Drew Dowdell

Truly random.

Those of you who have to use 2FA for some of your accounts and get those 6 digit rolling codes.

I'm weird.  I almost always see patterns or references in the code somehow.  The code might be 454 (olds engine), or 609 (area code where I grew up), or 325 (BMW model)

I also feel bad about wasting one if I need to use it but only have a few seconds left before it rolls over.

1 hour ago, David said:

@Drew Dowdell Saw this story and followed the link to the european news source. Have you heard of anything about GM returning to Europe?

GM Returning To Europe This Autumn With Multi-Brand EV Portfolio (insideevs.com)

GM to sell EVs in Norway in Europe return | Automotive News Europe (autonews.com)

General Motors to return to Europe with range of EVs | Autocar

General Motors Returns to Europe After Five Years, but With a Little Tweak - autoevolution

GM is bi-polar on Europe.... they want to create a new dealer network again after opening and closing them several times.

Cadillac failed in Europe because it was basically impossible to buy one unless you searched.  Where Benz and VW have huge stores, Cadillac was relegated to the back corner of an Opel dealer.

After years of being forbidden fruit offered only in overseas markets, Ford has finally deemed the Ranger Raptor worthy enough to bring to the U.S. The biggest reason for the U.S. not getting the prior version was its standard diesel power and the inability of the platform to take a sizable V6 engine. When Ford redesigned the 2024 Ranger (read more about the 2024 Ford Ranger here), they made sure to alter the engine bay and chassis to accommodate a V6.

Powering the Ranger Raptor is a 3.0-liter Ecoboost V6 producing 405 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque using premium fuel. That power flows through a 10-speed automatic transmission to a 2-speed transfer case and out to all 4-wheels via front and rear locking differentials.  The engine uses a strong compacted graphite-iron engine block and features an anti-lag turbo system that allows for extra boost on demand when in Baja mode.  The exhaust features an active valve system to control noise in 4 settings, quiet, normal, sport, and Baja.  Each mode changes the tuning the of engine, transmission, anti-lock brakes, traction control, steering, and even the instrument cluster display. Baja boost mode allows the turbos to keep spinning for up to three seconds after the driver lifts off the gas to reduce lag time.

Ranger Raptor builds on the chassis improvements given to the standard Ranger with additional reinforcements on the front frame rails, front shock towers, rear shock brackets, suspension mounting points, and more. Standard are FOX 2.5-inch live valve shocks connected to a Raptor-specific suspension setup with lightweight aluminum upper and lower control arms and a long-travel rear suspension. The FOX shocks actively vary damping rates depending on the drive mode. A thick front bash plate, along with dedicated engine, transfer case, and fuel tank shields protect the Raptor from below.

Being the top of the Ranger line, the Ranger Raptor gets a lot of the top options standard. These include the 12.4-inch digital gauge cluster and 12-inch infotainment screen running Ford Sync 4A, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system.

Standard on the ranger 33-inch BFFoodrich all-terrain KO3 tires on 17-inch wheels. These tires can be mounted on optional bead-lock wheels for running low tire pressure in sandy or rocky conditions.

Ford will build the 2024 Ranger Raptor at their Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne Michigan. Orders begin in late May with the first deliveries making their way to customers in late fall.

View full article

Since its return in 2019, the Ford Ranger has been one of the jewels in the Ford lineup, proving to be one of the Blue Oval’s most popular models.  But as time passed, new designs from General Motors, Toyota, and Nissan threatened to march on Ford’s crown.

For 2024, the Ranger gets a significant redesign. Sitting on an extensively redesigned version of the T6 platform its predecessor uses, the Ranger is effectively all-new, with only the door openings and chassis hardpoints carrying over. The design of the Ranger was released in other markets last year, but Ford saved some of the most exciting updates for the U.S. debut, including performance increases for the Raptor Ranger not available in other markets. (read more about the 2024 Ranger Raptor)

Starting with an improved fully-boxed steel frame, the chassis has been upgraded with a 2-inch wider track and 2-inch longer wheelbase.  The rear suspension has been moved outboard to improve ride and control, improve stability off-road, and increase bed space. All models of Ranger gain improved ground clearance and better approach and departure angles.  

Towing capacity remains at 7,500 lbs., but maximum payload capacity drops by at least 100 lbs. or more depending on the configuration. Also carrying over is the 2.3-liter Ecoboost 4-cylinder turbo that makes an impressive 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque on regular gas. This engine in the 2023 model is capable of returning 20 city / 26 highway in 4x2 configuration.

For those who wanted more power, the Ranger now shares the 2.7-liter V6 from its big brothers, the F-150 and Bronco. This engine produces 315 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft of torque and is not available in other markets. Whichever engine is selected, the transmission will remain the 10-speed automatic with an available electronic shift-on-the-fly 4x4 system.

With an all-new interior, Ford found plenty of room for… room. There is a larger center console bin, big door pockets, an available second, upper glove box, improved under-seat storage in the second row, and new fold-flat rear seatbacks with room for tools or equipment behind them while in the upright position.

