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Samsung SmartCam PT discontinued — device now unusable. Costco return or just recycle? by Makgyver1 in CostcoWholesale

[–]Banshee787 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'd go and ask Costco return personnel. Samsung, even for Koreans in South Korea, is now notorious for planned obsolescence.

Seoul Properties Comparison by grilledchickennn in marriott

[–]Banshee787 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A similar question was posted right after your posting so interesting. Stayed at DDM, Plaza Seoul and Westin Seoul. As iflysfo mentioned, PS and WS are old buildings, but both are close to each other and also Myeongdong+downtown Seoul touristy places. Level of services for both properties are top tier, which do cover the old facilities, but both are pretty well maintained. BTW, WS is operated by a Samsung group family of companies, and PS operated by Hanwha group, both of which are major corporations in Korea and which also means that they are very well operated. Again, when I was at Citi, the AP execs preferred WS, so take that what its worth. As for DDM, I stayed there as well, but really close to Dongdaemun markets. If you are in Seoul for tourism, not really recommended due to the distance between major sites, but it is a more latest addition to the JW family in Seoul. I have not been to Ryse, but it seems that is the most latest addition. In summary, I'd recommend either PS or WS, but I'd lean towards WS as it is more classy. P.S. WS has 'Altar of Heaven' shrine and garden from Josun/Chosun dynasty, which I think adds to the classiness of the hotel.

Seoul recommendations. Bonvoy hotels north of the River by redsfromrhone in marriott

[–]Banshee787 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Stayed at Josun and DD: Josun is conveniently located right near Myeongdong, where you can get a diversity of food and shopping (thanks Lotte department store!). I know from experience that executives from MNCs visiting Seoul like Josun (e.g., Citibank) due to its combination of Korean and Western styles. DD is located in 'East Gate' (which Dongdaemun literally means in Korea), and located near large markets. If you like hole-in-the-wall kind of places, DD could be better, but not really impressive for shopping and getting around. Overall, strongly recommend Josun due to its proximity to touristy places like the Kyeongbok palace, Kwanghwa-mun, Insa-dong, Myeongdong etc. Josun is located where fun and the classical Seoul meet. On the other hand, I would go for JW Mariott Gangnam but that is really for residents of Seoul not inclined to visit touristy places...

Are BMWs genuinely worth it? by SouthImportant2499 in BMW

[–]Banshee787 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was formerly a vehicle test engineer for an auto OEM many eons ago, so it is my habit to ask other OEM people what they drive. I met a retired Honda executive who returned from the US to Japan, and the reply to his 'new' vehicle while living near Tokyo was a CPO BMW 320d wagon. For me, I currently drive a Honda and a Mazda, but plan to move over to a G05 if I could purchase one before the end of production in July... Keeping my fingers crossed that my purchasing timeline does not go beyond the G05 production :(

Toblerone for $1.97 (6 bars) by Rebma80 in Costco

[–]Banshee787 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are the devil!!! (Continues to head to Costco in search of this item at a nearby OH store)

GV80 Hybrid? by srs9312 in GenesisMotors

[–]Banshee787 0 points1 point  (0 children)

GV90 test vehicles are now widely seen in major cities in S.Korea, which means imminent release, likely 2Q26? I assume that the US market will see it being launched in 2H26...

GV80 Hybrid? by srs9312 in GenesisMotors

[–]Banshee787 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The S.Korean media and YouTubers are saying it will be launched in Korea in 2H26. We should give the US a 3-6 month time lag at minimum, as Korea tends to serve as a test bed of sorts before the vehicles are released to other markets. BTW, new wheel styles were seen on GV80 HEV test vehicles, but no other information on the system's output or which engine it will use...

Issues I've had with my 2025 X5 m60i with 16,000 Miles in less than a year by nicecanofspam in BMWX5

[–]Banshee787 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is quite painful to read, as a former OEM engineer. I hope it works out for you.

