Ongoing General Automotive Thread 2.0

[woob]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

CVTs are for snowmobiles, not cars.

I just watched a short on Williams CVT in Formula 1 back in 1993, and how impactful it was performance wise. 2 weeks aftet they tested it, F1 banned it for the 1994 season. Boy did it sound SO different. Was an interesting watch.

[Barnes]

Random automotive thoughts. Two things I have noted over a couple of months of driving...

Almost every single vehicle that is driving around without their lights on is a Nissan. If it's not, Mazda 3 or Ford Escape.

There are still a ton of Safari/Astro vans out there.

[Burninator]

Decided to replace the brakes pads and rotors on one of our cars. What a painful reminder why I don't enjoy working on cars. The front rotors were so rusted on, took a whole painful day just to get them off. Somehow the bolts on the rear caliper bracket got f'd. Not sure how, they came off just fine, so now I am waiting for those to come in. Something that should have taken a day has left my car in the garage for a week.

Normally I get great sense of satisfaction from this stuff. As my wife says "it fills your cup". But not this time. Sore, filthy and a waste of an extra long weekend. I would rather have gone to work than do this bull####.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Decided to replace the brakes pads and rotors on one of our cars. What a painful reminder why I don't enjoy working on cars. The front rotors were so rusted on, took a whole painful day just to get them off. Somehow the bolts on the rear caliper bracket got f'd. Not sure how, they came off just fine, so now I am waiting for those to come in. Something that should have taken a day has left my car in the garage for a week.

Normally I get great sense of satisfaction from this stuff. As my wife says "it fills your cup". But not this time. Sore, filthy and a waste of an extra long weekend. I would rather have gone to work than do this bull####.

Yeah, I used to do all that stuff too...not any more.

[Calgary14]

Originally Posted by Wormius

That’s bizarre it didn’t come with one, or at least included one by the dealer if the original was missing.

I am fine with the level 1 charging in my garage, but I could run 220V, if I felt inclined. My current use case the level 1 works well. However, now with solar panels at home, being able to charge while there is still sun would be beneficial.

I am thinking of getting another charger so I can use the block heaters at work, since they’re on continuously, but the OEM ones are really expensive.

It was from a non Toyota dealer so they had basically no clue about the car. Yeah I'm happy with the level 1 charger for now but might decide 220 later I just don't want to spend another $1k at the moment which is what I think it would cost

[Nufy]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Decided to replace the brakes pads and rotors on one of our cars. What a painful reminder why I don't enjoy working on cars. The front rotors were so rusted on, took a whole painful day just to get them off. Somehow the bolts on the rear caliper bracket got f'd. Not sure how, they came off just fine, so now I am waiting for those to come in. Something that should have taken a day has left my car in the garage for a week.

Normally I get great sense of satisfaction from this stuff. As my wife says "it fills your cup". But not this time. Sore, filthy and a waste of an extra long weekend. I would rather have gone to work than do this bull####.

Where do you live ?

I used to dread doing work when I lived back east.

The salt in the air would corrode almost everything that wasn't excercised on a regular bases.

Can't recall how many brake calipers were replaced because we snapped off the bleeder screw...


Not so much after I moved to Alberta...

[Acey]

Originally Posted by Barnes

Almost every single vehicle that is driving around without their lights on is a Nissan.

I notice that too. Specifically the Murano.

Pretty sure since 2021 they've made it either impossible to turn them off on all cars, or the dash is required to stay pitch black. Going to be a while before we actually see improvement though, and I could have sworn I see vehicles newer than 2021 with lights still off in the dark.

Starting in September 2021, all new vehicles sold in Canada need to have headlights, taillights, and side lights that automatically turn on in the dark. Also, the dashboard won't light up until the headlights are turned on.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a3...adlight-rules/

[driveway]

Originally Posted by Acey

I notice that too. Specifically the Murano.

Pretty sure since 2021 they've made it either impossible to turn them off on all cars, or the dash is required to stay pitch black. Going to be a while before we actually see improvement though, and I could have sworn I see vehicles newer than 2021 with lights still off in the dark.



https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a3...adlight-rules/

This requirement made it almost impossible for my brother to import a car from the US to Canada. Even though the car HAD automatic DRLs, since it was manufactured in a place where automatic DRLs were not required by law, the hoops needed to jump through to get it into Canada, registered, and insured were ridiculous.

He actually ran into a similar problem going the other way, where Texas has requirements around Tire Pressure Sensors that don't exist in Canada and made taking a car from Calgary to Houston such a headache that it wasn't worth it.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Nufy

Where do you live ?

I used to dread doing work when I lived back east.

The salt in the air would corrode almost everything that wasn't excercised on a regular bases.

Can't recall how many brake calipers were replaced because we snapped off the bleeder screw...


Not so much after I moved to Alberta...

Calgary. It's a Mazda so...they rust.

