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Plenty of other trucks for real work. That truck sounds gimmicky, come on, "raptor"? :sick:
Regards:
Oldengineer
Farmer--
Like you we paid cash for our last car. That was damn satisfying, particularly not having anyone run our credit. Of course if they had tried we wouldn't have looked like a good risk, I guess, since we've had each of the three reporting agencies "freeze" our credit, which means no new credit lines unless we pay to have one or more of the agencies "unfreeze" our credit. It also means, however, that no one can open up credit in our name even if they steal our SS#s unless they manage to also steal our PIN # for each bureau.
When we bought our current house 4 years ago we did need financing. We're hoping that's the last time we'll do that!
Gogiboy
The XF is simply a drop dead gorgeous car, inside and out. While it does make financial sense to buy a CPO Jaguar, you're still spending $40K on a used car. There's nothing like that new car smell.
The S4 is a remarkable machine. 333 horsepower supercharged V6, Quattro all wheel drive, torque vectroring rear differential, a handsomely wrapped exterior, and the gold standard of interior designs & materials - for around $50K (if you don't check too many option boxes). Even knowing about Audis & VWs (like isellhondas says...) from personal experience (my parents had an '02 A6, sister had a '00 Jetta, & best friend had an '02 A4), I'd still strongly consider one.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
The Passats do have a turbo."Inline four-cylinder spark-ignition engine with fuel straight injection, exhaust turbocharger with intercooler, four valves per cylinder, double overhead camshafts (DOHC) "
They used to come with 4Motion. Mine has it (although, I have the V6). Unfortunately, they no longer come in 4Motion. Now only the CC offers it. They have good prices on them too, but not sure they are 6k less than the A4.
Geez, do people not know how to Google? Both in the US and Canada, the A4 comes in FWD. Ditto on the A3. Quattro is NOT standard on the Audi's.
I test drove Audi's 2 years ago and the salesman didn't mention 2 wheel drive (except in the Cabriolet which only came in AWD). Also, on the Audi Canadian website it lists AWD as a standard feature. It isn't a great sight, some things don't work. I could be totally wrong, I don't have time to research this morning, but if you get a chance let me know if you can find some real information.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Reply to myself...should have read...only came in 2WD.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Thanks! It was an amazing Olympics, I think it surprised us that it went so well. Congrats to you for most medals won.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Both look nice. Both are finished nicely. Both can be had with the same drivetrain (I think?).
VW had a CC on the show floor. First time I've seen one up close and personal. I think it stickered in the low $30s. But, for 20-30 benjamins more, you can get the A4.
I don't know if they drive differently. But, the skin on both are quite nice.
My problem, I had a college girlfriend who had a VW 'Bug'. It caught fire while we were in it. I can't seem to shake that memory (of the car, not the girl :P).
That said, I believe GM is going to have the same problem with Buick vs Cadillac. The CTS is nice, no doubt. But, I don't know given the price differential that I'd take it over the LaCrosse (or even the Regal). Those Buicks were that impressive.
Again, I don't know how any of the above models drive (except for the 4 cyl turbo A4). So, maybe that's where the real differences exist.
One thing for certain, just about every manufacturer has upped the quality game on their vehicles. GAPs are tight (well, with the exception of the one Camry I looked at...way misaligned top center console). Materials have been upgraded from what I'm used to seeing from the likes of Hyundai, Ford and GM.
Even the Challenger that I sat in had very tight seams, in and out. If I were in the muscle car market again, I certainly would take a very close look at the Challenger. Much nicer done than the Camaro, IMHO. I could say the same about the Mustang.
The Camaro looked like a "rush job" by GM to these eyes. Then again, it's a budget Corvette, I suppose, and looks the part. I know the Camaro will outperform both the Mustang and Challenger, but there's a lot more than just 0-60 I look for in a car. Maybe my butt is getting too soft as the years tick by. :sick:
Speaking of the Corvette, even it looks like it's been nicely upgraded with tighter fit and finish.....and that's an impression given from only a couple of years ago, when I last sat in one and inspected it closely.
So, I see something like this and go..."hmmmmmmmmm!!!!"
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2009-Jaguar-XF_W0QQitemZ180472868009QQcmdZViewIte- mQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item2a05056ca9#ht_3007wt_1165
VW is building a new plant in Chattanooga, TN to build a car that is meant to compete with the Accord, Altima, Malibu, Fusion - more 'mid size' but not as expensive as the current Passat or CC.
Wonder if it will turn out a car that was like the Malibu-ized Rabbits that were built in Pennsylvania in the late 70's and early 80's. I think VW has to be very careful not to build something that dilutes the brand.
I'm currently leasing but am only putting 7500 miles per year on my murano. I'm figuring buying may be the best bet next time around.
You are :P
http://www.audi.ca/ca/brand/en/models/a4_sedan.html --> "build your A4 sedan" --> 2.0 TFSI Front-wheel drive 38,300 CAD.
That's the first option, the other 4 options do come with Quattro. Having said that, if I lived in Canada, I can't imagine not buying an AWD car.
Jay,
I wonder if they're talking about the new US-specific sedan to be built in the new TN plan. It doesn't have a name yet, but its codename is New Midsize Sedan (NMS).
Oops, just read michaell's post.
Having owned one of the Pennsylvania Rabbits I'll wait until the new plant established itself.
Braggart !!
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
VWs goal is to be #1 in the world and they are on target to do that. I think the quality is going to go up remarkably.
