Fine so far, after the new AWD actuator was put in so I could actually take delivery LOL. Couple of minor quirks that I mentioned earlier...having to push buttons on every start-up to overrule the idle start/stop system and clear the SD-card box for the NAV. The overhead on/off dome-light button is too sensitive. So far, the 9T45 9-speed transmission on the Encore GX hasn't had quite the same hiccups of the 9T60 version of that tranny on the Lacrosse....we'll see with more miles. Gas mileage was low on the first tankful but has drastically increased since then. I find the three-pot turbo engine less-objectionable than I thought I would...on my first test-drive of a 2020 version, i didn't care for it......The 2021 version, probably with better sound-insulation, runs about as smooth and quiet as the typical in-line four, although, of course, there's no comparison to the silky GM 3.6L V6or the big V8 in your S560. Its low-speed torque, for an engine that size, is excellent...max is at 1600 RPM, just off idle, although I'm conservative as a driver and usually don't use all of it. I also keep stress down on the engine because a block that small of a size is probably not going to have a terribly long life, particularly with a turbo. I get a lot of good comments on the Bronze/Cinnamon exterior and two-tone black/white interior color-schemes, inside and out....people are so used to seeing neutral black/white/gray/silver colors on vehicles today that something like that, particularly in the sunlight, stands out like a circus LOL

On the first oil-change at the dealership (which is free, per Buick's policy), I'm going to see if they can't get rid of that SD-card NAV box that pops up every time the engine is started....that is annoying, but something I can live with. The NAV system itself works fine once that box is se each time. There are some so-called (and questionable) "cures" in GM forums for it, but I'm not sure I want to fool with it myself.

Overall, very pleased with it. A virtually perfect machine for my everyday driving needs (if it holds up, and doesn't break), and much easier to maneuver and park than that big Lacrosse was...particularly with the 360-view camera. I found, with the Lacrosse, that I was basically driving a machine that I was re-living my college days with. After a half a century, and an incident or two in parking lots, I found it was time to move on. I still think, though, that GM and Ford should not have dropped their large sedans. Just because I personally have moved on, there's a lot of Boomers my age left that still want them...and not everyone has the kind of money an S560 will sell (or even lease) for.

 

Yeah that SD card thing you have is strange. Try and take a picture of it next time and post it...

 

At the end of the article the author makes a really good point about all the racetracks being shut down over the decades. Enthusiasts no longer have a place to play with their vehicles as I had in the 60's and 70's. This has led to a great number of street racing disasters and side-shows that have devolved into mayhem. Gunshots are the norm at San Francisco East Bay side-shows and it's creeping into my South Bay neighborhoods as well! People are always getting injured at these events as daredevils play "bull-fighter" with the doughnut spinning cars and trucks. Sometimes side-shows are orchestrated on busy freeways, which ties up traffic for miles!

We used to have drag strips in California where one could grudge race, enter or spectate a car show, or shop at a swap meet. But that has all gone away due to property values and liability insurance costs. Too, we ran out of open space with all the migration to the state, so no chance any new racetracks will be built. Sad.

 

I grew up in the 1960s, and there was just as much street-racing back then, if not more, than today. Gotta remember.....that was the heyday of the muscle-car era. Even as a teen-ager, I was never a fan of street-racing or drag-strips.......still am not today, though I did sample some of the muscle-cars of that day and punched them once or twice.....in a safe manner, under safe conditions. And, of course, I've enjoyed writing about them.

And there was a reason I wasn't a fan of that nonsense. I saw a lot of cars get wrecked, a number of young people get hurt...and some them killed.

 

Good thread.

I was about 4 or 5 when insurance companies started raising rates and the big three started lowering horsepower outout. Man those were some good looking cars though. It seemed like all the cool cats had dragster type cars while that neighbor who wore a v-neck t-shirt and penny loafers always had a car on a trailer ready for the stock car circuit. While the dragster dudes had all the hot chicks hanging around that circle track guy was always working on his car.

As a teen most of the teenagers who had hot rods in my town had no interest in driving to some bonafide drag strip. They were more interested in showing off for the chicks. And for whatever reason when there was a crash it was on a country road at some famous curve with a giant scarred up oak tree from all of the cars that hit it. It was if there was something mystic about hitting dead mans curve at 45 even though a posted sign showed max safe speed was 15. These guys had giant sleds that were great for going in a straight line so I never understood the allure.

