My 2005 Amanti will be a year old in 2 weeks. I'm delighted I bought it, and probably wouldn't change a thing. To wit:
1) The recessed instrument panel is among the most beautiful and functional I have ever seen, and one of the reasons I kept coming back to the Amanti after checking out dozens of other vehicles. If the i.p. had been designed like the new 2007, I may have ended up with something else. Small issue to many, but very important to me....
2) I've wondered about the grill design (kind of a cross between a Jag and a Benz), but finally decided it was okay. Not my perfect choice, but acceptable. (And my wife loves it!!!) The 2007 quasi kidney-shape is not an improvement, in my opinion.
3) Power: as the Rolls Royce people used to say, "sufficient!" A little weak going uphill, but the manumatic takes care of that. I love the manumatic!
4) Gas mileage: not so good from stoplight to stoplight (about 15); but quite acceptable on the highway. (29 at 65mph with all accessories off. And it gets by just fine on unleaded regular.)
5) Display screen? Excellent! Would I add a gps nav unit? Well I did, a Garmin c330, at 1/3 the cost of a factory unit, and I love it. Sure, it has a dangly cord going to the 12v. outlet, but so did my Escort 8500. And my wife is no longer troubled by the cord, she likes "garmy" so much!
6) Change I would make (and hopelfully they did it for the 2007 model): Give the front seat passenger a real grab handle, just like the back seats!
::: That's it. I love my 2005 Amanti, and it's the best car I've ever owned. Not the best in every department, but the best all-round. I'm keeping it until they come out with the 2015 Amanti!
by Clark Creech (ccreech@nwlink.com)..... 05/29/2006
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