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Karl's Daily Log Book - READ ONLY

2391 messages,  Last post on Nov 30, 2005 at 7:50 AM

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What is this discussion about? Coupe, Sedan, SUV


Karl Brauer is the Editor in Chief of Edmunds.com, which means he finds himself in a different vehicle almost every day of the week. If you want a daily road test review regarding the latest cars and trucks to hit the market, along with commentary on everything from auto industry happenings to L.A. drivers to his latest close encounter with Johnny Law, this is the place to be.
 

Messages Page 236 of 240

#2342 of 2391 Re: American Exotics -- Corvette Z06, Ford GT, Dodge Viper [editor_karl] by phillyone

Oct 27, 2005 (2:38 pm)

Replying to: editor_karl (Oct 26, 2005 4:28 pm)
I thought you owned a Ford GT according to what I read in some of the old posts. I am curious to know what other drivers with no personal attachment to any of these cars wrote. They compared these cars in Automobile and overall the GT was their favorite due to it's styling an superior steering but they said there was no denying the Z06 was the best buy.
 
Who writes the comments for the news updates provided daily on Inside Line? I read today's news and saw the comments suggesting that GM is late to the party because Lexus may have a 8 speed auto next year. That didnt make much sense to me because we all know the majoity of vehicles on the road today have 5 speed auto. Even Lexus/BMW/Audi use 6 speeds. Acura and Infiniti don't even offer a 6 speed at this time so I fail to see how GM is late with their 6 speed autos.

#2343 of 2391 Re: American Exotics -- Corvette Z06, Ford GT, Dodge Viper [kevm14] by editor_karl

Oct 27, 2005 (3:25 pm)

Replying to: kevm14 (Oct 27, 2005 7:51 am)
Who was driving? You? If it was you, I'd argue that you're more familiar with the handling dynamics of the GT.
 
No, we had a hot shoe who doesn't even work at Edmunds/Inside Line do the driving. He will also be writing the story. He regularly drives various late-model cars on test tracks as part of his job, but he had never driven the GT or current-generation Z06 or Viper before his time at the track. Made for a great "How easy are these cars to drive for people who haven't already mastered them?" test.
 
For obvious reasons I didn't want to be involved with writing or scoring this test.
 
Especially since I already know the GT is the best car...

#2344 of 2391 all these speeds by explorerx4

Oct 27, 2005 (3:35 pm)

vehicle transmissions are getting to be like bicycles. when are going to get up to 15-18 speeds? my big question is why?

#2345 of 2391 Re: all these speeds [explorerx4] by kevm14

Oct 27, 2005 (3:49 pm)

Replying to: explorerx4 (Oct 27, 2005 3:35 pm)
I think 6-speeds is ideal (at most) for a manual. Automatics, whatever. If the computer shifts, it doesn't really bother me. But, I don't see a good reason for, say, a 7-speed auto instead of a CVT in theory. In practice, I suspect it's easier to build a complex 7-speed automatic for powerful heavy cars (MB) than it is to build a CVT for the same application (???).

#2346 of 2391 Re: all these speeds [kevm14] by explorerx4

Oct 27, 2005 (5:32 pm)

Replying to: kevm14 (Oct 27, 2005 3:49 pm)
from what i have read, cvt's are very complex and expensive. i still don't know why a 6, 7, or 8 speed auto is better than a 4 or 5 speed.

#2347 of 2391 Re: all these speeds [explorerx4] by kevm14

Oct 27, 2005 (5:58 pm)

Replying to: explorerx4 (Oct 27, 2005 5:32 pm)
Same way a 4 or 5 speed is better than a 2 or 3 speed, just incrementally so. And assuming the same levels of efficiency, a CVT is better than any discrete speed auto...

#2348 of 2391 Re: all these speeds [kevm14] by carlisimo

Oct 27, 2005 (6:32 pm)

Replying to: kevm14 (Oct 27, 2005 5:58 pm)
I have a four speed, and I will vouch for its inadequacy.
 
I'd rather have five than six though, so that combined with R you only have three rows of shift gates, and they don't end up crowded close together. Not that I've ever tried a 6spd.
 
Now, if you're varying your speed between 0 and 200mph, more gears makes a lot of sense.

#2349 of 2391 Re: American Exotics -- Corvette Z06, Ford GT, Dodge Viper [editor_karl] by navigator89

Oct 27, 2005 (11:35 pm)

Replying to: editor_karl (Oct 27, 2005 3:25 pm)
Editor Karl,
 
Have you seen the topless Ford GT pictures? It looks awesome!!!!
 
All car manufacturers it seems first release some fancy exotic, and a drop top a a bit ater. BMW did that with the M6, and Ford with the Mustang.

#2350 of 2391 Re: hey Karl [bigdaddycoats] by nitromax

Oct 28, 2005 (3:26 am)

Replying to: bigdaddycoats (Oct 27, 2005 12:11 pm)
I do not think this is the 2007 Envoy -
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=107665
rather it is the upcoming Acadia based on the Lambada paltform.
At least that is the consensus at a GM enthusiast site.
 
I thought the Lamabada platform was forbidden.
 
 

#2351 of 2391 Re: hey Karl [nitromax] by ateixeira

Oct 28, 2005 (8:30 am)

Replying to: nitromax (Oct 28, 2005 3:26 am)
I can't wait for the Macarena platform.
 
-juice

Messages Page 236 of 240

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