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Detroit, 10:24 AM
Tue Dec 8
26 posts in the last 24 hours

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    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
    12/03/09

    In reply to 2010 Mercedes ML450 Hybrid: Quick Drive
    Sounds like it would be fine for most ML buyers.
     Reply
    Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet was starred Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet was unstarred
    Image of FTGDWolverineEdition'09 FTGDWolverineEdition'09
    12/03/09

    In reply to 2010 Mercedes ML450 Hybrid: Quick Drive
    BTW this uses the similar 2-mode hybrid transmission. Co-developed jointly by GM-BMW-DCX (ex).
     Reply
    FTGDWolverineEdition'09 was starred FTGDWolverineEdition'09 was unstarred
    Image of Ash78, cube farmer Ash78, cube farmer
    12/03/09

    In reply to 2010 Mercedes ML450 Hybrid: Quick Drive
    The businessman in me sees no reason for this level of complexity for an immaterial change in mpg (vs diesel, a well proven and fairly clean technology that Mercedes has been working on for their entire existence).

    Good call on the hybrid badge.

    FWIW, the plant that builds these (and GL, R) has been slowing consistently over the past couple years, and Merc just announced they're going to add 1,000 jobs back via bringing on the C-class. I don't think the ML hybrid is any long-term solution, but more of a "stop the bleeding" measure until people are weaned back onto regular cars.
     Reply
    Ash78, cube farmer was starred Ash78, cube farmer was unstarred
    Image of that ain't the way to have fun, son that ain't the way to have fun, son
    12/03/09

    @Ash78, cube farmer:

    Sometimes, while people fear change, it is necessary to distract them from the looming end-game play.

    I'm with everyone...diesel is the current answer, but we're all in a very small minority.
     Reply
    that ain't the way to have fun, son was starred that ain't the way to have fun, son was unstarred
    Image of FTGDWolverineEdition'09 FTGDWolverineEdition'09
    12/03/09

    In reply to 2010 Mercedes ML450 Hybrid: Quick Drive
    2010 Mercedes MILF450 Hybrid would've been a better description.
     Reply
    FTGDWolverineEdition'09 was starred FTGDWolverineEdition'09 was unstarred
    Image of Turboner Turboner
    11/30/09

    In reply to 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster
    Keep you damn slushboxes out of my "sports" cars, please? What do you want me to do, take up smoking just to give my left foot something to do?
     Reply
    Turboner was starred Turboner was unstarred
    Image of DoogieFullHouser DoogieFullHouser
    11/30/09

    @Turboner: Thinks... Yes, yes I do!

    -Hands free cigarette-
     Reply
    günter macbeetle, codename: chrystlubitshi promoted this comment DoogieFullHouser was starred DoogieFullHouser was unstarred
    Image of chrystlubitshi kicked the star habit chrystlubitshi kicked the star habit
    11/30/09

    @DoogieFullHouser: good for her and all.. but wow.. i don't think i needed to see that...............
     Reply
    chrystlubitshi kicked the star habit was starred chrystlubitshi kicked the star habit was unstarred
    Image of Rust-MyEnemy Rust-MyEnemy
    11/30/09

    In reply to 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster
    As a fussy bastard, I'm starting to take issue with most reviews of sports cars I ever read, and how they are drivers cars etc. etc. etc.

    Yeah, they are, compared to an Infiniti or something, and I've not driven the 370z. But I have driven the 350, and;

    The thing is, the limits are too damned high. There's loads of grip. Theres good weight distribution and masses of power. But unless you're really damn good (and I'm probably not) you don't really get involved other than aiming the car and pressing go.

    Personally speaking, and I know I'm probably wrong here, a Drivers Car is one where you can feel the limits and know what to do when you reach them. Like an old Capri or Ford Mustang. Primitive suspension. Skinny tyres and too much power for the chassis.

    That's where the fun is. Getting a "Whoa" moment at 60 and knowing how to catch it.

    In this, I just know any "Whoa" moment would see me doing a Nick Hogan.

    Give Nick a TR6 or a '68 Vette and maybe he'll learn something. Stick him in a Lambo with immense grip and power, and the soft tissue behind the helm starts to be a big problem.
     Reply
    Rust-MyEnemy was starred Rust-MyEnemy was unstarred
    Image of Wes Siler Wes Siler
    11/30/09

    @Rust-MyEnemy: We've addressed that concern with the Z a couple of times, first in Matt's review:

    [jalopnik.com]

    Then in mine:

    [jalopnik.com]

    And I think it's a totally valid criticism. Luckily, there's an affordable, practical solution. Just buy a Hyundai Genesis Coupe, it makes all the same moves as the Z, but its limits are lower so it's more fun to drive in everyday conditions and for a wider range of drivers.
     Reply
    Wes Siler was starred Wes Siler was unstarred
    Image of Wes Siler Wes Siler
    11/30/09

    @Rust-MyEnemy: Oh, and here's that Gen Coupe story:

    [jalopnik.com]
     Reply
    Wes Siler was starred Wes Siler was unstarred
    Image of Rust-MyEnemy Rust-MyEnemy
    11/30/09

    @Wes Siler: Yeah, I read them, i'm totally with you and not hatin' or nuttin.

