Edmunds Members - Cars and Conversations (Archived)

driver100

abacomike said:

@driver‌

"The only thing I can think of is the car was designed for Europe. It has a lot of room and bulk over there, yet is smaller than a full size SUV, so Europeans who want an SUV can get something a little smaller."

I disagree, driver.  Europeans are more into cars, smaller engines, and less weight.  North Americans are more into SUV's and the like, along with trucks (pick-ups) and larger cars.

Remember that gasoline is quite costly in Europe and the populous is more into high mileage small cars.  We are not as addicted to economy cars as they are.  Once the price of gasoline drops, like it is now, the less we insist on higher mileage vehicles.  Americans have short memories when it comes to the high prices of fuel - like what is happening now.  Here, it's the government that mandates minimum fuel economy requirements, not the buyer's wallet.

I checked google for "why did bmw make the x6 so ugly". Lots of articles calling it very ugly, and it doesn't do what many other bmws can already do. One link said the X9 concept car is so ugly it would never be built.


Mike, you are right seems the X6 is aimed at Americans who want something that looks different, is an SAV/SAV which makes up a huge segment of the market.

An excellent article at:

BMW X6 Why did they make it so ugly?


Here is the last paragraph:

See a guy driving a blacked-out X6 M, and you begin to understand that there are folks with too much money and no sense of taste or driving acumen. But Americans want to have their cake and eat it, too. They want status, power and the ability to thumb their noses at practicality. Frankly, this is why the strictly suburban SUV was so successful in the first place, and why the X6 will continue to sell well in the States. It’s a statement on the behalf of the owner, who has clearly paid far too much for far too little

abacomike

@driver100‌

"They want status, power and the ability to thumb their noses at practicality. Frankly, this is why the strictly suburban SUV was so successful in the first place, and why the X6 will continue to sell well in the States. It’s a statement on the behalf of the owner, who has clearly paid far too much for far too little."

I guess you could say that about many vehicles purchased by North Americans.  We do not usually buy cars for practical and/or basic transportation like most (not all) Europeans do.  We buy cars that perform well, look good, handle well, are roomy enough for a family, and possess unbelievable amounts/levels of complex technologies and safety features.  There are even cars and SUV's that come equipped with their own internal WiFi capabilities - good grief.

There is a point at which even I draw a line when it comes to things like WiFi or Internet access through your car's satellite connections.  If you have a smart phone, you already have that capability.

Car manufacturers continue to add more and more wizardry to their vehicles which, of course, adds more market attractiveness to their products.  Since the looks oand styling of cars stays somewhat constant for 4-5 years, they need to come up with new and varied reasons to buy next year's model even though it hasn't changed much from this year's model - right?

driver100

abacomike said:

@driver100‌

"  Since the looks oand styling of cars stays somewhat constant for 4-5 years, they need to come up with new and varied reasons to buy next year's model even though it hasn't changed much from this year's model - right?

Good points right on. Maybe I am an example of this to some degree. I wanted to trade in my 2012 535 but, I would be buying basically the same car unless I wait for the complete revamp in 2016. Maybe the X6 was made to appeal to people like me. But, it must be aimed at a younger demographic, young people who like that steroid bulging mean futuristic look. I agree with one site that said the X6 may take the UGLT award away from the Aztec.

imidazol97

ab348 said:

and I think there were Dodge pickups like that also.

Thanks for posting that. I remember seeing the Dodge with the duplicate doors where both have the arc at the top!

Michaell

driver100 said:

abacomike said:

@driver100‌

"  Since the looks oand styling of cars stays somewhat constant for 4-5 years, they need to come up with new and varied reasons to buy next year's model even though it hasn't changed much from this year's model - right?

Good points right on. Maybe I am an example of this to some degree. I wanted to trade in my 2012 535 but, I would be buying basically the same car unless I wait for the complete revamp in 2016. Maybe the X6 was made to appeal to people like me. But, it must be aimed at a younger demographic, young people who like that steroid bulging mean futuristic look. I agree with one site that said the X6 may take the UGLT award away from the Aztec.

My wife, who has pretty good taste in most areas in her life, likes the look of the X6.

It's a little outside of our budget, however.

Her next choice is the Volvo XC70.

houdini1

driver100 said:

abacomike said:

@driver100‌

"  Since the looks oand styling of cars stays somewhat constant for 4-5 years, they need to come up with new and varied reasons to buy next year's model even though it hasn't changed much from this year's model - right?

Good points right on. Maybe I am an example of this to some degree. I wanted to trade in my 2012 535 but, I would be buying basically the same car unless I wait for the complete revamp in 2016. Maybe the X6 was made to appeal to people like me. But, it must be aimed at a younger demographic, young people who like that steroid bulging mean futuristic look. I agree with one site that said the X6 may take the UGLT award away from the Aztec.

I am not in the market for an X6, but I think it looks pretty nice.

graphicguy

Posted this over in CCBA by mistake when I meant to post it here....

