oldshurst442

True about the V6/V8 weight thing. To be honest, I haven't checked out a Chrysler 300 Pentastar with winters to see how it is. And I haven't really tried any modern RWD car with winters in the winter. But then again, the Chrysler 300 Pentastar is old news for me. And I do enjoy a nice FWD V6 from time to time. That is why I chose the Acura TL SH-AWD in 2012. Not for the AWD. But for the 305 naturally aspirated V6 horses under the hood. The SH-AWD makes it that much more fun in the winter. It does diddly squat for me in the summer. It drives just as heavy as a normal FWD car in the summer. But...I don't have a problem with that. The 305 horses when most cars are little put put 4 cylinders in Montreal is aplenty of motorvation. And I like a midsize heavyish car for cruising purposes more than I do corner carving madness. The TL SH-AWD is more than capable to corner carvbe though. THAT is what I LOVE about this car. It has many facets to it. It aint a one-trick pony. Well, the skies became a little darker, maybe we will get that snow afterall, so hold off on your congrats until tomorrow, CCAP!

Yes CCAP. With a modern RWD car, Im am not about to doubt that a RWD car with winter tires is better than a FWD car with all seasons. However, I am FINE with a FWD car with all seasons. A FWD car with winters, and I sure as hell don't need AWD... So...what is the point in getting a RWD biased AWD car then? It defeats the purpose of the nature of RWD. Weight and driving characteristics. So...Ill just forego the RWD/AWD thing all together and find myself an enjoyable FWD car to own for Montreal. THAT is the logic I hold.

Its a bright phoking sunny day today. The weather guy announced snow for today... Anyway, I could drive a RWD car in Montreal as a daily. No problems. What kind of RWD car are we talking about? Certainly not a V8...why? Todays V8s make too much power, one has to feather even more, the gas peddle as to not over power the tires, and its easy to do with 400 ft-lbs of torque...in snow and ice...heck, its easy to do wit 90 horsepower and 90 ft-lbs of torque... It gets squirrely fast when even driving in a straight line. Fish tailing seems like fun, not when the roads are narrow, because Montreal is an older city when horse and buggy was still the norm, and its even narrower when snow banks are part of the scenery...so, one has to be carefull not to fishtail and hit the guy in the next lane...and he is oh so close to you. So...a 300 horsepower V6 will do? Sure...problem is...its the same problem...300 HP with about the same amount of torques raises the same problems as with V8s...gone are the Ford Crown Vics that had 250 hoprswepower V8s...sure a Mopar LX car or a M-B C Class is better balance, but its still scary to drive this way. One could buy an anemic 4 cylinder Cadillac ATS or BMW 2-3 Series...what for? Just because its got RWD? My FWD Impala SS 3.8 liter supercharged V6 was a fun car to drive, even if torque steer was mildl;y present and was FWD... Same argument put to the test...with FWD in the summer as one wants to defend RWD in the winter... However, with FWD in the winter with my Impala...no worries about fishtailing...no worries about rocking the car back and forth...back and forth...back and forth...back and forth just to get out of a parking spot. Winter citizens that drive in the winter, know exactly what it is Im talking about when I say rocking your car back and forth means... Torque steering in the summer? Hey...one has to learn how to control that for summer driving, non? One could argue this all day long... Like I said, FWD has more grip on its drive wheels...and some people prefer that for winter driving. I know I do. And since winter is basically 6 months out of the year in Montreal...Id rather FWD. Granted, global warming is putting a dent on the 6 month thing...

