Drew Dowdell

Beyond the fact that the defined cycles are not how anyone in the world drives, the problem isn't just that the EPA mileage is overstated (if often is), the problem is that it is frequently understated as well. There are very few cars that I've driven that have been exactly on the EPA mark (my '04 CTS was one of them, it got the EPA highway economy reliably on every trip and not an MPG more). Others have been well under (Our '04 CR-V that only meets its highway EPA rating going down hill, A/C off, with a tail wind). Others have been way over (300C regularly gets me 30mpg highway, Cruze Eco getting me 51mpg through the mountains, New New Beetle Turbo pulling into the mid-30s, Charger V6 pulling into the low-mid-30s, Passat TDI pulling well over 50+ mpg) Some manufactures play to the test and are only that efficient at those testing conditions (I'm looking at you Hyundai and Honda), but when people drive them for real, they make the Vtec kicketh in yo a lot more often. Others, notably the domestics, seem to be more willing to give up a few ticks on the EPA sticker to have overall better real world driving results (Ford hybrid flap not withstanding).

Verano - Better color choices, peppier engine, nicer interior, Intellilink standard, probably better residuals for a better bang-for-buck lease.

Done and Done.

but a V6 Accord could out run it.

this list just feels incredibly out of date.

that may be true if they planned on never offering the turbo. I think they left extra room there on purpose.

I can't believe we're actually going to get a second generation of this thing....

Isn't buying her a Town and Country sort of like buying her a new vacuum for V-Day? This would be for Albert.

Just a quick fun discussion. If you could buy any new car for your Valentine, money no object, what would it be? Remember, you're not buying for yourself, so pick out something your sweetheart would want and like.

Segment changer!

They're probably hitting the used lots now.

Already done.

I don't like the looks of the C-Max because it's like they can't decide which design language to go with so they just use both.

Ooooh. Upload some pics to the garage!

disagree, it isn't lacking, it just isn't what you're expecting.

it's called camo for a reason ya know..

Happy belated on here... but I got ya on facebook anyhow.

they still exist?

2014 is when we'll see the new smaller Equinox. I don't think it will be Trax. It will be moving the 'Nox size more in line with its direct competition in price.

Now that is a recipe I could enjoy - especially wrapped in a Code 130R Nomad. I'm just pointing out what DI + Turbo can do for torque curve.

Well for example, the new GM 1.6T that is coming with DI and turbo, 200 lb-ft (which is the max) at 1,500 rpm.

There are turbos coming. Not sure that would change things much in the character of the engine down low. uhm... that is entirely what it changes. looking at the torque curve for the WRX (which isn't direct injected) it hits max torque at 2,100 rpm. Adding DI (which the FR-S already has) will likely lower that even further.

There are turbos coming.

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Altima has been running with a CVT for a generation now and Honda buyers will buy anything Honda spoon feeds them. I don't think there will be much anti-CVT sentiment out there much longer.