#there is literally zero reason for Any android to be as extra as this. the head wobbling.

[kafus]

i said i wanted to talk about my SV trainer a little bit and i have decided to write a post about this now while waiting for dinner because i am bored lol

i do not have art of her atm so you'll have to take these images for now. i also have no idea what the fuck to name her i somehow haven't been able to decide so we're just gonna call her Kafu even though that is not her name that's just the name i use for online play LMAO. oh and he uses he And she pronouns so if u see me alternating that's why. anyway. this is going to be long i'm putting it under the cut. no pressure to read it i'm just rambling

basically when i started playing violet i had avoided spoilers/leaks and stuff and i had no idea what was going to happen except for what was in trailers, and i knew about the robotic paradox mons so my robot obsessed ass decided okay. you know what. kafu is also a robot and somehow comes from the same place these paradox mons r coming from. i went thru the game with this in mind, this is why kafu wears sunglasses to cover her really inhuman colorful robot eyes, it makes them less jarring and doesn't instantly give her away to strangers. him being a robot is actually a secret (he appears very human/realistic) that the cast of SV finds out about as trust builds throughout the journey. for what it's worth this is also why his sunglasses are off in the credits pic for the main story, he took them off while in area zero where literally no one was around and it didn't matter lol

this is all well and good and gave me an extra point of attachment to sv's cast during the main story but the dlc makes this really interesting in particular because of the crystal pool scene. not only is the time machine and the story of SV a paradox but kafu herself is a paradox. the way i'm handling this is subject to change but my current idea is the following:

there is a prior timeline before any of sv's plot, where turo got the idea for the time machine of his own accord. heath and paradox mon sightings still exist regardless and so does terapagos, who is not pulling the paradox mons literally from the future of sv's world but the future in another dimension (it has both time and space abilities). in this timeline, turo finds terapagos himself and actually owns it and is able to weaponize its powers to make a much MUCH more potent machine than what we see in violet, because instead of drawing on terapagos' inadvertent abilities that it doesn't have much control over, he is controlling its abilities directly. essentially this future realm with the robot paradoxes and the paldea we know are mashed together and this creates an ecological apocalypse. terapagos, in emotional desperation, thru its desire to fix what has happened, calls upon kafu who is one of the few remaining sentient androids from the robot mon world (he has an intrinsic connection with terapagos because reasons i'm still developing) to save everyone. and kafu does, and smth similar to the crystal pool scene happens in which she is the one to give turo the idea for the time machine, instead of terapagos being the cause. this prevents the sort of ecological apocalypse that happened before, since the machine is much less powerful, and now the timeline is in a cyclical paradox where he is the one who gives turo the idea for the machine and is always there at the end to be the one giving him the idea, essentially patching up the apocalypse timeline and making sure it never happens.

SV, then, is a representation of what the timeline looks like AFTER kafu has prevented the apocalypse. she's not really in a time loop? she is in her own continuum and actually unaware of the apocalypse timeline, completely amnesiac, until the ID plotline (by the way the literal indigo disk is a remnant of the original apocalypse timeline when turo had direct access to terapagos lol) in which capturing terapagos again allows it to share this information with her. and even then it's not like she's reliving the same plot over and over, it's more like she is in every timeline at once to always save it but my oc is just the one in this one timeline.

to be clear i've never worked this in depth with time shenanigans before so there may be holes or other things i need to work out here but that's the GENERAL idea. ANYWAY here's a list of kafu's relationships with everyone that i made on discord the other day :)

my trainer's relationship with everyone (i'm saying "my trainer" here because i was talking on discord and i'm too lazy to fix it):

nemona: really close friends, nemona was the first person to find out about his robot shit and accepted him with an almost concerning lack of distrust or complaint. my trainer is just as into the rivalry as nemona is and because my trainer has protag energy and cares a lot about being strong, they spar a lot. i think they're qpps in spirit even though they wouldn't call it that

arven: he's definitely more attached to my trainer than my trainer is to him but they are still good friends. i think my trainer has some trauma with turo and she has a hard time dealing with seeing him when with arven, and arven has a lot of heavy shit going on with that that can be hard to handle. but when they get along they really do get along

penny: my trainer and penny are not emotionally close in particular but penny and nemona are dating and so my trainer sees her a lot and they get on just fine LMAO. i think penny has interest in general tech stuff, not just on the software end, and so my trainer might awkwardly go to her if having a bodily function issue or question and penny's always willing to figure that out for the sake of her gf's bestie

carmine: while distrusting at first, carmine and my trainer ended up forming a really good friendship by the end of teal mask. it's a little complicated since my trainer feels terrible for hurting kieran the way that she did, and carmine was a part of that, and for a while my trainer's very bitter about it but they're able to make up and proceed

kieran: BOYFRIEND!! my trainer empathized with kieran's situation from the start. they have some sort of intrinsic connection because kieran's story might not be so disconnected from my trainer's after all… the ending of indigo disk brings them very close together because kieran sees my trainer's shit firsthand and you know. everything that happens in general

also for what it's worth i made a new team for both DLCs and of course i had my initial tam of 6 from the base game so kafu canonically owns 18 pokemon throughout the journey, these guys:

main story: meowscarada/clodsire/rotom heat (shiny)/dragonite/slowbro/tinkaton teal mask: mightyena/ribombee/ninetales/kommo-o/quagsire/yanmega (shiny) indigo disk: flygon/galvantula/meowstic/scrafty/cinccino/metagross <- all shiny

his favorites are meowscarada, yanmega, and flygon though :)

anyways yeah gaming i need to elaborate on my made up kieran lore and draw weird angst art of my oc who i still need to give a proper name and him LOL

[paldeatrio]

(Sorry for the long ask in advance ^^;)

Dear Professor Tu- I am Mr. Eye Bags,

I’d like to propose a solution that will benefit all of us, including yourself. This course of actions will keep that “brat” and anyone else out of Area Zero and, according to my own experience of the Anons, will result in a exponential decrease in the amount of hate mail you receive about your actions. The only things you’d have to sacrifice is your personal android you have (which, based on context clues, you don’t even like nor trust anymore,) and some slight experimentations and coding (which, in comparison to building a Time Machine, will be quite easy).

Since the AI seems to have little to no problems functioning outside of Area Zero, a problem in most of the other timelines, and the observation that it acts more like a functional human being than you, we can have it replace your presence in literally anywhere but the hole in the ground you are (presumably) currently. This will allow your android to do all the tiresome tasks like being a decent human being in a society while you can do you. You can upload your memories to it in order to prevent upcoming confusions and suspicions. You could also add some code to your AI to become just a tad bit more strict if somehow, even after all the psychological and physical trauma Arven received for going into Area Zero, your “pesky freeloader” suggests about going into Area Zero (or, if the sludge in your skull that we classify as your brain can rack up a civilized sentence, you can explain to the AI the negative consequences of your son entering Area Zero in a kind and respectable manner).

Since the task of just being a functional person and interacting with others in a civilized manner is too much for the malnourished vessel classified as your body, it would allow you more time rotting in your hole in the ground. Having AI Turo act as your functional counterpart (and as an actual parental figure for Arven) will also decrease the incentive for anyone to bother you down there, including your son. Since Arven will actually have a decent parental figure, he wouldn’t have a reason to go down there just to see your rotting corpse. Since your AI is doing all the human functions and interactions for you, it would stop bothering you to care for your son and you’d have no distractions from your “Paradise”. Since the public image of yourself wouldn’t be the equivalent of a wasted carcass, the people scouting people playing background zombies for the next summer apocalypse blockbuster will stop bothering you. Since the AI will replace your presence in society, we and Paldea will not have to waste our brain power thinking about you. Even if something fatal were to befall you, no one would have to care. Even people found out the truth, that the you they thought was you was actually a robot, such a situation would be more acceptable than if any of your mutated cells entered Arven’s life again.

Thank you for listening to the pitch! Although this plan will have you do some extra legwork, it is projected to bring long term benefits to everyone. If there are any problems or oversights, please let us know.

"Now, mind your manners and watch your tone. You're starting to sound like that boy at this point...."

[ltcolonelcarter]

sixty + monologuing like a drama queen

[duhragonball]

Krillin for the character ask :)

Give me a character and I will answer:

Why I like them: It’d be easy for me to say “he’s just a good dude” and leave it at that.   I think people would agree with that statement, but I think it runs deeper than that.   The thing that stuck with me about Krillin was when I was checking out the bonus features on the Movie 6 DVD I bought in 2002 or whenever, and they had an interview with Sonny Strait where he explained that Krillin only got into martial arts to impress girls, and that was the same reason Sonny got into voice acting.    Maybe I’m misremembering that, but it always stuck with me.   

Krillin wants things out of life, and unlike a lot of the other characters, he’s not looking to get them by wishing on a magic dragon.   He wants to become worthy of the things he wants, and he may not always be sure of how to get there, he knows that he has to become more than he is.  

Recently, I’ve been seeing excerpts from Barack Obama’s book, where he talks about reading up on subjects to try, unsuccessfully, to get girls to like him in college.    I think the idea was that he was trying to be self-effacing, but it hasn’t gone over very well.  I’m not sure if the problem was that he wasn’t being self-effacing enough, or if there’s something more sinister about reading Karl Marx just in case it helps your odds of getting noticed.    I’m not going to wade into that controversy, except to say that it reminded me of Krillin.  

Is it shallow to have self-serving reasons to improve yourself?   Did I just answer my own question?   The point I’m making here is that it’s a useful motivator.    Krillin has self-esteem issues, and he joined the Orin Temple and then Kame House to try to overcome them.   He thought “If I just get really good at this one thing, then people will like me.”   And we can say “Oh, no, it doesn’t work that way, Krillin, people like you because you’re a such a good person, and besides, it doesn’t matter how good you are at martial arts.”  

Okay, fine, let’s assume that’s true, and Krillin deceived himself by training in martial arts.    Oh no!   He put in all that work, and all he got out of it was... being the strongest human on Earth.   Shoot.    He made himself a better person for nothing.

The reality is that I don’t think he would be as well-liked if he hadn’t gone down this road, simply because people wouldn’t have gotten to know him.   That’s really what it’s about.   It’s easy to say that you’re liked for “who you are on the inside”, but what people really want is to be noticed long enough to be liked for who they are.    And sometimes you gotta take a long look at yourself and say “I need to do something to grab people’s attention.”

And sometimes, in order to motivate yourself into that kind of work, you have to play that trick on yourself.    “Just think, if I put in those extra reps in the gym, the ladies’ll be all over me!”   And it never actually happens, but it gets you through that workout, and the next, and the next, and the next.  

I think we can all relate to that.   I’m writing this because three people asked me to, and I’m sort of hoping a few more will see it and like what I wrote.   I try to get better, because I like the rush of validation that comes with it.   And if I don’t get it, well, boo-hoo, I wrote a few hundred words about Krillin, a subject I enjoy writing about.   It’s a no-lose situation, and there’s some non-zero chance that attractive single women might see this and decide to slide into my DMs.    It’s a tiny chance, hardly worth mentioning, but it’s a lot higher than if I just sit in my apartment and stare at the wall.   

Why I don’t: Ocean Dub Krillin really rubbed me the wrong way, because they wrote and voice directed the character to be really nebbishy.   That wouldn’t necessarily make him a bad character, but it definitely conflicted with what you see on the screen, where he’s stepping to Nappa, Vegeta, Dodoria, and everything else he has to deal with.    Once Sonny got the role, everything turned out cool.  Mondo cool, if you will.

I suppose I should point out the flip side of what I wrote above.  Krillin’s so focused on being worthy that he fails to recognize his achievements.   That’s admirable in its way, but it also makes you worry about the guy.    Like, he knows 18 is crazy about him, right?   Wait, does Obama know people like him?   Do I?  Oh I might have made myself sad there for a minute, excuse me.

Favorite episode (scene if movie):

Probably the moment he tries to take on Super Buu all by himself.   One of the cool things about Krillin is that he’s taken on every major villain from Piccolo Junior to Buu, despite being outclassed.    I think the Super Buu thing is the best one, though, because in that situation there’s literally no chance of anyone jumping in to save him.    His entire plan is to hold off Buu for a few seconds and maybe buy a few minutes for the others. He’s doomed and he knows it won’t even work as a diversion, but he still jumps in anyway.    It proves that this is who he is.    When there’s literally no one left to impress, and nothing left to gain, he’ll still play things out the same way.  

Favorite season/movie: The Androids/Cell Saga is probably his best material overall, just because of his conflicted feelings regarding 18, and the difficult choices he makes because of that.   You can make a strong case for the Namek Saga, where it’s literally just Krillin and Bulma and Gohan, so he has to take the lead by default, but I’m just not that into the Namek Saga.