I also drove a 1986 Chevy Celebrity... No electronics in that... No problems. A 1994 Pontiac Grand Am. Other than ABS brakes, drums in the back to boot, I had no problems in the winter. RWD in winter, you could live with, especially with traction control...well, you need traction control that lets winter wheel spin happen. I had a 1999 Olds Alero. Traction control sucked in winter, and that is with FWD. I LOVED traction control in that car when the pavement was dry...not when it was snowy. RWD in winter with modern cars. Drew once told me that a modern RWD car is more balanced and that plays a MAJOR role as compared to the real nose heavy RWD cars of yore. Ill go as far as agree to that, and lessen my haste for RWD cars in the winter when modern RWD cars are concerned. But...modern FWD cars are also better balanced, with winter in mind as well. Now, FWD cars, they plow forward, so they too have to be well driven in winter because if when does not know how to drive properly, a FWD car simply does not turn at all on a turn when snow is present....so... All to say, that it takes a driver to understand what his car is doing at all times. HOWEVER, when talking about grip...in snow... AWD is the better choice. Then its FWD. Then its RWD. Its all about traction. And when a heck of a lot of weight is on the drive wheels on a FWD car, you got to be an idiot to get stuck. An AWD car, especially one that senses slippage and cuts power to the wheel that slips and applies power to the others that don't, well...its self explanatory... RWD...limited slip diff, traction control, well balanced...there is still not enough weight in the back to hunker down and force grip... Its the nature of the animal... Like I said, you could find all the positives you like with RWD...reality of FWD making better use of the its drive wheels in snow is just how it is...

Well, would you look at that... Tesla's top brass realize the severity of delivering the Model 3 on time, they realize the snafus with the Model X, and this is what they had to say about it: Link to Motor Trend.com where that quote was taken from : http://www.motortrend.com/news/tesla-says-issues-delayed-model-x-wont-repeated-model-3/ So...will the deliver or will they fail? Time will tell...and only then can we talk about it... For now...they have upwards of 300 000 pre-orders, and counting, to fulfill. I think Tesla is professional enough to make it happen... I hope that GM could sell that many Bolts as well because Im a fan of the electric vehicle.

Well, you beat me to it... I posted yesterday from Road and Track that Cadillac has high plans for sedans...but today, Road and Track unleashed this doozey of a rumor. http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/future-cars/news/a28725/cadillac-ct8-cancelled/ Yes SMK... The S Class is a force to be reckoned with. Now it seems its got that market all to itself for a long long long time. SUVs be damned....a juggernaut sedan is still king. Cadillac will lose big time if this is true. I keep remembering how the British Top Gear crowd went oooooooh ahhhhhhhhh when they showed the Ciel.... The Brits were even impressed by a magestic car with a Cadillac badge on it...

The truth is FWD is not better in the snow. The lie is that FWD is better and it was marketed like this back around 1980 to sell everyone on the smaller FWD cars. The rub many people believe it. The AWD is not as in demand as you may think. Just look at the sales of the Fusion as it is still below 20%. Added cost is a major factor and the fact only people on the fringe of the snow really demand it. Here in the snow belt not a common sight here as we know how to drive or have trucks. What keeps the Camaro alive is performance, Tradition and the lack of anything else with performance. Plus they are damn good cars to drive. The truth is...FWD IS BETTER IN SNOW... This coming from a guy the drives FWD...PREFERS FWD in snow...and drove RWD cars n the winter.... True...they were 1980s RWD cars...but still... RWD cars...get very SQUIRRELY when taking turns...when pressing the gas hard when engaging a turn... RWD cars dont have GRIP... One has to feather the peddle...or wheel spin happens...and guess what? To get out of an icy patch...wheel spin IS necessary... And...to get out of a small snow filled groove and some ice is under neath...wheel spin is necessary.... But with a catch...you need weight at the back of the wheels that drive... Yeah...I know the tricks of the trade...sand bags... There is no need for sands bags in a FWD car... you could argue this all day long... I dont know where you live... I live in Montreal, Quebec Canada. Buffalo, New York gets more snow than we do. Minneapolis Minn. gets more snow than we do... OK...we still get a lot of snow... We Montrealers are getting snow tomorrow actually... There are hardly ANY RWD cars being sold in Montreal... You think its because of marketing? Think what you will, but I believe Montrealers prefer FWD cars because they are a tad more predictable and easier to get out of snow banks than RWD cars... You know...it aint even about predictability... It really is the ease of not getting stuck in snow... I dont need snow tires with a FWD car...I do just fine with all seasons... Yet with a RWD car, peoplesay that winter tires are a necessity... I repeat...I PERSONALLY do just fine with ALL SEASONS with a FWD car...I NEVER get stuck! Ive gotten stuck countless of times with my 1988 Pontiac Firebird, with my 1985 Olds Delta 88, and with my uncles 1988 fullsize Chevy Van... I learned to drive in winter conditions with that 1988 Chevy Van.

