Cory Wolfe

I know they're still eligible for federal tax credits, but I'm rather underwhelmed by the pricing. 

3 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Have you had either of them back here?  The roads down your way are a bit nicer than what we have here..... and that's when the roads stay standing..

The roads here are worse than most of rural Pennsylvania's in my experience. The problem here in South Carolina is they rarely repave anything. The major ring highway around Charleston is essentially a cheese grater and will make any interior rattle show itself. I can't speak for Pittsburgh specifically, but we've taken the Y through Breezewood and Altoona en route to Dubois. As noted, it is somehow less compliant and more wayward than the 3. We took my first 3 to Detroit, however, which definitely has worse roads. 

I'm not sure which Model 3 you may have been in, but my SR+ with the 18" aero wheels has a fairly compliant ride by my standards (I do prefer a nice stiff ride). It's definitely not a luxury car ride, mind you, but I feel it's in line with the ATS I had (granted, it had run-flats) and not quite as uncomfortable as my GTI could be. Something like the WRX I test drove before buying it was way worse, as well.

I will note that my newest 3 does have Michelin Pilot Sports and they ride better than the Michelin Primacy EV tires that usually ship with these. My first one had those and while it was slightly more harsh, it handled Detroit's ruins just fine. I can say that I wouldn't necessarily want to live solely with the Y there, however. 

So, on the topic of Challengers, my latest diecast arrived the other day.

I'm slightly underwhelmed by the Escalade V. This entire generation doesn't really do anything for me, if I'm honest. I won't complain about the supercharger, though. I'm sure they'll sell every one. 

On 1/24/2022 at 8:16 AM, Drew Dowdell said:

The Atlas I-6 was a modern (for the time) engine that was bolted to non-modern stuff.  It was incredibly smooth and loved to rev, it really got its power higher up in the RPM band, which isn't ideal for a heavy SUV, but compared to what we have today with DOHC V6es it was fine. But then GM stuck a 4-speed automatic behind it so it always felt like it was screaming or lugging. 

In typical GM fashion, they canceled it right when it had the potential to flourish... the new 6-speed autos were coming out, direct Injection was being introduced to the mainstream, and turbo technology was entering a renaissance phase. An Atlas I-6 with DI and a Turbo would have beaten Ford to the punch with Ecoboost and probably been a better performer to boot.  Heck, even a turbo I-5 would have been great for the re-return of the Colorado/Canyon or as 1-2 matchup against the Ford 2.7EB and 3.5EB.  Both the I5 and I6 would probably have been de-bored a bit in turbo applications but it still would have been a great matchup. 

Strangely, I was just thinking about this the other day. I forget what prompted it, but it led me on a short little trip down wikipedia lane. 

3 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

I dont think size is an issue.   Even going to Alpha.  Camaro had respectable numbers as compared to Mustang all the way through.  Forget about Camaro sales even beating Mustang for a couple of years. 

All valid points. 

Whatever the cause, we can see that Camaro sales were pretty flat and segment leading for nearly the entire run of the 5th gen model. Sales slumped a bit when the 6th gen Mustang came out and then they never recovered after that. Perhaps the Mustang was simply stuck in a rut (the same rut that the Camaro is in now) prior to that 2015 redesign. 

18 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

About Musk...the board of directors could oust him. But why would they at the moment?   As much of a loon he appears to be, Tesla sales keep rising and quash their rivals DESPITE Musk... 

True, he's certainly made Tesla what it is today, but I simply feel like he's trending higher on the crazy scale lately. His comments and actions seem to be more of a hinderance to Tesla. His latest earnings call and this move towards robotics give me doubt. Meanwhile, despite shocking the industry early on with the Cybertruck, Tesla will likely be beaten to market by nearly every EV truck introduced afterwards. Musk is a man of many broken promises and misguided priorities. 

Quote

Yes, the Ioniq 5 has done the EV mainstream CUV right!   It appears to have Tesla levels of range, battery and software performance.  No need to be a speed demon and therefore it gets the family hauling duties right.   Unlike say the Mach E.  But the Mach E is a Mustang and therefore it NEEDS to be a speed demon.

But the Ioniq 5 is too expensive to be a mainstream family hauling EV. 

Whoever can get the first sub-$30k EV that's not a penalty box to market will likely make the biggest mark. 

1 hour ago, oldshurst442 said:

Totally! 

I see the way EVs are created with their funky LED  lighting outside of the vehicle and inside, all the shiny gadgets and creative tech and THAT alone makes people want them as their ICE counterparts are not as glitzy. ALL (or most) of the R&D money goes into EVs nowadays so OEMs are getting crafty in making EVs.  To the average joe, this is what peaks his interest.  And the non-stop message of EVs are mostly maintenance free and that is enough for people to convert.

On the other hand, non-stop messaging of charging times and where to charge and the absence of a variety of EV models to choose from from price to style, keeps EV sales at bay.    

