Drew Dowdell

Most of the people I see driving XTSes look like the type that would have bought an E-Class if the commercials for the E-Class reflected the actual buyer. Most of the people I see driving ATSes look to be the type who would have bought a 3-Series.

I have. 27 mpg out of an AWD Ecoboost MKS and 350 hp and lots and lots of low end torque.

The CTS already has nicer materials than the ATS, so I expect the Escalade to be another step up.

And Crown Vics exploded when hit in the rear at high speed. Our CRV apparently could catch fire if you had the driver side window down and got rain on the power window switches, Honda recalled our car for that one. There was also a recall for having too much shrapnel in the driver's side airbag... So I ask.. HOW SAFE ARE HONDAS IF A LITTLE RAIN CAN CAUSE A FIRE!?!

I'll be driving the 2014 Regal and LaCrosse most of the day tomorrow. So I'll let you know next week.

My "norm" for new cars these days would be along the lines of the XTS V-Sport, Chrysler 300C, CTS or even a previous generation S-Class or XJ after someone else takes the massive depreciation hit. That said, I just had a blast of a time today in a Sonic RS. This is a car that defies most everything I go for in cars... size, torque, low rpm cruising.... yet I keep coming back to the Sonic and especially the RS as a car that I would buy in a different life. I also drove a new Jeep Cherokee (note the lack of "Grand" here, that is intentional) - I wonder if this little crossover is going to be serving a lot of crow eventually. Its looks are growing on me quickly, it has ride characteristics that will remind you of its Grander brother, and it seems quite capable off road when properly equipped. I drove both the Limited version on road and the Trailhawk version off road. The were running the Trailhawk on the same off-road course the Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel, the Jeep Wrangler, and the Land Rover Range Rover were running on, not the dinky course the Subarus and Outlanders get. I'll put more in my Quick Drive write-up, but suffice it to say that it scampered up hills and over obstacles right behind its big brother through places no CR-V, Forester, or RAV-4 would dare to tread. This is enough to make me think about a Cherokee Trailhawas a potential CR-V replacement for myself.

A bunch of Teslas in suburban Chicago this week

2012 Model year was their last year. I don't know exactly when they went out of production, but whatever shows up in these sales reports is just leftover inventory

wait... was there another thread or did I take too much sudafed?

I've been informed that the lower level RAV-4s do feel cheaper inside.... as I was only able to sample this fairly loaded model, I couldn't really comment.

yeah, I was not suggesting a console shifter

I'm surprised at Jeep being down. But keep in mind, this was a weird month because number of selling days was lower.

I would prefer a push button or rotary dial shifter.

Lots of Telsas all over Suburban Chicago land this week.

How come you haven't added it to the Garage yet!?

October 1, 2013 Drew Dowdell Managing Editor - CheersandGears.com Photography provided by General Motors Cadillac released some teaser pictures of the upcoming Escalade SUV due to be unveiled on October 7th in New York. From what we can see, the interior has been brought in to the family look shared by the Cadillac ATS and Cadillac CTS sedans. The interior features a cut and sewn interior and attractive deep grain accents. We are somewhat disappointed to see that the Escalade maintains a column mounted shifter however. Click Picture to Enlarge On the technology side, the Escalade gains a new TFT Gauge cluster, and Cadillac's CUE Infotainment system. Out front, a new multi-eye headlamp cluster is apparent along with vertical LED light piping that is quickly becoming a Cadillac signature design element. Click Picture to Enlarge Stay tuned for more of the Cadillac Escalade reveal, including a live stream, on October 7th. Click Picture to Enlarge Drew Dowdell is Managing Editor of Cheersandgears.com and can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter as @Cheersngears View full article

K. here ya go.

Weight. Drivers into the boost too often.

It looks entirely like driver error. Doesn't seem like he even tried to steer till the last minute.

Well I don't mean that one in the picture is mine... just what I was used to seeing as a kid. Dad has a longbed version, but my issue isn't with longbed or shortbed, it is with how little the cab looks sitting on top of the huge body.