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Drew Dowdell

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Everything posted by Drew Dowdell

  1. rhetorical quiz

    Drew Dowdell replied to balthazar's topic in Automotive Trivia
    I was agreeing with you while disagreeing. I think you should at least keep the roofline styles similar. The cheap car you posted has more of a fast back hatch back look while the upper class car is more of a melted sedan. The VW v. Benz comparison makes your point more by having a shape that is much closer.

  2. Detroit 2018: 2019 Ford Edge ST Gets Sharper: Comments

    Drew Dowdell replied to William Maley's topic in North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS)
    That's the least of their worries on those cars. The problem is that they have all the numbers to stack up to the competition, for the meat of the market, but they are the automotive equivalent of novicaine. Shopping in this segment they would be dead last with the Pathfinder and Outlander. CX9 better handling Pilot better space Highlander hybrid options and better interior build. Grand Cherokee more off-road capable, better handling, hemi option, high tow rating, better interior Durango ditto GC Explorer/Edge better interior, more solid feeling, just looks more premium and dare I say it Explorer has an "authority" to it. Atlas better looking than Acadia Ascend haven't driven it yet, but it checks all the right boxes and has a knock out interior.

  3. Detroit 2018: 2019 Ford Edge ST Gets Sharper: Comments

    Drew Dowdell replied to William Maley's topic in North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS)
    The Edge's upgrade to an 8-speed may help, ditto for the 9-speed in the Traverse.... but I think that drivers will still have to keep their foot in the boost to keep these beasts moving. The Acadia V6 with a 6-speed moves really well... shame it is otherwise duller than dishwater to drive.

  4. rhetorical quiz

    Drew Dowdell replied to balthazar's topic in Automotive Trivia
    IMHO, there is only one that can manage that effect....

  5. rhetorical quiz

    Drew Dowdell replied to balthazar's topic in Automotive Trivia
    I get the point you were trying to make @balthazar, but I might have used a different example for the modern lower end comparison. Some suggestions.

  6. GM News: GM Plans On Building More Crew Cab Models Of 2019 Trucks

    Drew Dowdell replied to William Maley's topic in General Motors
    I feel uncomfortable in a car without my belt on. It's such a mechanical thing for me to do when I get in the car, I've caught myself doing it just shuffling cars around in the driveway.

  7. Detroit 2018: 2019 Ford Edge ST Gets Sharper: Comments

    Drew Dowdell replied to William Maley's topic in North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS)
    The 2.0T is plenty smooth enough, but it is a strong bit of evidence for my assertion that low displacement high boost 4-cylinders are not suitable replacements for V6es. In spite of what the output numbers say, this engine feels lethargic in such a heavy crossover.

  8. Detroit Preview: 2019 Kia Forte: Comments

    Drew Dowdell replied to Drew Dowdell's topic in North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS)
    Looking at it again, I kinda see a 4 door Scion tC.

  9. Random Thoughts Thread

    Drew Dowdell replied to TaurusSHO's topic in The Lounge
    Welcome back @VenSeattle!!

  10. Detroit 2018: 2019 Ford Edge ST Gets Sharper: Comments

    Drew Dowdell replied to William Maley's topic in North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS)
    I only was including the Grand Cherokee Summit since it has some substantial interior upgrades over a standard issue GC. Also, with a base price for the Summit 4x4 of $50k ranging all the way up to $65k, it can certainly rank with this class. I mentioned the QX60 and Enclave as "if you squint" only because they are 3-row crossovers, but they overlap the Acura and Lincoln. Base price Enclave - $39,995, Base Price MKX - $39,035, Base Price MDX - $44,200, Base Price QX60 - $43,300, Base Price XT5 - $40,595. Now, another reason I include the Enclave. Buick plays games with its base pricing and they've done this for years. It is virtually impossible to find a base Enclave. The lowest trim you will find is a FWD Essence with a base price of $47k. I searched 5 zipcode around the country and found a single 2018 Enclave 1SV (base trim) in South Florida. DC, NJ, Pittsburgh, NYC had none. My guess is that the 1SV is primarily a fleet only model that Buick will sell you if you order one. They've done this before with the Regal and Lacrosse. SMK used to go on rants about the 4-cylinder Lacrosse and its $30k base price... and he might have had a point except for the fact that nearly zero were built for general consumption unless you ordered it that way. Nearly all the Lacrosses were V6 models with higher trims. The same goes for the eAssist Regal... they exist, but are so rare as to not matter.

  11. Detroit 2018: 2019 Ford Edge ST Gets Sharper: Comments

    Drew Dowdell replied to William Maley's topic in North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS)
    Some of those buttons are screen based which is almost worse.

