Dan Roth 0:03 this is wheel bearings. I'm Dan Roth from Forbes. Sam Abuelsamid 0:06 I'm Sam Abuelsamid from guidehouse insights. Rebecca Lindland 0:09 I'm Rebecca Lindland from Rebecca drives. Dan Roth 0:10 Let's get to the garage talk about cars. So Rebecca, you are in the, the 2020 Buick Encore gx. And I want to know what difference the differentiates the Encore gx from the rest of the Encore lineup and because you're an encore owner, on your own, I want to I want to see how the new one stacks up to was a Coco. Coco Yes. Rebecca Lindland 0:36 So yes, so for our listeners, who may not know Coco is my personal vehicle. She's a 2015 Buick Encore chocolate brown with butter interior, and she's just such a good little car. I know people people laugh at me. But I love my little encore. So Sam Abuelsamid 0:54 what why would they laugh at you? Rebecca Lindland 0:56 Oh, because people mock me all the time for having a peel con car. Before we go, because I guess I supposed to have something cooler. I love Sam Abuelsamid 1:05 her. Is that just because you live in Greenwich, Connecticut? Rebecca Lindland 1:08 Um, no, it's actually my friends. It's my friends out on the west coast. Oh, that mocked me profusely. Dan Roth 1:15 Oh, I think it's yeah and I maybe part of it is because you're driving things like Aston Martin's back to back. Yeah. Rebecca Lindland 1:23 I could do it as well. But no, I think you know, when you add so the Encore gx is in the middle of it in between the Encore that's out today. But it's smaller than the Envision So I sort of call it like the Goldilocks version. And it's really designed to that for me. The encore is small so the Encore competes with like the Nissan Juke the Jeep Renegade, the Honda HRV and then the but the Then the Envision in Buicks mind the Envision goes more towards the CRV, the Tiguan the route for the equinox vehicles like that. And they see the Encore gx as as competing a little bit more in that space, sort of, sort of in the middle of those two between a compact SUV and a TV. Sam Abuelsamid 2:26 But it's the same size as the existing encore, right? Rebecca Lindland 2:29 No, it's a little bit longer. It's a little bit bigger. It's just ever so slightly. It's a little bit beefier, for sure. It fell I'm trying to see if I can grab the dimensions and it is longer for sure. And it's a little bit wider also it definitely felt like a larger vehicle. Dan Roth 2:51 I mean there's there's five cubic feet more cargo space and three cubic feet. Well, it's It's five cubic feet more than the Encore and three cubic feet smaller than the Envision so that really, really tightly fits between the two. Rebecca Lindland 3:08 And so the other thing that they've done is they have moved the Encore down. price wise, they're not offering like leather in the Encore anymore. So they're really positioning the core is very much of an entry level vehicle. Whereas the Encore gx is more for a buyer like myself, who wants some more reach or comfort and this thing definitely had a really nice level of creature comforts. So the other thing that they did, there's two separate engines. There's a 1.2 liter turbo and then 1.3 liter turbo, very, very small differences. Frankly, I'm not quite sure why they even bothered with the 1.2 except for price point. So the 1.2 137 horsepower with 162 foot pounds foot pounds of torque, the 1.3 liter which is what I drove what has 155 horsepower, I 174 pounds foot of torque. It was a CVT actually, which is how you get the front wheel drive. I was surprised at how good the CBT was. I'm not a huge fan of CB T's they wine worse than little Lucy my cat, but this one was actually really good. And I appreciated it it was it was it just didn't have that wine Enos to it. Now the all wheel drive has the nine speed automatic. I haven't driven that one yet. So I'll be curious to see how that compares. But yeah, you know I just what I liked about the GX is you know, this one was fully loaded $34,000 it just you know, it has a lot of safety features to it. It has super easy seamless connection. activity, which, you know me, I can break any kind of technology. And this one worked out really, really well Android Auto and Apple CarPlay I of course it has, you know, the Wi Fi that GM has had forever and their vehicles and Oh no, it's just such a good little car. Like, you know, I everyone I showed it to you really thought it was nice looking. And for 34,000 I think it had a level of quietness and refinement that I don't always find in say the the CRV I you know, or the rav4 and I really really appreciated that I think, the fit and finish the materials that they used all of those features just, I don't know, I felt like I felt like I was really in a really nice premium vehicle. Not a luxury vehicle. but pretty close to that though. Like, just a good price point. I felt like I really liked it. Dan Roth 5:57 Um, when you talk about the connectivity did you use I'm assuming you use CarPlay. And no, I use Android Auto. Okay, um, it wasn't wireless. Right? It was you plugged it in when Rebecca Lindland 6:10 you plug it in, you do play it in but but it worked very, very well. I was unfortunately I didn't use Amazon Alexa, because I'm really curious to see how that because I haven't been able to figure that out quite yet. And you can also do multiple Bluetooth pairings. So it's funny because like when my nephew Jake, when, when he's been driving Coco a lot, but when I get in the car, then the car, it sort of fights for pairing, right? Because his phone is paired, my phone is paired, and so whose phones paired on the GX, you can actually have multiple phones paired at the same time. Right? So you could use one source for like music and then another for phone. Right? Sam Abuelsamid 6:48 Or, you know, if you've got a couple you know, and you know the driver wants to have their phone hooked up, you know, to use as the phone, you know, or even you know, to switch back and forth between the music store As you're playing, you know, to in order to maintain marital bliss, you know, to let somebody else take control. Dan Roth 7:08 Yeah, that's that takes a while to learn. Yeah, I'm curious about the power chains to like you say like they're right on top of each other. It really is like a 10 pound foot difference in torque and doesn't make any sense to me. Rebecca Lindland 7:23 So what they did was they actually added more technology to the 1.3 liter. So it actually gets better fuel economy, it gets better highway, it actually has a better zero to 60 it doesn't have higher horsepower. I really think that that 1.2 is strictly for price point. It should be so that they can, you know, start at a low price. Dan Roth 7:50 That's crazy to me that like adding an extra engine that they don't expect anybody to buy is going to allow them to make it cheaper. Sam Abuelsamid 7:56 I don't I don't know. It's you know, what's what's odd. is the price differential between the bass gx and the the bass regular encore is only $900 the 2023 200 for the Encore and 24,100 for the GX, you know, so it's not it's not a huge price differential. And it almost seems like like you say, Dan, I would have made more sense to just have the one power train Even if they maybe did two different you know, offer, you know, base model based front wheel drive model with the CVT and you know, the A upload, you know, the upper level trims with a nine speed or something like that. Yeah, but having these different combinations is odd. Rebecca Lindland 8:41 Yes, it is. I mean, I think, you know, I wouldn't be surprised if the Encore goes away at some point in time. I don't know I just probably a transition. And Are you guys having audio issues at me? Nope. This Dan Roth 8:58 is sound weird. Nope. Hmm. Okay, I don't know what's going on we never have issues with you. Rebecca Lindland 9:06 I'm sorry What was Dan Roth 9:06 that? I said we never have issues with you. Rebecca Lindland 9:10 It didn't know I am the queen of no issues. Oh my gosh. Okay. Dan Roth 9:16 So so it definitely steps on top of each other for sure. I but I do think I imagined that the Encore will probably go away fairly soon. Well, you know, I think what makes it a good fit for a lot of people and pop probably be the reason why you've actually bought one with your own money is that it's it's just it's a good size. It's so handy. This would be a hatchback if it weren't a crossover, you know, and it's just it's just a handy car. Rebecca Lindland 9:47 Yeah, for sure. I mean, I you know, I thought it was nice looking. I thought it was