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Drew Dowdell

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Everything posted by Drew Dowdell

  1. Drew Dowdell
    You know what, these drive so nice.... and they finally made a mini-van that actually looks good. This is really the best crossover alternative out there that can still do all the hauling a crossover can do and more. I know @ocnblu would make fun of me for it, but I'd get the plug-in version... if only because it adds a bunch more scoot to the pentastar.
  2. Drew Dowdell
  3. Drew Dowdell
    I nearly was run over by a Pruis today, but I was paying attention and she wasn't.... she was also running a red light. What an insulting way to go that would be....
  4. Drew Dowdell
    As far as pricing.... expect a the price of an SLT ($57k) plus $2600~ for the Graphite package and an additional $2700 for the performance package. @dfelt
  5. Drew Dowdell
    GMC Yukon Matching Chevy's RST with Graphite
  6. Drew Dowdell
    For the 2018 Model Year, Chevy gave the Tahoe an RST package for some extra sporting pizzazz and more recently introduced the RST Performance package on the Suburban. The RST removed chrome, blacked out grilles, and added custom wheels. Upgrading to the performance package brought on the 6.2 liter V8, 10-Speed automatic transmission, and GM's Magnetic Ride Control. At GMC, the only way to get those performance upgrades was to first check the box on the order form that said "Denali". One of our intrepid readers lurking around the GM Fleet Order Guide (Hat-tip: @ocnblu) found that GMC is planning to offer a virtually identical set of packages on the Yukon for 2019. Named Graphite and Graphite Performance Package, these packages should add a bit bolder look to the otherwise conservative Yukon. Like the Tahoe/Suburban RST, the GMC Yukon Graphite Edition removes most, if not all, of the bright chrome accents typically found on a Yukon. In their place are a black chrome mesh grille insert, black chrome fog lamp surround, body color grille surround, gloss black belt line moldings, and the Z85 Suspension package with air leveling. Special, package specific 22" bright machined wheels with Carbon Flash Metallic pockets and gloss black side assist steps are added. The Graphite Performance Edition adds to that with the 6.2 liter V8, 10-speed automatic, 3.23 rear axle, Magnetic Ride Control, upgraded 8" driver information center, heads up display, 8" infotainment system with navigation, trailer brake controller, upgraded alternator, unique performance edition 22" 6-spoke wheels, and on four-wheel drive models a 2-speed active transfer case. Not mentioned in the GMC order guide is the sport suspension calibration mentioned in the Tahoe RST guide, but that could simply be an order guide oversight. Both Graphite Editions will come wearing P285/45R22 tires and will only be available for selection on SLT equipped Yukons. The Yukon Graphite will be available in only three colors - White Frost Tricoat, Onyx Black, or Dark Sky Metallic. No official picture or release of the 2019 GMC Yukon Graphite Edition has been made by GMC yet, but expect something in the coming weeks. (2016 GMC Yukon SLT Pictured) View full article
  7. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "GMC Yukon Matching Chevy's RST with Graphite"
    For the 2018 Model Year, Chevy gave the Tahoe an RST package for some extra sporting pizzazz and more recently introduced the RST Performance package on the Suburban. The RST removed chrome, blacked out grilles, and added custom wheels. Upgrading to the performance package brought on the 6.2 liter V8, 10-Speed automatic transmission, and GM's Magnetic Ride Control. At GMC, the only way to get those performance upgrades was to first check the box on the order form that said "Denali". One of our intrepid readers lurking around the GM Fleet Order Guide (Hat-tip: @ocnblu) found that GMC is planning to offer a virtually identical set of packages on the Yukon for 2019. Named Graphite and Graphite Performance Package, these packages should add a bit bolder look to the otherwise conservative Yukon. Like the Tahoe/Suburban RST, the GMC Yukon Graphite Edition removes most, if not all, of the bright chrome accents typically found on a Yukon. In their place are a black chrome mesh grille insert, black chrome fog lamp surround, body color grille surround, gloss black belt line moldings, and the Z85 Suspension package with air leveling. Special, package specific 22" bright machined wheels with Carbon Flash Metallic pockets and gloss black side assist steps are added. The Graphite Performance Edition adds to that with the 6.2 liter V8, 10-speed automatic, 3.23 rear axle, Magnetic Ride Control, upgraded 8" driver information center, heads up display, 8" infotainment system with navigation, trailer brake controller, upgraded alternator, unique performance edition 22" 6-spoke wheels, and on four-wheel drive models a 2-speed active transfer case. Not mentioned in the GMC order guide is the sport suspension calibration mentioned in the Tahoe RST guide, but that could simply be an order guide oversight. Both Graphite Editions will come wearing P285/45R22 tires and will only be available for selection on SLT equipped Yukons. The Yukon Graphite will be available in only three colors - White Frost Tricoat, Onyx Black, or Dark Sky Metallic. No official picture or release of the 2019 GMC Yukon Graphite Edition has been made by GMC yet, but expect something in the coming weeks. (2016 GMC Yukon SLT Pictured)
  8. Drew Dowdell
    I guess they should have talked to Bosch
  9. Drew Dowdell
    CAn you link me to where you're seeing that? I can't find it on the VIN site.
