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Statistics, however, show SILVER continues to be the number one national seller, by far. Probably because it looks decent enough, it's easy on the dirt, and it's not a solar panel.
TagMan
Latest reports show Toyota really stretching. The new RAV4 may become the next Toyota/Lexus by as early as '08.
The distinction between Toyota and Lexus is fuzzy enough. But this?
Very different than Acura's recent announcement that there will no longer be model sharing. All new Acuras of the future will be unique and specifically "Acura".
Different approaches here. Also, the Lexus brand is receiving a cool reception in Japan.
IMO, the distinction between Toyota and Lexus may be getting a little compromised, world-wide.
TagMan
Despite the fact that it, in my opinion, was rigged in some way to make Cadillac win, we did test a Cadillac STS and CTS (and yes I know we don't have these under our LPS rubric, but the STS at least IS, after all, an LPS car) and a BMW 5 and a Lexus ES (the only FWD of the four.)
Over the exact same course the ES behaved as you might imagine I would behave should I try a ballet move standing on my toes -- my toes would curl under me, I would fall due to lack of support from my toes. The Little Lexus was so close to being useless it was pitiful.
Was this because of FWD? Beats me.
Was this because it was a Lexus and just wasn't engineered to "carve" through the course, any course?
Beats me.
The point here is if someone drives an ES and then drives almost anything else, they will notice a difference -- the handling is, shaky.
I think Acura has good foresight to change this approach. As I understand Acura's recent press release, Acura has stated that the RDX will be the first "genuine" Acura, and then every Acura thereafter will also be genuine Acura.
This is different from what so far appears to be Toyota's increasing blurring of the lines between Toyota and Lexus. Time will tell where they go with this. I generally respect Toyota's brilliant marketing, but I have to say that I just don't like the all-to-common practice of "cross-dressing" models. (no pun intended, ha, ha!)
Like some of the Ford/Lincoln/Mercury models or Chevy/Pontiac/GMC models.
TagMan
The ES is simply a boring car, with a pillow soft suspension. Its competition is made up of Buicks and Lincolns. The Catera would be considered ES competition, not the CTS. Lexus has the IS350 for that.
The next RSX is also supposed to continue to be based on the Civic. Considering Acura sells at price points below Infiniti and Lexus, I just dont see how they can use "exclusive" platforms and be profitable.
Tagman,
I find this new Acura approach praiseworthy. But are you sure Acura was not referring to the future generation of the TL and RL?
And what exactly do they mean by "genuine Acura"? Are they referring to non-shared platforms? Or do they mean genuine Acuras in terms of offering new technologies and features that are not offered in Hondas.
dewey - When I get the chance, I'll retrieve the press statement and read it word by word to make sure I haven't misunderstood it. Then I'll let you know. Unless you find it and read it before I can get to it. I believe the timing of it was towards the end of '05. (?) But, I'll get back to you on it and see if it was in reference to the TL and RL. I'm pretty sure it was in reference to the RDX as well as all future new models.
What I have found so far, which isn't enough yet, is the announcement of the new Torrance, California, Acura Design Studio that will be for the purpose of exclusive Acura designs and to further the separation of the Acura and Honda brands.
Also, the upcoming RDX does in fact utilize the new global light truck platform, as lexusguy pointed out.
I think I need to do some more digging to determine just what will be unique to Acura, but it sounds like the intentions of Honda Corporate are to separate the two lines as much as possible through the use of independent and dedicated designs. This would more likely result in an increase in exclusive Acura parts (technology and features), but not necessarily exclusive platforms.
The degree to which the upcoming Acura and Honda models have similarities will be revealed, but there is an internal corporate effort underway to further distinguish and separate the two brands from one another.
I cannot precisely determine the extent to which this is different than Toyota's approach with Lexus, but it seems, at least on the surface, that Toyota is blurring the lines as time passes, as opposed to Honda's more deliberate attempt to separate Acura.
