Drew Dowdell

Moderator's note: Please steer clear of the EV debate in this thread. There is a very good debate to be had about the way franchise laws are set up and I don't want that to go off the rails by us getting back into the Value of the EV debate. There are plenty of other threads for that.

You would think if they were real journalist, they would know a hatchback from a feakin wagon. Course the problem today is most journalist are pushing an agenda rather than reporting neutral news. You would think if they were a real journalist, they would have a grasp on the English language and reading comprehension.....

for that kind of money, those chains that act as doors better be original....

I have always been interested in flying but too chicken to try it myself.

rough idle and subaru boxer almost go together naturally.

If the Verano I drove was any indication, methinks your right! the Gremlin? that was directed to SMK commenting about the Encore.

You should wait till you sit in it and drive it I think.

I think we should be re-imagining the engine part too though. Use much smaller displacement V2 or V4 engines. Regenerators have different drivability requirements than a normal drive train. There is no need for a broad and deep power curve. It needs to operate at a few RPM points efficiently and that's it. Tune it to run best at whatever RPM the generator is most efficient and be done with it. No need to worry about NHV at 7,000 rpm because it will never go that high. By doing so, it allows you to use a V2 engine that would be otherwise unacceptable if it were reving like a normal engine would. hell... with a V2 or V4, you could use pushrods and make the engine even more compact. Also no need for VVT.

Sir... about that dealership network in the EU.....

I'd like to see CNG be used for small on-board EV re-generators.

Electric power trains are fine. It is battery technology that continues to vex manufacturers. Lots of R&D is going into that area, so I expect it to improve.

At 5'10" 170lbs, I am the statistical median American male. I don't at all feel the Encore or Escape are sardine cans. I really enjoyed my time in the Escape (as you will read in my review).

I just finished driving a 2013 Ford Escape with the 1.6T and cloth seats that has a sticker price of $29.3k. I'd say the Buick will be a pretty good deal at that price. Yes it is smaller, but it has more luxury appointments.

If you're going to be climbing Lycoming Mountain, only a Lycoming 8 will do. Certified Pre-Owned of course...

To be fair, our weather is a bit different from yours.

there is a 1.6L Turbo with 200hp and 200 lb-ft coming also. So of all of the engines you guys have listed, the answer may end up being "none of the above"

I concure that the Tiquan, Rav and CRV are turds as FWD appliances. I see no reason for them to exist since they truly have no benefit beyond sitting higher since they do not have true cuv/suv on road/off road capabilities. Because not everyone is built to your size. As I've already said in this thread, Albert is 5'7" and 125lbs soaking wet. The Encore is perfect size for him. He refuses to drive anything much larger than his '04 CR-V, even that S-10 that I was looking at gives him concern (those of you who follow me on facebook know which one I'm talking about), 0-60 is meaningless to him, he never exceeds 45mph on his commute to work. He currently drives a 160hp crossover with a 4-speed automatic and is fine with it..... can't you imagine a whole bunch of other people (about a million CR-V drivers alone) who are just like Albert with their vehicles needs and wants? Buick's job is to sell vehicles, not just cater to a certain set of car fanatics. I think Buick has a potentially very good thing here with the Encore as they will be just about the only brand on the market with a vehicle in this exact segment.

They came pretty close to that when they made the 2.8 HF

Hmmm.... that one is more involved, but I like it... and potentially have more prizes for it.

I think you'll have many happy miles... but the way you turn over cars, I can't figure out why you picked a 39 month lease! That is way too long!

Dwight, doesn't this allow them that? They can use a lot higher top ratio and slightly lower bottom ratio and then have a really low differential ratio. Spritely performance around town, tall gearing for the highway, better driving with less power (assuming that's the goal here) ... and there is also replacements for the existing 1.4T and 1.8 coming in about the same time frame.

I don't have torque graphs handy, but this car is light enough and geared right for enthusiastic driving. I wouldn't call it torque deficient at all, it was right where it needed to be. Subaru boxer engines have always been good at low end grunt... that they added direct injection to it only makes that better.

Na, if anything more gears allows for less overall torque.

Well the 307 is a very common engine used up until 1992...

It worked out great last time, and still, no one does a FWD transmission as well as GM. I'd really rather have GM just do all of the automatic development for both FWD and RWD and Ford just license it.