Favorite line:

This is really more from one of the video games.   I think Budokai 3, but I’m not sure.   Piccolo demands custody of Gohan and Krillin’s like “No way, you’re probably gonna eat him or something!” and I’m pretty sure this wasn’t in the Ocean Dub, so it completely caught me off-guard, like it was the last thing I expected Krillin to say.   And then Piccolo comes back with “I’m not going to eat him!”  like he’s offended at the very suggestion.   As a runner-up, I dig that part in DBZA 54, where Trunks and Vegeta are both reeling from their losses to Perfect Cell, and Krillin reminds them that they don’t have to posture around him, because it’s just him... “Krillin.    Everyone’s friend.”

Favorite outfit: That’s easy.

Yeah, the Frieza Soldier armor looked mighty good on this dude, and the cop uniform does too, and the classic Turtle Hermit outfit is a signature look, but this, right here, is the Krillin for me.    My man’s got the blue shirt under his orange shirt.    No more of the Yamcha slipppers.   Those look great on Yamcha, don’t get me wrong, but Krillin needs those big chunky Goku boots, because they’re perfect for stomping those pesky girlfriend-exploding remotes.   Fellas, this is the ideal male body.    You may not like it, but this is what peak performance looks like.   

OTP: Maron HAHAHAHAHAHA oh wow.   No. It’s 18, obviously.

Brotp: Clearly Goku is his bro, but it’s not surprising at all how effortlessly he gets along with just about everyone else.   He’s bros with the entire world.

Head Canon: I’m pretty sure the Maron/Marron thing was just a coincidence in real life.   Maron the girlfriend was a filler character, and Marron the daughter was introduced in the manga some time later, and both used the same naming convention to end up in the same place.   However, I choose to believe that Krillin actually named his kid after his ex, and he somehow convinced 18 to go along with that idea.   

By that, I don’t mean he had to sweet talk her into it or promise a bunch of stuff in exchange.    I mean he must have discussed what to name their kid, and 18 was like “Your ex-girlfriend?   Seriously?” and he was like “Yeah, I know she’s a ditz, but you gotta understand I was in a really low place and she helped me through it.”   Or something like that, where once he lays out the whole reason 18′s like “Yeah, you know what?   Okay.” 

Or maybe Maron helped deliver the baby or something.   Or she was the surrogate mother?   Holy shit I might be onto something.

Unpopular opinion: Krillin clanks when he walks, due to the solid brass balls he’s got.

A wish: They should do a movie where Krillin just fights Frieza and wins.   Decisively, undisputably, irrevocably.   Krillin is stronger than Frieza from that point forward.    I don’t care if that means nerfing Frieza or godmodding Krillin, but I just want it made plain that if they use Frieza from here on, it has to be with the understanding that Krillin can whip his ass at any time.  

That might sound silly, and I guess it is, but you see what this accomplishes, right?   It forces Frieza into a new character dynamic, so it’s not just the same old shit with him.    Or Toei collectively admits that they can’t use him anymore, which was what they should have decided in 1995.   I’m fine either way.

An oh-god-please-dont-ever-happen: Don’t grow his hair back, okay? 

5 words to best describe them: Qualified to sell real estate.

My nickname for them: The Kriller.

[kingofthecon]

@flynnfletchr​ Stanford was doing that thing where he tried to pace a hole into the floor of their hotel room and it had become aggravating thirty minutes ago. "Ford." The slightly older twin didn't seem to hear his younger brother and continued pacing in the same spot - arms behind his back as he mumbled about whether or not he still had time to come up with a different project for the science fair. The answer? No. Not unless he could come up with something in less than twelve hours. "Ford. Please. I don't wanna knock you unconscious but so help me I will if it means we both get some sleep. It'll be fine." Stanford Pines looked towards his twin who was laying flat on his stomach at the edge of the bed with his arms beneath his head. The scowl he wore read as 'try me', and caused Stanford to slow to a stop. He looked bent out of shape, almost miserable and Stanley Pines didn't understand why. They went to several science fairs and Ford was always a shoe-in for first or second place. Maybe that was the reason why? The teenagers from Danville were competing in this particular contest of dorks and though Ford appreciated the friendly competition and the challenge that came with trying to one up the boys each year, it was clear that Ford didn't like it when he lost to them. He wasn't exactly a sore loser, but he wasn't a gracious loser either. He would put on a front, accept whatever place he'd taken, and then go back to the drawing board to hopefully come up with something even better to showcase his intelligence all while grumbling under his breath and talking like an actual super villain. Who uses the words RUE THE DAY in a legitimate conversation? "For one, you literally don't have time to come up with something else for this thing unless you decide to make a Mentos and Cola volcano using a Styrofoam cup cause that's what I have on me, and I don't think that'll even win a first grade science fair project. Secondly, you're a genius in a room full of geniuses. If you're that desperate then I can probably steal or sabotage someone's project for you which--don't look at me like that, I just wanted to make sure you weren't too far gone which brings me to bulletin three. Everyone knows that you have a high IQ. The highest IQs. The tallest mountain in the world of IQs. You don't really have to prove yourself so just relax." "Stanley, you don't understand. Phineas Flynn and Ferb Fletcher have an extensive history with their creations. I'm just a kid from Jersey who came out of nowhere." "Sixer, everyone loves the underdog. Besides, you three practically share the limelight at these things. You guys are top brass. Nothin' wrong with a little friendly competition to keep the blood flowin'." "Stanley, you're supposed to be on my side!" "I am on your side. One hundred percent. Otherwise I would have shoved you into the hallway so I could get some semblance of sleep. Instead I'm trying to talk you out of coming up with a list of junk you could make in the next like, eleven hours. You created a functioning robot girl complete with artificial intelligence and everything. You've skipped like, a hundred of these fairs to perfect Stannabelle." "She's an android and that is not her name." "The point is that you'll probably have even Tony friggin' Stark or Bruce Wayne lookin' your way. I mean, that's part of the reason why you chose this particular science fair, right? Who knows. Maybe once you're outta West Coast Tech you'll get picked up by Stark Industries or Wayne Enterprises? Oh, what about Star Labs?" "That's why this has to be perfect!" With a whine, Stanley rolled over and allowed himself to fall out of the bed. He wasn't on the floor long; rising to his feet he made his way towards the closet where the robot girl was sitting in her charging station. If anyone looked at the bot they would believe it to be a human with Stan and Ford as her big brothers. Stanley crossed his arms and presented to Ford his own creation. "Earth to nerd. The kid's perfect." "She sounds like I installed a Speak & Spell as her voice modulator." "Okay, so you missed something when you programmed her. Just, I dunno, take apart the TV if ya gotta do somethin'. Just...you need to relax. It'll be fine." He pat the android on top of her head and closed the closet door before flopping back down on the bed. "Just...you know, do it quietly? Some of us wanna walk around the Expo and sneak into places they shouldn't." "You're going to get us kicked out." "Probably yeah, so make the most of it. I'm goin' ta bed. Try not to stay up too late. Night, nerd." "Night, pain in my side brother who occasionally makes sense when it's convenient for him." "Too long. Try again." With that Stanley pulled back the covers and spread out for sleep leaving Ford to figure out what to do. He'd brought extra parts and equipment in case something went wrong so...like Stanley had suggested, he began to work on fixing the voice modulator with parts around their hotel room. ____________________________

Morning arrived way too fast and was thus slept through meaning that Stanley woke around noon. His awakening was accompanied by a terrified scream as a face way too close to his for comfort came into focus as he opened his eyes. He rolled off the bed in his attempt to get away and orient himself with his surroundings. His fall came with a one man laugh track which caused Stanley to zero in on the culprit. "Are you alright, Uncle Stan?" a little girl with the too expressive for what should have been a robot's face asked him. Stanley, a little unnerved with the realistically human sounding voice looked passed her and towards his twin who was far too proud of himself. "Peachy," he answered as his twin tried to hide his laughter behind a six fingered hand. Stanley pulled himself up so that he was kneeling against the side of the bed. More awake and aware now he realized what this meant. He turned to Ford and he grinned at him while patting his "niece" on top of her head. "This is great! So ya managed to fix the voice issue. Good job, and nice to finally meet you, kiddo." "My designation is not "Kiddo". I am Alpha 001 - SP." Stanford had such a proud look on his face while Stanley just slow blinked at the two of them before he began moving around the room to change into his clothes for the day. "Okay, but I'm calling you Allie for short. "But my designation--" "--Is a mouthful. No one is gonna call ya that except for the uppity geeks who want to sound professional and use big words all the time. 'sides, when someone has a long name like that people usually give'em nicknames. For example, Stanford over there tends to go by Ford while I, Stanley, go by Stan or Lee." The little android was silent for a moment, most likely computing the information she'd received or something before she finally nodded her head in understanding. "Very well. I will accept this as a secondary form of address. "Excellent! You've really outdone yourself, Sixer. Allie's perfect! Though I hope you slept. Anyway, I'mma go walk around the place and get breakfast." A look to the clock had him groaning. "Or brunch, apparently. You two should get ready for later this afternoon. I'll meet you at your booth or whatever." Once completely dressed with his hair and teeth brushed, the younger twin made his way from the hotel room and sighed as he headed towards his destination. Though he was happy to be here to support his brother, he didn't really feel as though he belonged. There'd been a few times in the past where he'd gotten mistaken for his brother, but once they realized the mix-up and asked him questions pertaining to his brother's project Stanley had only succeeded in making a fool of himself. He wasn't smart. He was barely above average and in a turn of crazy events he ended up being made fun of. It reminded him of the bullies back home in Glass Shard Beach, specifically Crampelter and his cronies, but back then it was never this...bad? This humiliating? Though it didn't happen often, it did happen enough that he hated coming to these things. He'd never tell his brother though. Stanford had been teased all his life for his Polydactyly and for being the smartest person in any room. Stanley could bite the bullet of being the odd one out for a change, especially when it only happened once every year or every other year. Stanley hummed to himself as he entered the elevator which went from hotel to convention center. He rocked back and forth on the heels of his feet the balls of his toes as he mentally counted the floors as they lit up. Once the doors opened and he stepped out he found himself tripping over something. He blinked as he stumbled out of the elevator. A part of him wondered if he'd tripped over some nerds project garnering the reaction of, 'oh shit!' and 'at least that'll knock out one of Ford's competitors. When he actually looked at what he'd tripped over, however... "What the heck are you s'posed to be?" He crouched in front of the teal duck bill beaver tailed...thing, and poked at it to make sure that he hadn't hurt it. "You lost and tryin' to catch the elevator, little guy? Or are you a girl? whatevenareyou?" He moved to pick up the creature just to make sure with no regards for safety (the creature could absolutely bite him after all), but his love of animals outweighed his need to be careful.

[dipulb3]

The 2021 Lexus ES 250 is comfy like a pair of sweatpants

New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/the-2021-lexus-es-250-is-comfy-like-a-pair-of-sweatpants/

The 2021 Lexus ES 250 is comfy like a pair of sweatpants

F Sport trims get these 19-inch wheels.

Craig Cole/Roadshow

The 2021 Lexus ES 250 is more impressive than you might think. After 800 miles in the saddle of this gold-plated Toyota Avalon on a drive to Michigan’s upper peninsula and back, I’m happy to report the ES is an all-star road-tripper thanks to its comfort, refinement and fuel economy.

Like

Excellent adaptive cruise control

Over-the-road refinement

Cushy accommodations

Good fuel economy

Don’t Like

That damn infotainment system

Halfhearted performance

No fold-down seats

Redesigned a few years ago, the ES soldiers on with a few enhancements for 2021. Luxury, F Sport and Ultra Luxury models now come standard with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, a special Black Line model is on the menu and, for the first time, you can get this venerable sedan with all-wheel drive, which comes standard with the base four-cylinder engine. That’s the powertrain this example is fitted with, though it also features the F Sport package, which includes unique wheels, a mesh grille insert, other visual tweaks and a retuned suspension setup. Adaptive dampers are also available, though they’re not fitted here.

The ES 250’s interior is well built and comfortable. The materials employed are mostly high quality, from the supple leather to the aluminum brightwork to the almost organic hole pattern on the speaker grilles. Some not-so-great hard plastic can be spotted if you poke around and the switches that operate the heated and ventilated front seats are buried at the bottom of the center stack and look crude, especially compared to the ingenuous tuning and volume knobs, which are two concentric dials integrated into one assembly. It’s not a big deal, but I love this little touch because not only does it look cool, it allows you to tune the radio without reaching halfway across the dashboard. I also appreciate this car’s mechanical shifter. There’s zero ambiguity to how it functions and you can rest your hand on it while cruising.

