Mileage Alert: Fill & Download for Free

My first car was an immaculate 1994 Lexus LS400.REALLY LONG ANSWER ALERT!OK this is going to be a really long read, but unfortunately I cannot give justice to this post without having to do so.My Dad works here in the middle east for one of the royal figures here, A very rich and powerful man. Daddy was in charge of his cars. He bought them, maintained them and took care of all of them. I'm assuming he had purchased or owned at least 20 cars while my Dad has been of service to him.In 1994, My Dad drove a brand spanking new Lexus LS400 right out of the showroom into the palace. My dad fell in love immediately. You see, My Dad worked with a lot of cars over the years, He worked on BMWs, Mercedes’s , Rolls Royce, Ferraris , Bla and Bla. You get the idea. But I don’t know, something about that car made him love it. But obviously he couldn’t afford a car like that .He took care of that car for 15 years, with hopes of someday buying it for his son (The Moron that is yours truly) , As he thought to himself that if he could take care of something so valuable, someday he could give his son something he never had.Well the day eventually came.2009. His boss had 20 AC’ed Garage slots. He had 20 cars. And wanted to buy one more. And he’s a bit of an OCD induced perfectionist and didn’t like his cars being outside his Air-conditioned garages (Mind you he has shaded outdoor parking for more than 15 cars).So he asked my Dad to get rid of or sell the Lexus as that one was the one he drove the least. The car was 15 years old and was driven for only 7000kms. She was immaculate. She was new and was probably one of two LS400s in that condition in the country at the time.My dad ceased the opportunity and we bought that baby. I named her Lilith. Biggest mistake he made. Evarr.You, see I was an idiot. A moron. Did I mention I was a Moron? Well I was.The car was parked at my home initially because I didn’t have a driving license then, So Daddy would take her out on weekends, Clean her every now and then. So she pretty much stayed in that condition for while. But then the next year, I got my license.What was his mistake you ask? Giving a Quad cam V8 to a guy who just got his license.The first two years most drivers go through a phase. It’s called the ‘Fuck it all, I’m the king of the road and will drive as retardedly as I can coz I freaking can’ phase. Yeah I had a bad case of that.Long story short, I pretty much beat up the poor thing. Scratches here and there, Massive dent, Snapped the timing belt (From doing at least approximately 130 Burnouts and skids) ,Driving under the influence , Exhausted shocks , Racing with everyone I encounter, Endless Traffic fines Bla and bla . Moron right? . I told you. I was one.I did this for around 2 years, then I got switched to outdoor field work so I bought another day to day beater as Lilith really loved to guzzle and I couldn’t afford to use her for Field work. So I’ve kept her home . And there she stayed like that for quite some time.I realized something then. My stupidity ceased. I’ve realized what I’ve done when I saw my dad look at the car he so ever loved. He had pain in his eyes, he looked like he was in sorrow every time he would walk around and gently touch her panels and check how bad the dents were , how deep the scratches were. I realized the fuck up I did. This was his baby and I messed her up. I had to do something to make it right or to at least make it up somehow.Over the next 3–4 years I’ve saved up to start and do a ‘Restomod’ Project on her. I didn’t earn much at the time , hence the time it took to save.Restomoding a car means restoring the car to their stock state modifying only some components for aesthetic or leisure purposes with a preference to install OEM parts while pretty much keeping everything else, especially mechanical things stock.I’ve started in early and finally finished in late 2015.Here’s some pictures of Lilith.Before the Restomod :After the Restomod:Now:Specs Sheet (Pulled off from an Ad I will be posting soon)Lexus LS model and year: 1994 LS400Mileage: 51,000 Kms as of 23.07.2016Engine : 1UZ-FE 4.0 V8 Quad CamWheel Make & Model: Lexus LS430 OEM 'Smoked'Wheel Size (diameter and width): 18"Paint Shade: Two-tone Silver Beige MetallicTire Make and Model: Jinyu 235/50/ R18sTire Size Front and Rear: Jinyu 235/50/ R18sModifications : -2.5" Lift on the Front Spring Coils (2015).Stock Rims replaced with ‘Smoked’ Lexus LS430 18” OEM Rims (2015).Aged Pioneer sub woofer was replaced with Polk Audio Sub woofer (2015)Faulty Audio stereo was replaced with Double Din Touchscreen, DVD, Bluetooth Multimedia entertainment system (2016).Notes:Brand new Genuine Lexus LS400 Shock absorbers Rear and Front (2015).Recently had engine Oil changed along with Filter (Genuine Consumables) (Last Month).Also had coolant flushed and replaced with new fluids (Genuine Consumables) (Last Month).Front outer Tire Rods replaced with new ones (Left + Right) + Wheel calibration and Alignment done. (Last Month)Had touch up paint applied on some parts of the car (2015).Left mud guard was slightly damaged, repaired and painted (2015).Daddeh finally smiled when he saw her, But frowned immediately after I told him how much was spent. Money well worth it though, Because that smile is priceless.She’s still with me today and drives like a dream. :)Not bad for a 23 year old yes?Unfortunately I might have to be giving her up sometime soon.Thanks for reading, Cheers guys!

