The interior designs at Chevy are vastly underrated. They tend to use third or fourth rate materials on their less expensive models, but the design is great.
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The Car Thread ... !
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Lately, there's been a couple of Telsatards spamming manufacturers threads on FB. Blah blah blah fossil fuels yap yap yap 0-60 ... same broken record, same one-trick pony, same lack of factoring in what you outlined above.
Out of sight, out of mind. Mind you I'd not be surprised if many of the drivers didn't even realise how electricity is made.
Finally scored a reusable, high[er] flow panel filter - I was doing a little airbox mod recommended by a guy who did some logging, airflow calcs, simple and free sort of thing, and was reminded I'm still running my OEM paper element. Hit up one of my regular parts marketplaces and scored a *crazy* deal. 
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It's just comes out of the wall, right?
[doublepost=1503155914][/doublepost]
It's just comes out of the wall, right?
Yup! Hamsters in there on little wheels.Finally scored a reusable, high[er] flow panel filter - I was doing a little airbox mod recommended by a guy who did some logging, airflow calcs, simple and free sort of thing, and was reminded I'm still running my OEM paper element. Hit up one of my regular parts marketplaces and scored a *crazy* deal.
[doublepost=1503155914][/doublepost]
It's just comes out of the wall, right?
I have no doubt electric is the future. I just don't want to have to settle for Tesla's mediocrity.
"teslatards", I like that. I'm going to put that in my word collection next to "funkballs".
Thanks
I'm open to the idea of a 900 HP hybrid S Class. S Class is a great car. Arguably the best looking in its class. On par if not a bit below in feature set from the new A8.
Anyway, I have nothing to add this weekend. I did drive the E400 wagon at the dealer last weekend to get an idea of the size and weight balance. It is noticeably different than the E300 sedan I tried out earlier in the year. It's no comparison to what the final car will be like, but knowing ahead of time covers my bases. I also took the dealer up on their suggestion of driving their AMG GT S. I'd driven their GT a while back. I can say both cars are great, but given the 20K price difference, the S seems more worthwhile on an overall speed and agility scale. Very cool cars. I feel younger driving them. Absolutely stunning side. Visibility is a bitch, though.
Went down to look at another car last weekend, too, which turned out to be a disappointment. A dealer holding, no bidding. Dealer allowed me to use my paint meter on the car and compared to normal values, portions of the rear end had been repainted. Color match was flawless, though. Nothing on its history, but I A-P-P-R-E-C-I-A-T-E some honesty, especially after having driven over a 100 miles to see a car described as "pristine." There's nothing wrong with stating there was a respray due to cosmetic issues, but being lied to dosn't settle well with me. Makes me wonder what else might be funky.
@D.T. Can I order those tires to go to the dealer or how do I find out which shops are great?
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I could see it working swimmingly in areas such as Nevada or the high desert of California. Maybe Arizona, too. It would have to be guarded from terrorists, of course, but it is a wonderful idea. I'm a fan of solar engineering. I've been interested in the subject since the very early 90s when you could buy a tiny panel from Radio Shack. I do think it's the way of the future. I believe nuclear power is the cleanest power source now, but it does take great skill to not mess things up in an accident and it does ruin resources around it.
Anyway, I have nothing to add this weekend. I did drive the E400 wagon at the dealer last weekend to get an idea of the size and weight balance. It is noticeably different than the E300 sedan I tried out earlier in the year. It's no comparison to what the final car will be like, but knowing ahead of time covers my bases. I also took the dealer up on their suggestion of driving their AMG GT S. I'd driven their GT a while back. I can say both cars are great, but given the 20K price difference, the S seems more worthwhile on an overall speed and agility scale. Very cool cars. I feel younger driving them. Absolutely stunning side. Visibility is a bitch, though.
Went down to look at another car last weekend, too, which turned out to be a disappointment. A dealer holding, no bidding. Dealer allowed me to use my paint meter on the car and compared to normal values, portions of the rear end had been repainted. Color match was flawless, though. Nothing on its history, but I A-P-P-R-E-C-I-A-T-E some honesty, especially after having driven over a 100 miles to see a car described as "pristine." There's nothing wrong with stating there was a respray due to cosmetic issues, but being lied to dosn't settle well with me. Makes me wonder what else might be funky.
@D.T. Can I order those tires to go to the dealer or how do I find out which shops are great?
[doublepost=1503185485][/doublepost]
I think people presume wind turbines are the norm. They're not. There's a distinct hum when you're near a field of them. They take a lot of space but deliver a lot of power. A while back, Musk brought up an example of how an auxiliary system using panels in the future could be set in a hot area of the US. I believe it was 100 mi x 100 mi, and would deliver an estimated 40% of the country's electrical needs and then some. As usual, the Tesla fan boys thought it would be great as the only system.
I could see it working swimmingly in areas such as Nevada or the high desert of California. Maybe Arizona, too. It would have to be guarded from terrorists, of course, but it is a wonderful idea. I'm a fan of solar engineering. I've been interested in the subject since the very early 90s when you could buy a tiny panel from Radio Shack. I do think it's the way of the future. I believe nuclear power is the cleanest power source now, but it does take great skill to not mess things up in an accident and it does ruin resources around it.
