Search found 15830 matches

by watkins
Wed Jan 17, 2024 11:59 am
Forum: Rants and Raves
Topic: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
Replies: 55900
Views: 3235223

Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi

I've done a little bit of van (EDV) work, but my responsibility is technically just with the truck and SUV (R1)
by watkins
Thu Jan 04, 2024 10:02 am
Forum: Rants and Raves
Topic: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
Replies: 55900
Views: 3235223

Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi

We don't have dealerships. Work is done at a growing number of service centers or, in some situations, as mobile work
by watkins
Wed Jan 03, 2024 10:10 am
Forum: Manuals in the News
Topic: Driving a stick isn't dead
Replies: 14
Views: 8181

Re: Driving a stick isn't dead

I drove an F350 dump truck for a city a couple summers during college and it had the manual with a creeper first gear. It was very simple in regular traffic you just don't use first. It was easily capable of launching on the street in second gear. Aside from in the shop or for parking lot maneuvers...
by watkins
Wed Jan 03, 2024 10:07 am
Forum: Rants and Raves
Topic: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
Replies: 55900
Views: 3235223

Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi

Oh hey!

I haven't been here in months because I got a new job and with it a new laptop. I went to the dark side and now I'm a field service tech for Rivian.

Anywho, Happy New Year and all that jazz
by watkins
Tue May 30, 2023 10:47 am
Forum: Manuals in the News
Topic: No more manuals left in Audi's U.S. lineup
Replies: 8
Views: 7068

Re: No more manuals left in Audi's U.S. lineup

In the literal hundreds - thousands, perhaps - of ZF Mopar products I've driven, the rolling stop bump has been consistently evident. There are some exceptions here and there, but its a part of the whole shift strategy so those exceptions are very unusual. Some people just may not notice it, but I'm...
by watkins
Mon May 08, 2023 1:00 pm
Forum: Rants and Raves
Topic: STICKIN' IT TO "THE MAN" SINCE 1941
Replies: 3
Views: 1075

Re: STICKIN' IT TO "THE MAN" SINCE 1941

The vast majority of the "improvements" are pretty terrible, actually. A windshield-integrated antenna on the vehicle with the highest number of broken windshields per capita? Horrible!
by watkins
Thu Mar 09, 2023 9:46 am
Forum: Tranny Talk
Topic: Younger generation w/standard shifts
Replies: 1
Views: 1317

Re: Younger generation w/standard shifts

Car people - the ones actually interested in cars, not looking cool - will almost always have at least a passing awareness of how to drive a manual if they've been in the culture for a while
by watkins
Thu Mar 09, 2023 9:44 am
Forum: Rants and Raves
Topic: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
Replies: 55900
Views: 3235223

Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi

This is shocking, considering how terrible the current product line is. The WL Grand Cherokee and the Wagoneer line are horrendous products
by watkins
Tue Dec 20, 2022 10:46 am
Forum: Manuals in the News
Topic: No more manuals left in Audi's U.S. lineup
Replies: 8
Views: 7068

Re: No more manuals left in Audi's U.S. lineup

The ZF 8 speed absolutely is not in the right gear in any situation. The shift strategy for deceleration keeps it in 3rd until a full stop, making accelerating from a near-stop frustrating while it hunts for and bangs in to 1st. Otherwise, it's absolutely a wonderful transmission, as far as automati...
by watkins
Thu Oct 27, 2022 8:27 am
Forum: Rants and Raves
Topic: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
Replies: 55900
Views: 3235223

Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi

OMG - My jeep needed a repair! I heard a clunking noise while driving to and from work this last week. I was thinking that maybe the tailpipe hanger failed. On Saturday morning, I looked underneath and saw that the left-rear lower control arm had become the left rear lower control arms. I picked up...
by watkins
Wed Aug 31, 2022 4:58 pm
Forum: Rants and Raves
Topic: If ..........., You Just Might Be Drivin' an Electric
Replies: 115
Views: 25279

Re: If ..........., You Just Might Be Drivin' an Electric

color me surprised that any car brand would go all-out EV (even though I thought VW was doing that sooner and not just some EVs); color me MOAR surprised that Stellantis or whatever they call themselves is supposedly doing it. and going from having all these hemis and other powerful ICE engines to ...
by watkins
Tue Aug 02, 2022 10:12 am
Forum: Tranny Talk
Topic: Standard transmission EPA ratings
Replies: 19
Views: 3148

Re: Standard transmission EPA ratings

All cars will have a slight discrepancy in the speed displayed versus your actual speed. You'll always be going slightly slower than the speedometer. It's a liability thing for manufacturers. The exception is law enforcement vehicles, which historically have CERTIFIED displayed on the speedo somewhe...
by watkins
Wed Jul 27, 2022 2:02 pm
Forum: Rants and Raves
Topic: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
Replies: 55900
Views: 3235223

Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi

Dealer techs are more often than not far more aware of what goes on with their brands' vehicles than some random independent shop. I promise you I can look over a Mopar product and come up with a list of parts that are on their way out or failed entirely that most mechanics would never even see. Th...
by watkins
Wed Jul 13, 2022 7:44 am
Forum: Rants and Raves
Topic: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
Replies: 55900
Views: 3235223

Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi

Dealer techs are more often than not far more aware of what goes on with their brands' vehicles than some random independent shop. I promise you I can look over a Mopar product and come up with a list of parts that are on their way out or failed entirely that most mechanics would never even see. The...
by watkins
Tue Jul 05, 2022 11:03 am
Forum: Tranny Talk
Topic: Standard transmission EPA ratings
Replies: 19
Views: 3148

Re: Standard transmission EPA ratings

My 9-5 is rated at 18/28, 21 combined. Over the last several years, my average has been just under 20mpg with the best tank being 24.6mpg and the worst being 16.8. The car is tuned, lowered, always has roof racks or more on top, and my foot weighs tons. I can't complain, honestly.