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Drew Dowdell

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Everything posted by Drew Dowdell

  1. Drew Dowdell
    I'm an I.T. Project manager specializing in infrastructure projects or mergers and acquisitions.. Basically, I build/upgrade/tear down/move big server projects. I happen to work in the energy sector right now, but I'm pretty sector agnostic. My job translates well to any sector.
  2. Drew Dowdell
    Yeah. I'm possibly losing my job by the end of the year. I've been there 13 years though, so my severance package will be good. I'm not super worried about it. Might even take some time off.
  3. Drew Dowdell
    Well, we'll see if this recession is really a thing I guess. 50% employee cuts across the board at work.
  4. Drew Dowdell
    CAn you link me? My old link appears to be broken. Fully capable of 100mph scheduled service too.
  5. Drew Dowdell
    yeah, it's always been a reasonably competent car. And it's probably the largest interior you can get without going to a full-size, so if you're shopping on square footage, it's the best deal you're gonna get.
  6. Drew Dowdell
    Volkswagen has release the pricing on the redesigned 2020 Passat and now it is roughly $2300 cheaper than the 2019 model. It also becomes one of the least expensive midsize sedans you can buy, clocking in just $250 more expensive than the least expensive 2020 Subaru Legacy. Some of that cost savings comes from carrying over a bunch of the bones of the car from 2019. The platform is the same, not updated to the new MQB platform like China is getting with their version. The 2.0-liter Turbo carries over as well, albeit with some improvement to the torque. Horsepower remains the same at 174 hp, while torque jumps 22 lb.-ft to 206. The transmission remains a 6-speed automatic driving only the front wheels. The 2020 Passat gets and exterior and interior refresh with new materials in the cabin and an updated instrument cluster. The trims will be S, SE, R-Line, and SEL. The cheapest S model still comes with forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. The SE, which starts at $26,765, gets additional chrome trim, keyless entry, push-button ignition, leather wrapped steering wheel, leatherette over the headed front seats, dual zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, adaptive cruise, and lane keep assist. The R-Line, which starts at $29,565, comes with all of the above, plus a standard sunroof, alarm, 19-inch alloy wheels, a body kit, and paddle shifter. The top of the line SEL, at $32,015, comes with high beam assist, leather seats, heated rear seats, navigation, parking sensors, and a Fender audio system. The 2020 Passat will continue to be manufactured in Chattanooga, TN and arrives in dealers in the next few weeks. View full article
  7. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "New Passat Comes In Cheaper Than Outgoing Model"
    Volkswagen has release the pricing on the redesigned 2020 Passat and now it is roughly $2300 cheaper than the 2019 model. It also becomes one of the least expensive midsize sedans you can buy, clocking in just $250 more expensive than the least expensive 2020 Subaru Legacy. Some of that cost savings comes from carrying over a bunch of the bones of the car from 2019. The platform is the same, not updated to the new MQB platform like China is getting with their version. The 2.0-liter Turbo carries over as well, albeit with some improvement to the torque. Horsepower remains the same at 174 hp, while torque jumps 22 lb.-ft to 206. The transmission remains a 6-speed automatic driving only the front wheels. The 2020 Passat gets and exterior and interior refresh with new materials in the cabin and an updated instrument cluster. The trims will be S, SE, R-Line, and SEL. The cheapest S model still comes with forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. The SE, which starts at $26,765, gets additional chrome trim, keyless entry, push-button ignition, leather wrapped steering wheel, leatherette over the headed front seats, dual zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, adaptive cruise, and lane keep assist. The R-Line, which starts at $29,565, comes with all of the above, plus a standard sunroof, alarm, 19-inch alloy wheels, a body kit, and paddle shifter. The top of the line SEL, at $32,015, comes with high beam assist, leather seats, heated rear seats, navigation, parking sensors, and a Fender audio system. The 2020 Passat will continue to be manufactured in Chattanooga, TN and arrives in dealers in the next few weeks.