Well, the Saudis aren't really losing tanks at a high rate, especially compared to Russia, in Chechnya, or some other countries.However , the M1 tanks , even the newer batch, no matter how many fun toys they have in or on them, are missing 1 critical piece of hardware. They are not equipped with the depleted uranium/ceramic armour package that US Abrams tanks have. So that's why they are easier than our tanks to take out. The good part of that is it makes them lighter, so at least they aren't quite as bad of gas hogs, if the Saudis are maintaining them properly, anyway.When they first bought them, during and after the 91 gulf war, they were paying foreign professionals to maintain many of their weapon systems. And overall, considering what they are using them for, they aren't losing that many.In comparison, the Russians, during the war in Chechnya (the first one, can’t find losses of tanks for 2nd Chechen war) the Russians lost 200 T-80 and other tanks, as well as over 200 other armored vehicles , just to Chechen infantry, this is not counting losses to Chechen tanks, and the T 80 was considered a match for the M1 Abrams for quite some time, so the loss rates aren't that bad at all. To be fair, the Russian tanks partly did so poorly due to the fact that the infantry WASN’T doing its job. The infantry were supposed to be supporting the tanks by walking near them, and keeping an eye out for enemy ant tank teams, or enemy infantry, and take them out, so the tanks could do their jobs.The relationship between tanks and infantry is a very symbiotic one, they both rely on each other for survival, and effectiveness in battle. A tank without infantry support is usually nothing more than a really heavy paperweight. ESPECIALLY in an urban environment. On an open battlefield, there isnt as many places to hide, so tanks without infantry there, isn't as much of a dunce move. Tanks need competent infantry support in an urban environment. No matter how many awesome toys it has. But instead of doing their jobs, and keeping an eye out for the enemy, the infantry were riding ON the tanks, and weren't keeping their eyes peeled, and the Chechens would use small teams of a machine gunner, sniper, and anti tank rocket launcher, and the anti tank guy would disable the tanks tread, and then the sniper and machine gunner would take the infantry on the tank, then they would blow up the tank, with the crew inside. They did that a lot, actually. Or, Russian tank commanders would ride with their hatch open, and their head poking out. I'm pretty sure the Chechen snipers put a stop to that, eventually.In short, using tanks in an urban environment, especially without proper infantry support, isn’t the best use of tanks in the first place. But until more countries get more APC with heavy armor, like the Israelis and Russians have, tanks are the best support infantry have in urban environments. And vice versa. Tanks are not indestructible. They never have been. They have lost about 20 total hull losses in the civil war. If this were world war 2, they would have lost over 250 tanks by now. So they have gotten better at urban warfare, but it is still their main weakness.Tanks were developed to go charging across big open battlefields , and to knock down barbed wire, take out machine gun nests , and mainly support infantry to help them break through enemy lines of defense, and in World War 2, they existed mainly to battle other tanks. But still, be out in the wide open battlefield. Not be stuck, slowly rumbling down main street, trying to fight enemies they cant see. So there really is no alternate tactics they can use. They are doing pretty good, for the job they are being asked to do.In addition, as another commenter added to my answer, there are a lot of IED that can take out a tank tread. Without the tread, a tank can’t move. A tank that can’t move is a dead tank. Especially in a hostile environment. Sometimes , these IED are as big as a re-purposed 152 to 155 mm artillery shell, or an anti tank mine. Both of these can easily take a tread off a tank.Now, there are some ways around this, but the main way to handle it is not cheap. The best way is to design a tank that has a v shaped hull, so the force of the explosion is directed