it's a great price point. And my mom could not have easily Dan Roth 9:55 realize that's actually yeah, that's really important. Right. The crossover thing has has kept Right hi low like cars but has brought up that hit point. So to get out of Yeah, Rebecca Lindland 10:05 yeah. So, you know, again I thought it was it was just a really it's really really good solid car and again the level of refinement I feel like is there whereas I don't always feel like that in in some of their competitors MOS is probably the closest but you know I I complain a lot about roydon road noise and such an NVH and that's why I just I gravitate towards view because it's such a nice quiet ride and I really do appreciate Dan Roth 10:34 you know, they are a doctor's car, if you feel like you can cure things, I think to looking at it and this sort of ties into the the car I'm driving this week. What did you think of the interior design and materials one of the things I actually like about the Encore is that it doesn't have a screen. That's like a after thought, you know, and it's integrated more smoothly. Rebecca Lindland 11:02 I love an integrated screen. Now, I will say I didn't like and this is very picky, but I had to use it a couple times. I didn't like where the hazard button was. It's all the way on the right side, and I had to reach like lunch for it. And there were times when we were there's a construction zone right on my way home on the highway. And sometimes they keep changing it. So people don't really know what it's doing. Like every lane, you know, every day lane is different. And you know, the people that are driving these days are driving very aggressively. And so there have been times when I have to throw my hazards because we're stopping suddenly. And it really lunges over there. But otherwise, I thought that it was really really ergonomically designed very well. I do love that integrated screen. I agree with you. And I hate when it's sort of just on like, Oh, yeah, we forgot there's a screen here. And I always think well, someday maybe we'll just put our own phones there. Um, but I think they again the interiors really nice huge sunroof I noticed easy access, everything started just went where where I expected it to be. And which I liked the only thing and I will tell you, I've told you this already. I would have loved to have had ventilated seats. So it has heated seats and heated steering wheel, but I would very much appreciate it to have ventilated seats. Okay, Dan Roth 12:23 I push the record try to sell them. Because Yeah, I mean, it sounds like a decent, decent car and my experience in that sort of class of GM vehicle is that they're, they're pretty good actually. Rebecca Lindland 12:36 They really are. I mean, and that engine, you know that again, the 1.3 liter it has plenty of pickup, you know, certainly didn't have any hesitation on the highway. And again, that CVT was fantastic. So hopefully in the wintertime I get an all wheel drive with a nine speed Dan Roth 12:52 and when do we ever say a CVT is fantastic. Rebecca Lindland 12:54 I seriously. No, seriously? All right. Sam Abuelsamid 12:59 Pretty pretty much done. Listen the Nissan Maxima. Unknown Speaker 13:01 Yeah, that's about it. Dan Roth 13:03 I haven't driven a maxim in a long time. I think about that. All the time we did we won't diverge. You also have the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, which I I drove not too long ago, and I was really impressed by that. Um, what what did you think? Rebecca Lindland 13:20 That thing was fabulous. Dan Roth 13:22 What did you get for mileage with it? Rebecca Lindland 13:24 Oh, you know, I shoot. I meant to look it up. Let me just talk to you while we did that, I know. I know. I did really, really well with the mileage I want to say I got like 48 and a half. I yeah, Dan Roth 13:36 I got something higher with it. Rebecca Lindland 13:37 Yeah. And that was not trying like I was not hypermiling at all. I thought it was absolutely fantastic. But I loved it because I actually have a Prius this week. What I love about the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, is that it is a hybrid with absolutely no compromises. You are You are like it has every luxury I mean, the Prius has, it has a, it doesn't have a power seat. It has, you know, it has the manual seat, a fully manual seat. And it has a it has the manual brake. I mean, it's a lot of compromises and we'll talk about that in the next episode. But this Sonata was just absolutely fantastic. It just it was, it was just a beautiful looking, you know, I really, I got to really appreciate the new design on it. I think actually, I would have loved to have had it be a hatchback because it has that really cool roofline and cool sloping roof. I feel like they could have kind of snuck one in Sam Abuelsamid 14:40 a lot of those cars that you know sedans, modern sedans that really should be hatchbacks and why why they don't build them that way. I will never know. Rebecca Lindland 14:50 Well, especially because they can do them. You know, so many of them nowadays. You can sneak it in, you know, right to that. I really appreciate added on the Sonata was the different drive modes, you could actually feel the difference when you were driving it in sport mode, like it made a difference. And that was a lot of fun. Because again, a lot of times you don't get that impression like it's like, okay, whatever. But this time it was actually like I really felt the difference. And that was fun. That was nice. Dan Roth 15:21 Yeah, I agree, though, like, you know, Hyundai. They do it already with the I mean, it's not Hyundai's the Kia Stinger, but they had a hatchback in that. Yes, it doesn't harm the look of the car at all, to have that that big hedge hidden there. And I did find when I had the Sonata Hybrid, I was impressed with the hybrid stuff doesn't get in the way like it used to, you know, we all we've been trying out hybrid sedans for four decades. Now. One of the first press cars I ever got was an ultimate hybrid. And oh, yeah, it was it was fortunate. It was fine. For the time Well, no, it wasn't it was actually. It felt like a project, but not an unfinished one. But you don't you know, like the batteries used to be in the trunk, you'd lose your pass through or your fold down seats. Like none of that applies to the seller. You're right. It doesn't really compromise at all. What you Where are you compromises the style because of that fast roofline. You wind up with a trunk that, you know it's not a not a bad size truck. I think it's like 15 cubic feet or but yeah, it's a Sam Abuelsamid 16:30 small opening. Dan Roth 16:30 Yeah, you just can't get anything in. Sam Abuelsamid 16:32 That's why all these things should be hatchback. So you know, you open it up, you have this big opening, you know, you have lots of space in there. But you also have the ability to access that space, which is a problem with sedans. Dan Roth 16:44 Yeah, yeah. And that's, or you Sam Abuelsamid 16:46 could just do a station wagon wheel, which would be the correct approach. But Dan Roth 16:49 I mean, a sonata wagon would look pretty great. Yeah. The car itself and it's funny too, that this sucker that when I first saw it in pictures, I was like, it's kind of fishy looking. When you see it in person that looks a lot more striking. There's a lot of detail in the design it you don't necessarily pick up or just like a lot of thoughtfulness not necessarily detail because it's it's pretty clean. But there's a lot of thoughtfulness and it just the way that you know, there's that body line sort of on the lowest lower part of the doors and if you look you know, it's it's got a deeper draw at the the front edge of the front door and the rear edge of the rear door so it's like it thins out in the middle a little bit because the so it looks like the, the the body works and it has a little bit of a bulge in the middle. And it's just like a simple subtle thing like that, but it that gives life to the sheet metal. And it just it I thought it's a really striking design in person. We sort of stand back and contemplate it. Rebecca Lindland 17:51 Yeah, no, I agree. I think it's really really nice. And I and I have to correct myself. I actually, it looks like I primarily average Overall I was at 46 Dan Roth 18:03 that's about what I got with Sam Abuelsamid 18:04 a slacker. Yeah Rebecca Lindland 18:07 it was it there's there was a trip though. One of my first trips I got 49 so that must have been mostly highway but still I mean just phenomenal