In addition to all that, this Lexus‘ cushy front bucket seats get two thumbs up. Even after hours in the saddle they leave me feeling refreshed. A boon for passengers, the ES’ backseat is spacious and plenty comfortable, plus it comes with a 12-volt power outlet and a pair of 2.2-amp USB ports so everyone’s phone can stay fully juiced on long drives. The ES 250 offers 13.9 cubic feet of trunk space, a good amount to be sure, but limiting this car’s versatility, the rear backrest does not fold down. At least a small pass-through is included for lengthy cargo. Curiously, the glovebox is quite small as well, barely large enough to hold the owner’s manual.

As for tech, the ES comes standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa compatibility. An 8-inch infotainment screen is included on lower-end models, but a beautiful 12.3-incher is available, which includes embedded navigation. This display looks great, with vibrant colors, good viewing angles and minimal glare. Unfortunately, it is not touch-enabled (yet ), which means you have to navigate Lexus’ tangled infotainment system with a dastardly trackpad on the center console. This arrangement is as distracting as it is difficult. Why the automaker hasn’t moved on to something better after all these years is beyond me. As with other Toyota and Lexus products, infotainment tech is this car’s biggest weakness.

A comfy interior with a lousy infotainment interface. At least the upcoming 2022 ES will finally get a touchscreen.

Craig Cole/Roadshow

As you may have guessed based on its name, the ES 250 features a 2.5-liter engine, just like you can get in a Toyota Avalon or Camry. Without a supercharger or turbo to provide extra oomph, this four-pot unit delivers a modest 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Making the most of that output, the engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. That gearbox is mostly agreeable, shifting quickly and readily dropping gears as required to keep things moving, though occasionally it can feel a bit lumpy.

Pressed into luxury-car service, this Toyota engine is perfectly serviceable, but like government bureaucracy it’s devoid of any joy. Uncouth vibrations can occasionally be felt, though more noticeable are the unpleasant noises it generates while laboring, particularly when climbing hills. Of course, this engine is no firebrand, either, moving the ES to 60 mph in a merely adequate 8.6 seconds. But what this car’s powertrain lacks in emotion and verve it largely makes up for with excellent efficiency. This Lexus is rated at 25 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. Combined, it should return 28 mpg, though it’s averaging about 32 mpg in my hands, a damn-impressive score for a large, comfortable, non-hybrid sedan — one fitted with all-wheel drive, no less.

The ES 250’s steering and brake feel are fine to the point of being forgettable. These primary controls get the job done without earning any praise or scorn, which is A-OK in my book. The car’s ride quality, however, is lovely, even without those fancy adjustable dampers. Despite wearing F Sport badges, this Lexus is soft and quiet, floating ever so slightly over large roadway undulations and shielding passengers from nearly all wind and tire noise, even at extra-legal speeds. The dark-finished 19-inch F Sport wheels are a win-win, too, looking swanky without curdling that creamy ride.

This unassuming luxury sedan is super comfortable.

Craig Cole/Roadshow

The adaptive cruise control system with lane centering works phenomenally well, smoothly and attentively adjusting the vehicle’s speed as needed and keeping it locked in the middle of its lane. Other helpful amenities like lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition and more are also bundled in the Lexus Safety System Plus 2.0 suite of advanced driver aids, which is standard on every model.

The 2021 ES sedan starts at 41 grand and change including $1,025 in delivery fees, which isn’t a bad price for a cushy cruiser from a blue-chip brand. As tested, the example seen here checks out for a still reasonable $53,400. Aside from F Sport trimmings, a wireless charging pad ($75), the navigation package ($2,900), LED headlamps ($1,515) and a few other options padded the bottom line. Still, that’s a more-than-reasonable figure, especially when you consider the average new-vehicle transaction price in the US these days is around $40,000.

Sure, there are a few things to gripe about, but the ES 250 is an agreeable luxury sedan… provided your expectations are reasonable. If you desire tire-roasting acceleration or the agility of a superbike you will be sorely disappointed. However, if you drop those pretenses and accept that this is a quiet, cushy cruiser, it’s easy enough to enjoy this Lexus.

[beardedtheoristpaper]

PewdiePie Headphones: What Headphones Does PewdiePie Use 2020?

When it comes to the biggest YouTuber and the king of YouTube, It is the  PewDiePie who takes the crown.  This article is all about PewdiePie Headphones. He has the most subscribed youtube channel, now with over 104 Million subscribers and the content, style is also the best. When you think about the headphone, The PewDiePie sure knows his stuff. If you are watching the Felix over the years you knew then that he likes to alternate between headphones on a regular basis. For this article, we have saved you the time and researched what headphones does PewDiePie use so you don’t have to. Let’s get stuck in! If you are stuck which ring light you can use so that you make the best video so check this and make best videos out of it. So let's start,

What Headphones Does PewDiePie Use? What is PewdiePie Headphones?

Razer Kraken Pro Neon Pro Gaming Headset

From the video which he uploads on youtube, we can see that he likes the neon pink but also I have seen in the video -orange and white pair as well. He is Razer Kraken Neon Pros from some time. The headphone comes with a very affordable price and has more than one pair to cover the neon rainbow is now a possibility. Razer Kraken Pro Neon Pro Gaming Headset has a durable neon exterior which look so much dope. The headphone of PewDiePie is fully packed with the high-quality drivers housed in extra-large ear cushions for superior comfort. With the combination of this two, stylistic and hardware features together you get the best immersive audio experience while turning heads. The headphones are made for the game dominant but also there are so much best and can be used out and about with iOS media control functionality. If you are a android user then you need the separate cable for the control integration. Feature: To provide you with greater audio immersion, the 50 mm Razer custom-tuned drivers have... The unique sound signature of these impressive drivers produces crystal clear highs and... Optimum form has been an integral focus in the design of the Razer Kraken Pro V2. No... Made of Bauxite aluminium, the new and improved headband of the Razer Kraken Pro V2 is both... Fully-retractable microphone with in-line remote for crystal clear communication BUY NOW ON AMAZON Razer Electra Gaming Headset

Next in the list is the Razer Electra. This is also one of the favourite headphones of PewDiePie. The headphone is in so many videos of her and the headphone look which is clear by the green neon logo on the ear cups. The cups of the headphone is 50mm drivers with a max speaker sensitivity of 112 decibels. That is the next level! When you think about the exterior build quality of these Razer Electra’s they are the just get an A+ on the engineering exam. It is so much hard to understand you but these headphones use Bauxite Aluminium which is the same which is used in the  WWII air flight carriers. This will make the headphone so much durable so you can literally throw them in your backpack and go. You can also check out this: How Much Does PewDiePie Make? Full YouTube Earnings Report! AS when the microphone goes on these headphones it can be comparable to other more high expensive headsets and this also sports a retractable boom. One thing you have to know all time is that the headphone is a semi-open back grill which does leak sound. So if you are thinking to use this is on the train or any other the person next to you can be able to listen. BUY NOW ON AMAZON Sennheiser Game Zero PC Gaming Headset

The 3rd headphone PewDiePie use is the Game Zero PC Gaming Headset. This headphone use when he played the games because it comes with lots of so many features. The PewDiePie is the person who likes the games and plays so that having headphones that are designed for a single purpose is a big advantage for her. The headphone Game Zero’s closed-back design comes with the That is so much useful for the lessens noise leakage which provides the immersive sound during gameplay. Another best reason to use this is immersive playback of audio because of the transducer technology delivering extreme sonic clarity (50-ohm).  That makes this headphone to ideal for all format gaming from Xbox to PC. What does it mean to you? Simply this all means is that it will provide the crisp and clear audio frequency which will not increase the for no reason like other brands that is cough cough Beats. The other feature of the Sennheiser Game Zero PC Gaming Headset is this comes with the  XXL leather ear cups. these Cups are so much extremely comfortable they can retain heat which may require you to momentarily take off. BUY NOW ON AMAZON Razer Kraken Forged Edition

PewDiePie is the king of the youtube and he earns so much money. He can able to buy so many of them all these different types and headphones. He can enjoy being a million-dollar YouTuber. But there is no headphone which is cost millions the headphones come in the affordable piece of kit that can enhance almost any gaming experience. Felix has been rocking these Razer Kraken Forged Headphones in most of the video about the gaming setup videos. The headphone is used so much in the behind the scenes but is still a best and great headphone mention on this list. This is the Headphones PewdiePie Use in most of the time in the background. The headphone comes with the unibody aluminium exterior that packs 40mm drivers with a Frequency Response of 20 – 20,000 Hz. The headphone is best and produces the good bass range and mids which is prime for gaming. Like which I mention of the  Razer headsets this is Forged Editions also have a closed-back design with internal 1.97″ diameter leather ear cups. One of the worst downsides of these headphones is the microphone placement, which is the mic inline mic than the best retractable mic. Depend on how you play this can be an issue for you. BUY NOW ON AMAZON Sennheiser RS 170 Wireless Headphones

As the PewDiePie have so many of the  Razer’s headset so really like the headphones of the Razer’s. However in the old time the occasion, Felix will be rocking another brand which is usually Sennheiser. He had used the RS170’s for about a year and a half during 2013-2014. The headphone is not come on this time but they updated with the new stealthy Sennheiser RS 175’s. Even this headphone is also has been discontinued but this is still up for sale at a fair price and best for the gamers. This is the headphone RS170’s which is categorised as an all-rounder headphone which can be used in the home theatre and gaming environments because it comes with the surround sound bass feature. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "venkatreddy20-20"; amzn_assoc_search_bar_position = "bottom"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "search"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_title = "Shop Related Products"; amzn_assoc_default_search_phrase = "Headphones PewdiePie"; amzn_assoc_default_category = "All"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "db2c292a41ac3cc5a7a913077edff017"; The first generation of this is generation product. The wireless capabilities are still quite impressive. In this, there are some shortcomings as having 2 x AAA batteries in the headphones and this is not the Bluetooth connectivity. This is the headphone which can be able to bypass by the wireless transmitter dock with a carrier frequency of 2.8 GHz and a range of 260 feet. This develops the frequency response of 85 dBA and an impedance of 32 Ohms, which is so much best. BUY NOW ON AMAZON Razer Carcharias

This is the last Headphones PewdiePie Use on our list. This is the one which is the best headphones does PewDiePie use are the Razer Carcharias. If you have used the Razer brand from so much of time then you didi you that they have Initially released in 2008 and with that, they won over gamers from around the world. In 2016 there was another story This is the new model that is being realised for the Xbox 360 and PC. In this, there are so many multiple complaints about a rare “USB hissing” once connected to a machine. This is the case that is also echoed by multiple users for those who are don’t encounter this have spoken wonders about the sound quality. When you come to the mic of the  Razer Carcharias headphones they are the mic which is inline so, unfortunately, no retractable mic here. One of the cool features you have to know about the headphones is that the Razer logo on the side of the ear cups lights up green once plugged in. If you want to use this in the dark setting so you have to keep this in mind as it may be distracting. BUY NOW ON AMAZON

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article steered you in the right direction of finding the What Headphones Does PewdiePie Use 2020? If you have not got anything so please let us know so we can update this list. If you learn more about youtube check out our website this is full of the youtube content. You can check out this from which you can grow How to rank videos on youtube with Youtube SEO in 2020. What camera do YouTubers use in 2020 Read the full article

[rentacarjlt]

2017 Ford Escape Review

Compact Crossover has ruled the market for many years, proved to be a cost-effective option for small households and in the UAE. But even many competitors fade with time, Ford Escape has maintained its ground, closing strong and relevant being lost in 2001 while it was released. Taking on the likes of the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson and Nissan X-Trail, the popularity of Escape is a byproduct of affordability, practicality and usefulness normal.

Most professional car lease Dubai companies are offering daily to monthly car rental services to their valued customers at a reasonable price tag. Whether you need to rent a car Sharjah for visiting different tourist destinations or for a business meeting, you can effortlessly select rent a car service from a professional car rental company in Dubai. It is necessary for you to select a rent a car Dubai company that has significant years of experience in the related field. Only then, you will be able to enjoy a luxurious traveling experience. 

Exterior 

Discreet changes in the aesthetic look mid-cycle refreshment Escape dual-flake exhibiting this American symbol hexagonal grille, bumper decline ornament that attracts attention, and redesigned headlamps and rear for a more competitive attitude. Share design cues with auto that is primarily based on (Ford Focus), the conventional method for layout Escape prevent it from exhibiting the roughness of its rival Japan and Korea.