So....mentioned the $100 Lincoln wants me to have to do a 24 hour test drive in one of their vehicles. They set up an appointment for me to meet with their "sales" guide to help me with the test drive. So, got a call last week from the "sales" guide (SG). We set up an appointment to meet at 6:00 p.m. last night at the dealership. This was confirmed twice again via email.

Got there exactly on time. Asked for the person that I was supposed to meet with. Seems he had left for the day. Huh? Two phone calls, two emails, emails from Lincoln corporate, and he forget out appointment?

So much for that. The sales person who approached me asked if there was anything he could do. Nope! Poor way to try to get people to test drive your cars. Offer them $100, set up an appointment and then miss the appointment.

As I got in my car and about to drive away, another gentleman came out and asked if I had an appointment with SG. Yes. He asked what vehicle I was interested in. I told him I was part of their $100 promotion to keep a Lincoln overnight. He then acted like a light bulb went off in his head.

"Ohhhhh......SG was in charge of that promotion for us. But, he couldn't be here every day, so we put his name on all the promotional material that went out."

ME-"OK...whatever. he told me to ask for him when I came in, we set up an appointment, and he's not here for that appointment."

Ends up the guy who came out to keep me from driving away is the Sales Manager. He asked if he could complete the paperwork for the test drive so I could at least get my $100 gift card?

ME-"Whatzat? $100 you say? Oh, alright...if it doesn't take too long".

It probably took another 30 minutes to complete what seemed like an inordinate amount of paperwork, including a survey with the typical marketing questions...
-Age, current vehicle, time frame for next purchase, etc

They pick the vehicle for your test drive based on what, I'm not quite sure. They sure didn't ask me what I wanted to test drive. I probably wouldn't have known anyway because I have no idea what models are what (except for the Navigator, which I didn't even know they still made, until I saw a new one in the showroom).

Mine was an MKC, a cross over CUV. The Manager went over the vehicle with me, made sure it had a full tank of gas. I gave him my DL and Insurance for him to make a record of.

I'll get into impressions of the vehicle in another post. But, if Lincoln is trying to get into the luxury game again, they're off to a dismal start based on just that one experience.

The dealership is in a tony neighborhood (Montgomery for the locals). You walk in, there's nothing special about it at all. Metal desks for the sales staff lined up against one wall of the dealership, no dividers, just the desks and a few chairs. One sales person was clearly more intent on texting on his cell phone than even looking up when I walked in. One lady seemed busy with a couple of customers simultaneously. One young guy, who initially approached me seemed nice enough, but confused by my presence/request. Sales Manager was professional and helpful. The showroom itself could have been selling lawn tractors. Absolutely nothing said "high line" about it. The local Hyundai dealership is probably nicer.

This isn't the experience you expect in a high line luxury store. Especially if you're trying to lure customers from Acura, BMW, Audi (which is a few hundred feet away from the Lincoln dealership), Lexus, etc.

graphicguy

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

I may have a stalker.



I'm the last guy you want to try the hard sell with.

I wonder, do dealers have a generic high pressure marketing plan that they just plug in for all leads regardless of what need the customer requests? I know some of our sales people have commented on how frustrating internet leads are to them and the low percentage that convert to actual sales.

Just out of curiosity OF....have you taken a Mustang out for a spin? That might persuade you one way or the other if it is the car for you. Or, do you want the dream to continue.....and possibly keep you up at night. Sometimes the dream is better than the reality.

I met my friend for coffee today and I was surprised he was driving his Audi A4 R/S car and not his Maserati. He said the weather forecast called for rain, and he has no traction in rain in the Mas....it just hydroplanes.

Meanwhile, the A4 does it all, carries 4 people comfortably, has a lot of power, fun to drive, looks great.......if it was me, I would say the Maserati is more trouble than it is worth.

Not yet. So far the only unit in my area is the 4 cyl. Turbo but the real reason is that between school and the farm I've been pulling 70 hour weeks and the dealers are closed on Sunday, the only day I'm free.

I suppose I could "come on down" to NJ when things slow down in a couple of weeks.

You really have to go for a test drive. I know this would sound crazy to any normal person but I came from a Ford family. I liked the looks of the 84 Mustang and wanted one a lot....until I took it for a spin. I was underwhelmed, it felt weak, poorly built, poor seating position, cheap.


So I went for a test drive in a Camaro. A world of difference, it felt like a real car....and the Camaro wasn't a great car either....but, what a difference! I leased the Camaro.



You really have to take the Mustang out for a test drive to see if your dreams are for real or imagined.

Driver...that Mustang in the pic looks almost identical to a track car I used to have...minus the nice body and plus quite a few dents....same color, too.

Turned many a wrench on that car. Pretty simple by today's standards once you stripped out all the smog related gear and got the suspension set up for track use.

