Jump to content
News
Reviews
Discussons
Activity
Create New...
Close

Suaviloquent

New Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    2,784

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    3

 Content Type 

Everything posted by Suaviloquent

  1. Suaviloquent
    He does understand your point. You're looking from a systems perspective and saying that just one piece can be integral to the overall functioning of the vehicle. But it can be boiled down to individual components. People can interpret a great warranty policy as actually a poor product design. Or they think a very strict warranty policy with few documented fixes as a sign of quality. That's just a misinformed way of thinking without knowing the facts. Tesla designed their car to be very modular. So it's kind of like a LEGO plug-and play kind of deal. And if GM can't get ignition switches right, such a catastrophic design flaw that disables all safety systems, what else could go wrong? If Toyota can't get floor mats and accelerator pedals and electronic throttle control units right, what else could go wrong? If VW cheats with a specific ECU control software to skirt the system, where else are they cheating? If Ford EcoBoost is a hit and a miss in fuel economy, how much are consumers overspending on fuel compared to the ratings? There's so many questionable actions by other automakers, not the least of which are LESS severe than what Tesla is doing. It's easy to take that kind of approach to undermine an entire company. Put it this way. It's not hurting the buyer one bit to have their entire motor replaced no questions asked. But automakers are known to cut corners. Tesla isn't. They are bearing a large cost of the few shortcomings their vehicles have. They can do this, and others can't.
  2. Suaviloquent
    Self driving is only going to be seen on really expensive cars for a good while. Self-driving on a $65k car? Not likely in the least. You probably have to buy every option to enable the purchase of their special self-driving version of Distronic. Or worse, in order to get even basic distronic adaptive cruise control, you have to buy self-driving. In either case, the leaders in this field are going to be the ones who can bring it to a price point for the masses. GM, Honda, Ford, and Toyota, Volvo and Subaru seem like the only car companies that could achieve this relatively soon.
  3. Suaviloquent
    Yeah, I actually was quite fond of the Passat, even though it's not the European one. It was so roomy. It just hit a nail on the head in terms of what American sedan buyers want.
  4. Suaviloquent
    Winters are kinda rough here. Maybe some decent rubber floor mats? Or a good set of replacement headlight bulbs.... Or maybe a full detail and car wash cleaning set... or a few quarts of oil, and a couple filters...
  5. Suaviloquent
    Eh, probably a Jeep Grand Cherokee from 1994. Too bad the Comanche stopped production in '92. Well... Hmmm... my soul vehicle and my birth year vehicle are from the same company. And it's not like I'm an outright Jeep lover today. It's just that at the time, Jeep was just everything to me. Look at this thing, it's just glorious IMO.
  6. Suaviloquent
    Balthazar and OLDS: Major love for this thread. Very philosophical for me. And Olds. it's in your style. Well if I could literally plot a function that accurately represents my soul with an output of a vehicle as the result, my 'Soul Vehicle' would probably amount to a compact pickup truck of sorts. Now that does fit, but I also have a 'they don't make this anymore ' kind of personality so this fits better (the ranger still exists, though not here): Yes, the comanche does nicely. When I was a young boy I had Jeeps that I made from carboard that you would glue the sides together. Jeeps.... will always have a place for me. Unfortunately, based on social constructs of what I'm about to do within the next few years... my soul kind of 'needs' to turn into something like this. And I regrettably, want it too. It's the only way I think my soul will survive... There's also a big emphasis on being all professional and 'precise' so GMC also fits very nicely. I have to become more suave.... Against my will, but by my own choice. Why I'm trying to say is that some of us have a soul that we can expect to remain the same. But for me, I've always had to change; new country, new language, new society, new neighborhood, always transient. So the comanche represents what I am now at this present moment. But the Platinum and Denali represent what success as this kind of soul looks like. Do I want success? Yes. Do I want to become a Denali? Hell no! F150 Platinum? Hell no! I'd rather be simple, honest and honestly - par for the course and mediocre. But that just doesn't get you much these days, and it's not much that I want or even need. And now it's a new reality. Have to become more posh, more plush, more present, more of everything....
  7. Suaviloquent
    Not real random thought, but: So exhausted....
  8. Suaviloquent
    I absolutely, totally, all day,every day a displacement snob. But, I can live with lower displacement as long as it gives power. Like some EcoBoosts - screw the Eco, I don't care if it is or not, just gimme the damn boost. And like El, I am also a cylinder count snob as well as drive-train configuration snob. For me, an engine that I feel should be everywhere, like in everything GM makes, is GM's smallblock 4.3 V6. It's Cadillac good, and it has all the features that only now the LGX is getting. Spark SS? 4.3 Base engine for a RWD Omega Impala? 4.3 In-between V6 for the Camaro? 4.3. The top tier LT1 itself has a truck variant, I'm sure the reverse could be feasible.
