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Wheeee posted:It's not just America, the situation is much the same in Canada where distances are vast by the standards of more densely populated regions and public infrastructure is mediocre at best. I live in the city with arguably the most expansive transit system in Canada (Toronto) and if you don’t work in the downtown core pretty much you need a car.
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May 7, 2020 17:58
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A lot of people point to Japan as an ideal for a car-less society but having visited there that is absolutely not true. They do love their cars.
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May 7, 2020 17:59
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blk posted:Was there ever a liftback/sportback four-seater in the US with a manual transmission? All I can think of is the OG Mazda 6 and maybe the Audi TT, but I’m wondering if something like the A5 or one of the silly four door coupes was ever offered like this. Do you mean 4 door? Mazda 626 was another, certain 80s FWD Corollas.
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May 7, 2020 18:08
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There has been tons of 2 door lift backs. VVVSorry for serial postingVVV Frond fucked around with this message at 18:13 on May 7, 2020 |
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May 7, 2020 18:08
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Breaking the Frond chain just because beep beep i'm a car
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May 7, 2020 18:10
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Frond posted:A lot of people point to Japan as an ideal for a car-less society but having visited there that is absolutely not true. They do love their cars. they love cars but it's not absolutely necessary. pretty same with germany at least in any midsize city.
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May 7, 2020 18:40
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BMW is ending its European Delivery program. Audi ended theirs in 2018. https://www.autonews.com/retail/bmw-ending-european-delivery-na-customers quote:After carefully evaluating the changing BMW U.S. customer preferences towards U.S.-built X vehicles and the declining interest in the European Delivery Program, BMW has made the decision to bring the European Delivery Program to a close in the Fall of 2020.While fewer customers have been taking advantage of driving their new BMW’s in Europe prior to having their cars shipped to the U.S., we have seen a marked increase in interest in the BMW Ultimate Delivery Experience at our Greenville-Spartanburg facility which is available for any production BMW vehicle, not just for those built in South Carolina. Basically everyone is buying their SUVs and CUVs which are made in South Carolina. I wonder if we'll see Europeans coming over to do a North American Delivery when they buy their new SUV.
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May 7, 2020 18:44
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Frond posted:A lot of people point to Japan as an ideal for a car-less society but having visited there that is absolutely not true. They do love their cars. You can love and enjoy cars without necessitating the use of one for most daily tasks. I'd argue it makes it even more enjoyable if you don't have to use your car to commute or run to the store. The necessity of a car is what makes people buy boring dull CUV appliances, because there's no fun or enjoyment in the day-to-day driving grind for most people. Few people want an "exciting" appliance. Cars (and car infrastructure like massive roads and parking lots) take up a hugely disproportionate amount of space in even small cities, and it's not an environment that is enjoyable to drive in most of the time. But put me on a country road with no destination or timeline and I'm going to have a great drive. Guinness fucked around with this message at 18:50 on May 7, 2020 |
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May 7, 2020 18:44
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I've been work from home since March and after weeks spent in quarantine without driving, and with my horrible daily commute now a fading memory, just going out to the store woke something up in me and for the first time in ages I actually really enjoyed driving again and hosed off to tool around for a while.
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May 7, 2020 19:01
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yeah my wife and i have been driving around for the fun of it and having a picnic in remote parks that dont have that many people in it
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May 7, 2020 19:07
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Frond posted:A lot of people point to Japan as an ideal for a car-less society but having visited there that is absolutely not true. They do love their cars. I lived there for 3 years, and altho driving is better for the most part, you could absolutely live almost anywhere in Japan without a car and be fine. But like Kyoon said the car culture there is pretty strong, lots of Japanese drive just as a hobby and commute by train to work.
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May 7, 2020 20:23
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IOwnCalculus posted:Mercedes automatics are indeed a thing of beauty. Fun fact about a good chunk of BMW automatics: They're GM transmissions. GM transmissions haven't been a thing for a while, ZF 6, 7 and 8 speeds have been the standard since 2000ish. Edit: I adore the 8 speed. It's the perfect transmission, DPK-like shifts and it's almost always clutch to clutch change, good ratio and on BMWs it has perfect programming. It's almost like if Mercedes Benz made it. Kivi fucked around with this message at 21:42 on May 7, 2020 |
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May 7, 2020 21:38
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Kivi posted:
6L45
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May 7, 2020 21:54
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Kivi posted:Mercedes perfected the auto box. If you have Benz with manual you're either dumb or you have 190 2.5 Cosworth. The FWD models had some fairly crummy CVTs then DCTs up until quite recently. I haven't found either the 5 or 7 speed in the W204 particularly impressive either, at least not when paired with the smaller engines which is all I've driven.