Do they have similar stategies . . . or different strategies?
:confuse:
TagMan
Sweet?
link title
TagMan
Infiniti, Lexus and Audi have platforms that are differnet from what is available fromt their parent companies. Why not Acura?
I asked my sales rep about the upcoming biturbo and was told that they will only be available in the forms of a 3 series coupe/convertible
I want a sedan version since I have a family to transport. Expect to see the biturbos this summer!
Even though it is not a performance sedan, it can drive rings around a BMW or Mercedes...in the snow and ice!! You are much more likely to run into a little snow and ice on your daily rounds than a slalom course.
OK, grandaddy, let me get this straight . . . are you truly saying that the Lexus ES can drive rings around a BMW?
Final answer?
TagMan
The rigged test I took had us push a sport package equipped STS against a standard 530i 225HP and a sport equipped CTS against a standard ES -- the Cadillacs were more capable than the competition.
It was only when we were ushered out of the test facility through an air conditioned tent that was literally a Cadillac showroom did I realize it wasn't a fair fight.
I must admit, I did come away with a new appreciation for the Cadillacs even though they were the high sport models compared with the high comfort model competition.
The Lexus was a super nice Camry. And, I would say, at that time, better than a Buick and better than an Avalon.
But the new Lucerne may offer a viable alternative to the ES (at the price, at the price).
The LPS crowd, seems to me to be following a path and that path is being emulated by the entry level LPS cars, and that is "go for, emphasize, the luxury, not the performance" -- the market has spoken. :surprise:
Ummm, I think I feel a retort coming on...
Here it comes: Hey Grandaddy, you obviously have very little experience driving a late model BMW in the snow and ice.
I've been driving in the snow and ice for over thirty years and in that time I've pretty much driven every kind of driven wheel setup on the road. While I'll give AWD the nod in acceleration, call it a wash in handling and give the nod to RWD for braking, I won't even bother including FWD in any of those performance metrics. Why? Because in the snow and ice, it's the worst of the three across the board. For my money I'll take a snow tire shod RWD car over any of the competition. Mark of course will take an AWD car for his winter mount, both are good choices, the ES is not.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Heck, I'd love being wrong if somebody bought me a beer every time.
FWIW, I've had a couple FWD cars, a 328, some AWD/4WD SUV's, and now an AWD LPS. On really icy days, the AWD certainly accelerates better. The 328 had traction control and did okay, but the FWD's performed slightly better starting and cornering. Now, these are really slick conditions, so cornering was done at very slow speeds. I doubt that any FWD car could have done rings around the 328, though. All in all, the fun of the 328 more than made up for what little advantage the others had on really icy days. Now I have that same fun in an AWD car--Whoo-Hoo!
Someone shutting Grandaddy up.......like a mastercard commercial :P
Two plus two is three, where's my beer
Grandaddy, there is plenty of scientific and anecdotal evidence suggesting that the ONLY metric where FWD has it over RWD in the snow is under light acceleration.
After experiencing a winter tire shod RWD BMW and three other winter tire equipped FWD cars through the last four New Hampshire winters there simply isn't anyway for someone to convince me that FWD is superior to RWD in the snow (much less be able to run rings around the BMW). Hmmm, I guess I owe you that beer. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
If you're talking about the 1997 version of the car, I might give that to you. When compared to the '07 ES though, the Buick seems as old as its original four-porthole forebears. The new ES is as close to state-of-the-art as you can get for the price. The Buick is thrown together from '80s era GM parts (like all Buicks of recent memory) and '90s era Japanese styling, the one exception being the taillights copied from recent VWs. Also, for all of GM's talk of the "legendary" Northstar V8 finally making its way back into a Buick, the top version has no more power than the ES's V6.
I cannot precisely determine the extent to which this is different than Toyota's approach with Lexus, but it seems, at least on the surface, that Toyota is blurring the lines as time passes, as opposed to Honda's more deliberate attempt to separate Acura."