  8. Drew Dowdell
    I think, by the quote, there was a decision being made whether or not to kill it and they opted not to.
  9. Drew Dowdell
    I think Peugeot has a much better chance at success than Fiat ever did. They make conventional cars, not just micro niche cars.
  10. Drew Dowdell
    Lancia, Vauxhall pretty quickly. VH could be replaced by opel directly. Lancia could be replaced with Fiat.
  11. Drew Dowdell
    Makes me wonder how cheap Lordstown Assembly went for. Did it include all/most of the tooling? GM and LMC aren't saying.
  12. Drew Dowdell
    Depends if they can snag that post office contract or not.
  13. Drew Dowdell
    One thing I've noticed is that I see more Model-X and S in the wild than I see S-Class... and I like the S-Class, so they catch my eye.
  14. Drew Dowdell
    Sounds like they don't plan to kill any of the brands. Good news for Dodge and Chrysler I guess.
  15. Drew Dowdell
    PSA CEO Carlos Tavares said on the BFM Business radio station none of the brands would be let go after the merger of PSA and FCA is complete. He said it will be a challenge to manage all of the brands to cover the market, but that he sees "that all these brands, without exception, have one thing in common: they have a fabulous history." While acknowledging that the combined companies would have a significant number of brands, it would still be lower than the number Volkswagen manages. The combined companies would field Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Fiat, Opel, Vauxhall, Fiat, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Alfa-Romeo, Maserati, and Lancia. Both companies will aim for efficiencies of scale and are are willing to make concessions to the European Union in order to get the okay to merge. View full article
  16. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "PSA CEO says No Brands Let Go"
    PSA CEO Carlos Tavares said on the BFM Business radio station none of the brands would be let go after the merger of PSA and FCA is complete. He said it will be a challenge to manage all of the brands to cover the market, but that he sees "that all these brands, without exception, have one thing in common: they have a fabulous history." While acknowledging that the combined companies would have a significant number of brands, it would still be lower than the number Volkswagen manages. The combined companies would field Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Fiat, Opel, Vauxhall, Fiat, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Alfa-Romeo, Maserati, and Lancia. Both companies will aim for efficiencies of scale and are are willing to make concessions to the European Union in order to get the okay to merge.
  17. Drew Dowdell
    Daimler CEO Källenius announced on Twitter yesterday that there would be a zero-emission EV version of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class on the way. He continued, "In the past there were discussions whether we should eliminate the model, the way I see things now I'd say the last Mercedes to be built will be a G-Class". The G-Class is already one of the most expensive models sold under the Mercedes-Benz brand. The EV version of the G-Class will likely be sold under the EQ brand. An electric G-Class already exists though as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Kreisel Electric have already converted a G-Class to an EV. It packs dual battery packs for 80-kWh of capacity good for a range of about 186 miles. No further details have been released as to when the EV G-Class would be launched. View full article
  18. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "G-Class to get Electric Model"
    Daimler CEO Källenius announced on Twitter yesterday that there would be a zero-emission EV version of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class on the way. He continued, "In the past there were discussions whether we should eliminate the model, the way I see things now I'd say the last Mercedes to be built will be a G-Class". The G-Class is already one of the most expensive models sold under the Mercedes-Benz brand. The EV version of the G-Class will likely be sold under the EQ brand. An electric G-Class already exists though as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Kreisel Electric have already converted a G-Class to an EV. It packs dual battery packs for 80-kWh of capacity good for a range of about 186 miles. No further details have been released as to when the EV G-Class would be launched.
