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Still better than being on the cell phone, going through iDrive menus and reading the morning paper while the car is left on cruise control, I guess....
Since they are NOT all identical, the only way for you to know which ones YOU like would be for you to try them out. They are an important integral part of many new vehicles, and, therefore, should be part of the "test drive". I am a firm believer in voice command, as I have previously posted, and I think it will only improve over time.
Yeah, I agree the 2002 iDrive was horrendous.... The current version is pretty good.
Ultimately, style does have its limits especially when a $100k car is stuck in traffic as all the others.
Cars have no "soul." People do. The hyperbole lavished upon any vehicle is part marketing, part tradition, part experience, and at the end of the day purely up to the driver. BMWs are fun to drive, but so is a Porsche, Vette, Mini, Cobra, etc...
What's pertinent to this group is how much sportiness can be dialed into a luxury sedan. I want a car that can be comfortable for clients. The Lexus certainly fits that bill. And though the LS does not have the presence and prestige of Mercedes, BMW falls a bit short in the prestige category as well. Almost all of the cars we discuss here are fine automobiles and we're all lucky to afford to drive them.
And for the existing Audi owners, how's your dealer experience? Reliability issues?
What's Edmunds' Take?
And there's a hybrid LS still to come. The Germans had better prepare themselves. — Erin Riches
Source, www.edmunds.com
Give me a Bangle BMW 7 series!
Howard: Your needs and desire in a car are NOT necessarily those of the majority. You hardly even notice the interior content of your car... LOL.... Need I remind you that BMW is NOT the benchmark in the HELM space. Far from it. In fact, BMW's only claim to fame is its driving dynamics. That's it. Oh, lets add the 4/50K free maintainance service.... The Bangle design remains as polarizing today as it was 3 yrs ago when the new 7-series came out. I certainly do NOT like it any longer. Even the new e90 is a poke in the eye of Bangle. If Bangle is such a styling genius that everyone is copying, how is it BMW banished him, and ensured their new e90 will NOT be Bangled ?
The LS460 and the S550 will set the benchmark in this class starting in 2006. BMW would scramble to save 7-series sales. A re-do for the 7 won't be out of order, and soon too.
Just thought I'd mention this as well since I'm here.
I and many, many others feel comparable BMW models are at least the equal in prestige as Mercedes.
Call it what you will: "soul" or an undefinable metaphysical something else.
All I know is BMW has it. Lexus doesn't.
I suppose you can prove your rather omniscient statement: "Cars have no soul. People do."
I thought BMW promoted him indicating he will be with the company for a very long time.
Whereas my younger clients (30-40s) think bimmers are as good if not better than Mercs, most of my clients who are baby boomers do note a difference. As superficial and image conscious as we are(n't), many of the people I work for do notice.
As to what BMW has and Lexus does not, I think it's a matter of preference. My dad's ES330 is smooth quiet and refined. The 745 is fun, fast, comfortable, and also refined. I do enjoy driving down my parking garage during the weekends. But other than that, I don't get to drive the car as aggressively as I like. Ultimately, the difference between Lexus, BMW, and Mercs is a matter of preference.
BTW, I can't "prove" the supernatural. Can you prove BMW has a "soul"? :P
that time. The original LS400 still looks like a today's car, whether you
consider that Lexus or Toyota look is quite besides the point . . . the
point being that the original LS400 was at the very forefront of the
bigggest style transformation that has taken place since 1989: cars
becoming like melted soap shaped
At the same time we both agree that the S class in 1989 looked like
cars from an entirely different era, with the boxy styles of the 80's. How
in the world could Lexus be accused of copying a car that looked
entirely different?
The common luxury car themes, such as slab side, broad shoulder and
high belt time dates back to 1906 Rolls, regardles you know it or not. Why
not 1886? Because cars were toys for the rich back then, and the concept of luxury cars did not
exist, regardless how "really silly" you think it is.
The Mack Truck illustration is called Analogy. Please read analogies
carefully and understand the ramifications and what is being analogized
before tossing around words like "ridiculous." Calling someone's post "ridiculous" is not exactly a rebuttal.
To all, let's tone down the personal issues that are going on here. They are not doing anything whatsoever to contribute to an educating and stimulating discussion, so let's just leave them by the side of the, um, road. Okay??