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A while back, Musk brought up an example of how an auxiliary system using panels in the future could be set in a hot area of the US. I believe it was 100 mi x 100 mi, and would deliver an estimated 40% of the country's electrical needs and then some. As usual, the Tesla fan boys thought it would be great as the only system.
Solar panel efficiency is nowhere near that good yet.
We had someone in my research group whose dissertation topic was dye sensitized solar cells, and at the time(a couple of years ago) the efficiency of a semi-conductor based panel was such that by the numbers he threw around covering the US with panels wouldn't touch the energy needs of the country, and that's assuming full sun all the time. I wish I knew his exact figures off the top of my head, but I'd tend to trust someone who was living and breathing solar cells for his graduate research. Some quick googling shows that the largest solar plant in the US covers 3500 acres and outputs a peak of 377mw.
He was able to get this DSSC efficiency up, albeit not to where they were still viable alternatives and he also had serious issues with the lifetime of the cells.
The closest wind farm I know of to me is around LaFayette, IN. It a little over 200 hundred turbines and puts out 600 MW peak(of course depending on wind speed and direction). By contrast, a tiny 3-turbine hydro plant I canoe ton sometimes in central KY pumps out 24 MW, and the big coal plant in Louisville pumps out 2000 MW. The land area occupied by both of these is significantly smaller than the combined turbines in Lafayette.
Yeah, like most of Musk's ideas, it's a bit iffy. You also have to account for transmission loss and storage of said power. It's a nice idea, but efficiency must go up as does battery tech. You would also want to distribute the said system, but this becomes difficult in cooler areas of the US. Not just for solar reception but battery degrades in cold weather. The idea of no ICE and clean energy isn't a pipedream, but it's a very difficult one to attain. I suspect it'll take a few more decades. I would hope that engine research continues and engines become more efficient and capable of extracting more power from fuel. My first car was a big block LTD. Huge engine, but it gave pitiful power and it was slow as molasses. Granted the car was a cruise ship. A modern Civic with its 182 hp TC engine is was faster. Granted, it weighs 800 something pounds less. Sub in an Accord of even a new 5 series with the smallest engine.
I take it you have a masters or doctoral in electrical engineering?
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Don't get me wrong, EV "is the future" (like Miss H, I used to believe it was children ...), and I greatly appreciate what Musk had done in a short amount of time, the cars, the rockets, the battery tech, etc. I have a couple of friends with Telsa, both have solar setups (very current, modern tech), one actually owns a solar company, and as I understand it, home charging for them is "free" and off-the-grid.
However, I also think there's a number of owners using power produced through other means, who carp about "clean technology", who want to talk performance as long as it's a _really_ specific set of metrics, who are dismissive of the less convenient travel/planning/fueling requirements - and like many long time car enthusiasts, I'm underwhelmed by the design, the interiors are less-than-medicore given the pricetag, and I find them totally soul-less.
That last part was where it was clear who was Telsa owner vs. a Telsatard. People having a discussion about Porsche (and Jaguar) high-er end performance models, enjoying ownership of cars with a wide range of performance capabilities, with rich histories in motorsports, and some idiot pollutes the thread with cut-and-paste anti-ICE stupidity.
[doublepost=1503240631][/doublepost]Anyway ...
Going to pull my front fascia, cutout the OEM honeycomb, replace the center section with some race mesh product (or heck, maybe leave it open), put in a couple of Velossa intake ducts ... maybe in red
[doublepost=1503240867][/doublepost]Kind of on a roll ...
I also LOVE modifying cars, there's not a lot of options with current EV models, from aesthetics, suspension, performance - I love that I took a 13 second factory car and turned it into something that would pull 1L sport bikes from 40 to xxx I love that every car I've owned become a super unique expression of my tastes, that they _sound_ special, and +feel+ different.
However, I also think there's a number of owners using power produced through other means, who carp about "clean technology", who want to talk performance as long as it's a _really_ specific set of metrics, who are dismissive of the less convenient travel/planning/fueling requirements - and like many long time car enthusiasts, I'm underwhelmed by the design, the interiors are less-than-medicore given the pricetag, and I find them totally soul-less.
That last part was where it was clear who was Telsa owner vs. a Telsatard. People having a discussion about Porsche (and Jaguar) high-er end performance models, enjoying ownership of cars with a wide range of performance capabilities, with rich histories in motorsports, and some idiot pollutes the thread with cut-and-paste anti-ICE stupidity.
[doublepost=1503240631][/doublepost]Anyway ...
Going to pull my front fascia, cutout the OEM honeycomb, replace the center section with some race mesh product (or heck, maybe leave it open), put in a couple of Velossa intake ducts ... maybe in red
[doublepost=1503240867][/doublepost]Kind of on a roll ...
