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So it is just the idea of metal and wood that you like better? You just want to be able to read on a specifications sheet that the wood and/or aluminum underneath the plastic surface is genuine?
Ok. Gotcha.
That would be very useful on those nights when I have a hard time getting to sleep. I could just think about the real wood and real metal on my car's dashboard for a bit and then drift off into safe and restful sleep sleep sleeeep.
Regards,
OW
Anyway, when you're at the car show check out the carbon fiber trim (fake) on both the Vette Z06 and another high end car there whose make and model are elluding my memory. They're horrible. I'd say that Acura does fake carbon fiber trim better than any of 'em.
It comes down to personal preference, the market level in which you are shopping, and what consumers in various strata expect. You'd never expect plastic wood in a Rolls. If a car's competition all offer wood or metal, then plastic is probably not the way to go, regardless of its durability. The manufacturer who won't spend the extra few cents it takes to use real wood veneer may be pennywise and pound foolish.
Look at the awful fake wood that used to be in cars, at the same time when British and German interiors used real wood. It is true that the fake stuff has gotten so much better--and some of the real wood now is poorly done or cheaply executed, and doesn't look as good as some of the fake stuff.
The painted aluminum is the worst, because it eventually wears off in spots and looks as nasty as the old plastic chrome interior trim used to be. The real aluminum in my car scratches easily, but it doesn't look like anything but the metal that it is. I like that. Chacun a son gout.
Anyone read Automobile's long term test of the 330 in the April issue?
I like it that everyone is allowed to have their own personal preferences. I'm not trying to change that at all.
I read edmunds long term wrap up of the 330, what did Automobile have to say?
Many have said they will respect the CTS when is reaches the "world class" status of its foreign competitors but to me world class embodies a lot of things. None of these cars is perfect and while the CTS's interior design is quite odd I havent heard anything about CTS engine rebuilds at 20k miles. I guess it all depends on how one defines world class.
However, all the wood in the world wouldn't get me to buy a Jaguar today - too much Ford shows through and they forgot how to make manual transmissions. Not to mention driving dynamics that are hardly "sporty". First and foremost to me is how well a car is engineered and performs. It needs to look good too, but if the looks are only skin deep, it won't work for me.
Nice boat.
Regards,
OW
Regards,
OW
Or, maybe the BMW buyers' priorities are different than the family sedan buyers priorities.
I totally agree about that. Some buyers are more interested in the emotional connection to the car.
That's the way I see it. Don't ask what the customers can do for you, ask what you can do for the customers...
:P
I have heard little that suggests that BMW/MB/Audi dealers can match Lexus or Cadillac in customer service. If you know of anything that states otherwise let me know.
Prestige factor is up to the individual. Most people that post here would rather have a 328 than an STS-V because ANY BMW is more prestigous than any Caddy in some minds. Not in mine. I dont find anything prestigous about a car that is ubiquitous no matter how good in handles. The fact that I see 15 3 series models a day means that its almost like seeing Camrys and Accords. The badge alone isnt going to make me want the car.
I've only seen firsthand one dealer network try: Lexus. The Caddy dealer in San Diego laughed at me for wanting a manual, not exactly good customer service. MB of San Diego also laughed outright when I requested a manual C class. BMW dealers jump through hoops to sell but don't care about retaining customers, fixing problems or in any way assisting people; they're as worthless as common American/Japanese dealers.
Prestige factor is up to the individual. Most people that post here would rather have a 328 than an STS-V because ANY BMW is more prestigous than any Caddy in some minds.
Any non-american car is better. Prestige is not a factor and never will be as luxury nameplates are meaningless marketing.
The badge alone isnt going to make me want the car.
True that. It's all in the drive.
Bingo!
Honestly, where do you drive that you can't hang the car out ever? Reminds me of trips to the midwest and south - miles and miles of nothing but flat land; I'd go buggy without mountains, hills, the ocean, etc. Hell, just driving home last night from LA we had a great time in my fiancee's A3 - the roads were open, the night was clear, she was having a blast toying with her car's power and handling on every corner, dip, twist, turn. We hit some backroads for kicks at around 11 and just played until near midnight.
If you can't exercise the car, then what's the point of getting any ELLPS? You don't need the P: just stick with the L part.