    I just think it's a shame so many people have forgotten what driving is all about.

    Keep up the good work by the way!
     Reply
    Rust-MyEnemy was starred Rust-MyEnemy was unstarred
    Image of tonyola tonyola
    11/30/09

    @Rust-MyEnemy: Oh, how I agree with you. Friends with powerful and capable sports cars or luxosport sedans laugh at me when I tell them how much fun I had with a CRX, but they just don't understand. It was like driving a comfortable and rain-proof go-kart. Every outing was an adventure and a potential test of the car's ability. Light weight and not having scads of reserve power meant I was able to drive at 7/10 or 8/10 in conditions where the 370Z might be at 3/10. I learned all about what the limits of the CRX were. My friends will probably not get the chance to do the same in their ubercars.
     Reply
    tonyola was starred tonyola was unstarred
    Image of Rust-MyEnemy Rust-MyEnemy
    11/30/09

    @tonyola: Yep, I had an old Rover. Heavy, didn't handle, wasn't fast. And I had so much fun as it was at 8/10 pretty much the whole time.

    In fact you needed some skill to keep the damn thing pointing the right way.
     Reply
    Rust-MyEnemy was starred Rust-MyEnemy was unstarred
    Image of brick-geek brick-geek
    11/30/09

    @Rust-MyEnemy: I know what you mean. I love my S60R. It is a wonderfully refined daily driver and can be sporty in advanced mode. However, I am just not comfortable pushing her to the limit. Maybe on a track somewhere, but certainly not on a public road.
     Reply
    Rust-MyEnemy promoted this comment brick-geek was starred brick-geek was unstarred
    Image of SlowMo (actually, there's no E on my R) SlowMo (actually, there's no E on my R)
    11/30/09

    @Rust-MyEnemy: I agree. And I think that is a problem even with entry cars that new drivers are likely to own. A Ford Focus can probably out-handle many a 1980's sports car (that'd be a fun comparison article). So drivers just think they can go as fast as their engines will propel them and they only have to turn the wheel (like a lot of SUV drivers in the snow). Older, slower cars are way more fun because they keep you thinking about what the car is trying to do. Cars with super high limits scare me because I think I won't know I'm in over my head until I'm going much faster. I'll take 'em old and low-adhesion, thanks.

    Fantastic car and nice write up though.
     Reply
    Rust-MyEnemy promoted this comment SlowMo (actually, there's no E on my R) was starred SlowMo (actually, there's no E on my R) was unstarred
    Image of brandegee brandegee
    11/30/09

    With that kind of waist and that kind of price (up to $46K!!!) you'd think they'd splurge on a convertible hardtop.
     Reply
    brandegee was starred brandegee was unstarred
    Image of Rust-MyEnemy Rust-MyEnemy
    12/01/09

    @SlowMo (actually, there's no E on my R): It's just as well our friendly 'Lopnik scribblers seem to be able to drive a bit, and the write-ups are always worth reading.

    I'd love to see a few reviews of older cars, just to get a bit of context. What does a SVO Mustang feel like compared to a Genesis Coupe? That sort of thing.
     Reply
    Rust-MyEnemy was starred Rust-MyEnemy was unstarred
    Image of Rust-MyEnemy Rust-MyEnemy
    12/01/09

    @brick-geek: Hell of a car, the S60R. Anything that builds on the T5 legend is awesome, and a bit of understeer is fine in the right hands..
     Reply
    Rust-MyEnemy was starred Rust-MyEnemy was unstarred
    Image of SlowMo (actually, there's no E on my R) SlowMo (actually, there's no E on my R)
    12/01/09

    @Rust-MyEnemy: I think that would be great. Like a 2L Alfa GTV vs mid-90's Sentra SE-R vs ... hmmm well, some small-ish fun 2-door sedan from today... maybe a 1-series? I always remember when Grassroots Motorsports put a Honda Odyssey minivan on an autocross course and compared it to a 365 and an E-type. It lost at first but they put some better tires on it and the minivan beat 'em both.
     Reply
    Edited by SlowMo (actually, there's no E on my R) at 12/01/09 9:38 AM SlowMo (actually, there's no E on my R) was starred SlowMo (actually, there's no E on my R) was unstarred
    Image of pauljones pauljones
    11/30/09

    In reply to 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster
    It's nice to know that it drives and performs well, but I just can't get over the oddball looks it is sporting, and this is coming from a guy who likes the looks of the original 350Z coupes.
     Reply
    pauljones was starred pauljones was unstarred
    Image of Jeremy Jeremy
    11/30/09

    In reply to 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster
    It looks really nice. Though I liked the last Z Roadster, too.
     Reply
    Jeremy was starred Jeremy was unstarred
    Image of Nicholas Lauer Nicholas Lauer
    11/23/09

    In reply to Opel Insignia OPC: First Drive
    I don't think they should call it a GNX, or GN. I'm hoping they bring back that name plate for a RWD car based on the camaro platform (now that pontiac is dead). I know.. wishful thinking.

    I don't think that GS should be put on it either. Granted I thought the old GS was a cool contender with the supercharged 3.8... but why associate it with something that it isn't.

