cp-the-nerd

If you have ANYTHING substantive to back that up, I'd love to see it. Obesity statistics alone, particularly in children, completely dismantle your whole "kids were already going outside" theory. The rise in vitamin-D deficiency that I mentioned also flies in the face of "kids were already going outside." In fact, this is also true for adults: I met one guy at a "pokestop" who said "If you told me a month ago I'd walk 65 kilometers in two weeks for a game, I'd have assumed you're on all the drugs. All of them." (The game uses metric distances.) Now he's walking all over the community finding new places and talking to people he's never met. Everything I've read indicates this is the rule, not the exception. I'd love to see any real evidence showing a negative overall affect of this game. I've been observing the progressing smart phone culture for a while now, because the effects have been pretty universally bad from a social standpoint, but this game is a huge leap in the direction of healthy progress. Go to a bar, go to the grocery store, go anywhere and look at people staring at their phones, essentially segregating themselves in a public place. The pokemon game does the opposite of that. Stop being negative for the sake of being negative, empirical evidence shows the game is anything but.

Not touching the political points of what you posted, but your technical points on E85 are incorrect or missing the point. If you tried to run peanut oil fuel through your gasoline engine you'd get less than ideal fuel economy also. E85 is a great fuel when it is put in engines it is designed for as the primary fuel. In Brazil they use sugar alcohol, essentially E100, in their cars. I don't know what the octane is, but it's gotta be over the 110 that E85 is here. The little 1.0 liter Chevy compacts run around with compression ratios equal to that in the V10 in the old M5 (basically, pretty darn high by industry standards). The loss of fuel economy and the political ramifications are unavoidable. We're forced to have that E15 blend in our gas for our cars engineered to run best on pure gasoline. This is the crux of the subsidized ethanol scam. I see no US automakers developing engines to run E85 or E100 in a way that compares to pure gasoline. But that's beside the point because our agricultural infrastructure cannot support corn production in a way that will replace gasoline in a significant manner without, again, wreaking havoc on food and produce costs. Meanwhile, we're at a point that so much agricultural production has adjusted for government ethanol subsidies and fuel supply, that we literally cannot stop what they've started without bursting the agricultural economic bubble. Is there a pattern here? Government gets involved in housing loans in the 90s - housing bubble. Government subsidizes interest free college loans - tuition skyrockets (pesky supply and demand), college loan bubble balloons to a trillion dollars in bad debt. Government subsidizes medical care - hospital/doctor costs shoot astronomically high, $20 for an aspirin, $1000 for overnight stay Government "corrects" medical cost problem with universal healthcare - insurance rockets premiums and deductibles (simple risk/benefit economics) Government subsidizes ethanol based on bad science - agricultural bubble (more like a house of cards)

Sorry to get on my soapbox here, I don't have any issues with you personally or your usual posting... But your post was brutally short sighted and frankly full of sh!t. I don't know if you're aware of modern youth culture or the general obesity epidemic in America, but the post millennial generation of kids barely goes outside. I once read an article about Rickets and vitamin D deficiency-related illnesses making a comeback in children because they don't get enough sunlight. Additionally, living through the internet has caused some rather poor social development. Childhood obesity is also rampant in a way totally unseen even 15 years ago. Now we have people from 10 to 40 years old playing Pokemon Go outside, happily getting tons of exercise, meeting people through a game that has zero cultural or racial biases. There are reports that this game is single handedly improving mental health on a national scale by getting people and kids off the internet and out in the fresh air, seeing their community. If you don't see the benefits in that, you're being foolish. Like it or not, this form of game, "AR" or augmented reality on smart phones, is the next big thing. If it's not Pokemon, it's going to be something else. While distracted driving is clearly a problem with young drivers, the benefits of this sort of game to society greatly outweigh the negatives. /rant

There is nothing beneficial to government intervention in any market or industry. This is born out in every record-able metric in the past 50 years. The government is the lowest common denominator and the least cost effective means to an end. Look no further than displacement taxes that encourage turbocharging 1.0L-1.5L motors despite the lack of any real world benefit vs equally advanced N/A engines. People making laws dictating OUR lives know LESS about cars than we do on this forum. Free market business works the best when innovation is determined by the MARKET, by supply and demand, and by competition. Instead we have $20,000 sub-compact "economy" cars with 10 standard airbags ($1,000+ to repair each one that goes off in an accident) and expensive small displacement, turbocharged, direct-injection engines to meet ever increasing government regulations. Ethanol fuel is a goddamn sham. Look what its done to the agricultural industry when the world is producing more oil reserves than ever, with new oil extraction methods broadening our oil supply beyond anything we imagined. E85 is also nowhere near as efficient as pure gasoline in any vehicle that offers ethanol compatibility. It's another government subsidized mistake taking billions of dollars from the taxpayers and causing increased cost of food and produce while DECREASING our fuel economy.