outward, instead of up through the belly of the tank. This can still cause damage, but in many cases , the tank can still be salvaged and repaired easily. However, that adds a new problem….if you give a tank a v shaped hull, it lowers the ground clearance , and the tank will only be good to use in paved streets, where the ground is flat. So…flat bellied tanks are the best option anyone has at the moment. It's either that, or no support at all for the infantry. Because if they sent lighter vehicles in support , they would be taking even heavier losses.There is another way, but I'm not sure how effective it would be. They could add a bolt on temporary V to the belly of the tanks, and once they don’t need them, remove the V for normal operations. However, this would add small holes to the belly, and I'm not sure if that would negate the advantage of an add-on V. Ok, maybe that idea isn’t as good as it sounded in my head. It's actually a lot like the idea I had of coating the hulls of ships in a 2 inch layer of rubber to make torpedoes bounce off. Nobody really uses torpedoes any more anyway. It's all anti ship missiles. Except for anti submarine warfare , they still use torps for that. Although I was 7 at the time, so there was a lot I didn’t understand about blowing stuff up. Heck. I'm almost 40, and there’s still a lot I don't understand about blowing stuff up.Edit: after thinking about it, not a bolt-on armor v, but a magnetic one. That way the hull integrity is maintained, and not compromised by drilling holes in the belly of the beast. The belly is already lightly armored (compared to the sides and front of the vehicle) so drilling holes would be bad anyway. But a magnetic v…that might work.However, for right now, the most effective weapon for urban combat, would most likely be this:The BMPT-72 terminator 2. Its specific purpose is to support infantry and tanks in an urban environment. It is built on a T-72 hull, so it is pretty sturdy, has twin 30mm canon, and 4 130mm missile launchers. And better armor than most APC/LAV. Though, as you can see, it still has a flat belly.The Israelis, however, have, in the last decade or so, really gotten into heavily armored APC, that weight as much as 55 tons. Pretty much tanks that carry infantry, but have no large main gun. They have done quite well in urban combat.You need to remember, that in the last 100 years or so, Saudi Arabia hasn't had a lot of combat experience, especially not well trained, combined arms experience. They have had a little tribal conflict here and there, but nothing major until the Gulf War 1.5…( the Iran-Iraq war was number 1, with the ’91 gulf war being, in some ways, a continuation of Saddam's intent for the area, by blaming Kuwait for stealing some of his oil in the pipelines, although according to some independant sources, Kuwait did actually steal some oil that Iraq had in a shared pipeline. Though I don't know the truth, there are easier ways to handle that than invading them.) So considering the Saudi lack of experience, they are doing surprisingly well. They have adapted to the military tech they bought over the last 40 years, but have really adapted in the last 15 years or so. Considering the lack of DU armor, they are doing a better job than most armies would. Take the chobham armor off a Challenger 2, or even take a leopard 2a4 or earlier model into the same type of engagement, and I guarantee you would have heavier losses. And a T 72, or even T 80? You would not make it out alive 8 times out of 10. Even with the current Saudi level of training.This is the Israeli answer for protecting troops in a mostly urban environment:That is the Namer APC, or, more correctly, heavy APC. It is built on a Merkava MBT chassis, weighs 60 tons, has a 1200 hp engine, carries 9 troops, and according to the IDF, has heavier armor than their Merkava mk4 MBT. According to them, it is the most heavily armored tracked vehicle/armored vehicle in the world today. They worry more about passive armor than speed, because they use different tactics, because they've had decades of experience in fighting militant civilians/guerrilla forces. Different strokes for different folks. Saudi Arabia does not yet have anything comparable to this, or the terminator, so they