Early Honda's, Toyota's and Hyundais weren't so great, but it is all changing.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
VW is going to have to do something about their quality because they lost it somewhere along the way.
Every person I know who had one they were complete and total headaches. One even had the car bought back and another was declared a total loss from the insurance company after some unknown problem melted the entire wiring harness and caused a fire behind the dash.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
My problem, I had a college girlfriend who had a VW 'Bug'. It caught fire while we were in it.
Braggart !!
Hilarious!
I wish I could have done that!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Based on my experience, the best in the mainstream auto market excluding luxury car makes -for me it was Honda,closely followed by Toyota.. It depends on the region too , I guess! :shades:
If you're talking about customer service, the imports (Honda, Toyota, etc) lag far behind the domestics (in surveys taken). Maybe because there cars sold themselves, they didn't have to focus on customer service that much. But that's kind of changing now.
Thanks Verdugo...I checked out the sight and it is listed....one of the 4 options does not have Quattro. Since cars tend to cost more up here, lower price cars generally sell better, so I guess they decided to offer a 2WD car to get the price down.
Like you said, if you live in most places in Canada, you might as well opt for the Quattro if you are getting an Audi.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I kind of left myself wide open on that one.
We were driving along in the "Bug", If anyone remembers them, their heating system had essentially two temperatures....FRIGID and FRIED. No real in between.
It was winter time and we thought the heater had hit the "FRY" setting. Someone pulled along side of us to inform that she had flames coming out the back. Sure enough, the "air cooled" engine....well, let's just say it was no longer air cooled.
We were about 30 miles from campus at the time and had to "thumb" our way back.
There are a lot of reasons I enjoy reading your review of the auto show GG, but one of the main reasons is your little insights. I saw one of those new Lincolns on the road today, and your comment was so true....and why would they put that big toothy grill on any car, let alone a luxury car. The only reason I can think of is "the Raptor Effect", it makes it look big and strong, however ugly.
Also, unless you were making notes you covered a lot of interesting observations with a very good memory. I think I would enjoy your report over the ones the press would do, it was just your real thoughts expressed really well.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Now you have hit rock bottom...and started to dig !!
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I kind of left myself wide open on that one
Credit goes to Houdini. But we had one of those early VWs that didn't come with a heater, or a gas gauge. I remember the add on heaters and heat would come out from under the back seat.
For gas there was an auxilliary tank and when the main tank ran out and the car would start sputtering you flip the switch and get the extra tank going.
In spite of VWs current shortcomings in reliability, at least they improved in some areas.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
You just keep digging that hole deeper !!
Oh geez, I better stop reading for awhile, I am breaking up!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Anyways, the whole Olympics was a fun time and we enjoyed hosting everyone here. The streets were nuts during the 17 days, and especially after Sunday's win!
Sad to see everyone leave but you're all welcome to come back anytime you like !!!
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I've owned a number of the old bugs and they were interesting little cars.
There was a fiber flexible fuel hose that connected to the metal line from the fuel tank and another metal line that went to the fuel pump.
After a few years that flexible hose would get brittle and break. The gas would then hit the hot engine. A LOT of those old VW's caught on fire. Very common.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I'm just lucky I never got hit in one of those little cars.
driver....thank you. We may not always agree on car preferences. But, I think we're both car fanatics. As such, we probably are just a tad more observant than what's considered normal.
Come to think of it, normal isn't a term I've ever heard when people have described me. Not sure if that's a good thing, or a bad thing.
VW's are not perfect, but they have gotten much better. And they are fun to drive. I have a 07 Passat Wagon 4Motion with the 3.6L V6 engine. I really like the car. It has 44k miles. We are also lucky that we have a very good VW dealer (Niello in Sacramento).
Everything that I was able to find right now say that the plant will open in 2011. So expect the NMS sometime in 2011 or early 2012. The current Passat has been decontented so much, that I'd never consider buying one.
We had a great time and had no problems with the car. It was our only car for a couple of years and we both worked. Life was good ! Even better now !
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
My niece and her husband hit a car that ran a red light in Ft. Wayne. She went out through the windshield during the crash. That surprised them. They felt that was unsafe.
They bought a different car to replace the bug.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
That car stranded me more times than all my other cars combined. Los Angeles - yep, Solvang - yep, on the highway between my girlfriends house and mine - yep.
And, as if that wasn't bad enough, kids at my HS had a tendency to yank the wires off the spark plugs.
Of course, when my sister inherited it, my dad, uncle and cousin spent a weekend switching out the electrics from 6V to 12V. She never had any problems with it.
I think we bought it for $1500 and sold it for $1200.
My best memory of the Bugs is that of a friend of mine who had one with the sissal woven floor mats. He and his girl friend would go off in the car and he would come back with his knees bleeding (you can figure it out)
We have had cars with Homelink for the last 10 years; our clunky ol' garage door openers must be around someplace, but I have no idea where.
If taken care of those engines would go 100,000 miles before they needed an overhaul and an engine rebuild wasn't expensive.
I hope you're right. I hope they have gotten better. We have been burned so many times on some of the used ones we have sold that I'm gunshy. I steer my customers away from them if at all possible.
Time will tell, I suppose.
One night, a buddy and I were in my dad's 1962 VW when we spotted a HUGE wharf rat. I was so determined to run it over that I chased it in circles with the VW and had it not been for my buddy yelling at me, I would have hit a pole!
The rat (who was the size of a tomcat) escaped to live another day.
maybe it's not too late to give it a name!
whatever we might pick, we are not calling it 'Henry Hudson'.