[woob]

Going through a Total Loss process with TD right now and it's suuuuper frustrating. Apparently JD Power does all their Total Loss appraisals/calculations, and sent back a Total Loss statement for our vehicle that didn't include all the options for it.

When I tried to point out that they should be able to pull the list of options from the VIN, they were adamant they couldn't and that I would have to provide some kind of paperwork, build sheet, or what not. So in an already stressful situation of being post accident, now I have to go out and contact a dealership/try and track down a build sheet/vehicle print out for a vehicle we weren't the original purchasers of.

I was able to get a sheet from a dealership and also reached out to the original owner for a build sheet, which I sent to the person at TD. That was TWO weeks ago and they still don't have the revised Total Loss statement. This, coupled with some other issues with this whole process, has made the experience so very frustreating. I'm considering asking for a break on the deductible, but expect it'll get denied.

[Nufy]

Went through that a year ago with TD...

Frustrating to say the least.

The entire claims process soured them to me and I left the first chance I got.

I have no advice...just sympathies...

[Ironhorse]

As soon as I read your first sentence and saw TD, I knew how the rest of your post was going to go.

[woob]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

As soon as I read your first sentence and saw TD, I knew how the rest of your post was going to go.

Yeah we were starting the process to move when this happened. I will be dumping them once this claim is closed out and we find a replacement for home and auto.

[DylanScores]

Deciding and would like thoughts for those who own the following:
2026 Toyota RAV 4 Hybrid
2026 Honda CRV Hybrid
2025 Mazda CX 50 Hybrid

Thanks

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by DylanScores

Deciding and would like thoughts for those who own the following:
2026 Toyota RAV 4 Hybrid
2026 Honda CRV Hybrid
2025 Mazda CX 50 Hybrid

Thanks

I believe Mazda has stopped selling the CX-50 Hybrid in Canada due to the counter tarrifs we had to impose. It's only made in the US so there's no other options to source from. Too bad as it was a great choice. It also has a spare tire if that's a need for you (CRV hybrid doesn't)

As for the other two - if you need this vehicle in the next 1-2 years (maybe 3) - I think you're only option is the CRV. 2026 RAV4's haven't arrived yet and dealers will be gouging the hell out of people with $8,000 of mandatory options for at least 2-3 years to fill pent up demand.

I like Toyota, but I also hate Toyota for this reason...

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

I can almost guarantee you'll prefer the CX-5, if it's one of the trims with the turbo engine. I have a 3 GT which uses the same engine and it's a beast, very fun to drive. And you won't have to worry about the AWD either, it's fantastic on the 3 which should translate very closely to the CX-5. My 3 is easily the best winter vehicle I've ever had, I actually look forward to driving in the snow with it

Turns out that the turbo is a must. We test drove the CX-5 GT and Signature w/ Turbo and there's no way I'd be going with the non turbo charged option. The GT was fine I guess but after trying the Signature it's just not a comparison. However, they only had used GT's in stock, nothing higher. Rental car company return I assume.


Really underscored my opinion SUV's should really have 6 cylinder engines.


That said, your 3 with the turbo engine must be an absolute blast to drive. I had an 05 3GT and that was decent enough without. I'd likely still have it if it wasn't for the back end rusting out.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

I believe Mazda has stopped selling the CX-50 Hybrid in Canada due to the counter tarrifs we had to impose. It's only made in the US so there's no other options to source from. Too bad as it was a great choice. It also has a spare tire if that's a need for you (CRV hybrid doesn't)

As for the other two - if you need this vehicle in the next 1-2 years (maybe 3) - I think you're only option is the CRV. 2026 RAV4's haven't arrived yet and dealers will be gouging the hell out of people with $8,000 of mandatory options for at least 2-3 years to fill pent up demand.

I like Toyota, but I also hate Toyota for this reason...

The RAV4 hybrid shortage has been going on for generations. I don't understand why Toyota hasn't invested in being able to build more of them.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The RAV4 hybrid shortage has been going on for generations. I don't understand why Toyota hasn't invested in being able to build more of them.

The shortage means they don't have to give discounts and incentives for people to buy. It lessens the burden on manufacturing, increases margins per vehicle... as a short ish term move during a period of uncertainty and fighting for scarce resources, it's not an unreasonable move.

Sucks for the consumer, makes sense for the company.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Is the Crown Signia in the same boat? Because it's just an objectively better version of the Rav4 hybrid for like 90% of people and if the Rav4 is going to be over sticker and delayed anyway...

I mean I guess the price difference is still a lot if you were buying a base model, but it doesn't take that much to get up above 50k on one anyway.

[Sliver]

Rav4s suck. I can't believe how popular they are. Tinny, buzzy, cheap feeling, terrible cabin noise...just so crappy. My mom bought one new in 2019. I could never get over how blah it was for how much love they get.