Car Chat

[cawimmer430]

Yikes. Sorry, Wilmer, but that looks like a Lincoln design even they were smart enough to throw out.

It's actually an artist's rendering/digital drawing of how they envision a futuristic EV E-Class. MB had nothing to do with it (unfortunately).

Regarding the artist's rendering, I see more Cadillac in it than Lincoln.

[cawimmer430]

I know why they have a separate EQ brand, but if Merc is going to go full electric I hope they keep existing styling and proportions and fit them with the necessary motors/batteries.

Agreed. I just find their EVs to be so ugly. The EQS has a stunning interior but the outside looks like an Easter egg...

They're literally being forced by the EU to go electric. If this EU7 nonsense comes through it's the death of the internal combustion engine here. 


My sister is doing great. Love her sense of humor. She knows how much Merkel, Greta, Annalena Baerbock and Luisa Neubauer trigger me.... 

[SJ_GTI]

I am trying to figure out why she would write your birthday card in English instead of German. When you guys talk do you generally speak in German or English...?

[Raza]

It's actually an artist's rendering/digital drawing of how they envision a futuristic EV E-Class. MB had nothing to do with it (unfortunately).

Regarding the artist's rendering, I see more Cadillac in it than Lincoln.

Cadillac, Lincoln, either way, they're both equally insulting to use the context I used it.  Gross.   

[cawimmer430]

I am trying to figure out why she would write your birthday card in English instead of German. When you guys talk do you generally speak in German or English...?

We tend to speak German. I assume she wrote it in English because she knew I'd share it on Facebook and wanted all my friends to get a good laugh out of it.

[cawimmer430]

Anyone else think that a retro-designed EV Trabant could be an amazing city car sales hit? 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=No1-4GsQa-g

[FoMoJo]

Hmmm...Consumer Reports Fingers 12 Oil-Burning Engines from the 2010s

The engines appear in alphabetical order (by car manufacturer).

1 - Acura 3.7L V6 (2010-2013)

2 - Audi 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder (2010-2018)

3 - Audi 3.0L supercharged V6 (2011-2019)

4 - BMW 4.4L turbo V8 (2012-2019)

5 - GM 2.4L 4-cylinder (2011-2015)

6 - Mini (BMW) 1.6L turbo 4-cylinder (2010-2015)

7 - Subaru 2.0L 4-cylinder (2012-2017)

8 - Subaru 2.5L 4-cylinder (2010-2018)

9 - Subaru 3.6L 6-cylinder (2010-2018)

10 - Volkswagen 1.4L turbo 4-cylinder (2016-2019)

11 - Volvo 3.0L turbo V6 (2011-2015)

12 - Volvo 3.2L V6 (2010-2014)

[JWC]

I didn't see it in the article, but how much oil are they using?  When I worked for Ford and GM, both allowed 1qt per 3,000 miles. We used to have to have customers who complained about oil consumption come by the dealership every 500 miles or so for a check. We changed the oil, at their expense, and marked the dipstick. Never had one that didn't fall under the allowable range.

[CALL_911]

For suuuuuuuuure the VWAG 2.0T. Apparently the Toyota 2.4L I4 from the late 2000s was also known for it.

[MX793]

For suuuuuuuuure the VWAG 2.0T. Apparently the Toyota 2.4L I4 from the late 2000s was also known for it.

I thought that one was known more for sludging.

[CALL_911]

I thought that one was known more for sludging.

I think that's the 3.0L V6 from the 1990s-2000s but the 2.4 could be too

[SJ_GTI]

2 - Audi 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder (2010-2018)

3 - Audi 3.0L supercharged V6 (2011-2019)

Depending on which 2.0L turbo they are talking about, it looks like I had two of the highest offenders. 

I recall adding oil to my Audi once or twice (I think it had ~70k miles on it when I sold it) but my Golf (which has the same 2.0L turbo as the Audi S3) has been fine.

That being said, to me an engine burning some small amount of oil has never been that big of a deal. If it is leaking or burning so much that you can see/smell it in the exhaust it would be a problem. I've always kept a spare quart of oil in my trunk/hatch on all my cars.