Interior

Inside, the cabin is simple really laid out with a clear objective function over form. Having convinced factor repositioning along the dashboard, the designers have created a roomier cabin feel with out changing the physical dimensions. The increase in knee room for people to sit upfront, along with a redesigned center console and new guidance wheel that feels much extra upper class. Although comfortable, which in return will see loads of leg room and space to be lower than that in the leading segment of the Honda CR-V.

security features

A huge improvement over the second SYNC infotainment system this symbol, the all-new SYNC 3 brings with telephone-like swipe and pinch to zoom functionality, along with a wide range of additional particular should be rewarded with the help of the young genes. Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth audio streaming, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, followed by way of the roof of the liver, foot-activated tailgate, cruise manage, and built-in speed limiter. On the protection front, Escape does not reduce the angle and give consumers a whopping seven airbags, including a knee airbag motive power, along with the stress of the tire monitoring device, and auto stop-start for gasoline performance moving forward.

push

Keeping with contemporary fashion displacement smaller turbocharged engine, the Ford Escape 2017 hides the smallest machine from its competitors, but it gives you the biggest blow. Whipping out 239 horsepower and 366 Nm of torque from a 4-cylinder engine 2.Zero-liter, American crossover hits hundred km / h in 7.5 seconds-and charged commendable top speed of 200 km / h.

Out on the highway lay the UAE, the advantage of a smaller engine that is observed almost immediately. Encouraging snort it through a six-speed automatic transmission, the average escape a very swanky 12.1 kilometers to a liter, a determine in accordance with the likes of the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Chevrolet Cruze.

Equipped with a full-time All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) device, 2.Zero-liter EcoBoost Escape is built to be extra than just surfer asphalt. Monitor how much grip around the need to have on each tire (up to 6 times according to 2d), a mechanical system for each wheel electric drive, avoiding any over-and-under steer, while making optimal grip ensure on all terrains.

Decision

Ford Escape is a low-priced, realistic, and dare I say, fun Crossover for the modern family. In fact, for what it offers and at the level he did in, it is a very strong competitor that could have an opponent conscientious Japan and Korea were walking back to their drawing forums.

pro:

- Offer a special price for money

- EcoBoost engine is an effective green respectively and gasoline

- Many superb technology on board

Cons:

- Not as strong as one could have been expected on congestion

- Quality of substances can thrive

[fastmusclecar123]

New Post has been published on http://fastmusclecar.com/best-muscle-cars/the-ultimate-2020-dodge-challenger-buying-guide/

The Ultimate 2020 Dodge Challenger Buying Guide

By Dave Ashton

If you’ve had the slightest inclination to buy into the wonderful world of muscle cars, then the Dodge Challenger should be on your list. The consistency of the platform has been proven, as it’s now over a decade old and due for a near future, design shakeup. However, if you want the purist form of modern-day muscle cars, then the Dodge Challenger has more than enough modern amenities and power to rival other performance vehicles.

Lined up against its nearest competitors, the Mustang and Camaro, the Dodge Challenger has a few ace points. The Hellcat Redeye is the most powerful with a huge 797 horsepower, an all wheel drive version, widebody now as standard and although it’s traditionally optimized for straight-line speed, it’s very capable of blasting round a track and roomy enough to be a daily driver.

What’s new…? Adding extra features every year is a common trait for the Challenger. 2020 brings new wheel designs for all trim levels accept the SXT, with a bunch of exclusive colors. The wide-body look is now standard and the interior has also been given some extra love with stitched door and dash panels, carbon fiber and faux suede trim and Alcantara for R/T and Scat Pak models.

While the interior of the Challenger may not be as distinctive as other makes, the basic modern amenities are plentiful. A 7-inch touchscreen and 8.4-inch available for all trim levels. Easy to use and not available in the Mustang or Camaro. Plus, practicality, which you don’t normally associate with a muscle car.

The Challenger is longer, wider and has more interior space than the Camaro and the Mustang. Plenty of space on the back for full-size adults and an ample trunk of 16.2-cubic-foot. In other words, the Challenger has the performance specs. and the space to be a daily driver. Like the old mantra of muscle cars, a mid-sized sedan, with topline performance.

Power Although the Hellcat variants get the most press, there are plenty of choices in the range to suit all pockets. The SXT and GT have a 3.6-liter V6 providing 305HP, with a 0-60mph time of 6 seconds. All wheel drive versions are available in these models which come with an eight speed automatic. Fuel economy works out at 23 mpg combined and 21 mpg for the AWD model.

The Challenger R/T is a good middle ground choice with a 5.7-liter V8, 372HP and a standard eight speed automatic transmission or optional six speed manual with a few extra horses. Fuel economy for the automatic is 19 mpg combined and the manual 18 mpg combined.

Next up is the R/T Scat Pack with a 6.4-liter V8 and 485HP providing a 0-60mph time of just above four seconds, with fuel economy for the auto being 18 mpg and 17mpg for the manual. The Scat Pack also has a 1320 package, optimized for the drag strip.

At the top of the range comes the Hellcat with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, 717HP, manual or automatic and fuel economy we don’t talk about. Tuning outfits such as Hennessey Performance have been ramping up the power to 1,000HP if that’s the way you want to go.

At the top of the heap is the Hellcat Redeye, which has a lot of the essence of the limited edition Dodge Demon, with 797HP, 0-60 in 3.4 seconds and most importantly a quarter-mile in 10.8 seconds and a top speed of 203 mph. If you want the ultimate in modern muscle car, you need not look any further. The 2.7-liter belt-driven supercharger gives 14.5 psi of boost and comes with a TorqueFlite 8HP90 eight-speed automatic transmission. Available in both the regular widebody versions, with the widebody having 305-width Pirelli P-Zero tires. The irony is that the Redeye can be used for the regular grocery trip, just be aware that the fuel bill will cost more than what you buy, but it will be worth it.

Driving Specs. are one thing, but living with a car on a daily basis is another. The initial thing to bear in mind is all the old cliches of the muscle car are long gone. The ethos is still there, but as for design, power and performance, it’s all modern amenities. As above, the interior may not be as plush as some other medium sized sedans, but the general idea is that you’re getting supercar like power in an affordable package. Therefore, the monies more on the performance.

Having so much power, especially owning the Hellcat means that they always wants to let rip, but it’s equally happy tootling around if you don’t want to put pedal to metal. Which model you go for is usually dependent on budget, but there are also plenty of package options available with each model to find tune your choices. The Performance Handling Package and Dynamics Package tweak things like the brakes, suspension and tires and the widebody option is now a must for the extra beefy look. Options are plentiful and don’t add a heap more onto the initial price.

As for the driving experience, all the Challenger models are comfortable cruisers, which can let you shred the tires at a moments notice. The suspension setup makes for a comfortable ride and there’s no denying the optimise straight-line speed. Because the Challenger is keeping to its roots, it may not be the most track friendly vehicle due to its heavyweight nature, but in reality your gaining more fun down the straights than round the corners, which is the basic template. Dragstrip optimized, rather than track friendly focused.

This means that the Challenger pips the Mustang and the Camaro for better, general usability. If you want an ultra nimble, two seater, which you take to the track every so often, look elsewhere. But, the Challenger gives massive amounts of power and performance which can more readily be used an a daily basis.

Think of it this way, the Dodge Challenger represents a certain way of thinking. At the top end of the range, it’s not as finely fettled as a supercar, but it has similar performance. It may not be as nimble as a performance two seater, but it can sure keep up and be driven home with all the family and the shopping. Plus, especially with the Hellcat, it represents value for money considering the power and performance.

Expect to pay somewhere near $25,690 for the base SXT and $72,745 for the Redeye. All Challengers come with a reasonable amount of standard equipment, such as push-button start and proximity entry, six airbags, rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, Uconnect touchscreen, six-speaker sound system and Apple and Android connectivity. There’s also a good deal of safety features such as blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control.

To check out the full Dodge Challenger lineup, visit the official Dodge website to see all the options, trim levels and performance packages. If two doors isn’t enough for you, then there’s always the Dodge Charger with similar specs.

[123designsrq]

I nonetheless stay with a 16gb cellphone. It isn’t not possible, however it’s hard. The international isn’t moving closer to adapting to low storage, it’s increasing it. So what do you do while you run low on storage? Delete pics and apps? NO! Back the whole thing to the cloud? You ought to, but you’d want steady get right of entry to to it to retrieve records. What else can you do? Transfer it for your laptop thru cable? Sure, but who’s got the time for that. You could maybe use an OTG pen-drive… but no longer many people have those. With Type-C USB ports becoming more and more famous, there’s one greater solution. The Hyperdrive Type-C connection kit. It without difficulty suits on your pocket, and expands your cellphone’s opportunities. Plug it in, and also you’ve got a normal USB port, and two card-readers for SD and MicroSD cards. You can now literally plug any USB drive into your smartphone and either transfer information to it, or retrieve information from it. Or you could use the SD card reader to pull photographs off your DSLR. What’s higher is that the Hyperdrive’s Type-C works with laptops too. With most new laptops having a Type-C port for fast transfers and faster charging, the Hyperdrive plugs into your pc too, no longer simply increasing the wide variety of ports on it, but even allowing you to easily switch statistics between your computer and phone. Without a cable! best external hard drive for android phones, external hard disk for mobile phone, how to connect 2tb hard drive to android, how to connect internal hard disk to mobile, external hard drive for android tablet, how to transfer files from android to external hard drive without computer, format external hard drive for android, smartphone external storage

So what's the best portable drive you can buy?

Taking an entire garage with you may be less vital than it as soon as was, but there's nevertheless masses of use instances where it is wished. There are numerous options available which include traditional tough disk in addition to strong-state drives (SSDs). Here we assessment and rank the first-rate ones. Most portable USB drives are powered by means of the connected laptop, so you can use them on the move without the want to plug into the mains or use batteries. Some may even connect your telephone or tablet and will let you extend garage that way, or will let you switch or open files. Capacity Even within the smallest portable drives you’ll in all likelihood find are 128GB in length, that's enough to area hundreds of CD albums in lossless FLAC layout, or maybe extra in decrease exceptional MP3 or AAC formats. Off-loading your song series alone from a pc to a transportable power can be a godsend in freeing treasured space if your computer has restricted garage. Another popular utility of transportable storage is for preserving important backups of your data hung on a PC or laptop. You may be capable of keep a really perfect a twin of your whole laptop’s inner power, on standby and equipped within the occasion that the laptop is lost or its force should malfunction. Alternatively, you may pick out simply to returned up the maximum critical files and documents out of your consumer libraries, consisting of text documents, snap shots, movies, music and saved e-mail. Some portable drives include software which can assist automate this technique, retaining your preferred directories in sync each time you plug within the power or by using a every day time table. Performance Now that USB 2.Zero has been banished from all self-respecting storage, we discover USB three as the standard for connection, letting those portable drives carry out as quickly because the little disks inside will permit. This means that after transferring your music or video collection to or out of your PC, you can anticipate round 100MB/s study velocity (and generally the same for writing, due to the fact unlike flash storage generation the examine and write speeds have a tendency to be greater symmetrical). Compare this with the older drives the use of USB 2.Zero, which would restrict speeds to around 35MB/s, or simplest one-0.33 the rate. So in actual phrases, your 100GB of media documents might take near an hour to switch with USB 2.0, or beneath 20 minutes the use of USB three.0. If you’re likely to be storing or backing up many small documents, be conscious that common performance will plummet in view that tough disks generally tend to choke on smaller documents. So while big documents may zip throughout at 100MB/s, the smallest will probably journey at much less than 1MB/s, or one hundredth that velocity. USB 3 is perplexing, as USB three.0 became retrospectively renamed to USB three.1 Gen 1. There’s additionally a newer version, USB three.1 Gen 2. This doubles the capacity throughput from Gen 1’s 5Gb/s to 10Gb/s. In megabytes according to 2nd, those equate to 625 and 1250 respectively. Pretty rapid, then. In fact, the quickest SSDs pinnacle out at round 550MB/s and this speed is highly depending on the tool you’re connecting it to. Protection A rugged outdoors could be on hand in case you want the liberty of being capable of throw around the unplugged force with less worry that it's going to harm the unit; and greater importantly lose your facts. Look out for shock-resistance rankings which includes the United States military MIL-STD-810F 516.Five (Transit Drop Test). This means that it need to face up to being dropped 26 times onto a hard ground, once directly to each face, facet and nook, from a peak of one.22m. Flash storage - more usually called SSDs - can continue to exist extra brutal remedy, and some portable drives are even waterproof. If you had been to accidentally drop a portable SSD drive in water, then so long as the port covers are firmly closed, it's going to work high-quality to use it after it's been absolutely dried. Some drives have an IP water-resistant score like phones. Reliability It’s hard to say definitively which manufacturer makes the maximum dependable tough drives. While there’s a large difference among the generation used in traditional tough drives and SSDs, each have a restrained lifespan, and that is why warranties are fantastically brief - usually or 3 years. What’s vital is which you have a well-notion-out backup process and you don’t rely on any unmarried drive to keep valuable documents. Ideally you must have 3 copies: one on a PC or cellphone / pill, one on a backup power and one in the cloud. Value For many customers, a portable storage drive can be an unavoidable commodity, and price could be the deciding element. Often an older power can be inexpensive way to a drop in rate so you might get a good deal, however ensure you are now not missing out on new tech you would gain from. Security The larger the power, the greater you could keep - and the greater you stand to lose in the occasion of dropping the power or having it stolen. This is where it pays to fasten down that force. There are two methods to make sure the information is unreadable by using other customers. You can scramble the contents thru hardware encryption. Or you can use a software utility to encrypt either components or all of the drive.

