Talgo train-sets have wheel-loading similar to other passenger coaches, because each coach is shorter, lower, and made from aluminum and composites. The single-wheel arrangement is necessary because they are “pendulars”, or passive tilting train-sets, where the independent wheels connect to a support post, and the…

Everybody I knew how considered one went with either an F150 max tow (which tows and carries more) or a Ram 2500 diesel, which rides nearly as well, and tows much more while getting nearly the same fuel economy.

So much this. The Sentra makes the EcoSport feel like a Premium car.

The Escape battery pack is nearly the same Panasonic unit as the Prius. Usually if you have a pack fault (and cleaned all the connetors), you plug in a scan tool and it will display with cell-bank is out of spec. Then you pull the pack, and start testing the cells in the bad bank. Swap out the bad cell, and you’re…

Not even close. My monthly payment, when I had one, was less than a night a Garden Inn. And I use it 200+ nights a year. Also mine sleeps 12 people, but since it’s usually just myself solo, the 2nd bedroom gets loaded up with the hot tub and become my own travel spa.

That was my point. They don’t over-sell seats. I tried to buy a ticket once as a standee on a sold-out Cascades trains, and they wouldn’t let me. I think even monthly pass riders need reservations. And if they had extra passengers from say a late long-distance train or bus, they can probably seat them in the Dining…

Turns you you’re correct! GM issued a correction after the video of the engineer talking about the timing belt. Only the oil-pump belt is rubber. But still requires pulling the motor to service.

But keep in mind you’ll be paying that premium every 150,000 miles, because that is the rated life of the timing belt and oil pump belt (actually GM said “life of the motor which is 150,000 miles, but we’ll give them benefit of the doubt here). At that point, you have to pull the engine because both are located on the…

Pretty much every short bus comes with a lift. Most schoolie folks just yank them out. Those lifts handle kegs just fine. Up to 3 at a time.

They had this, on the Coast Starlight. The “parlor” car had a movie theatre, library, gift shop, and bar. But then Amtrak pulled from service when deferred maintenance became critical and there were no funds to restore them.

The Cascades trains are frequently sold out at certain times between Portland and Seattle. But, seats actually are guaranteed. Probably because the Cascades are a fixed consist, so they can’t easily pull cars from it. And they can’t “borrow” them to use on other lines. Plus, they actually maintain those trains, so…

I don’t understand that appeal of this. At all. Sure, fancy nameplate and all, but to 99% of the general public, they’ll assume its just an old hipster Mercedes from the sides and front, or a Toyota Cressida from the back (which I’m pretty sure only exist in Portland these days. Or maybe ever. I’ve never seen one…

That’s what I thought too. Especially considering the new Ford plug-in hybrid powertrain, which when paired with the 3.0TT in the Lincoln Aviator, makes 450 hp and 600 torques. When that option moves into the Navi’ next year, I suspect the’ll keep it paired to the H.O. 3.5L, so possibly 500 hp and 700+ ft lbs of…

I suspect electric brake booster are like hydo-boost in regular trucks, where since the boost ratio is higher, they can increase system pressure by increasing the master-cylinder diameter for better pedal feel, at the expense of greatly increasing the force needed to actuate the brakes when the booster isn’t active.…

LOL seriously? Every car bigger than a compact uses a “drum-in-hat” parking brake. Only small cars are light enough to utilize a mechanical actuator on its calipers.

FWIW - the new 10-speed “Allison” is built by GM, and the Allison name is only licensed, plus Allison did some R&D consulting and testing.

If you did that using the LWB model, and put black cladding on the rocker panels, I think you’d pretty nail the production version. And also now I want one. I’d mount a giant 5th wheel hitch and stacks in that stubby little bed.

I think it over-emphasis the round-peg, square-hole body.

It was actually a 1996 special edition factory option!

I’m not a fan of the two-tone on that Volvo. Just doesn’t seem to work well with the body line.