SUV - Active noise cancellation

[KEW]

The shop was replacing a timing belt on my car and they took it for a test drive and wrecked it! Totaled!

I am looking at small SUV's and decided to investigate the GMC Terrain to see how/why they could charge an extra premium over the Chevy Equinox (same platform with Chevy badge).

One big drawback to SUV's is they have a built in resonance chamber. A feature which really caught my attention is a noise cancellation system for this car (seems to be the only car to currently offer this technology).
There is a woofer in the cargo area and microphone(s) in the cabin.

Does anyone know much about how well this works?
I took a test drive and it seemed to work well, but a test drive isn't the same as spending 3 hours on the Interstate.

Thanks,
Kurt

 

[TLS Guy]

The shop was replacing a timing belt on my car and they took it for a test drive and wrecked it! Totaled!

I am looking at small SUV's and decided to investigate the GMC Terrain to see how/why they could charge an extra premium over the Chevy Equinox (same platform with Chevy badge).

One big drawback to SUV's is they have a built in resonance chamber. A feature which really caught my attention is a noise cancellation system for this car (seems to be the only car to currently offer this technology).
There is a woofer in the cargo area and microphone(s) in the cabin.

Does anyone know much about how well this works?
I took a test drive and it seemed to work well, but a test drive isn't the same as spending 3 hours on the Interstate.

Thanks,
Kurt

According to reviews it works. I have been tempted to go for a test drive.
This technology has a good history in aviation.

Problem is I buy older vehicles. My current wheels are a 1994 Chrysler LHS, that I bought seven years ago with 69,000 miles on it. I have run it up to 155,000 mites already. It has been a good car. The others are my 1988 Chevy Suburban 6.2 lt diesel with over 200,000 miles. This is now a classic and actually going up in value! The other is my 1948 Willys Jeep.

It is my wife that likes the high end vehicles and they give more trouble than the the older ones put together.

I like to do my own work. With new cars, I have to deal with really stupid service managers. I always say of you want to know the least likely thing causing the trouble with your car, ask a service manager.

By the time vehicles are the age I usually buy them, it is well know which ones are any good. So I'm personally scared to death when I make a new car purchase.

However for the deals around I am considering it.

 

[highfigh]

The shop was replacing a timing belt on my car and they took it for a test drive and wrecked it! Totaled!

I am looking at small SUV's and decided to investigate the GMC Terrain to see how/why they could charge an extra premium over the Chevy Equinox (same platform with Chevy badge).

One big drawback to SUV's is they have a built in resonance chamber. A feature which really caught my attention is a noise cancellation system for this car (seems to be the only car to currently offer this technology).
There is a woofer in the cargo area and microphone(s) in the cabin.

Does anyone know much about how well this works?
I took a test drive and it seemed to work well, but a test drive isn't the same as spending 3 hours on the Interstate.

Thanks,
Kurt

Do they still want to charge you for the belt replacement?

Is it actually a noise canceling system or dynamic volume control? The latter is pretty annoying, IMO. If it's noise canceling, it is just an active muffler or for all road noise? I'm not sure I would expect it to work perfectly but if they come up with a good set of noise signatures, it should be pretty nice for long trips.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

If engine tuned well, I personally enjoy it's sound , but seriously - cabin noise would be the least of my concerns buying new car.
Best of Noise cancellation system patterns for you car:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64232

 

[Warpdrv]

http://gmtv.feedroom.com/?fr_story=937920014e2fbcf6d11dafbbe0b49a05cd3ad985&rf=sitemap

Video they made about the Noise Cancellation

 

[highfigh]

I wonder if they worked with Barcus-Berry or someone on this. BBE and other companies have been doing this kind of thing for live sound (inject anti-phase signal to cancel the problems) where the acoustical space has problems that can't be solved in conventional ways.

 

[MidnightSensi]

I still eye the Bag End E-Trap now and again. I still want to try it.

http://www.bagend.com/bagend/downloads/ETrap.pdf

http://mixonline.com/gear/reviews/audio_bag_end_etrap/

Seems over my acoustic know-how though, sort of turns me off because I don't really know how to turn it. Kinda want it as a toy.... more so than a iPad (see other thread )

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Not sure it is new tech, my old boss had it in his Minivan 5 years ago. Seemed to work well and I remember learning how it worked but I can't remember.

Stay away fron those Chevy SUVs. Get a copy of consumer guide and look at the SUVs. I have a Pathfinder and a Murano and really like them both. I am also impressed with the Acura MDX.

Sorry they crashed your car.

 

[KEW]

Thanks for the discussion and thoughts. After some discussion with SWMBO, we realized that while we both would kind of like to have an SUV from time to time, neither of us is really interested in driving one as our principal vehicle. We both like sporty cars - we were both assuming that the other would drive it for the work commute, LOL. Scratch the SUV.

I was impressed with the quietness of the Terrain. Looking under the hood, they used some premium sound insulation which is supposed to be used throughout the body panels as well as having the noise cancellation unit.

HighFigh
My take is I never received the new timing belt! The shop I use is pretty good. I'd be suprised if they asked, but I guess they might try. I'll let you know.

What sucks is the adjuster is low balling me on the car. His price is probably reasonable, except I am a perfectionist and keep my stuff in excellent shape. For that I lose! I drove the same car (Ford Focus - when it was made in Germany) today at CarMax priced at twice the settlement price ($5000) with half the miles of mine - it rattled, whistled and shuddered.
I think I can dispute some of their assessment assumptions, but we are realistically talking $500 if I am lucky.

If anyone knows good strategy for this, I'm listening!

Thanks,
Kurt

 

[KEW]

Sorry they crashed your car.

Thanks!
I am glad that no one got hurt. It was hit with a side impact from a chartered bus. The car did a great job of being crushed in the right places while the cabin interior (and all glass!) is essentially intact.
The most frustrating thing is time. They are giving me a rental for a total of 8 days (5 days after verification of totaled status). That probably is long enough to find a car (on the ridiculous assumption that nothing else is going on).

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks for the discussion and thoughts. After some discussion with SWMBO, we realized that while we both would kind of like to have an SUV from time to time, neither of us is really interested in driving one as our principal vehicle. We both like sporty cars - we were both assuming that the other would drive it for the work commute, LOL. Scratch the SUV.

I was impressed with the quietness of the Terrain. Looking under the hood, they used some premium sound insulation which is supposed to be used throughout the body panels as well as having the noise cancellation unit.

HighFigh
My take is I never received the new timing belt! The shop I use is pretty good. I'd be suprised if they asked, but I guess they might try. I'll let you know.

What sucks is the adjuster is low balling me on the car. His price is probably reasonable, except I am a perfectionist and keep my stuff in excellent shape. For that I lose! I drove the same car (Ford Focus - when it was made in Germany) today at CarMax priced at twice the settlement price ($5000) with half the miles of mine - it rattled, whistled and shuddered.
I think I can dispute some of their assessment assumptions, but we are realistically talking $500 if I am lucky.

If anyone knows good strategy for this, I'm listening!

Thanks,
Kurt

I think the most you can hope for is high book for year, trim and mileage.

However you do need to check recent sales prices for your area on sites like Car Soup. These days regional prices vary greatly from Edmonds, and Kelley Book value.

I would say though that my experience is that most people think their cars are worth more than they actually are.

For a source of replacement, I would look to your local car sale by owner sites. Often the best deals are to be had by private sale. I have just been car shopping with two of my children, and in two out of two cases we got very good deals by private sale.

Good luck with the hunt.