    Give it a unique name...
     Reply
    Tanshanomi promoted this comment Nicholas Lauer was starred Nicholas Lauer was unstarred
    Image of that ain't the way to have fun, son that ain't the way to have fun, son
    11/23/09

    In reply to Opel Insignia OPC: First Drive
    I'm gonna save my GNX wants for a two-door, black-as-night, coupe...with the CTS-V's engine, after it's been upped to 650+ HP.

    Grand National, though...I'm good with this.

    Personally, I want this package in an automatic, and I'm not anti-Jalop, or anti-manual, just can't do it, long-term, any more.

    Caution, the really fun hobbies can kill you...if you're doin' them right.
     Reply
    that ain't the way to have fun, son was starred that ain't the way to have fun, son was unstarred
    Image of bmoreDLJ bmoreDLJ
    11/23/09

    In reply to Opel Insignia OPC: First Drive
    The Acura was uglified, while the Mazda 6 was blobified and softened. So yeah, there isn't much else out there to match the Regal's blend of FWD, sportyish pretensions, midsize space, and handsome looks. I tip my hat to GM, this is a legitimately good car, and I hope they make a performance version.
     Reply
    Edited by bmoreDLJ at 11/23/09 12:48 PM bmoreDLJ was starred bmoreDLJ was unstarred
    Image of FTGDWolverineEdition'09 FTGDWolverineEdition'09
    11/23/09

    In reply to Opel Insignia OPC: First Drive
    Does it guzzle at OPEC levels?
     Reply
    FTGDWolverineEdition'09 was starred FTGDWolverineEdition'09 was unstarred
    Image of Braff Braff
    11/23/09

    In reply to Opel Insignia OPC: First Drive
    Is this similar to the AWD system in the 2010 S4? I know they talk a lot about vectoring as well...
     Reply
    Braff was starred Braff was unstarred
    Image of jafoca jafoca
    11/23/09

    @Braff: From all knowledge of other audi products, not specifically the new s4...

    No. Not the same system. Audi generally uses TorSen AWD system, which apparently has been vectoring all along. The exceptions to the audi=torsen rule are the A3 and TT.

    Haldex (which is the system in this opel, and also in my new audi A3) is used mainly on vehicles with transversely mounted engines, platforms originally intended for FWD.

    Sidenote: most people say that TorSen is superior. I can't say yet as I have only had my car for 1 month, and no snow yet :) Also, Bugatti Veyron supposedly uses a Haldex system.
     Reply
    Braff promoted this comment jafoca was starred jafoca was unstarred
    Image of KinOfCain KinOfCain
    11/23/09

    @Braff/Jafoca: Sort of/not really. This is a transverse-mounted, FWD car with a power-takeoff unit sending power through a clutchpack between the front and rear axles combined with a clutchpack-operated lockable rear diff, as opposed to the Audi which has a true torsen center differential with a rear-biased torque split on dry pavement, coupled with two clutchpacks on the rear half-shafts for torque vectoring.

    The "vectoring" of the haldex rear diff is a bit misleading (just like all the other marketing BS from haldex). It's a good system, but it's basically just a rear diff that can lock up. It has a single clutchpack on the rear diff that can lock the two halfshafts together, as opposed to something like the (heavier, more expensive, more complicated) tw0-clutchpack system used on the Audi and some (not all) of Acura's SH-AWD systems.

    The Audi uses a system with a clutchpack on each of the rear half-shafts, which lets you disengage one of the halfshafts progressively. Because of the way differentials work, this effectively "vectors" torque to the other wheel.

    The Haldex system progressively locks the rear axle, which prevents the inside wheel from spinning, but it doesn't technically vector torque to the outside wheel. Any situation where one rear wheel has a different torque split than the other would require one to have more traction than the other, and indeed, Haldex's examples show one wheel on ice, which is intentionally misleading, IMO.

    That said, this system is better than having an open rear diff, and is cheaper and more compact than a system with a true center diff and two rear-axle clutchpacks.
     Reply
    Braff promoted this comment KinOfCain was starred KinOfCain was unstarred
    Image of Braff Braff
    11/23/09

    @KinOfCain: wow, great reply - thank you.

    #tips
     Reply
    Braff was starred Braff was unstarred
    Image of dal20402 dal20402
    11/23/09

    In reply to Opel Insignia OPC: First Drive
    The right badge is GS, not GNX.
     Reply
    Ben Wojdyla promoted this comment dal20402 was starred dal20402 was unstarred
    Image of Ben Wojdyla Ben Wojdyla
    11/23/09

    @dal20402: Nobody at GM said GNX, all the giddy reporters were saying GNX.
     Reply
    Ben Wojdyla was starred Ben Wojdyla was unstarred
    Image of vwminispeedster, pronounded Si-trow-in vwminispeedster, pronounded Si-trow-in
    11/23/09

    In reply to Opel Insignia OPC: First Drive
    You down with OPC?

    Yeah, you know me.
     Reply
    vwminispeedster, pronounded Si-trow-in was starred vwminispeedster, pronounded Si-trow-in was unstarred
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