I dont see any evidence of Toyota "blurring the lines".. at least no more than they have ever done before. Its not as if they're simply going to slap an L on the front of the Rav4 and call it a day. This isnt GM we're talking about. I know that the '02 ES\Camry shared roughly 30% of their parts. Not sure about the new cars. From what I understand, Toyota is also trying to push Lexus away from the core Toyota brand, and launching Lexus in Japan was a big part of this.
For the record, Lexus USA currently has 4 models on unique Lexus architecture. Infiniti has 1, Acura has 0.
I drive Acura and wanted to buy a new Acura. However, I will probably buy a Lexus 450 hybrid or a BMW 550. Ultimately, even those somewhat expensive cars have significant drawbacks/tradeoffs. At some point (hopefully soon), one of the auto companies will offer a nice sports luxury car with AWD and hybrid technology so that it gets decent mileage. The car will have decent trunk and back seat room to truly be a luxury car but will have performance (sub 6 second 0-60 and preferably 13 second area quarter mile with outstanding braking and handling characteristics). Acura RL has AWD but fails on most of the other requirments. The new Lexus 450H (hybrid) will meet most of these requirements except being AWD but comes the closest to really being special. If BMW 550 was AWD and/hybrid, I would have purchased.
Yes, I want it all but I bet someone will deliver it soon for less than $75,000 (and some are getting closer--an Audi with better mileage/slightly better performance could fill the bill, Infiniti also getting closer, Mercedes starting to improve, Lexus is the closest).
Wow! Turbo without the horrible delay which has marred the VW turbos.
BMW does it again!
I had great regret leaving my beloved inline 6 for the more powerful but less refined BMW V-8.
Looks like my next BMW will be the new 330 turbo. If it has to be a coupe, so be it! I can hardly wait!
I'm absolutely salivating!
Time to start putting away some extra scheckels!
Thanks, Tagman!
I won't pretend to be the expert that some of you in here are regarding FWD/RWD. However, back in about 1983/84, I was the first person in my neighborhood to own a FWD car. That winter we got an ice storm one evening. The street approaching my dead-end block was a two block long low-rise hill. I was the only person who was able to make it up the hill! I counted at least 20 abandoned cars along the street. I'm sure among those people were at least a few who were good drivers and I'm sure there were a few who had proper tires, but it made no difference.
The new Lucerne has received some very favorable press, I have seen the Buick up close and personal (and NOT the Lexus). While I think I would, were I ever to consider one of these, go for the CTS over the Lucerne, the current Lucerne vs the then current ES seemed to be a more prudent choice.
In the real LPS world, however, the GS I do find appealing at the very least from a styling perspective; but, of the major players from Japan, my fave remains the M from Infiniti.
Now here is a thought, I am willing to bet one of these beers we've been wagering, that in the not too distant future there will be a Korean LPS entrant.
A salesperson visited my firm yesterday in what I assume is the latest and greatest (and biggest one I have ever seen) Hyundai -- I gave it two double takes, from 10 yards it seemed at first glance to be cut from similar cloth as our beloved LPS babies.
Demonstration: three "identical" Audi TT coupes: one RWD, one FWD and (no peeking) one AWD; all facing a hill (a steep hill.) The museum guest is being shown the relative tractive capabilities of the three drive-lines under "identical" circumstances. "All you gotta do" is press a button and the three cars begin their vertical climb. One goes "a" distance, another goes "a+" distance and the third goes (drum roll) "the" distance (to the top of the incline.) The envelope please.
Video: of several LPS "station wagons, SUV's SAV's, Avants" (there I think I have the names covered) facing upward on a downhill bunny slope ski run covered with fresh snow (one presumes) -- all are 4WD (AWD). Again the viewer witnesses each of the cars attempt to "make it to the top." Only the one with the TorSen AWD system makes it. Guess who?