To the average joe, motive power seems irrelevant.  I gather, whatever is more cheaper to run and what is more convenient to own will win the hearts of the average joe.  EVs havent attained that level yet to silence the misinformation that is out there against EVs. 

+1 on the Fisker.   

When the North American EV market will be flooded with EVs of this price range and style, from ALL the OEMs, will we see a great switch to EVs.  

The Mach E is a sporty CUV, great for the 'look at me' crowd.   Its not a mass market appealing vehicle.  The average joe doesnt want that kind of attention.   This is why Toyotas sell by the ton.  

Im holding out from getting a CUV for myself as long as I could hold out.  But I have a feeling that conventional  sedans are not quite dead yet...   They are concerning the IC.  But I have a feeling that there will be some EV sedans to choose from.  

The Taycan and its Audi cousin GT E-Tron turns a lot heads.  Mine included when NOT painted in Trans Am bandit colours.  LOL    The Lucid Air.   Mercedes with their ugly EQS has garnered interest.  Cadillac Celestiq.  Sure, these are all expensive sedans, but sedans are still wanted by the buying public and OEMs are recognizing this and are still giving us sedans to drool over... 

 

It feels strange to say this, but compared to the majority of the latest EV reveals, Teslas seem...almost normal. The Model 3, while seemingly unorthodox when it was revealed, is now the Camry/Corolla of the EV spectrum today—in more ways than one. 

Now, if only something could be done about Elon...

Of all the EVs from mainstream manufacturers, the Hyundai Ioniq grabs my attention. They really nailed it with that one. 

On 1/22/2022 at 10:26 AM, balthazar said:

Oh, and states like KY charging you a YEARLY valuation tax on your vehicle... YEARLY.

South Carolina is the same way, BUT there isn't a traditional sales tax applied to vehicle sales, just a $500 max "infrastructure" fee. Short term you pay less, but it doesn't take very many years to surpass what sales tax would have cost. 

On 1/24/2022 at 1:26 PM, Drew Dowdell said:

Unibody v. BOF ride quality comes down more around what the manufacturer does beyond that decision.  My BOF Avalanche rides fantastic on the highway, most of the Ram pickups and Magnaride equipped Denalis do too.  The F-150 rides terrible unless there is one version out there with an active suspension that I haven't driven yet.  The Ford Mach-E rides like crap if you don't get the active suspension.  The Telsa Model 3, which is unibody, rides like a Conestoga wagon. 

Yeah, it's definitely down to suspension set-up and tuning.

Interestingly, ride quality is one difference I've noticed between the Model 3 and Model Y. The MY rides worse despite feeling slightly softer sprung. The M3 is more composed and comfortable; it even feels a bit more solid. The ride/handling is pretty similar to my old ATS.

On 1/24/2022 at 2:50 PM, David said:

Wow, Maverick gas truck new orders on hold now too.

Seems demand is so crazy that Ford is stopping new orders to manage customer expectations. 

It's not overly surprising to me that demand for these is so high. 

On 1/25/2022 at 11:28 AM, David said:

Seems after 13 years since its resurrection that the Dodge Challenger has finally taken the crown as top selling Muscle Car.

I'm surprised it took this long. The Challenger is probably the most well-rounded of the three and has stuck with tried-and-true, well, everything. These days, it would be the one I'd buy despite the Camaro being a better fit for little ol' me. I almost bought one instead the Tesla, twice; both times a Challenger was in the running. Give me a nice wide-body Scat Pack in purple. 

On 1/26/2022 at 10:37 AM, riviera74 said:

OK. Why are Camaro sales last year so low compared to the Challenger and the Mustang?

They've been trending in the wrong direction ever since they switched to Alpha. It seems no one really wanted a smaller Camaro, especially after the refresh. Covid shortages likely put the final nail in the coffin. 

10 hours ago, balthazar said:

I... I d-don't know... 

It's blasphemy, but I don't hate it.

15 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Just preserving for posterity in case the post gets deleted...

 

Upon my return, I sort of wondered what happened to him. I don't think I want, nor care, to know. 

29 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

I see that.   With the advent of these shytty electrical cars, how can ANYBODY be be passionate about cars anymore???!!!

OOPSIES.   I see that you own not one, but TWO of these Tesler cars..

I like Telsa.  I just dont like Elon.  I like EVs. My next car will probably be an EV...  lets just see what everybody else will bring to the table...   

Hah, right. Tesla ownership definitely has its negatives, the biggest of which is probably Elon. Many owners blindly worship the Haus of Musk which leads everyone else to believe that any owner must as well. While I think he has definitely had some radical ideas that have led us to where we're at now, it might be time for him to step back and perhaps abmit he was wrong about certain things (*cough* FSD, *cough* removing radar, *cough* v11 software).

30 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

AWESOME!!!

I have a 73 or 74 car collection  scale 1/18 (always forget how many I got) diecast cars.   OK...Im lying.   One of those is a resin model.   2015 Hellcat Challenger by GT Spirit.  

