Drew Dowdell

I could see a CTS build on Alpha getting up to that weight... but not the ATS.

yes. like potluck dude said - the cars with a million miles on them typically used dino oil

Anyone want to collaborate up for one?

Interesting. So from a performance standpoint, how does it change the car's driving characteristics? Generally, it hurts it, unless the engine has a ton of grunt. Or you lower the ratios for 1st - 4th... which is what Chevy did. Take off should be about the same. It will be more shift happy in 6th on hills

That may be true, but I would blame Lexus for the scourge that is the RX300/350. That is what Cadillac aimed for with the new SRX. And Caddy is rewarded with more than double the sales volume at higher prices. Cadillac is in business to make money.... and at least once or twice, they should build something customers want.

He's saying that Alpha is going to crest 4,000lbs? uh... that's V6 AWD Lacrosse territory... (or base 5-series) grains of salt....

indeed - Hyundai was very annoying with their competitive intelligence folks in NYC. They were the first into the Malibu and the journos couldn't get in.

oh?

Isn't it a bit late for that? There are mules running around already....

Balth, your argument would be more convincing if the GMCs were more than just grill swaps.

GMC is profitable because trucks are profitable. Chevy trucks would be even more profitable than they are today GMC wasn't in the picture.

Wrong. We know exactly how they did that... for 2012 they dropped the axle ratio on the 6-speed automatic transmission cars to 3.53:1 (FXH), it was 3.87:1 in the 2011 models. They could probably have topped 40 mpg if they went with the 2.87:1 axle ratio used by the Equinox or Malibu with the same 6T40 transmission, but that would cost more loss in peppiness than they think buyers would put up with. Again, I am not a subscriber to the small displacement = great fuel economy argument. Gear ratios and reducing cylinder and valve count probably works out better. Imagine this... the Cruze could have had a 1.8 liter DI-VVT 3-cylinder based on the LFX V6 engine making about 160 hp @ 6800 rpm and 138 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm, all while running on regular 87. This compares favorably to the new Focus's 2.0 liter DI four with 160hp and 146 lb-ft, but with 1 less cylinder, 4 less valves and 0.2 liters less swept volume it will probably beat it fuel economy. Besides a 90hp/liter Three is really unique. It might even make a good engine for the SS version of the Sonic. It just wasn't listed in the changes page: This is how the 2012 Cruze transmission is on the ordering guide. <table align="center" border="1" bordercolor="#999999" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="90%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top" width="50%">Transmission model</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">AUTOMATIC 6-SPEED HYDRA-MATIC 6T40</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%">RPO Code</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">MH8</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%">GEAR RATIOS</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%"> First </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">4.58</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%"> Second </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">2.96</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%"> Third </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">1.91</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%"> Fourth </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">1.45</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%"> Fifth </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">1.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%"> Sixth </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">0.75</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%"> Reverse </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">2.94</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%">Transfer design</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">three-axis design, output chain</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%">TORQUE CONVERTER</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%"> Element types </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Variable bleed solenoids</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%">LUBRICANT CAPACITY (pints/litre)</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%">MAX GVW(lbs/kg)</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">1932/876.3552</td></tr></tbody></table> Here is the 2011 Transmission: <table align="center" border="1" bordercolor="#999999" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="90%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top" width="50%">Transmission model</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">AUTOMATIC 6-SPEED HYDRA-MATIC 6T40</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%">RPO Code</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">MH8</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%">GEAR RATIOS</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%"> First </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">4.6</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%"> Second </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">3.0</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%"> Third </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">1.9</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%"> Fourth </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">1.5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%"> Fifth </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">1.0</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%"> Sixth </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">0.8</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%"> Reverse </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">2.9</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%">Transfer design</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">two-axis design, output chain</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%">TORQUE CONVERTER</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%"> Element types </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">Variable Bleed Solenoids</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%">LUBRICANT CAPACITY (pints/litre)</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%"> Fluid Capacity </td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">8.21/3.884972</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="left" valign="top" width="50%">MAX GVW(lbs/kg)</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="50%">4400/1995.84</td></tr></tbody></table>

grab a kleenex you two...

