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It's been a while since I've last checked in so here's a short update since my last post. After a little over 2 years with Car and Driver, I am now back on the hunt for employment/trying to get back into the grind as a freelancer. Unfortunately, my position (and a dozen others) was cut two weeks ago due to a restructuring effort. It was sudden and completely unexpected for those who were let go and those who weren't. While I'm sad to leave the company, I'm remaining positive with the hope that better opportunities lie ahead and wish everyone there well. I couldn't have asked for better coworkers. That said, I'm still in Michigan—For now. Josh and I have been mulling over a move to Charleston, SC. The job prospects for automotive digital media there are slim, but I'm willing to try something new if need be. Luckily for us, if we do decide to move, we have a good amount of positive equity in our house after remodeling it. While we love the house and the Detroit metro, the cost of living is absurdly high here. On the automotive front, I still have the ATS (I never did post a complete gallery) as well as the Miata. Josh still has his Murano. The Cadillac, now at 17k miles, has had its share of minor quality issues since purchasing it. Most notably is a rough idle that the local Cadillac dealer insists is normal. I'd like to disagree, but to be fair, the loaner ATS they gave with only 30 miles on the odometer had a similar, but less-pronounced, idle issue. Beyond that, I've had multiple noises in the suspension checked out, the adaptive headlights sometimes aim themselves too high/low and I have to take issue with the interior fit and finish after the plastic cover for the windshield sensors fell off on my way to work one day. Finally, CUE is also as frustrating as everyone has said it is. Sometimes the system is so slow to boot up that I'll be a mile down the road before the navigation loads. On the whole, it's required less warranty repairs than the GTI thus far so I'd consider these fairly minor annoyances. The car is still a joy to drive (I wish I bought one with a manual, however) and attracts attention everywhere except metro Detroit. The Miata, on the other hand, has been phenomenally reliable for its age and mileage. This is especially true after 2 years of solid commuting year-round, including two winter seasons. Since purchasing the car, it's only needed maintenance items (brakes, fluid, filters, spark plugs) up to now. Last month, the catalytic converter finally needed to be replaced and with it, I installed a used cat-back exhaust. It should also be noted that it is due for a new valve cover gasket as it has started leaking, at just under 150k miles. This might be the first car I willingly hold on to for more than a couple years—It's just that much of a joy to own. Finally, I am now the father of two Chihuahuas instead of just one. At the beginning of the year we picked up a brother for Chloe, naming him Enzo. He's a holy terror. So, what's new with y'all?

Very Small Something Sportsutility ?

I prefer the mini-van based Rendezvous myself.

Hard to tell alot from the disguised prototypes, but the greenhouses don't seem to have changed much from the ATS and CTS.

I should have done this a year ago but was too burnt out from the move then....shuffled a bunch o' crap to the shed, threw out a bunch of crap, and had Junk King remove some old lockers and cabinets along the side wall of the garage that I didn't use. I still need to repaint the inside of the garage, but now I can get both cars in...very tight nonetheless... I wonder what they had in here 50 years ago.

For shits and also because I am just keeping an eye out for a car for my mom. I took this out for a spin last saturday again (perfect mom car by the way, isn't it) http://www.indoorauto.com/auto/used-2017-buick-lacrosse-essence-medina-mn/29636412/ It was a used LaCrosse that the original owners drove from Indiana to MN to buy a used Lexus, why? BECAUSE THE BUICK DIDN'T HAVE A CD PLAYER ANYMORE. And the used Lexus had Mark Levinson audio. The salesguy said he was blown away by how nice the LaCrosse was. (changing minds, I thought the car was sedate). Anyways, why do i bring it up. The gas Pacifica i drive is a more entertaining drive than the LaCrosse, and the powertrain is better too. So to think about them using the platform for another type vehicle I would LOVE .. in fact, I wish they would replace the current 300 with a new 300 based on the same platform and powertrain. A 500 pound lighter Pacifica sedan, sign me up. And my PAcifica already gets 24mpg in town and at time 30 on the highway. I would love to see what a pentastar v6 new FWD/AWD 300 would get for acceleration and power. Dodge should carry on the current Charger platform for those that want RWD AWD and more Pacifica based cars, including electrics, out pronto. I was upset when i went to the electric car ride and drive recently and they had a Pacifica hybrid there and they didn't let anyone drive it. They are still working out plenty of bugs on the Pacifica hybrid by the way. One more thing i would love to see. A survey of people who have already owned hybrids and if they switch to non hybrid later, do they prefer the feel of going back to a all gas car. Fusion Energi is slow (slower than regualr hybrid) from what i understand but a coworker has one and seems to like it. But they are great deals and a nice roomy plug in. Why GM didn't offer plug in the malibu hybrid is a mistake. Basically they should move the Volt off the small car chassis and move it to the Malibu hybrid chassis. The Volt's small size is what keeps a lot of people from buying or looking at it. Basically scale up the design of the current one plus hatchback on the Malibu size and I think it would be extremely marketable. And of course, a crossover of the same thing jacked up 3 inches with higher roof. GM has wasted so many opportunities. by the way, talking cheap sedans, a new fusion hybrid is little more than 18-20 grand these days, depending where you look..... now if hybrid becomes this cheap on a large scale then we actually do start to see real world fleet mpg improvements. (they also have 1.0 litre Focus 10 speed automatics on sale too!) https://www.koonssterlingford.com/new/Ford/2018-Ford-Fusion+Hybrid-2a9f73fb0a0e0ae913244a2779896bab.htm?searchDepth=3:12

I'm fairly certain.... no... super certain... that the CX-9 will beat a TBSS the moment a corner is involved. The TBSS was fast for its day, but it was never a renowned handling vehicle.

