G. David Felt

Thank you Wings! Up Vote 1 for a nice overview of what you do and your take on the OHV versus OHC issue. Like many of us that are engineers, we do have our own view of what we like best and works best and I have to totally agree with you on your comment about younger engineers who should now better about hardware components and yet do not. I have found many of today's mechanics are more parts replacement people than actual mechanics that have the training to troubleshoot and figure out why something is working or not working right. Replacing parts is a small part of the over all picture in what really is the root cause of the complete problem. Engineers seem to be going this route as many out of college are not wanting to put the time in to learn the history and understand the changes that have gotten us to where we are today in technology be it the engines, transmissions or computers that control everything. Hopefully through civil debates online we can open up the amazing world of auto's and the computers used to run them now to a new generation of people that can catch the bug of loving auto's.

Wishing you and your family all the best, Parkinson's, dementia, and Alzheimer seems to be hitting the baby boomers hard. Never fun on anyone and I agree these are not to be wished on anyone even enemies. Education is the great equalizer that allows us to all have our say and still live on this planet together peacefully.

You Rock Drew, over all it seems to be running well this morning. Thank you,

No...not the cup... THE Cup. Never joke about that to a Canadian. Its blasphemy. You might be spitting out some Chiclets if you do. You know why I LOVE this Cookie emoticon the most? Because he may very well be a hockey player... (hint: look at his teeth...or tooth I might say!) If the cup is not filled with wine who cares? No...not the cup... THE Cup. Never joke about that to a Canadian. Its blasphemy. You might be spitting out some Chiclets if you do. You know why I LOVE this Cookie emoticon the most? Because he may very well be a hockey player... (hint: look at his teeth...or tooth I might say!) If the cup is not filled with wine who cares?

Way to go Ocnblu, that is awesome and I agree with you I do not want one either.

WOW, that was a hard bottom out at 37 seconds but also the car is just not stable on the road it is all over or I guess they will blame it on the driver who was all over. Nothing like a solid Cadillac, BMW or MB.

Amazing how I love the Platinum fully loaded Escalade which is a better value than a fully loaded Range Rover. I just do not see the appeal of the Range Rover.

Yes a fully loaded Range Rover hits $162,590.00 So they have decided that the signature version of the Model X will compete head on with Range Rover.

They have a HUGE mountain to climb as their whole product line is a sleeper. Talk about conservative BORING.

Maybe he is the Fox and you are the Grape he wants to Eat! Now just give me your required 10% down payment, $13,200 and I will work on getting you on a pre-order!

Very excited to see this coming to the Cadillac line sooner rather than later.

Is this your GMC Truck Project?

Sergio Socialist plan is FAILING on a MAJOR way. The Board of FCA would be Wise to CUT him loose NOW and bring in a real Auto Business Man!

Up vote you on that one KaBONG! We all do have our own Quirks!

Normally I would agree. But in some cases it doesn't matter what approach you take, some folks simply will not get the message. Ultimately you may just be better off leaving things as they are, since I'm pretty sure most of us realize that the voting system is just a symptom, not the actual problem. True some people have that mental issue of attacking people to make themselves look big, better, what ever they think gives them pride and happiness. Kinda like instant gratification shopping, but it only lasts so long before you have to get another hit. Much like drug addicts. If their world is not a chaotic mess, then it is not good.

Most people could care less about the engine size other than true performance people and people with little person syndrome. I am going to call it here that the days of V8 and V12 are over and limited to the next 3-5 years in limited releases. Electric engines and turbo / supercharged engines are the future in 4 & 6 cylinder size along with hybrids.

Per a conversation I had with Jet performance chips. Their own engineers say it is easier to tune a custom chip for a pushrod than a DOHC engine especially if it has VVT. Per liter at least according to my conversation with this individual, they can get more raw power out of the pushrod engine, but marketing has made a case for the DOHC engines for those that like the high revving engines and complexity. Comparing Pushrod to DOHC engines and especially VVT you get more weight and more complexity but not necessarily the simplest and fastest way to power efficiency. I am sure engineers for both versions can make detailed cases why I am right or wrong but this is how I see it.

Washington has the second lowest electric rate in the country at 7.38 cents per kilowatthour. Makes having a Heatpump / AC system worth it.

Over all transparency works for the best in most cases. Not all but in most it is best to be transparent in what goes on.

G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.CheersandGears.com UnOfficial State Auto In spending time looking over stories in Popular Mechanics, I came across their story on what was the top selling auto in each state or better known as the UnOfficial State Auto. Popular Mechanics Story Link Some I could easily see why the auto was a top seller in comparison to the state and what the state is known for from a gross product producing standpoint. Others clearly surprised me and some have happened truly due to special interest groups and the politicians eating out of those interest groups hands. It is a well known fact that the High Tech Millionaires of Washington state are focused on making everyone drive an Electric auto. Tesla and the less than pleasing to the eye BMW i3 are huge sellars here along with the ugly Nissan Leaf. Yes my personal opinion is that Tesla is the best looking of these 3 EV's. I have high hopes for the Chevy Bolt which is highly pre-sold here already. Per the Story I quote the Washington state finding: "In Washington, the Nissan Leaf sells at 407 percent of the national average. In addition, three electric vehicles, including the Nissan Leaf, BMW i3 and Tesla Model S, each sell at a rate more than twice their national rates. This is likely because in Washington, all electric vehicles are exempt from state motor vehicle sales tax and use tax." I want to also point out that the state right now pretty much pays for your home charger also along with the second lowest electrical rate in the nation at only 9.38 cents per kilowatthour. Somehow Louisiana comes in at 9.27 cents per kilowatthour for the lowest electrical cost in the nation. Price chart here from EIA. I will say I was also surprised by one state, Indiana where the Buick Encore, an outstanding compact CUV sells at a 249% above the nation average and a big surprise is the world of Subaru that sells triple digits on their whole product line above the national average in Alaska. So check out the story and post your thoughts on your state unofficial auto.

According to the Tesla Forum, the doors have sensors so you can just like GM SUV rear doors set how far up they go before stopping to not hit the ceiling. The demo on the tesla web page shows that you can pull in tight in a garage and still open the rear doors. They are powered doors. http://www.teslamotors.com/modelx

I have no problem as I usually do not vote on most items but I admit that there are those occasional posts that deserve a positive or negative vote. Over all I have no problem with people seeing who I voted up or down.

Disagree totally on the performance crowd. I will take a pushrod over dohc engine to win every time. My performance autos can win without breaking a sweat. You get the low gut feel of rush from the torque pushing back into the seat and the ability to fly with carrying on a conversation compared to the V8 juice can rattle of 4 and 6 turbo charged engines that get terrible gas mileage when you push them to move. Just admit each have their fans neither is better than the other to a certain point in regular driving. We are just talking apples to Orange's.

Would it be a big one or little one? Remember no Chunky Tips allowed!

I disagree, you do not need an expensive Alfa to have a new platform for the Charger, Cuda, or any other Dodge, Chrysler auto. Yes some cost would go up but like VW if they build the platform right you can use is across all the auto divisions that are currently alive and not have to bring back a dead name plate.