are doing what they can, with what they have right now, and doing pretty good, too. Not great, mind you, but better than average. The Saudis, like many Arab nations, spent decades preparing to fight a conventional war with Israel, so they are just now learning to fight lower intensity guerrilla warfare, and non traditional type conflicts. It's a steep learning curve, but they seem to be adjusting quite well. Better than the US did. We are still learning. Apparently, we have forgotten everything we learned from Vietnam. We also don't have any dedicated urban warfare vehicles, or heavily protected APC. Unless you count the Tank Urban Survival Kits (TUSK) they put on the M1A2 now:As you can see, it pretty much involves adding explosive reactive armor to the chassis, and sometimes, the turret. I don't believe the Saudis have adopted that step yet. It could improve survivability against ATGW, but it would not help against IED. What would help against IED? Having guys in a humvee traveling with the tanks, to keep an eye out for them, and the Saudis have thousands of hummers. So that is one thing they could do, except they would take fairly high losses, unless they were always alert for the enemy, which isnt always 100% effective in urban combat, because the enemy can hide in any building, or pile of rubble.Another way to help lower losses, would be to install TAPS (tank active protection systems) such as radar warning receivers, and automated guns, and things like that. The US , Russia, and a couple other countries are experimenting with those things right now, especially putting radar warning receivers in their tanks, just like in their jets, so the tank crew can know when their tank is being lased, or targeted by a missile. If active defense systems prove capable enough, more countries, like the Saudis, will probably turn to them. Just think. If active protection proves reliable, the days of heavily armored tanks might come to an end. No more 60 ton monsters tearing up highways and fields, you could have the same firepower on a 35 ton mini hulk. With better survivability. Which would make MBTs more air portable. That's always a plus. Also, better gas mileage. That will help with supply lines. Heck, MBTs themselves might cease to exist. With good active protection, you could have an effective army of nothing but light tanks. Something along the lines of the Polish PL-01 Obrum, or the M8 Buford, or even the stingray light tank. With the tech we have now, there are 120 mm guns light enough to mount on light tanks, as shown with the PL-01.Sorry, I got a little off track here, but urban warfare, and armored vehicles is a pretty broad subject, and I got a little excited. No wonder my wife complains that I like war stuff more than I like her. On a side note, just look at the PL-01! She's gorgeous! She has curves that would make Charlize Theron blush. Plus, you can even get one in orange!To be fair, those are almost entirely technical ways they could handle the problem. However, if they keep learning, and adapting to the tactics the rebels use, they will do ok. When they stop adapting, that is when they will lose, no matter how good of weapons they have.Wow…391 upvotes for getting off track a little? Maybe I need to learn to get a bit off track more often. Thanks y'all.Just one more addition. Currently, the Saudi led coalition has had only 1/3 the losses of their enemies, even though in the beginning (2015–2016) the Saudis and allies had a nasty tendancy to run away during battles. However, now? They are spearheading successful attacks all overYemen, and now hold over half the country. With that being said, I honestly can't say who the “good guys” are. Is Saudi Arabia justified in trying to reinstall the old leader? I don't know. I do know that the Saudi coalition is fighting against ISIL/ISIS, so I suppose that would make them the good guys. This time, at least. But over the last 3 years, the Saudis’ attacks have become more coordinated, and more successful, so they are definitely improving. The Houthis have lost over 12,000 soldiers, while the Saudi coalition have only lost roughly 4000, plus the 20 M1A2S, plus a dozen helicopters, and about 10 to 20 aircraft. Plus the Saudis have had one of their frigates damaged.