Thanks.
Call it soul or an indefinable something.
But BMW's got it.
Some people can see Tinkerbell. Some can't.
What can I say?
Imagine a different scenario. Maybe you work in a community with the climate of Chapel Hill, NC. You, Mr. CPA or you the folding box company president show up in a three year old Morgan with leather belts across the hood. Or maybe, you work/live in the snow belt and you show up in a mint 1986 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Maybe you show up at the client's with a base 911 you bought 3 years ago. Tossed in the back is a gymn bag.
IMHO for those concerned about their image and their "presentation of oneself" the above vehicles convey a much more assured, less striving image. An image of a man of parts. Not just a guy that knows where to sign a lease. For a lot less money.
I went to dictionary.com to see what was listed as the definitions, and most of the definitions were about the obvious spiritual meanings, but this one got my attention:
sole = The central or integral part; the vital core
So, a car DOES have a soul. And what it has always meant to many is that some cars have a "special feeling" when driven and have "unique characteristics" that "identify that particular car" or type of car for what it is.
When I was younger, I owned a Ferrari (I needed to get it out of my system I think) and it had qualities unlike ANYTHING I had ever driven. It had a soul. And so did my Carrera (no longer own, either). BMW's have a soul, Mercedes have a soul, as most cars do, of course. Not too long ago, on the autospies website, there was discussion regarding the problems with the Mercury vehicles. It was suggested that the problem with the Mercury vehicles was that they had no soul! And that was their very problem. Interesting indeed, and maybe true?
So who ever says a car has no soul . . . stands corrected by the dictionary definition as well as the obvious historical expressive use of the word as it applies to cars.
TagMan
My clients dont care what I drive as long as my investment advice makes them rich enough to afford a lifetime of high end marques.
Scott Nelson, an analyst for Honda's planning group in Torrance, Calif., says: "In a few years, voice-recognition will be good enough to let you say, 'Find me a Beatles tune,' and the stereo will search satellite radio or programmed music and find one."
If you have to ask, you haven't driven one of these vehicles.
I would agree the feeling is probably most obvious in a high performance vehicle, but I would not go so far as to say all ultra-luxury cruisers lack soul. It's more likely just "different".
If you have to ask, you haven't driven one of these vehicles.
YES . . . or . . . as I believe . . . that some people simply do not "connect" with their car!
Now let's move on.... Merc1's post on predictions is a good one and well worth our attention and comments.
Call it soul or an indefinable something.
But BMW's got it.
Some people can see Tinkerbell. Some can't.
What can I say?
I think HELM is quite a materialist pursuit, not that of the spiritualists. People who see Tinkerbell are an even smaller minority than those who see Santa Clause or tooth-fairy ;-)
Mercury vehicle certain has a soul by that definition; without the drive train there would be no functional Mercury vehicle.
IMHO, that definition cheapens "soul" in this context.
oac, those are your words and not mine . . . there is no post where I ever said such a thing or even suggested such a thing.
Beat it to death if you want to, but I don't.
Ferrari and Lamborghini would be better classified in the exotic car category, IMO.
Further, maybe you should review how FORBES classifies the luxury car segment in their latest list of the top 10 luxury cars.
brightness04, Let me just say that I think you are stretching things a LOT to try to suggest that BMW does not (in ANY degree) belong in the H.E.L.M. category, merely because it is "prized for the 3-series". Heck, it is not uncommon for the H.E.L.M.'s to have lower-tiered models that account for the majority of units sold for that particular brand. I do not agree with your suggestion that the flagship models should represent the MAJORITY of units sold (or be "prized") in order for the brand to be classified as a H.E.L.M. That is absolute nonsense.
TagMan
Not in so many words, perhaps... but all these talk about *soul* and its definitions from you and your BMW pals ad nauseum are difficult to comprehend within our HELM board, don't you agree ? We are discussing High End Luxury Marques, and we get statements like "BMW has soul but Lexus just doesn't" (quoting Hpowders).
Let's get back to talking about the merits/demerits of these cars. Now, do you have a comment about FY2006 and beyond for your fav German brands in the NA market ?