but you're right i mean the styling of it is really high end it's a looker I mean people turn around and look at it and like what is that thing? And you know, the front end I think it's very kind of shark like but but in a good way like there's it's very expressive you know, because there's there's been some shark like attempts that are not that great. Dan Roth 18:42 Yeah, you know, but I also found the sort of the flip side of that as well it doesn't it's not offensive inside its cabin. In materials wise and stuff isn't isn't quite as high end as his design. You know, and it's it's not that's not bad. Every car has to sort of have a compromise and has to be built for a price. I like the ergonomics and stuff. How did you feel about this sort of materials and and operating the car? Rebecca Lindland 19:08 Yeah, no. Well, one of the things I really liked were was the side cameras where it lights up your blind spots, the digital dash. Oh, yeah, you know, and how it lights up that and I hope that so you put your turn signal on, and the video there's a video that starts and it's basically it'll, it'll illuminate and show you a video of your blind sides on either side, which was really cool. And the only thing I love is a little reminder when the car in front of you starts going moving forward, it dings and says and says the vehicle in front of you is moving. And I think it says um, I just love that I thought that was really cool. The other thing is that I don't when I when I stopped at one point and pulled over to take pictures, and I close so the car was on. I closed the door and I got and then I Got back in and it says vehicle will be turned off automatically and it basically says in 30 minutes so you know how some people have left their hybrid on not realizing the car is still basically on is it's quiet so it will turn itself off in 30 minutes which I think is again a very thoughtful feature in case you know because it is easy to do when you've got a lot on your mind that you don't realize that you haven't turned off your car. And but I mean I thought the interior I liked it I thought the materials were fine you know it's for $36,000 are really really nice vehicle. Dan Roth 20:41 Yeah, I think I think they're fine but they're just fine. You know, the design is good inside and out. I can't fault the design. I like the way it's executed. But you know if we're gonna be picky Rebecca Lindland 20:54 Yeah, I've driven worse. You know, I've seen worse interiors for sure. price point two. Sam Abuelsamid 21:01 Yeah, no. I mean, I would say, you know this, this is very close to the class in the field, which I still think is the Mazda six. In terms of its interior. Yes, this is very nearly as good. And, you know, I like I agree with you, Rebecca. I like the thing that Hyundai's doing with the side cameras and displaying when you put on the turn signal displaying that in the digital instrument cluster, and they do that they have that in the palisade as well. And I think they'll be rolling that out to other models. And you know, compared to it's a similar concept to what Honda has done with their lanewatch system in the past. Rebecca Lindland 21:42 How much better is Sam Abuelsamid 21:43 this this is actually useful because it's in front of you. It's not over in the center screen. And it's on it's on both sides. So right both on the left and the right whereas the Honda lanewatch was only for the right hand camera. So basically all you could see was the if you were to close to the curb. When you're making a right hand turn, you know, other than that, it doesn't really tell you anything useful. Whereas this, you know, actually shows you, you know, what, you know what you would see if your mirrors were perfectly aimed. Rebecca Lindland 22:13 And it's great resolution to like, it is like, it's like, oh my gosh, you are right there. You know, that's the other thing too is that all the cameras and the, the rear camera, all of that was super high resolution, and just just again, like, it's just that really, really good quality for a really good price and just incredible, incredible fuel economy. And that's what to me was the best part of it. So you're just not compromising? You know, just because you want because you prioritize fuel economy. Dan Roth 22:48 Yeah, I think the only thing you compromise on right now with that is you can't get all wheel drive. Rebecca Lindland 22:54 Right. And actually, as I said, I have a Prius and actually is all wheel drive. Dan Roth 22:59 Oh, All Wheel Drive Prius There you go. Yes. But they make you pay Rebecca Lindland 23:05 to make you pay exactly Sam Abuelsamid 23:07 because it looks like a Prius Rebecca Lindland 23:09 next week what the Prius Dan Roth 23:11 is a hatchback too so like that's See that's interesting. You know like the Sonata is a little nicer certainly a little more stylish slim more traditional sedan. It's a lot more stylish. Sam Abuelsamid 23:23 Well, everything about the Sonata is better. Dan Roth 23:26 Except this utility perhaps. And so yeah, car to use it, you know, see? I don't know. I'd rather be in the Sonata. Sam Abuelsamid 23:39 The Sonata doesn't hurt your eyes every time you walk up to it. Dan Roth 23:42 Wow. Even Oh, yeah, I guess I was gonna say even still, you don't like the Prius, but do the Prius. Sam Abuelsamid 23:48 The Prius drives fine. Yeah, but yeah, it's hideous. I mean, they Dan Roth 23:53 got it got pretty ugly for this generation. Yeah, Sam Abuelsamid 23:55 yeah, no, it's atrocious. Rebecca Lindland 23:58 No, I wouldn't I was taking pictures earlier today of the Prius. I saw another one. And I and it was actually that same because this one is like that. They call it C glass, but it's that like insipid, pale green. And so there was an older one and it looked just the same. Dan Roth 24:19 Well, that's that's the that's the point you have to conserve with your conspicuous consumption. conspicuously. Well, you know what, let's stick with a Hyundai Group here. And we'll skip to Sameer and the the 2020. Genesis g 90. And we touched on this car when I talked to my friends, john paul and George Kennedy. I did a little sort of mini episode which we can we can put out in the next few days. But we picked this as the New England motor Press Association luxury car. of I have the official luxury car of New England or we have categories we did the winter Car of the Year and we broke it into categories this year. And so the G 91 and I haven't had a chance to drive it yet but man it's good looking. Sam Abuelsamid 25:15 I just it is although there I I do. I do still find that grill overwhelming. I think I think it's too much grill for this car. But aside from that, everything else about it I think looks great. You know for a big, you know, classic luxury sedan. You know, I think its overall proportions are fantastic. I love the wheels that were on the car that I had on the you know, the, the one I had was the rear wheel drive premium with 3.3 liter turbo and this flat wheels. Rebecca Lindland 25:50 Thank you, sir very like Sam Abuelsamid 25:53 they're they're flat in the middle but there's like a lace pattern around the corner. I think they're really good on this one. Rebecca Lindland 26:05 Because we have similar tastes in houses and furniture and things. rims. I'm just not that is just not my jam. We know what they remind Dan Roth 26:13 me of. They remind me of like Mercedes wheels from the, from the 80s and 90s. Yes, maybe that's the problem very, they're flat, like they have a high positive offset. So they don't have much dish to them. So it's, it's a look. Sam Abuelsamid 26:29 I think it works on this car, you know, and I just dropped a photo in the in the slack so you can see which one yeah, Rebecca Lindland 26:35 that's exactly the one that I had on the drive. And the same color and everything. Sam Abuelsamid 26:40 Yeah, yeah. So I, I do still think that you know, especially, you know, when you look at the, you know, the photos that I had, you can very word the way the sun was hitting it, you can very clearly see where the opening is in the grille. You know, where there's an actual opening for airflow versus gorillas. Yeah, and It's, you know, if you're going to do a massive girl like that, you know, to do it in a way that, you know, you, you hide that or not so obvious. Yeah. Rebecca Lindland 27:12 And I'm sure you'll post it on the site, but that that picture in particular, because I have a picture on my site from the launch back in December, I think. And it's not visible at all. But again, it's just