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2018 430i Gran Coupe
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
The seats are OK. The lumbar support is adjustable (via an inflatable bladder) and the side bolsters also can move in and out. Truthfully I don't notice much difference regardless. There is also an adjustable thigh support (the front part of the cushion is separate and can move in and out) but again I notice little difference. Maybe a smaller person would appreciate these things more than I do. I am probably not the best judge of seats. To me the most comfortable seats of any car I ever had were in my '09 Lacrosse, which were the standard 8-way power adjustable leather thrones. They were cushy and soft with very pliable leather so you sunk into them and with the adjustment set correctly they were just about perfect. I remember being disappointed when I traded it on the 2011 Regal and had lived with it for a while at how hard those seats were and how stiff the leather seemed in comparison.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
The seats in that thing feel to me like they forgot to put in any padding. Vaguely reminiscent of a wooden church pew.
The funny thing is there are a lot of cars that can keep up on the Angeles Crest Highway (ACH). You don't have to spend $200K on a Porsche to keep up. A lot of people in LA do put a few mods on their cars though.
Canyon carving, like any task, requires having the right tool for the job. That being said, most of the cars carving canyons on the weekend are not getting anywhere near the fuel economy of the TLX @benjaminh is getting.
The version I got, the TLX 2.4, is close to being competitive with a base model 320i or A4.
In any case, my latest hand calculated mpg numbers for my TLX 2.4 are: 401 miles/11.8 gallons= 33.98 mpg. This time my gas station calculation was almost the same as the car's trip computer, which said I'd gotten 34.1 mpg over the same 401 miles. This was for about 80% highway.
I've already put c.1300 miles on the car. At the rate I'm going I might need to need to start driving my wife's CR-V to stay within my lease mileage.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Anyway, while I get ready for yet another c. 160 mile round trip from Louisville to Lexington with the new TLX, here are a few more random pix. The first is the light that my son discovered that's under the center armrest. Somewhat useful when digging around in there. One of the other pix is of the new for 2018 LED turn signal lights on the TLX.
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That's an inappropriate tire for an A-spec model.
Changing out the tire to something like a Michelin Pilot Super Sport 4S would probably make the car twice as fun in the canyons, literally. I'm not exaggerating.
I'm sure the tires were the source of criticism in that review. You never get a 2nd chance to make a first impression.
The itch to purchase another car has hit us, and we scratched. We wanted to do another Euro Delivery but the dealer was hot to make a deal, we got a new 2018 BMW X2 FWD, M sport, all Bells, and toys. My 330i had been in the shop for 2 weeks (transmission problems) and was given an X2 as a loaner. The days of 1% of MSRP as your lease price is long gone at BMW, but we are happy with what we got. I do have to say the X2 is a lot of fun to drive.
My 330i still has transmission issues, BMW has done all the diagnostic testing and all data had been sent to Germany as well as ZF, and the word is, nothing is wrong, however, there is. I've been waiting for the field service rep to make an appearance at the dealer so we can talk. The dealer has 1 more week and then I get a lawyer involved. I've been having problems going on 6 months. The car is driveable, the issue is only startup. I have the SA as well as the Service Manager on tape saying there is something wrong with my car. I think it's the torque converter.
Car and Driver have started 2 new long test/reviews this month.
A Stinger GT https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2018-kia-stinger-long-term-road-test-introduction-review?src=nl&mag=cdb&list=nl_dvr_news&date=071818
A Alfa Giulia Quadrifoglio https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2018-alfa-romeo-giulia-quadrifoglio-long-term-road-test-introduction-review?src=nl&mag=cdb&list=nl_dvr_news&date=071818
interesting readying on those tests. The Kia (RWD) is withing a 10th and 1 MPH of the Alfa in the quarter. Impressive. Less impressive is both cars having serious failure issues so early, and not surviving the test regimen. I wonder if they just went too far hopping up these sedans? Or some sheep in wolves clothing going on (fine for around town, and normal spirited driving, but just not really able to cope with wringing out all the performance).
