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regfootball

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Everything posted by regfootball

  1. regfootball
    G coupe was always a hit, this still looks the part.
  2. regfootball
    awesome! congrats! new body style?
  3. regfootball
    http://ask.cars.com/2011/05/at-what-speed-is-highway-mileage-calculated.html The EPA derives its estimates from driving simulations done in a laboratory. The highway simulation covers 10.3 miles at an average speed of 48.3 mph, with about half the time spent at 55-60 mph. Not exactly real-world. Since 2008 the EPA has included an 8-mile trip that adds more aggressive acceleration, spurts up to 80 mph and more than half the time over 60 mph — somewhat closer to reality. Neither test runs at a steady speed, the kind of driving you will likely do and an approach that should improve your mileage.
  4. regfootball
    i am guessing it will break in. I didn't notice any extra juice with 91. If anything it felt a bit different. The Cobalt was horrible after 60-65 mph. What speed is the EPA highway test at? That is probably the speed they tune the powertrains to. A still 60 degree day or light tailwind with the sun mostly gone down, with non ethanol fuel, and following behind a semi, on flat grades at 65-70 mph and no braking or slowdowns I am sure this will get between 45-50 mpg.
  5. regfootball
    just a quick posting of some interesting FE numbers from Monday night. a 254.4 mile stretch with about 90 percent highway and 87 octane non ethanol, near optimal conditions... 254.4 miles, 40.5 mpg (DIC indicated) Best 50 mile stretch 46.3 mpg (60-70 mph) If i get this on trips all the time, I will be giddy. want to be clear too, not calculated. I am sensing the DIC may be slightly off...either shows too many miles traveled or doesn't show enough gas used. Over time i will find that out. The other thing is one leg the day before in 90+ heat into a strong prairie head wind with 91 octane ethanol free only got me about 32 and change, even if the DIC said 35. And the oil life meter took a hit. I think extreme conditions of wind and heat really affect the small motor. And, I think this car does not like 91 octane / premium. I seem to get a happier motor and best FE on 87 octane. The car when it settles into a zone and a nice long run purrs like a kitty and sips fuel. There is a huge drop in FE between 65mph and 70mph ........and 75mph. The 1.5 is challenged at times in extreme conditions but most of the regualr time works well on the highway. I think, just like whiskey, a 1.75 would be a nice deal. It would be nice to have those deeper reserves for interstate driving......so i guess if you really drive a lot of long distance and FE is not the big concern, definitely go for the 2.0. The fuel stop is sensitive in fueling. If you try to get another tenth in to top it off, you will spill over on your new rig.
  6. regfootball
    let's see if VW stays in business first.
  7. regfootball
    but still the back seat is deficient even for that group of buyers and overall for the brand. Go to many other forum sites. Lots of folks who are interested in the ATS ultimately say they gave it up for consideration and bought other brands. No point to building a car line that won't sell then. It's also far less commodious than the competition in its group.
  8. regfootball
    i think part of the focus should be 'energy diversity'. And by that, to me is accomplished right now with say, an E85 capable plug in. Like a Volt that is E85 capable. That way you can fuel your car with electricity, or gas that could include a shift back to renewables if those developed more. That said, i am not a big ethanol fan normally, due to it's lower energy output compared to pure gas. If ethanol can become more cost effective without relying so much on subsidy, ever, at least that the cars running around if E85 capable are set up for gas fuel diversity.
  9. regfootball
    nice work
  10. regfootball
    no wonder they are shopping so hard for platform mates
  11. regfootball
    ^^^^^^^^ do i buy a Cruze or a Malibu........mid size sedans are becoming the new class of economy cars. Price difference is minimal, mpg difference is now minimal too. The extra room and space makes all the difference in the world in terms of usability. That's for us why we did the Malibu instead of the Cruze. The Malibu feels light (you can definitely see and feel the lightness of the parts and the vehicle). At the same time they pared it to the bone on weight and it doesn't feel like it will crumple from normal use. I would say from driving it for 3 weeks now that they've probably done all they can on weight loss for a car this size now. So it makes perfect sense to start adding room back into the vehicles again. You see all the room in the back of the new one, and compare it to the 2013-2015 and you see the consumer response and you really wonder wtf the GM is thinking when it makes botches like that. Look at the ATS and its useless back seat. Seriously GM wtf get a clue. Malibu - i can't wait to take the first long trip in it. On the right pavement surface the car is tomb quiet with no tire noise and the engine purrs like a content little kitty and sips fuel.
  12. regfootball
    setting said goal was political theatrics anyways. And now relaxing that is also theater, 'hey we are letting up our choke hold on you". Still, 50 or 52.6 is kind of absurd too. In the meantime, it's still good to have gradual mpg requirement changes. Enough to help give a little bit of a boot to more hybrids etc......as long as that consumer burden is not overwhelming.
  13. regfootball
    when i was selling we had the old style 135i m package. nice car but it really was niche, wasn't really about transportation, and with the 3 series around, redundant. If BMW wants the 1 series to truly become their entry level fashion car, front drive is fine, even if hypocritical. It's all about capturing the next generation of buyers. You gotta cut weight and give more space back to the cabin and trunk and fwd does that.
  14. regfootball
    no lie, a couple days ago i was wondering about your and your cars whereabouts! nice write up.
  15. regfootball
    Verano did sell well for awhile. Regal wagon would really just be niche but may provide needed attention for the brand.