I was playing with my insurance, trying to add different sports cars to see the difference in premiums and discovered something surprising: To add new Mustang GT will cost me almost $200 a year more than a new Corvette and over $300 a year more than Miata. If I go with used 'Vette (about '11-'12 that costs about the same as new Mustang GT or Miata Club) it is actually will be almost $100 a year cheaper than the new Miata and almost $400 cheaper than the Mustang! Even few year old Mustang GT still significantly more expensive to insure than everything else. Damn all these Cars and Coffee idiots that crash into people

*Fixed

We survived the 70's and 80's putting the kids there with no problem before the Gov had to protect us from ourselves!

Put the nephews in the truck bed, they will be fine!

I like the looks of the Edge...interested in seeing how the next Explorer, the Bronco and Aviator turn out...

I love the JGC and Edge-sized vehicles. Larger, two-row SUVs.

We only occasionally use third row for short trips (kids friends, or if we going somewhere close with parents) so a tight third row not a huge problem for us. But if we didn't need third row I think Grand Cherokee would be a strong contender for us.

I don't need a 3rd row, so for the price, styling, features and broad range of trim levels, for a midsize, I'll stick with (surprise) Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Gotta love Toms Hardware reviews. Great review of the bleeding edge new CPUs from Intel and AMD. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-ryzen-threadripper-2-vs-intel-skylake-x,5727.html?utm_source=th-newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20180815-th

For it's day when new, not a bad looking SUV, but the Envision wins hands down as the better looking ute.

Saw a black late model Chevy Caprice PPV in traffic... I think it was a civilian, not sure..didn't have excess antennas or hidden lights that I could see, and ordinary plates. Interesting how much these look like the '05-13-ish Impalas from behind...

I agree with this write-up. The Mazda is the better car if you viewed every day as it’s own occasion. But the VW is flat out the better 3 row family crossover.

I actually have looked into it.... and the RX cousin. As our esteemed @William Maley pointed out in his Review of the 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, the benefits just are limited. Of the vehicles available today, the XC90 is highest on my list of PHEV SUVS. You'll note however that I haven't purchased anything in 5 years... so it's not like I have brand new Durango sitting in my driveway..... yet. I might still end up with an Avalanche, but it is very likely that whatever big SUV I get will be counter balanced with a PHEV for daily commuting. When we don't take the bus, Albert and I drive together into the city, so one car just sits. Right now, that's the 2004 Honda which hasn't been driven since last Wednesday or Thursday? Possible hybrid replacements for the Buick include: Fusion Energi Titanium, Infiniti Q50 Hybrid, MKZ Hybrid.... and if I can talk him into it... an ELR. I have to sell more property before any of that is happening. You could perhaps take the time to understand the CAFE requirements better.... and also get back to the point that increasing fuel economy standards do not compromise safety. So basically, a Pacifica doesn't even need to hit that 54mpg, but in hybrid form it can raise the average for the whole FCA fleet if they sell enough of them. Edit: To put it another way about the Highlander.... I'd rather go with the Pacifica if it weren't being vetoed by Albert. I actually like that minivan a lot.

Most Rainiers now are rusty old used SUVs, nothing 'macho' about that...

What's funny about it Cubical-aka-Moltar ? It looks better, it is RWD/AWD with longitudinal engine... it certainly has more macho presence than the ninny Envision.

Apples and oranges; can't really compare old SUVs from the last decade with their cheesy plastic interiors to new CUVs.

The Buick Rainier is a much nicer vehicle than the Envision.

What's funny about it @ocnblu? It's the best of all worlds. It has fantastic low end torque, much better NVH than the Volvo XC90, 85ish mpg on my commute to/from work. 35ish mpg highway on a long trip.... but much better than that while I coast from Blue Mountain downhill to your place while recharging my batteries.... and it still makes vroom vroom noises.

I know I'd drive a Grand Cherokee with the PHEV powertrain from the Pacifica (turned 90 degrees of course).

To my boy reg's post above...reg-zactly!

Cars are already outpacing consumer income, but that is an economics debate that this site is not capable of having civilly.

Just no... let it go. There is no way a live axle, 15 year old, body on frame SUV is going to out-handle a brand new, unibody crossover with independent suspension and an advanced computer controlled AWD system. Even just the center of gravity is going to be a giant disadvantage on the TBSS if nothing else not to mention weight.

Electricity is flexible. It can be as clean or as dirty as you want it to be. The components of the propulsion system can be much more easily recycled.

That would be a fun drive comparison. Unless they drastically updated the driving characteristics from the 2018 model year that I had for 2 weeks, I would say in comparison to the one I drove on my 25 wedding anniversary, that no my TBSS beats it. I doubt the CX9 could handle what I have done in the 130 -150mph range of my SS.

I doubt those numbers will actually improve significantly unless gas is at least $5 nationwide (and $6 in California).