Dude....we've already mentioned why the GT350 costs as much as it does... The LT1 engine has Vette sales and truck sales to offset the price tag.... The Voodoo is a one-off special edition engine... QUIT the BS about price tags... The GT350's sound alone is worth the price of admission. Ive said this before... magazine performance numbers are only good for arm chair racers much like your self.... Have YOU raced a GT350 and a Camaro SS or 1LE to concur your obvious strong opinion that you hold? Prolly not! You hold MT on a high pedestal yet denounce Car and Driver's findings for the GT350 cherry picking... What are MT's motives for calling out Ford for a Focus RS? They did not get their freebies from Ford? Then they threaten... You havent yet given a valid reason....only to point the finger at Ford... THAT is very silly and foolish of you... Sorry but a sweet engine not does not justify a high price on any car especially if that's the only reason to do so. Hold up, full stop. The Camaro Z/28 was criticized constantly for the high price tag, which was due to the $16,000 hand built LS7 and $8,000 carbon ceramic brakes. Either an exotic, rare engine justifies higher cost or it doesn't but lets keep consistency here. Also, Olds, you mentioned earlier that Ford has all the right to withhold its vehicles, and that's true. But not to the benefit of shareholders. As Motor Trend stated: next time they'll take whatever Hertz has on the lot. Who stands to lose out when a rental-grade, abused Ford gets compared to shiny, prepped examples from other brands?

I sympathize with your transmission shifting woes. GM's first generation 6-speed automatic programming was particularly bad. There was an actual error that caused 6th gear to double-downshift to 4th gear on the highway that became so irritating that I would habitually drive in manual mode above 50 mph. Eventually I found myself driving in manual about 75% of the time altogether because it loved bogging down in high gears even in urban driving. Properly tuning the shift points makes a WORLD of difference even before you get into power adders and torque management settings. I barely touch manual mode now because the car already does on its own what I would have done with the paddles. Maybe when you get the shudder checked out, see if they have an updated powertrain program?

Shame on you, sir, for not providing pictures. Now we require a full battery of interior, exterior, engine bay, and wheel/brake shots. I expect them on my desk tomorrow morning.

I thought that generation Lacrosse was the pinnacle of the W-body cars. The V8-powered Lacrosse Super had an understated handsomeness with just a hint of sleeper that I liked quite a bit. It probably sounded amazing with the right intake and exhaust combo.

Moog makes great OE replacement parts, frequently better than what came from factory. I got a pair of moog stabilizer links for my Malibu when one side went bad. The difference in part quality was pretty stark. I haven't had to do wheel bearings yet in 80,000 miles, but I know it's one of the weak spots on epsilon cars. Good job getting your hands dirty and changing the parts yourself! Saving ~$700 is pretty awesome no matter how you slice it.

I agree. In this age where automakers are trying to squeeze every penny out of production, I wouldn't doubt if GM more or less trapped a supplier in this situation. They'll have to take it on the nose and restructure the contracts. Obviously keeping production going is more important than trying to get a 5 dollar trim piece for $3 or whatever. This is what I was thinking of when I first read that they got into a bad contract with GM. But it does bring up the counter argument, why would they sign a bad contract if it'll put them under? Unless when it was signed the forecasted fixed/variable costs were much lower and something happened that increased their costs way above their past projections. Businesses make bad deals all the time, especially when a larger company strong-arms them into it. Who knows, maybe there were incentives for managers, maybe costs changed. GM itself went into their bankruptcy in an unavoidable slow-motion car accident because of union contracts more than anything else making the company unprofitable.

Over ruling bankruptcy protection establishes a very questionable precedent for future cases. Even if you want to see GM punished, this is a double edged sword that may cut harder the other way.

I agree. In this age where automakers are trying to squeeze every penny out of production, I wouldn't doubt if GM more or less trapped a supplier in this situation. They'll have to take it on the nose and restructure the contracts. Obviously keeping production going is more important than trying to get a 5 dollar trim piece for $3 or whatever.

I would rather pay a midget 20 bucks to slap me in the testicles than listen to either version of that song ever again.

After seeing the intake manifold spacer in my search for modifications, I did some research on spacers like that and they seem to be a pretty common mod among lots of makes and models. *This is not a throttle body spacer, just to clarify.* On the GM 3.6L, the manifold seems to get nearly as hot as the engine itself from factory, but time and time again, people are seeing the spacer drop manifold temps by around 30 degrees. In combination with the ported TB, which has itself dyno'd 3-5 horsepower gains, I've come to think that the combined gains are pretty believable. IMO, 10 horsepower for $300 is a done deal. I'm pretty scientific about my approach to modding, too. I'm never going by butt dyno or adding manufacturer horsepower claims to my factory hp rating. I hate that crap. I have good blue tooth OBD equipment that I use to measure various performance characteristics before and after.

