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Drew Dowdell

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Everything posted by Drew Dowdell

  1. Drew Dowdell
    How does the blue car not project rearward from the sheet metal? I can clearly see it projecting when looking at the inside side of the tail light? Anyway.... I think modern interpretations of the fin using plastic or even light piping are at least doable.
  2. Drew Dowdell
    Interesting that Benz has decided on cribbing old Buick grilles for the upcoming look.
  3. Drew Dowdell
    Even the current Frontier isn't that bad. A bit outdated in terms of infotainment tech, sure, but as a smallish truck, it works.
  4. Drew Dowdell
    Niro doesn't have AWD. The technology from the 2-mode served as a learning point for the new Hybrid Drive in the Cadillac CT6. Though technically now a 4-mode hybrid, they are not marketing it as such. There is no physical relation between the two technologies. They are similar in abstract concept only.
  5. Drew Dowdell
    Cue with Carplay and Android auto is better. Sounds about the same as the regular Cadillac Bose. (panaray is only on CT6 and I think Escalade). The G90 feels bigger because it is... Especially in width. XTS interior is showing it's age. The CT6 is the more apt comparison and I think Cadillac did the better job on the interior there.
  6. Drew Dowdell
    This was not a drive, it was just a crawl all over the interior. For most people in this class, the G90 is a very credible entry. There are only a couple of places where the technophile in me would consider it a letdown. It only has one USB port for the front and it is awkwardly placed if you like to keep things neat. The entertainment system's USB interface with Apple music was terrible, interfacing with Android was non-existent. Kia's own UVO entertainment system is easier to use and features CarPlay and Android Auto. I fiddled with it enough to hook my android up via Bluetooth and the sound system was very good, but not excellent. The Germans top sound systems and Cadillac's Panaray are all above the Genesis in sound quality. However... if you're a certain demographic.... wealthy, not a badge snob, not an extensive audiophile or technophile, the rest of the G90 is a very comfortable place to be. Would I spend $74k on one like the one I sat in? Probably not. But it is just about the only car that has this kind of size at this kind of price. Oh... and I guess I should mention: $74k is the price of a LOADED V8 AWD G90.... it's also the price of a BASE Lexus RWD V8 LS, probably it's most direct competitor.
  7. Drew Dowdell
    Genesis certainly feels credible when I spend a bunch of time in a G90 last week.
  8. Drew Dowdell
    That really sounds about right for that level of car though. The new S60 would probably have it available too in a few years.
  9. Drew Dowdell
    They're not terrible to maintain. Mostly Ford product mechanically, no excessive electrical gremlins to speak of... and you can get them cheap. Heck, my 2004 Honda is costing me more than a car payment a month just to keep it fully operational. I doubt a 2006 XJ8 with 66k miles would cost more to maintain than the $275 a month it would cost to finance it.
  10. Drew Dowdell
    ... the new server wasn't on autopay for some reason even though the service provider is the same.
  11. Drew Dowdell
    Maserati lasts by selling tarted up Ghiblis and eventually an extended Guilia
  12. Drew Dowdell
    Sorry, gotta call you out... how are they bad? I think they're very good, the Navigator in particular is a big step above an Escalade.
  13. Drew Dowdell
    No, I'm sure we'll see a new Escalade about a year after the Navigator gets its first full year of sales in and then the gloves will be off. Everyone here knows how much I the Escalade.... but if the Navigator were on sale today... I'd probably go with the Navigator.
  14. Drew Dowdell
    Air ride is available on all of Volvo's SPA platform vehicles so far (S90, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC90, XC60). Yes, this is the pillowy suspension you are looking for and you don't have to get the car in top trim to get it.
  15. Drew Dowdell
    I could see those numbers.. well.. not flipping... but Cadillac dropping while Navigator grows. I think for the moment the Escalade will remain in front because it is a much more known quantity right now, but over time I could see Navigator pull ahead if Cadillac *cough* rests on it's laurels.... If Lincoln keeps the costs in line, this could be the nail in the coffin for the likes of the Infiniti QX80 and Lexus LX460. Automotive Darwinism.
  16. Drew Dowdell
    They are one of my favorites in the industry right now. Plus... you can get the XC60 with Air Ride suspension.... so that just might be the sales maker for my house.
  17. Drew Dowdell
    I hope they don't give up on the segment. The XJ is one of the better cars there and doesn't deserve the lack of attention from the buying public.
  18. Drew Dowdell
    I don't understand why these cars have to be so freaking ugly?? The Toyota Mirai is just as bad. At least GM had the decency to just use an Equinox for their fuel cell experiments.
  19. Drew Dowdell
