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Drew Dowdell

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Everything posted by Drew Dowdell

  1. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Buick Commits to All-Electric Porfolio by 2030, Introduces the Buick Wildcat EV Concept"
    Buick announced today that they are moving forward with a plan to make their entire lineup electric by the end of the decade. The first EV will come to the North American market in 2024 and all Buick EVs will carry the Electra name. Announced alongside the brand redirection is a new logo and font scheme. The logo is no longer circular, instead utilizes the tri-color shields mounted proudly on the front fascia of vehicles. The new logo will debut on vehicles starting next year while physical items like dealer signs will be updated over the next 12-16 months. Showcasing Buick's new design language is the Buick Wildcat EV Concept. This fastback 2+2 coupe has a leaning forward look up front with a swept back rear, giving the appearance of being in motion even while sitting still. The 2+2 configuration, delineated by a prominent console that extends from the base of the instrument panel to the rear seating area, uses unique graphic and color contrasts to create the perception of visually floating elements intended to accentuate the cabin’s lightweight feel and spaciousness. Color plays an important role in the warmth and comfort the interior conveys. Legato Green flows through the cabin and is accented with brushed or polished aluminum trim. Lively orange elements, including the seat belts, also add visual distinction. Additional interior design elements include cockpit-style seats with cantilevered headrests that appear to be floating, and a lightweight, flat-bottom steering wheel. When it comes to technology integration and infotainment interaction, a sweeping touchscreen is the access point on the instrument panel, along with a complementing screen on the console. The Wildcat EV concept is built to be a platform for futuristic features such as artificial intelligence, biometrics and aromatherapy. The vehicle is designed to detect an elevation in driver heart rate and automatically adjust vehicle settings to calm them down. For example, when Zen Mode is activated, it will dim the cabin lights, disperse calming aromatherapy scents and activate massaging seats. Everything about the concept is intended to convey what’s possible — in design, technology and the transformative experience of EV mobility. “We are on the cusp of true change, and this concept is a tangible vision of it,” said Gauci. “It inaugurates the next chapter in Buick’s design heritage, as we make the crucial transition to our all-electric future.”
  2. Drew Dowdell
    It isn't irrelevant, both measurements are a factor. Longer wheelbases are generally more stable at higher speeds. Low speeds it is less relevant.
  3. Drew Dowdell
    Where my parents live the roads are very flat and very straight, yet every time I’m there there are multiple SUVs laying tits up on the median.
  4. Drew Dowdell
    I was able to stuff my CR-V to the gills a few times... and yes it could haul a bunch.... but it was still a rare occasion for me to stack things above the rear seat. Can it? sure. Do I? not really. I know it's not a directly fair comparison because of the higher base price though there is some overlap, but my 300C is eminently better at long distance vacationing than either the Encore or CR-V ever were, and it was bought specifically for that purpose. A cheaper Charger or Impala would be of similar capability. I think the point is that people need to be more realistic with their use cases they dream up when buying a vehicle. Are you really going to be hauling sand in a CR-V regularly? Do you really need a Durango instead of a Charger for twice yearly trips to Ikea when Ikea offers fast delivery for cheap? My 300C does Costco duty better than the Encore ever did. People have outsized ideas of what they're going to be doing with their vehicles.... they have this idea that they'll be kayaking every weekend between ski trips and hauling their horses (which they don't own), when in reality, they just trundle to work and back and occasionally stop at the grocery store. And that's how we end up with vehicles like the Maverick and Santa Cruz.
  5. Drew Dowdell
    eh, they didn't plan on building that many the first year and they're having supply chain issues like everyone else. They can be sold out without building many.
  6. Drew Dowdell
    it's the "similarly priced sedan" part that gets ya.... the similarly priced sedan to a CR-V is an Accord... not the Civic like instinct suggests. Similarly priced sedan to the HR-V is the Civic. Back when Chevy still built Impalas, the similarly priced Crossover was the Equinox... or if you were stupid enough with the option boxes, the Trailblazer. As we ended up finding out with our Encore, cubic feet of cargo room is a bit of a deceptive marketing tool as that measurement only really applied if you were filling it to the roof. If you're just going away with family for the weekend, you try not to stack suit cases to the roof if you can manage it and with that restriction, the Verano/Regal end up being able to haul more.