The whole "worried about getting voted down" seems to be freaking you out a bit....thinking that might be why-or simply not understanding the passion behind.... Not the down voting part...the lack of debate when down voting... Unless of course people think Im trolling...but...I dont troll... So...when I post an idea that you dont agree with... Either 1. ignore it 2. respond to it 3. down vote it...but at least respond to it... That is all Im asking. Why? Because Id like to know why I got down voted... I like to debate...I also like for people to see where it is Im coming from... and...if I dont like your reasoning, it gives ME the chance to down vote the down voter.... Do I agree? To some points, yes. And it wasn't just that that "drove" me away for a while....just happened to be one of many things that kept me away... Thanx for agreeing to some parts....at least I know I aint alone in this....coming from a seasoned veteran like yourself means a lot to me. Because being treated like a "newbie" makes me feel like I aint wanted in here....which is fine... I dont need to be in a place that doesnt want me. I wont force myself unto you people. It works for both of us this way...(and when I say "you people"...I mean the ENTIRE Cheers and Gears Community....if people dont want me here...Ill go...) And why the hell do you find yourself crazy? You sound alright to me. Unless the down votes happen to be driving you there..... My post that got down voted was a "crazy" idea....but it was just an idea... THAT is what got ME crazy because I STILL dont know why that post got down voted...and it wasnt that crazy of an idea to begin with... Thanx for not seeing me as a nut job...but in real life...my mom's side of the family are ALL wack jobs....maybe I inherited some of that...LOL!!! The down votes have not driven me mad....I dont get that many to begin with.... Its NOT about the down votes....its the lack of discussion when being down voted that gets my goat... And yes-still not a fan of the voting system- causes people to get childlike among other things- I've seen it bring things down on other sites.....causes major fights between people! It can work, most times it does not, because people starting screwing around with it...... Well...yeah! Like I said...that infamous post of mine... It was an idea...not a trolly idea....nor a hatred filled idea...just an idea... It got down voted... Why? I say Freedom of speech... Freedom to down vote you say? Sure...I say also! But Ill say this....are we children to to say YUCK! I DONT LIKE THAT, down vote, spit out the food in our mouth, not try to taste it at all, and just leave it at that? Expand your thoughts I say... So that if you sound like an idiot...I could down vote you back! Why? It seems the down voters care about the reputation part more than anybody else... They dont want to expose themselves..... Im here...doing my freedom of speech thing...and I get down voted....Im EXPOSING myself....yet the down voter...DOES NOT!!! Its CHILDISH to down vote...when NO DISCUSSION is being made... So if I do agree with you and some points, why should I let that sink in? That I don't understand? The last part...about letting it sink in.... I meant that in a general way.... For ANYBODY that reads that...for ANYBODY to let it sink in.. I DID NOT MEAN TO POINT THE FINGER AT YOU... Im sorry I wasnt clear and Im sorry that you took it that way... I've been here over 10 years bud....seen it all. Im sure you have....I dont doubt that... I respect you a lot. In fact, I respect ALL of you here at Cheers and Gears... You guys are a good bunch. Locking horns is a good thing... THAT is what DISCUSSIONS are ALL ABOUT.... Hence I WANT DISCUSSIONS.....you guys are a smart bunch...I like to expand my horizons while trying to show you how it is in my neck of the woods... PS: Im Greek. Im Canadian. From Quebec. 1. I dont think like any other Greek. 2. I dont think like any other Canadian. 3. I dont think like any other Greek Canadian. 4. I dont think like any other Quebecois. 5. I dont think like any other Greek Canadian from Quebec. I have 4 identities. Greek. Canadian. Quebecois. Greek Canadian from Quebec. I think I have a very unique perspective on life....which includes cars...Id like to share these ideas... I get frustrated when I get down voted...but not given the chance to explain. I got laughed at in here...at cheersandgears because some of my posts are long winded... I try to explain my thought process... Damned if I do, damned if I dont... Like I said....If I wasting my energy trying to have decent conversations with people in here...Ill leave... I don't down vote, it wastes my time. If get voted down, I could care less- because it means nothing to me in this stage of the game. I roll how I want, when I want. Don't let it ruin yours...just be you. This was answered some what on top of that quote... I also like to roll the way I want to....its DISCOURAGING though to see down votes on some of my quirky thought processes without nary a back and forth exchange of ideas.... Ignore me...I wont go away.. I just continue to do what I do... Down vote me though...and I KNOW you aint ignoring me... DONT insult my intelligence by not responding.... I EXPECT dialogue when someone does not like my ideas... You have enough energy to read my posts and to down vote it...you have the energy to reply... YOU HATE MY THOUGHT PROCESSES...IGNORE ME COMPLETELY....I just wont go away though... ("You" as in a general "you"... not "you" as in only DAVE87RS)

