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Now, it's possible that Audi has achieved MB and BMW-like reliability in their 2010 models. Even if that were true, it would take several years for the perception to catch up with the reality. But, why not strive for Acura and Lexus reliability? Well, okay, Lexus has been tarnished recently, but I think much of the adverse publicity is overblown.
For me and others, the German luxury brands have their Asian counterparts beat in driving dynamics and styling. They also seem to age better, from an appearance standpoint. Now, if they could only close the gap on maintenance and repair they'd have it all. I want to believe this is the goal internally.
It seems as though the Asian luxury brands are trying mightily to catch the Germans in the areas where they excel, but can't quite do it. For example, the Infiniti G matches and even exceeds the 3-series and C-Class in most performance measures, but falls short on refinement. The G puts up the numbers, but lacks a certain subjective quality that's difficult for me to describe. All I know is that I don't lust for one.
Mercedes was asleep at the wheel when the 1990 Lexus came out, and they ended up giving away a huge piece of the luxury car pie to the Japanese.
The Brits did the same thing with motorcycles---they didn't take the Japanese seriously enough. Just like The Germans thought their "territory" (high end luxury) was invincible to the Japanese, so the British thought that their turf (powerful big displacement road bikes) was untouchable by the makers of mopeds and lawn mowers.
And then came the Honda 750-4. :surprise:
Japan is a formidable opponent. You can't let up on innovation for a moment or they'll wipe you out.
The British pretty much lost every part of the motor industry. Even Morgans have BMW engines now.
I think Hyundai has been doing market studies. :shades:
I am sure I have told this story, but when I was at the AMG facility, there was a group of Chinese visitors (I assume rich "businessmen") visiting and taking a fleet oars on a test drive . The AMG people even put the red Chinese flag on the cars. Go to HK or Vancouver, and the Chinese population there with money loves the S-class like it is the greatest car ever.
Here's the contingent of Chinese test-drivers...note the little flags attached to the cars...I suspect AMG made some good money that day.
Actually, I kinda liked the Intrepid's cupholders. They would hold a
40Big Gulp with ease.The Park Ave's cupholders are smaller, but then, older people tend to have weaker bladders, don't they? :P
Lenin owned several Rolls over his career...a real man of the people, with the best interests of the masses at heart.
The dictator, of course, is almost god-like, so what kind of car would god drive in the 1960s. Exactly. A huge, powerful, bullet-proof Benz.
Studebaker made a model called a "Dictator" in the 1930s but I don't think any dictators bought them. It would be rather sad for a dictator to be driven around in a Stude. Well maybe if he ruled over a very small country. :P
Well, I did notice that the one Lemko posted has a high-chair in the back for him! Actually, I'd heard that Hitler didn't know how to drive.
Gas mileage, eh, who cares?
British fan-boy cite gossip: It can't meet more stringent emissions requirements
93-95 RX7s had 60-70k apex seals
'03+ RX8 reliability issues with the motor and engine program
Top Gear: RX-8
I also know that the early versions were prone to rotor seal wear from high rpm use. The beast would scream past 10Krpm like it was coming off idle! Problem was if you did that long enough, one day you would come down to idle and it wouldn't. It would just stall out from loss of compression.
But the two things that I remember most about the Wankel; runs like stink, burns through fuel like no other small displacement street engine I have seen.