I also LOVE modifying cars, there's not a lot of options with current EV models, from aesthetics, suspension, performance - I love that I took a 13 second factory car and turned it into something that would pull 1L sport bikes from 40 to xxx
I love that every car I've owned become a super unique expression of my tastes, that they _sound_ special, and +feel+ different.
Got some fresh StopTech rotors OTW, ugh, not looking forward to that install based on the pain involved with removing my spacers ...
Masters in Chemistry. I'm not one of the "E word" people.
So while I was getting ready to move back to the States my wife told I need to come back with a different car which I guess is understandable since I've had my Jeep as long as I've had her. I've been doing a little bit of research to see what's out there in the midsize sedan and SUV market my biggest problem is that I don't want all the driver facing electronics. What ever car I buy I'll keep for the next 10 or so years and thing like navigation and whatever else won't keep getting updates that long if my 2027 phone can't interface with the cars electronics I don't want them. It looks like you can't de-content a BMW much I'm the states which is go to for sedans. Where should I be looking for a mid-size sedan that can be more base I'd prefer almost to deal break status that it be a car available in Europe since I'll be heading back in a couple years.
With all due respect, you're SOL to find a base German sedan in the US. Only the Europeans have access to the very base, and I suspect that if you bought a base there and shipped it back, it wouldn't register due to not having gone through testing. I'd assume future phones would have several fallbacks. Though I've heard of companies that reflash OEM head units for newer stuff or offer aftermarket units.
JFC.
Stunning. I have yet to see one in real life. I don't think I will for a long time. I've only seen a few of its predecessor. The contrast in texture for those HRE wheels is amazing. Always been a fan of HRE wheels.
Careful boys, you wouldn't want to piss off the Tesla fanboys.
100x100mi... good luck getting that past the environmentalists- though if anyone can it's probably Musk. 40% assuming it's sunny and daytime (and that the electricity can be transmitted far enough). Tesla's batteries aren't well suited for grid storage either, possessing less than half the life cycle as other battery makers. I guess it doesn't matter though if they can make their batteries cheap enough. I'm just not sure there's enough lithium on earth to make enough batteries to support 40% of our power needs.I think people presume wind turbines are the norm. They're not. There's a distinct hum when you're near a field of them. They take a lot of space but deliver a lot of power. A while back, Musk brought up an example of how an auxiliary system using panels in the future could be set in a hot area of the US. I believe it was 100 mi x 100 mi, and would deliver an estimated 40% of the country's electrical needs and then some. As usual, the Tesla fan boys thought it would be great as the only system.
There are some really aggressive dealers here in the southeast - a buddy of mine got right around $8K off his '17 convertible C7 last year (local Chevy dealer). I've kind of been shopping Explorer Sports (also the 3.5L TT Ecoboost) and just right online I'm seeing $6-7K discounts without even any haggling.
Funny, my main design beef with the the SHO is the wheel design, yeah, flower petals, that's exactly it. Kind of cool yours got dinged, and your replacements are _way_ better.
So I'm starting the aftermarket modification process for my new Ford Taurus SHO. My question is, the first set up I'm doing is a cold air intake from K&N. Do you know if this would void any warranty work for the intake by itself? Just wanted to get your feedback, because I know you said you had one for your Mustang.
Stage 1 Tune commences in a week, also having the blow off valve modification. Followed by a full exhaust set up as well. I do know that a tune can void the warranty or Ford can deny work based on tunes. But just wanted to know regarding the Air intake first.
From my experience with Powerstroke Super Duty trucks it mainly comes down to the dealer and the parts that need fixed.
Some dealers tend to be more mod friendly than others.
As far as the parts, if you have issues with something like the Mass Airflow Sensor, or intake/intake valves etc that deal directly with the air intake they are going to be more likely to void that warranty work based on the aftermarket filter/intake. But if it's something like an issue with the transmission they probably aren't going to bat an eye. They definitely can't just void the entire warranty on the car based on one mod. they are supposed to have to be able to show that the modification caused the issue, or there is a good chance that it did.
For example on the Super Duty trucks with the 6.0L many people were putting crazy tunes on them and getting massive HP/TQ gains. When Ford started seeing all kinds of warranty issues for head gaskets, turbos, oil coolers etc they started getting very picky and looking very closely for signs of the trucks being tuned before they would cover stuff under warranty.
Some dealers tend to be more mod friendly than others.
As far as the parts, if you have issues with something like the Mass Airflow Sensor, or intake/intake valves etc that deal directly with the air intake they are going to be more likely to void that warranty work based on the aftermarket filter/intake. But if it's something like an issue with the transmission they probably aren't going to bat an eye. They definitely can't just void the entire warranty on the car based on one mod. they are supposed to have to be able to show that the modification caused the issue, or there is a good chance that it did.
For example on the Super Duty trucks with the 6.0L many people were putting crazy tunes on them and getting massive HP/TQ gains. When Ford started seeing all kinds of warranty issues for head gaskets, turbos, oil coolers etc they started getting very picky and looking very closely for signs of the trucks being tuned before they would cover stuff under warranty.