Best portable difficult drives & SSDs

1. Adata SD600Q Rating: 4.8 MSRP: From $39.99 It would possibly forego the modern-day USB-C general for connectivity however the Adata SD600Q is a fantastic force for every body searching out a portable SSD and does not have a hugely annoying set of obligations for it. The SD600Q presents a amazing mixture of things together with the robust and compact design, at the side of lower priced prices for decent capacities - if you do not need extra than 1TB. It's also quick sufficient to duplicate documents while not having to anticipate ages and you may also make use of Adata's free software program if you want. 2. Samsung Portable SSD T5 Rating: 4.8 MSRP: $129.99 (250GB), $189.99 (500GB), $379.99 (1TB), $749.99 (2TB) The T5 isn’t cheap, however it offers on the important overall performance that a portable SSDs are offered to make certain. Using one with a pc that has a tough drive is largely useless, as the total velocity benefits can handiest be done if used in aggregate with an inner SSD. 3. G-Technology G-Drive Mobile Rating: 4.6 MSRP: $179.95 It won't be the most inexpensive option but if you're seeking out a portable SSD it is long lasting then the G-Drive Mobile is the way forward with it is IP67 and casing you may pressure over. Performance is likewise very good so there is little to dislike here, simplest simply the tiny cables supplied within the field. 4. Transcend ESD400K Rating: 4.4 MSRP: $94.99 The Transcend ESD400K is a very mild, portable and blisteringly fast portable SSD power. At handiest 56g, the transportable force is easy to hold around and competes with some of the very fine transportable drives in the marketplace. Read our Transcend ESD400K evaluate. 5. SanDisk Extreme 500 Portable SSD SanDisk Extreme 500 Portable SSD Rating: 4.3 MSRP: $92.99 For those who need high-pace transportable storage, the Extreme 500 is a stable preference. Capacities enlarge to 480GB which have to be satisfactory for most people. If you need greater, appearance no in addition than the Samsung T3. 6. WD My Passport 4TB Rating: 4.2 MSRP: $114.99 As a excessive-potential portable power, the WD My Passport 4TB (2016) gives cloud services, hardware encryption and has first rate performance for a HDD. 7. Toshiba Canvio Connect II Rating: 4.3 MSRP: $104.99 Aside from pace, the Toshiba Canvio Connect II is a high-quality all-round bundle. It offers acres of space in your backups and media library, it’s reasonably-priced and it comes bundled with virtually beneficial software program. 8. Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Slim 2TB Rating: 4.5 MSRP: $89.99 The Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Slim isn't always a pinnacle performer, however with its 2TB garage and outstanding slim layout, the Seagate transportable power is extraordinary for backing up files. Read our Seagate Backup Plus Ultra Slim 2TB assessment. 9. Freecom mHDD Slim 1TB Rating: 4.3 MSRP: $85.99 Despite having an high priced price per GB, the Freecom mHDD Slim 1TB is a fashionable, nicely-made transportable hard pressure. Read our Freecom mHDD Slim 1TB evaluation. 10. Freecom Tablet Mini SSD Rating: 4.2 MSRP: $83.99 If you’re specifically after a portable power that may connect to your phone or tablet to offer more garage or act as a backup for its pix and motion pictures, the Freecom is a decent choice. It isn’t fashionable neither is it the cheapest, however it plays nicely and is convenient thanks to the constructed in USB cables. Read the full article

[truemedian]

The Scroll subscription service is an ingenious web technology hack

Welcome back to Processor, a newsletter about computers and also sometimes other things. You are probably expecting me to spend several paragraphs making fun of Google for creating yet another messaging product, as The Information reported yesterday. Not gonna do it: it’s enterprise-focused and from what I can tell about Google’s cloud business right now, a haphazard message app strategy is the least of their worries. Instead, the thing that blew my mind yesterday was Scroll, a new $5 per month subscription service that gives you a bunch of websites without ads. I kept on experiencing successive waves of small revelations when I thought about it. I’ll disclose now that Vox Media (and therefore The Verge) are partners, but I had no idea this service existed until it was announced yesterday. First: although I don’t have any specific reason to distrust Scroll, this still feels like a data privacy time bomb. Scroll won’t sell my data, but what if the company that snaps up Scroll does someday? There’s a prominent button for deleting your data, at least. Scroll’s privacy policy is refreshingly readable and candid about what it gathers and what it does and doesn’t share — including being honest about sharing information with governments when required to by law. It also notes that your data could go along with a sale of the company itself. Basically I suggest you find the “delete your information” button and remember where it is. Second: Scroll’s entire method of stopping ads is an absolutely ingenious repurposing of third-party cookies. You log into Scroll, it sets a cookie, and then the websites you visit see that special cookie and don’t serve you ads. It’s not even ad-blocking, they just don’t get served. It is actually quite elegant, but if you take a second to think through the chain of communications and deals that are required to make it that elegant, it seems like a hellacious hack. Then again, as Nilay Patel said to me today, isn’t most web technology a hellacious hack? There are a few more details — Safari in particular is stricter than other browsers and so it requires an extension. Brave will also need some extra effort to work with Scroll. (Scroll has a snarky footnote about them.) Third: it’s a much easier solution for websites to get paid than asking each of them to roll their own subscription. It tracks where you visit and automatically divvies payment up between those partner sites. I could (and eventually will) quibble about the percentage Scroll is taking: $1.50 out of $5, or thirty percent. As an independent startup, I’m not going to begrudge Scroll its revenue, and it likely needs a bigger cut to stay in business than Apple or Google do on their App Stores. If the company hits scale, though, I’d like to hope that it will find a way to reduce that cut. Fourth: hang on let’s think about that hellacious hack again! Although you have to constantly have Scroll email you a “magic link” and then ensure you open it in the right browser, it means that you are getting your paid-for ad-free experience in the app of your choosing. Unlike Apple News (disclosure: another Vox Media partner), you aren’t forced into a not-especially-great app. You don’t get a link that seems like it goes to a web page but actually just goes to Apple’s app. You can also use it on any device you own, not just Apple’s products. Also unlike Apple News, this subscription isn’t really a subscription. For publications that put articles behind paywalls, Scroll won’t get you in. On the whole, though, I much prefer Scroll’s system to Apple News. It works better with the existing web and the existing apps we all use to navigate it. A subscription system that turns off ads, pays publishers, and doesn’t lock me into any particular app while also doing a pretty good job of keeping my login active? Seems good to me. Still, I’m not quite going to go quite so far as to endorse Scroll (and not just because Vox Media is a partner). Deciding to sign up is between you, your level of trust in Scroll’s privacy policies, your ad-blocking conscience, whether you care about the current list of partner publications, and the cost. Fifth: Scroll puts a white bar at the bottom of every webpage it’s active on, ostensibly so you have the benefit of getting share links and an audio reader mode. No thank you times a thousand, Scroll. However, one benefit of using web browsers instead of Apple News is that web browsers are relatively open platforms and so you can use them to alter the web pages you visit (at least on the desktop — on mobile things are still often locked down). So, for example, I have a little script that I cobbled together after a day of Googling that makes it easier for me to format the links in this newsletter by automatically changing the web page I store them on, Pinboard.in. My favorite method is an extension called Tampermonkey. I wrote a little script for it that hides Scroll’s annoying bar. Other than some preliminary settings, it’s literally one line. It should work in Chromium-based browsers. Here it is, offered with zero support and absolutely no guarantees that it’s any good at all. Bonus sixth revelation: Tampermonkey offers a Google Drive-based sync, and since Microsoft’s new Edge browser runs on Chromium, my script auto-synced from Chrome on a Mac to Edge on Windows and Just Worked. The Internet! Sometimes it’ll surprise you.

Tech contends with the coronavirus

└ Apple is limiting China travel and has closed one retail store due to coronavirus outbreak └ iPhone maker Foxconn says coronavirus outbreak won’t affect production └ United Airlines suspends some China flights after coronavirus outbreak └ Facebook, Razer, and LG are restricting employee travel to China amid coronavirus outbreak

Big reads from The Verge

└ To contain disease outbreaks, health officials rely on people’s trust You’ve probably formed an opinion on how anti-vaxxers have affected public health (the right opinion is that it has been for the worse). But similarly online misinformation can rush to fill the void of faster-moving health crises. Nicole Wetsman looks at the intersection of health, internet censorship, and trust: If one crisis is handled poorly, there will likely be less trust during the next one. Not only that, but the spread of misinformation can have real-time impacts on what people believe. That erosion can weaken public health response. └ How Amazon escapes liability for the riskiest products on its site The outcome of some of these cases could determine the fate of Amazon’s marketplace. Is it like an eBay or a Craigslist, with Amazon as a middleman, or is Amazon the retailer? People tend to think of Amazon as the latter but Amazon thinks of itself as the former. Great report here from Colin Lecher. According to court records viewed by The Verge, Amazon has faced more than 60 federal lawsuits over product liability in the past decade. The suits are a grim catalog of disaster: some allege that hoverboards purchased through the company burned down properties. A vape pen purchased through the company exploded in a pocket, according to another suit, leaving a 17-year-old with severe burns. └ BoJack Horseman’s finale signals the end of a Netflix era Julia Alexander has an excellent, focused history of Netflix as seen through the lens of its original programming decisions.

More news from The Verge

└ Everything we think we know about Samsung’s next foldable phone └ Everything we think we know about the Samsung Galaxy S20 └ Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip fully revealed in leaked images The minimalist screen on the outside is an interesting choice. I will be very, very curious to see if this “ultra-thin glass” is actually more durable than plastic. We’ve all sort of been assuming it will be, but it’s no sure thing. └ Moto G8 and G8 Power leak with hole-punch displays and midrange specs If battery life and a big screen are your top needs in a smartphone, it’s worth keeping an eye on these. └ Filmic DoubleTake lets you record from two iPhone cameras at the same time Apple hyped the heck out of this app, now it’s finally here and Becca Farsace has run it through some paces: With the Discreet mode, I was able to film from the Wide and Ultra-Wide, both at 1080p, at the same time. The H.264 .mov exports are really clean and take very little time to transfer to the camera roll. Pair a clean export with the iPhone 11 Pro’s excellent lens calibration, and you have a perfect punch in from a single phone. └ UK defies US and refuses to ban Huawei from 5G networks └ Google Translate will transcribe translations in real time on Android One step closer to the Babel fish. └ Neil Young says the MacBook Pro has ‘Fisher-Price’ audio quality You might think this headline is overstating how fiery this Vergecast interview is. But I promise you it is understating it. └ Pokémon Home cloud storage service will launch in February for $3 a month So if Nintendo creates a pokémon and then you catch that pokémon and then you put that pokémon back in a Nintendo server farm is that like throwing the pokémon back? Have you really caught anything? Are you just renting pokémon? Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy. Read More Read the full article

[componentplanet]

2020 Nissan Versa Review: Safer, Smoother, Still-Affordable Small Sedan

The 2020 Nissan Versa has more safety features, a better ride, and 40 mpg highway fuel efficiency in the just-shipped third generation of this subcompact sedan. The Versa feels more substantial and polished. It’s adequate on the interstate. The car has been lowered, widened, and lengthened, which makes it look sleeker (think baby Altima) at the expense of rear-seat room. The trunk, however, is huge. Nissan is banking on the apparent trend of millennials away from what their parents drove, meaning SUVs, toward sedans.

The changes make the 2020 Versa a reasonable contender. It’s no longer just a car shopped on price against subcompacts from Chevrolet, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, and Toyota. Only the Versa sedan continues for 2020; the hatchback Versa Note goes away. If you want a Versa hatchback / SUV, it’s called the Nissan Kicks and is about $2,500 more, comparably equipped.