My friend’s running joke when we see a terrible car (looking at you, Honda Crosstour) is to turn to me and say, “there it is, the one they sold. Who is buying that?!” I’m always surprised, then, when people ask me the same question when they learn I drive a Volvo. The new XC90 is driving double-digit sales growth[1] in the US for Volvo, though, so someone is buying them. I set out around the Bay Area with a 2016 XC90 T8 R-design, courtesy of Volvo, to find out who (and why).ProsAll the perks of a PHEV with none of the compromises[2]Opulently appointed for a fraction of what the competition chargesClass-leading infotainment system, hands downCons1 USB port means charging for only 1 Pokemon Go playing passengerThird row access could benefit from second row captain’s chairsAmbiguous Pilot Assist software upgrade state for early adoptersThe Safety ConsciousThe XC90 is just one of several vehicle’s in this class to qualify for an IIHS Top Safety Pick+[3] and, as such, it comes with versions of commonly available technology to keep occupants and other motorists safe on the road. But it’s the industry-first technologies like Auto brake at intersections and Run-off road protection[4], paired with their commitment to responsibility with their safety systems which draw in the safety-minded consumer and keep the Volvo brand synonymous with safety.In daily driving, I hardly noticed any of the systems. When I tried to test the limits of the nanny systems, I found the lane-keep software to be far superior to other brands, quickly guiding me right back into my lane. Bay Area Drivers kept the system on its toes, too, and gave me a chance to see the collision mitigation systems at work a few times. I found the upgraded software and UX in the XC90 to be a welcomed iteration on the older system shared by my S60 and the XC60 I had recently; it responded with fewer false positives and generally felt more refined. Rather than a bar of red lights in the driver dash, the optional HUD more ambiently keeps the driver appraised of safety-compromising situations (though, I wouldn’t say the HUD is worth the $1700 add-on, even if it also includes heated rear seats).The Eco Warrior (sort of)The T8 variant of the XC90 has the same wonderfully efficient turbo/supercharged 2.0L, 320 HP that is good for a combined 22 MPG (20 city/25 hwy) in the T6, but benefits from the addition of a 9.2 kWh battery and 87 HP electric motor. This brings total displacement to around 400 HP and 427 lb-ft of torque alongside more earth-friendly combined economy of 53 MPGe.[5] These are still closer to SUV numbers than those of a Prius/Leaf/Volt/i3/etc, but you’ll be sitting too high off the ground to suffer the judgemental stares from their owners.I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve gotten into a Prius, seen the average MPG read “18” on the dash and exclaimed loudly to whoever I’m with, “UGH, HOW?!” Of course, I know the answer as soon as the driver accelerates and I hear the gas engine fire up immediately. That’s why I was in love with the XC90’s intelligent drivetrain. I averaged 40.9 MPG over ~400 miles of mixed driving, charging when I could. This isn’t bad for most vehicles, and was easily attainable by paying even cursory attention to my driving style. Unlike most hybrids I’ve driven (and every cabby’s Prius), the Volvo was super reluctant, in a good way, to come out of EV mode. Using only electricity from the battery, I could accelerate away from a red light at a normal, non road rage inducing speed. I even attempted to do my 10 mile commute during rush hour and completed it entirely in EV mode (bonus: Pilot Assist handled most of the drive because traffic didn’t exceed 30mph). Lest you forget the engine is there, when called upon by aggressive throttle input, the engine would elegantly fire up and help hustle your 2.5 ton heft to 60 (in under 6 seconds!). Slowing back down is where the XC90 forgets it’s a hybrid, however. My one gripe with the hybrid package is the lack of aggressive regenerative braking and its preference for a more familiar braking experience in favor of a “one pedal driving” style. Even with “Dynamic” braking characteristics enabled, I used the transmission's ‘B’ mode (which amps up regenerative braking a bit more) liberally when approaching slowed traffic or coasting and wanted more (Tesla has nailed this). My regen personal best was a full 1/4 of a charge coasting back down Mission Peak. Thanks, gravity!To reiterate - the XC90 T8 is not the car someone is going to replace their Prius with. And, if you’ve had your heart set on slapping one of these smug vanity plates on your next car, it’s also not the car that’s going to keep you out of a new Model X. The plug-in version of the XC90 is for those with quick commutes, who make a lot of local errands, and who want to drive an SUV without the guilt that comes with driving an SUV. And for the gadget people.The Gadget PeopleConsumers craving the latest and greatest in automotive tech will find themselves right at home in and around the XC90 with top notch infotainment, creature comforts, and driving aids. Two of the major players in in-car infotainment, Android Auto and Apple Play, are available on the XC90 as a compliment to Volvo’s own near-flawless Sensus Connect. Volvo eschews most buttons in favor of an elegant 12-inch screen but safety is still top of mind for Volvo, and the Sensus experience was