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Drew Dowdell

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Everything posted by Drew Dowdell

  1. Drew Dowdell
    1. I've driven the 3.6TT in multiple (every?) application and it is not at all unrefined.... I can't imagine the smaller displacement version would be less refined than the big one used in V-Series and V-Sports. There is simply less moving mass in there. Even in the ATS-V, I would almost call the 3.6TT too refined for that application.... but that is mostly exhaust tuning. 2. Nearly no one pays $70,000 for a 2-year old full size luxury car because they can't lease them. This is the crowd that leases everything because then they can write it off their taxes.
  2. Drew Dowdell
    I like your idea of the Passat W8 4motion wagon and I'd swap my Subaru out for it as a family hauler if those VWs weren't such maintenance nightmares. Another one where I wasn't sure of the rules. The Charger/Magnum is a large car by EPA standards, and also is at the top of the Dodge food chain, however it regularly sells at prices similar to any other mid-size car out there...... Would that count or no? The reason that gets confusing is that the Accord, which is a mid-size by nearly every measure, is EPA large car in some configurations and sits at the top of the Honda ladder.
  3. Drew Dowdell
    You don't even have that Lacrosse anymore...
  4. Drew Dowdell
    The sound of silence? We're not talking about Camaros or Mustangs here... these are posh and quiet luxury cars. How the power is delivered is more important than a sound the manufacturer will try hard to suppress in the first place.
  5. Drew Dowdell
    2009 Buick Lacrosse Super 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme International Sedan, 3.4 DOHC with 5-speed manual (SE model pictured) - Such a sleeper with this setup, all the power and torque of a Taurus SHO in a lighter body. 1990-92 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 2017 Subaru Legacy Outback H6 1983 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight Royale (What? In 1983, that was squarely Mid-size... the Ninety-Eight and Custom Cruiser were the full-size.) If my last pick doesn't count, then I'll just sub in a Final 500 Oldsmobile Intrigue as my collectors car.
  6. Drew Dowdell
    The 9-speed auto is the FWD transmission that GM and Ford are going to share. Ford did the work on the RWD 10-speed, GM did the work on the FWD 9-speed, and they're sharing the tech of both with each other. Seems like a pretty fair swap. Ford has used GM FWD 6-speeds for a number of years.
  7. Drew Dowdell
    Well, it's not really going to be a 1 to 1 comparison anyway. In addition to the new 10-speed, Ford has changed the 3.5 Ecoboost for more power and more torque. Even if they had left the 6-speed in there, I would expect better performance from the engine alone anyway.
  8. Drew Dowdell
    General Motors today announced a recall of 4.3 million vehicles globally with 3.64 million of those vehicles located in the US. The recall involves a software bug in the sensing and diagnostic module that could prevent the deployment of the front airbags in certain circumstances preceded by a specific series of events. Most of the vehicles involved are GM's recent trucks and large SUVs. The repair for this recall requires a software update and no physical parts are required for most vehicles. The following vehicles are affected by this recall: 2014 - 2016 Chevrolet SS, Spark EV / Buick Lacrosse 2014 - 2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Trax, Caprice, and Silverado 1500 / Buick Encore / GMC Sierra 1500 2015 - 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, Suburban HD / GMC Yukon, Yukon XL / Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV GM stated that it was originally made aware of the problem in May 2016 via an internal Speak Up program that encourages employees to report potential safety issues in its vehicles. GM received a report that a 2014 Silverado involved in a crash did not deploy its front airbags or seat-belt pretensioners. The investigation started on June 7th and GM spent the next several weeks working with Delphi, the supplier of the part, and investigating other possible incidents with similarities to the original report. Owners of the above vehicles can check their VIN in the NHTSA Database or on the GM Website. Source: GM Media and Automotive News View full article
  9. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "GM Recalling 4.3 Million Vehicles for Airbag Software Problem"
    General Motors today announced a recall of 4.3 million vehicles globally with 3.64 million of those vehicles located in the US. The recall involves a software bug in the sensing and diagnostic module that could prevent the deployment of the front airbags in certain circumstances preceded by a specific series of events. Most of the vehicles involved are GM's recent trucks and large SUVs. The repair for this recall requires a software update and no physical parts are required for most vehicles. The following vehicles are affected by this recall: 2014 - 2016 Chevrolet SS, Spark EV / Buick Lacrosse 2014 - 2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Trax, Caprice, and Silverado 1500 / Buick Encore / GMC Sierra 1500 2015 - 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, Suburban HD / GMC Yukon, Yukon XL / Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV GM stated that it was originally made aware of the problem in May 2016 via an internal Speak Up program that encourages employees to report potential safety issues in its vehicles. GM received a report that a 2014 Silverado involved in a crash did not deploy its front airbags or seat-belt pretensioners. The investigation started on June 7th and GM spent the next several weeks working with Delphi, the supplier of the part, and investigating other possible incidents with similarities to the original report. Owners of the above vehicles can check their VIN in the NHTSA Database or on the GM Website. Source: GM Media and Automotive News
  10. Drew Dowdell
    Virtually impossible unless someone brings a 2015 along and also lets me drive it. If Ford is bringing the 10-speed out for us to try, I find it highly unlikely that they'd bring a 6-speed model along with them.