  16. regfootball
    Part of why GM's stock has risen is it's advertising and PR and willingness to throw cars up for the ungrateful car press to devour. There is lots in the news in terms of PR with GM and electrics, ride services, autonomous, etc. I always see stuff pop up in Google and Facebook where Mary Barra is on some PR mission and it's portrayed in a great light. Ford's product rush was 2011-2013, they just need to get new products going again, but getting an actual PR department that works may be of great service to them. Still doesn't mean the buff books and buff sites aren't stupid rags, and their posters too. So many pimple faces that probably don't even have licenses and live in their parents' basement. Give it two years and Cruzes will be at the bottom of comparos again too.
  17. regfootball
    Car and Driver is really trying hard to be car snobs and brand snobs again. I think that era of humanity has passed. Motor trend has more mainstream views on the car world. If C/D just backed off their Mazda / Honda / Mercedes / BMW snobbery a bit i think it would help them.
  18. regfootball
    With the prices of everything these days, a loaded turbo sonic for 16,000 would be a killer deal. One thing with Sonics I noticed though, the used market is flooded and prices are not good. If you bought a 22,000 Sonic even at 16,000, if you'll be underwater for a LONG time. Try to trade that Sonic 18 months from now, and you'll get a 10,000 dollar offer. Chevy is driving leasing on the Cruze and Malibu right now because they are new. They give the big buy discounts on the Impala and Sonic right now. In three years, if you want a used Cruze or Malibu, the prices will be high still because GM will get the lease returns back and have their dealers re-sell them as CPO's etc. Since Sonics don't lease, and there is not much of a first tier used market for them, their street value will nosedive quickly.
  19. regfootball
    Here's a PEACH LaCrosse super available for purchase...less than 30k miles. http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?endYear=2017&zip=55379&listingType=used&listingTypes=used&showcaseListingId=0&mmt=%5BBUICK%5BLACROSSE%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&modelCode1=LACROSSE&sortBy=derivedpriceASC&showcaseOwnerId=0&startYear=1981&makeCode1=BUICK&firstRecord=0&maxMileage=30000&numRecords=100&searchRadius=0&listingId=431490675&Log=0
  20. regfootball
    i think they should move to a hybrid solution for Europe. It's fine to put a diesel in something but I think cutting edge hybrids would be the way to gain a niche. The other thing i would not have them do it proclaim to go toe to toe with Mercedes etc. To have a niche and build stability for a few years is the way to go.
  21. regfootball
    nice!
  22. regfootball
    two weeks in, first fill. low fuel warning goes off EARLY. Probably at about the 10.5 gallon mark. Tank is 13.0 gallons. You can fill this up CHEAP. 336 miles, 11.2 gallons. Exactly 30.00 mpg. I'd say 40% of the tank was 65 mph cruising with little stop. The rest was a lot of stoplights and stopped / slow traffic and stop and frustrating stop and go. I got pretty p'oed the last couple days with all the traffic clusterfs and such. It's becoming unbearable at times. The autostop which does work fine went off about a dozen times today just on a short 7 mile jaunt. The combined EPA is 31, so the 30 looks to be just spot on. And the 30 was exactly what i am expecting over the life of the vehicle. We'll see how it goes moving ahead. I filled the tank with half non oxygenated / non ethanol 91 octane and the other half with 91 octane premium. I hope to see what that does with the mpg. The flat footedness at times of the engine power is not too frustrating, it really is a thing that becomes an issue in traffic more than anything. I do still think the engine power is on the border of not enough, however as a commuter rig it does the job. And its smooth. Not at all unsatisfied, I really have some second thoughts about missing out on and not getting a hybrid or a 2.0 though. I love the ride and the chassis and really believe this would be the ideal car for say a 1.8t with about 240hp and a six speed manual. I don't think the market wants it, but just driving this car the chassis would be brilliant for it.
  23. regfootball
    ^^^^^^^ read that, I do believe MT's result was much better than C/D. I am fine with them giving the Civic the #1 rating because the Civic can lay claim to being the better car in a lot of ways. For me where it loses it is road noise, feels cheaper, and the fact that the Cruze is a much better road car. So for most more mature drivers and those that value quiet, the Cruze wins. Civic has the larger space, style points, and such. Both are great cars. I could drive a Civic. I could drive a Cruze. I am really glad MT didn't fawn on the Mazda.....Mazda's stuff is overrated.
  24. regfootball
    http://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/volt/2016/long-term-road-test/2016-chevrolet-volt-vs-2016-chevrolet-malibu-hybrid.html?SID=iqlhzsggdq000b1p001ol&kw=flexibletexttool&PID=3193616&AID=10364102&mktid=cj260233&mktcat=affiliates by the way, this is a great take on the whole Volt vs. Malibu hybrid thing. It's dead spot on, and I agreed so much that is why my wife and I attempted to get the hybrid Malibu first (but settled on the 1.5, hybrid was just a bit out of reach and I imagine i will be kicking myself for a long time on that). Malibu hybrid is that good! The one thing I think the 1.5t might have over the hybrid is no engine drone at 70-75 mph, like interstate driving.....the 1.5t is smooth and quiet settled into a cruise at that speed, the hybrid would have some gas engine drone.
  25. regfootball
    No place to put the batteries for that kind of range really. batteries keep getting smaller with more range...speed up the process with that a vehicle like the envision with a voltec would have lots more room plan wise and vertically for battery arrangments. Honda Fit i believe has gas tank under front seat. Move gas tank to under front seat and there you go, even more room for batteries. Bolt ultimately leaves most flexibility for battery pack. Thing is, can we mesh the battery friendly packaging of the Bolt with the gas range extender of the Volt. In any case, Volt is fantastic but like the guy said to me at the auto show when we were both sitting in the Volt, "i want this car, but i can't justify buying it its too small to use for my family". If it were midsize, the price / value relationship would align for more people.
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