Catching up...TY...big congrats on the new wheels.

abacomike....interesting to note that the dealership you managed had a dept that specialized in guerrilla marketing tactics (internet dept). Also, good for you for sticking with your preferred dealership. Everytime I'm tempted to find another dealer for my preferred brands (BMW and Acura), their competition always tells me they'll beat my preferred dealers on price. They never do, and end up causing me more hassle than anything else. I'll shop them every once in a while to keep everyone honest, but eventually end up in the same stores I've done business with over the years.

graphicguy

So.....not being familiar with Lincoln's, at least not since I've been in Town Car limos from the airport, I know Ford is trying to tart up some of their platforms and call them Lincolns. They've been doing this for decades. That said, I guess Cadillac does the same thing. Malibus are the basis for CTS, right?

Anyway, the MKC has lots of "stuff" on it. I'll hit on the major points.

The one I'm driving is an AWD version with a 2.0L turbo 4 cyl. This is a huge bright spot for this model. This motor gives up absolutely nothing to BMW's 328i turbo 4 or Audi's turbo 4 cyl. Matter of fact, I'd say Lincoln's is more refined than the BMW's motor. Plenty of torque off the line, good throttle tip in. IF there's turbo lag, I didn't feel it.

Apparently, there's an even more potent 2.3L turbo as an option. I think that's the motor they're putting in the new Mustang. I'd be interested in testing it, too.

Probably won't scare anyone in a sport(Y) car during stop light wars. But, for an SUV/CUV? It's more than capable of doing the job...probably better than most.

I guess I've been driving sports sedans too long (3 Series, S4, TL). When I was pulling out of the dealership driveway, I felt like I was totally disconnected from the road....sitting on top of a chassis, more or less guiding the MKC, not necessarily driving it. Yep...not much has changed from driving a Town Car.

But, they said it had adjustable sport modes. I adjusted it from "comfort" to "normal"....a little better. I went all the way to sport and put the trans in "S" (stands for "sport"? "Super"? essentially it doesn't allow the trans to drop into any overdrive gear).

Now we're getting somewhere. While you wouldn't dare flight this around corners the way I rotate my TL around corners (with no drama and quite a bit of amazement), it handles pretty darn well....certainly much better than my previous SUV ownership experience with my Tahoe.

It stays in the power band if you don't put the trans in drive, and keep it in "S". BTW, Lincoln doesn't have a shift lever. As is the current rage, it has a computer controlled electronic pushbutton transmission. Seems to work well. No emergence brake lever. You hit the "Park" button and the emergency brake sets automatically. Personally, a shift lever isn't a make or break thing for me, but it's clear, that's where auto technology is going.

The trans lagged to downshift, unless you kept it in "S", which I'd absolutely do unless cruising on a long trip. Again, "S" kept the motor in its power band and would kick down with little provocation.

I think this one had every available option (with the exception of the bigger turbo motor). THX sound system sounded good streaming music from my iPhone (still can't hold a candle to my ELS system in the Acura...the best factory stereo I've ever heard, in any car, regardless of price). Speech recognition was good. It downloaded my phone book and I didn't have to add voice tags. It recognized names via speech without me having to tag it.

Seats were made of nice leather, comfortable, too. Again, not meant for spirited driving, but for long term comfort, spot on. Lane Change warning, intelligent cruise control, heated/ventilated seats, customizable interior lighting (with all sorts of different colors to choose from), LED light pipes for DRLs and rear lights,....probably more stuff I don't even know about. There were beeps going off randomly that I'm sure meant something, but have no idea what.

Here's a downside....Lincoln you've crammed so much "Stuff" in the dash readouts and the speedo section and steering wheel, it's hard to tell which does what, at least not at a glance. I was driving it at dusk, and the auto headlights, as well as the dash lights couldn't make up their mind if they should be on or off, high or low lighting. Pretty annoying. Again, maybe there's a setting somewhere that would address this, not sure.

Synch is fine, I guess. It reminds me a whole lot of Cadillac's CUE system. Probably needs one more refresh before it's nailed. Although, from what I've been told, this version of Synch is far and away better than previous versions. There's a wee bit of lag. There are too many screens to flip through to get to simple tasks (like turning off beeps). NAV system was really good, very legible, high quality imagery, and told things like traffic status, speed limit of the road you're on, highlight of your vehicle and where it's traveling, upcoming streets, meta tags for music on my iPhone (like artist and song name). It does this much better than my Acura.

Plenty of room in the back. Back seats easily fold down flat (yay!). The proverbial "wave your foot under the back hatch to open feature" was there. Pretty nifty. Automatic everything. Heated and cooled seats. Back seats are heated, too.

Not sure what this thing costs, given there's no MSRP sticker with it. I'm guessing $40K as tested So, that puts it in the ballpark with a Mercedes GLK 250, an Audi Q5, Acura RDX, etc. Haven't driven any of those, so I can't comment. But, if I were in that market, those are the ones I'd test drive.