  12. Detroit 2018: 2019 Honda Insight Prototype Hopes the Third Time is the Charm: Comments

    Drew Dowdell replied to William Maley's topic in North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS)
    and tail lights by Kia

  13. Detroit 2018: 2019 Ford Edge ST Gets Sharper: Comments

    Drew Dowdell replied to William Maley's topic in North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS)
    MKX, MDX, RX, XT5 and if you squint QX60, Enclave, and Grand Cherokee Summit

  14. Detroit 2018: 2019 Ford Edge ST Gets Sharper: Comments

    Drew Dowdell replied to William Maley's topic in North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS)
    I think the Acura and Edge are both confusing, but by virtue of having more buttons, the Acura is more of a mess.

  15. Detroit 2018: 2019 Ford Edge ST Gets Sharper: Comments

    Drew Dowdell replied to William Maley's topic in North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS)
    The MDX is an abomination of button ergonomics as well. Every time I get in one I have to re-learn where everything is. I'd put the nautilus above the MDX on that one.

  16. Detroit 2018: 2019 Ford Edge ST Gets Sharper: Comments

    Drew Dowdell replied to William Maley's topic in North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS)
    The Nautilus center stack is better than the Edge's if for one reason.... they don't mix up buttons. I find the layout of the buttons in the Edge and Explorer to be infuriating. Why would you mix HVAC and audio controls like that?? The A/C button is just below the CD eject.... the HVAC power off button is right next to the tune up button. The automatic climate control button is the complete opposite side of the controls from the temp and fan buttons. On the nautilus, the radio controls are all together and the HVAC controls are all together.... the way it is supposed to be.

  17. Detroit 2018: 2019 Ford Edge ST Gets Sharper: Comments

    Drew Dowdell replied to William Maley's topic in North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS)
    Kinda sorta... yes it is on the same stretched platform as the Continental, but I think the similarity ends there. That said, I think it is a handsome conservative looking sedan.

  18. Detroit Preview: 2019 Kia Forte

    Drew Dowdell posted an article in North American International Autoshow (NAIAS-Detroit)
    Today Kia released some teaser renderings of the 2019 Kia Forte ahead of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. This third generation Forte adopts a sleeker fastback sedan design intended to remind people of the Kia Stinger. Up front is a deeper interpretation of Kia's Tiger Nose grille and an aggressive lower air intake. Around back are some impressive light-piped tail lights with an additional cluster for turn signals and reverse lights lower in the bumper. Inside, the Kia has gone very minimalistic with few buttons and dials. A large freestanding infotainment screen dominates the center stack. The 2019 Kia Forte will be officially unveiled at 11:35 am on January 15th at the Cobo Center in Detroit. Click here to follow all 2018 Detroit Auto Show News Click here to follow all Kia News

  19. Detroit Preview: 2019 Kia Forte: Comments

    Drew Dowdell posted a topic in North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS)
    Today Kia released some teaser renderings of the 2019 Kia Forte ahead of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. This third generation Forte adopts a sleeker fastback sedan design intended to remind people of the Kia Stinger. Up front is a deeper interpretation of Kia's Tiger Nose grille and an aggressive lower air intake. Around back are some impressive light-piped tail lights with an additional cluster for turn signals and reverse lights lower in the bumper. Inside, the Kia has gone very minimalistic with few buttons and dials. A large freestanding infotainment screen dominates the center stack. The 2019 Kia Forte will be officially unveiled at 11:35 am on January 15th at the Cobo Center in Detroit. Click here to follow all 2018 Detroit Auto Show News Click here to follow all Kia News View full article

  20. GM News: GM Plans On Building More Crew Cab Models Of 2019 Trucks

    Drew Dowdell replied to William Maley's topic in General Motors
    No one is worried about rollover protection in a funeral flower car.

  21. Cadillac News: Rumorpile: GM To Build Cadillac XT4 In Kansas City

    Drew Dowdell replied to William Maley's topic in Cadillac
    Taurus and Fusion, but otherwise I agree with you.

  22. Detroit 2018: 2019 Ford Edge ST Gets Sharper: Comments

    Drew Dowdell replied to William Maley's topic in North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS)
    There might be a packaging issue with the 9-speed that we're not aware of. It looks like only the CD4 vehicles are getting the 8-speed, so I'm betting it has something to do with an incompatibility there. Just speculation.

  23. Detroit Preview: Ford's Performance Showing: Comments

    Drew Dowdell replied to William Maley's topic in North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS)
    I'm pretty darn good.

  24. Detroit Preview: Ford's Performance Showing: Comments

    Drew Dowdell replied to William Maley's topic in North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS)
    EcoTech, Bluetech (Blue in Europe = Green in US), Ecomotive (I like this one)

  25. Detroit Preview: Ford's Performance Showing: Comments

    Drew Dowdell replied to William Maley's topic in North American International Auto Show in Detroit (NAIAS)
    www.notgonnahappen.com

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