Drew Dowdell

It's a much deeper philosophical debate, but I side with @oldshurst442 on this one. People are too caught up in the rat race of just trying to keep their heads above water financially in this economy (everything since 1980, not just the last few years).

There's nothing fun about driving most of the time anymore.... that's probably why. What's the point of some high-powered coupe when you're just going to be stuck behind some semi-truck or a dolt in a Corolla in the left lane with their blinker on? I have gotten pretty aggressive of late of high-beaming people who park in the left lane at slow speeds. The driving skills have really dropped, especially since covid started.

Largely why we upgraded from the Encore to the 300C. We needed the space for hauling his elderly parents around and the Encore couldn't cut it in that department. I am glad we went back to a sedan. Ironically, we didn't take any hit in fuel economy. We got 17ish/30ish in the Encore and we get 17ish/30ish in the 300C. Still, the size of the Encore was a nice convenience for zipping around the city.

It's about picking the right tool for the job. When one is driving Pittsburgh -> Philly -> NY -> Connecticut -> Rhode Island -> Maryland -> Charlotte -> Pittsburgh in the matter of a week and a half like I was regularly doing, an "exciting" vehicle gets tedious to deal with. That kind of mileage, through that kind of traffic, on that kind of schedule, it's all about comfort and economy. Sure, I was getting mileage reimbursements, but that meant I wanted to keep my MPGs high, and I'd make a profit off of it. Rolling that same route in an Avalanche I'd lose money. At the time we bought it, I was making those long-distance trips often. Albert had a 60-mile r/t commute. We wanted quiet comfort. Same reason we have the 300C now. I buy things with 2 wheels for the thrills.

Buick's quiet tuning is a real and noticeable thing. The Encore and Encore GX have active noise cancelation that really works. Buick was the first in their respective classes to offer it and Toyota and Chevy don't. It makes the OG Encore a calm place to be.

I kinda like it. I see it as the natural evolution of the original Encore that I and Albert both liked. Our only issue with the Encore was the size and the power. There are times, while I'm wheeling an Avalanche through suburbia, that I really miss the Encore. For a one or two-person travel car, it was fantastically comfortable for what it was. For someone who had to do a lot of driving travel by himself, the Encore was a great solution. I haven't driven the current-gen Encore GX, but I suspect if they kept the weight in check, the increase in horsepower plus the 9-speed auto probably makes this tolerable. Not fast, just tolerable. That said, I bought my Encore as a 2013 in 2012, and it was as top-shelf loaded as you could get without getting chrome wheels... and 11 years later, the Avenir model is slightly less money MSRP. (Mine was $34,9 for a Premium AWD) So they definitely kept prices in check.

They already have a 280hp/258lb-ft version of this engine in the Arteon. They're just fiddling with the peak numbers from that for the Atlas; giving it more torque at a lower RPM is good for a heavy vehicle like this, but moving the peak torque down the curve cuts off the max horsepower number.

I've done an Edge 2.0T v an Explorer 2.3T... so pretty close. And yes, there was a difference. I felt like I was spinning the hell out of the 2.0T to keep up with Texas traffic. The 2.0T is a lot smoother though, so Ford could get away with it.

Highlander also has a hybrid version for more power, and the Highlander Turbo 4 has almost half a liter on the VW. It may not sound like a lot, but there is a significant power delivery difference between a 2.0T and a 2.4T, even if max output is similar. The problem for the Atlas is that drivers will constantly be in the boost to keep this thing moving. This is a refresh of the model on the existing platform, and the current Atlas is a heavy crossover. It will likely post an EPA increase over the V6, but I'm betting real-world fuel economy will be poor, just like the Kia SUVs with the 4-cylinder turbo and the older Acura RDX.

