The MW Automotive Thread 5.0 GT

[mikeszekely]

4 hours ago, Stampeed Valkyrie said:

It sounds like the Hemi is not dead,

Correct.  Stellantis killed it, and the only engine for the Ram 1500 was the Hurricane, a turbocharged straight six.  People complained, loudly, and (after replacing the CEO) Stellantis is bringing the HEMI back, and one of the first vehicles it's going back into is the Ram 1500.  Edmund's tested the new 1500 HEMI, and the conclusion was more or less "it's slower, it tows less, it gets worse mileage, it's more expensive, but it sounds cool," which is kind of what I was getting at... the Hurricane is a better engine in a lot of ways, and if I was in the market for a Ram 1500 (which I can promise I will never be, trucks just aren't my thing) I'd definitely go with the Hurricane.  But not everyone is as into raw performance as I am, and a lot of people just prefer the way a V8 feels and sounds, and they were mad that they weren't being given the option.

And that's how I feel about the Charger, too.  Few more weeks with it and the more I drive it the more I like it.  It's actually a little faster than my Porsche, gets better range, and even though it's not as agile I don't feel like I have to baby it, I don't have to take it nearly all the way to the Point if/when there's a service recall, and (hopefully) maintenance will be cheaper.  I'm totally content with the electric version... it's silly and stupid in all the right ways.  But I'm definitely in the minority there, and with the Challenger off the market along with the previous Challenger gasoline versions need to happen, and fast.  While the Hurricane-equipped Charger SIXPACKs are due to arrive next year I think Stellantis should go one further and put out a HEMI version

[Hikuro]

On 9/21/2025 at 5:10 PM, Stampeed Valkyrie said:

Nice,  this one has been on my list for about a year now.    Its a contender to replace my DD...  I had a 1981 280ZX Turbo that met an untimely end back in the early 00s.   Probably still find a pic of it on the forums if it still exits.       I have been hesitant because of some of the issues Nissan has been having,  that and some experience with some CVT issues on family vehicles.        Might end up with one eventually if the price is right.  

 

 the good news is, the Z doesn't use a CVT, it uses a traditional 9spd Automatic like the Frontier and there's been no issues with it. There actually hasn't been any issues with the Z right now that I've been made aware of at work compared to something like the Kicks, Rogue and Altima, which the Altima is going kapootz end of this year and had a TERRIBLE CVT. Since mine is a 6spd Manual I really haven't had any solid issues to contend with. I do need to take it in for a e-brake cable adjustment that's about it.

 

[mikeszekely]

I've heard stories about Nissan's CVT issues, but I had a 2017 Maxima I drove (hard) until this year. Had absolutely no issues with it, it remains one of the best cars I've owned.

[TangledThorns]

23 minutes ago, mikeszekely said:

I've heard stories about Nissan's CVT issues, but I had a 2017 Maxima I drove (hard) until this year. Had absolutely no issues with it, it remains one of the best cars I've owned.

Early Nissan CVTs had some recalls and mechanics hate working on them. That being said CVTs are still being used in new cars but are apparently much improved too. 

[Pontus]

16 hours ago, mikeszekely said:

I've heard stories about Nissan's CVT issues, but I had a 2017 Maxima I drove (hard) until this year. Had absolutely no issues with it, it remains one of the best cars I've owned.

CVT is a great idea, and like anything, it has to be built right.  My only problem with them is that they're often programmed counter to it's design philosophy; It's supposed to allow your engine to run smoothly at it's peak efficiency without major changes in RPM for the given conditions, but it's often programmed to meet human expectations by making it sound like it's shifting which is not ideal for a CVT to be jumping the belt back and forth across the cones.  

As a manual loving car guy, I actually loved my Ford CMax which had a smoothly programmed CVT in it.  I leased it tho and would NEVER own one, although I know plenty of people at my workplace who've had theirs for years now.  Chevy did what is imho the best hybrid implementation on the Volt; You need to make the engine a generator and drive the car on electric alone, not as a assist stuck between the engine and wheels.  I always hated how the CMax would turn the COLD engine on when it needed power and rev it to the max to get it.  But, if you kept the battery charged up, it hardly ever used it in city driving.  I had the person at the service desk AT THE DEALER chastise me for not changing my oil at 4k mi.  I'm like the engine never runs.  Once a year is fine and even at that I was changing it MORE often than recommended.

Funny story with that car... My wife, I, and our 1yr old toddler just starting to walk were going up north to spend time at Lake Wazee and decided to take the "back roads."  The car handled the roads like a champ, and I was always impressed with it's handling.  Within a few miles of the lake, my options were to get on the highway and take the normal route in, but I saw all these smaller roads leading into the area and decided to cross the highway keeping on the road I was already going down.  THEN IT STARTED TO POUR RAIN!  Seemed like a nicely paved road at first, but then the lines went away.  Ok, but still a nice paved road.  Then the road started to narrow until the point where I didn't feel safe attempting to turn back because I was obviously going to get stuck if one tire went off the pavement in this low slung car with like 3" of clearance.  It was still paved tho, so we kept going.  Then the pavement slowly faded into hard packed tarred gravel.  Then hard gravel... then sandy, muddy gravel... and before I know it, I'm doing my absolute damnedest to keep my speed up and my car out of and on top of the muddy, sandy ruts with the traction control constantly cutting power until I found a panicked moment to jam my finger at the traction button.  I made it through a mile of this, down a muddy valley and finally up a sandy hill to crest back onto the safety of a paved road again.  PHEW!  Then around the next corner... mother nature said NO!  Road was flooded out about 3' deep.  F*&^!!!  Now I have to drive BACK THROUGH all that mud again!  And it ain't getting dryer cuz it's still pouring down rain!  And I have no idea where to tell a tow truck to get me even if they WOULD.  But by some miracle we made it.  Then my kid went to get out of the car at the lake and promptly landed flat on her face on the pavement.  Poor kid had a scratched up face, but she was ok.  Then the sun came out, we enjoyed the rest of the day, and TOOK THE HIGHWAY HOME!!!  Afterwards the car's suspension started making a clunk sound of a broken front sway bar link, so I took it to the dealer fully expecting them to say that it wasn't covered under warranty because I obviously took it off roading, but to my surprise, they covered it! 