Waiting for the Z06 C8 to come out to complete and end the collection once and for all.  Hopefully by Autoart if they make one. Ill have to settle for a resin Stingray from GT Spirit I think it is if no-one makes a Z06.  

I used to have over 100 of them. Collection was too big.   Its kinda too big now. 

One of my biggest regrets is selling my old diecast collection about 10 years ago. I had about 100 cars and I let it go for a few hundred. Some of those cars really ballooned in value and it would cost me 10 times the amount I sold it for to rebuild the collection exactly as I had it.

Right now I'm back up to about ten 1:18 scale, about 150 Hot Wheels/Matchbox cars, and a handful of others that fit in-between. Unfortunately my latest super rad purchase was damaged by USPS...

6 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Congrats on the fleet Cory, always nice to see you pop in

Thanks, Drew. 

I'm going to try to be more active this year. Outside of being a lurker in a few Facebook groups, I don't participate much in any automotive discussions these days. The last few years have sort of drained my passions a bit. 2021 was at least a bit of a return to the norm for me with more frequent trips to Cars and Coffee and beginning to rebuild my diecast collection. Photography is still on the back burner for the most part, so I'd like get out and do more with that this year. We shall see...

I have no interest in reading through all these posts just to add my point, so bear with me if these points are redundant. The last two pages or so have certainly been interesting, at least.

For me, what I personally hate is that if I go to a manufacturer's website, build a vehicle and find said vehicle in inventory (far-fetched these days, but...), I'm given a price for that vehicle. Until you contact the dealer directly or arrive at the lot, there's often no indication online there may be a markup. Worse yet, I could place a reservation/order and have a market adjustment added after the fact in order to take delivery.

The point to be made with a direct-to-consumer sales approach, at least for me, is transparency and consistency. When a manufacturer raises the price, it's clear and consistent. You're not placing an order and being surprised with a higher price upon delivery either.

The flip side is losing the ability to potentially haggle for a lower price (not likely in this market, but worth mentioning). This model also likely directs more profits towards the manufacturer, for better or worse.

Though not directly comparable, it's not far off from the strategy that has fueled CarMax's success in the used car market.

🤷

Seeing as I never daily drove the ATS, I'll have to compare the Miata to the GTI.

The Magnificent Montego Miata:

• Purity. No electric nannies or interference between the car and myself. No distractions.
• Reliability. In a similar time frame and mileage, the GTI required $6k in repairs alone, more than the total cost to purchase the Miata and the sum of its maintenance to date.
• Handling. 2293 lbs, 50/50 weight distribution, double wishbone suspension at all four corners; It's a smile-maker.
• Sun's out, guns out. It's all about that roadster life. 
• Affordability. Beyond the savings earned from the low-cost of the car and it's habit of not breaking, overall running costs are dirt cheap. Gas, insurance, maintenance, etc.; This car can be ran on a shoestring budget.  

The Great German GTI:

• Power. There's a lot to be said about VW's now legendary TSI engines paired with a DSG. Simply effortless acceleration.
• A class above. The aura of this car eluded more high-class than you'd expect for a reasonably-priced hatchback. Superb interior materials and fit/finish for the class that still holds well against new vehicles.
• Look at me, look at me. This is still my favorite generation of Golf VW has ever released. Perfect combination of attitude and class.
• Niceties. The Miata's purity is nice but some days you just want to be coddled with heated seats, insulation, and a decent set of headlights.
• Utility. Four totes, two duffle bags, a Chihuahua, and a passenger?! This is not the life of a roadster owner.

I was rather underwhelmed by the specs of the new Forte upon its release, but this GT sounds like a compelling package. 

As I near 30, it's a strange feeling to realize that many of you may remember this photo I originally posted here in 2005.  

I'd test it out, but apparently Novi isn't in close enough proximity to Detroit. 🤔

Thanks, guys. 

Having my first full week to myself since starting the job has made me realize just how little time I've had away from it. 

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?

Thanks!

So far the only aspect of the car that I'd consider a downgrade is the transmission, but it's hard to top a DSG. Otherwise, it feels like it has pretty similar performance to the GTI without its harshness. When I initially test drove an ATS, I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. I didn't expect to like this color combination, either, but it seems to fit the car well.

Thanks! Here's another quick garage pic since today doesn't look any better.

15 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

The one on the left, or the one on the right?

Or was it both?

Anyway...nice tandem of enthusiast  vroom vrooms you got going on there!

Thanks!

I guess it has been a while since I've been on here. Time sure does fly... I've had the Miata for a little over a year now.

Anyhow, I traded my GTI in on that ATS yesterday. It's a very lightly used '15 2.0t with 9k miles on it.

I can't wait to actually see this. It looks great, even if it's a bit of a mish-mash of styling cues. 

The design is exactly what they needed to do with this model. It actually looks a class above the Equinox for once. The push-button transmission on the other hand... Who actually wants that? It seems like a huge miscalculation with its unergonomic design. Seriously... there are plus and minus buttons for gear selection. WTF.