The MyKey is something your relatives would've intentionally set (I can set one in my Mustang too). It's made for keeping your teenage kids out of triple digit speeds or whatever.
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The Car Thread ... !
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The MyKey is something your relatives would've intentionally set (I can set one in my Mustang too). It's made for keeping your teenage kids out of triple digit speeds or whatever.
I'm not sure why it is activated. They're old (in their 80's) but I believe they bought the car new. Perhaps they though it was a good idea. I'm pretty sure its the key they always use since they gave me the keys with 20 other keys on the keychain. Who knows. I drive mostly in the city so if there is an 80mph speed limit I'm not too concerned. Driving on the highway 75mph isn't unheard of, so if you're stuck in traffic driving around 75mpg, the dinging does get annoying.
I'm the biggest MB fanboy, but i have to say their old cars were boring as hell. I'm talking about the late 2000s- early 2010s. A bit ugly too.
So it's not because you're too young, i'm young too (~30) and i get what you're saying.
I liked their early 2000s cars and i think their current models are gorgeous. (S Class, S-Coupe, C Class, AMG GT, heck even ML is not that bad and i don't even like SUVs).
Last year i sold my 2004 S55 and got a new S63. I am still blown away by what a nice car the new S Class is. 10 years made a great difference.
S-Coupe looks even better, but i needed a 4-door car.
I bought a CLA too 2 years ago. A red one for my GF. What a great little car, very stylish and modern and it's probably the only Benz that looks good in red. It looks a little bit funky in reality as it'a a bit too small/narrow for its shape (it's basically a small CLS). Too bad the AMG model was not available when i got it...
In a few weeks i will get the new AMG GT S. Can't wait! I will probably sell my old SL55. It is by far the best car i ever owned and it still looks beautiful (flamingo red interior with champagne exterior, pretty rare for an SL, almost all of them are silver or black).
We've been together for almost 10 years. Time to move on!
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I'm 99% sure the F15 uses same platform as the E70. Me thinks the F15 code simply just identifies the new X5 as next gen.
I like the upgrades to the headlights. The Accord has always been a fantastic car.
Hopefully, they don't put the 9AT into the Accord. It's been crap in every car it's put into.
As someone who has driven both, the CVT is the better transmission any day of the week. The 9AT doesn't shift correctly and exhibits roll back when you go from reverse to drive, like a manual transmission.
As much as I want to believe 9AT's are better, we all know Honda would just put a ZF in there and it would break constantly like it has in all those Chrysler models.
I believe Honda has reserved their 8 spd DCT for the Acura line, but that's the transmission that would work great in an Accord.
Exactly my issue. The 9AT has had problems in every car it's been put in. Chrysler lineup, Evoque, TLX, etc.
That would be nice. They should also put the new 2.4 from the TLX into the Accord too, but there would be less reason to buy the Acura then.
I also hope Honda dumped the two-screen NAV setup. They seem to be moving away from it in the new Pilot. The new Android-based system is superior.
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Interesting. I'll do some digging later.
This is not the case for the F10 though. It is not just a updated E60 platform. The F10 uses a shortened version of the F01 platform. (Partly the reason why it is so hefty)
Yes. The F10 is completely different to the E60 (went back to using steel in the chassis vs. aluminum used in the E60) and shares it's chassis with the F01 and F12 which is why it's received the criticism for the weight and dimensions.
Question: when the outside temp is 80°F, is your car AC working harder if you set the temp to 78° or 70°? I assume that as cooling air is called for the AC Unit puts out full cold air until the requested temp is achieved, but after the target temp is reached, the compressor cuts out or cuts back. So if the requested temp is close to the outside temp, and the target temp inside the car can be achieved, my guess is that you'd save some gas setting a warmer temp. But if the temp outside is 100°F it will not make much difference if you set 70° or 80° as the car will be always working full blast to achieve either temp.
I would think that an advanced AC would work that way.
Some cheaper HAVCs might blast cold air in relation to the dialed in "temperature".
Those cheaper HVACS are most lokely those that don't let you set a certain temperature, but rather, have a hot to cold dial.
What irks me more in many ACs is that they would use the AC even if the outside ambient temperature is cold enough to do the cooling w/o the AC compresor. It should be smart enough to switch on the compresor only if it's needed.
I have seen AC compressors work when the car was heated up from the sun, even though temp outside was like 50F. Totally unnecessary.
-t
With thermostat controlled climate control the compressor will switch on and off as needed, but I in the end it is basically always on to maintain a consistent blowing temperature unless the outside temperature changes drastically (as in below the set temp). In other words if it's 85 and the car is set to 75, and the temperature reaches 75, it will blow 75 degree air (AC air blended with exterior air). If the temperature were to drop to 70 (figure the car is slightly warmer due to the sun), then the AC would disable.
If the exterior temperature is consistently 85 and the thermostat is set to 75, and the car achieves 75 degrees, the car will continue to blow 75 degree air using the AC system.