[cawimmer430]

Malaise Era Part 4

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiJ6Eegi7sg

[FoMoJo]

I didn't see it in the article, but how much oil are they using?  When I worked for Ford and GM, both allowed 1qt per 3,000 miles. We used to have to have customers who complained about oil consumption come by the dealership every 500 miles or so for a check. We changed the oil, at their expense, and marked the dipstick. Never had one that didn't fall under the allowable range.

I think that was expected during a certain era.  Cars I had early on always used or lost oil, especially the British cars.  The '59 Sprite I had for a short while used to use/lose a quart every 75 miles.  The first car I had that didn't burn oil was my '66 Mustang, but I think the engine metals (alloys) used in the '60s were superior to those used in the following 2 or 3 decades.  When most manufacturers started using aluminum alloys with iron cylinder sleeves and far better machining standards, it was unusual for engines to consume oil; except for the odd one that may have had some flaws.

[cawimmer430]

It's really cool how MBUX learns my daily routes and automatically activates my navigation system in the city when it detects traffic ahead. It instantly turns on and let me know which route is quickest in this case and how I can best avoid traffic. Even better, it somehow knows that I want to drive to my home address - and I didn't even activate or requested it to bring me there. Kinda creepy how good modern artificial intelligence / software is. 

[veeman]

Hmmm...Consumer Reports Fingers 12 Oil-Burning Engines from the 2010s

The engines appear in alphabetical order (by car manufacturer).

1 - Acura 3.7L V6 (2010-2013)

2 - Audi 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder (2010-2018)

3 - Audi 3.0L supercharged V6 (2011-2019)

4 - BMW 4.4L turbo V8 (2012-2019)

5 - GM 2.4L 4-cylinder (2011-2015)

6 - Mini (BMW) 1.6L turbo 4-cylinder (2010-2015)

7 - Subaru 2.0L 4-cylinder (2012-2017)

8 - Subaru 2.5L 4-cylinder (2010-2018)

9 - Subaru 3.6L 6-cylinder (2010-2018)

10 - Volkswagen 1.4L turbo 4-cylinder (2016-2019)

11 - Volvo 3.0L turbo V6 (2011-2015)

12 - Volvo 3.2L V6 (2010-2014)thi

My former 2017 Subaru Crosstrek which had the #7 engine on the list above started burning oil after around 80,000 miles on the odometer.  The oil change interval according to the maintenance booklet was 6,000 miles and the low oil light would come on at 5,000 miles.  So I would check the dipstick, it was low, and add a quart of oil.  After this happened twice in a row, I started bringing it in for the oil change at 5,000 miles.  It required synthetic 0w-20 oil which was really thin.  On some Subaru forums people had recommended using 5w-20 or 5w-30 oil to help a little bit with the oil consumption.  I brought this up to the service advisor at the Subaru dealership I went to and he looked at me like I had two heads...  anyways didn't bother me any.  I never had problems with the engine.  Just the CV joints and axles, wheel bearings, and clutch. 

[veeman]

Anyone else think that a retro-designed EV Trabant could be an amazing city car sales hit? 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=No1-4GsQa-g

In India they sold a car forever up until the year 2000 called the Fiat (Premier Padmini).  It looks and probably drove just like a Trabant. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Padmini

I've been a passenger in many miles in a Fiat while visiting my relatives in India in the 1980s and 1990s.  Charming little car that families would drive for decades.  No snow or road salt so little rust issues.  They would just give it a paint job every 10 years.  No national highway system at that time so not many places to be able to drive fast.  People generally stayed off the roads between cities at night because it was mostly truck traffic and driving at night between city centers was pretty much a death trap (no road lights, narrow roads, fast moving trucks without a divider on the roads). 

[JWC]

I think that was expected during a certain era.  Cars I had early on always used or lost oil, especially the British cars.  The '59 Sprite I had for a short while used to use/lose a quart every 75 miles.  The first car I had that didn't burn oil was my '66 Mustang, but I think the engine metals (alloys) used in the '60s were superior to those used in the following 2 or 3 decades.  When most manufacturers started using aluminum alloys with iron cylinder sleeves and far better machining standards, it was unusual for engines to consume oil; except for the odd one that may have had some flaws.

