Correct. This happened to our 2012 Sonata Limited (with the 2.4-liter Theta II engine) at around 140K miles. The engine lost oil pressure, seized, and threw a rod. Hyundai ended up replacing it for free under their extended campaign.

In simple terms, a bearing is simply a device that allows one part to “bear” the movement of another. The bearing itself may or may not move with the “moving” part.

But PHEVs are the cars that benefit from being plugged in to charge, and usually have some sort of non-trivial electric range. I think you mean HEV, which are your standard hybrids, like the Prius, Maverick Hybrid, etc.

I now have an S 550 Coupe. Those seatbelt presenters sure do help. I’m glad they’ve improved upon them in the intervening several decades, because the new ones are much better.

You answered your own question. It’s entirely a cost-cutting measure.

The Sheehy dealerships are pretty infamous. Funnily enough, I spend some time in Maryland and am acquainted with one of the Sheehy family members. That particular person is about as much of a prick as you’d expect.

It would have sold piss-poorly at the time, but I am of the opinion that the world is worse-off for not having received this vehicle.

Automakers are legally required to make available all parts available for 10 years following the build date of a particular vehicle, and most do it for 15+. So I doubt the part not existing is an issue, and if it is, then they need to be fined.

This is a very astute set of observations.

That’s fair. That said, I have a current-generation X5 xDrive45e, which is the PHEV. While it’s great around town, with 30 miles of honest-to-goodness electric range, it gets worse fuel economy on the highway than the regular mild-hybrid xDrive40i model. It’s lugging around an extra 800 lbs of battery it can’t use.…

I was looking at that very 2015 A8 L TDI this morning. There were very few A8 L TDIs, and even fewer facelift (2015+) ones, because that’s right when Volkswagen Group got caught out for cheating on the diesel emissions.

If you want something a little sleeker and less barge-like--though I prefer luxobarges--Audi also…

Hertz is pretty lousy. Last year, I did a one-way rental to get back home after my just-purchased ‘96 Jaguar XJ12 died two miles from where it started (because of course it did). The rental in question was a pre-refresh version of the current Chevy Equinox, with hard miles on it.

That’s true. It and various other Lexus vehicles dating back to roughly 2001 had the manual fan speed adjustment buried in the touchscreen. Such was also the case for my 2008 LS 600h L and 2011 LS 460 L AWD.

Funnily enough, I also had a GX 460 that same year, a 2021. Sadly, this is one year before they got the long-needed infotainment upgrade. That one was less offensive simply because it wasn’t trying very hard. And it never lagged.

I had a 2022 Outback Touring XT with the 11.3-inch screen. I hated that system. Not only did the graphics look like those of a 2006 flip phone, it was extremely buggy. It could generally be counted upon to lag, confuse me and other operators, and—not infrequently—crash and reboot altogether, taking with it the…

New Jersey drivers are insane.

Not quite the same, but when I was little (1990s), my dad had a 1964 Chevy Impala Coupe (327/2-speed PowerGlide, if you please). It had only lap belts in the front and no belts at all in the rear. I sat in the front until my sister was born. After that, she and her car seat went in the front, while I rode in the back,…

Sadly, this is probably for the best. I have a BMW X5 PHEV. It is adorned with various conflicting monikers and trademarks, including “xDrive45e,” “Electrified By i”, “iDrive” and “eDrive.”

I’m just upset that Missy has never had a Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

I’m sad my X5 weighs as much as a Bentayga.