an angle thing. But you're right, that looks not great. Sam Abuelsamid 27:32 Yeah. But aside from that, I really liked the rest of this car. You know, that? Well, first of all, the back seat in this thing is just enormous. It's huge. Room. Yeah, there's so much space in there. Yeah. And, you know, this one has, you know, the seats that you can adjust individually and everything and there's the massive center armrest that you can fold down that's got controls on there for the climate control, and the audio And everything. And, you know, and in the front, you know, the way that, you know, they have the fit and finish and the materials and the way everything's integrated in this thing, I think, you know, it's just really, really nice. And Rebecca, when you and I were at the LA show, we were sitting in the Gve. In Yeah, you're commenting on the knobs, you know, the knurling on the knobs, well, the G 90 when it got its refresh this year, they did the same stuff to that. So, you know, the center center control knob, you know, has a really nice machined knurling around the perimeter of it, and then on some of the other switches, the climate control switches, and the volume knobs, things like that. So it really feels like a like a precision instrument. You know, if you've ever had a really nice set of calipers, you know, things like that, you know, really good tools, they feel like that and that's what this feels like. And you know, the interior trim, the wood trim, you know, Am I have never been a fan of high gloss wood veneer finishes in cars I think I don't know that even even on a Rolls Royce or a Bentley, I've always thought they looked kind of tacky. Hmm. But I you know, I do love, you know, matte finish open pore wood veneer. And you know, this, this has across the dashboard and the center console. I think it looks and feels great really feels authentic. You know, and this is a big car and you know, it drives like a big car. It doesn't it doesn't feel like a G 70 by any stretch of the imagination, but you know, it doesn't wallow, but it definitely feels softer than either a G and E or G 70. Yeah, it's got got a certain softness to it, but it's not. It's not what what do you say? Dan Roth 29:48 I'm Understand? Well, Rebecca Lindland 29:50 because I, in my review I wrote as an exercise in floatiness. Sam Abuelsamid 29:54 Yeah. Yeah, I mean, it's, you know, I remember you know, growing up in the The 80s you know, 70s and 80s, you know, and driving, you know, Cadillacs of that era. And I mean, those things, you know, they just wallowed all over the place. This is nothing like that. by modern standards, it's floaty, but you know, it's still reasonably well controlled. You know, it's the G 90 is not the car that I would choose for myself from the Genesis lineup, you know, that would be probably the G 70. But, you know, if you're looking for a big, massive luxury sedan, you know, this is a great alternative to something like a seven series or you know, even a lower end s class and it's a hell of a lot more affordable. You know, this one, you know, was pretty much loaded. I can't remember do they offer all wheel drive on this? I don't know if it is available. Yeah, this one was rear wheel drive, but it had pretty much everything else on it. You know, I came to $73,000 which you know, is not inexpensive, but you know, compared to something comparable from Germany, you know, it's probably a good 20 to $25,000 cheaper, if not more. Rebecca Lindland 31:07 Yeah, so my so I, the one that I tested was 72. Two, which actually excluded the roughly thousand dollars in destination, and then the top trim is 79 to with destination and that's the G 95.0 ultimate. So that's what the 5.0 liter VA, which I don't think is worth it. I mean, I mean, Sam Abuelsamid 31:31 the twin turbo V six has got more than enough power for this car. 365 horsepower, you know, you're not going to be driving it like a sports car. But it's got more than enough for us to you know, to accelerate the only emerging on highways and things like that. Rebecca Lindland 31:46 Yeah, I thought I mean, I think it's, the interior is absolutely beautiful. I agree with you. I love that matte open pore wood. I think that that's just the leather, those all those things fit and finish with those touch points. I think I are really, really lovely. I do think that, you know, it's it's almost generic I in that are there I want them were a little bit more tech feel to it, I think but that's not what this customer wants anyway so, you know, keeping in mind who the customer is. I you know, I do think that if you want something that is a little bit more athletic, you would go towards like that Audi eight m but as you say you are going Sam Abuelsamid 32:33 to earn more even the GT Rebecca Lindland 32:35 are absolutely absolutely the GMAT is fantastic and there's I think a new one coming out shortly as well. Sam Abuelsamid 32:41 Yeah, they've already shot it in Korea. Rebecca Lindland 32:43 Yeah. And then the gV 80 is coming out there as CV which I'm very excited to see as well. So, I think I, you know, I think that there's a lot of good things about the Genesis brand. And and as Dan said, you know, it certainly is incredibly award winning. Across the board, you know, all three of their sedans have done really, really well. I in a variety of tests and Sam Abuelsamid 33:09 failed in sales. Dan Roth 33:11 Right. Which is because they don't have the gvhd I think does everything really hinges on the success of that one? Rebecca Lindland 33:17 Yeah, it does. But they also, you know, they've done some good marketing. I like the fact that they're sponsoring the PGA, things like that, you know, I there and I told them this, so I can say this, their website is brutal. But getting people to the website, I think is part is part of the challenge. And, you know, people there was a lot of confusion with the Genesis, name, the brand, because it started out as a model. And so that's caused them, you know, that has caused them some delays. I Erwin Raphael, who was really a fine executive for the brand Moved now gotten promoted up to Hyundai corporate. I so, you know, there's some and of course, man for Fitzgerald, as was I don't know what happened separated from the company, we'll call it. I know he had he had come from Lamborghini and was and was very friendly anaesthetic aesthetic standpoint. He very much fit the brand really well. I and you know, did did what he could with the products that he had. And it's just unfortunate that they didn't let him execute further on the on the gvhd and such, Sam Abuelsamid 34:36 you know, they brought over markdale raso last fall from Audi to run Genesis North America. So we'll see see what he can do with it. There is one other little detail that I thought was really cool. In this in this ga g 90. In the back, you there's power sunshades for the side windows on the back doors and also for the rear window. And one of the nice little details is if you have the rear sunshade up, you know, so it's blocking off the light from the from the back window. When you put it in reverse, it automatically retracts while you're backing up. That is cool. Yeah. Then when as soon as you put it back and drive, it goes back up again. Rebecca Lindland 35:22 These are the things that I think Genesis and Hyundai and to some extent Kenya as well. They do really well. The small touches died, bring an emotional appeal. That's, that's emotionally satisfying. When that happens. It's you know, sort of like the digital dash, you know, sideview camera that we talked about, like, that's emotionally pleasing that says, I like that that's a good thing. And that's what I think this brand does. All three of these have the Hyundai Group brands do really, really well is that they those little, those little emotionally satisfying touches. So I just have to say a quick word to while we're on the topic of Genesis So Luke donker woke this name I never say right and he's he resigned back in April and I just want to wish him well he's a really really good guy and I think he's going through some personal issues that I won't get into but I just I hope he is resting at home comfortably and doing okay because he's a really really good guy but he had to resign more for personal reasons than anything. So keep him in mind and your thoughts Dan Roth 36:34 yeah well when we launch our car brand will keep in mind to design Rebecca Lindland 36:39 comm designed for us for sure. Dan Roth 36:42 All right, well, let's let's finish up the the driveway slash garage