Lets talk about new vehicles

[Zee09]

That is an excellent idea. I was once considering doing that to a car I had. But the car got totaled.

Thanks Walt

 

[PandaBear]

With a cvt transmission and less cargo space than a big sedan

Most mini CUV todays are like that. I really don't get most of the CUVs on the road today as they pick the worst of all vehicle designs and slap them together, and people buy them.

I saw a few reviews lately of the 2026 Lexus IS 350. By today's standards a dinosaur. 6 or 8 speed auto and NA V6. Not that quick off the line. Old school. Most of all the reviews were negative towards it, yet the same people are whining about 10 speed automatics with VCM and GDI. The Lexus AWD is also one of the best.

Most people expect IS to be a BMW 3 series in performance but in reality it is more of a pick up truck powertrain shrink down into a RWD sedan. This is why they are quite durable and so little stressed on the powertrain that unless you do something wrong they don't break other than a couple early TSBs and recalls. That transmission you can skip ATF change and it would probably still last 250k miles because they were rated for a large pickup.

 

[FarmerJake42]

Several Canadian owners of the current 11th generation Honda Accord hybrids are reporting on Reddit that they're getting notified of a head gasket recall in the HondaLink app as of today:
View attachment 348307
My understanding is that the hybrid Accord's LFC5 naturally aspirated 2.0 liter engine is fundamentally the same engine used in the current generation of hybrid CRVs, just tuned slightly differently between the Accord vs. CRV.

I knew that the turbocharged 1.5 liter Accord / CRV engines have had a troubling history and frequency of head gasket failures, but was hoping it wasn't an issue with the 2.0 liter engines. As a 2024 Accord hybrid owner, I don't love seeing reports that it is.

Will be interesting to see if this head gasket recall is real and if so, if it gets extended to US owners too.

It looks like Canadian and US owners of the 11th generation Honda Accord hybrids will be getting a software update, supposedly Honda's attempt to try to address head gasket failures through engine cooling system changes.

Honda Service Bulletin 26-080 was posted on a Honda Accord forum today with some details about this update. The bulletin states that "to better manage engine temperatures, a PGM-FI update has been developed to optimize electric water pump operation."

I see that I'm able to schedule a recall appointment for it in my HondaLink app:

 

[goblin]

It is a weird feeling to know that:

- It's 2026, and gasket problems can still exist, ON A HONDA...
- That gasket problems can be fixed with a software update.

Yes, I know. They'll recalibrate the software to activate the electric water pump more often or whatever, so the engine is not constantly on the brink of overheating, but just on the brink of the brink. But still.

 

[Zee09]

It looks like Canadian and US owners of the 11th generation Honda Accord hybrids will be getting a software update, supposedly Honda's attempt to try to address head gasket failures through engine cooling system changes.

Honda Service Bulletin 26-080 was posted on a Honda Accord forum today with some details about this update. The bulletin states that "to better manage engine temperatures, a PGM-FI update has been developed to optimize electric water pump operation."

I see that I'm able to schedule a recall appointment for it in my HondaLink app:

View attachment 351582

My Accord was a massive lemon
They need to recall Hondablink too

 

[skyactiv]

Wife and I went to a Toyota dealer open today and she test drove a Rav4 plug-in hybrid. Her knee hit the center console and when we got back to the dealer she told the salesman she wasn't interested in it because the knee thing and he wanted to show us a Grand Highlander hybrid, she declined and we left.

 

[Zee09]

Wife and I went to a Toyota dealer open today and she test drove a Rav4 plug-in hybrid. Her knee hit the center console and when we got back to the dealer she told the salesman she wasn't interested in it because the knee thing and he wanted to show us a Grand Highlander hybrid, she declined and we left.

Good as they aren't what the used to be plus way overpriced

 

[Dave Hess]

I saw a few reviews lately of the 2026 Lexus IS 350. By today's standards a dinosaur. 6 or 8 speed auto and NA V6. Not that quick off the line. Old school. Most of all the reviews were negative towards it, yet the same people are whining about 10 speed automatics with VCM and GDI. The Lexus AWD is also one of the best.

Old School is great if it’s ultra reliable and boring technology.

 

[Zee09]

Plus the hvac is weak, really weak...
My car was the mpg king but a total rattle trap and mice love them. Glad I sent it packing...

 

[Zee09]

About an hour ago in Memphis

 

[Pablo]

About an hour ago in Memphis

View attachment 352101

Gasoline.

 

[Patman]

About an hour ago in Memphis

View attachment 352101

You can’t park there sir!

 

[4wd]

About an hour ago in Memphis

View attachment 352101

Hmmm … that’s not even a crossing

 

[Zee09]

Hmmm … that’s not even a crossing

He got pushed past it..Lucky dog

 

[4wd]

He got pushed past it..Lucky dog

Crossed my mind - but that front tire is near perfect …

 

[buster]

 

[Pablo]

4 door. Yuck.

 

[Delta]

4 door. Yuck.

C'mon now... 4 doors > 2 doors!

 

[Zee09]

I don't drink the Yota kool-aid

 

[Nessism1]

The IS is on my short list of cars for consideration of purchase. That and the BMW 330i. Both are the same size and cost. Even though I don't drive much anymore, I appreciate Lexus reliability. I watched the IS350 review by Car Care Nut and he said it's the last of the "old school reliable Lexuses". The turbo 4 in the BMW is a good engine, and gets better MPG. It has more low-end torque also. A good combination. It's not like the IS is slow, though. It would be more than enough power for me.