  7. Drew Dowdell
    I just wanted to let you all know that I am (and have been) working on a major site reorganization. I'm coming to the point where things I change will start to be noticeable to general users. I just wanted to let you know the changes in store before they happen. This is not an exhaustive list, but intended to cover the major points. New theme - the new theme feels lighter (as in less busy) and allows me to reorganize the menus in a more coherent manner. You will also have the option of selecting a dark theme with a simple click of an icon in the upper right. Dark theme simply flips the background from light to dark and the font color vice versa. The slider on the front page is going away and there will be a slight reorg of the whole page overall. Complete reorganization of the menus. If you are a frequent user of the menu system, things will be moving around. Don't panic, it's all still there. Complete - Clicking on the Activity tab brings up the Social stream. This is a Facebook like stream that allows you to reply to comments without entering the full thread. Complete - The search system has been replaced. The base search system that comes with this software is rubbish. With the new server I was able to upgrade us to ElasticSearch which is closer to how the big search engines would work. Reviews system - I have installed a new reviews system that will allow me to assign 0-5 star values for a review and the system will automatically calculate an overall rating based on that. There is a clear "Pros and Cons" section, fields for make, model, base price, as-tested price, etc that will now be searchable. So if a visitor is looking for a sedan with an as-tested price of $40k - $50k, they'll be able to filter for reviews based on that. An entirely new reviews page will be built to accommodate this. Photo galleries of the vehicle will be imbedded in the review automatically. The rating classes are - Power and Performance, Interior and Comfort, Visual Appeal, and Overall Value. The bad part is there is no way to convert our old reviews. I will be moving them to a legacy reviews page. All future reviews will go into the new system. Articles system - The articles system will be getting some of the updates listed above, specifically the picture galleries. Forums - will be getting a new layout with a strong new visual update for each forum. Email notifications will be getting an overhaul. Email newsletters will be getting a major overhaul Expansion of our social media efforts. ... and more! If you have other suggestions or concerns, please comment below.
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  8. Drew Dowdell
    @oldshurst442 and @ccap41 Pretty much every modern SUV has stability control that includes rollover protection. Sure there is only so much that technology do to overcome stupid... but the risk is significantly mitigated compared to even just a few years ago.
  9. Drew Dowdell
    Because it's a damn nice VW... but yea, it does have a Phaeton aspect to it. I liken it to an Aurora now. Not from a full premium brand, but commanding a full premium price.... and honestly worth it if you're not a badge snob. Also, it's bigger than any Audi available at that price point, with the engine upgrade, it's also more powerful.
  10. Drew Dowdell
    Of course, there was also a time when sedans had truly cavernous trunks. My 81 Toronado trunk was considered “personal” (read: small) back when it was new, but I can fit two adult bicycles back there when I take the front tires off and still close it. It would be larger if not for the funky way the spare is mounted. My 85 Continental was double the size and my 83 Caprice was larger still. I moved in and out of my dorm in the Caprice and Continental. Oddly, they just announced a refresh for it and it’s finally getting an appropriate engine with 300hp.
  11. Drew Dowdell
    Of course. It applies to all brands. The most drastic example I can think of is the Sonic/Trax/Encore. The Sonic sold in the $13k-$22k range. The Trax started at $21k and went up from there. The Encore started around $25k and my loaded top trim one was $34k. They’re all the same platform and they are identical mechanically +/- AWD. From an R&D perspective the costs would be nearly identical. The Buick gets nicer leather, bigger wheels, and extra sound deadening, but aside from that, even assembly costs would be nearly identical as well. GM probably had to sell 6 to 10 Sonics to make the same profit as one highly trimmed Encore.
  12. Drew Dowdell
    That’s because, after you take away shared components, it costs just as much to engineer and design a Corolla as it does a RAV-4, but the RAV-4 sells for twice as much, so Toyota has to build many more Corollas to make the same profit.
  13. Drew Dowdell
    It isn't about excitement. Nearly none of the crossovers or SUVs within the spending range we're talking about here are exciting. Friend of mine just got an X3... is it luxurious? sure. Is it comfortable? absolutely. But every slightly well-to-do 30-something has one or something like it. It's not exciting. I didn't buy my Avalanche to be exciting either. I bought it for comfort and to be able to haul the bike. 0-60 is measured as "sufficient". It's got air shocks. It wallows around corners (so much so that I've thought about a stiffer sway bar). BUT... I can put 8-10 hours behind the wheel in it with ease. I'm not sure what it's like near you, but in my region, the roads and highways are horrible. I'd never want to daily an "exciting" car for that reason. Heck on the bike I have to constantly scan the road for monster potholes and bob and weave around them. I know where all the frost heaves on the the way to work are so I can raise my ass up before I hit them. It's really bad here.
  14. Drew Dowdell
    Passat production ended in summer 2021.