I managed to get myself into a Cadillac XT for 350 t with the sport package so it has some blacked out trim, the grille and the window trim and stuff and It's a nice shade of like pumpkin spice orange. Rebecca Lindland 37:03 Oh, I love that one. Dan Roth 37:06 This is a really really well styled car. I mean it's one of those designs again, the more you stand back and contemplate it, the more you see the font that was put into the design and it's really refined and really just just just fantastic looking Rebecca Lindland 37:26 house the interior. Unknown Speaker 37:29 Okay, top third is Dan Roth 37:31 Cadillac and in the bottom two thirds is Chevy. Um, and that's sort of the running theme you know, I think it does a lot of things right. You know, the Z four is the right size. It's priced pretty well. It looks great. It's even driving. It's half good, half bad. The half good is that you know the controls all feel good. The the waiting of the steering is like dead on There's even though you know the control stocks and stuff all feel pretty good, the ergonomics are really good. I liked that. Very much like you said with the Encore gx stuff just works and you know, even the infotainment is pretty good when especially when you compare it to, you know, like, the Lexus NX that it's going to be crushed out with it's just not good. Yeah. The, the areas I think where it sort of leaves a little to be desired is the, it's a little loud in terms of the engine note and it's not a great engine note. So it either needs to be more refined sounding or just quieter. It's almost like they went a little too much toward the sporty idea like it looks. It looks athletic, so it has to deliver that feeling and I think it can look as athletic as they Want to make it look really they should make it smooth and it just feels overeager when you drive it, you know is noticeably downshifts stops Rebecca Lindland 39:10 trying too hard. Dan Roth 39:11 Yeah, it's just like, chill. I understand it, the engine is great that the I think it's a two liter turbo, four cylinder. Fantastic lots of power. And I did find that if you actually drive in anger, you know, fling it around a turn and put your foot down. It handles pretty well it's you know, it'll boil up the front tire even though it has the twin clutch, dual clutch all wheel drive, but it's it's, you know, predictable in terms of handling it. So it delivers on the sport if you drive it that way. But nobody's gonna try it that way. Sam Abuelsamid 39:46 So that, you know, therein lies the problem. Yeah, you talk about the the engine note, you know, and it's, it'd be one thing if they tried to make, you know, just the sport sound like that. Right. The problem is As the premium locks sounds the same way, you know, I, I went on the the Z for launch drive out in in Seattle a couple of years ago. And you know, I got a chance to drive both the premium locks and the sport. And from the noise, the NVH perspective, there was no real difference between the two, the engine was just as loud in the premium locks. And you know that, you know, that's the fundament, that that the NVH is the single biggest complaint I had about the XT four other than maybe the value proposition but you know, the both road noise and the engine you know, we're we're too noisy I thought for a car that price point in that segment. Yeah, it's Rebecca Lindland 40:42 weird annoying because they do Buicks so well. Sam Abuelsamid 40:44 Yeah. Tell Dan Roth 40:47 It's weird. Like I was actually checking to see if the Encore and the Z four share platforms and they don't this actually, it feels like exactly what I thought it felt like which is a Sort of premium eyes, equinox. Yeah, which we just like, it's fine, but you don't want it to be fine. You want it to be like, wow, that's good. And it made the suspension too stiff. So while it does deliver on the handling again, just make it make it smoother, make it make it go over bumps a little better. Because it's, it's not like the structure is, is soft, you know, it's it feels solid. So it's I find it weird to be an enthusiast and a driving enthusiast to be saying like, this one really feels like it needs more, more damping and all aspects like it just needs to be there are Sam Abuelsamid 41:43 there the premium Lux is a little better. The premium luxury getting, you know, gives you a slightly softer tuning. And the ride quality is a little better, but it's still noisy. Dan Roth 41:53 Yeah, and that's like, I guess I could I could probably get used to the engine note. But it's not a great engine note. You know it It sounds pretty good from outside. You know, it's it sounds like a sporty four cylinder. And I just feel like maybe they were a little confused. And they kind of missed their target because you got to understand the probably, this is going to be a vehicle that skews probably towards the women buyers of a certain age. And that's a wide cohort. You know, you've got when buyers from 35 to like 80 that are gonna look at this thing because it's just the perfect size. It's roomy behind the backseat. It's got the power hatch, it's comfy, it's easy to use, it's easy to drive. It's a Cadillac, it looks really good. Like it hits all the high notes and then you just drive it Rebecca Lindland 42:37 kind of so it will it's funny because the quote that they have on the site says we were successful in capturing the Cadillac essence in a really small athletic package. A really small, I don't like this. Yeah, but really small like I don't know, I just that's not how that doesn't make me want to buy it. Dan Roth 43:01 Yeah and I think to like the athletic thing that you should not they should not have focused on the athleticism because that I think they that does them a disservice if that's going to be a turnoff. It is a turn off for me and I like cars that are athletic, I just it's not the car to be like that. And everything else is is pretty good you know when so once you're in it and you close the door. That top third of materials is nice like I said, you know the bottom of the door panels, the armrest that can be less expensive. And the problem that that GM has with all their press cars, lately, twos, all the interiors are black, so I can't really tell how it's going to present. And I for me, the different colors actually make it look a little bit more premium, especially if there's a nice rich brown or tan in there. It makes it feel richer. So that may be my psychology. Now. There's a Rebecca Lindland 43:57 lot of black in there. Yeah, and black. look really cheap. I'm just looking looking online is that the only is I'm wondering if every restrictive with Dan Roth 44:10 the colors. Rebecca Lindland 44:10 Yeah. Which I understand you know, I appreciate that for for cost and simplicity. But as you say like that interior, okay, so they have so in the sport, they do have they've got Sedona, Jet Black leatherette Yeah, chocolate leather, and they've got a couple of whites but you're right the the dash does not really changed that much. And, and the problem is, the competition is so fierce in this segment that I you have to give people a reason to purchase. Dan Roth 44:48 Well, I think that the you know, the, the details happen sweat it. It's very comfortable. And the I do like them, the material choice on the seats and the dash and the stuff you touch. Good, nothing there feel felt cheap to me. I like that integrated screen in the dash. It's tech is good actually. You know, it integrates with CarPlay it's, it's fast, it connects easy. It has wireless CarPlay which is Oh, actually, this doesn't have wireless CarPlay I look for it, but it doesn't have it. But that's funny to me because I prefer wired CarPlay anyway, because you just plug it in with a cable and you're done. Wireless CarPlay gets you back to Bluetooth where you got to fiddle with stuff. It's, it's, I'm interested to what you say about the value proposition, Sam because it seems like a good value to me 50 grand? Sam Abuelsamid 45:38 Well, the thing is, so, you know, if you especially if you look at the base price, you know, about 36,000 You know, it seems fine when you actually start adding on equipment and then comparing it to competitors like, especially the sport, you know, the the clear competitor to that one is the Acura RDX You know, when I, at the time when you know when I did the launch drive, you know, I compared it, you know with the same equipment, the XT four came to like 56,004 compared to the same roughly the same equipment on an RDX a spec, you know, which was $48,000 so it was like $8,000 more Rebecca Lindland 46:21 Yeah, but you don't have to fight with the accurate Dan Roth 46:23 info team. That's true. Sam Abuelsamid 46:26 You know, the thing is, you know, there's a lot of stuff that other manufacturers put on you know, as standard equipment, especially in terms of like Driver Assist features. The Cadillac is still nickel and diamond customers Yeah, which drives me crazy. There's a lot of stuff that they refuse for whatever reason they're still refusing to include as standard equipment. You know, things like you know, collision warning and Lane Departure assist and you know, adaptive cruise control that you can get as standard equipment on cars that are, you know, one third of the price or half the price You know, and you're paying an extra thousand or 1500 dollars for some of these things on the Cadillac. And that's that's where the value proposition starts to fall apart is when you start using the options list. It gets very expensive very quickly compared to the other vehicles in the segment. Dan Roth 47:17 Yeah okay, that's that's fair. And I think that the RDX actually probably outdrives it without being as harsh. I say the Cadillac looks a lot better if you buy on style. I like the RDX but I just like I'm forgiving a lot on the floor because I do think it's it's such a fantastic design. You know, it reminds me of it reminds me of it feels very sabi not crying Rebecca Lindland 47:46 but like a brand. Yeah. Sam Abuelsamid 47:50 The nine four acts. Yeah. You know, and I think that, you know, that was I wouldn't be surprised if that was you know, that there were people that worked on The nine four acts that were involved in this thing. You know, and still, you know, we're sad that the nine four acts went away without ever really having a chance in the market. You know, they were they only built about 2000 or so of them before Saab was discontinued. And every once in a while around here around Michigan here, you'll you can spot them on the spot one on the road, because they did sell a couple thousand of them. But, you know, it's it's unfortunate, but you're right. You know, this does have kind of that. That same feel as the nine four x did. Yeah, very similar size. Dan Roth 48:36 It's good. I think it's it is it's in a tough segment, though. And so we'll see if it's good enough to really help them stand out. But he, I'm impressed with it. Overall, I think that it is really it's what Cadillac needs to be doing, you know, they spent 10 or 12 years fiddling around perfecting the sedan that nobody's gonna Yeah, they've done a really good job at it. Sam Abuelsamid 49:04 One, one element of the design that I really liked it is really functional is the side glass. You know, when you if you look at it, you'll notice that the side glass on the rear doors actually extends back quite far. And, you know, the relative to where the the back seats are, and a lot of cars a lot of modern, you know, crossovers In this segment, you sit in the backseat, and you turn your head to the side. And you see the pillar there. You you're not, you're not you don't have glass right beside you. Rebecca Lindland 49:36 Yes, the killer is huge in some, in some cases. And Sam Abuelsamid 49:39 in this case, you know, the rear side Glock, you know, the, the glass on the rear doors is actually extends back quite a ways. So when you're sitting in the backseat, you look out you can actually see out of the car, which is, I think really nice for anybody that's sitting in the back. Rebecca Lindland 49:54 Well, and that goes to the design aesthetic also. And I think I agree it's great for a kid To which and and for regular people, for adults whose Dan Roth 50:09 kids are not regular people. That's true. Rebecca Lindland 50:13 You're right. So I mean that and and to to Dan's point, that's part of the design thing. It's a beautiful looking vehicle. I like the headlamps a lot of the tail lamps. I think they're really cool. They're it's definitely distinctive on the road. I agree, though. I think that focusing on the athleticism, when it then in turn compromises the other parts of the experience. It's not really where this vehicle needs to be. Dan Roth 50:42 Yeah, so you know what, reaching the suspension and we'll all be happy but uh huh. And you know, I think price wise to this is this is crappy to say, but it's not gonna sell for sticker Rebecca Lindland 50:58 price is bad, though. I mean, the basis 35 premium is 40. That's a big jump, but, and then sport is 41. You get a lot for the premium luxury, that middle trim line and I'm always a fan of metal trim. I think that it's a good It's always a good compromise, but, Sam Abuelsamid 51:15 but there's still a lot of stuff that's not included at that. Yeah. Dan Roth 51:20 I'm surprised with the sport. It doesn't have the adaptive sports suspension, you're gonna pay like another two grand or 100 bucks for that. Rebecca Lindland 51:25 Yeah, that's annoying sport. That that the accountants have the last word kind of thing is very annoying. Sam Abuelsamid 51:33 So let's let's dive right into the F 150. That last Monday now, Thursday night, Ford unveiled the new f150 21 2021 f 115. You know, as usual, it's all new. And, you know, I wish they wouldn't say that, you know, Funny thing is you look at it, especially if you look at it from the side. It doesn't actually look any different. You know, I've been seeing these things on the road here, you know, with like camel, I'm just the wrap on the front and the back for more than six months. And the first time I saw one, you know, had to do a double take to figure out is that the 2021 or, or not, you know, is it looks just like the 2020 and there are details, especially when you see the front without any camera on the front definitely looks, you know, looks different. You know, they have revised the front end, the sheet metal is all different on the sides. It doesn't look dramatically different but it is it is you know, new dies you know, so that that's Rebecca Lindland 52:36 the average consumer really going to appreciate this Sam Abuelsamid 52:39 because they don't look that different. Probably not. I thought oh, Dan Roth 52:43 that's sort of the point. Yeah, because people are so religious about their trucks that Sam Abuelsamid 52:49 Ford Ford sold over 900,000 f series last year. Rebecca Lindland 52:52 Yeah this stats on like when they compared it to the the iPhone, I mean, those are fantastic stats. I I get that handsome truck. Sam Abuelsamid 53:03 Yeah, Dan Roth 53:04 great. It does. And the outgoing one actually was one of the better looking ones over the last, however many years to that was at Gordon plateau, who designed the last one. And it came from a show show car. Yeah. And this one is a great and this this looks really good too. Sam Abuelsamid 53:21 Yeah, he had code is the the chief engineer for North American trucks now. And I'm not sure if he was the design lead for the f150. But he was the one who was involved in the briefing last week and talked about it. And you know, it does it does look good. I mean, it looks like a truck. Yeah, better what you Dan Roth 53:40 expected. That's the thing you look across and at GM and I know that those designs are polarizing, but they look a lot better than they did a couple years ago. And then RAM is always a style leader. So right. Sam Abuelsamid 53:51 But the thing the thing that's really important about this truck is not the way it looks on the outside. It's all the stuff that's under the skin and also in the cabin. You know, obviously, because of the the current situation with the pandemic, they couldn't do a live in person reveal the way they had planned. And originally This one was supposed to be, you're supposed to see this back in April, I think. Yeah, April was when was when they originally scheduled The, the background or for this. And, you know, so that it was all done online, you know, all we've seen is photos of it. But the interior does look much better than before. And one of the complaints I think we've all had about the s, the F 150. Is that while the interior is very functional, it it has felt kind of cheap, especially compared to the RAM, you know, hard plastics and it never felt up to the same level of premium even, even in a limited or King Ranch. It never felt to the same level as corresponding Ram. And this one, at least from the photos looks like it's a lot closer. We'll see when we actually see it in person, but it's Definitely looks a lot better. And they've done some really interesting