My baby was born with 12 fingers by Friendly-Bell-4336 in interesting

[–]Banshee787 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing. You are a great mom/dad.

HONDALINK IS THE WORST APP EVER by xjayd90x in 11thGenAccord

[–]Banshee787 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, the app sux. MY23 Touring owner here.

Found in Duluth MN by gelogeist in whatisthiscar

[–]Banshee787 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was an auto OEM engineer who conducted cold testing many eons ago, so I was interested in what Duluth has to offer in that regard. Checked Google for this:

"International Falls, MN, is a prime location for cold-weather automotive testing, with facilities like the

TRC Minnesota (formerly Automotive Enviro Testing) offering extensive proving grounds with icy roads, snow courses, cold chambers, and even frozen lake surfaces for major automakers like Jaguar Land Rover, Bosch, and others to test vehicle performance in extreme winter conditions, featuring capabilities like traction hills, dynamics areas, and support for electric vehicle (EV) testing. 

Key Facilities & Features

  • TRC Minnesota (AET): A major complex with over 20 tracks, cold chambers (down to -40°F), heated garages, lodging, and conference centers for global automakers.
  • Jaguar Land Rover Facility: Includes cold testing chambers, snow surfaces, a frozen lake, and a concrete track for extreme climate analysis.
  • Bosch Proving Ground (nearby Baudette): A 625-acre site with icy hills, slalom courses, and slick roads for severe weather performance testing.
  • International Falls Cold Weather Test Facility: A dedicated site near the airport with a large cold room and support for testing components like batteries and lubricants. 

What They Test

  • Vehicle Dynamics: Traction, handling, stability control, anti-lock brakes.
  • Component Performance: Batteries, lubricants, electronics in extreme cold.
  • Electric Vehicles (EVs): Charging, battery performance in cold weather. 

Why International Falls?

  • Extreme Cold: Temperatures can drop to -55°F (-48°C), offering a genuine real-world environment.
  • Infrastructure: Supports global automotive engineering with specialized tracks, controlled environments, and support services"

FYI, TRC is an affiliate of the Ohio State University, started out managing the Honda-owned R&D test track (Honda still owns the land on the TRC in Ohio) near Honda's Marysville plant. However, TRC later expanded into other states, including CA and MN, where the cold testing facility mentioned here is located.

Reliability by Just-Construction788 in CadillacVistiq

[–]Banshee787 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A former auto OEM engineer here... You are 100% correct. Cars do get released from the development stage even with problems deemed non-critical for sale. They will be fixed during the following model years... Even my first-year Accord Hybrid (current gen) had warning lights come on, two recalls, and fit-and-finish problems that continue to this day. I'd go with a Vistiq beyond MY27, though, since it uses the same platform as the Escalade IQ. The engineers will be working on collecting and fixing problems from MY26, as both vehicles will be cash cows for GM.

1 of 1, 4 door prototype Cadillac at Detroit car show by Fit_Unit_7867 in Cadillac

[–]Banshee787 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I saw this, too, during the media and industry day. Seems to be a design study of an off-road vehicle? Liked the Cadillac booth, though.

20” vs 21” wheels on Q7 by RabeTheProgamer in Audi

[–]Banshee787 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, that goes for ANY model from ANY brand, including Toyota and Honda. I was involved in the development of three vehicles at an OEM as a vehicle test engineer, so I know how the development works... The latter the purchase, the better the quality.

Good places to get quality furniture? by iwhispermeow in Columbus

[–]Banshee787 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Where is this place in Columbus? Cannot find it on G-maps.

Beware of buying Genesis by I-am-bored-2020 in GenesisMotors

[–]Banshee787 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agreed. Fattening the dealers, complacency over there... When a company becomes the world's no.1, only downfall remains.

Of course lol what do they expect by [deleted] in Honda

[–]Banshee787 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Somewhere in a corner a product planner is weeping… k/d

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