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Drew Dowdell

Editor-in-Chief
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Everything posted by Drew Dowdell

  1. Drew Dowdell
    With the hybrid Prius and Ford Escapes that hasn't been an issue, the batteries typically outlast the car. Prius and Escape taxis go multiple hundreds of thousands of miles on their original batteries.
  2. Drew Dowdell
    Judge: Which fluids were spilled doing the incident? Officer: All of them.
  3. Drew Dowdell
    Another friend of mine who is smart on these matters is now also predicting the same thing... although his estimation is that it will happen sooner than my guess of mid-Fall 2018.
  4. Drew Dowdell
    Volvo has managed to reduce core components of their engine lineup substantially while still offering differentiation between vehicles. Every engine is the same basic 2.0 liter 4-cylinder, and then by adding turbocharging, supercharging, and electric motors, they have everything from a base XC40 with 248hp all the way to a top line S90 Plug-In hybrid with 400hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. .... but the basic block, cylinders, and side accessories are all identical. It's a product planner's wet dream.... and I expect a number of other manufacturers to pursue it.
  5. Drew Dowdell
    It looks like they're still using the diesel for direct physical propulsion. I've long maintained that the Volt should have used a diesel for its regenerator. Diesels are especially efficient hanging out at single steady RPM.... a task especially suitable for generating electricity to charge a battery or provide propulsion. They could have done a little 1 liter turbo diesel and probably gotten MPG over 90 easily.
  6. Drew Dowdell
    Remember that GM now has to pay PSA to build Regals.... so they probably don't care how many they sell.
  7. Drew Dowdell
    Older variation... How many Kennedys and Ted drinks till the room spins.
  8. Drew Dowdell
    There is a new notification sound now. Completely unique to this site. Let me know what you think.
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  9. Drew Dowdell
    and much better ride
  10. Drew Dowdell
    Tacky
  11. Drew Dowdell
    Again, someone can want an EV without buying one simply because one that suits his needs isn't on the market. I like everything about the powertrain of the Bolt. I do not like its size, shape, or interior. I wouldn't buy it for myself even if it was gasoline powered and $25k cheaper. I would buy a CT6 Plug-in, but I don't have that kinda cash laying around. I am also interested in the Volt, but Albert decided it was too small since we're already wanting to upsize from the Encore. If we had a different life scenario, I'd love to find him a low mileage ELR and I would get something else bigger for the trips we take. For those of us with spouses @ocnblu, keeping a non-car-fanatic spouse happy is probably the biggest challenge of all in car buying. So let him go about buying a Bolt... if his wife doesn't like it, it's not going to happen. I'm sure it frustrates him just the same as the limitations imposed on me frustrate me.
  12. Drew Dowdell
    Hold on to your buggy whips. Smart companies build for the future, not the past.
  13. Drew Dowdell
    While true, even the best and most attentive drivers can't avoid every incident. I do pay attention while driving, but I don't mind the car being able to take countermeasures if needed especially since it can react faster than I can.
  14. Drew Dowdell
    Shell oil now owns more charging stations than gas stations globally.
  15. Drew Dowdell
    Still, the point remains that these days diesel is plentiful enough to find that VW, GM, Ford, Ram, BMW, Benz, Audi, Porsche, can all sell a not insignificant number of diesel vehicles.... .....well maybe not VW so much anymore, but that's another story.
  16. Drew Dowdell
    No idea. If it did happen, it was decades ago. I got into cars in the first place when I was 3 and I was fascinated with my grandmothers 78 Olds diesel....it was way cooler than my other grandmother's 79 Rabbit diesel.
  17. Drew Dowdell
    This is why automatic pedestrian detection is going to become standard across the board. Even if it isn't legislated, the industry is driving there already. Toyota already having it standard across nearly its entire lineup, Mazda makes it a cheap $600 option, HondaSense is standard on Accord and a $1000 option on any CVT equipped Civic or Fit. Standard on EX and higher CRV trims.... It's going to take the same adoption path that airbags took... even if it isn't mandated, the safety scores will be weighted on having the feature or not and no manufacturer will want to be below 5 star ratings.
  18. Drew Dowdell
    Remember, @dfelt is so tall he cannot fit in anything that doesn't have a Greyhound painted on the side of it. Range anxiety and charger density are indeed two separate issues. How do I know? Back when I was trying to talk people into Jetta TDIs, the reply was always "But where do you buy diesel?"... after I at them a few minutes.... I would say. "Do you think you could find a station that sells diesel somewhere between here and Philly? Because you could drive to Philly and back on a single tank of diesel." The real answer of course is that most GetGos and Sheetz and Sunocos... our biggest chains in the area, sell diesel. They just never bothered to look. All of that F.U.D. about fueling locations, but range definitely isn't an issue on a Jetta/Passat/Beetle TDI. I do understand range anxiety on an EV with a 150 mile max... but 250 or better like the Bolt or Teslas? Na, doesn't worry me. Edit: That person did end up buying a Jetta TDI and loved it so much, they intended to keep it till the very last day it was eligible for the VW buyback. They racked up huge miles on the car, so the buyback was worth it even though they loved the car so much. I don't know what their intended replacement was.
  19. Drew Dowdell
    Tiny little wheels.
  20. Drew Dowdell
    You can find them at TireBuyer.com Continental ExtremeContact Sport Passenger Tire, 225/45ZR17, 15506470000 Product Description Tested by professional racecar drivers and perfected by Continental's engineers, the Continental ExtremeContact Sport is a real-deal summer street tire for anyone who loves the thrill of driving. This ultra high-performance tire is designed for truly exceptional dry and wet traction and handling, and also delivers a quiet ride and enhanced treadlife. Continental ExtremeContact Sport Passenger Tire, 225/45ZR17, 15506470000. And now till May 22, 2018 there is a $50 rebate.
  21. Drew Dowdell
    The only way you are correct is taking into account the charging network. As that starts to reach critical mass, I think we'll see a yuuge shift towards EVs.
  22. Drew Dowdell
    I did 19 hours after working an 8 hour day, no naps.. just starbucks and 5 hour energy. I stayed up another 12 hours after I arrived out of necessity. I was incoherent by the end of that.... not that any of you would be able to tell the difference.
  23. Drew Dowdell
    Police departments aren't going to care about an extra $100
  24. Drew Dowdell
    Because that's what they build the most of. Economies of scale.
  25. Drew Dowdell
    Probably just taking a mid-level Durango and copifying it. I wonder why it's a limited time only thing. Police Departments are moving to SUVs as fast as the rest of the buying public. Next up, Traverse PPV?
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