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Comment Re: Have you driven a ford lately? (Score 3, Informative) 314

They're not THAT good. The valve body in my Ford Fusion's transmission (6F35 6-speed auto) wore out the pressure regulator valve, but Ford's initial solution was to update the software, so by the time they caught it the clutch pads (yes, automatics have clutches) had started to wear. At 10k miles the transmission required a rebuild including all new clutch pads, a new set of gears on the output side to the differential, and a new valve body. That said, it is a very clever transmission and the car otherwise completely satisfies me. But not *quite* as reliable as my rock-solid 2002 Taurus. But then, the Taurus wasn't using a new transmission design. The 6F35 was only three years old in 2012, and Ford usually takes a few years to get a new transmission worked out.

Comment A-10 on the axe again? (Score 1) 506

So, they want to retire the A-10, a proven and hardened platform to replace it with what? The bloated and delicate F-35? I'm really afraid how poorly that will go for F-35s tasked with close air support in some future conflict.

Comment Re:Not a good sign (Score 1) 255

Oh God, what have you done! You just inadvertently gave Dunkin Donuts their next disgusting product idea. As if donut shop tater tots and donut sandwiches were not disgusting enough. They make pretty good donuts (for a chain joint) and need to stick to that, but folks just gotta keep giving them bad ideas,

Comment Re:Dead end (Score 1) 191

Which is true, the ones that an average person can afford (Leaf, for example) without stretching their finances have much more limited range. Suitable for someone living in a major metropolitan area who never needs to drive further than to an airport at the periphery, but not really for your average suburbanite. Hell, I live in a medium-sized city, and because different neighborhoods have different things I want, it isn't uncommon for me to rack up the range of a Leaf over the course of a day's errands without even thinking twice about it. For the price, the bang just isn't there yet. When it is, I'm in, because all environmental issues aside, electricity is just cheaper.

Comment Re:Dead end (Score 2) 191

I don't see people saying that, mostly just that they expect parity with ICE vehicles before it will truly be useful outside of limited circumstances. For example, even that fairly generous 265 miles just isn't enough to make an electric vehicle attractive to me. I would require somewhere on the order of twice that, a little over 500 miles, to match the typical single-day range of my mid-size sedan. Right now, my personal, lay opinion is that electric vehicles are currently suitable for short commutes and major metropolitan usage. Until the range approaches that of a typical 4-cylinder equipped compact or mid-size sedan, use outside of those circumstances would periodically require a supplemental vehicle. Plus, there is the whole question of recharging on long trips. Once one can get an electric car with a 400-500 mile range that can recharge overnight at basically any hotel, then I expect to start seeing mainstream, suburban drivers picking up EVs.

Comment Re:Why the hype? (Score 1) 274

True. I have a Chinese friend whose parents collect napkins. Thousands and thousands of napkins. They are also of that age group. I suspect they fear running out of napkins. Many of my older Polish family members, especially those born in Poland between say, 1938-1989, displayed similar behavior...presumably for similar albeit somewhat less severe reasons.

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