If true, Joel is remarkably tone deaf.

Such a shame that they are getting all that volume at the same transaction prices the BMW X3 gets.

Chevrolet Cruze Gains for 2012 Drew Dowdell - CheersandGears.com May 16th, 2011 Being only one year on the market, we wouldn't expect too many changes for Chevy's new compact car. However, Chevy isn't going to sit still on this one. The biggest news is that on Cruze's equipped with the 1.4 liter turbo and automatic transmission gain 2mpg in highway fuel economy. Unfortunately, they don't explain how they do it. There are no axle ratio changes or engine updates listed. The final drive ratio is switching from 3.83 to a 3.53 while other cogs in the 6-speed auto are all getting different ratios as well. (scroll down in thread for details) For those of you who want to row your own Cruze but aren't interested in all that greenie-weenie stuff included on the Eco, you can now buy the Cruze 1LT and 2LT with a 6-speed manual standard. The 2LT can be loaded up fairly nicely so you can now have a fun manual transmission without foregoing other creature comforts. There also appears to be some seat changes for the front passengers as the 8 way seats have been replace with 6 way by deleting the seat bottom tilt. This could be a good thing or a bad thing as seat comfort was one of the more touchy areas in the Cruze. The one thing the Cruze still doesn't have standard in base models? Cruise. Source: 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Online Ordering Guide

Just to update.... the Impala is getting a NEW! Engine, 3.6L SIDI DOHC V6 VVT (302 hp [225.2 kW] @ 6800 rpm, 252 lb-ft of torque [340.2 N-m] @ 5300 rpm)

which means.... it will last.... longer?

longevity of the oil. As long as you have a high quality oil filter that isn't clogged, you can continue to run the same oil until it's lubricating properties break down. On Synthetic, that takes twice as long or longer to happen. Synthetic oil also doesn't break down with age as rapidly as Dino oil... which is good for me since I don't do a lot of miles on my car. I'll be under 5,000 miles for the year I think. On brand new engines, we're starting to get to the 10,000 mile oil change cycle.

I think he is referring to the RDX which is powered by a 240hp 4-cylinder and gets 24mpg or the EX which also gets 24mpg but at least has 297 horsepower. If the Encore is lighter in this class, it could probably get 30ish mpg and still have 250hp - 260hp depending on which tune of Turbo Ecotec it gets.

One person trips and falls over a mouse cable, so now they want to replace 4,000 wired mice with wireless versions. Uh... what about their keyboards? and how were they walking under the desk? (the way the desks are shaped, we don't understand how this even happened in the first place.)

What benefit does the integrated exhaust collector provide?

I've just been using the new Dexos synthetic that GM has been using as standard fill on all 2011 vehicles. The new standards for that oil sound pretty robust, so it should do well in the tame use our engines get and I don't feel like I'm getting ripped off by Royal Purple prices. I still think the quality of the oil filter is of more importance than the oil itself. Regular old dino oil is fine as long at you change it when specified. The new synthetics are more about length of time between oil changes.

Guys, When you know of a car show or a regular car cruise that will be happening in your area. Can you please make an entry in the calendar at the tab at the top? I'm going to start working on the ones I know. Include date/time/location and if possible a link for more information.

Lamda is doing well for what it is, but the reason GM keeps trying to make more variants off of it is that it was originally intended to also underpin at least two if not three sedans as well. There was the stillborn Chi platform that was going to be the basis of the Cadillac DT7, NG Buick Lucerne, and Chevrolet Caprice/Impala. GM is trying to make the platform more viable by adding a Cadillac Lambda (as well as fill a hole in the Caddy lineup). Chi was the sedan version of Lambda. wouldn't a lambda sedan be extremely heavy? It would probably base around 4,000lbs... which is what the 5-series bases at.