On the Road With the Nissan Versa

I spent a week with the Versa recently: a day in crowded Manhattan, a weekend tailgating and foliage-watching in New York State’s Finger Lakes, and several days driving suburban New York-New Jersey. The Versa is easy to park in the big city and would be better still if it had Nissan’s highly regarded Around View system of exterior cameras with a 360-degree birds-eye view. (Maybe in a year, Nissan hints.) The car is most at home on local roads. But once you get it up to highway speed, it’s a fairly quiet ride with great seats that Nissan dubs Zero Gravity. As with any small car, the short wheelbase (103 inches on a 175-inch car) means highway expansion strips are more noticeable. The driver assists (below) make highway driving a bit more effortless.

The 1.6-liter front-drive engine and continuously variable transmission are willing but engineered to return high mpg over tire-smoking performance. I clicked off 0-60 mph times of 9-10 seconds. Stomp the throttle hard and there was a bit of turbo-lag sensation — a second or two of hesitant progress while the engine room spooled up to full power — in a car that has no turbocharger. But 18-wheelers that take 25 to 100 seconds to reach 60 mph get onto highways safely every day.

Nissan rates the “Xtronic” Versa CVT at 32 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, 35 mpg combined. Driving 300 miles of interstate and 50 miles of 55 mph rural highway, I came out very close to that 40 mpg. When I ran 10- to 20-mile legs on more-or-less flat interstate road at 60-65 mph, I got closer to 45 mpg. This is a new 1.6-liter, 16-valve engine with 122 hp (12 percent more than the old Versa) and 114 pound-feet of torque (a 7 percent increase) that doesn’t peak until 4,000 rpm, which may account for the initial slow liftoff.

Those grandly named Zero Gravity seats are comfortable. They’d be a little better with adjustable lumbar support. The driver’s left leg is pushed back a bit by the wheel arch and you notice it on longer runs.

A 7-inch LCD in the instrument panel provides infotainment, phone, trip and safety alerts. Here, it shows the car is on or near the right lane marking. The triangle adjacent lights up when there’s a car in your blind spot and you flick the turn signal.

Nissan Versa Trim Lines

The 2020 Nissan Versa has one engine, one transmission (two on the cheapest model), one body style (sedan; no hatchback), and three trim lines, or model variants. All models are front-drive only, no sunroof. Normally the cheapest trim line accounts for a small fraction of sales. Here, the top seller is the base trim, says Jordan Savage, a senior planner for Nissan. Pay attention to what you do and don’t get on the base trim line, especially if you’re buying for a newer or younger driver who would benefit from the safety assists while they’re building skills and — sadly — convinced they can text and nothing will happen.

Nissan Versa S, $17,295 including $895 shipping. Every Versa including the S gets a 7-inch center console touchscreen LCD, three USB ports, four audio speakers, Bluetooth audio, push-button start, and hill start assist. The S has 15-inch steel wheels and 185/65R15 all-season tires. There is Siri Eyes Free and Google Assistant Voice Recognition.

With the Versa S entry model (only), there’s an even less expensive five-speed manual transmission version available for just $14,730 — “look, a Versa under $15,000″— plus $895 shipping, or $15,625 – $1,670 less than the CVT equivalent model. But fuel economy is less: 27/35/30.

With either transmission, Versa S safety features include pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, rear automatic braking, and auto high beams. Lane departure warning warns but does not pull the car back if you cross a lane marker, nor does it self-center.

The 2020 Nissan Versa SV, the middle grade, with its contrasting seats. All trim lines have fabric seats.

Versa SV, $18,535.The SV adds steering wheel controls, voice recognition, NissanConnect telematics with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, a driver (only) armrest, heated side mirrors, and 16-inch aluminum wheels with 205/55R16 all-season tires.

Additional safety features are blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert (Nissan calls it Safety Shield 360), a drowsy driver alert, and a rear door alert that warns you to check for kids and pets when you get out.

Versa SR 1.6 Xtronic $19,135 / $19,435 with Convenience Package. The SR adds remote engine start, automatic climate control, nicer seat fabric, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, six-speaker audio, and 17-inch alloys with 205/50R17 all-season tires. Also, the parking brake button is now chrome.

Additional SR safety features are LED low and high beam headlamps and LED fog lights. The SR Convenience Package is a must-have at $300: full-range adaptive cruise control and heated front seats. The ACC goes down to 0 mph and back to speed, but after 3-5 seconds at a traffic light, it disengages the brake beeps and creeps forward. ProPilot Assist, Nissan’s Level 2 autonomous system, is not on the Versa.

The 2020 Nissan Versa is more attractive with its lower roofline and less chunky silhouette.

Should You Buy?

The Versa has always been one of the most affordable new cars offered in recent years. Now it has a wide advantage in safety features over the key competition, especially Kia and Hyundai. The interior is much nicer than before and driving dynamics are vastly improved. Rear seat legroom drops 6 inches, from fantastic-for-a-small-car to competitive. Through three quarters of 2019, Versa sales in the US were about 57,000, best among subcompact sedans. (Two subcompact crossover/hatchback semi-competitors, Kia Soul and Honda HR-V, sold better.)

Subcompacts, those under 170 to 175 inches long, are a relatively small market because compact cars (Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra) start just a couple thousand dollars more. Some subcompacts are hatchback-only or have hatchback and sedan variants, so total US sales for subcompact sedans may be a quarter-million this year. The Toyota Yaris, a rebadged Mazda2 (that is no longer sold in the US) is the best-handling small car. The Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, and Chevrolet Sonic are also good vehicles. So is the Honda Fit, late in its model life; the next-generation Fit launches soon but it may not come to the US, in part because the similar Honda HR-V small SUV outsells the Fit 2-1. Other subcompacts include the Mitsubishi Mirage, Volkswagen Beetle and Golf, Fiat 500 / 500L, and Chevrolet Spark.

If you’re buying for safety and you’re shopping the Versa, bypass the Versa S for the SV, which is $1,670 extra. And if safety is your top concern, then the right choice is the Versa SR with the adaptive cruise control package. Look at Nissan Kicks as well.  It does not look anything like the SUVs the parents drove you around in. Either Versa or Kicks is a good deal.

Now read:

2018 Nissan Kicks Car Review: Affordable Subcompact SUV for 4 Adults

Review: Standout 2020 Toyota Corolla Adds Safety, Performance, Hybrid

2020 Subaru Forester Review: The Safety-First, Can’t-Go-Wrong-Buying-One Compact SUV

from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/299648-2020-nissan-versa-review-safer-smoother-still-affordable-small-sedan from Blogger http://componentplanet.blogspot.com/2019/10/2020-nissan-versa-review-safer-smoother.html

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2021 Dodge Durango SRT 392 review: A big, comfy, 475-hp couch

New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/2021-dodge-durango-srt-392-review-a-big-comfy-475-hp-couch/

2021 Dodge Durango SRT 392 review: A big, comfy, 475-hp couch

Think of the Durango SRT 392 as an Extra Large Charger.

Andrew Krok/Roadshow

In theory, there isn’t much that’s actually new in the Detroit-built Dodge Durango. Barring a mild face-lift inside and out, the second refresh in this SUV’s third generation, the 2021 model is a continuation of the one that’s been kicking around since 2011. The 6.4-liter Hemi V8 that carries the 392 designation has been in Chargers and Challengers since 2015. Yet, in combining the two, Dodge has created its own unique beast, one offering fast, family-friendly functionality. What’s more, some recent quality-of-life updates make this a surprisingly well-rounded and very compelling three-row SUV.

Like

Effortless motive force

Loads of long-range comfort

Excellent cabin tech

Don’t Like

Touchy gas pedal

Absolute thirst machine

Needs more standard safety tech

The Durango’s shape should be quite familiar, given its age. But for the 2021 model year, there are a few new aesthetic tricks up this model’s sleeve. The headlights are a bit more aggressive thanks to a rejiggering and the SRT 392 picks up a chin spoiler for a little extra sporting disposition. Whether you opt for the Durango’s standard V6 or something a little spicier, this SUV looks big and tough, its proportions not too far off from the burly Charger sedan.

2021 also graced the Dodge Durango with a sharp new interior. Most of its oldest-looking bits are gone, with a new dashboard that better integrates its infotainment screen. Even though there’s full climate-control functionality built into the display, I really appreciate the full complement of physical buttons just beneath the screen, providing easy access to HVAC settings as well as the heated seats and steering wheel. My tester feels just a bit fancier thanks to cushy and supportive Laguna leather seats ($1,595) and the Premium Interior Group package ($2,495), which adds a suede headliner, fancier materials on the instrument panel and some cool-looking carbon interior accents. The revised center console is swell, too, with more space for a wireless device charger, a decently sized under-armrest cubby and four USB ports (two USB-A, two USB-C).

The beltline is a little on the high side, so the 2021 Durango can occasionally feel a bit visually constricting, but there’s actually loads of space inside. Sitting in the second-row captain’s chairs, I’m not left wanting for headroom or legroom, and the $595 second-row console option adds some nice creature comforts including illuminated cup holders and an extra USB charging port, in addition to the pair provided standard. If two rows isn’t enough, a quick lift of a side handle vaults the middle row forward, offering access to a third row that’s surprisingly roomy for a 6-foot-tall adult, even with a slightly raised floor. That optional console has a reverse hinge that allows way-back occupants to access what’s inside, which is a properly clever touch. No matter the row, every seat is comfortable enough to soak up many, many miles.

That’s a good thing, because the 2021 Dodge Durango SRT is built for cruising. Just pick a direction, wrangle this sufficiently large brute onto any local on-ramp and sit back and relax. The Durango eats up miles and returns comfort in spades, thanks in part to an adaptive suspension that, in its most comfortable Auto mode, more or less eliminates any nastiness underfoot. The steering is just direct enough for a light touch to maintain heading, although in blustery conditions, this slab-sided machine may require a few more minor course corrections. The gas pedal is entirely too touchy, even at its most muted, sending heads bobbing a bit more than I’d like in around-town driving, but the brake pedal is fantastic in its modulation. For an extra $1,295, you can slap on some SRT performance front brakes with two-piece rotors that will scrub speed at an impressive rate, which can spell the difference between overcooking a corner and coming out the other side all squeaky-clean like.

Normally, I wouldn’t so much as mention corner-carving in a three-row family hauler review, but this is no pedestrian sport-ute. The 2021 Durango SRT’s 6.4-liter Hemi V8 produces 475 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, which is sent to all four wheels by way of a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. That’s a little less than what the engine makes in the Challenger and Charger varieties of the same name, but make no mistake, this is plenty of motive force. Cold starts will probably irk the neighbors. The sound that permeates the cabin is addictive; it’s enough to make you want to goose the throttle at every opportunity, and the sound and fury that results only reinforces that decision as the right one. If, for some reason, this is not enough power to sate your desires, there’s a limited-edition 710-hp Hellcat variant, too. But the joke’s on you, because that one’s already sold out.

With the SRT mode switch set to Sport, body roll diminishes while steering and suspension stiffen, and the throttle response gets even more sensitive. When I’m deep in forest roads, it feels just as comfortable to manhandle as a similarly equipped Charger — just, you know, a little taller. There’s a Track mode, too, but it turns off the traction control, which probably isn’t the greatest idea when it’s 32 degrees Fahrenheit and the vehicle is wearing 295/45ZR20 Pirelli Scorpion Zero all-season tires. It’ll also tow 8,700 pounds right out of the box, which is, frankly, nuts. That’s enough for some larger travel trailers, a decently sized horse trailer — or, hell, another Durango SRT.

When you’re in a Durango, you may or may not resemble your local constabulary’s highway patrol, so expect plenty of drivers to cede their lane position as you cruise by.

Andrew Krok/Roadshow

Of course, there’s always a drawback — beyond the $64,490 window sticker — and in this case, it’s fuel economy. The 5,378-pound Durango SRT 392 is a thirsty fellow, achieving a paltry EPA-estimated 13 miles per gallon city and 19 mpg highway. If you have even a remote enjoyment of what the gas pedal does, and you’re not constantly swapping over to Eco mode, good luck ever reaching those figures. My city economy in end-stage winter is pushing closer to single digits, with highway mileage pegged out around 17ish. Even with its 24.6-gallon fuel tank (with a theoretical max range of about 465 miles if you never leave the highway), you’ll watch the Durango’s needle move in near real time if you’re not delicate on the go-pedal.

