++ ATOT official NEF thread part IV ++

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shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,082
136
USA is now in Japan mode, the kids' shows exist to sell toys.

g-i-joe-header-banner.jpg
 

MotF Bane

No Lifer
Dec 22, 2006
60,801
10
0
With quads, you end up with four cutoffs to manage. If they aren't on the same horizontal plane, it's really badly obvious, but even if they are horizontally aligned, then the cutoffs are slightly staggered.

You also end up doubling your light output, which tends to be excessive, i.e. foreground glare or reflective surface dazzle against yourself. It's worse with an MH1, with its higher foreground light than most OEM or -R type projectors.
 

MotF Bane

No Lifer
Dec 22, 2006
60,801
10
0
Two test drives down!

2009/2010 Nissan Maxima, Crimson Black, 40k miles, $23k, loaded. 290HP, 261 ft-lbs, VQ35HR, CVT, FWD.

I did not drive this one at all, in retrospect, probably should've, given it is one of the finalists already. Handling was very controlled, and flat due to the car's width. Less roll than my car, due to the width. Power was excellent, and the CVT was actually really nice. There are a lot of complaints about the CVT noise... those complaints are actually most Americans proving they're idiots when it comes to cars. The noise is the motor and exhaust hitting resonance frequencies at certain RPM's, more commonly noticeable at low revs, which the CVT can hold the car at low revs. It cruised at 40 MPH on surface streets at just 1200 RPM. Reached 80 on the highway quickly and easily. The CVT sport mode does puzzle me a bit though.

It was nice though. AWD would be much better than FWD, although it didn't feel FWD, it would be perceptible in snow, and probably also for torque steer. The braking has a fun little feature where it electronically balances the braking force, so instead of nose diving under braking, it keeps the car level. I assume under panic braking it would abandon that feature.
 

MotF Bane

No Lifer
Dec 22, 2006
60,801
10
0
We also drove an EX35, and it was not impressive. It felt a lot like my car, tight, compact, twitchy. It had more seated height, I could actually see, at intermittent points, through the body of the Pilot ahead of me to the next car, my G would be at his license plate the whole time. But it had some rough points, some clunks in the rear end and front right door, and the shifting was a little sluggish. It screamed right up to 7k RPM without objection, but it did a 4-3-2 for it, and that costs time too. I got it on the highway, and ended up stuck behind some q-tip in a CR-V and an 18 wheeler in the second lane, so I couldn't play with it. Admittedly, it'd be the same as my car, essentially.

The bigger issue was the sizing. The trunk was even smaller than a G, the sides and roof were extremely cramped, I was just a couple inches from the outside edge of the roof. If you have claustrophobia, this car would not work for you. Went to go into the dealership, found the primary driveway blocked by an outgoing car, second driveway, an ingoing car... who stopped, in the driveway, leaving me trapped on the street, and then he put it in reverse. I hit the horn, he stopped for a moment, and then resumed backing up. So I shot around him, waited for the dumbass q-tip to move away, and then got it in place. Really nice feature - put it in reverse, and the car has cameras all around to display the ground. Makes it easy, particularly since internal views are terrible.

Addendum to the Maxima: the dashboard was huge, the hood length was very long, and front and rear fenders were stupidly wide. It's a BIG car.
 

alfa147x

Lifer
Jul 14, 2005
29,307
106
106
With quads, you end up with four cutoffs to manage. If they aren't on the same horizontal plane, it's really badly obvious, but even if they are horizontally aligned, then the cutoffs are slightly staggered.

You also end up doubling your light output, which tends to be excessive, i.e. foreground glare or reflective surface dazzle against yourself. It's worse with an MH1, with its higher foreground light than most OEM or -R type projectors.

also would lose DRLs