Dealer said Acura owners get an additional $3K off, and those who do the $100 promo, get another $1,000 off. Do a little negotiation and this becomes a $35K vehicle if my numbers are correct.

Would I consider it? For $35K, absolutely. For $40K? Not sure.

ab348

@Graphicguy, I configured one the way yours sounded on the Lincoln site and it came out to $46K and change. The 2.3L turbo is a $4400 upcharge.

mako1a

GG, the "S" is probably the same as in my Mustang and means "Select shift". There should be a toggle on the shifter and the dash should indicate select shift with a gear number from 1 thru 6.

I rarely use it because it's like driving a 6 speed manual in second gear netting about 12 MPG. When I do use it is when I see a Camaro. Mustang coming up fast in the left lane obviously to test what's under my hood so I'm ready for a quick punch and go. If left in "S" without using the gear toggle, the trany may start from a stop in 4th or 5th gear and not shift up automatically until red line is reached should you use it on the freeway. Good luck.

driver100

Michaell said:

driver100 said:

abacomike said:

@driver100‌

"  Since the looks oand styling of cars stays somewhat constant for 4-5 years, they need to come up with new and varied reasons to buy next year's model even though it hasn't changed much from this year's model - right?

Good points right on. Maybe I am an example of this to some degree. I wanted to trade in my 2012 535 but, I would be buying basically the same car unless I wait for the complete revamp in 2016. Maybe the X6 was made to appeal to people like me. But, it must be aimed at a younger demographic, young people who like that steroid bulging mean futuristic look. I agree with one site that said the X6 may take the UGLT award away from the Aztec.

My wife, who has pretty good taste in most areas in her life, likes the look of the X6.

It's a little outside of our budget, however.

Her next choice is the Volvo XC70.

Michaell and houdini....several sites on google said the X6 was polarizing viewer. It seems some people don't like it, some do. My guess is 80% don't, 20% do. Although, people who like it probably don't write about it.

driver100

graphicguy said:

I

Would I consider it? For $35K, absolutely. For $40K? Not sure.

Good articles GG. In the first one I am surprised Ford would spend all this money on a promotion only to drop the ball. Doesn't instill confidence or make a Lincoln seem classy.

In the review I get the picture from your very good description. It sounds like a lot of car for $35K....when I see the price of some fairly common cars....Camrys and that, $40K doesn't sound bad with a car with so many features...it would be worth comparing it.

But, like I said to my friend with the R/S A4 and Maserati when he asked if I would consider a Cadillac.....as nice as they are, and as good as the engine is, I just know......it won't be the same.
They'll get something wrong, and I'll end up not liking it. That would be my concern with the MKwhatever.

bwia

abacomike said:

@driver100‌

"They want status, power and the ability to thumb their noses at practicality. Frankly, this is why the strictly suburban SUV was so successful in the first place, and why the X6 will continue to sell well in the States. It’s a statement on the behalf of the owner, who has clearly paid far too much for far too little."

There are even cars and SUV's that come equipped with their own internal WiFi capabilities - good grief.

?

Most of GM's 2015 models come with WiFi hotspot capability. Gone are the days of kids having to watch the same old DVD's on long trips.

driver100

bwia said:

abacomike said:

@driver100‌

"They want status, power and the ability to thumb their noses at practicality. Frankly, this is why the strictly suburban SUV was so successful in the first place, and why the X6 will continue to sell well in the States. It’s a statement on the behalf of the owner, who has clearly paid far too much for far too little."

There are even cars and SUV's that come equipped with their own internal WiFi capabilities - good grief.

?

Most of GM's 2015 models come with WiFi hotspot capability. Gone are the days of kids having to watch the same old DVD's on long trips.

Ahhh, those poor kids....can't watch their own movies these days. Why, in my day all we could do was look out the windows at the scenery and have a conversation.

stickguy

I would have guessed 45K MSRP based on how loaded it was. Pretty much a competitor to my RDX, though with more gizmos (up to you to decide if you really need one). I think a top line RDX with tech package is right around 40K now, though there may be a gizmo package that can take it higher.

I did test drive an edge a few years back with the 2.0 engine, and was shocked at how smooth and powerful it was in a relatively heavy vehicle. The 2.3 must be a beast.

imidazol97

graphicguy said:

That said, I guess Cadillac does the same thing. Malibus are the basis for CTS, right?

Can't tell if this is meant as sarcasm or not, but because so much gets perpetuated
about GM, I'll post.
The CTS is rear wheel drive based on the new Sigma platform in about 2002.
'14 is based on Alpha chassis.

The Malibu is front wheel drive based on the Epsilon II platform in 2012
which is from the Opel German branch of GM.

Also, noticed Motorweek testing the new Hyunadi Sonata and
Malibu has 1.2 inches more leg room than the Sonata. That's also 2.3 more inches
than the new TLx. I wonder how many folks still think Malibu's rear leg room is
smallest in the midsize?

ab348

Shhh, you can't dispel the myth of the Sonata around here.

stickguy

Well to me real world legroom us different. Depends on where the front seat needs to be set.

graphicguy

imidazol97 said:

graphicguy said:

That said, I guess Cadillac does the same thing. Malibus are the basis for CTS, right?