  15. Drew Dowdell
    Well have I got the article for you. Honda and Toyota will frequently claim "all-new" for their vehicle, but that's a pretty squishy subject for both. They will frequently evolve their platforms enough that it gets to be called all-new. Honda is claiming "all-new" for this CR-V, but it's probably going to have the same engine and transmission, maybe slightly tweaked in some way.
  16. Drew Dowdell
    With yesterday's report that the Hyundai Sonata and Kia K5/Optima may not be replaced at the end of their cycle, it has become clear that the mid-size family sedan in the U.S. has become an endangered species. The current Sonata and K5 are expected to last until at least 2025, but if they do in fact end, the number of mid-size sedans offered in the market will dwindle to 4. For perspective, that is the same number of mini-van models currently on offer. (Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Pacifica/Voyager, Kia Carnival). The remaining sedans are Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, stalwarts in this niche, the Nissan Altima, and the Subaru Legacy. The Chevrolet Malibu, while still listed on the Chevy website has a questionable future as GM stopped taking orders for the Malibu back in February, and while there has been no official announcement, with sales in the mid-30k unit range and mostly going to fleets, we can't expect GM to keep it going for long. For now, the Camry seems safe as Toyota is able to continue to keep sales rates above the 300k unit mark, but sales of the Accord have dropped by 52% from 2014. The Nissan Altima is off by more than 1/3 from volumes just 5 years ago while the Legacy sedan has fallen the most, dropping by 62% since 2016. The first big selling mid-size sedan to get the ax was the Dodge Avenger. Since then the Chrysler 200, Ford Fusion, Volkswagen Passat, Mazda 6, and Buick Regal have all joined the list of dead mid-size sedan lines. The large family sedan class has fared even worse with only the aging Nissan Maxima, Chrysler 300, and Dodge Charger remaining once the Toyota Avalon stops production in August and joins the Chevy Impala, Buick Lacrosse, and Ford Taurus in that great junkyard in the sky. Stellantis has indicated no clear plans to replace their aging sedans and seems to continue producing them mostly out of inertia. The 300 is expect to soldier on for another year with no replacement while the Charger might be replaced in 2024. Once the most common silhouette in the American automotive landscape, the 3-box sedan is rapidly becoming a niche market as buyers flock to crossovers. View full article
  17. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Opinion: The Family Sedan is now on the Endangered Species List"
    With yesterday's report that the Hyundai Sonata and Kia K5/Optima may not be replaced at the end of their cycle, it has become clear that the mid-size family sedan in the U.S. has become an endangered species. The current Sonata and K5 are expected to last until at least 2025, but if they do in fact end, the number of mid-size sedans offered in the market will dwindle to 4. For perspective, that is the same number of mini-van models currently on offer. (Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Pacifica/Voyager, Kia Carnival). The remaining sedans are Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, stalwarts in this niche, the Nissan Altima, and the Subaru Legacy. The Chevrolet Malibu, while still listed on the Chevy website has a questionable future as GM stopped taking orders for the Malibu back in February, and while there has been no official announcement, with sales in the mid-30k unit range and mostly going to fleets, we can't expect GM to keep it going for long. For now, the Camry seems safe as Toyota is able to continue to keep sales rates above the 300k unit mark, but sales of the Accord have dropped by 52% from 2014. The Nissan Altima is off by more than 1/3 from volumes just 5 years ago while the Legacy sedan has fallen the most, dropping by 62% since 2016. The first big selling mid-size sedan to get the ax was the Dodge Avenger. Since then the Chrysler 200, Ford Fusion, Volkswagen Passat, Mazda 6, and Buick Regal have all joined the list of dead mid-size sedan lines. The large family sedan class has fared even worse with only the aging Nissan Maxima, Chrysler 300, and Dodge Charger remaining once the Toyota Avalon stops production in August and joins the Chevy Impala, Buick Lacrosse, and Ford Taurus in that great junkyard in the sky. Stellantis has indicated no clear plans to replace their aging sedans and seems to continue producing them mostly out of inertia. The 300 is expect to soldier on for another year with no replacement while the Charger might be replaced in 2024. Once the most common silhouette in the American automotive landscape, the 3-box sedan is rapidly becoming a niche market as buyers flock to crossovers.