The bed gets more room too. With the wider track and suspension, the width between the wheel wells is now up to 4 feet, which means you can load a standard-size pallet back there if you want. There is an integrated box side step large enough for both feet, and an available 400-watt bed-mounted power inverter for running tools or accessories. Ford even redesigned the tailgate to act as a workbench with c-clamp pockets and a ruler.

The Ranger is loaded with technology as well.  The standard gauge cluster is an 8-inch display or customers can upgrade to a full-screen 12.4-inch display. Infotainment is supplied by Ford’s Sync 4A system with either 10.1-inch or best-in-class 12.4-inch displays.  Ford wisely kept physical buttons along the bottom of the display for common functionality like climate control and radio volume. With a standard built-in 4G LTE model for FordPass Connect, drivers can control some vehicle functions like lighting, start/stop, and monitoring of maintenance items.  The Ranger will even download updates over the air to get better over time.

The Ranger has the most standard or available driver assistance technologies in the class. These include Blind-Spot monitoring with trailer coverage, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, active park assist that automates both parallel and perpendicular parking, Pro Trailer Backup Assist, and Trailer Reverse Guidance.

The 2024 Ranger will be available in XL, XLT, and Lariat models built at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne Michigan. We can expect some special editions, such as a Ranger Tremor, in the future.

Orders start later this month, with late fall 2023 availability for the 2.7-liter V6-equipped versions.

View full article

Thanks guys, the support really helps and means something to me personally, too.

You'll see a big difference in the level of posting here starting around May 22.

@Robert Hall - You can still edit posts, but there is a time limit.  Your premium membership expired a little while back, but the system didn't drop you back to the standard membership level as it was supposed to. I manually bumped you back about two weeks ago.

You probably also saw the advertising return when that happened.

The different membership levels are here. https://www.cheersandgears.com/subscriptions/

6 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

Sherwin Williams

Sherwin Williams, when bought from an actual SW store and not a Big Box, is supposed to be some of the best quality paint around. The price reflects that.

37 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

Sherwin-Williams

Damn… Robert has Sherwin-Williams money… 

Well, we’ve definitely hijacked @Robert Hall’s post with way more mower information than he needs.

Robert, have any inside pics yet?

2 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

I know it's behind you now but had you had a Toro or Honda, all of those things are much more readily available. 

I shoulda bought the Honda. I think that feature for feature, the Craftsman (which from memory, was Toro built) was the same. One key thing I need is an OHV engine because they have more powerful oil pumps. I have steep hills, and the old-style flat-head motors would eat themselves because their little oil pumps would starve if they were on the slope for too long.  Way back when I bought the Craftsman (actually from Sears, so that gives you an idea of the age), OHV pushmowers were relatively rare. Only high-end models and most of the Hondas had them.

The thing about the Honda was that it was a push mower that weighed damn near as much as an Accord.  I was mowing the lawns at my rentals at the time, and lifting it into the CR-V or CTS would have been a bitch.  I still got the craftsman base on price, though.

That's by the book time.... as gas mowers age, they tend to get crankier.  Maybe it is different for other brands, but the maintenance parts for my Tecumseh-powered Craftsman were always stupidly expensive. $20 for an air filter, plus shipping, $8 for a spark plug, plus shipping. $45 for a wheel that split. control cables snapping. Nothing was ever local, and I'd need to wait 7-10 days to get it.

Same for my gas snow blower.

The gas power tool experience has poisoned my

One thing not obvious about the EGO is just how light and compact it is. It folds up and has two handles that you can carry it with while folded if you need to load it into a car. It goes into the Toronado trunk no problem. When I store it for the winter, I can stand it upright and slide it behind the furnace.

6 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

I completely agree and a $5000 zero turn that performs as well as a $3000 Toro, Gravely, Husqvarna, Etc.. is pretty difficult to justify. 

That's why I think the small upgrade price for the hand tools and push mowers can easily be justified. When you have to pay 60% more for the same thing...why? 

It depends on how much of your own maintenance you do and how much you're willing to pay for someone else to maintain it if not.

In my case, time being such a big issue, I don't want to have to mess around with a cranky gas mower or have to load it on a trailer once or twice a year to pay $150-$200 for the lawn equipment company to maintain it.  I'd rather spend my afternoons doing things I enjoy.

Dropping in a few batteries saves me time. I bill my side-hustle clients at $120 an hour. That makes it easy math.

37 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

I completely agree on everything below the riders. Push mowers, trimmers, blowers, all electric please. 5000-6500 for a zero turn when you can get a full on commercial grade mower for that price? Or save 1000-1500 on a high end residential unit? The value just isn't there...yet. 

I think, like vehicles, Americans tend to overbuy on lawn equipment.  I went from a big, single blade, walk behind... big torque, rear drive, bagger/mulcher, and it was such a headache towards the end of its life. For a couple seasons I used my father-in-laws ooooooold Black-n-Decker corded electric. It was a basic as could be.  I could only do my front yard and my upper rear yard, but it did it without fuss every year.  Parts were non-existant. I hit a stone and couldn't buy a new blade, but it still ran, just a little buzzy.  The worst was that about once per season, I'd eat an extension cord.  Eventually, it melted the control handle, but for a mower that was probably 25+ years old and free, I wasn't mad for the extra few seasons I got out it.