Can't tell if this is meant as sarcasm or not, but because so much gets perpetuated
about GM, I'll post.
The CTS is rear wheel drive based on the new Sigma platform in about 2002.
'14 is based on Alpha chassis.

The Malibu is front wheel drive based on the Epsilon II platform in 2012
which is from the Opel German branch of GM.

Also, noticed Motorweek testing the new Hyunadi Sonata and
Malibu has 1.2 inches more leg room than the Sonata. That's also 2.3 more inches
than the new TLx. I wonder how many folks still think Malibu's rear leg room is
smallest in the midsize?

Imid...no sarcasm intended. I had HONESTLY thought the Malibu and CTS came from the same platform. I stand corrected.

stickguy

The big DTS. And Impala share a platform.

imidazol97

graphicguy said:

Imid...no sarcasm intended. I had HONESTLY thought the Malibu and CTS came from the same platform.

Thank you. Someone had also suggested the Camaro was related to the CTS. But the Camaro
is shown as being on a Zeta platform, which is related to the Commodore.

robr2

graphicguy said:

Not sure what this thing costs, given there's no MSRP sticker with it. I'm guessing $40K as tested So, that puts it in the ballpark with a Mercedes GLK 250, an Audi Q5, Acura RDX, etc. Haven't driven any of those, so I can't comment. But, if I were in that market, those are the ones I'd test drive.

Dealer said Acura owners get an additional $3K off, and those who do the $100 promo, get another $1,000 off. Do a little negotiation and this becomes a $35K vehicle if my numbers are correct.

Would I consider it? For $35K, absolutely. For $40K? Not sure.

It sounds like you have the 2.0 with the Reserve Package. That MSRP is around $44. A similar GLK is $49. The RDX is $41. The Q5 is about $46.

Lincoln is like Acura - it's targeting the the Germans but pricing is more reasonable.

robr2

imidazol97 said:

graphicguy said:

Imid...no sarcasm intended. I had HONESTLY thought the Malibu and CTS came from the same platform.

Thank you. Someone had also suggested the Camaro was related to the CTS. But the Camaro
is shown as being on a Zeta platform, which is related to the Commodore.

Technically, they are related but like third cousins are related. The Sigma II was the platform for the old CTS. It has more in common with the Zeta (Commodore, Caprice PPV, SS) platform than the Sigma I. The Alpha is very similar to the Zeta as it uses many of the same parts.

The next Camaro is moving onto the Alpha platform which underpins the ATS and CTS.

Kirstie_H

@abacomike and @‌driver100:
I never really disappear. I'm always reading - sometimes you just can't see me. These days I have to "appear" in a lot of places, so I don't always get to post as much as I'd like, but I do read. Plus, I see many of my cohorts are keeping you all amused.

mako1a

New Kubota delivered today. Perfect, just the way I like it. Now to read the book and see what's different from my last new one 15 years ago.

imidazol97

mako1a said:

New Kubota delivered today. Perfect, just the way I like it. Now to read the book and see what's different from my last new one 15 years ago.

Seeing that scoop on the front reminds me that winter is coming. Snow. Snow.Snow.

qbrozen

and that reminds me that I have a flat on my john deere.

driver100

imidazol97 said:

graphicguy said:

Imid...no sarcasm intended. I had HONESTLY thought the Malibu and CTS came from the same platform.

Thank you. Someone had also suggested the Camaro was related to the CTS. But the Camaro
is shown as being on a Zeta platform, which is related to the Commodore.

And someone says our Audi is just a VW

driver100

mako1a said:

New Kubota delivered today. Perfect, just the way I like it. Now to read the book and see what's different from my last new one 15 years ago.

That Kubota is cool Mako....and even better you can take pictures and post them. So, why a Kubota? What does it do? Is that like an Asian John Deere? Red is the perfect color for it and it looks like a nice shiny red. Did they have other colors too?

stickguy

I want one of them. Though I also want to downsize and eliminate the outside maintenance part of home ownership, and I don't think those 2 things go together.

my wife likes land. maybe move to the boonies so I can have a huge garage, and some toys like this.

mako1a

Driver, it's Orange. Camera may have been affected inside. Kubota is the Mercedes Benz of tractors. Notice I didn't say Cadillac? It's better than that.
I used to do tractor repair in my spare time and have owned almost every brand. Most are good, some are adequate, I'm not fond of IH (Intl Harvester). Chinese brands are so so. Good ones are John Deere, Case, Ford (now New Holland), etc. Kubota is my favorite. Then there are the big exotics like Liebherr, Kobelco and Caterpillar.

oldfarmer50

GG's Lincoln experience made me want to tell about my 20 yo Lincoln experience.

