Drew Dowdell

Oh I'm sure it would just be a Kirkland (Insert Model-Alpha-Numeric).... we don't go around calling a Lincoln Continental The Lincoln Motor Company Continental... even though that's the full name they're using these days.

Costco has hired you to revamp their automobile program. Instead of offering discounts on other brands they've decided to market their own line under their Kirkland Signature brand. You have to create a model line up using other manufactures products rebranded. You'll need broad appeal. You'll also need to change the designs slightly so you can't exactly tell what it's badge engineered from. What are you going to offer? What cars, trucks and SUV's will you offer? What'll you call them? Create your lineup for Kirkland Signature Motors!

I'm not sure the fuel economy thing did anything. Most people were like, "They still make Mitsubishis?"

Wait a minute.... the arm rest on the Tahoe and Escalade are almost the same @smk4565??? Next you'll be telling me that both steering wheels are round!! zomg!

If any vehicle in the GM lineup could benefit from a turbo V6, the Enclave would be it. The regular V6 just has to work too hard to move all that weight.

Yes, I'm aware there are no perfect cars. I'm saying that the Atlas in particular was a let down on material quality especially given the levels we've come to expect from VW in the past. While the show car I was in was well put together, the whole thing felt over a decade old in materials all over. The outgoing Chevy Traverse, which I would never point to as a standard by which to do things, has much better feeling material quality than the Atlas, particularly around the switchgear and HVAC controls. And that's the rub, the Atlas is already behind an old Chevy I don't particularly like and that is about to be replaced.

I wonder if they're just trying to swap powertrains at this point. If the Outlander was supposed to be in dealerships 2 years from now, much of the platform design work must already be locked down. The only thing I could see swapping out is the engine and possibly transmission. Either way, not good news of Mitsu...

Not on the highway he can't. Remember, I had the same vintage Avalanche and 19 was the best I could do even when I was being careful. You've posted 26 or 27 highway on here before.

Do the mid-sizer have AFM yet? I bet that would help substantially. It seems to be the main driver as to how a 5.3 liter Suburban can manage it.

Yes

Eh... the plastic on the door panels is just this side of tupperware. The HVAC controls in particular were from Fisher Price, only not that solid. (The Atlas, not the Passat. It's been awhile since I've been in a Passat). It was all put together really well, but the material quality isn't what I'd expect on a vehicle that will likely sell primarily in the mid-$30k range. Some competing vehicles that have been on the market for years or are just now going out of production have better material quality than what this new Atlas is getting.

The interior is the biggest let down on the Atlas

Yes, the mid-size trucks can get absurd when you get to the higher trims. I'm in the same boat going back and forth between a loaded Canyon SLT or a mid level Sierra All Terrain. It's at the lower end where the value of the mid-size trucks shows up because they are more consumers spec there while the low end full size truck are construction grade.

I think the recent resurgence of the mid-size truck class has a lot more to do with full-size trucks getting so large and so expensive. It has little to do with fuel economy as gas prices are relatively cheap right now.

An engine is not just an App you download...

I haven't taken a stance on the EPA in general, so I don't know what you're going on about. I'm just saying that changing federal CAFE standards isn't going to do anything for consumers or manufacturers since California is still getting their waiver. All of the stuff you're taking about with RVs and SEMA has nothing to do with what Trump is proposing. I'm not against relaxing those rules.... You just assumed. You went off on that whole tirade when my position was really quite clear. It's a simple statement: Relaxing CAFE doesn't change the automotive manufacturing landscape. Not now. Not in 5 years. Probably not in 10 years. Even a wholesale repeal of CAFE won't change anything for at least 2 more product cycles. Nothing Trump promises will change that. He is over promising and under delivering.

I'm not seeing that... but it no longer interests me like the prior two did. This Regal, I like what I see so far. It's odd.. most of the recent cars coming out of GM are failing to interest me in any way. I find myself looking more at Ford/Lincoln, Mazda, FCA, and Volvo lately. The only exceptions from GM are the CT6, Escalade/Yukon/Tahoe (which one could argue are no longer "recent"), and the big trucks.

Buick is geared towards the Chinese these days, primarily because they buy three times as many of them as we in the US do.

like i said, I didn't read it, but most of it looks like it is neither about the EPA nor Trump... Trump talked about the EPA, US auto manufacturers, and buying US cars. Tell me where here did I encourage anyone to post off those topics? Pointing out Trumps hypocrisy on the matter isn't off topic. Talking about EVs in regards to EPA regulations is on topic. New engine tech for saving fuel in trucks? On topic. The consumer shift from cars to SUVs and the effect on fuel economy? On topic. He has multiple Rollers including a 1956 Silver Cloud (not going to knock him for owning a classic). He also has a 2005 SLR McLaren and until 2016 a Lambo Diablo (year, I don't know). It has been reported that he's always been a Rolls man, which doesn't surprise me.

2.0T, 8-speed or 9-speed, optional AWD This one is a manual transmission and obviously not for US consumption, but here is the Opel interior.

States rights... except when states want their rights? States can pick one of two regulations. The California Regs, which 13 states follow, or the Federal Regs. Manufacturers aren't interested in building two different version, so they just build everything to the California Regs. Manufacturers also still have to build to other countries regs. So whichever country has the toughest regulations, that's what the cars will get built to. There will be some differences on the fringes... but the meat of the market... the mainstream size 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder engines will all be globalized as much as possible with minor ECM tuning at best. Changes to the CAFE standards really aren't going to result in any changes for at least the next 5 years and probably on for another 10. The next generation of engines is already well into development, and those engines are typically produced for a decade or more at a time. At best, one of the engines that is currently legal might get an extra few years reprieve before being replaced..... and nothing bad ever happens when GM or Ford leave an old, technologically out of date engine in production far beyond its expiration date. Oh goodie... I might still be able to get a 2.4 Ecotec in 2025. Put me on a waiting list.

I skipped to the end and didn't bother with the rest. I'll probably have to delete 90% of it for being too political off the topic at hand when I do read it. I don't care if someone owns a Rolls... he can own 10 of them and I still won't care. The issue I have is his "Buy American" rhetoric while he doesn't do so himself. His car is a Rolls, his ties come from China... up until someone point out the hypocrisy, even his early MAGA hats came from China. His daughter imported 53 metric tons of merchandise from China just last year. Don't stand in front of a Cruze lecturing me about buying American and then ride off in a Rolls. I'm personally not all that wedded to the idea of buying American cars for America's sake. I have a Honda built in Ohio and a Buick built in Korea in my driveway... Buy the car that suits you best regardless of where it is built. CheersandGears.com is here to help you make that decision.

Incorrect. Cadillac has high ATP because higher trim models are being sold.

Everyone really wants tall station wagons, but no one wants to admit it.

The point was the 4-cylinder v. 6-cylinder. I remain largely unconvinced by turbo 4-cylinder from any brand as true replacements for a V6... however the double-boosted 4-cylinder from Volvo is the exception to that. It's hard to describe here, but in the Cadenza, I didn't even stand a chance... it wasn't even close. I might as well have been driving a Mirage.