  10. Drew Dowdell
    Fusion Energi? I drove a very nicely equipped Titanium Energi last year and really liked it. They can be a steal on the used market. Edit: Maybe it was a Platinum.... anyway, the interior was really nice.
  11. Drew Dowdell
    Yea, so what's the holdup on the 90?
  12. Drew Dowdell
    I'll be driving one in about 2 weeks.
  13. Drew Dowdell
    On the Traverse, they're doing the 2.0T, but no AWD.... not sure what the logic is on that one. Still, they're only calling it an RS rather than RST. I have a Cruze RS Hatchback this week as a press car and it looks really good. They could offer sport RST packages of the Blazer and Equinox by giving them a mild turbo tune and magnride. I'm not sure what they'd do for Colorado. They already do the Trail Boss package there.
  14. Drew Dowdell
    The RST performance package adds $5,400 to the price of a Premier trim Tahoe, bringing the base price of a Tahoe RST 4x4 to $70k Assuming similar package prices for the Suburban, that puts the base price for a Suburban RST 4x4 at minimum $73,595. And if we wander over to the GMC page and take a look at a Yukon XL Denali 4x4 which has essentially the same hardware...... So the RST is just Chevy's version of Denali with more of a sport flare than a luxury flare. I think it's a good move and helps differentiate the brands. I won't be surprised if RST expands similarly to every Chevy that has a Denali trim on the GMC version.
  15. Drew Dowdell
    A great white whale emerged from her slumber, battery warmed up, took on a payload of fresh Tigerpaws, and trundled over to Costco to be re-shoed. First real trip out since November. It was a gorgeous day and she swims like a dream now. 75 mph and narey a vibration unlike the old shoes. She's running beautifully too. Can't wait to get her inspection done so I can drive her a lot more.
  16. Drew Dowdell
    I'm with you there but upgrade to the Fusion Energi
  17. Drew Dowdell
    The water pump is actually usually cheaper than the optispark by about half. If you pull it, just get a new one.
  18. Drew Dowdell
    I don't doubt you at all. I just couldn't find the package on Chevy's UBuildIt site so I wasn't sure if it was still being offered today.
  19. Drew Dowdell
    King Ranch, 1794 Edition, Lone Star, Chevy has used Texas Edition in the past. Oh... and Austin.... I'm sure the Brits were honoring the Texas capital. ?
  20. Drew Dowdell
    The name wasn't Opticspark it was OptiSpark.It was exactly a distributor and once they got it right, they are fantastic. The original ones could get moisture into them that couldn't get out. The later ones and aftermarket ones get vents so the moisture can evaporate out. The optispark is situated behind the water pump and connected directly to the crankshaft. It has a disk with 360 slots in it (one for each degree of turn) and an optical sensor could detect the exact position of the crank with high accuracy. This allowed for very precise control of the spark in a time before true electronically timed ignition. Replacing a bad optispark is a pain in the butt... doubly so on cars with the towing packages. To get to it, the water pump must come off. On towing package optioned cars, this means the mechanical fan and the entire secondary belt system that drives it must also come off. For added fun and excitement, if you have a water pump go bad, not only can you count on it take the optispark with it, but you can also lose power steering as the spot where the water pump fails causes coolant to leak right onto the ribbed side of the serpentine belt making it too slippery to run the power steering pump under load. The whole system gets a bad rap even among guys who love the LT-1.... but when you have one running well, they run really really well.
  21. Drew Dowdell
    What is it about them that you don't like?
  22. Drew Dowdell
    EV buyers are no more stealing taxpayer dollars than you are getting Section 8 subsidies for driving on public roads. The gas tax you pay only covers 43% of the highway budget, so you best be paying up you thief!
  23. Drew Dowdell
    The XTS gets into the 70s and sells there since I see those models hit the used market at 2 years old pretty frequently.
  24. Drew Dowdell
    Car subscription services only work financially in an extreme minority of circumstances or if you have a set timeframe where you need a car and don't want to have to worry about offloading it when you're done. If the pricing was a little better, I could see subscribing a sports coupe over the summer and an AWD crossover I'm the winter. Or if I know I'll be moving, subscribe to a truck for a few months before switching to something else. The idea intrigues... But the costs aren't there yet.
  25. Drew Dowdell
    So this is the Escalade power train in a sport package. I dig it. Not everyone needs the lux of Cadillac but would still like the performance. This may become a modern classic. With the next generation of big SUVs so close at hand, this is a 2 year model a best on this platform. The take rate will likely be low.
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