I noticed more and more that in the morning all the air was out of my front suspension. Pumped right back up but it was annoying. Took it to my regular mechanic who determined it wasn't the air suspension itself but he didn't know what was leaking. He said he didn't know enough about it to do the work. I dreaded getting the anal probe from a dealer.

Just by luck I was talking to one of our bus mechanics at work and found out he use to repair Fords and Lincolns for the state police in a previous job. He took it home for a look.

Today he tells me he reprogrammed my air ride computer and the problem is solved.

Total charge $0.

Miracles do happen.

driver100

mako1a said:

Driver, it's Orange. Camera may have been affected inside. Kubota is the Mercedes Benz of tractors. Notice I didn't say Cadillac? It's better than that.
I used to do tractor repair in my spare time and have owned almost every brand. Most are good, some are adequate, I'm not fond of IH (Intl Harvester). Chinese brands are so so. Good ones are John Deere, Case, Ford (now New Holland), etc. Kubota is my favorite. Then there are the big exotics like Liebherr, Kobelco and Caterpillar.

Mako, now that you mention it, it does look orange...and that is a nice bright color for that machine. I read on wikipedia that the comapny was started in 1890 Kubota Corporation is a tractor and heavy equipment manufacturer based in Osaka, Japan. Many models are now built in Georgia.

I didn't realize how many tractor companies there are....over 100!
List of tractors sold

I think the only car-tractor companies were Honda and Volvo. There was a Mustang but I think that is not a Ford.

imidazol97

Total charge $0.

Miracles do happen.

Wow. That's great.

explorerx4

@oldfarmer, it does make you wonder about how many paid for more than they really needed for that type of problem.

A couple of weeks ago, found a great Explorer when I brought my 12 years old Explorer in for service. Wife and I went over to check it out a couple of days later and it was gone.

Getting quotes for replacing our gas furnace(80%). To replace it with same thing, about $5800.
Might go big and replace it with high efficiency furnace, along with new A/C and water heater.

stickguy

Lamborghini and Porsche out of the tractor business these days?

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

I dreaded getting the anal probe from a dealer.



Today he tells me he reprogrammed my air ride computer and the problem is solved.

Total charge $0.

Miracles do happen.

I got a real anal probe this morning. In at 8 a.m., out at 10 a.m. Not one of my favorite things to do, but, at least that should be it for a few years. The worst part is drinking 8 glasses of water twice yesterday, I thought I was going to drown.

Total charge $0! There are some decent people in this world. I always say, a good mechanic should be treated like gold...they are rare and must be treated with respect.

fezo

Report of eyeslaughter today... A white Chrysler 300 with a fake black convertible top and portholes!

oldfarmer50

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

I dreaded getting the anal probe from a dealer.



Today he tells me he reprogrammed my air ride computer and the problem is solved.

Total charge $0.

Miracles do happen.

I got a real anal probe this morning. In at 8 a.m., out at 10 a.m. Not one of my favorite things to do, but, at least that should be it for a few years. The worst part is drinking 8 glasses of water twice yesterday, I thought I was going to drown.

Total charge $0! There are some decent people in this world. I always say, a good mechanic should be treated like gold...they are rare and must be treated with respect.

Abducted by aliens, right? But why would they make you drink so much?

I intend to give the guy at least $50 since a dealer would charge me twice that much just for a diagnosis.

driver100

oldfarmer50 said:

driver100 said:

oldfarmer50 said:

I dreaded getting the anal probe from a dealer.



Today he tells me he reprogrammed my air ride computer and the problem is solved.

Total charge $0.

Miracles do happen.

I got a real anal probe this morning. In at 8 a.m., out at 10 a.m. Not one of my favorite things to do, but, at least that should be it for a few years. The worst part is drinking 8 glasses of water twice yesterday, I thought I was going to drown.

Total charge $0! There are some decent people in this world. I always say, a good mechanic should be treated like gold...they are rare and must be treated with respect.

Abducted by aliens, right? But why would they make you drink so much?

I intend to give the guy at least $50 since a dealer would charge me twice that much just for a diagnosis.

All that liquid flushes the system out so they can see what they are doing with the camera. btw....if there are polyps they can remove them at that time. All polyps are cancerous, so can be potentially troublesome.

That's why colonoscopies are highly recommended.

I definitely think you should give the mechanic $50. Consider it an investment in case you have another problem......he'll be sure to do his best for you next time too! When these things happen I always consider I still saved a lot.....consider what some other horse thief could have charged and what kind of story they could have made up.

I thought we had an expensive furnace repair last year. Furnace was making a weird noise. Our very honest furnace repair guy said it needed a small part....$30. Honest workers have to be treated well...you may need them again.