recently awarded for it’s innovation and operational safety[6]. The Sensus system, via touch, steering wheel buttons, or voice input, is the gateway to almost every setting and feature for the entire vehicle (and there are a lot to enjoy).Inside the car, I fiddled around with pretty much every option available and the experience was so dramatically better than anything else I’d used that I easily forgave the piano black finish for being such a magnet for finger smudges. I chose the color and intensity of the ambient lighting, adjusted the passenger seat thigh support from the driver’s seat, checked out the seemingly endless 360 degree camera views, and thoroughly enjoyed the exquisite Bowers and Wilkins sound system. In addition to adding some sweet reverb and depth to the Google Maps navigation voice, the different customizations really do offer a unique and immersive sound experience[7]. The screen’s response was fast and fluid and is technically interesting, given that it is actually using infrared systems to track pointer input rather than capacitive technology; that means you can use gloves and the system will perform just as well. I did encounter one problem during my time with the car when the HUD rebooted and lost my specific position settings, though I was able to quickly rectify the problem through the controls on the center display.The driver aids also made it easy to enjoy the time in the cabin by taking care of some tasks outside the cabin. While many of the features aren’t new (full LED lighting, Park Assist, etc.), they work well in the XC90. The Thor’s headlights, for example, aren’t just aesthetically pleasing - they lit up the road brighter than any other vehicle I’ve been in, automatically toggling high beam when necessary and bending in the corners. The Park Assist feature was very similar to other manufacturers but benefited from the 360 degree camera. As you can see in the video, it had no problem identifying parking spaces, alerting me, and squeezing itself into them.Other features, like Volvo’s semi-autonomous software, Pilot Assist I, were just ok. It was easy to engage, drove efficiently, and felt confident but seemed to underperform in the “drive in the center of the line” category. Rather than keeping squarely in the center, it seemed to subtly and slowly drift between the left lane and right lane markers - it never got close enough to either to cause concern, but it didn’t feel as refined as some other systems I’ve driven with (notably, Tesla’s). The other huge limitation is that it only functions up to 30 mph. This has been changed in Pilot Assist II (shipping on the 2017 XC90 and S90), which now operates up to 80 mph and I’m excited to see the other performance improvements that come with it.The Joneses’ NeighborsVolvo was, and probably still is for many, the furthest thing from “ostentatious.” The new XC90, though, knows how to make an entrance with the (optional) massive 22 inch, murder black wheels, gargantuan Volvo Iron Mark and R-design grille, and tastefully unique “Thor’s Hammer” LED lighting (I’m no photographer, so check out Volvo’s own gallery). Everywhere I went, it seemed to leave people staring, right up until the adjustable air suspension lowered me down to make my graceful exit. (A man in a Model S stopped me as I was scouring my apartment complex for a free charging station, ranted about how they’re hard to find and all taken by plug-in hybrids, then offered his spot to me because the XC90 was so cool.) They weren’t disappointed when they peeked inside, either, many commenting on the center display, the small Swedish flag on the seats[8], and the unique crystal gear selector. The XC90 looks and feels premium inside and out, and the fully loaded plug-in hybrid T8 that I tested definitely earned its $82,405 MSRP (before any applicable tax credits). It can be your little secret from the Joneses that it still costs several thousands less than the next most affordable plug-in luxury SUV (BMW X5 xDrive40e). The base XC90 is even more of a bargain, starting at just $45,950 and coming with more standard equipment (all wheel drive, Collision Warning with Full Autobrake, etc.) than the competition as well.SummaryAs I drove around, I struggled to find a place the XC90 didn’t belong. It looked just as good whispering along the streets of an upscale neighborhood or charging in a Whole Foods parking lot as it did climbing an unpaved road to a beautiful scape. Likewise, when it was time to turn it back in to Volvo, I struggled to find an excuse to keep it from belonging in my garage. I’d buy this car to make a statement. I’d buy it because it’s the best dollar-for-dollar value luxury PHEV. I’d buy it for it’s technology and I’d buy it because of Volvo’s reputation for safety. The new, highly awarded XC90 is the perfect confluence of everything Volvo engineering has to offer and that’s why, if you hadn’t considered Volvo before, you should check them out now.Footnotes[1] Volvo Cars reports double-digit sales growth of 10.5 per cent for first six months of 2016[2] Environmental standards: among the cleanest SUVs on the market[3] Safety ratings[4] All-new Volvo XC90: Two ‘world firsts’ in one of the safest cars in the world[5] Gas Mileage of 2016 Volvo XC90[6] Volvo Cars’ Sensus interface voted most innovative HMI system[7] Volvo's XC90 and Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra[8] Image on volvocars.com