Hands on: BMW 3 (RWD) with four studded snow tires and Audi A4 (AWD) ditto. You are on a controlled space, a huge controlled space covered with Olympic Ice of such quality the figure skaters from Torino would feel at home. Cock the steering wheel and give way. Faster, faster, faster still -- the BMW loses its rear end and requires the driver to slow down to a speed where the driver can regain control and reach a certain controlled speed in a "perfect circle." Rinse, lather, repeat in the otherwise very similar sized Audi (also with the four studded snow tires) -- note the "terminal" velocity where the Audi can no longer be controlled.
The RWD vehicle in what you may argue (and I cannot counter with certainty) are "unfair" circumstances is the least capable in example one and three. In example two, they're all AWD and the video was purportedly not created by Audi AG.
Over the years, growing up on Chrysler Newport's with big V8's w/RWD and eventually getting a FWD car in my twenties, I basically "lost my respect" for RWD in SW Ohio's winters where my snow-tire-less FWD's cars "always" would go in the snow and my snow-tired (rear only) RWD cars could only go sometimes.
Modern packaging has once again dictated a move to RWD in what I can only assume is "what is old is new again" fashion. And, just as we moved en masse to FWD during a 1970's and 1980's fuel crisis (due to packaging and weight, so they said), it would not surprise me to see another shift -- this time to AWD as heavy heavy SUV's are often purchased because they are AWD (not to go off road, that is for certain) and because station wagons were out of favor. Now that station wagons (for some) are once again sexy :confuse: I am certain that just as the price of entry (POE) into the LPS ranks has become "thou shalt offer at least one of your LPS cars in AWD" that there will be a trickle down of this POE first into the near-LPS class and then downward further still.
Of the drive types, and assuming I live long enough to collect the beers, I am willing to bet RWD (over time) will be among the first to be abandoned -- first becoming available as the de-contented model (alongside competing FWD cars) then being relegated to ultra expensive cars who have as part of their mission to "pay homage" to drive lines of yesteryear.
The "rise of the machines" from an automotive perspective is underway -- and that rise is a rapid shift to AWD starting, in many cases, with the LPS machines.
Of course, I may be dreaming. :surprise:
It was also sterile feeling. The center stack felt like a WalMart boom box to me. I didn't say a peep during the drive (I sat in back too, while the salesman was in front with her). When we left, her words were, "It's okay, but there's something... not sure, what it is. It's just that I feel like I'm in a cocoon. I don't feel or hear anything to give me a feeling of where I'm going or what I'm doing."
For an LPS, isn't that kinda what you WANT? Don't you want to feel where you're going and what you're doing? Not to a HUGE extent, like in a SUV or a Jeep, but some feedback - whether it is from the wheels, steering wheel, little bit of engine noise.
For some, that may be exactly what they are wanting, but for an LPS, it was way too isolated for even my wife, who doesn't care as much about performance as me. She wanted luxury. Even in that department the RL fell short for her.
We drove the RX330 and pretty much got that same impression. We did hear some more engine noise, but not much. Again, isolation. Not sure how the GS or ES's are, but I'd imagine they are quieter than the Camry we rented one day.
-Paul
Not exactly. My daily drive is all about the twist. I have a New York-to-Joizy commute that is one big 30-mile slalom. The 18-wheelers, Camrys, Town Cars and minivans are pylons. There was a time long ago when trucks stayed in the right lane. No more. The GW bridge and NJ Tpke are now very interesting places if you have the good fortune to travel opposite traffic as I do. The trash you have to dodge on the Jersey turnpike adds a lot of spice to the drive too.
Favorite spot in the commute: Henry Hudson Parkway going north between the GW and HH bridges. There are some nice twisties.
New York City had a record snowfall last week... 26 inches. You hardly noticed it between the impeccable road clearing and ensuing warm weather.
After this I would not be surprised to hear someone say that a good rwd can climb a hill better than a jeep!!