2 days ago this same fellow brought a new motor for the air exchanger....we got that fixed as suggested by many people on the site. He was on a call when I called and he said it would be $400 for a new motor and $100 to install it. After he installed it he asked me if I remember how much it would be.......I said $500 and he said that's what it is then. We've used him for over 25 years and are 100% satisfied.

graphicguy

robr2 said:

graphicguy said:

Not sure what this thing costs, given there's no MSRP sticker with it. I'm guessing $40K as tested So, that puts it in the ballpark with a Mercedes GLK 250, an Audi Q5, Acura RDX, etc. Haven't driven any of those, so I can't comment. But, if I were in that market, those are the ones I'd test drive.

Dealer said Acura owners get an additional $3K off, and those who do the $100 promo, get another $1,000 off. Do a little negotiation and this becomes a $35K vehicle if my numbers are correct.

Would I consider it? For $35K, absolutely. For $40K? Not sure.

It sounds like you have the 2.0 with the Reserve Package. That MSRP is around $44. A similar GLK is $49. The RDX is $41. The Q5 is about $46.

Lincoln is like Acura - it's targeting the the Germans but pricing is more reasonable.

Robr...thanks for the pricing updates. All of those are closer than I thought, price wise. Not to draw out this test drive thing, but I'll give the 2nd sales person an "A" for effort.

Went to return the MKC (SUV) to the dealership last night. The original sales person wasn't there ( again). But, the lady who was busy with other customers last night was there. The guy who was busy texting at his desk, was still there at his desk, texting. Side note here.....I've bought enough cars from enough sales people to see who are successes and those who won't be. This is really simple stuff. If someone enters the showroom, acknowledge them. Don't act too busy texting to care. If you make an appointment, keep it. Can't sell anything if you don't keep your appointments or don't care enough to look up from your smart phone. I predict texting guy and appointment missing guy will be gone from the dealership in 30-60 days. These are stand alone dealerships these days, too. It's Lincoln by itself, no Mercury. Tough sledding for the brand to be so ambivalent about potential customers.

Anyway, Sales Lady (SL) approached me immediately and introduced herself. "Hi, you had the MKC for the test drive. I saw you here last night. My manager told me about the mix up. Sorry about that. How'd you like the MKC?"

In truth, there's a lot to like. It's a good looking little SUV (certainly better than the "bustle butt" SUV they were selling a few years ago). It's finished quite nicely. It performs well. It has a wealth of features. It rides and handles nicely. But, I don't know how it compares to its Escape brethren? Can I get the same thing for a few thou cheaper by going to the Ford store? I dove an RDX the last time I had my TL in for service. That's a very nice SUV, too. Probably have to drive them back-to-back. In short, for $44K, there are a whole host of vehicles available...some are quite nice.

She said the loaded one I drove would net a $3K rebate (Acura owner). And, I have a friend who's an engineer for Ford. I can get his x-plan (a few hundred below invoice. So, we're looking at right around $40K, maybe a little under.

I told her I really wasn't in the market, and only wanted the $100 gift card. She saw my TL and asked if I would be looking for a car? "Yeah...probably. But, not really in the market for a car either. My TL is only 2 years old."

She mentions..."I'm not busy, if you have some time, why don't we drive an MKZ (their alleged TL competitor). Sure, why not.

Again, it's a nice car, finished well, handles well, and if you're looking for a turbo 4 cyl turbo lux sport car, you really should drive one. The drivetrain is one I prefer to the A4 or 328i. The engine is just as responsive with no turbo lag. And, it certainly sounds much more refined than the one in the 328i Ford has a gem on their hands with that engine.

The transmission was responsive (even though it was "only" a 6 speed). It shifted well and on demand. Shift paddles shifts were immediate. But, I rarely use them in my TL (except when I hit a corner hot and need to come out the other end just as hot).

Suspension is more supple than the German rivals and it handles well. No artificial steering that you find in the F30 BMWs, and a little tauter than the A4. I took it on Spooky Hollow Rd. The locals might know it's a curvy, delightful and fun drive with a capable sports vehicle. The seats are just short of the sports seats in my TL. I liked them, a lot.

There is certainly a difference in philosophy when it comes to what U.S. engineers think, German engineers think, and Japanese engineers think. U.S. engineered Lincolns seem to be trying really, really hard to impress you with the look and touch, and seat time initial impressions. Over the long haul, not sure how well they hold up with the competition. They're in the hunt...TODAY. They should try to lead the pack in one way or the other, rather than just running with the pack. Kudos to their styling engineers. They're putting out some pretty cars.

German engineers seem to want to tell you what you should want, without actually finding out what we want. Not sure I like that. I think they're resting a bit on their laurels. Each succeeding 3 series was worse in some ways than the previous versions. In fairness, in some ways they're better too. Still........

Japanese (at least Acura) engineers seem to get everything engineered within an inch of their life. Everything works on them. They're built well. Their performance, while not class leading, as a whole, are as good as any, and at least competitive to all. Boy, do they need a lesson in styling, though.

Back to the Lincoln. In short, it's an impressive car.