  11. Drew Dowdell
    We're at a crossroads in terms of powertrain development right now.
  12. Drew Dowdell
    This is a segment that really doesn't speak to me visually, so I'd just go with whichever one is faster and handles better.... one assumes that is the newer one.
  13. Drew Dowdell
    I have a media demo drive in September and one in late October. These are events where most/all of the manufacturers show up with their newest stuff... so I'm hoping the F-150 attends at least one of them. I'll try to get video of the drive on that one.
  14. Drew Dowdell
    Have an XBox? Have an Outlook.com or Hotmail.com account? We have now added the ability to use your Microsoft account to log-in. If you would like to add that ability to your existing CheersandGears.com account follow these steps: 1. Click on your name drop-down in the upper right corner and then select Account Settings 2. Select Microsoft in the middle left. 3. Authorize the link between CheersandGears.com and your Microsoft Account 4. Once connected, you will see a screen similar to the one below. You can have your Microsoft Account Photo automatically synced to be your profile photo here at your option. 5. In future, when you want to log in, simply select Microsoft at the log in screen. We hope this makes your visits to CheersandGears.com easier. Regards, @Drew Dowdell
  15. Drew Dowdell
    It's no Lacrosse... but compared to its segment competition, yes, it does feel more solid.
  16. Drew Dowdell
    We have now added the ability to use your Google account to log-in. If you would like to add that ability to your existing CheersandGears.com account follow these steps: 1. Click on your name drop-down in the upper right corner 2. Select Google in the middle left. 3. Select the Google Account you wish to associate with your CheersandGears.com account. 4. Authorize the link with Google. 5. Once connected, you will see a screen similar to the one below. You can have your Google+ status updates, Google+ Photo, and Google+ Background image automatically synced at your option. 6. In future, when you want to log in, simply select Google at the log in screen. We hope this makes your visits to CheersandGears.com easier. Regards, @Drew Dowdell
  17. Drew Dowdell
    I'm interested in trying out the 10-speed. With that many gears, it's gotta always be in the meat of the torque band.
  18. Drew Dowdell
    He uses the Encore. I use the CR-V because I mostly work from home and use it for apartment maintenance.
  19. Drew Dowdell
    The Sonic is still one of my favorites in the segment despite being a bit outdated (though it got a refresh for 2017). It just feels like more car than the Fiesta or Rio... more solid and rides like a bigger car. It also has the distinction of being one of the safest cars in the class. Going on a road trip in a Sonic is not a punishment on the ears and butt like it is in a Spark, Fiesta, or Rio.
  20. Drew Dowdell
    I mean really... why bother with camo at that point.
  21. Drew Dowdell
    We leased the Encore because it was a really good promo that Buick was running at the time on a 24 month lease. We got a loaded loaded Encore for $310 a month. We also were expecting a different set of life changes at the end of the 24 months (a move to a new city, specifically) so we felt that after the 24 months were up, we'd have to re-evaluate what kind of car we needed/wanted (no need for AWD if we ended up in Miami with the rest of my family, Albert likes the Volt, etc). Well, life did change. Albert's commute when from 6 miles each way to 35 miles each way, so that ended up killing us on mileage... so we bought out the Encore and we ended up staying put. I doubt we'll lease the next vehicle. We'll keep the Encore till the B2B warranty is up and then we'll trade it for a CPO something. Jeep GC is at the top of the list right now.
  22. Drew Dowdell
    But you can get a twin-turbo V6 in the CT6 with more horsepower and torque and AWD for $1k less than the G90.... and that gets you the Premium Luxury package with Panaray, and all the exterior video upgrades. Plus, the TTV6 still has more torque than the V8, so for the price of the V8 G90 RWD, you can get a CT6 with Panary, AWD, 4-wheel steering, Magnetic ride control, active braking, plus a whole host of other stuff. The CT6 is still the better deal.
  23. Drew Dowdell
    I was specifically thinking of the RLX interior which would feel right at home as a 2017 W-Body Impala. I actually put it far below an Accord in terms of quality of materials and build. The 2016 Lacrosse was much better than the RLX and the 2017 increases the distance. The ILX, even the new one, is behind even the outgoing Verano in that same measure. Had Buick decided to bring Der Neu Astra over from Germany, it would have been no contest. 2016 MDX v. 2017* Encore? I'd put them about even in material and build. I haven't seen a production 2017 MDX yet to be able to compare. *Note the year.
  24. Drew Dowdell
    Looks smaller
  25. Drew Dowdell
    It's a wagon... just like all the others.
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