design things. Like one of the things they talked about was the fact that a lot of truck users, you know, especially, you know, people use as a work truck, they, they use their computer in the truck or use a laptop in the truck. And, you know, in the past, you know, a lot of them have gotten these brackets that you can mount, not your laptop on it hangs over the center console. What they did for this new f 150 is when you put it in park, they found from their consumer research that truck buyers actually really like to have a traditional type of shifter on the center console, not a push button or rotary knob set up. They want they wanted the traditional shifter but they also wanted that console space. So they made it so that when when the truck is in park, you can then fold down the shifter into little cavity in front of it. So it makes it it's out of the way. And then the top half of the center armrest folds over so you have a big flat workstation. available to you, that you can use to write on or your computer on air, whatever, wherever you want to do. So little details like that are really important in the sec. Rebecca Lindland 56:08 That's really cool. That's a very, very clever, it's a great way. And I see what you mean some of that on some of the photos, it's a great way to, to meet a customer's needs. When it's and especially, as you said, when it's appropriately if you're putting in a park, rather than having having somebody fumble with, you know, trying to use the couple's or whatever. And then I do see they actually have cupholders behind it. So you can move your drinks to right behind that. So if you do have like a cup of coffee or something next to the shifter, there's actually a couple of years behind what becomes that table. This really, really clever design. I like that. Sam Abuelsamid 56:53 Yeah, and another interesting detail and the interior is a pop up lockable storage And underneath the rear seat, so you can fold up the rear seat as you as you always have been able to in the crew cabs and have a large flat floor area. But then in the floor area, you can pop up a storage bin and put stuff in there. And then when you put the seat down, you can actually lock the seat with with the key lever so you can store stuff in there and it's locked in. And you can actually lock either side from the left or the right independently. So you can have one side that's locked and the other side that's not if you want, you know easier access to some stuff, you want to keep other stuff secured. So you can you know, if you're not using it for storage, you can fold that down, have that whole area, you know, at you know, for cargo inside the cabin, or use that and have it lockable for security. Really cool stuff. power train wise, you know, same five engines you have now, from the 3.3 liter, naturally aspirated V 6227. And a three, five EcoBoost, five liter VA, and the three liter diesel all got all gotten some, some upgrades. But now you also have, in addition to EcoBoost, you have power boost, which reverse which is the new hybrid. So it's it's basically the same hybrid system that's on the Explorer 35 kilowatt motor paired with the 10 speed automatic. And, but we're the Explorer, what's the hybrid with three points that are naturally aspirated V six, the F 150 gets it with the three, five EcoBoost. And they're saying this is going to be the most powerful and highest torque light duty truck on the market when it comes up. So presumably that means it's going to be you know, more than the 450 horsepower that's in the Raptor today. And you know, more certainly more than the 400 plus horsepower, you get From the VA, in the RAM and knee and the GM trucks and it'll have over 12,000 pounds of towing capacity with the hybrid, which is something that when GM did their two mode hybrids on their pickups 10 years ago, they only got 6000 pounds of towing capability. So this is going to have no compromise on the towing, which is good. And then the other thing that they have is something that they actually first talked about a couple of years ago when they first said they were going to do the hybrid pickup is an onboard generator. You know, a lot of again, a lot of work truck users have to carry along a gas generator to power their tools and stuff at a worksite. For the hybrids, it's going to have standard what they call power on demand. So the base setup on the hybrid, you get 2.2 point four kilowatt output, and there's going to be three 120 volt AC plugs in the back corner of the bed you can use to plug in your tools and equipment. And then there's an optional 7.2 kilowatt output version, which is enough to pretty much power most of your house. Now, in addition to the AC plugs that'll also have a 240 volt outlet on there to power your really big tools your Dan Roth 1:00:23 car, your electric vehicle charger. Sam Abuelsamid 1:00:25 Yeah. So you know when when, you know, when you come across a Tesla, that standard slammed it Dan Roth 1:00:32 straight Sam Abuelsamid 1:00:35 on the side of the road with a dead battery, you can plug them in. And Rebecca Lindland 1:00:40 that's a really cool feature, though. So will that feature only be available on hybrid Sam Abuelsamid 1:00:44 that will be on the hybrids on the gas engines, you'll also be able to get a built in power on demand generator, but that's only going to be two kilowatt output. So that's going to be a little bit different system from what's in the hybrid because the hybrids actually using the highest motor, the electric, the 35 kilowatt motor system. And on the hybrid if you're using the 2.4 kilowatt version, it can actually run all that stuff off the battery for at least for as long as the batteries got charged, you know, and then it'll automatically start the engine with the gas engines obviously, it's going to be running the engine all the time when you're using that. But, you know, that's still going to be probably cheaper to run more efficient and cleaner emissions than what you would get from a typical gas generator, you know, portable gas generator, you're going to bring Rebecca Lindland 1:01:32 a lot it's cool, it looks like they really put some nice features and I'm looking at the in the bed there's an array of plugs available like Cheetos like 110 volt. And like, I mean, I don't know all the different ones but it was Dan Roth 1:01:49 in your dryer. Rebecca Lindland 1:01:53 I mean, plug in my coffeemaker right there. Sam Abuelsamid 1:01:56 If you're going camping, you know you can plug in your coffeemaker and You know, TV and whatever other stuff you want Rebecca Lindland 1:02:04 to do tailgating with this, you know, whenever we can go and watch sports again. Well, Dan Roth 1:02:09 it's, it's a really thoughtful redesign. And I think that's what what sets it Yeah, is the thought that they put into it. Sam Abuelsamid 1:02:15 Yeah. And then, you know, one other thing that's, you know, under the skin that you're not going to see, at least initially, is the new electronic architecture. So, this truck has the same electronic architecture as the Maki what what Ford's calling their network vehicle to architecture. So, you know, currently, you know, vehicles like this typically have 75 to 100 discreet computers scattered around electronic control unit scattered around the vehicle to power all the different systems. With this new architecture. They've scaled that way down and consolidated and have several much larger, more powerful domain control computers that they call one of which is for all the drivers features and things like that. And because of the way this is architected, you know, like the Maki, this will have support for full over the air software updates. Nice. Which means one of the features that's going to be available on this is for its new active drive assist system, which is also coming to Maki, which is their hands free driver system, very similar, basic same basic concept as gm supercruise. It's got infrared driver monitor cameras to watch you to make sure you're watching the road. It's geo fenced, got maps of divided highways and it'll limit you to using it on divided highways. But you can go completely hands off, you just have to watch the road and be ready to take over. That software is going to be available middle of next year. But from start to production, you'll be able to get what they call the act of prep package, which adds extra sensors on there so you get extra radar signs. servers get the driver monitor system, things like that. And then when the, when the active driver says stuff