This is different than central air that will blow cold air (at a specific temp) and until the room reaches the desired temp and then shut off. The the house the air mixing occurs in the room, in the car it occurs before the air is expelled into the cabin.
In that sense, it's likely a 2 degree vs a 20 degree temperature would likely make a difference in a car (but it would in a house). There may be different systems out there that I haven't seen, but I've never heard using a higher temp as an efficiency tip.
I've never had a car that would alternate on and off the compressor while exterior temp as above the interior. It would put unnecessary wear on the compressor's clutch and the air blowing would fluctuate in temperature, which would not be comfortable.
With traditional AC systems if the AC is switched on, the compressor is always on. The temperature dial just controls how much air you're blending with the conditioned air to create a steady blowing temperature.
When the AC is on in cool temperatures, it is because the system senses damp air that could cause the windows to fog. I believe all cars with AC and a defrost mode turn on the AC in the cold even if it is not indicated on the dashboard.
Sometimes you'll hear a fan cycle on/off when a car is parked and running on a hot day. This is usually the radiator fan.
Thanks guys.
We live in Texas where it's often very hot. We jump in the car, it's 100° F outside, the inside is probably 120°, my wife sees that I have the temp set at 78°F which would be a bit warm under normal circumstances and complains. I try to explain to her that it's so hot outside, the AC has to blow constantly to cool off the car and hold or try to hold this temp, which means it's always blowing cold air on us. I tend to believe that in the beginning, getting into a boiling hot car, it does not matter, full cold air will blow, but later after the car has an opportunity to cool down, at the higher temp setting, that the AC will get a chance to cut back a little.
Thanks guys.
Ugh, I could never survive in that heat. I hope it's at least dry heat! I'm not sure if you're explaining your previous thinking, misread what I wrote, or I'm misreading you, but I'll clarify...
The air conditioning is either on or off in the car. There is no variation in energy consumption between temperatures when it's on. The compressor runs at one level- cold. Warmer air is blended to achieve higher than the coldest temperatures when desired. As long the AC is activated, any interior temperature will use the same amount of energy.
If it's 100 outside and you have the interior temp set to 78, the air conditioning mode will be always be on unless you manually turn it off. Once the desired 78 is reached after the initial cool blast, the (same amount and temperate) cold air produced will blend with an appropriate amount of warm exterior air to continue blowing 78 degree air. If once the car reached 78 degrees and the a/c shut off, it would immediately start blowing 100 degree air inside again. There is essentially no reservoir of cold air stored.
So on a 100 degree day, whether you're set at 78 degrees, 70 degrees, or the lowest setting, you're a/c compressor is still using the same amount of energy. With such a substantial temperature difference (22 degrees), the AC will always be on. As I mentioned earlier, if the AC is on it will always consume the same amount of energy… even if you had the heat and AC on. The blower fans are electric and the energy consumption is negligible considering how much unused energy an engine produces.
BUT… Once you're at around the point of equilibrium, then you might run into unnecessary AC use. Let's say it's a nice temperature- 72 degrees outside. You set your interior temperature to 72 degrees. Depending on how sophisticated and tolerant your system is (some systems are much better than other), it might hunt around that 72 mark, AC on, AC off, AC on, AC off. In this case you'd be better off turning off the AC entirely and just using the blowers. But that's common sense.
It would be interesting if they used variable speed compressors to improve efficiency. I suspect in a gas/diesel vehicle the difference would be negligible and require an excess amount of engineering. In an electric vehicle, it might be a way of conserving a limited amount of energy.
Edit: It does appear some cars have "variable displacement compressors" that do alter the amount of energy they consume. I'm not sure realistically how much of a difference this creates, but in that sense if your car has one, then your theory is correct.
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So GM is supposed to have the big reveal tomorrow for the next gen Camaro, and apparently CNBC had some material already and ran it today
Pretty limited glances, but it looks _ok_. It kind of looks like a mid-model refresh vs. a next generation, but I like it looks less hefty. In fact, it is lighter, using lots of aluminum (based on the Alpha platform). As expected, it'll have a version of the new C7 LT1, slightly detuned (Camaro boards are reporting 440HP). 200lbs lighter with the LT1 should make the SS a really fun drive. Curious about the interior and seeing it in some good photos (vs. quick video captures).
Pretty limited glances, but it looks _ok_. It kind of looks like a mid-model refresh vs. a next generation, but I like it looks less hefty. In fact, it is lighter, using lots of aluminum (based on the Alpha platform). As expected, it'll have a version of the new C7 LT1, slightly detuned (Camaro boards are reporting 440HP). 200lbs lighter with the LT1 should make the SS a really fun drive. Curious about the interior and seeing it in some good photos (vs. quick video captures).