The 2021 Dodge Durango also picks up some welcome cabin-tech upgrades. At its heart is the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, Stellantis’ latest. In addition to slick graphics and eager responses, the display (reaching up to 10.1 inches on higher models like this one) is loaded with features, including standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with satellite radio, over-the-air updates, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and Alexa integration. Uconnect has always been a good system, and its freshest iteration only gets better. Six USB ports are standard between the first two rows, with a seventh on offer if you opt for the second-row center console upgrade.

Uconnect 5 runs on the Android Automotive platform now, but sadly, you don’t get access to any cool baked-in Google apps like you do with other AA systems, such as Polestar’s.

Andrew Krok/Roadshow

On the safety front, things are a little sparse to start with: The Durango 392’s standard safety kit just consists of the federally mandated backup camera plus front and rear parking sensors with automatic low-speed emergency braking. For $495 you can add blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while another $2,395 brings the rest of the available features, including advanced automatic emergency braking, full-speed adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning.

While the greater Durango family has plenty of competitors, none can quite match what the SRT brings to the table. The Ford Explorer ST is quite the hustler, but it only (“only”) makes 400 hp and 415 lb-ft — then again, its starting price is some $10,000 lower, too. The Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride lack performance variants, but they can pile on the style and luxury a bit more than the Dodge does. The current-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee has its own SRT variant, but it’s only two rows, and with a newer and way more advanced generation on the horizon, I’d say it’s worth holding out to see how the 2021 model stacks up. If you want more space than the Durango SRT provides, the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon exist, but they don’t have street-performance-oriented models.

The 2021 Dodge Durango, then, is in quite a sweet spot. Throwing a potent V8 into an already solid three-row family SUV creates a special kind of machine that is just flat-out fun all the time, full stop. You’ll love it and your kids will love it, but your poorly packed groceries now scattered all over the trunk might have a different opinion.

Climb in the driver’s seat for the latest car news and reviews, delivered to your inbox twice weekly.

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The best workout apps in 2019

1. Map My Fitness

Free with in-app purchases for iOS and Android

Free but ad-supported, Map My Fitness features support for literally hundreds of different activities and exercises ranging from running and cycling to swimming and yoga. This workout app also has a social element: with activities such as running and cycling, you can learn about new routes from other users to keep your exercising a little more interesting. Goal settings options give you something to aim for, and help to create a sense of achievement when you hit them – which, of course, you will!

Map My Fitness is compatible with a huge number of fitness trackers, and it links in with MyFitnessPal to help you make better sense of your calorie burn.

There's a Pro version of the app available for a fee, and this not only removes ads, but also gives you access to extra features such a improve heart rate monitoring and analysis, audio updates during exercise routes, and live location sharing.

2. Yoga Studio: Mind & Body

Free trial with in-app purchases for iOS and Android

This workout app offers guided yoga classes for you to follow, whether you're just starting out or you're a more seasoned practitioner, and you can stitch together snippets of different exercises to create your own custom workouts. There's even the option to schedule classes so they fit in with appointments you have added to your calendar.

Classes can not only be customized based on the level and type of exercises and poses you want to do, but also by selecting the type of background music you need to put in in the right headspace.

You can try this workout app free for seven days, and there are various plans available to suit different budgets once your trial expires.

3. One You Couch to 5K

Free for iOS and Android

Part of a health and fitness initiative by Public Health England, the aim of Couch to 5K is to encourage more people to get into the habit of exercising. As you'd probably guess from the name, it's aimed at beginners, and the pace is nice and gentle, building up from simply walking.

The ultimate aim is to be able to run 5K, and the training programme lasts for nine weeks – although there's nothing to stop you working a little slower and taking things at your own pace. You're presented with a choice of trainers to work with, and the real beauty of the app is that there is encouragement rather than pressure; it's absolutely fine if you are starting from zero, as the objective of the app is to create athletes from couch potatoes and there are lots of helpful tips along the way as well-known voices provide friendly encouragement.

4. StrongLifts 5x5

Free with in-app purchases for iOS and Android

This workout app's name is derived from the popular 5x5 concept (five sets of five reps) which has made something of a resurgence in recent years. Results can be impressive, but the idea isn't to push yourself to breaking point. In fact, no more than three 45-minute workouts per week are needed.

While it can be used by anyone, it's really aimed at beginners and intermediate lifters who are looking for an easy way to track what they are doing, maintain a regular routine, and not really have to think about structure: it's all taken care of for you, including handy weekly and monthly progress reports.

Each session is fully guided so you know what to do, for how long, with how much weight, and then how long to rest for before you continue so you can focus on the weights and nothing else.

5. Strava

Free with in-app purchases for iOS and Android

Strava is one of the best-known running apps out there. It has a huge following, and not without good reason. While most users turn to Strava to track runs, it can also be used by cyclists, swimmers and Used in conjunction with your smartphone and/or GPS-enables smartwatch, the app tracks your outings on a map so you can easily see how far you travelled, how long it took, and so on.

To help encourage you to push yourself, you can not only try to beat your personal best, but you can also take part in challenges with other users – as well as learning new routes from them. There is an element of treating exercise as a game, and this is an approach that might help you push yourself that little bit harder.

6. Freeletics

Free with in-app purchases for iOS and Android

Proving that you don't need to spend a fortune on a gym membership to get fit and strong, Freeletics focuses entirely on exercises and workouts that doesn't need any equipment. The apps shows you hundreds of ways in which you can use your own bodyweight as a gym, with the added benefit that you can follow the routines just about anywhere, whenever you feel the urge (or when you have the free time).

The free version of the app enables you to take advantage of customizable coaching, with workout sessions ranging from 10 to 30 minutes, complete with audio and video so you know you are doing things correctly. If you're willing to pay for a premium subscription, you gain access to extra features such as workout goals, a personally-tailored weekly training plan, feedback to help you improve, and more.

7. Garmin Connect

Free for iOS and Android

Garmin used to be a name associated solely with of sat-nav systems, but more recently it's branched out into other areas including the burgeoning fitness market. Garmin Connect works with a range of Garmin watches – the company describes the app as 'an extension of your Garmin device' – and can be used to not only monitor the activities and exercises you undertake, but also to build up custom workouts, and to challenge friends if you feel like getting competitive.

The app can work in conjunction with others, syncing data with the likes of MyFitnessPal and Strava, and it provides detailed analysis of your performance, suggesting personalized routines based on this.

The Garmin Coach feature not only tells you what workouts to follow for the best results, but helps you to train for specific events such as a big race or marathon – or just beating your personal best.

8. Nike Training Club

Free with in-app purchases for iOS and Android

With a big name like Nike behind it, you would probably expect great things from this workout app – and Nike Training Club doesn't disappoint. As well as the association with Nike, the app benefits from endorsement and content from celebrities and professionals, meaning there are scores of workouts to help you get the results you want.

There are workouts that target particular muscle groups, and others that help you improve performance in different sports and activities. Nike has tried to made things as approachable as possible, including workouts varying between 15 and 45 minutes, and suitable for a range of abilities.

If you're looking to improve strength without hitting the gym, look no further than the selection of bodyweight-only workouts. But the app is about much more than just workouts and strength. Nike Training Club takes something of a holistic approach to well-being, so there are also mindfulness, nutrition and general wellness tips.

https://www.techradar.com/uk/best/workout-apps

[operationrainfall]

Title Luminous Avenger iX Developer Inti Creates Publisher Inti Creates Release Date September 26th, 2019 Genre Action platformer Platform PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One Age Rating T for Teen – Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco Official Website

I’ve been a fanboy on the Gunvolt bandwagon long before Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX. Not only did I play the first two games, but I also reviewed them both on the site. So in case there was any concern about my credibility talking about the series, let’s put that to rest. The initial question I had when I heard about Luminous Avenger iX was how far after the second game it took place. As I played, other significant questions came up, though there’s not much I can discuss for fear of spoilers. That said, I will do my best to touch upon those issues for other fans, as well as tackling the gameplay itself. While I’m still a fan of the Gunvolt series after Luminous Avenger iX, there’s also a few bumps in the road I need to address.

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As I stated above, it’s unclear how long after Gunvolt 2’s events that Luminous Avenger iX takes place, but things have definitely taken on new urgency. Now, Adepts are completely in power, and go so far as to hunt down and execute un-powered humans, referred to as Minos. Whereas I used to think of the Azure Striker Gunvolt series as a nod to Mega Man, now I can’t help but notice the similarity to the X-Men. In a way it’s a reverse of that comic series, a world where the super powered rule over the weak with cruelty. At the head of this dynamic is the Sumeragi Institute for the Promotion of Human Evolution, which is a group that should sound familiar to fans of the games. It’s not clear how this came to be, nor where Gunvolt himself is, but Copen’s not about to sit back and watch this atrocity continue. While his primary goal is to find the source of something called the Butterfly Effect, he also elects to protect a group of young street urchin Minos. Despite his often caustic and emotionless exterior, I found this was consistent with his personality. After all, he himself is technically a Mino, and his hatred has always been against Adepts. The key difference between him and your average Mino is his technical genius, which let him build Lola to copy and utilize Septima powers through mechanical means.

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Much like Inti did with previous series such as Mega Man Zero, each installment of the Gunvolt games has become slightly less hardcore and more welcoming to players of various experience levels. That is true in Luminous Avenger iX. An example of this is that the game has gotten rid of individual achievements. You still get graded after each level, so worry not if you’re a hardcore completionist. It’s just now you don’t have to worry about satisfying other arbitrary requests. Much like the last game, I found it somewhat easier to get a good score than in the original Gunvolt game, but not so easy I ever felt I wasn’t working for it. I got plenty of B’s, a few A’s and even one shining S+. The reason it’s still a challenge is that the gameplay is pretty similar to the most recent game, meaning that the bosses are still quite challenging.

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In case you need a refresher course, the game keeps the trend of tagging and then blasting foes. For Copen, you tag foes by literally dashing into them. You have a small window of invincibility when you connect, so you’re encouraged to be aggressive, but don’t be so aggressive you accidentally wander into enemy fire. When you tag a foe, it uses up a Bullit, of which you have 3. Once you’re out of Bullits, your Prevasion turns off, meaning you can take damage again. So combat is a tight balance of dashing into foes, hitting them with homing rounds, avoiding getting hit and rinsing and repeating. One nice new change is if you reload your Bullits in mid-air, you’ll charge down to the ground with a crash capable of breaking objects. Though you’ll have to be careful using it, since if you don’t land on solid ground, it’s game over.

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I’ve said previously how much I enjoy playing as Copen, and that’s still true. He’s fast, furious and frankly brutal. Coupled with Lola’s Septima EX weapons, he’s a veritable Swiss Army Knife of mayhem. Even then, playing him requires great reflexes and better strategy, especially against the bosses. One thing that’s changed from previous games is Copen can’t use credits to buy new active combat abilities. There is a Customize screen, where you can buy things like additional Bullits. You can also buy passive modifiers, such as Regenerator, which restores Copen’s health when he uses his SP Skill, or OD Guard Up, which halves damage when in Overdrive mode. If I sound a bit uncertain about these, it’s cause I didn’t purchase any of them during my playthrough. I like playing a game in as pure a form as possible, and for me that meant learning to master Copen without any extra helping hand. That said, if you’re the sort that likes to tinker, there’s a multitude of options for you to try out. If you’re feeling brave, you can also try out Lola’s new Darkness Trigger, which puts her in berserk mode, attacking with random EX skills until her meter depletes.

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While the combat is most definitely one of the biggest draws in Luminous Avenger iX, it would be meaningless without exhilarating boss fights. This game assuredly carries on that tradition, as it does the pattern of having 7 main Adept bosses you confront. While I normally don’t cover these in detail, I feel I should touch upon all seven Falcons real quick. First let’s talk about Rebellio. He’s on death row for crimes he committed, and Sumeragi decides to offer him a deal – kill Copen and live. His Septima is Energy Wool, which lets him create crimson constructs out of thin air, such as mace balls, gatling guns and more. As for his appearance, he looks like nothing so much as a very angry Ram. Then there’s Crimm, a psychopath who loves explosions and considers himself an artist. His Detonation Septima lets him rain pure destruction wherever he desires, gesturing with crustacean limbs while protected by a circular shield. Then there’s Stella. She may look like a floozy and talk like a sailor, but she’s actually the president of an electronics manufacturer. Her Septima is Gravity, which not only gives her the power to alter your movement, but to also manifest dangerous buzzsaws and energy beams. Of all the Adepts in this game, her transformation is the most mechanical, making her look like a living blade.

