Drew Dowdell

Everyone around here wants cars and brands to be some sort of team sport. It really isn't. Cars today, with few exceptions, are excellent at what they do and anything left is primarily nit-picking. I like the Continental and I like the CT6. I hit the powerball tomorrow and I could see both in my driveway simultaneously with a Chrysler 300C Platinum hemi thrown in just to get the trifecta. Why? Because I ♥ Cars. I'm not worried about which one gets me to the grocery store faster because even a Corolla would do the job. There really is no more "better".... it's all just preference. If one sells more than the other (regardless of fleet or not), it just means that more people prefer one over the other for any multitude of reasons. Some people prefer Avocados.... I personally really dislike them..... my parents on the other hand bought an Avocado plantation a few years ago. My opinion of Avocados or the sales of Avocado in general makes no difference on how good or bad they are. The LS and 7-Series are both excellent choices in that market, but personally, I'd go with neither. I think the Genesis G90 would get my dollars before either of those two and certainly the Lincoln or Cadillac above that.... but that's just my opinion. I'm driving a V6 300C this week in Houston and loving it.... No it's not on the same level as the Conti or the CT6... but it's still big, good, American iron. It moves well, rides comfortably, and looks good. Just plain fun. Guys, we're here because we love cars. If you want to root for sports teams, there are plenty of places on the web for that.

They compete the same way an ATS 3.6 and an ES350 compete.... but sure.... if that makes you feel better.... they compete on that level of being in the same general price class. And again.... Continental Taxis So I take the sales numbers of the Continental with a giant grain of fleet salt.

My personal health and wellness focus is entirely mental at this point. About 15 years ago my dad's employer drove him to the brink with stress and excessive work demands. One day, my very level headed dad simply walked out of a job he had been in for 10 years.... never to return. The stress of my current job is getting to the point where I may follow in his footsteps.

I think customers already do split into two lines. Lexus LS and BMW 7-series both sell and both have very different attitudes.

When you look at the spec sheet of a CT6 that is priced similarly to an S-Class... then you'll see why the CT6 is a bargain.... as far as that sort of luxury car goes.

A loaded CT6 knocking on the door of a base S-Class isn't really a fair comparison for the Benz. You won't be getting any of the advanced technology at that level.

It's different types of luxury, the Continental being more of a soft quiet luxury. It's the $800 trip to the Day Spa which all about pampering and relaxation. The CT6 is definitely more sport oriented, particularly with the 4-wheel-steering. It is David Beckham in a crisp, expensive slim fit business suit made from fine materials. Both will go with gusto, but in very different ways. And there is no "better", only a "prefer". I tend to prefer the soft pampering luxury, but can certainly appreciate the harder edges of the CT6. And you're right, it has nothing to do with which orientation the engine sits.

Continental and CT6 are two quite different types of animal. They may overlap some in price, but that's about the end of it.

Two people now have 5 shiny new moderator points and have to have their posts approved by staff before they become public till the day after Christmas. I'll reopen the thread for now... friends don't let friends troll forums. I'm feeling extra grinchy this holiday season. keep it up and find yourself banned.

I don't know if it was posted earlier or not.... but the Bolt requires basically nothing in routine maintenance for the first 150k miles. Rotate the tires, change the wipers, change the cabin filter.... that's it.... for 150k miles.

And there are people who never ever do that.... and just use their cars to get around town. Face it... those of us who visit automotive enthusiast sites have different driving patterns. Most people aren't like us. Do you really think the typical Corolla buyer wants to spend any more time in or with their car than they have to? An oil change is an annoyance to them

For some people it is an annoyance. We have one traveling sales dude who works for us who drive a Kia Soul. We make fun of him because he's always running out of gas because he's forgetting to stop to fill up. He's home every night... he drives a lot, but never 200 miles in a typical work day. He's an ideal EV candidate.

Does anyone still do the sticker? I use the oil life monitor on both my Honda and Buick. The computer tells me when to change it.