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May 8, 2020 07:31
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taqueso posted:We should develop testing that better mimics actual driving, something like playback of prerecorded torque requests and loads. There’s actually a real-world driving component as part of Euro 6 now, I wrote about it a few years ago: https://arstechnica.com/cars/2017/07/a-diesel-emissions-test-you-cant-game-we-try-it-out/ drgitlin fucked around with this message at 11:35 on May 8, 2020 |
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May 8, 2020 11:25
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Throatwarbler posted:It would actually be more like "The rules say no steroids and no one took steroids except VW, an insanely dumb company, started and ended the race on a bicycle but was actually riding a gixxer for most of the race and no one noticed for a while because no one could possibly be that dumb." It's not even just money, people are in actual PMITA federal prison over this. The thing is, it *wasn’t* just VW. FCA got caught using cheaty Bosch software here in the US (and for a comparative slap on the wrist because it’s American, sort-of), and in the EU just about everyone was cooking their tests.
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May 8, 2020 11:29
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bull3964 posted:Yet they are clearly affecting policy since several places have rescinded mask requirements to avoid violence. He means the ruling party that wants to reopen the country yesterday because gently caress old people and poor people.
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May 8, 2020 11:33
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dissss posted:The FWD models had some fairly crummy CVTs then DCTs up until quite recently.
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May 8, 2020 19:30
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Mr. Apollo posted:BMW is ending its European Delivery program. Audi ended theirs in 2018. Porsche still does euro delivery, right?
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May 8, 2020 19:40
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Ultimate Mango posted:Porsche still does euro delivery, right? Yes, for now. 
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May 8, 2020 21:45
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Residency Evil posted:Yes, for now.
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May 9, 2020 15:41
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got off on a technicality posted:True, can confirm after 2.5 years of awful GLA ownership that that DCT is the boil on the rear end of Mercedes' record with transmissions. I blame my spouse My condolences to you and your partner for living with the GLA, the worst new car you can buy in America today.
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May 9, 2020 16:16
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Godzilla07 posted:My condolences to you and your partner for living with the GLA, the worst new car you can buy in America today. I was given one a couple years ago as a loaner. I knew it was hosed when the first words out of the service advisor's mouth was "Let me start on about how this transmission..."
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May 9, 2020 16:35
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C-Bangin' it 
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Kivi posted:Mercedes perfected the auto box. If you have Benz with manual you're either dumb or you have 190 2.5 Cosworth. I’ll second the ‘Zed-F’ 8 speed. It’s buttery smooth, fast and responsive. I never had a problem with the DCT in the GTI but the ZF-8 is so much better.
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May 9, 2020 18:32
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Mr. Apollo posted:Porsche, Mercedes, and Volvo still do Euro delivery. I don't believe Volvo does anymore.
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May 9, 2020 20:53
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Volvo may not be at the moment, but they absolutely were 6 months ago when I was looking at buying a v60cc. Obviously you'd have to order something they're making in Sweden as opposed to China or South Carolina.
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May 9, 2020 21:21
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blk posted:Was there ever a liftback/sportback four-seater in the US with a manual transmission? All I can think of is the OG Mazda 6 and maybe the Audi TT, but I’m wondering if something like the A5 or one of the silly four door coupes was ever offered like this. How about a forward-thinking crossover with a straight six and AWD? AMC Eagle SX/4
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May 10, 2020 09:33
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tetrapyloctomy posted:How about a forward-thinking crossover with a straight six and AWD? One of my favorites ever. So drat cool.
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May 10, 2020 10:36
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tetrapyloctomy posted:How about a forward-thinking crossover with a straight six and AWD? Nah fcuk that. Ford Territory with a Barra
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May 10, 2020 10:38
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Godzilla07 posted:My condolences to you and your partner for living with the GLA, the worst new car you can buy in America today. Get a load of this guy not knowing about the Mitsubishi Mirage
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May 10, 2020 12:13
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I honestly thought Mitsubishi had stopped selling cars in the US.
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May 10, 2020 18:32
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Godholio posted:I honestly thought Mitsubishi had stopped selling cars in the US. Well, calling what they sell "cars" is a bit generous.
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May 10, 2020 18:34
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Godholio posted:I honestly thought Mitsubishi had stopped selling cars in the US. So has the HQ. I'm sure at the board meeting someone once every few years ask "What the hell is this line item?"
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May 10, 2020 18:44
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RIP Gen2 Eclipse and 3000GT.
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May 10, 2020 18:56
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Charles posted:6L45 I actually forgot Mercedes makes FWD models too. My neighbour even has his A-class parked across mine now that I think of it.
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May 10, 2020 22:00
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Godholio posted:I honestly thought Mitsubishi had stopped selling cars in the US. It's a shock that in Australia Mitsubishi sells more cars than Ford
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May 11, 2020 00:01
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You Am I posted:It's a shock that in Australia Mitsubishi sells more cars than Ford What do they even make??
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May 11, 2020 16:49
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JK Fresco posted:What do they even make?? Almost exclusively CUVs, the Mirage being one exception I can think of. At least here in the US.
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May 11, 2020 17:55
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The L200 and Pajero are legitimately well made and reliable products. They are extremely agricultural though.
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May 11, 2020 18:52
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There's the Eclipse Cross, which was so horribly mediocre and old-feeling that I told Mitsubishi I wasn't going to write the review after driving one for a week because it would feel too much like punching down.
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May 11, 2020 19:18
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