is ready, you can get an otaa update to turn on that functionality. And then they've promised that they'll be doing other functional updates for the system as well over time that they said for the Maki, they've talked about, you know, being on a cadence of about every six weeks for doing various kinds of updates to to the vehicle and they f150 is probably going to be similar. Dan Roth 1:04:31 Solid update in truck land, it's super competitive. Sam Abuelsamid 1:04:36 Yeah. It'd be a very interesting year for trucks and then later next year, there will also be a fully battery electric version of this. Dan Roth 1:04:45 Cool, I mean, it's just gonna make the current f150 plummet in price right, because everybody's gonna want the new one, which is now what's going to happen because I decided to move my car search from E Class wagons to Now he pickup trucks I'm here impossible to find unless they've been beaten to death. Where there's a Sam Abuelsamid 1:05:07 there's a Silverado 3500 in my neighborhood for sale. Yeah, yeah 13 grand. Dan Roth 1:05:13 does have Rocker Panels left, it seems Sam Abuelsamid 1:05:17 seems to I didn't see any significant rust on it. Dan Roth 1:05:19 It's a dueling rust. Oh yeah that's that's a little much I almost I almost went test over Ram, Ram 3500 and that has a solid front axle. And it was just it was priced right and it was clean. And this like that is so much more truck than I actually need. But we'll talk about the truck search as it continues Sam Abuelsamid 1:05:41 well let's let's dive into a couple of listener questions that All right. All right. So first one was buying a five year old never winter driven BMW 335 I help with its reliability over one that's driven in winter. is what's your driving really affect anything mechanically. Dan Dan Roth 1:05:59 winter Driving melts your car, but it, it doesn't really affect anything mechanically so much as you have to deal with the effects of corrosion. So where you're going to find winter driving issues is stuff like the the braking system, you know, rotors and calipers and brake lines tend to really bear the brunt of it because that stuff gets caked on there and sits and then just corrosion underneath I, I honestly don't think that a car that hasn't been driven in the winter is necessarily going to be any better than something that has been it may be less prone to corrosion again, so you got to like check it for rust in the body. But you're talking about a car that sits all winter. And so that means to get infested by mice or just you know, depending on how it's stored. That's not good for it either. So Sam Abuelsamid 1:06:52 well, you know, depending on where it is FF six who sent us this question, doesn't say where he is. So, you know, if it's not a southern state, you know, then it may be driven year round just never driven in winter. I agree with you, Dan. I think, you know, winter driving, you know, has its own issues, mostly around corrosion. But I think the real problem you have with a Used BMW, the reliability problems have nothing to do with motor driving. Dan Roth 1:07:22 335 eyes So, did you say what year? Sam Abuelsamid 1:07:26 It says five years old, so about 2015. So it's gonna be the previous generation, the F, F, F 3636. Something like that. Dan Roth 1:07:37 I'm trying to remember. He went e F, G, right? Yeah, went from e 90. So Sam Abuelsamid 1:07:45 it's probably 7030 F 30. Whatever. Anyway, it doesn't really matter. It's the previous generation. Dan Roth 1:07:52 I honestly, by uncondition and just check carefully doesn't really matter when it's been driven. It's engineered to be true. Have any of that kind of stuff? Yeah, Rebecca Lindland 1:08:01 I think it's more how many miles are on it. I mean, my mom had a she had a five series wagon. She never got above 40 miles an hour. You know, when I took it, it broke down every time. You know, try to fluff up the engine and you know, flush it out and the whole thing and it was just and the bottom line was the car just wasn't German the way that it was was. So I think that the miles make a big difference and sometimes the lower miles are more of a red flag than slightly higher miles. Sam Abuelsamid 1:08:33 Yeah. And you know, if you want to really learn more about the joys of driving an older you know, US BMW, I highly suggest listening to a number of episodes of the accidental tech podcast where our front of the show Casey lists formerly owned 2008 or nine 330 I described in in great detail on excruciating detail. in numerous occasions, is, is the is joys of driving a car or owning that car right up until the bitter end when he finally got rid of it in favor of a golf car. And I'll drop a link in the show notes, Episode 290, where he talks about the transition from the BMW to the Golf R. And you can you can hear all about that. Dan Roth 1:09:23 And when we say better, and we mean better. Oh, yes. Rebecca Lindland 1:09:28 table for one. Sam Abuelsamid 1:09:29 Yeah. All right. All right. One, one more. My Local GM. This is from Eric like, my local GM dealer has a new 2019 good regal tour x for $11,000 off MSRP. They've had it for nearly a year. It's a tempting deal, but is it worth it? I like wagons and your practical practicality. But how's the tour x? Yes, take it. Don't go wait. Go get it now. Dan Roth 1:09:54 really positive on the car. Oh, Sam Abuelsamid 1:09:56 yeah. It's fantastic. It's great. Yeah. It It's drives really well despite it you know, having too much ground clearance you know it you know, I think it looks great. It's you know, it's quite roomy inside got lots of cargo space in the back there it's a wagon so you know what more could you ask for? And Rebecca Lindland 1:10:19 I mean it sounds like it's a great deal. I I thoroughly enjoyed it. I went on the reveal on the on the launch couple years ago out in Colorado, and it was great and it was it just I from it from a wagon standpoint. I think it's terrific. I like the ride height a lot. I like having just a little bit higher. I ride somebody and somebody owns one in my neighborhood and it catches my eye every time I every time it goes by it is yeah Dan Roth 1:10:49 it is a handsome car I'll give it that I honestly I haven't driven one I'm so get on it GM Sam Abuelsamid 1:10:56 before they're all gone Rebecca Lindland 1:10:57 for it goes away. Yeah. Dan Roth 1:11:00 Yeah, it's it's not like the it's not gonna be like sob where like you were talking about the nine forex earlier like that the problem with that is like you crack a window this total because you just can't get one. Oh, I don't think that ecotour X is gonna be like that. Sam Abuelsamid 1:11:13 Yeah, I mean yeah, the mechanical bits, you know are, you know, mostly the same as what you find, you know and a bunch of other GM cars even though this one's built in Germany, you know by Opel, you know it's now Peugeot Yeah, you know, it's got, it's got the same two liter four cylinder that you'll find you know, and the nine speed transmission that you'll find in that z for a bunch of other GM transverse engine cars. You know, so you're not going to have an issue getting parts of this thing. And you know, of the three trim levels you know, the essence which is the top trim level with all wheel drive, goes for 36 grand. So, you know, even if it's an essence, you know, 11 grand off of that you're talking, you know, 20 $25,000 if you can get a tour ex for 25 grand or less I'd say Don't, don't hold off, go get it, you know, that's the deal. It is a really good car. And, you know, Rebecca and I both, you know, reviewed the thing, and I'll put links to both of those articles in the show notes. But, ya know, it's it's an excellent choice. Rebecca Lindland 1:12:16 Yeah, for sure. Dan Roth 1:12:18 Okay, I think Sam Abuelsamid 1:12:20 that's it. I think we're done. Well, one one last thing. I did have a chance last Thursday, before the reveal of the F 150. To spend 15 minutes chatting with Ford CEO Jim Hackett about you know, some of the things that Ford's doing, you know, his his approach to Human Centered Design as it's as it's often called and unleashing the talent are important, and some interesting things to say. So I will we will roll out with that Jim Hackett interview right after this. All right. Dan Roth 1:12:53 That's that's a it's kind of an important thing to tack on at the end there. Talk with like the top guy Yeah, that's good. So stay tuned and then keep dropping us questions and give us feedback. We'd love to hear from our audience. So catch us next time. Transcribed by https://otter.ai