I knew after that, I'd never go back to gas, so I got the EGO. That can do my lower back yard too, which is mostly wooded. It does fine.

The only thing I'd change about it would be the wheels, which don't have a lot of grip.

I have the EGO also and I really like it. The extra cost over a gas equivalent is worth it just from the lack of having to do all the gas engine maintenance.  Every spring was a fight with my gas mower plus $40 - $70 in parts for whatever broke.

12 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

Noooo way! I love cutting and maintaining my lawn.  I' would just need a bigger mower so the time isn't outrageous. Buuuut, that doesn't look like a whole lot of lawn.

@Robert Hall, how much yard to you have? Or how big is the property? 

I’m a different life, yeah. Right now, time is my enemy.

For a driveway that long is hire a snow service. Heck even for mowing the lawn I’d hire a service

You're within riding range of me! I'll bring the hot dogs!

12 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

I just don't care about insane charging speeds, because the current speeds are more than adequate for me. This is also because my goal would be to never have to publicly charge. If I can get 80% of a Hummer battery charged overnight at my home, that's enough to say I'd be able to leave home every single day with a full charge (or as full as I have it scheduled to charge) in anything else. 

Well, yeah. But one of the talking points of the F.U.D. anti-EV crowd is that they take too long to charge and some people live in apartment buildings.  The charging speed aspect attacks that talking point.

If you don't need those speeds, that's fine, and it's probably better for your vehicle anyway. Those speeds are meant for people who are on long road trips or who don't have access to charging at home.

1 hour ago, ccap41 said:

Personally, I think increased battery capacity is a bigger issue rather than maximum charging speeds. Charging speeds are already quick enough in most instances but if you could cut the battery weight in half and still add like 25% more capacity, that would be a massive win as opposed to just charging faster.

Tesla started that already, but not at the percentages you mentioned.  I'm not good at keeping track of Tesla battery model numbers, but one of the more recent versions allowed Tesla to cut a significant chunk of weight from the Model 3's battery.  Tesla could have stuffed more battery in the Model 3, but they decided to keep the range but lighten the battery instead.  Good move in my opinion.

That said, your overall point is correct and there is still further to go.

3 hours ago, David said:

I will have to say that in certain colors it is very sharp.

Fun when you can play with the builder.

2023 IONIQ 6 | A Breakthrough Electric Sedan | Hyundai USA

Pretty decent price for an AWD Sedan.

We're looking at the Digital Green with white/green interior. Limited AWD trim.

3 hours ago, David said:

Might be time to Convert that lovely sedan of yours to EV then and put in a 3rd party unit that allows you your Apple Carplay my friend.

Albert has been liking the Ioniq 6.

3 hours ago, David said:

@surreal1272 @Robert Hall @Drew Dowdell @smk4565 @oldshurst442 @trinacriabob @regfootball @ccap41 

This is a really good read on the Snapdragon Auto system powered by Google Android on how it works and interacts with phones.

Android Automotive OS review: Under the hood with Google’s car OS | Ars Technica

While a little old, it is a great starting point to read and learn about how Google will keep it updated in comparison to the auto companies.

As the story says, Ford has quit Microsoft's Auto OS and went with QNX for the last few years but like everyone is moving this year to Snapdragon/Android.

It's been a while. I tried it out in a Polestar 2... and it was absolutely not done cooking. Alert windows would pop up behind primary windows and would be unclickable.

But the other issue is that I avoid Google products because they invade privacy.  When you use Google, you aren't using their products, you are the product, because they will sell every scrap of information they collect on you that they can.  Go to the ice cream shop with your kids every Friday at 7? Google will sell that information to Baskin Robins and ColdStone so you get coupons.

Now, I know other companies do the same, but Google is by-far the most nefarious.

Unfortunately, due to my line of work, I can't avoid Google entirely... but I don't want it installed in my car.

I like the Celesiq and everything from the Ioniq 6 down.

The front face of the i7 is its downfall, but the side profile is handsome.

The ID.7 I'm not sold on yet from the side.  It looks like they were trying to design a wagon and then a manager came in and said, "Actung! This is going to be sold in Amerika! Du kannst nicht!"

14 minutes ago, David said:

I would agree that my first thought was a beefy EV car, but the press release calls it a coupe SUV. 

Maybe the bottom of the auto to the top is a certain height that pops into the SUV category due to the blacked-out section versus painted section. 

While it has a coupe car look, I think this is the deceptive section:

It looks to me when you look at the full picture in the gallery like it could be 6 to 9 inches by the wheels and a good 12 inches on the doors.

The height above the ground matters, not fakery visuals like that blackout panel. The overall height of the vehicle doesn't look that tall either.

How is it an suv?  How is that anything more than a hatchback with big wheels?

There are 2-door Imprezas that are more SUV than that...