Drew Dowdell

Nice shots!

Then what to the RAV-4 and CR-V drive like?

Albert likes it... we'll probably end up with one. I'm not concerned about the engine, we already have a 160hp 4-cylinder with 4-speed in the driveway. I like the way the Sonic drives, so I expect the Encore to be similar. GM does have a 1.6T coming (though I don't know what cars it will go in) that makes 200hp and 200 ft/lb of torque.

We will be doing a "first drive" of the Enclave in a couple weeks... keep an eye out for it.

Sorry about the downtime over the past day. The drives were continuing to be an issue. We have been moved to a completely new drive array, but there may still be some reboots between now and tomorrow morning.

Moving this to Powertrain.

After running months without a hiccup, the server was able to detect when I was exactly mid-point between Key West and Miami on US-1 with no cellular signal and choose THAT time for the disks to take a dump. We're back up now and the file damage has been repaired. A few posts close to the time the server went down may have been lost. You may see some slowness for the next few hours while the disks finish their rebuild.

just flag them and I or another mod will get an email to delete.

ok... seriously... it's gotta slow down eventually. I have 40 flights,(about 25 trips) scheduled between now and Jan 1.

NEAT! Pics when you're done!

I'm surprised. Buick should market to Saab owners directly. The Regal 2.0t is about the closest in spirit as you can get to the 9-3, the Regal just needs to gain the other body styles of wagon and convertible. The 9-5's closest kin is the XTS, but I don't see 9-5 owners (all three of them ) making that sort of jump.

Thanks for the uploads of your project. What did it go into?

DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 4, 2012 – Ford Motor Company’s U.S. total sales increased 13 percent in August compared with last year – and 19 percent for retail sales – with gains in cars, utilities and trucks. “As fuel prices rose again during August, we saw growing numbers of people gravitate toward our fuel-efficient vehicles – cars, utilities and trucks,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service. “Customers increasingly value savings at the pump, and Ford is answering the call with a full family of vehicles with leading fuel efficiency and the power to choose which vehicle best meets their needs.” Ford also added a third crew at the Louisville Assembly Plant in August to support demand for the new Escape small utility – the fastest-turning vehicle in Ford’s U.S. lineup. Escape posted its best August sales results ever, with a 37 percent gain versus last year, with 28,188 vehicles sold. Explorer posted its best August sales results since 2006, with 13,168 vehicles sold. Ford passenger car sales were up 7 percent in August, including 35 percent in retail sales. Fusion posted a sixth consecutive monthly sales record, with best-ever August sales totaling 21,690 vehicles – a 21 percent increase over last year. Focus sales totaled 19,073 vehicles, a 35 percent increase versus last year. Mustang posted a 12 percent increase, with 6,387 vehicles sold. Sales of Ford trucks increased 6 percent in August. America’s best-selling vehicle, the Ford F-Series, reported sales of 58,201 vehicles – 19 percent increase year-over-year – for its 13th straight month of sales increases and its best sales month of 2012. EcoBoost-equipped F-150s surpassed the 200,000 sales threshold in August. In addition, Ford is announcing its fourth-quarter North American production plan. The company plans to build 725,000 vehicles in the fourth quarter, up 7 percent (50,000 vehicles) from the fourth quarter of 2011. The company also said it will be slightly below its previous third quarter 2012 North American production guidance of 690,000 vehicles, with one month of production left in the quarter. View full article

I bet it has all the crash test durability of a wet shoebox.....

Fuel pump going? might explain why the fuel gauge is reading improper. Reading the google, it looks like the EGR valve can also be a culprit of this behavior.

they made a mistake not offering the turbo model

One of my buds who is an editor over at Automobile.com snagged this when he landed in LA the other day. I thought it was a great shot and I asked him if I could share it with you guys.

that would be the second time in as many months that Mark chided GMI for something on twitter so directly.

yes, GM cars, particularly the Epsilon platform, need to get themselves back over to Jenny Craig really fast. I really hope Alpha is just the first in a long line of lightweight cars from GM. Drive the Regal GS first before you insist on a V6. I think you'd find pretty quickly it doesn't need it, just turn up the Turbo a bit, because a big heavy V6 will just throw the excellent balance out of wack.

Always the one to be practical, wasn't there a 442 Wagon or am I being fooled by clones? If there was, that'd be my choice.

I'm not, it just isn't something that impresses me. How about this: It's an Olds, so therefore it doesn't need improving. Preserving yes.

I do like the Olds, but they are bordering on too custom for my tastes. I'm an originalist.

Mandatory on none, base on some, available on others.

Love that black DeSoto!