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Drew Dowdell

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Everything posted by Drew Dowdell

  1. Drew Dowdell
    I avoid Sync even at the rental car counter, so I would certainly avoid it when purchasing a car. With CUE there is a lag on the buttons, but thing generally work the first time you get a successful "press", and I dislike the capacities touch controls, but most things work properly. It recognizes my speech. It doesn't work perfectly, but it does work. MFT never, not once, recognized my voice commands the entire time I had the last Ford. It would get my commands hilariously wrong. The lag is terrible, the UI and UX are both terrible. When the system gets "busy" doing something, even the hardware buttons display lag. The best system out there at the moment is still the larger uConnect system. It doesn't have the bells and whistles of the really top end systems, but everything just seems to operate smoothly and as expected. And sadly, in terms of car infotainment systems, "meets expectations" is about the highest rating available at the moment.
  2. Drew Dowdell
    The Fusion is probably one of the best handlers in the segment (that being, FWD-midsize-maintream car). It feels waaay more solid than the Hyundai/Kia twins which look good on paper, but deflate once you get seat time and scratch the surface. It's less boring than the CamCord though the Honda probably has the smoothest powertrain setups. The Passat is big and solid like an old Benz, but there is an aire of cheapness about the interior that one cannot shake even if optioning up to the upper models, still it has the option of the TDi which is the only way I would buy that car. MFT/Sync is still the worst system in the industry.... I look forward to trying the new and improved version, though the bar is set very low to be considered "improved". That, however, is not a fault of the Fusion but of Ford as a whole. Ford did good with this one.
  3. Drew Dowdell
    Sport also means you got the short wheelbase version of whatever Crossover you just bought.
  4. Drew Dowdell
    Visually, this looks as much of a refresh as a 55 Studebaker Hawk to a 56 Studebaker hawk.
  5. Drew Dowdell
    Why? Composite leaf springs are more durable than steel, they never rust, and they're "programmable" when they're built. I would prefer a composite spring in a truck. In some cases composites are vulnerable to structural failure due to seemingly superficial nicks and that kinda thing (ask any hockey fan whose seen a stick blow up during a slapshot attempt). Don't think it would happen here, but truck leafs are more exposed than a Corvette's. composite leaf springs are famously used in the Corvette, but GM used them in a fairly substantial number of main stream cars too with no issues. All of the first generation W-Body coupes had them (Lumina, Grand Prix, Cutlass, Regal) and a few of the H-Body 2-doors (Lesabre, 88) ... not sure about the 98, Electra, and Coupe Deville. The composite spring is literally the only thing that won't go wrong in these cars.
  6. Drew Dowdell
    These trims don't seem that different from existing trims, except for the Verano which adds the 8-way power seat
  7. Drew Dowdell
    The CarSense one should still be under factory warranty anyway
  8. Drew Dowdell
    Can you find any of the new body ones? I think it might be worth spending a little extra on. However, of those: The screaming deal seems to be the Premium-1 model. Low mileage and about the same price and equipment as the Touring.
  9. Drew Dowdell
    Most of the truck is a carry over though visually refreshed. The 2.5 4-cylinder is the same. The frame has been beefed up a bit. The only new thing (to the Tacoma) is the new V6, but even that is just a variant of the unit in the Avalon, and the transmissions. With enough of the puzzle pieces, you can put together a pretty good picture of the new Tacoma.
  10. Drew Dowdell
    Oh, I thought you were just looking for the specs. I thought William had one in recently, but that was a Tundra.
  11. Drew Dowdell
    RX is the most traded in vehicle for Enclaves.
  12. Drew Dowdell
    Your wish is our command - Toyota Reveals the 2016 Toyota Tacoma
  13. Drew Dowdell
    Mahindra is on the market?
  14. Drew Dowdell
    Why? Composite leaf springs are more durable than steel, they never rust, and they're "programmable" when they're built. I would prefer a composite spring in a truck.
  15. Drew Dowdell
    Most of the Cadillac dealerships seem to have been substantially renovated... however too many still haven't been.
  16. Drew Dowdell
    Because we have become much dumber as a society.
  17. Drew Dowdell
    I have not liked the Malibu since it went to the new short wheelbase model. I do not like the 2.5 engine, it's torque feels very soft at the low end compared to the old 2.4. I would get her first choice and then go to the Impala only if you can't make the deal work on the Lacrosse. Distant 3rd would be a 2.0T Malibu.
  18. Drew Dowdell
    The Enclave competes with the RX precisely because it offers a 3rd row. These are the "grandparents" cars.. and then they go shopping they like the RX, but the Enclave gives them the same luxuries but also offers a 3rd row for the grand kids. The RX is the most traded in vehicle when people buy a new Enclave. They are similar enough in their size segment that they compete. Buick will also be going after the 2-row segment as well, so it will be double trouble for Lexus from Buick. The CLA and the 300 aren't even remotely similar in size
  19. Drew Dowdell
    If your career allows it, move to one of the more expensive areas of the country that has a growing population.
  20. Drew Dowdell
    If you're able to make predictions like that with any sort of accuracy, what are you doing being a power train engineer instead of a commodities trader? Diesel and gasoline regularly trade places for being the higher price fuel. Diesel typically costs more than gas in the winter and then they swap in the summer. There are occasional exceptions to that trend, but it is generally true. uh, yeah, it does fluctuate, of course. But plotted out over the last decade, Diesel has been higher on avg....hence my remark. And of course I could be wrong. it's a prediction. Diesel also gets better fuel economy, so the higher cost is usually justified. When it costs less, it's just gravy. The current Cruze isn't the best example to look at because the diesel is actually a more powerful engine than the gasser and thus doesn't get the far and above increase in fuel economy that it would if it was of more similar output. The new 1.6T diesel I would expect to have a more compelling fuel economy case. In the Astra, it is rated for 63mpg highway in Europe. While I think that is probably a tad optimistic, even if they hit the very high 50s, that will be a great success.
  21. Drew Dowdell
    It feels like a Chinese knock-off of the Avenier
  22. Drew Dowdell
    If you're able to make predictions like that with any sort of accuracy, what are you doing being a power train engineer instead of a commodities trader? Diesel and gasoline regularly trade places for being the higher price fuel. Diesel typically costs more than gas in the winter and then they swap in the summer. There are occasional exceptions to that trend, but it is generally true.
  23. Drew Dowdell
    It was the German automotive press that came up with that term, not GM, and I'm guessing that it just didn't translate well.
  24. Drew Dowdell
    You need to make up your mind: Do vehicles compete on size only and no other factors? Do they compete on price only and no other factors? Do vehicles compete only if their parent brand overlaps in the segment in each and every model and only on that factor? Or...could it possibly be more nuanced than that?
  25. Drew Dowdell
    The only things you have countered with have been demonstrably false, vastly out of context, or irrelevant to the discussion. NHV - modern pushrod engines are no less smooth than DOHC. The 3900 was butter smooth. MPG - They meet or beat DOHC engines of similar output VVT - They have it. Emissions - They meet regulations Power delivery - Pushrods deliver the power lower in the RPM range Packaging - Always smaller than a DOHC engine, always weigh less when the same block material is used.
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Drew
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