A company sells both a ported throttle body and a heat resistant plastic spacer to go between the intake manifold and the engine that greatly reduces heat transfer. The combo costs a bit under $300 (after you send back a stock throttle body) and is widely known to make gains of 10+ horsepower and torque at peak, but over 20 hp/tq under the curve without any custom tuning. It seems hard to believe, but the spacer alone decreases heat soak of the intake manifold by as much as 30 degrees and is responsible for much of the gains (proven in testimonials using laser temp guns). After tuning my 3.6L Malibu and adding a cone intake, it's already making 270+ horsepower at the crank (nearly the same torque) and traps 98 mph in the quarter mile. It would be badass get into the 280-290 range and push 100 mph trap speeds. Before anyone says it, I don't have finances to buy a genuine performance car, I'm saving for my wedding. I bought the Malibu new and it's been a very good car, I don't mind driving it and I like that it's a bit of a sleeper. Anything used I'd be able to buy right now via trade-in would be a big sacrifice in reliability and/or practicality that are both currently a must-have. Here's a link to a Camaro V6 (3.6L LLT, 312 horsepower stock) with the combo installed and a dyno. http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=314373

Olds, the top trim is "Premier." Besides that, preach!

This Benz looks like the reason America switched to crossovers. *YAAAAWWWNN*

I mentioned earlier in this thread that Trifecta would release a tune for the 1.5T, well it arrived even sooner than I thought! Gains are presented in WHP and WTQ. My guess was 190 bhp and 210 tq, and that's almost dead on! See below: TRIFECTA presents: Chevy Malibu (1.5L, 2.0L) MY2016+ Powertrain Calibration Reprogramming (flash tune) TRIFECTA is pleased to announce the immediate availability of the 2016+ Chevrolet Malibu vehicle software recalibration (reflash) for vehicles utilizing either the 1.5L Turbo (RPO: LFV) or the 2.0L Turbo (RPO: LTG) with either the 8 speed automatic transmission (Aisin AF40-8 / RPO:MRC) or the 6 speed automatic transmission (Delphi 6T40 / RPO:MNH). Specific gains over factory calibration are up to (uncorrected) 48lb-ft of torque and 49 horsepower with no vehicle modifications beyond the updated software calibration. Detailed power gains (measured at the wheels, dynojet chassis dyno) 1.5L gains: up to +22 ft-lbs torque, +20 horsepower (peak gains of up to 18 ft-lbs torque, +19 horsepower) 2.0L gains: up to +48 ft-lbs torque, +49 horsepower (peak gains of up to 43 ft-lbs torque, +42 horsepower)

Lambdas don't use the LFX V6, they use the LLT. What "unresolved issues" are you referring to? There are some timing chain stretching issues with the Lambdas... and all of the earlier 3.6es even. GM has been dropping the ball on this one by only extending the timing chain warranty on some models but not others. The biggest difference between the Traverse/Acadia and the Enclave is the addition of Buick's quiet tuning. Not that the Chevy and GMC are particularly loud, but the Enclave is whisper quiet and serene inside.. it really is ... an Enclave. I've heard of those issues you describe, its really kept me from ever getting too serious on any used GM product with that motor. When i was selling da suzukis i even remember some folks bringing those in (the XL7's made by GM) for that issue. Timing chains aren't unresolved. I haven't heard any issues with any of the refreshed Lambdas, and only very rarely of any 3.6L engine manufactured after 2010. They've updated the chain and the maintenance procedures. I know quite a bit about the 3.6L engine variations since I drive one. Basically, use synthetic oil and maintain the engine properly and you'll avoid stretched timing chains 99% of the time. The real issue with older 3.6L engines is that the piston rings would rot and they'd start eating oil like crazy. Low oil causes the stretched timing chains.

Lambdas don't use the LFX V6, they use the LLT. What "unresolved issues" are you referring to?

GM did a great job on the refresh a couple years ago to bring up the appeal. Especially the interior like you mentioned, granted the steering wheel and gauge cluster are straight out of 2008. The Acadia that's about to be replaced catches my eye every time I drive by one, very few crossovers achieve that for me. I think the 2014-16 Lambdas are going to be an excellent option on the used market for middle class families for years to come. My brother just got himself a 2011 Lacrosse 3.6L for $14k. It's an INCREDIBLE car for the money. American car depreciation with their modern quality is really creating some insane deals.

Dislike. I'm also noticing an increasing number of luxury cars dipping into the Cadillac design book. The CTS's vertical leds and general aggressive design are setting trends. You can see it in the S5 here. I'm not saying the cars look similar. I'm saying there's a flattering pilfering of design elements. Look at the character lines on the hood and the vertical bars in the S5's fog-light spaces.

Why did you combine the CTS and XTS sales? The XTS is the same size as an Impala, if it should be added to anything, it would be the CT6.

I recently opened my laptop to upgrade my RAM to 16gb, and found the primary drive bay empty. I figured that's where my 256 gb SSD would be, so I looked around and found it... basically the size of two postage stamps side by side. So I have an open slot for a second SSD in the future! But yeah, my laptop is two years old, so I'm not surprised these new chips are like micro SD cards.

Probably similar to the CTS 3.6L/8A, if not an mpg higher. The Caddy scored 20 city/30 hwy for RWD.