Yeah...there will be retractions... Sure... But to assume that 3-4 years will go by for the people that ordered 2 days ago is just being pessimistic just for the sake of pessimism. Let that story unfold first, then pounce on it... Tesla has not missed the deadline yet...right? Who knows, maybe they will deliver...

But people are very well aware of the fact that the car is 2 years away... They knew this before the lines opened up for bids. They knew this when there were 116 000 orders. They knew this when Musk said that the California market will be served first. They knew this when the orders hit 200 000 units. At this point, they now know that their Model 3 is probably 3 years away and not just 2. Yet...an additional 80 000 units were placed on order with a $1000 deposit...and counting... These people know...that a Chevy Bolt is coming less than a year away....yet these people dont care about the Chevy...they want a Tesla... Im guessing the iron will stay hot for quite some time. Again, that is if Tesla does not fumble the ball in some way... Like I said, this is Tesla's game to lose....if they do mostly everything right, they got the game in the bag. Lets not pretend like having 300 000 pre-orders is a bad thing...

HA! I could fit many cars in this price range without breaking my head maxing out at $82 265 I saw that Tesla has increased their prices and discontinued some models due to better battery offerings... ITS OK...Ill take...for Montreal, a P70D AWD that starts at $75 000 and Id option it out to $82 000... If the government rebates are to be counted in, then an AWD P90 base model starting at $88 000 minus government subsidies with maybe some options would be suffice. I think I like a white Tesla Model S with various black accents. sorry for the size.

Then Tesla better be able to deliver on that pro-order promise....that's what!!!! But...you've got to admit....close to 300 000 pre-orders 3 days later is pretty impressive mojo that Tesla has got going on.... yes yes...continuing on with the 50 shades of gray theme...

Im on the fence with this.... On one hand, too many AMG variants cheapen out the effect... On the other, if all these AMG variants are truly legit AMG cars....then I dont see the problem... Chevrolet whored out the "SS" badge... A Cobalt SS WAS worthy of the "SS" badging. But was a Malibu SS? Even if it was a MAXX? I mean, what made the MAXX special? Or even the W-Body Impala SS cars? Both the 3.8 supercharged and the 5.3 liter V8 one... If Mercedes-Benz just does an engine upgrade and slaps a badge on it, it aint exactly very special... Both Impalas pictured....were just engine swaps...the V8 one was cool, but the Pontiac and Buick W-Body versions both had better suspension set-ups... If M-B wants to cash in on the AMG badge without the merit, they will soon find out that consumers HATE being duped...

Just to steer this in another direction... Rumor has it that Cadillac wants to build two models to rival Rolls Royce and Bentley....a sedan and a SUV. They want to join the $250 000+ club. http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/future-cars/news/a28708/report-cadillac-is-planning-ultra-luxury-sedan-and-suv/

It may be a movement and a phenomenon... And I want it to never end... But Ill ground my enthusiasm as Peter De Lorenzo also does not like this type of hype and frenzy... http://www.autoextremist.com/ Yet another doesnt think that Tesla will deliver the goods... But he thinks they will eventually deliver the goods, just not on time. The Model X was a disaster launch.... Hopefully the Model 3 does not suffer the same fate. This is where Tesla's game is theirs to lose.... If they dont drop the ball with the Model 3 in any way, they are home free.