More Falcons on Page 2 ->

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If you think Stella’s a hard case, then you should see her android manservant, Dystnine. He’s the only robot capable of using Septima, other than Lola, and his is particularly strange. His transformation makes him look like a mix between a unicorn and a bullfighter, and his Vectored Cloth Septima allows for some very interesting tricks, such as blocking attacks and tangling you up. Beyond just being a skilled fighter, he’s also completely loyal to Stella, to almost a romantic degree. Or take one of my personal favorites, Isola, who is essentially an evil Idol. Think Hatsune Miku but pink and insane, and you’re on the right track. Her Septima is Companion, and while you might not think she’s that dangerous, you’d better watch out before Isola shatters you with bright pink lights and holograms. If you feel like a tough guy, you can try on Bakto for size. He’s essentially a Yakuza boss, and his Spiral Septima turns him into a fierce, blue lion man. Lastly, there’s Blade. Blade is incredibly powerful, and doubly so when outraged and in berserk mode. Unlike the other Falcons, Blade seems to not be entirely in control of their actions. But don’t let that lower your defenses, since you’ll need all your skills to beat this recurring boss character.

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Frankly, I really enjoyed all the Falcons in the game, and felt they added a lot of personality and depth to the story. Especially since they reveal how diabolical Sumeragi has become. Most of the Falcons are only working for Sumeragi cause they’re forced to. Hell, Rebellio is on death row unless he can finish the job. Despite being in power, this shows how out of control and desperate they have become, a fact which becomes painfully apparent very late in the game. I can’t say why, but once you find out the truth behind the Butterfly Effect, you’ll hate Sumeragi with a burning passion. And by the very end of the game, you’ll question a good many things about the Gunvolt universe.

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As much as I loved the Falcons, I’m not sure I can say the same for all the Minos. They’re all adorable, especially self proclaimed pixie leader, Kohaku, but they just don’t feel that relevant in the game. Sure, Kohaku and her history serves a purpose, but the rest of them kind of feel like kawaii Charles Dickens knockoffs. Maybe if they got a bit more development I wouldn’t feel that way, but frankly I feel this is a pattern in the Gunvolt series. We get introduced to a new band of side characters each time, and very few of them actually matter. Which is a shame, since there’s so much I otherwise enjoy about the games.

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Visually, I can easily say Luminous Avenger iX is the most beautiful game in the series. Everything is bold, colorful and full of detail. Though I would never call the original 3DS graphics ugly, everything is so much better on Switch. Even the menus are attractive, and I really like the portrait art as well. As for the sound design, it’s also fantastic. The music is dynamic and draws you in, and the sound effects pop with personality. One of my favorite changes here is that now dialogue happens at set points in the level, and NEVER during combat. This is such a great improvement, and shows Inti Creates listens to fan feedback. It doesn’t hurt that all the voice actors in this game are tremendously talented. If we were grading this game just on the artistry, it would easily get a perfect score.

I know typos happen, but they still take me out of the experience…

Sadly, there are a few areas I feel Luminous Avenger iX falls short. Firstly, it really bothers me that I’m not sure if this game has different endings, as is tradition. While I can’t go into reasons why this bothers me, suffice it to say that some of the late game revelations really have me scratching my head. I would almost go so far as to suspect this game takes place in an alternate universe, it’s that big. But without knowing that for sure, it’s hard to ascertain how much I enjoyed the story at large. Another area that my lack of clarity irritated me was with the Bonus Medals. There’s 4 in each stage, and I’d love to tell you what they do, but I have no idea. While it’s true I did apparently unlock some Special Missions at some point in the game, I’m pretty sure that had nothing to do with the Medals. A more substantial gripe I have is with the translation. I usually don’t point out this sort of thing in the games I’m fond of, but it’s unavoidable here. Not only do some characters have very awkward grammatical flubs, there’s also some weird Westernization that occurs. I mentioned Bakto early, and how he’s essentially a Yakuza boss. I said “essentially” since in the game, he’s called a Mafia boss. Problem is, everything about him screams Yakuza, from his name to his demeanor. This wouldn’t bother me, except for the fact Inti Creates usually waves their Japan flag pretty high and proud. It just struck me as awkward to change that sort of thing, especially since fans of the series can tell what’s up. Lastly, a recurring issue I have is with the leveling system. It still feels too passive and unnecessary to me. It’d be one thing if leveling up did more than increase your base health, such as opening up modifiers you can equip or something. As it is, I just don’t feel that’s necessary at all for a game this fast paced and frenetic.

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I did truly enjoy Luminous Avenger iX, but I can’t help but feel it wasn’t consistently awesome in every regard. The plot left more questions than it answered, and while the combat was definitely a lot of fun, I wanted more of it. Perhaps that’s because the last game had two protagonists instead of just one, but regardless there should have been something more to keep me playing. I managed to beat the entire game in a little over 3 hours, though I spent another 2 and change to try and find a secret ending. While I didn’t succeed in unlocking any new endings, there is still a bit of replay value. Those who like to tinker can unlock a lot of customization options, and truly hardcore fans can try and get an S+ for each stage. There’s also the aforementioned Special Missions, which are basically remixed forms of stages with harder boss fights. For $14.99, you still get an amazing game with Luminous Avenger iX. I just hope that the next adventure does more to explain the setting of this title, as well as to expand on the areas the series already excels.

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[easyreview cat1title=”Overall” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″]

Review Copy Provided by Publisher

REVIEW: Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX Title Luminous Avenger iX

[robertkstone]

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Work Truck First Test

“Why don’t they just make a basic truck anymore?” the rancher asked me.

I was in northwestern Arizona on vacation, but it could’ve been anywhere, anytime. It’s a question I’ve answered a hundred times and an example of why I usually don’t mention where I work unless someone specifically asks. It always ends up dominating the conversation.

The simple answer is that the majority of truck buyers have decided they want a minimum level of modern convenience. Truck enthusiasts wax poetic about crank windows, manual transmissions, and push-button AM/FM radios, but if that’s what actually sold, they’d still be available. On the face of it, you’d think manual windows would be cheaper than powered units, but that’s only true for the physical parts. When an automaker is ordering a small batch of parts, thousands instead of hundreds of thousands, the price goes up because it’s a special order. Beyond that, it’s an extra bin of parts that has to be transported to the factory and integrated into the assembly line, and which line workers have to be trained to install and doors have to be designed to accommodate. Put all those costs together, and it’s considerably cheaper to just make power windows standard. It’s the same reason manual transmissions are disappearing.

That said, basic new trucks do still exist. We just call them “work trucks” now. Yes, they come with power windows, automatic transmissions, and color infotainment screens, but they’re otherwise as close to a blunt instrument as you’re going to get with zero miles on the odometer. Whereas others dress them up with names like “Tradesman” or “XL,” Chevrolet just calls it what it is; the “WT” in 2019 Chevrolet Silverado WT stands for “work truck.”

Don’t assume “work truck” means “dirt cheap,” though. Today’s trucks get pricey quickly, even the base models. Although it’s possible to get a single-cab Silverado WT for just under $30,000 with zero options, you’re likely to pay significantly more. Our tester, the kind of crew-cab long-bed you’d see in the fleet lot, rings in at about $36,500 to start and nearly $39,800 with all-wheel drive. (Note: Because the transfer case on our tester doesn’t have a low-range gear, we refer to it as all-wheel drive rather than four-wheel drive. True four-wheel drive with low range is available on other Silverado models.) Our truck has a couple options on it, like the Work Truck Convenience Package that includes niceties like cruise control, keyless entry, a power-locking tailgate with remote release, heated power mirrors, and a rear window defogger. Fancy stuff. We also picked up rubber all-weather floors for maximum durability. Plus, it looks better than any other Silverado, with its black, Chevrolet-stamped grille and steelies. Total cost out the door: $41,125.

Those rubber mats cover the smallest transmission hump in the segment, which means the person stuck in the middle of the front bench seat has somewhere to put their legs (though it’s too bad the rear floor isn’t flat like the competition). That and the standard 7.0-inch, color infotainment screen preloaded with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are the highlights of an interior Christian Seabaugh called “a rolling OSHA violation.”

Hang on. Work trucks are supposed to have basic interiors, obviously. There’s a difference between basic and bad, though, and Chevrolet came down on the side of bad. Actual park benches would make more comfortable seats than the benches Chevrolet installed in this truck. We feel sorry for any tradesperson who spends their entire shift behind the wheel of one of these. Pair the uncomfortable, unsupportive driver’s seat with a steering wheel so close to the dash that even I, with my short legs, have to get up on top of the pedals to reach it comfortably, and you have a match made in a chiropractor’s dream. Manual seats are fine, but these only slide and recline. You can’t raise or lower them, a problem for shorter drivers because the dash is very tall and the seat is so low even 6-foot Miguel Cortina complained about it. A comfortable driving position simply does not exist.

Resigned to that, you start looking around and seeing what else you don’t get. Namely: storage. Unlike work trucks from Ford and Ram, there’s nowhere to put anything in the Silverado WT. There’s no storage under the front middle seat, no storage in the front armrest when the middle seat isn’t in use, no bins in the rear floor like in a Ram, no extra pop-out cupholders on the floor between the front seats like in a Ford, just a pair of dinky glove boxes barely big enough for more than one pair of gloves.

The cost-cutting doesn’t get any better from there. One USB port for six passengers, all of whom will have cell phones they want to charge at the end of a shift, is behind the times. Taking out the steering wheel buttons and making you reach through the steering wheel rim to turn a little knob to change screens is ridiculous. Spending money on a fancy infotainment screen and saving it on speakers with all the fidelity of an ’80s boom box makes no sense. If this were simply the way work truck interiors are, it would be one thing, but when Ford and Ram work trucks come standard with considerably nicer interiors, it just makes Chevy look cheap. That would be fine if it was cheaper than the other trucks, but it isn’t. Instead, as Seabaugh put it, “It’s a middle finger to the working stiffs who’ll have this truck forced on them by penny-pinching fleet managers.”

The good news is the Silverado WT excels at the one thing it’s supposed to: work. Everything bad about the interior is offset by the bed, which does more than any competitor straight off the dealer lot. The extra payload space is obvious to the naked eye. The inside of the box is so wide, I can lie down sideways in the bed without bending my neck (I’m 5-foot-9). At the corners are three times as many tie-downs as any other truck on the market, making it easier than ever to secure a load. Likewise, the standard bumper corner steps and handholds make climbing in and out a breeze no matter what’s in the bed, on the hitch, or hanging out the tailgate. The power-locking, remote-opening, soft-open tailgate (part of the convenience package) isn’t a must-have, but you appreciate having it every time you use it.

Allowing the Silverado WT to make use of all that hauling capability is a tried-and-true 4.3-liter pushrod V-6 with all the torque Ford’s and Ram’s base engines are missing, and then some. It doesn’t look like an earth-shattering difference on paper, but the Silverado WT gets up and moves with the slightest touch of the throttle, empty or loaded. That’s great for towing and hauling, because the engine barely notices the difference. If we could just get the transmission to pay attention, we’d really have something. Alas, it leans on the engine to get everything done with torque rather than just downshifting, and when it does drop a gear, it starts hunting back and forth between the low gear it needs and the higher, more fuel-efficient gear it wants. Tow/Haul mode helps, but it isn’t a silver bullet. Whatever the mode, it’s all backed up by brakes that feel stronger than the truck even needs, inspiring plenty of confidence when towing or hauling.

It shows in the numbers. The Silverado WT needs a respectable 7.2 seconds to get to 60 mph and does a 15.6-second quarter mile at 88.7 mph, quicker than a base model Ford or Ram. It outgrips those trucks, too, pulling 0.77 average lateral g on the skidpad and running a 28.0-second lap of the figure eight at 0.62 average lateral g. Braking is surprisingly longer than the Ford or Ram, stopping from 60 mph in 126 feet. Just goes to show a good brake pedal doesn’t always mean more stopping power.

That performance, though, comes at a cost. At 15/20/17 mpg city/highway/combined, it’s enough to make a fleet manager run screaming off the lot. The good news is, it actually gets much better fuel economy, at least when it’s not loaded. Our Real MPG team recorded 17.6/25/20.3 mpg city/highway/combined, making it almost as good as a Ford or Ram work truck’s EPA-estimated fuel efficiency. The bad news is, the Ford and Ram work trucks outperform their EPA numbers, too.

Last but not least, there’s the simple matter of how the Silverado WT handles itself with and without a load. Just driving to the job site, it drives like a truck. The ride is a bit brittle at times and bouncy at other times, but that’s the trade you make for payload and towing capacity. Unlike other trucks, though, everything isn’t automatically better when you put weight in the bed. Although weight irons out the brittleness, it exacerbates the bounciness from PerformanceJunk WP Feed 3 https://ift.tt/2HJdqOn via IFTTT