General Car Conversation
#6856
Wellllllp my better half left the lights on in the Merc and she was dead as a doornail.
I am literally petrified to even touch the battery, even with a trickle charge.
Waiting on a flatbed to tow to the shop down the street to have them charge it. I am not even touching this:
I see people electronically total these all the time when they start to play DIY including and especially with batteries. You couldn’t hand me a bag of $10,000 and tell me to jump this car for it.
If this sounds ridiculous, that’s how much I love this thing. I am getting nowhere near a (perfectly working) Mercedes electrical system. Battery needs to be completely disconnected from car before they even trickle it.
I am literally petrified to even touch the battery, even with a trickle charge.
Waiting on a flatbed to tow to the shop down the street to have them charge it. I am not even touching this:
I see people electronically total these all the time when they start to play DIY including and especially with batteries. You couldn’t hand me a bag of $10,000 and tell me to jump this car for it.
If this sounds ridiculous, that’s how much I love this thing. I am getting nowhere near a (perfectly working) Mercedes electrical system. Battery needs to be completely disconnected from car before they even trickle it.
#6857
Drove the LS to work to do an oil change/5k service, there is something to be said about these Lexus V8s and the noise they make at 4500-redline.
Also man it's fun driving a "slow" car so hard since you get so much high RPM time without constantly being 120-150mph. I need a slow manual V8...
Also man it's fun driving a "slow" car so hard since you get so much high RPM time without constantly being 120-150mph. I need a slow manual V8...
#6858
Car and Driver did a comparison of 3 row SUVs. I found the results a bit surprising and I'm not sure that I agree with all of their comments or rankings, but an interesting read nonetheless.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...mparison-test/
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...mparison-test/
2024 Three-Row SUV Throwdown
2024 Three-Row SUV Throwdown
After three years of dominance, the Kia Telluride finally has some serious competition. We convene four fresh contenders—Honda Pilot, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Mazda CX-90, and Toyota Grand Highlander—aiming to upset the crossover hierarchy.
5th Place: Honda Pilot
5th Place: Honda Pilot
HIGHS: Flexible seating for seven or eight, nice price, tail-happy torque-vectoring rear end.
LOWS: Powertrain just wants to chill, interior materials won't wow you, needs more steering heft.
VERDICT: A three-row SUV that's more of a mutant minivan.
LOWS: Powertrain just wants to chill, interior materials won't wow you, needs more steering heft.
VERDICT: A three-row SUV that's more of a mutant minivan.
4th Place: Jeep Grand Cherokee L
4th Place: Jeep Grand Cherokee L
HIGHS: Sublime isolation and ride quality, stretch-out interior room, beefy towing ability.
LOWS: Skinny on features at this price, not quick, seats only six.
VERDICT: A slow but otherwise premium experience at a premium price.
LOWS: Skinny on features at this price, not quick, seats only six.
VERDICT: A slow but otherwise premium experience at a premium price.
3rd Place: Kia Telluride
3rd Place: Kia Telluride
HIGHS: All the goodies, magical packaging, refinement and value.
LOWS: Lacks the Mazda's showstopper interior, shorter drivers have a tough time getting comfortable, midpack acceleration.
VERDICT: As good as ever and the best value, but the competition is eroding its supremacy.
LOWS: Lacks the Mazda's showstopper interior, shorter drivers have a tough time getting comfortable, midpack acceleration.
VERDICT: As good as ever and the best value, but the competition is eroding its supremacy.
2nd Place: Toyota Grand Highlander
2nd Place: Toyota Grand Highlander
HIGHS: Hauls *** and families, huge cargo space, best fuel economy.
LOWS: Inhospitable third row, unrefined suspension noises, so-so interior finishes.
VERDICT: A hulking speed demon with a few foibles.
LOWS: Inhospitable third row, unrefined suspension noises, so-so interior finishes.
VERDICT: A hulking speed demon with a few foibles.
1st Place: Mazda CX-90
1st Place: Mazda CX-90
HIGHS: Gorgeous interior, powerful engine, refined manners.
LOWS: Tightest cargo volume, needs premium fuel to hit its rated horsepower, it costs how much?
VERDICT: A winning balance of luxury, performance, and practicality.
LOWS: Tightest cargo volume, needs premium fuel to hit its rated horsepower, it costs how much?
VERDICT: A winning balance of luxury, performance, and practicality.
#6859
$.45 oil change lol! Got this set for 5 cents a quart and a free filter from specials I used last time.
Everything still looks good after 15k ownership
#6860
Ripping silk. Those UZ V8s really are special. LS430 isn’t really super fast but it has a lovely engine that will respond eagerly if you prod it.
#6861
#6862
Car and Driver did a comparison of 3 row SUVs. I found the results a bit surprising and I'm not sure that I agree with all of their comments or rankings, but an interesting read nonetheless.
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...mparison-test/
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...mparison-test/
Having driven all of these but the Grand Highlander, the CX-90 winning makes no sense when you consider it as a family hauler. It’s way too cramped inside.
#6863
I also thought it was odd that they labeled the Grand Highlander's third row as "inhospitable." It's quite large. They even said so in their last review of it:
The now-spacious third row is easy to enter, and our 6-foot-2-inch tester, yours truly, was able to sit there comfortably, with the second row preset to account for his own adjusted driving position.
#6865
That surprised me as well. I really like the CX-90, though I haven't had a chance to check out the interior volume yet in person. But all the reports and dimensions note that it's tight inside compared to the others.
I also thought it was odd that they labeled the Grand Highlander's third row as "inhospitable." It's quite large. They even said so in their last review of it:
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...hlander-drive/
I also thought it was odd that they labeled the Grand Highlander's third row as "inhospitable." It's quite large. They even said so in their last review of it:
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...hlander-drive/
#6866
All the more reason why I don't even read car magazines anymore. YouTubers IMO are a lot more credible nowadays
#6868
I have not picked a car magazine up in 5 years, at least. Will never renew, ever. Political garbage.
At least this Toyota hybrid is really fast. Wonder how it will perform in the Land Cruiser. My guess is the Mazda I-6 is the most refined even if not quite as quick as the GH.
#6869
I don't read the magazines much anymore either. But I do like to read some of the comparisons, like this, even if I don't agree with all of it. A lot of the time I don't agree with the YT reviews either.
Last edited by LexBob2; 09-20-23 at 04:24 PM.
#6870
I still like to read them, but I treat them like anything I read online - with some amount of skepticism. I wouldn't use their opinions to drive me into a particular purchase, but it's just good, light reading for me.