  18. Drew Dowdell
    The CR-V took over from the Civic as Honda's best selling model in 2014 as crossover sales exploded. The current CR-V went on sale a few years later in 2016 and further extended that growth, keeping sales over 370,000 units most years since. In the CR-V's best year of 2019, the crossover eclipsed the Civic by about 60,000 units. When you've got sales like that, you generally don't mess with success. But even with numbers like those, the CR-V comes in second in sales to the Toyota RAV-4. The RAV-4 took on a more rugged look for 2019 and Toyota's biggest problem has been keeping them in stock. So with an eye on that success, Honda decided to pull on a pair of hiking shoes when redesigning the 2023 CR-V. While we don't have full details yet, the teaser shots show the new CR-V will adopt the butch looks of its big brother the Honda Passport. We expect a carryover of the existing 1.5 liter turbo producing 190 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 179 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 and 5,000 rpm routed through a CVT. The CR-V currently offers a hybrid option with 212 horsepower and a combined 232 lb-ft of torque. Honda says that the hybrid system will be getting some enhancements for "a sportier driving experience and more capability". View full article
  19. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Honda teases new butched up CR-V due out Summer 2022"
    The CR-V took over from the Civic as Honda's best selling model in 2014 as crossover sales exploded.  The current CR-V went on sale a few years later in 2016 and further extended that growth, keeping sales over 370,000 units most years since.  In the CR-V's best year of 2019, the crossover eclipsed the Civic by about 60,000 units. When you've got sales like that, you generally don't mess with success.  But even with numbers like those, the CR-V comes in second in sales to the Toyota RAV-4. The RAV-4 took on a more rugged look for 2019 and Toyota's biggest problem has been keeping them in stock.  So with an eye on that success, Honda decided to pull on a pair of hiking shoes when redesigning the 2023 CR-V. While we don't have full details yet, the teaser shots show the new CR-V will adopt the butch looks of its big brother the Honda Passport.  We expect a carryover of the existing 1.5 liter turbo producing 190 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 179 lb-ft of torque between 2,000 and 5,000 rpm routed through a CVT.  The CR-V currently offers a hybrid option with 212 horsepower and a combined 232 lb-ft of torque.  Honda says that the hybrid system will be getting some enhancements for "a sportier driving experience and more capability".
  20. Drew Dowdell
    Automotive News is reporting that internal sources have indicated that Hyundai will not develop a new generation of the Sonata once the current model run has complete. Similar reports regarding the fate of the Kia K5, the replacement for the Kia Optima, seem to confirm this as both vehicle share a common platform. The current Sonata went on sale in 2019 as a 2020 model while the K5 started production in 2019 in overseas markets and went on sale in the U.S. as a 2021 model. Sales of both sedans has dropped dramatically with the Sonata reaching a peak of around 230,000 U.S, sales in 2012 and the K5/Optima reaching almost 160,000 U.S. sales in 2015. Sales were around 93,000 of each model in 2021, rebounding slightly after the 2020 pandemic. Meanwhile, in its home market the Sonata has fallen from the best selling vehicle to the sixth. Both Hyundai and Kia have issued denials of the impending cancelation stating that both vehicles remain important parts of their respective lineups. Hyundai and Kia are said to be preparing a mild facelift for 2025, however it remains to be seen if the Sonata and K5 make it that far. Hyundai and Kia are busy making room to build more EVs at their plants. Kia, for their part, is building a $5.5 billion EV and battery plant in Georgia starting in 2023 that is expected to have the capacity to produce 300,000 units a year. View full article
  21. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Rumormill: Hyundai Sonata and Kia K5 to Get the Axe"
    Automotive News is reporting that internal sources have indicated that Hyundai will not develop a new generation of the Sonata once the current model run has complete. Similar reports regarding the fate of the Kia K5, the replacement for the Kia Optima, seem to confirm this as both vehicle share a common platform. The current Sonata went on sale in 2019 as a 2020 model while the K5 started production in 2019 in overseas markets and went on sale in the U.S. as a 2021 model. Sales of both sedans has dropped dramatically with the Sonata reaching a peak of around 230,000 U.S, sales in 2012 and the K5/Optima reaching almost 160,000 U.S. sales in 2015. Sales were around 93,000 of each model in 2021, rebounding slightly after the 2020 pandemic. Meanwhile, in its home market the Sonata has fallen from the best selling vehicle to the sixth. Both Hyundai and Kia have issued denials of the impending cancelation stating that both vehicles remain important parts of their respective lineups. Hyundai and Kia are said to be preparing a mild facelift for 2025, however it remains to be seen if the Sonata and K5 make it that far. Hyundai and Kia are busy making room to build more EVs at their plants. Kia, for their part, is building a $5.5 billion EV and battery plant in Georgia starting in 2023 that is expected to have the capacity to produce 300,000 units a year.
  22. Drew Dowdell
    Yeah, I can definitely see that.
  23. Drew Dowdell
    Love to have you back Cort.
  24. Drew Dowdell
    Is it that far away from you that it counts as a road trip?
  25. Drew Dowdell
    Welcome back! Post them both or go out for a visit!
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