Hey so are there any "gem" apps for the iPhone that interface with Porsche PCM in a slick way?
thanks
best,
SvK
My girlfriend is still looking for a new car. She had a 2007 Prius that got totaled late last year and has been driving her father's spare car, a J100 Land Cruiser that he now wants back for the summer. The biggest problem with the LC is it doesn't fit in all parking garages. She's in her residency and needs car and wants the car to last 5-6 years. Her parents are helping her out and is looking to spend <$25,000, less is better within reason. She wants a small-midsize sedan, preferably with AWD and some upscale features.
This weekend we're checking out a few 2011-2013 S60's at a family friend owned Volvo dealer. I wouldn't mind her getting an S60 T6 It's the right size, good CPO price value, solid CPO warranty, AWD option on many, luxury features, etc.
She checked out some VW's last weekend without me. The Passat/CC was too big and the Jetta too small. I've driven a 2.5L Jetta and thought it was too underpowered, I can only imagine the the Passat. I know they have the 1.8T out again, so I cannot comment on that. VW's reliability isn't great currently.
We walked through a Subaru dealer weeks ago and nothing jumped out as appealing to her. I don't think she'd buy an American car and isn't drawn to Honda/Toyota/Nissan cars. The compact SUV market seems to be where the affordable AWD vehicles with good gas mileage are.
She also likes the 2nd generation Lexus IS AWD but is concerned the backseat is too small. Her parents are repeat Lexus/Toyota buyers. BMW/Audi are generally more than she wants to spend up front or on repairs. The Infiniti G35x might be worth looking into, but is probably a bigger car than she wants. The Acura TL was not appealing, the TSX was offers no AWD. The TLX just came out so is likely out of the price range.
I honestly think her impression of SUV's are Land Cruisers and other truck based SUVs (Lexus GX). Most of the SUV's out there are much more car-like these days. We drove a few small SUV's and she didn't seem to mind them, so this process is very open ended. Much like my sister, her opinions aren't very strong in car shopping.
That said, my sister loves her new RAV4 Limited. I've got to say, for the money it's a really nice car. It could use a turbo or 6-cyl, but the quality is excellent and its packed with features.
This weekend we're checking out a few 2011-2013 S60's at a family friend owned Volvo dealer. I wouldn't mind her getting an S60 T6
It's the right size, good CPO price value, solid CPO warranty, AWD option on many, luxury features, etc.She checked out some VW's last weekend without me. The Passat/CC was too big and the Jetta too small. I've driven a 2.5L Jetta and thought it was too underpowered, I can only imagine the the Passat. I know they have the 1.8T out again, so I cannot comment on that. VW's reliability isn't great currently.
We walked through a Subaru dealer weeks ago and nothing jumped out as appealing to her. I don't think she'd buy an American car and isn't drawn to Honda/Toyota/Nissan cars. The compact SUV market seems to be where the affordable AWD vehicles with good gas mileage are.
She also likes the 2nd generation Lexus IS AWD but is concerned the backseat is too small. Her parents are repeat Lexus/Toyota buyers. BMW/Audi are generally more than she wants to spend up front or on repairs. The Infiniti G35x might be worth looking into, but is probably a bigger car than she wants. The Acura TL was not appealing, the TSX was offers no AWD. The TLX just came out so is likely out of the price range.
I honestly think her impression of SUV's are Land Cruisers and other truck based SUVs (Lexus GX). Most of the SUV's out there are much more car-like these days. We drove a few small SUV's and she didn't seem to mind them, so this process is very open ended. Much like my sister, her opinions aren't very strong in car shopping.
That said, my sister loves her new RAV4 Limited. I've got to say, for the money it's a really nice car. It could use a turbo or 6-cyl, but the quality is excellent and its packed with features.
What is everyone's thoughts on the new Camaro? I like it. I know people are deriding it for it's evolutionary redesign, but the Mustang is evolutionary, Porsche's are evolutionary, BMW's, etc which everyone seems to love...... Switching over to the Alpha platform( ATS, CTS) will make it quite a handler too along with it losing 200 lb.
http://www.autoblog.com/2015/05/16/2016-chevrolet-camaro-reveal-official/
http://www.autoblog.com/2015/05/16/2016-chevrolet-camaro-reveal-official/
I think it has solid incremental exterior changes (I like some of the Corvette design language it picked up), really outstanding interior updates (the last interior was kind of a train wreck...) and the combination of the new platform, LT1 (455/455, nice!), weight loss, mag suspension, brakes, etc., should make for a pretty terrific driving experience. For folks wanting a nice "cruiser", the an SS convertible with the 8-speed auto will be a ton of fun! Speaking of, I guess the convertibles didn't premier, so that'll be a mid-year, or maybe '17 model intro[?]
It's a solid improvement, but I've never been a Camaro fan. The back is pretty boring too. I like the Mustang myself
I don't really care for either, but I certainly prefer the Mustang. The back of the Camaro is still an issue, honestly.