As I told the sales lady, the problem I have, Acura really woos me, takes good care of me, and frankly, I really like their cars. Plus, when the time comes, I'll be able to get into a TLX, with a 6 cyl, all tarted up, for probably less than the MKZ, like for like.

Will I ever buy a Lincoln? Who knows? I'll give them kudos, they have vehicles that are as competitive as any in the price range....probably better than some.

She said her dealership actually offers free pick up and delivery for service. First two years of service are free. Oil Changes are free for the entire life of the car as long as I own it.

This dealership needs some work. They have a great advocate with their SL. The rest? Well, they need work, lots of work. Make the dealership just a touch more inviting, too.

And Lincoln? Thanks for the $100. I figure this year alone, I've probably netted close to $250 from manufacturers/dealerships trying to get me into their showrooms.

stickguy

Well, the promotion sort of worked. At least now you are almost considering a Lincoln instead of forgetting they exist!

And I can vouch that the RDX is a very nice small crossover. Plus, sample of 1, typical Acura bulletproof.

imidazol97

graphicguy said:

Anyway, Sales Lady (SL) approached me immediately and introduced herself. "Hi, you had the MKC for the test drive. I saw you here last night. My manager told me about the mix up. Sorry about that. How'd you like the MKC?"

Thanks for the two write ups of your experiences. It would indeed be interesting to
see what your experience in a loaded Escape would be. I assume the MkZ is
based on the Fusion. Same there.

My visual experience with the Lincolns is they are sold in a Ford/Lincoln/Nissan
store and it's tough to change the shape of the body. A MkZ and Fusion were
parked next to each other at the post office, so I compared the profiles. Ain't
much different.

SL sounds great. I bought one car from a female salesperson long ago
and bought my Malibu from a saleslady. Good experiences both.

ab348

gg - Interesting experience. I think the MKZ/Fusion matchup is even more difficult for Lincoln to win since they are obviously the same car, with different nose, tail and dash in the Lincoln. To me, the current Escape looks rather downmarket, while the MKC looks prestigious. I would be concerned about either, though, given the experience here of a member that posted recently about an extended time with an Escape rental that was not good.

To me the most intriguing part of your story was the dealer experience. While you encountered a pair of poor sales reps, others at least seem to be trying with the service pickup/delivery, free maintenance, and the attention paid to you by the lady salesperson. I try to imagine anything close to that from my local Buick/Cadillac dealer and it would not be even in the realm of possibility.

robr2

driver100 said:

All that liquid flushes the system out so they can see what they are doing with the camera. btw....if there are polyps they can remove them at that time. All polyps are cancerous, so can be potentially troublesome.

That's why colonoscopies are highly recommended.

No, no, no. Most colorectal polyps do not become cancerous but just about all colon and rectal cancers start from them.

Having them removed is the right thing to do because it's not easy to monitor them without regular exams and who really wants to do that?

qbrozen

stickguy said:

Lamborghini and Porsche out of the tractor business these days?

I saw a TV test recently of a Lambo tractor, so no. Can't remember what show it was, though.

houdini1

mako1a said:

Driver, it's Orange. Camera may have been affected inside. Kubota is the Mercedes Benz of tractors. Notice I didn't say Cadillac? It's better than that.
I used to do tractor repair in my spare time and have owned almost every brand. Most are good, some are adequate, I'm not fond of IH (Intl Harvester). Chinese brands are so so. Good ones are John Deere, Case, Ford (now New Holland), etc. Kubota is my favorite. Then there are the big exotics like Liebherr, Kobelco and Caterpillar.

The Kubota orange came out perfectly on my screen.

robr2

qbrozen said:

stickguy said:

Lamborghini and Porsche out of the tractor business these days?

I saw a TV test recently of a Lambo tractor, so no. Can't remember what show it was, though.

The Lambo tractor is not affiliated with the car company. SAME DEUTZ-FAHR bought Lamborghini Trattori in 1971 and license the name and logo from Audi.

As for Porsche, they never made tractors. Dr. Porche produced prototypes in the 30's and after WW II only companies that had produced tractors before and after the war were allowed to be in the business. Porsche licensed the diesel engine design to others and over time Mannesmann AG produced Porsche-Diesel tractors. Production ended in 1964.

houdini1

robr2 said:

qbrozen said:

stickguy said:

Lamborghini and Porsche out of the tractor business these days?

I saw a TV test recently of a Lambo tractor, so no. Can't remember what show it was, though.

The Lambo tractor is not affiliated with the car company. SAME DEUTZ-FAHR bought Lamborghini Trattori in 1971 and license the name and logo from Audi.

As for Porsche, they never made tractors. Dr. Porche produced prototypes in the 30's and after WW II only companies that had produced tractors before and after the war were allowed to be in the business. Porsche licensed the diesel engine design to others and over time Mannesmann AG produced Porsche-Diesel tractors. Production ended in 1964.

Robt, I bet you are a holy terror playing Trivia Pursuit. You ought to try out for Jeopardy. It's nice having you around as our in-house encyclopedia !!