What Suave said... Tesla... They started out with a Lotus car. "Hey babe, what is a nice girl like you doing in a place like this? Lets get out of here. Lets go to a place where we could feel each other out, shall we?" Then foreplay happened... Heavy petting....the Model S. Cunnilingus and fellatio might have been stale...the Model X...but penetration is about to happen.... What sort of wild and crazy sex will we see with the Model 3? The script has not been written yet, but it seems that the lady friend is wet all over, excited and ready for all kinds of sexual positions...doggy, boring missionary, etc... Yeah...I tied that in with 50 shades of grey... A book that closely relates to the 1980s movie 9 1/2 weeks with luscious Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke... 50 Shades of Grey... The 1960s sexual revolution has come and gone in America...yet waspy (white anglo saxon protestant) puritan bitches are just now discovering their deepest sexual fantasies....FINALLY!!!!!!!!! Took them long enough....but then again...waspy white anglo puritan lovers are not exactly what dreams are made of... Remember Balthy, Im Greek. Aphrodite aint just the Goddess of Love and beauty...she has other titles too... Eros...yeah little cutesy cupid...is the God of LUST! Dionysus...God of Wine...and DEBAUCHERY... Zeus...cant get more of a horn dog than him... And THAT is why 50 shades of gGrey was popular... But...that shyte is old news in Greece...in India (Kama Sutra) French Canadians in Quebec...the French in general in France....50 Shades of Grey...or 9 1/2 weeks in the 1980s....barely had an erection...not even a semi... Tesla...has created a product line that people all over the world are truly excited about. The author of 50 Shades...just copy and pasted an Ancient Book from India where people in and around that region don't view sex as a sin (Muslim countries excluded)...unlike the good 'ol Bible Belt of America (which sometimes sex is view in the same way as some Muslim countires...) Look at Ted Cruze...and his supporters trying to "slut shame" The Donald's trophy wife...

This comparison Im gonna make...its not exactly the same thing... In 1964...Ford sold 100 000 Mustangs the first 3 months...in 12 months Ford sold 400 000 Mustangs and in 18 months...1 000 000. Tesla does not have the car...its Vapor Ware... These are only pre-orders But...no other car since 1964 has garnered this kind of frenzy say what you will, its pretty impressive for Tesla to get this kinda thing going on at a time when there are many many many types of cars, brands, models and companies in 2016....as opposed to GM/FoMoCo/Mopar/Studebaker in 1964...and Studebaker was sputtering in 1964.... No matter how one feels about Tesla's future....we must be amazed at how in 2016...a car maker has managed to at least compete in the same manner how the Mustang sold in 1964... Every known car related entity is still in awe with the 1964 sales success of the Mustang.... In my eyes....in 2016...the Model 3 has come close to that...

From your link Suave... Yet somehow...somehow... with new nay saying bullshyte.... 116 000 EVs sold in total in the US for 2015...Nissan Leafs, Tesla Model S, Chevrolet Volts and Toyo Priuses, Ford Fusion hybrid EV etc.... 116 000 EVs IN TOTAL... The Chevrolet Bolt gets announced and... The Tesla Model 3 gets announced... Breaks the phoking internet...ALL NIGHT LONG...orders keep coming... Only all night long??? The Tesla Model 3 orders is rocking around the phoking clock!!!!

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/opinion/bloomberg/article/musks-tesla-is-a-niche-car-not-a-revolution-edward-niedermeyer By Edward Neidermeyer The dude that wrote the article here: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/03/31/tesla-s-model-3-could-destroy-elon-musk-s-company.html?via=desktop&source=email What the link that I provided says and was written in March of 2014....2 years ago... HA! HA! HA! When Edward wrote his latest anti-Tesla article...because there are plenty... http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2016-02-11/tesla-will-get-trampled-by-the-mass-market http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/03/31/tesla-s-model-3-could-destroy-elon-musk-s-company.html http://www.themalaymailonline.com/opinion/bloomberg/article/musks-tesla-is-a-niche-car-not-a-revolution-edward-niedermeyer http://www.therecord.com/news-story/5205029-the-competition-is-revving-up-against-tesla/ http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/edward-niedermeyer-toyota-bets-1-billion-that-tesla-is-speeding-115110800747_1.html http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2014/02/qotd-toyota-not-tesla-as-a-force-of-disruption/#more-757641 When he wrote that article...he says that Tesla had 115 000 orders... HA! HA! HA! Th Model 3 is up to 200 000 orders now... And Toyota....with all that Prius automobile disruption that Ed wants to call it...has scaled down Prius projects... Yeah... Another dumb ass analyst "professional" like that Automobile styling "professional" named Cumbersome has an opinion... That last part...about everybody else's opinion stinking up the place.... He could be right, he could be wrong... But...he has been wrong with his other opinion based articles...more like blogs... Yeah...I dont buy what he is shoveling...