  9. Suaviloquent
    Tesla probably has a very high (possibly approaching 100%) [recall?TSB?update?] service completion rate, as the company does over the air updates. So you end up getting real mechanical failures that stand out... For the price they charge for the vehicles, doing things such as replacing entire motors and going the extra mile is something that should be expected. But them doing this kind of extensive under warranty repair service for customers without a traditional dealer network is quite frankly, impressive. They have vehicles everywhere, now. I see so many of them here in Toronto. And a lot of the ones I spot are Dual Motor.
  10. Suaviloquent
    I don't really like the way the 50th anniversary looks. But other coupes with the optional wheels on the Premium models and the Guard green metallic look awesome. So much about Pony Cars is the style and lifestyle they bring as well. I mean, that's what they were really bought for before. It's only through successive generations as performance has been added as a differentiating feature. But yeah, the Mustang now has to catch up GM to chase them in performance. But in other areas like the interior quality, and styling, and some issues of practicality, I think it is very close to par or even exceeds the incoming Camaro that still both coupes are easily substituted over those critical purchasing criteria qualifiers.
  11. Suaviloquent
    Actually, preferences of a target customer can be different for even two makes that produce highly similar products that can be easily substituted. So there is no nickel and diming. It all depends on what a brand is trying to achieve. Potentially, nickel and diming, could also apply to a large increase in base price even with a large increase in standard equipment. But in terms of these two coupes, what they deliver at the price they are at, it's pretty safe to say no one is being ripped off really; in comparison to other similar powered coupes that cost much, much more.
  12. Suaviloquent
    Replacement blower?! How about a shovel for the snow and a pickaxe for the ice? UP TO 100% inefficient, CLASS-LEADING effort, and lowest PAYLOAD among all snow removal technologies and methods. You know you don't want to. Be a man, do the ILLOGICAL thing.
  13. Suaviloquent
    I think the article's title and body do not really imply GM as the overall leader as much as GM is among the big leaders in this emering automotive field. And autonomous tech is kind of like any technology, really. Which means easily* reproducible and substitutable in many cases. GM is among the leaders, while companies like Mercedes and Tesla (they've already brought it to market) in production vehicles, I am very sure all the technology demonstrators by all cars are very alike in capabilities. It's also just a part of the big autonomous 'auto's movement. So things from warehouse carts to mining dump trucks to huge freighliners all being able to demonstrate in daily use autonomous navigation ability. *As in easily I mean in the context of academic settings like MIT, Silicon Valley, Pittsburgh, and/or private enterprises with the resources to dedicated to this emerging technology.
  14. Suaviloquent
    That's the thing really. These self-driving systems do not have to be perfect as we think. They just have to be better than humans. Which is highly likely. Add to that, there's just an untapped amount of information governments and automakers and third parties like insurance companies would just love to snack on... that can be provided from a self-driving vehicle connected to the cloud. Now, I think for any SDC to gain traction, you need more than just the automaker accounting for liability, like already companies are declaring. They need to demonstrate system reliability. And how their self-driving cars...could actually prevent accidents from happening with non self-driving cars.
  15. Suaviloquent
    You know what, since it's obviously horrendous, more to this stipulation: it reminds me of a South Park episode where everyone starting driving hybrids. Moral of the story: the smugness created by new Prius is equivalent to a collective fart from Toyota. But aside from that... I kind of want to see this thing in person and size it up.
  16. Suaviloquent
    My thoughts on GM being a leader: well, in order for them to be competitive, they have to be. It's something that no automaker can ignore. And I think no automaker can really pinpoint why they're going down this road; but I'm happy that Tesla and GM are leaders here, and I guess Ford couldn't be that far behind in that realm either. Heck, Toyota, Audi from VW Group, Volvo. Every well known company for sure is pursuing this tech. But I don't think any company that does it first has a lasting advantage either. This is more of just taking components for the most part already available and tuning the hardware and developing the software to enable these features. Not much invention as much just minor innovations that add up to these systems. Other thoughts - Yeah, smart thermostats and kwh meters are just junk. It's all a cash grab. Turning off the lights when you leave a room and setting the thermostat at 65 or 18 Celsius are just plain common sense. And the loss of privacy. In order to 'serve' us you better they track usage and package customer information for sale to the highest bidder. I think mandating self-driving cars.... while certainly possible; at the rate these technologies are coming down in price; and just the salivation of politicians and lobbyists of the potential benefits; no, no. Honestly, I'd rather we supersede driving with something kickass like hoverboards, teleportation, jetpacks, mini Jetsons; Capsule Corp flying thingermajiggers, or the hyperloop.... or something so simple and ridiculously cheap like bicycles of all things. Walking even... And the leave the roads empty for those who choose to drive with passion.