Reminds me of the story about a guy standing in his yard and watching a kid dragging a chain up the hill in front of his house. The guy said, "Hey kid, why are you pulling that chain up the hill"? The kid replied, " Have you ever tried to push one"?
You want a performance orientated wagon?
BMW's response: Touring Wagons 530xi and 325xi are fast enough. What family man needs a fast wagon anyways? If you want a fast wagon then go buy a Audi S4/S6 Avant.
You want a fast small four door performance sedan?
BMW's response: The BMW 330i is fast enough. What sedan driver needs a biturbo or M series anyways? If you want a fast sedan then go buy a Audi S4 .
You want a fast little sport wagon?
BMW's response: NO WAY! If the upcoming 1 series makes it to these shores it will only be sold in non-hatchback form. If you want a fast small hatchback then go buy a Audi A3 3.2 Quattro.
Of course, our dealer says "virtually" every 325 sold is sold as a 325xi -- steptronic. What this means I know not.
So, at 40% of the 5's being sold as X drive versions -- apparently constrained not by demand, but by supply (yadda yadda yadda) -- my dealer speculates that BMW will (in response to Audi's successful "S-Line" variants, perhaps?) soon offer a "real" sports package instead of the current "in name and trim only" version.
He claims, despite the fact that they will be overwhelmingly automatic equipped cars, that such an availability of a "true" sports package will only INCREASE the demand for "X-drive" cars ("5's? or does this apply to 3's as well?" he wondered out loud.)
Indeed many of the X3's our dealer stocks do come with the sport package perhaps because of the sportier interior, upgraded wheels and tires, no change in ride height and "low price point" for these "upgrades."
The early reports of harshness with such a set up were over a year ago addressed by BMW -- so goes the company line.
I know I argue or whine as you may perceive it in favor of the quattro (TorSen) system in particular and AWD in general, but a BMW 530xi with a "proper" (e.g., "S-Line-like") sport package coupled with three transmission choices: stick, steptronic and SMG, ought to go some distance in keeping BMW at the top 'o the heap of LPS cars as the monthly sales reports posted here have demonstrated.
Whew, I'm getting sweaty palms.
Do the "other" LPS guys, besides Audi, i.e., offer their AWD versions with a true sport suspension set-up, or does Audi with it's S-Line offer (at the moment) the ONLY LPS car available in V6 and V8 flavors both with AWD and "sport?"
I know, for instance, when I shopped for the Infiniti M, I could -- for a stack of 100 dollar bills -- upgrade the wheels and wheels alone (through the dealer) to 19" married to UHP summer only tires. But, other than a possible aftermarket set up, no "suspension" option was offered. To get that, one had to go for one of the RWD versions.
Just wondering?
Looks like, if what the BMW dealer "predicts" as true comes true, that BMW will once again, start late and finish first. :surprise:
When compared to the new ES though, its hopelessly out of date, that is unless no Xenons, no adaptive cruise, no bluetooth, the usual GM 4-speed auto, 17/25 (for the V8) EPA ratings, and a dinousaur era steering column with four or five tilt positions and no telescope is "good enough". The Avalon, Chrysler 300, and Hyundai Azera are all better equiped for less money.
The ES brings a 21\30 rated 272hp V6, 6-speed auto, 10 airbags, bluetooth and voice command, back up camera, adaptive headlights, a "frameless" panorama roof, a power rear sunshade, and of course the 14-speaker ML system with DVD-A support.
http://shows.autospies.com/gallery/AS/2007-lexus-es-lg/SP32-20060208-220206.jpg?- - undefined
http://shows.autospies.com/gallery/AS/2007-lexus-es-lg/SP32-20060208-222640.jpg?- - undefined
If I were the Buick I'd be lowering my MSRP about now.
Also, while the Azera has the size, and the "L" and "S" covered, there's no "P" yet. Hyundai has basically caught up to Toyota's '00-02 era cars, but they still have a lot to learn when it comes to engine and suspension design, as well as the art of weight reduction.
