Drew Dowdell

GLC eh? No CX-9

So I'm a little confused. Is the money restriction only on base price or on as configured price?

With that criteria.. it's basically only the Encore. Which is fine, I'm 53k miles into mine and not a lick of trouble.

Yeah, if you know you're going to be loading stuff up at Home Depot, you need to remember to park ass out... but it is a small price to pay for the overall convenience.

I prefer @Drew Dowdell and @William Maley myself... If I have to pick outside of C&G, then I'd go with Aaron Bragman at Cars.com and Zac Estrada who is an independent for multple publications (He did the Continental article we were arguing about)

Honestly, I have a hard time quantifying it. Keep in mind use my Honda for doing maintence work at my apartment buildings, so I'm always hauling tool boxes, supplies, etc. in it. It's just easier to do in the Honda than any of the liftbacks. It's not something I can really explain... it's just something I live with.

You know what would sell me? This right here... You have no idea how much superior a side opening tailgate is compared to a lift back until you own both. The side opening hatch on my old CR-V is sooooo much better than the Encore liftback for loading and unloading stuff.

I doubt it would come to that. If what this article states is true, it is just the catalytic converters and other emissions equipment wearing out too quickly. Off the top of my head and don't quote me on this, the manufacturers all have to warranty the emissions systems for something like 100,000 miles.

This sounds more like a design flaw than an intentional thing.... The key is going to be if they knew the emissions system stopped working before the mandated warranty period. It kinda sounds like FCA may be just on the hook for new cats.

Sounds like a nice ride...especially at that price.

That is one of the few cars that really can't/shouldn't try to get away with a naturally aspirated 4-cylinder. It is excessively heavy for its size and in 4-cylinder guise, the transmission hunts for torque it will never find. 2.0T should be the bare minimum for that car.

I nicely equipped 200 V6 is a nice place to pass the miles...

oshawa has the room

So it's just an appearance package? Doesn't the Passat already have 280hp in V6 form?

I think it has less to do with party and more to do with position and ambition. If you're from Kentucky, for example, there is no shame being a Congressman who drives a Camry because they are built there. Same thing for Passats and Tennessee, M-Classes and Alabama, and X5s and North Carolina. However, once you set your sights on the White House or congressional leadership, then you probably would be best off switching to an American brand even if it isn't built in the US (Chrysler 300c and Cadillac XTS and Chevy Tahoe being not US built).

Yes. To be honest, I just took the same level of posts from another website that does the same thing. I have no problem with you being in there, but it's pretty much impossible to do a single person override.

Stew - 784 posts

I recall that as a senator, President Obama drove a Chrysler 300c and then an Escape Hybrid. McCain likes his DTSes (kinda no surprise there). Romney was all about the Cadillacs and Suburbans. Bill Clinton had a vintage Mustang (or borrowed one because he loved it so much, can't remember). I doubt Hillary has driven herself anywhere in years.

The people coming of driving age and in their very early 20s can't afford a new Mustang or Camaro. The people in their late 20s to late 30s who can now afford such cars came into driving age just as the Camaro and Firebird were dying and the Mustang was still predominantly powered by a 4.0 from the Ranger, the 5pointSlow or a kinda Meh 4.6... and in all of the above cases with terrible interiors and build quality.... these people were the ones that got their mom's used Civic and "riced" it out. They have no particular fond memories for the F-Bodies or the Mustang and generally view them as junk even though that is clearly not the case these days. People in their mid-30s to late 50s have the most purchasing power, but they are in their primary child rearing years and thus head straight for the Explorers and Traverses without giving RWD sports cars a second thought. People in their late 50s and above are generally looking for something with more prestige than a Camaro or Mustang, or their rheumatism doesn't allow them to sit in a car so low to the ground. Though with the kids gone and the house paid off, they are in a better position to afford one. The demographics for these cars is not trending positive.

I still have my gym membership....though I haven't seen the inside of it for months.... still counts, right? But somehow, through diet alone, I have lost 25 lbs this year.