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
If you do have any interest in another BMW, lease a service loaner. Typically below the 1% threshold.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Kia: a ludicrous 12.9-second quarter-mile at 111 mph
OK, it was 11 MPH not 1. Oops. But, on a cost per eyeball peel basis, Kia is still a hell of a value!
and look at that for a minute, and think about the automotive world we live in. A freaking Kia, that most people could afford (I think a $41K sticker for that model), can pull off a quarter mile in the 12s at over 110 MPH!
the difference, at least to me, is probably meaningless since there is no way I would ever come close to using all the acceleration the Kia has.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
My 330i was a service loaner, and yes, I got it less than 1% of MSRP.
As a replacement for the 330i the new Genesis G70 has caught my eye... https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2019-genesis-g70-first-drive-review?src=nl&mag=cdb&list=nl_dvr_news&date=071618
I still say the Kia could be a good value. I don't seem to see a great deal of agreement on that, though.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
When I'm coming up the freeway on ramp, spot a hole in the traffic, punch it, and the car lunges forward, I mean really jumps -- yeah, I like that. Yes, I will pay extra for that.
But the difference in 1/4 mile times between the Kia and the Alfa -- not going to matter in my world. Both of them will jump just fine, more than enough for me.
A few years back, when I was seriously considering a used Genesis, I did several test drives. Both 6 cylinder models and V8's. The guy who wrote the review for Edmunds said you didn't need the V8, it would only be for bragging rights. A conclusion which I vehemently disagreed with.
I alternate two daily drivers, a Town and Country and an F150 with an Ecoboost. The Town and County is fast enough, it will get out of it's own way. But you have to punch it, wait for the downshift, wait for the engine to spool up, and THEN it will move pretty good. The Ecoboost, lightly touch the throttle and you are moving!
As for fast cars, I agree it is mostly pointless. If I, however, can get back to track days, that would be a different story. I am doubtful that would ever happen again though.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
I'm still leaning towards an M2 Competition or CPO M4 for my next car.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
My 2016 Accord CVT was rated 36 on the highway—and that's about what I got. Sometimes I got a 1-2 mpg more, sometimes 1-2 mpg less, and sometimes right on.
The 2018 Acura TLX 8-DCT is rated 33 on the highway—and yet I seem to be getting 36-39 mpg on the highway. I regularly seem to be getting 3-5 mpg higher than the EPA rating, which has never happened for me before in decades of checking my mpg on my cars. And this is in the hot summer with the AC on. During the Fall months, when I won't be using the AC much, seems like I'll probably do even better?
Overall, I like my new TLX a lot. Really a lot. In almost every way it's better than my 2016 Accord—which itself was the best car I'd ever owned up until I got the TLX. Cars, unlike some things in life, really can get better than in the old days.
The suspension is one of the things that impresses me about the TLX. It's controlled and yet comfortable, seemingly getting a nearly perfect mix of sporty and luxurious, but with a slight emphasis on the former.
And the ELS stereo is excellent. I'm ashamed to say that I think of reasons just to drive my car so that I can listen to the stereo and enjoy the ride....
"DCTs are 3–5% more fuel-efficient than manual transmissions, which in turn are 5–10% more efficient than automatic transmissions."
https://www.mathworks.com/company/newsletters/articles/optimizing-performance-and-fuel-economy-of-a-dual-clutch-transmission-powertrain-with-model-based-design.html
This seems to be the reason that a TLX DCT can sometimes be more fuel efficient than an Accord CVT.
I get 30 mpg on my commute quite consistenly, as long as I keep light on the pedal and the traffic is average. My best highway was nearly 40, going downhill from Atlanta to Tampa, but it drops quickly on any disturbance, or uphill. It’s more like 35 on a typical trip.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
My M235i averages 26-27 mpg in suburban driving and a tick over 31 mpg on the highway if I keep it under 80. Considering the performance I'm more than happy with the fuel economy.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
And some bonus pix from the Cincinnati Museum of Art, where admission is always free! It's one of the best art museums in this part of the country.
http://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Beautiful Roseville, I have a couple of pieces that hard to find today.