Yesterday was the first nice day we've had in a loooong while with sunny weather and 70 degrees, and the cars were out for it. I was on the motorcycle, so I couldn't snap pics. I spotted: Early 70s Delta Eighty-Eight Convertible Mid-80s Buick Grand National 90-91 Seville STS in red and gorgeous condition, lookin like this but the brighter red they offered: Subaru SVX Early 80s Ninety-Eight Old Beetle convertible original Toyota MR2

That was the point

The individual brands are still calling the shots on Advertising, is seems.

It was an intel, but it’s optical 10g port

@David - Network cards on Dell servers

I need to go through and complete a bunch of deferred maintenance. Oil and brake fluid changes. Adjust the valve clearances (a BMW boxer sensitive area). The headlight assembly needs to be replaced. The right turn signal doesn't work. Plus a bunch of cosmetic stuff. I also need to synchronize the throttle bodies. I put it on the sync measurement tool back in the late summer so I already know it is way off, but I didn't adjust it back then. It struggles with idling until it is pretty well warmed up and getting those in sync will fix that. As weather allows, it will probably be: Valve clearance adjustment Alternator belt change Throttle body sync General debris cleanup Oil change, brake fluid change Headlight assembly and turn signals (switch to LED where possible) I still will need to acquire a new front faring and possibly a windscreen. There is some fogginess in the windscreen that looks bad and I can't seem to get it clean. From there, I'll ride and reassess. Yesterday I found that the bike has the same accessory plug as my Scrambler, so I am able to have them share the battery tender easily. I ride as cold as 50 degrees if I have thermals on with my Scrambler. I'll have more wind protection with this, so I might be able to go lower. Done so far: New tires mounted cylinder sync test (failed) Brake pad and rotors checked for spec (passed, but not surprising because the lone receipt I have for maintenance is for new pads in 2018) Tank drained Battery replaced Positive battery cable terminal replaced Air filter replaced (had been mouse munched)

Since it's been so cold I haven't done much work on it. But last month I took the wheels off and dropped them off to have new tires fitted. Put the wheels back on today and repaired a positive battery cable that I had broken in the fall. Today it moved under it's own power for the first time in probably years. I took it for a very short spin up the block and back.

Name: 1999 BMW R1100RS Category: Vehicles Date Added: 2023-02-06 Submitter: Drew Dowdell 1999 BMW R1100RS

I was wondering how Toyota was going to make a business case for the Crown with just one expensive sedan, but it looks now like they are making it sub-brand with several models, so that makes more sense. I attended a press presentation for the Crown via Zoom back in December and it was interesting. The powertrain is very compelling, but I'm not yet sold on the looks. I'm also not sold on that being a "first class cabin". It's nice and all, but I look to Genesis for first class cabins... even high end Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade for what a first-class cabin should look like. This is a Hyundai Sonata Limited.

You need a car just to get from the far garage to the house!

The main issue with Harley back in the day was oil leaks, but they've got that problem solved for a bunch of years now. I personally don't like the noise and vibration that comes from the traditional Harley engine. Most of the Harley look-alike V-twins (including Indian, Honda, and Yamaha) attempt to replicate that to appeal to Harley buyers, and it has turned me off from those bikes by those manufacturers as well. The Revolution Max from Harley is the only V-Twin I've encountered that I not just liked but really liked.

The dealbreaker Triumph exhaust for me. Mine goes down and under.

Yeah, mine is a Scrambler too. I did look at the Triumphs also, but they were slightly too heavy for my trailer hitch carrier plans, but the real killer for me was the placement of the exhaust. I get enough heat from the big jugs hanging out the side of my bike, I can’t imagine what it would be like with the exhaust going next to my inner thigh.

The Livewire brand was sold off over the summer, it's no longer owned by H-D, but H-D still does some of the manufacturing. I've never been a fan of the traditional H-D pushrod V-Twins, but the Revolution Max in the Sportster S (larger than in the Nightster above) is hella good and had me doubting my BMW purchase when I got two test rides over the summer. For those of you into bikes, I have been building a motorcycle equivalent of C&G for the past couple months and it is getting very close to launch. Let me know here if you'd like a pre-launch preview invite.