Such a funny post.
Traction is based on coefficient of static friction X weight X cosine of slope. Odds are you had the most weight over your drive wheels, so you made it up the hill.
Call it a misstep -- a generalization too broad. A reflection of several mostly positive Lucerne reviews over the past couple of months. And, some time spent with a colleague shopping for a new sheen -- from GM we had it narrowed to the Lucerne and the Cadillac CTS. The Cadillac was OVER $40K and the Buick (with the V8 and virtually every option box ticked off) was under $36K.
She, my colleague, went with the CTS and for chassis feel alone probably feels she won, not to mention many of the things you pointed out.
For MY money in that price range in that pre-LPS class or whatever it is called these days, a Chrysler 300C (in my case, of course with AWD) would get my bucks.
She likes the "Buick and Cadillac" feel (sofa on wheels?) but has in just over two weeks come to like the hint of Euro handling the CTS brings to the table. The spunky 255HP engine, RWD probably and the 5 speed transmission (and a very nice sound system) probably cinched the deal.
Car was 36 months, 18,000 miles, no upfront money, GM made the first mo payment (loyalty bonus) and the total mo pay is $515 for a ~$41+K CTS.
We looked, too, at the Infiniti M35X with Journey and Technology Packages, but the mo pay for that with the mileage noted was a high $600 per month number.
Much as she liked the M, the CTS was, in terms of nimbleness, "close enough for jazz" and over $150 per month less plus the free first month's payment.
I hearby cease defending the Lucerne. :shades:
Uncle.
I had an '82 Accord hatchback that could go anywhere.. Of course I was coming from a '77 Cobra II with RWD and a V-8 upfront, so anything would have been an improvement..
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I am suspicious (and hopeful) that it might make its way beyond the introductory models, after a while. That would give you more of a selection, if it actually happened perhaps in the following model year.
After all, you are very content with your 5 at the moment. Maybe a little patience would pay off. Just a thought.
TagMan
Why aren't the other "luxury" marques in the V8 AWD game? Wonder how many of the 300C AWD sales are conquest sales? :confuse:
A steptronic x drive BMW 3 series would not even be ranked among my top 100 list. Maybe number 106 after a RWD Lincoln(just kidding).
A manual RWD BMW 3 series is right now number one on my list. Even in snow-blown Toronto I have no requirements for AWD. Snow tires combined with driving carefully during blizzards and icy conditions has never prevented me from going from point A to B. At least not yet.
The only AWD vehicle I would ever consider buying is an Audi but that is only because a RWD Audi does not exist.
I'm sure you are. As long as drivers want performance, there will be RWD.
You guys have a different experience than I do. For me, the daytime temperature this week is in the mid 60's. Two weeks ago it was in the 70's . . . very nice . . . no snow , of course. To get to the snow out here requires a drive of about 3 hours to the mountains (Sierras). At that point you find yourself in snow heaven, with many ski resorts, etc. The trick is to get up early and drive the 3 hours right before breakfast, then eat, and ski or snowboard all day. When I make the drive, I always drive an AWD SUV, so I have basically no typical daily winter driving experience with a sedan. I'll just have to trust all of you and your recommendations. So, if I understand this, it makes sense that an AWD sedan is the best choice?
TagMan
To get to the snow out here requires a drive of about 3 hours to the mountains (
Wow you actually have to drive 3 hours to see snow during winter. What a wonderful escape. In my case it takes about four hours to drive south from snow-blown Toronto to snow-blown Bufallo(2 hour drive + 2 hours waiting to cross the border)
If my style has offended anyone I sincerely apologize and I will try to watch what I say (type) in the future. I am kind of new at this type of correspondence and I will admit that improvement on my part is needed. Thanks for your patience.
I'll say it for you. Hearing grandaddy apologize......PRICELESS!!