Who says you have to push a car's limits to experience evidence of a superior driving set up? Hell, just puttering around town the difference between a great driving package and a marshmallow is painfully obvious, IMO.
To BG's point, though, if you don't feel the difference and intend to use the fun occasionally, why buy it?
****
Call the dealer in Arcadia, CA.(Near Pasadena) They are very willing to find you one with manual, since their top salesperson drives one with manual(and asking around, they all love stickshifts, especially in the roadsters). The C class, minus the sunroof, nav, and other electronic fluff, with a manual gearbox, is a joy to drive and actually quite reliable(its the electricals and accessories that fail on them - same as VW(same electronics/electrical suppliers for almost all German cars). Nav? Garmann and save $1000. Plus it goes with you if you need it to. The sunroof's too far back to be useable in the C-class, IMO - so better off ignoring it - plus a moonroof is basically a magnifying glass on a hot day. All it does is heat your car up even more.
I almost bought a C230K this winter (certified, yada yada) - but decided to wait until this fall to get the right price/color. Stickshift, and that 1.8L supercharged engine is a fantastic combination. It's hard to find a C230 *sedan* with manual though(silly high resale value as almost nobody wants to sell theirs).
Btw - the turnaround time on a manual C class is about 24-48 hours here in Los Angeles. As soon as the ad is online, it's gone in hours, new or used. Automatics... yeah... sometimes they sit for months.
You're right about the sunroof and the navi.
The shame about sunroofs is that almost all new cars moved them back 4-6 inches to accomodate the lights/garage opener/etc cluster on the ceiling. This places it too far back to be viewed out of while you are driving. You can feel the wind and stick your arm up and such, but unless you turn your head sideways, you see no sky.
And they leak and cost a fortune to fix when they get older. Just... not my thing. Now, a Porsche 968 with its cavernous, gaping wound of a sunroof... ah... that's a whole other story...
Ah the ole 968. I saw one on the road the other day. Made me reflect on how much the world has changed in such a short time.
BTW, a genius car salesman tried to tell us recently that the sky roof on the A3 - two giant pieces of glass atop the car - helps to keep the vehicle cool. My fiancee looked back at him and asked, "Are you familiar with the term greenhouse effect?"
Same guy also tried to tell us the DSG tranny was the same as a Porsche Tiptronic. Honestly, they need to test these guys.
I have to admit, I find my A3 to be the most fun to drive car I've ever been in/let alone driven. I used to not have fun driving (especially with traffic in CA), but the A3 changed that. Now, I just wanna drive to drive the A3.
The sport package suspension works wonders.
It's a 2006 with 12k miles on the odometer. Not bad when you consider the couple bought it 20 months ago -
yep 600 miles a month! The previous owners were almost as golden as the "lady who just drove this ferrari to church on Sundays." A yuppie-ish couple, they loved the car but some financial difficulties made them give it up. We scored as the car's immaculate and of course still covered by Audi's 4/50k warranty.
Another big bonus - beyond her constant smile while driving it - the owners surrendered the car for a point that's well below KBB/Edmunds and saved us about 7-8k if we'd bought new.
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How would you describe the drive in the A3 vs. your outgoing 330?
Regards,
OW
Everything SMG was supposed to be but wasn't.
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Now, it's light and responds quickly. Unfortunately, for me the heavy understeer of FWD still seems foreign. I don't recall my Protege ES exhibiting so much understeer. Also, the A3's heavier and more nose-heavy, I think, than my old 2003 ES; that may explain it some. Regardless, there's front end plow and as she got the premium package, the suspension's not set up for my aggressive style.
For her, it's perfect. Some sport, lots of fun, lots of utility and enough luxury to keep her happy. For me, it's too soft - I knew that from 2005/2006 test drives - but amusing nonetheless.
I'm actually stuck in a predicament as I was aiming for the 4 door GTI but having two Mrk V-based cars with the same engine/tranny/chassis might be too creepy. Damn VW for not offering the R32 as a 4 door. I'm supposed to show my 330i to a perspective buyer tomorrow (another guy offered to fly in this weekend from SF) and I must say I'm now a little at a loss. Perhaps a Miata for a year or two, or maybe a Mini for a year or two. Keep the bimmer for the remaining 11 months and start over in 08? Gotta ponder it all as I feel ill thinking about having almost near twin cars.