But will they sell? EV sales are not even half of 1 percent. Well....like SMK said, the day will come when all the intangibles for EVs will be at the very least equal but most probably be superior in EVERY metric as compared to petrol powered cars. Intangibles such as range, charging infrastructure, maintenance... Range: Battery range for EVs will equal gas tanks in car....the day will come when 300-350 miles of range will be achieved in EV powered SUVs....in the extreme cold and heat...eliminating this huge obstacle..its just around the corner actually. Infrastructure: More and more charge stations are being put up....but the kicker is this: charging your EV AT HOME is PRICELESS to achieve 300-350 miles in extreme cold and heat with the AC or heat blasting with the radio and rear window defrost on MAX... Even if supercharging does NOT improve and it stays at 20 minutes for 80-85% charge....charging the EV less on the road because of extended range becomes a moot point....and its done at home....most of the time...that equals AWESOME. No need to stop at the gas station every 3-4-5 days...for normal every day commutes. Maintenance: This is already an advantage. Brakes and suspension and battery maintenance and tire wear and tear and steering components and CV Boots and Tie Rods and wiper blades needing replacement and windshield cracks are still gonna be necessary to be checked on and maintained and fixed and replaced....but... NO LIQUIDS to be verified and topped off and replaced....therefore no wear and tear on mechanicals that swim in that shyte....and its usually that shyte that is the most sensitive....(in pot hole countries....suspension bits and pieces are also high alert items). EV motors have waaaaaaaaaaaay less moving parts and have ALWAYS been a waaaaaaaaaaaay more reliable source of mechanical energy. So....as time goes by....more and more people WILL adapt and adopt.... Granted...in some parts of the continent faster than others.... Quebec, British Columbia, California, Washington....I think that these folks are already there....no need to wait 10-15 years like SMK said.

I may nix the Dodge Polara cop car for that Cadillac.... True dat SMK...end of an era...plus convertible, I did not have a convertible initially. Very elegant those 1930s Mercedes Benzes were...I too like them. I denounce them when I discuss them in internet forums....because Hitler and Nazis and a little thing called WW2....but I very much like them.

Yeah...that about sums it up, Suave... I just wanted to do the Cadillac -% sales versus Lincoln +% sales and tying it up neatly with that "dare greatly" thing for the cheap, gratuitous laughs...

- Cadillac - Down 5.1% (13,053 Vehicles Sold This Month, 35,633 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) - Lincoln - Up 11.4% (9,698 Vehicles Sold This Month, 24,905 Vehicles Sold So Far This Year) Go ahead...and start laughing at Lincoln...I dare you! I dare you GREATLY!!!!

Sorry...I just cant do the Summer of 2016 version...its got to be the original... "We came, we saw, we kicked its ASS!!!"

A Black and Gold trimmed 1977 Trans Am with T-Tops and an 18 Wheeler ripped up a storm in the summer of 1977 jumping bridges and delivering Coors beer. During that summer, a young Luke Skywalker was the hero up in space, but here on Earth, 'twas Burt Reynolds. The bad guy in space might have been dressed in black and became an icon, but that black Trans Am driven by Burt also is an icon....and I think, when a black and gold Trans Am is being made, Burt HAS to be part of the package....he made the car be a "Black Trans Am"....There are as many scenes that show the Trans Am do its thing as there are of Burt driving it and doing his 1970s macho shtick...1970s male porno star mustache included...