are a little different than I'm used to. It essentially acts like a manual fan switch and a manual vent selector switch, but both knobs have an auto position, meaning you can put one or both into auto as you wish. That might actually be more intuitive than what I'm used to. This is more analog. The downside is someone unfamiliar with auto climate control might be compelled to just use the system in manual mode (temperature control is always automatic). There is also an auto recirculate mode. It even has an air quality sensor. No idea how that works. To the manual!
Air Quality Sensor: Your vehicle may have an air quality sensor to help limit the climate control system from pulling in irritating or harmful exhaust fumes from other vehicles. This sensor, when active, monitors the air quality in front of your vehicle and switches to air recirculation when poor quality air is detected outside your vehicle. The air quality sensor does not activate due to organic odors like skunk, and may not activate on many chemical-related odors. If you wish to limit these types of odors, manually select recirculation.
To activate the air quality sensor, if your vehicle has one, select the Auto Air Inlet on your climate control display. The word AUTO is shown in the center of the display under the outline shape of a vehicle. While the air quality sensor senses poor quality air, the recirculation graphic appears above the AUTO symbol.
Under some conditions, the air quality sensor system does not operate. In cold weather, the system might not be active (even if AUTO is displayed) because of concerns of fogging your windows, which may occur by activating recirculation mode. Also, the air quality sensor system does not remain in recirculation mode for extended periods of time that could cause stuffy or very dry conditions in the vehicle. Following a poorly running vehicle for an extended period of time may not keep recirculation active indefinitely.
The air quality sensor system does not protect against carbon monoxide (CO), which you cannot see or smell
Bluetooth is not available! WTF! Oh well, at least it has aux in. It also doesn't have a telescoping steering wheel (neither does my CTS-V). Doesn't have adjustable hatch opening.
I do not know if it has the MR shocks. Based on what I'm seeing, it probably does. I would assume that is either a common or possibly mandatory option with the 20" wheels to help the ride not be terrible (it's not terrible).
I also do not know if it has auto rear load leveling. If it is the MR shocks, I think load leveling is by air. Otherwise, possibly mechanical like my CTS-V.
But back to the interior. Jamie liked the room much better than the CTS wagon. Better visibility, too.
We put in Frozen in the DVD system and played it for Ian as Jamie test drove the car around town and eventually into Newport. The audio system is very good. The low frequency effects from the movie sounded great, and so did the surround sound.
Powertrain
Northstar V8, 4.6L
320 hp @ 6400rpm
315 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm
RPO LH2, modified quite a bit in 2004 for RWD applications (and hopefully gremlin-free)
In the transition from FWD to RWD/AWD applications, the Northstar went from being transversely mounted to longitudinally mounted. Changes were major, and included the LH2 gaining variable valve timing (VVT), electronic throttle control (ETC), a boost in compression, a stronger engine block, a more powerful engine controller, polymer-coated pistons, high-performance exhaust valves, and a host of other technical enhancements
It may do all of that on regular gas, too. The engine has a decent torque curve though is probably a little biased to the mid-high end of the tach. It pulls nicely to redline.
I take it back (about the fuel). From the manual:
If your vehicle has the 4.6L V8 engine (VIN Code A), use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating of 91 or higher. You can also use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher, but your vehicle’s acceleration could be slightly reduced, and you might notice a slight audible knocking noise, commonly referred to as spark knock.
Has the newer 6L50 trans (new for 2007)
This engine is nice and smooth and sounds good, too. Trans shifts well. It's probably about even with the CTS wagon V6, but felt a touch slower to me. Could be the 20s. Apparently traps 94mph with the 18s (C/D ran a 14.9 @ 94 in the above article). That should be enough to walk an LT1 B-body. Which is how I understand how fast things are.
One issue with the earlier ones (04-05) was transfer case chain stretch, which revealed itself in a nasty popping if you could get the front axle to "engage" under some torque load. I turned T/C and stabilitrack completely off and found some sand in a gas station (I added 3 gallons before our big test drive). I nailed the throttle and it seemed to spin all 4, and no popping heard. Hooray.
Chassis
The steering wheel is a good size, even a tad on the smaller side. But the ratio on center is slow. It does build off center, for easier maneuvering. I detected no play. It was easy to drive and steer. In spite of the giant steamroller tires, it did not tramline. The brake feel was better than the CTS wagon, but again, that car I think was due for some brake maintenance.
The chassis does not feel as solid as it does on the original Sigma cars (first and second gen CTS). My theory on that is safety regs for a crossover are less strict, and so there is less strengthening of the unibody. That, and there may also be less strengthening because this is not supposed to be an ultra-high performance vehicle. But it's also not a wimpy FWD based crossover. Its peers are any of the German RWD-based crossovers that you can think of, not stuff like a Highlander or Pilot.
Still, I did enjoy driving it. Just not as much as the CTS wagon. I think this is normal given the much higher center of gravity and higher curb weight.
It does have only 52.5% front weight bias, so that's pretty balanced.
Jamie would have to get used to it as her Malibu is pretty much the normal, light, easy to see out of and maneuver 90s car.
Back at the dealer, I negotiated $13,900 including her Malibu as a trade (wrote up as $14,500 for the SRX minus $600 for the Malibu). Edmunds says $15,559 as dealer retail and the sticker was $16,900. I did alright. And I don't have to deal with meeting sketchy-ass people for a $1000 Malibu over a period of however many weeks.
The biggest win for me is that I will have no problem taking this vehicle wherever we go as a family, despite the Caprice-like fuel economy. It may actually be capable of over 20 on the highway if the driving style permits, based on some accounts I read.
A couple pics to follow.