Drew Dowdell

the serpentine belt tool can be borrowed from Advanced Auto or Auto Zone typically.

I thought the CR-V and Civic were much closer than that in relation...

You can replace the shift nob. look closely at the front face (the part facing the radio) about 80% of the way towards the bottom of just the knob part. There will be a 1/4 inch long horizontal metal clip. You pull that out with a tiny flat head and the entire knob will come off. Replace with a new knob in the same manner.

If you're sure the source of the sound is the alternator, then it would probably be the bearings that have gone bad. Yes you'll need to replace it. By the looks of the location, it will be a very easy job to do. Alternators on Amazon.com

I've driven both. The Volt is no CTS-V, but it does drive and ride better than the Pruis with a lot more scoot.

part of that is the extra equipment made standard on the diesel. the engine itself is the easiest thing in the world to cost justify.

you first dfelt

not sure I would have called it Golf CC over Jetta CC, but at least it's a name.

I drove the turbo. You *have* to drive it like you stole it just to keep up with traffic. I was following a new Explorer and working the shifter hard just to keep pace.

I have no idea how I'm going to get that in my driveway when Ram drops one off to test for a week.

I won't bet. I'll just ask VW for the conquest rates.

something around 1 in 4 Passats sold is a diesel. Jetta is approaching a similar take rate. The limitation primarily being VW's production capacity for the diesel engines. But you leave out the some major factors. #1 it is a German car and buyers of German cars are very open to Diesel. Keep in mind these too are the same kind of folks who still buy wagons in small numbers too not something the average American sedan buyer is open too. #2 These are VW's and most VW buyers are open to Diesel just as they are to German cars. The reality is the only Diesels the Americans can really sell are trucks and most Asian companies have been in and out and in and out of the Diesel market due to luke warm sales in this country. Don't get me wrong I want a Diesel offered here and the Cruze is the pertect platform for it and then the Malibu but the Impala is down the line in my book to recieve this engine in this country. You can put the out there but it is very difficult to get anyone interested in an American sedan to buy a diesel. GM will need to get the Cruze out and market the hell out of it to teach the public the relaities of the modern Diesel and then pray the EPA does not get FN crazy and add even more regulations to make it even more difficult to build them and sell them here. There is what you and I want and then there is what the average buyer wants and right now there is a gap that needs to be worked on before we chuck a bunch of diesels in the Impala that end up with large rebates on them to get the dealers to off them. By all means GM should have a stake here but lets work our way up with some proof of product in the Cruze and then Malibu before you jump into the deep end. Passat has gone from 22k a year in sales to 117k a year and that means 29,250 TDI Passats in 2012. They can't all be previous customers. Don't forget the Chrysler is going to be putting out diesels too. There is a 3.0 diesel V6 Grand Cherokee coming and they've promised that engine in other vehicles too. Think Charger, 300, and Durango...

Not nearly enough of an enhancement to matter.

guido

It's not that. It's that in discussion saying "I drive a Lincoln MKX" and then the person says "Is that the car or the SUV?" Even worse is Lincoln MKT.... "OH I loved that Lincoln Truck!"

The Infiniti G25 is a V6 boat anchor out performed by more than a few 2 liter turbos.