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Drew Dowdell

Editor-in-Chief
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Everything posted by Drew Dowdell

  1. Drew Dowdell
    Really? How's your turbo intercooler doing?
  2. Drew Dowdell
    And also, this was circling overhead further along my trip. I don't think POTUS was on board. They flew veerry low multiple times without the gear down. I'm guessing it was for training as there is an airforce base nearby.
  3. Drew Dowdell
    Spotted in Richmond Indiana today..... it's more than 106 miles to Chicago.
  4. Drew Dowdell
    I like it on the orange and silver ones.... I think it doesn't really work well on the black ones because you lose the effect.
  5. Drew Dowdell
    Three weeks ago, at the New York International Auto Show, Nissan unveiled the 2015 Murano. The Murano has always been a crossover with more curvaceous lines than the rest of its peers and this new version is no exception. As it was so soon after the NY Auto Show, I was caught off guard today during a trip from Indianapolis, IN to Columbus, OH by these two 2015 Murano prototypes cruising on I-70 with no camouflage. The silver one looked fairly complete and wearing all of its trim, while the black one had clearly been taped up with plastic previously and was missing several exterior trim pieces. You can clearly see the “floating roof” treatment that Nissan is trying out with this model by blacking out part of the D-pillar. The 2015 Murano will be powered by a carryover 3.5 liter VQ-V6 producing 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque. An updated version of Nissan's Xtronic continuously variable transmission will contribute to the reported 20% gain in fuel economy over the existing model. The 2015 Nissan Murano goes on sale late this year. click to enlarge click to enlarge click to enlarge View full article
  6. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Spotted Testing: 2015 Nissan Murano"
    Three weeks ago, at the New York International Auto Show, Nissan unveiled the 2015 Murano. The Murano has always been a crossover with more curvaceous lines than the rest of its peers and this new version is no exception. As it was so soon after the NY Auto Show, I was caught off guard today during a trip from Indianapolis, IN to Columbus, OH by these two 2015 Murano prototypes cruising on I-70 with no camouflage. The silver one looked fairly complete and wearing all of its trim, while the black one had clearly been taped up with plastic previously and was missing several exterior trim pieces. You can clearly see the “floating roof” treatment that Nissan is trying out with this model by blacking out part of the D-pillar. The 2015 Murano will be powered by a carryover 3.5 liter VQ-V6 producing 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque. An updated version of Nissan's Xtronic continuously variable transmission will contribute to the reported 20% gain in fuel economy over the existing model. The 2015 Nissan Murano goes on sale late this year. click to enlarge click to enlarge click to enlarge
  7. Drew Dowdell
    2015 Nissan Murano 1

    From the album: 2015 Nissan Murano Prototype

  8. Drew Dowdell

    2015 Nissan Murano Prototype

    Images added to a gallery album owned by Drew Dowdell in Media Gallery

  9. Drew Dowdell
    2015 Nissan Murano 2

    From the album: 2015 Nissan Murano Prototype

  10. Drew Dowdell
    2015 Nissan Murano 3

    From the album: 2015 Nissan Murano Prototype

  11. Drew Dowdell
    And you can find all of those at your local John Deere or Tupperware retailer. To most of the rest of us, quality also means using fine materials and including well designed modern technology that makes our lives easier. Here is the difference between my definition of quality and yours. The Hyundai Genesis Sedan, a car that neither you nor I have any love for, uses a metal rod with a tupperware plastic tip with 6-indents for the tilt wheel function in lower level models. It feels like ancient technology to use... in fact, it is basically the same as the tilt wheel in my '81 Toronado. Assembled well? Sure. Durable? Absolutely. Reliable? Certainly. But in a car with a $34,000 base price, is that what we call quality? Not if it is duplicating technology in a 35 year old Oldsmobile. Over at Toyota, the Avalon also starts at around $34,000... ditto our mutual feelings of the car... But the Avalon comes with a power tilt and telescoping wheel. When unlocking the car with a specific key-fob, the car automatically sets the wheel to the programmed possition for the respective fob. Is it reliable? Toyota has a long list of complaints, but that is one I haven't heard of. Durable? It will probably outlast the ownership. Well assembled? Probably, it's a Toyota... their issues have been with design, not assembly. For the same $34,000, you can buy a luxury car with a John Deere - Tupperware supplied tilt steering lever or you can buy a car that automatically electronically sets the tilt and telescope for you as soon as you unlock the car. Which one is higher quality?
  12. Drew Dowdell
    Well in that case, you should just buy a John Deere and be done with it. The feel is exactly the thing someone writing a check for $32k cares about. I'm talking about the cheapo feeling of the vent controls where you can feel cables pulling the different baffles closed. However, when you write a $27k check for a Jetta GLI, you get the fully electronic HVAC controls that would be appropriate in an Audi A6. It is this inconsistency of quality at those price levels that I am pointing out.
  13. Drew Dowdell
    The problem is VW's inconsistency in quality and reliability. The GTI, GLI, Beetle, Passat, and CC all sit in the same showroom. I am sure there is a price range where they all overlap. Yet the feeling of quality and the issues with reliability can all vary greatly. The beetle can be a $32k car with cable operated hvac controls for example.
  14. Drew Dowdell
    Doesnt direct injection have a lot to do with it too?
  15. Drew Dowdell
    But add the Encore soon so I can send updates on it!
  16. Drew Dowdell
    The Sonata and Optima are pushing into EPA full-size territory. The Passat and Accord are fairly close to that also.
  17. Drew Dowdell
    The size difference between the Cruze and Malibu is minimal. A Jetta is about the same for roominess and one can buy a very nicely equipped Jetta for the same price as a base Malibu.
  18. Drew Dowdell
    Another Tron remake?
  19. Drew Dowdell
  20. Drew Dowdell
    does it help prevent rust in older cars? or does it make it worse?
  21. Drew Dowdell
    Does the engine run?
  22. Drew Dowdell
    Did my pics of it ever get uploaded? I have to check when I get back to my computer.
  23. Drew Dowdell
    Conversion with essentially no change in mpgs?
  24. Drew Dowdell
    Improvements where they need it, but it doesn't look very sustainable to have your only growth vehicle pulling down only 2,200 units per month in sales. They need a new S40 and S80 rather soonish.
  25. Drew Dowdell
    I like the direction, but I want to see them take off more. An ATS level car should help that.
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