There is a convenience factor to EVs that I think has remained undiscovered by the general Corolla and Pruis driver as of yet. Never having to get gas during your normal routine. Never having to get oil changes. Routine maintenance in the range of 15,000 miles instead of 5,000 miles. There is a lot going for EVs for people who want the least intrusive car experience possible.

For many people, the cost of gas isn't even a factor. There are a lot of reasons to like a Bolt or any full EV with 230+ mile range while completely ignoring the cost of gas.

Yeah, I only get the GM discount. So it may come down to that. Though I may be able to finagle a Ford discount too and I really do like the King Ranch.

I'll try to get my review of it up next week while I'm trapped in Houston then. I'm transferring all of my pictures to the new laptop now.

I few 10ths here and there won't matter to me... I'm not pulling horse trailers. As long as the performance is sufficient, which even the current 5.0 would be, it will come down to looks and "the deal". The only F-150 I'm interested in is the King Ranch because I love the look. The order for me is: 1. Specific features I want (does it have a V8 is included in this) 2. Looks (I'm very particular on looks) 3. Price (Denali Ultimate is in the running... so it's more of how much of a "deal" I can get)

I was completely sold on the Kawasaki Vulcan S until I drove that BMW R Nine T Scrambler..... I was in love at first ride. I test drove about 8 different bikes that day. Surprisingly, not many auto journalists have their motorcycle license, so there wasn't a lot of people testing bikes. I was so enamored with the BMW, the PR rep let me take it out again for most of the afternoon.

Yup. I'm willing to give the new EBs another shot. The current ones haven't convinced me yet. I was just on the Ford Build Your Own site, and was disappointed to see that you can't get the 5.0 and the 10-speed together yet. Not that big a deal to me right now, I won't be making a move until late spring to early summer at the soonest. I've recently spent some time behind the wheel of a Hemi Grand Cherokee. Even as old as the Hemi is, there is a smooth steady confidence I get with that V8 compared to a boosted V6. The numbers on paper may be in favor of the boosted V6es, but they just don't have the feel. Even my weakling, wheezing, old Oldsmobile 307 has it.

The truck doesn't have to haul much except occasional construction material from Home Depot, tow the Toronado on an open car trailer.... or haul my other "Business is good" gift to myself if it happens. Wings is correct with this one. Ford did their hybrid system on their own, however, in order to avoid a nasty patent litigation fight, they paid Toyota a minimal royalty just to keep things civil between the two companies.

yeah, that was the reference I was making. Over the past 3 - 4 years, I've given smaller displacement boosted engines a chance to prove themselves... from all brands. At first, I was sold... convinced that this was going to be a 1 for 1 replacement. But over time, my opinion has changed. With the exception of some of the really small 4-cylinders which really can't be replaced with a V6, I've found that in nearly all cases, having the bigger displacement engine is better. A 2.0T 4-cylinder just doesn't make up for a 3.6ish V6 in the same type of vehicle. I've seen no fuel economy benefits to downsizing the engines, and it costs me available power.

I have nothing against the Ecoboosts.... I just don't feel they live up to the hype surrounding them. If business goes the way I want, then I may be in a Denali 1500 6.2 liter in the summer just because I love the way those trucks look, however, a King Ranch with the 5.0 hasn't been crossed off the list either. I'd really rather have a V8.

Real world experience matters. My experience with turbo DI engines as a replacement for larger displacement engines with more cylinders hasn't lived up to the hype. When I go with a truck, it's going to have 8 cylinders, even if it's a Ford. Could be. I only know of the US markets it was sold in.

I still don't know what your beef is.... even the Ford Hybrid batteries are vastly out performing their expected lives. Only the Civic Hybrid, LEAF, and very first generation Pruis have reputations for poor battery degradation. The Toyotas, the Fords, the Volt, the Teslas, even the old Altima Hybrid only sold in Texas and CA seems to hold on to its range.