2023 marks 120 year of the Harley-Davidson Motorcycles and the company is pulling out all the stops with new models and special editions. Commemorative Editions will be offered in seven classic models. On the top-of-the-line CVO Road Glide Limited Anniversary model, seats are covered with Alcantara with gold and red contrast stitching. A special Heirloom Red color painted over Anniversary Black and outlined with a bright red pinstripe and hand-painted gold paint scallop. A gold-plated tank medallion is a retro Art Deco version of the Harley-Davidson eagle. Gold-tone powertrain inserts with bright red rocker boxes and pushrod tube collars complete the look. A similar paint and trim scheme will be offered on six other 120th Anniversary models, but with red fade powertrain inserts. Harley-Davidson is limiting the production of the anniversary editions, and each one will have a laser-etched serial number on the fuel tank. CVO Road Glide Limited Anniversary (production limited to 1,500 examples globally) Ultra Limited Anniversary (1,300 examples) Tri Glide® Ultra Anniversary (1,100 examples) Street Glide® Special Anniversary (1,600 examples) Road Glide® Special Anniversary (1,600 examples) Fat Boy® 114 Anniversary (3,000 examples) Heritage Classic 114 Anniversary (1,700 examples) In addition to the Anniversary Models, Harley-Davidson is (re)introducing models to its North American lineup and adding trims to existing ones. 2023 Breakout Back after leaving the North American market in 2020 is the Harley-Davidson Breakout. This factory chopper features more models with the Milwaukee-Eight 117 V-Twin. They’ve increased the fuel-tank size to 5 gallons and lengthened its profile to give the bike a leaner look. The handlebar riser and polished stainless steel handlebar is ¾-inch taller than the previous model. Chrome is applied generously and new 26-spoke cast-aluminum wheels are machined and finished in gloss black. Power specs were not released for the Breakout, but we expect it to match the 124 lb-ft of torque other bikes with the 117 engine have. 2023 Road Glide 3 Joining the Freewheeler in the Trike lineup is the new 2023 Road Glide 3. Essentially a Trike version of the popular Road Glide, the Road Glide 3 adds a frame-mounted aerodynamic fairing with splitstream vents to reduce rider helmet buffeting, the Boom! Box 6.5-inch color touch screen with navigation and Bluetooth that powers two 5.25-inch fairing speakers, weather-proof trunk with two cubic feet of capacity, electric reverse gear, and Trike-specific safety features like Enhanced Cornering Braking, Enhanced ABS, Enhanced Traction Control, and Enhanced Drag-Torque Slip Control. For 2023, the Freewheeler swaps out the chrome for dark finishes and gets new gloss black cast aluminum wheels. 2023 Nightster Special Model Built on the Sportster platform but given a more classic silhouette, the Nightster blends modern technology and H-D’s most technologically advanced engine family, the Revolution Max 975T, into one classic bike. For 2023, the Nightster gains a Special Model. The additional Special Model Features include: Cruise Control Passenger pillion and foot pegs Headlight faring Cast aluminum wheels with tire pressure monitoring system A new handlebar and riser to move the hand controls two inches up and one inch back. Four-inch round TFT screen from the Sportster S that allows integration with the H-D app for navigation using turn-by-turn on the display and audio instructions over Bluetooth. All-LED lighting Selectable Ride Modes 3.1-gallon fuel cell located below the seat, which lowers the center of gravity Power for the Nightster Special Model comes from H-D’s Revolution Max 957T, which produces 70 ft-lb of torque at 5,000 rpm and a maximum of 90 horsepower at 7,500 rpm. The engine is integral to the frame to help provide a significant reduction in weight. Harley-Davidson is celebrating its anniversary with a homecoming festival in Milwaukee, WI. The festival will run from July 13th - 16th this summer and will feature the Foo Fighters and Green Day as headliners. Tickets are on sale now at http://www.h-d.com/HomecomingTickets View full article