    Hyundai has been trying hard with the Sonata in the crowded mid-size segment for at least 2 decades. When the 2015 Sonata debuted at the 2014 New York Auto Show, it was largely received with a yawn. Despite being a competent vehicle (read our review of the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Sport 2.0T), it just wasn’t enough to fully challenge the Accord, Camry, and Fusion for love from the automotive press. As early as the following year, Hyundai had already announced a redesign for Sonata. Here we are back at the 2017 New York Auto Show with the redesigned 2018 Sonata. A quick shake of the magic 8-ball says… “Outlook Not So Good”. You can read the press release for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata here. The first and biggest sin in the mid-size segment is not having a Honda or Toyota badge on the hood. The Sonata, like Optima, Malibu, and Altima, suffers from that sin. Any car without that badge must then seriously overcome the sin in other ways. The Subaru Legacy does it with its AWD system. The Malibu tries with a more stylish interior and useful infotainment systems. The Fusion offers a large variety of powertrain options including a powerful turbo-charged V6 in the Fusion Sport or the more fuel sipping hybrid. The refreshed 2018 Sonata does not bring much new to the table. The engines are carry-over from the current model, though a new 8-speed auto is available on the top turbo model. The interior is largely carry-over as well except for new gauges and center stack. The exterior gets a freshening with a new trapezoidal grille and new rear end treatment. Neither of those updates feel strong enough to give the 2018 Sonata the visual distinction it needs to move the needle in the marketplace. For comparison sake, I spent some time poking around the 2018 Sonata and then immediately went to the Toyota, Honda, Chevy, and Kia stands. The interior of the new Sonata just isn’t up to the task of taking on the big guns and still feels as dated as the Optima. In the end, the Sonata will still sell for people who want the warranty, but it’s not going to be to anyone who actually wants a Sonata… they’ll just be buying it for the deal. Is it better than the 2017 model? Shake the Magic 8-Ball and see if you come up with a different answer. View full article
  20. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "NYIAS Closeup: 2018 Hyundai Sonata"
    Hyundai has been trying hard with the Sonata in the crowded mid-size segment for at least 2 decades. When the 2015 Sonata debuted at the 2014 New York Auto Show, it was largely received with a yawn. Despite being a competent vehicle (read our review of the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Sport 2.0T), it just wasn’t enough to fully challenge the Accord, Camry, and Fusion for love from the automotive press. As early as the following year, Hyundai had already announced a redesign for Sonata. Here we are back at the 2017 New York Auto Show with the redesigned 2018 Sonata. A quick shake of the magic 8-ball says… “Outlook Not So Good”. You can read the press release for the 2018 Hyundai Sonata here. The first and biggest sin in the mid-size segment is not having a Honda or Toyota badge on the hood. The Sonata, like Optima, Malibu, and Altima, suffers from that sin. Any car without that badge must then seriously overcome the sin in other ways. The Subaru Legacy does it with its AWD system. The Malibu tries with a more stylish interior and useful infotainment systems. The Fusion offers a large variety of powertrain options including a powerful turbo-charged V6 in the Fusion Sport or the more fuel sipping hybrid. The refreshed 2018 Sonata does not bring much new to the table. The engines are carry-over from the current model, though a new 8-speed auto is available on the top turbo model. The interior is largely carry-over as well except for new gauges and center stack. The exterior gets a freshening with a new trapezoidal grille and new rear end treatment. Neither of those updates feel strong enough to give the 2018 Sonata the visual distinction it needs to move the needle in the marketplace. For comparison sake, I spent some time poking around the 2018 Sonata and then immediately went to the Toyota, Honda, Chevy, and Kia stands. The interior of the new Sonata just isn’t up to the task of taking on the big guns and still feels as dated as the Optima. In the end, the Sonata will still sell for people who want the warranty, but it’s not going to be to anyone who actually wants a Sonata… they’ll just be buying it for the deal. Is it better than the 2017 model? Shake the Magic 8-Ball and see if you come up with a different answer.
  21. Drew Dowdell

    2018 Hyundai Sonata - Close Up

    Images added to a gallery album owned by Drew Dowdell in Gallery

  22. Drew Dowdell
    2018 Hyundai Sonata Interior

    From the album: 2018 Hyundai Sonata - Close Up

    © CheersandGears.com

  23. Drew Dowdell
    2018 Hyundai Sonata front

    From the album: 2018 Hyundai Sonata - Close Up

    © CheersandGears.com

  24. Drew Dowdell
    2018 Hyundai Sonata Interior

    From the album: 2018 Hyundai Sonata - Close Up

    © CheersandGears.com

  25. Drew Dowdell
    2018 Hyundai Sonata Interior

    From the album: 2018 Hyundai Sonata - Close Up

    © CheersandGears.com

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