The point was not made based on unit sales. I was merely repeating what some BMW fans said, that 3 series being far better at capturing the essence of the BMW brand than the 7 series. BMW is more a sporting brand, along the lines of Porsche, Ferrari and Lambo (not quite as exotic), not a luxury brand in the traditional sense.
I may be a little slow here (late at night and all), so please elaborate. You claimed to have found a definition of "soul" that makes it possible for a car to have a "soul"; following that same definition (your found), I pointed out that that definition would endow every car, and indeed most everything a "soul" . . . which somehow conflicts with your earlier statement that European cars have "soul" whereas Japanese cars don't . . .
I thought that Toyota was seeking to separate the Lexus and Toyota more. But then you have an exec come out and say that the plebian Camry was styled similarly to the Lexus flagship??? Errr...
http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384,17792707-21822,00.html
It's looking like it.
your earlier statement that European cars have "soul" whereas Japanese cars don't . . .
NEVER said it! Tell me the post number where you think I said such a thing . . . and then I'll get back to you. Gosh, I am assuming that you do know how to determine who the author of a post is, and who the author is replying to?
consider that Lexus or Toyota look is quite besides the point . . . the
point being that the original LS400 was at the very forefront of the
bigggest style transformation that has taken place since 1989: cars
becoming like melted soap shaped
First of all the original LS400 looks nothing like the slab-sided LS430, nothing at all. Secondly if you call re-hashing old Mercedes cues from the 80's and rounding them off a "transformation" fine with me, however the LS400 didn't go down in the history books as any such thing when it comes to styling.
At the same time we both agree that the S class in 1989 looked like
cars from an entirely different era, with the boxy styles of the 80's. How
in the world could Lexus be accused of copying a car that looked
entirely different?
I've explained this many time, see above.
The Mack Truck illustration is called Analogy. Please read analogies
carefully and understand the ramifications and what is being analogized
before tossing around words like "ridiculous." Calling someone's post "ridiculous" is not exactly a rebuttal.
Honestly Brightness if you had read the post instead of looking for something to cry foul about, you would have seen where I said it would be ridiculous to get into a conversation about your Mack truck "analogy", not that your post itself was ridiculous.
M
M
Also, why do you react like BMW is an anathema to the HELM board every time I talk about it.
Last I looked, the BMW 7 series is part of this thread.
The similarity will have a positive impact on the sales of the Camry and a negative impact on the sales of the LS. Many people will be turned off in buying a look-alike Camry at a premium price. Many people will love buying a value priced Camry that looks like a LS.
The BMW sausage concept was a historic success because it reinforced the "different size but same DNA idea". A "sausage concept" between a Camry and a LS may not be as warmly accepted in image conscious North America where the brands of Toyota and Lexus are viewed as being quite distinct.
A unified styling theme gives cohesion and makes the Lexus/Toyota brand stronger.
Will anyone really refuse to buy an LS460 other Toyotas models have a family resemblance?
Yes!
Also, why do you react like BMW is an anathema to the HELM board every time I talk about it.
Last I looked, the BMW 7 series is part of this thread.
B/w your *soul* comments and Tagman's search for a definition, it can get all mixed up... You are a self-confessed non-LUXURY car owner and buyer, but this board puts LUXURY first in the cars we discuss here. That is why it is labelled High End Luxury Marque. That is also why Pat_Host continually injects himself to get us talking about the HELM to which the 7 is an important part. The 7-series is a LUXURY full size sedan, but biased towards sportiness, more so than the S or the LS. That is a wonderful attribute of the 7 to be admired and respected. But, where Lexus biases towards the luxury scale, you continually bash it as a "floating barge". My LS does not ride like a Buick, or a Ford Grand Marque with body-on-frame chassis; the LS is a uni-body chassis built to the highest level Japan can offer. It is the very best from Japan, period. And seems to be the very best here in the NA market as well, at least in its class.
For those who want luxury at the high end, the LS has met their needs more so than the S or 7. The 7 has had 2+ years on the LS to show itself to the market, and failed... The new LS460 will show BMW what a luxury full size sedan truly should be, and the market will speak in droves buying this car more than the 750i. My prediction.
The Lexus LS has met luxury needs better than the MB S?
If you want to focus on luxury how about backing up your assertions with facts?