Now the geeky pit faced kid with the Pinto could take dead mans curve at 25 no problem. But it's a Pinto so what? I never understood the appeal of a hot rod Honda until the day a young gal pulled up beside my Colorado Special Mustang at a red light and starts revving her little squirrel cage Nissan engine. "Oh yeah, you wanna race huh, alright how about a 50 yard dash to that next traffic signal" I thought. Light turns green and next thing I know I'm looking at the tail lights of a Nissan Sentra. That was my one and only attempt at drag racing.

When my son came of age he was seeking my advice on his first car. I kept telling him "luxury hot rods are cool". He was thinking Hondas and Suburus, I was thinking Mustangs and Camaros. We both ended up with Honda Preludes but now his favorite flavors are an AWD SH Acura and an Aristo while I'm more into the turtle mode of a 2nd gen GS 300.

Back to the initial post: I keep heading out the door to uncover and wash my car but things like broken branches from an ice storm or unwinterizing the lawn mower keep side tracking me. I uncover the car, swear "after I pick up these sticks" I'll wash it then 5 hours later cover it back up because the yard work took precendence. I'll get to it at some point but there seems to be a thousand other things that keep popping up. Time to wash the car……oh no dandelions just popped up, gotta get rid of those before they breed, no wait now there's more sticks on the lawn, awe man the trimmer won't start, uh oh there's weeds in the flower bed……"see ya tomorrow Mr Lexus" as I now walk in hunched over pain to cover it back up.

Now regarding the demise of drag strips, in my area suburban sprawl is like dandelions, spreading faster than anyone can stop it and has meant "Karen" lives near the local drag way and all that noise just has to go. Heck at one area they forced a rock quarry to shut down because the blasting of granite was shaking all those match stick built homes and cracking the sheet rock. Never mind the rock quarry had been there since the 1950's. Oh no Senator so n so's nephews cousin lives there and her therapist says it's all that dynamite causing little Johnnies angst (not the parents constantly ignoing little Johnny while they facebook and instagram all of the sordid details of their suburban lives). So a drag strip? Forget about it.

 

Great idea for a thread Steve!

I've watched a bunch of videos on prepping the paint for sealant application and want to do this for the first time on my Model S. Clay bar, fine polish with light compound, IPA wipe down and finally application of the Graphene Ceramic spray. I'm nervous about potentially screwing up the paint finish in the "polishing" phase, but I really want to make my car's paint "pop" as soon as it's warm enough. It will never "pop" like a darker color would, but it will certainly look really good if done properly.

 

With that level of prep, I would do a real coating instead of a spray coating...90% of the work is done.

 

You're overestimating my detailing skills. 😁

 

The coating is easy. The hard part is the prep. You can absolutely do the coating.

 

Interesting. My impression is that the coating requires greater finessing skills. Do you have a link to a video that explains/shows this well for noob?

 

How do I exit out of the Multimedia Information Center? I used the right side of the steering wheel buttons to get into it, I finished but the go back key keeps me in it. I only have had the vehicle for three months. Thanks.

 

The button on the steering wheel that looks like little folders, press it, and it should return to MPG/cruising range etc..

 

There are tons of coatings out there now for consumers that are very easy to install. Its really no different than waxing or sealing the paint. If you search YouTube for ceramic coating, there are TONS of how to videos. I've done it multiple times, its very easy,

 

OK folks, the moderator team absolutely gets that people like having a general chat thread and we've been watching it evolve and seeing what direction it goes and what content gets discussed. However some of the concerns we had at the onset of this thread with forum usability are starting to happen such as the post below today:

This thread can be confusing both for new members with where to start their posts but also for our most experienced members searching for answers. And if this evolves into a meandering hundred-page thread with good advice and current content, it's going to be nearly IMPOSSIBLE for someone searching for advice - for example - on the topic of ceramic coating and detailing - to easily find their answer. Being able to find answers and good advice is one of the greatest values of our community, and we rely on our members to help keep things organized.

I can hear the collective 'BOOOOO' from some as I close this and I get the attraction of threads like this, but I'd ask you if you want a detailing advice chat thread - start one and we'll leave it here in car chat vs moving to the detail forum. If you want I'll volunteer to go through this thread and pluck out the 75% of the posts from this one into a new thread (edit - done). If you'd like an insurance advice thread or a garage floor coating thread, start one on that topic and you'll certainly get folks chipping in. But please help us keep CL well organized, it's part of what keeps folks coming back here. Still keep the chat going, just chat on a specific thread topic!