  19. Drew Dowdell
    The Hyundai Sonata is likely to make a big splash with its good looks when it hits dealers in a few weeks. One thing that was missing from the original release of the Sonata was an up-level engine option. To review, the Sonata can be optioned with a 191 horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder or a 180 horsepower 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with a wide peak torque band and 195 lb.-ft. Gone is the 245 horsepower 2.0-liter turbo. Back in April, Hyundai confirmed that it would produce an N-Line version of the car with 275 horsepower. That car is likely to be debuting at the LA Auto Show later this month. The kicker is the N-line is not the full performance edition like a Sonata N would be. Now, rumors out of Korea via Korean Car Blog say that the full N will be coming late next year. Powering the Sonata N would be a 2.5-liter turbocharge direct injected engine producing at least 300 horsepower and 311 lb.-ft of torque. Power would be fed through an 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. This powertrain has already been shown at a 2019 Hyundai Kia Motors Powertrain Conference, so we know they'll be building this engine for something. Of course, Hyundai has not commented on any of these rumors, so take a Sonata N with a grain of salt. Still, a performance tuned Sonata could make an exciting addition to the otherwise stale and fading mid-size car market. View full article
  20. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Rumorpile: Hyundai Sonata N in the Cards?"
    The Hyundai Sonata is likely to make a big splash with its good looks when it hits dealers in a few weeks. One thing that was missing from the original release of the Sonata was an up-level engine option. To review, the Sonata can be optioned with a 191 horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder or a 180 horsepower 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with a wide peak torque band and 195 lb.-ft. Gone is the 245 horsepower 2.0-liter turbo. Back in April, Hyundai confirmed that it would produce an N-Line version of the car with 275 horsepower. That car is likely to be debuting at the LA Auto Show later this month. The kicker is the N-line is not the full performance edition like a Sonata N would be. Now, rumors out of Korea via Korean Car Blog say that the full N will be coming late next year. Powering the Sonata N would be a 2.5-liter turbocharge direct injected engine producing at least 300 horsepower and 311 lb.-ft of torque. Power would be fed through an 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. This powertrain has already been shown at a 2019 Hyundai Kia Motors Powertrain Conference, so we know they'll be building this engine for something. Of course, Hyundai has not commented on any of these rumors, so take a Sonata N with a grain of salt. Still, a performance tuned Sonata could make an exciting addition to the otherwise stale and fading mid-size car market.
  21. Drew Dowdell
    GM's Lordstown facility has been sold to startup Lordstown Motors. Lordstown Motors will produce the Workhorse Endurance pickup truck, an all-electric truck, at the site. The Endurance has all-wheel drive via 4 motors, one for each wheel. It also has outlets to allow for the use of power tools. Workhorse is also in the bidding to make plug-in mail trucks for the U.S. Postal Service. Workhorse has 6,000 orders for a truck based on the W-15 Prototype, and those orders would be moved to Lordstown for production. Workhorse is targeting fleet buyers. With fewer moving parts and lower fuel costs, it could translate to lower cost-to-own for fleet operators. Lordstown Motors still needs to go through several more rounds of fund raising in order to continue development, conduct safety testing, and retool the plant for production. View full article
  22. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Lordstown Sold to Lordstown Motors Corp"
    GM's Lordstown facility has been sold to startup Lordstown Motors. Lordstown Motors will produce the Workhorse Endurance pickup truck, an all-electric truck, at the site. The Endurance has all-wheel drive via 4 motors, one for each wheel. It also has outlets to allow for the use of power tools. Workhorse is also in the bidding to make plug-in mail trucks for the U.S. Postal Service. Workhorse has 6,000 orders for a truck based on the W-15 Prototype, and those orders would be moved to Lordstown for production. Workhorse is targeting fleet buyers. With fewer moving parts and lower fuel costs, it could translate to lower cost-to-own for fleet operators. Lordstown Motors still needs to go through several more rounds of fund raising in order to continue development, conduct safety testing, and retool the plant for production.
  23. Drew Dowdell
    And yet people complain when a perfectly good platform like the LX is still around, being competitive.
  24. Drew Dowdell
    I wonder how many are going for the C7 over the C8 and vice versa.
  25. Drew Dowdell
    Toyota currently uses at least 3 other manufacturer's platforms: Mazda for the Yaris Subaru for the 86 BMW for the Supra Must keep the parts departments busy.
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