Edited September 23 by Pontus

[Seto Kaiba]

On 9/21/2025 at 10:54 PM, mikeszekely said:

And that's how I feel about the Charger, too.  Few more weeks with it and the more I drive it the more I like it.  It's actually a little faster than my Porsche, gets better range, and even though it's not as agile I don't feel like I have to baby it, I don't have to take it nearly all the way to the Point if/when there's a service recall, and (hopefully) maintenance will be cheaper.  I'm totally content with the electric version... it's silly and stupid in all the right ways.  But I'm definitely in the minority there, and with the Challenger off the market along with the previous Challenger gasoline versions need to happen, and fast.  While the Hurricane-equipped Charger SIXPACKs are due to arrive next year I think Stellantis should go one further and put out a HEMI version

Ward's seems to like it too.

There was a press release today that the Dodge Charger BEV Daytona Scat Pack is one of Ward's 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems for 2025.

https://www.wardsauto.com/internal-combustion-engines/electrification-in-full-force-on-this-year-s-wards-10-best-engines-propulsion-systems-winners-list

Stellantis Media - Electric Attitude: Dodge Charger Daytona Earns 2025 Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems Award

 

The other honorees, for those who want the Cliffnotes version, are the:

• BMW M5 PHEV with the 4.4L turbocharged V-8
• Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 with the 5.5L twin-turbo V-8
• Ford F-150 HEV with the 3.6L turbocharged V-6
• Honda Civil HEV with the 2.0L inline 4
• Hyundai Ioniq 9 BEV
• Lexus LX 700h HEV with the 3.4L turbocharged V-6
• Lucid Gravity BEV
• Mercedes-AMG E53 PHEV with the 3.0L turbocharged inline 6
• Nissan Leaf BEV

[TangledThorns]

Seeing a LUCID Gravity drifting is pretty damn scary to watch, lol. 

 

 

[Test_Pilot_2]

So... ah... maybe not as exciting as some of the other cars... but...

I bought a loaded 2026 Honda Odyssey Elite. Not much of a flex, but I paid cash for it? Picking it up once the factory delivers it.

My other car is an EV6 GT and despite it being a KIA it'll smoke the vast majority of cars on the road and is fun to drive - so that's my offset, yeah.

Besides that. Pretty sure I'm turning into my dad now - queue that insurance commercial.

[TangledThorns]

6 hours ago, Test_Pilot_2 said:

So... ah... maybe not as exciting as some of the other cars... but...

I bought a loaded 2026 Honda Odyssey Elite. Not much of a flex, but I paid cash for it? Picking it up once the factory delivers it.

My other car is an EV6 GT and despite it being a KIA it'll smoke the vast majority of cars on the road and is fun to drive - so that's my offset, yeah.

Besides that. Pretty sure I'm turning into my dad now - queue that insurance commercial.

Though we don't own one we rented minivans during family vacations and they are great family movers, young and old!

If we had to get a mini van I think it would be a KIA Carnival since it looks more like a SUV than minivan. That would compliment your EV6 GT too, lol. 

[Test_Pilot_2]

18 minutes ago, TangledThorns said:

Though we don't own one we rented minivans during family vacations and they are great family movers, young and old!

If we had to get a mini van I think it would be a KIA Carnival since it looks more like a SUV than minivan. That would compliment your EV6 GT too, lol. 

Yeah, I'm an SUV guy so I was looking at a Suburban. I got noped, had to be a van. Then I was leaning towards the Sienna, got noped, had to be an Odyssey.

Plot twist: Wife sold Hondas for years and was absolutely dead set on the Odyssey - I had no chance to begin with.

Happy wife, happy life. You can take that to the bank.

[mikeszekely]

7 hours ago, Test_Pilot_2 said:

So... ah... maybe not as exciting as some of the other cars... but...

I bought a loaded 2026 Honda Odyssey Elite. Not much of a flex, but I paid cash for it? Picking it up once the factory delivers it.

My other car is an EV6 GT and despite it being a KIA it'll smoke the vast majority of cars on the road and is fun to drive - so that's my offset, yeah.

Besides that. Pretty sure I'm turning into my dad now - queue that insurance commercial.

In the words of one James Pumphrey, "Minivans are cool."  When I brought my parents with us when I took my wife and daughter to Presque Isle I rented a Chrysler Pacifica and I genuinely enjoyed it.

Years later wife got a Kia EV9 when her parents were staying with us, and I dunno.  I think more people should consider minivans instead of 3-row SUVs.  It's like the Kia is nearly as big as the Pacifica, but the Pacifica's sliding door made it easier to get in and out of, and I swear it had more cargo room to boot.

If we still needed a big people mover I'd consider swapping the EV9 for an ID.Buzz, but wife's parents went back to China so it's just the three of us at home these days, and wife kind of wants to downsize.  Her next car might be BMW's new iX3 or an Audi Q6 e-Tron.