  17. Suaviloquent
    You know, aside from journalist opinion... the LTG and 2.3 EB are plenty refined for most lay persons about coupes and enthusiasts alike. The 3.5 will be a decent selling model. I guess since the engines are shared throughout GM brands anyways, there's no problem in picking one engine to exclusively gain the economy of scale on. But I can't help but feel how the LGX really does make more sense for Buick as their mission is less outright performance. So for the Camaro, skip it. Give the V6 to Buick, and XT5. Everyone else gets the trickle down version of the CT6 mid-level engine. Maybe there's something about having an engine that has to be flexible to package in transverse and longitudinal applications that does constrain GM in some ways. Same reason why the 2.3 EB Stang probably doesn't do as well as it could. Then again, the amount of space under the hoods of both vehicles; since they can accomodate V8s.... So the CT6 will have the LTG,LGX and the 3.0tt and an exclusive V8 and plug-in Voltec? Nice choices, though I'd skip the LGX as the mid-level; and make the plug-in Voltec in between the price of the 3.0tt and exlcusive V8. Oh well, more in a Cadillac specific thread... Blah blah blah.... speculate speculate speculate...
  18. Suaviloquent
    They deserve to face the full force of the law, just as Toyota, and GM had to, recently.
  19. Suaviloquent
    Yup, the V6 is really underwhelming for what it should be on paper. Maybe it gets great gas mileage. But then what's point of the 2.0T? On an ATS with the 8L45 and 2.0T a 5.5 0-60 is totally possible. I think it's clear. The Camaro does not need a V6. There's no need at all. It's awkward. Ford blunts the V6. The EcoBoost underwhelms. GM sets it correct by putting the 4 Cyl. turbo as the base model. Yet the V6 looks to offer no advantages.
  20. Suaviloquent
    They are barely six years removed from bankruptcy, unlike every other make mentioned in your post. What dfelt said is 100% applicable here. SMK's post is not trolling. He's merely stating facts. And based on how the LGX V6 has fared in the new Camaro, a vehicle undoubtedly lighter than the CTS, it's pretty clear that this V6 is actually going to be worse than par for the course in performance metrics. Maybe it makes it up in efficiency, but we'll have to wait and see for that.
  21. Suaviloquent
    It's a complete victory in performance over comparable Mustangs. Heck, I'd consider getting a Camaro over Vette as well. It's that good. I think a fast-tracked refresh of the Mustang might just be in the works now. Ford has no excuse to not try to improve the Mustang now. And Camaro sales are going to swell pretty soon. I wonder where the Challenger is getting lost in midst of this. I honestly think other sporty coupes might as well be dead as well. Who in the right mind would get a BR-Z or FR-S, knowing this car is based on Alpha and it gets so many more standard features and power for just a couple thousand dollars more as a base model. Maybe now the Corvette will go even more bonkers, that Camaro covers the affordable performance car segment and ponycar segment nicely.
  22. Suaviloquent
    I think right now FCA wants to build up the rest of their products and while the Viper is still a great Halo vehicle, I don't think anything from it really advanced any other part of the firm. What I mean is that a flagship for a brand can be easily justified if you plan on trickling down the technology in the future as a technological demonstrator or you want a specific branding strategy for a name. But the Viper, despite it being so exotic: hand laid carbon fibre, exclusive engines and whatnot; the rest of the car trickled up from Dodge, such as UConnect. And Dodge already had plenty of performance cred. If FCA's house was in order, I don't think this would have happened. But it's still a monster. And I think the Viper name might be used again, but in a dystopian future for Naturally Aspirated V-10s. It might not be a Viper in essence, but it'll be a Viper in performance.
  23. Suaviloquent
    - 6 Speed Manual, rated at 455 Hp & 455 Lb-Ft of torque. - Best Run: 405.2 HP & 405.4 Lb-Ft - Peak Hp @ 6000 Rpm and Peak Tq between 4000 to 5000 rpm Read more at : http://beta.motortrend.com/auto-news/1509_2016_chevrolet_camaro_performance_estimates_revealed/
  24. Suaviloquent
    Now, I'm on the fence here. Part of me loves the slick, slab shaped, rather conservatively handsome design. The other part of me hates it for the same reason. But this ad by Saks Fifth Avenue definitely made me salivate at the thought if I could actually drive this thing at that time.
  25. Suaviloquent
    That is nice fuel economy for a truck which is mere inches away from being a current full-size. Will the Colorado Trail Boss get the diesel? And the Canyon Denali?
×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

I've whitelisted
Continue without support

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search