My era was the 1990s thru 2010. Customers who were told 1qt/3K was normal were not happy.

[MX793]

My era was the 1990s thru 2010. Customers who were told 1qt/3K was normal were not happy.

I recall manufacturers considering 1qt/1000 miles being "acceptable" in that era.  IIRC, C5 Z06 Corvettes were known to consume some oil and Chevy told customers anything within 1/1000 was within spec.

[JWC]

I recall manufacturers considering 1qt/1000 miles being "acceptable" in that era.  IIRC, C5 Z06 Corvettes were known to consume some oil and Chevy told customers anything within 1/1000 was within spec.

You might be correct. I haven't worked with autos in a while.

[cawimmer430]

In India they sold a car forever up until the year 2000 called the Fiat (Premier Padmini).  It looks and probably drove just like a Trabant. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Padmini

I've been a passenger in many miles in a Fiat while visiting my relatives in India in the 1980s and 1990s.  Charming little car that families would drive for decades.  No snow or road salt so little rust issues.  They would just give it a paint job every 10 years.  No national highway system at that time so not many places to be able to drive fast.  People generally stayed off the roads between cities at night because it was mostly truck traffic and driving at night between city centers was pretty much a death trap (no road lights, narrow roads, fast moving trucks without a divider on the roads). 

Cars like the Premier Padmini are proof that developing nations will for decades still rely on ICE cars: cheap and plentiful of cheap fuel to run them in this world.

[cawimmer430]

With so much RPM to go before redline, how could my car have a top speed of only 250 km/h!? 

[AutobahnSHO]

At the gas station on Ft Meade someone pulled up with their exhaust sounding like a NASCAR (Camaro). Younger guy driver in uniform then was arguing with two other younger guys, one in a 90s Mustang who said he could beat any of them with his Nitrous 100shot and a newish Mustang who also said he has Nitrous.

I gassed up the minivan content knowing that I could beat any of them on a cloverleaf onramp with economy tires in the Miata. (then get wasted on any straightway)

[MX793]

At the gas station on Ft Meade someone pulled up with their exhaust sounding like a NASCAR (Camaro). Younger guy driver in uniform then was arguing with two other younger guys, one in a 90s Mustang who said he could beat any of them with his Nitrous 100shot and a newish Mustang who also said he has Nitrous.

I gassed up the minivan content knowing that I could beat any of them on a cloverleaf onramp with economy tires in the Miata. (then get wasted on any straightway)

I wouldn't underestimate a newer (independent rear suspension) Camaro or Mustang on a cloverleaf or twisty bit of road.  Even the later live axle Mustangs (especially the '10-'14) could actually handle.  Cloverleafs are actually one area where older live axle cars do pretty well so long as there aren't any bumps.  It's transitions and S curves where older Mustangs tended to struggle.

[FoMoJo]

I wouldn't underestimate a newer (independent rear suspension) Camaro or Mustang on a cloverleaf or twisty bit of road.  Even the later live axle Mustangs (especially the '10-'14) could actually handle.  Cloverleafs are actually one area where older live axle cars do pretty well so long as there aren't any bumps.  It's transitions and S curves where older Mustangs tended to struggle.

Makes sense, live axles keep the tires planted better.

[FoMoJo]

With so much RPM to go before redline, how could my car have a top speed of only 250 km/h!? 

Have you ever reached 250 km/h?

[cawimmer430]

Have you ever reached 250 km/h?

Yes, once after I snapped this photo. But unfortunately I didn't have the RPM display activated but the fuel economy / range bonus readout. It's not everyday that you can drive this fast due to all the traffic and idiots on the Autobahn these days.

[shp4man]

I've been using Blue to haul my bicycle down to a 30 mile dedicated bike path instead of dealing with crazy drivers and possible death. It's funny, old cars are like old people, they have good days and bad days.
The old truck was running like a top today, the six was outputting it's full 155 HP. Started right up. I really love that old truck. I hope it outlives me.

[AutobahnSHO]

I don't ride on streets. Too many deaths. Come out and visit though, we live right on the best bike path!

[cawimmer430]

After watching this, I now want a Celebrity! 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7SgCDPXKkQ