the anti-sportscar thread

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

2L turbo 4 and electic power steering I believe.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Thu Aug 08, 2013 12:20 pm

steve remchak wrote:

.

CPOs should start popping up in about a year or so.

And CELs slightly later

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

I like the electric steering in the S2000 and my Mazda2. Maybe ze Germans haven't figured out how to keep good steering feel while switching away from a hydraulic system?

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Thu Aug 08, 2013 4:26 pm

clinehall wrote:

On a semi related note, I would like to see a good article (that does not have an ax to grind) about the real savings to the planet with Hybrids. One side says they will save the world, the other side says that the energy produced to build and recycle negates any saving. What's the real deal. Can anybody point me there?

Here is one regarding full electric vehicles. I haven't read the article yet so don't know the conclusions or the ax grinding situation.

http://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/renewab ... -any-speed

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Thu Aug 08, 2013 4:29 pm

Andrew Jonell wrote:

I like the electric steering in the S2000 and my Mazda2. Maybe ze Germans haven't figured out how to keep good steering feel while switching away from a hydraulic system?

The electric steering on my 2012 Mustang is fine . . . by my standards.

However, my basis of comparison are older Mustangs, an 88 Dodge 1 ton van, and an autocrossed race car on slicks. :lol:

RickyBeam · **Posted:** Thu Aug 08, 2013 6:26 pm

Steven Carter wrote:

quiet interior
comfortable ride
nice stereo
mpg >35 combined
new list price under $35k

The list of possibilities is disheartening at best, but may have some interesting choices:
Lexus CT200h
...

As a Lexus man, I can tell you right off, the CT fails 4 out of 5... it is not quiet (certainly not Lexus Quiet(tm)), the sporty seats aren't that comfy, the base model audio package isn't that great, and as soon as you depart from "base model" the price rockets up. (also, it's slow as f***. 0-60 in 10s isn't a lie.) The HS fits all requirements, but they aren't "new" anymore (ended production in 2012.) The new ES300h would as well, but I'm not so sure about the 35k number.

(My metric for "quiet"... I can set my cellphone on the dash, speak in a normal voice, at highway speeds, and the person on the other end cannot tell I'm in my car.)

MikeWhitney wrote:

I get why fuel economy is important ... What I don't get is why people let it weigh so heavily on their micro level requirements.

Because it's something we see weekly. You see it everytime you fill the tank. An 80$ fillup vs. a 40$ one is very noticeable. For the record, I went from a Lexus ES330 @ 27mpg (on a good day) using premium to an HS250h @ 36+ (much higher if I don't "drive angry") using "cheap gas". (diff: ~100gal per year)

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Thu Aug 08, 2013 8:55 pm

Thanks, Ricky! Do you have any regrets/issues with the HS?

RickyBeam · **Posted:** Thu Aug 08, 2013 11:50 pm

Steven Carter wrote:

Thanks, Ricky! Do you have any regrets/issues with the HS?

Only that the ES300h didn't exist when I bought it. :-) It's not as quiet as the rest of the Lexus line (lighter sound damping material, vs. the CT just not having any), and the "eco" heated/vented seats don't have their own A/C. (my ES300 did. and it's seat heaters could cook things.)

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Fri Aug 09, 2013 8:43 am

ok, so what about the Caddy ATS. Supposed to be the cat's meow and competition for 3 series....

http://www.cadillac.com/ats-luxury-sport-sedan.html

JamesShort · **Posted:** Fri Aug 09, 2013 8:47 am

RodneyWright wrote:

ok, so what about the Caddy ATS. Supposed to be the cat's meow and competition for 3 series....

http://www.cadillac.com/ats-luxury-sport-sedan.html

I like the ATS, but I'm afraid of airbags blowing up if I pull a turn at .8gs

.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Fri Aug 09, 2013 8:52 am

JamesShort wrote:

RodneyWright wrote:

ok, so what about the Caddy ATS. Supposed to be the cat's meow and competition for 3 series....

http://www.cadillac.com/ats-luxury-sport-sedan.html

I like the ATS, but I'm afraid of airbags blowing up if I pull a turn at .8gs

.

That part about recent GM products is simply insane. I assume they just say "it's working as designed", and it becomes the owner's problem to enjoy?

I've never looked at the ATS before, but it looks pretty nice on their site -- seeing that it has a mechanical LSD is surprising.

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

Steve, only one option: CTS-V Wagon. It'll be an easy sell to your better half since it's extremely practical.

Godspeed, sir.

Patrice Bousquet · **Posted:** Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:31 am

Andrew Jonell wrote:

Steve, only one option: CTS-V Wagon. It'll be an easy sell to your better half since it's extremely practical.

Godspeed, sir.

But don't do AX with it, remember Z-Max last June where one pop its side airbag up.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:32 am

Andrew Jonell wrote:

Steve, only one option: CTS-V Wagon. It'll be an easy sell to your better half since it's extremely practical.

Godspeed, sir.

{hands over ears} nahnahnahnahnahnah....I can't hear you....nahnahnahnahnah

You are such an enabler, Andrew. :twisted:

I do like that wagon. A lot.

Maybe if I buy enough XOM, CVX etc I can justify the dividend as offsetting the gas costs...

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Fri Aug 09, 2013 1:55 pm

subaru legacy h6. awd, four doors, and subie power. awd means you come rally cross on so4,with me in the wrx, and others.or, forester 2.5l turbo.

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