my driveway is a disaster because of the pool and all the heavy equipment that rolled over it.
I don't how you'll ever sleep at night, knowing you posted that disastrous driveway on this forum.
Seriously, very nice car. Your son is lucky, indeed. For some reason I had figured the car to be a coupe, but it makes an attractive sedan. It's a lot of car and amenities for $37K, that's for sure.
I'm more excited about your property. It looks very nice. My wife is from the south, and we own 38 wooded acres there. Your place remindes me of that type of country setting. Of course, property like that comes at a price when it's located in your "neck" of the woods, namely Colts Neck, N.J. (poor use of pun was intentional).
Do you need to heat that natural pool? Perfect setting for it!... except I'm guessing that "critters" or water bugs might be attracted to it?
BTW, after getting that nice car, I suppose your son can volunteer to rake all those leaves.
Anyway, thanks for the pics... good job. And... a toast to having good luck and fun with the new car.
Thanks Tag. I'm embedded in woods behind me and across the street. Very private here with no house directly across from me or behind me nor can there ever be any. Fence keeps the deer out and we've never had an animal or insect problem. We do get plenty of bats and I've seen eagles, falcons and plenty of hawks over the years. No bears here but plenty of raccoons.
We cut down about 30 trees including a massive white oak that went the opposite way that 8 guys were pulling it. It just missed my deck and the whole house shook when it hit the ground. But the property has a lot of other massive white oaks and those trees live for 1,000+ years. I have great woods with mainly Beech (sometimes in groves) plus the white Oaks and some great Maples, Chestnuts and Walnuts. There's also an old logging trail that starts on my property and goes right up to the main road where it dies off because of township planted trees. It is amazing that with all the acorns and other tree seed that falls there, nothing ever grows. That logging trail has to be at least 100 years old. What makes my property very intiguing is the elevations as it slopes down about 20 feet to a brook well behind the pool. I could have done vanishing edge but preferred this look with the waterfall.
Despite all the woods the pool gets in the sun most of the day in June or July (back faces south) and about 6-7 hours in august. The stone makes the pool warmer than normal and the finish also creates warm water retention. Pool water actually got to 92 on its own last year and was usually between 82-87 degrees. I only used the heater in late August and September.
I'm impressed, Lj. It's stunning. Your contractor has done a nice job for you, and it fits the environment. Terrific place for entertaining, and having tons of fun. No wonder you like it where you are. And I've read in the past that you like the four seasons, so it seems to me you've got a wonderful lifestyle going there.
The appearance is so different than here... this is more of a tropical setting... with dozens of palm trees and lots of tropical plants and flowers, although there are some areas with thick redwoods, as well.
It is obvious that you are blessed with a wonderful family and terrific home to share you lives together. And add to that your latest business endeavors, and I'd have to say that Len has little to complain about in life.
edit: BTW, I think it is very kind and generous of you to share your personal pictures and information with me, and it is something I do not take for granted... I appreciate it very much. Thank you.
I certainly have nothing to complain about. But family/love, health, being a fair person and a having a good attitude are the keys to life. The riches around you are meaningless without the real assets.
BTW - here's my Brooklyn roots. These are pix from the blizzards of 1978 and 83 both of which dumped 24"+ on the area.
These are not only good for reminders of where you grew up, plus the incredible snow totals but I love looking at the old cars of that generation and looking back at these I can still recall some of the car owners.
...family/love, health, being a fair person and a having a good attitude are the keys to life. The riches around you are meaningless without the real assets...
Well said. Amen.
Gosh, I'm not sure I could identify any one of those cars, as they are so covered up with so much snow! TagMan
Yeah - but I have some pix without the snow. I actually took pix before and after because the storms were pretty much expected though the 83 storm surprised to the upside. That storm was incredible as we had many hours of thunder and lightning with 3" an hour snow.
By the way - it was me who was supposed to get that F-cruiser. I see you couldn't resist it in the end. I still love that thing. At the same time I'm thrilled with this G35.
Quite a nice G, indeed. And I thought giving my son the A3 was generous... oh, how it's hard to keep up with the Jones!
As TagMan said, that looks like quite a nice property. New construction?
Wish I had the three-car garage. We're moving into a new home in a month, and sadly, it doesn't have a three-car. I'm used to it, though- current house only has a two-car, also.
Good luck with that 306hp beast. I'm sure you'll be surprising many-an-M3 at stoplights around your area.
'06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet • '04 Lexus RX330
Thanks esf. After looking at these cars and reading up on them I honestly dont think you can go wrong with any of them - from a sportier C to the IS to the A4 or the two I focussed on in the 3 and G. Incredibly competitive segment with cars that excel, albeit a bit differently for some, everywhere you look. My nephew just got an Acura TL and that's an excellent car also.
The heck with the cars. Let's all have a big party at your place this summer Seriously, you obviously have a gorgeous home and a wonderful family. I'm sure that a lot of hard work over the years got you to the point you are at now. Congratulations!
Thanks Cyclone. I must say I never want to come inside when I am out there day or night. We have a nice fire pit out there that you can't see as well. But you should have seen the disater that it looked like when we were building the pool. But with the patio stone work, that raised patio with the steps and the natural beauty and topography of the land it did come out great. We have an electrician wiring it for spot lights currently and I do have a geat stereo system set up out there as well. There is a local NJ shore mag that wants to photo-shoot it but my wife and I are not sure if we want to do it.
There is a local NJ shore mag that wants to photo-shoot it but my wife and I are not sure if we want to do it.
Do it. Do not pass go... go straight to photo-shoot. It'll be something to remember.
When my wife and I lived in Hawaii, our beach house was featured in a magazine called "Unique Homes". Perhaps you've heard of it. Anyway, it is a cool memory.
So, with that in mind, I suggest you let that NJ shore mag take all the pics they want. It'll be fun and worth it. Besides, if you ever do re-locate, it can't hurt to have that little piece of history to go along with the property.
There is a local NJ shore mag that wants to photo-shoot it but my wife and I are not sure if we want to do it.
Definitely do it! As tagman suggested, when it comes time for you (or your heirs) to sell the home, trotting out that magazine spread will help. Where I live, people with the 15,000-40,000 sq ft homes tend to have their homes used a fair bit for charity events...in part to make the home better-known, which aids in resale down the road.
Len - your pool and the G35 are both gorgeous. Can I come live with you? :P The waterfall is stunning - heck, the whole area is astoundingly beautiful.
Why not post them in your CarSpace album? And feel free to add more pictures of all your other cars and more of your house if you'd like.
In fact, many of you might like to do that on your own CarSpace pages. It's a great way to share these parts of your lives if you're so inclined!
Dewey - I'm not certain if it was you or not, but I do recall that you and I posted about the upcoming Hyundai Genesis... and someone (you, maybe?) mentioned the idea of Hyundai opening up a seperate luxury brand to market the car.
Well, believe it or not, it seems that Hyundai sees the possibility of this happening, depending on what happens with the new Genesis luxury sedan and the Veracruz CUV. Here's the link:
It appears some of the smart folks in Seoul Korea read my post here last week.
It makes no sense whatsoever in introducing luxury in a lower mainstream setting like a Hyundai dealership.
Luxury is more about image than substance. The notion that your products have high quality (through extensive marketing) is more important than really having high quality.
This applies not only in the auto industry but also in the designer goods industry.
In January inspectors from the Shanghai Industrial and Commercial Administrative Bureau began an investigation of foreign designer clothing. It found that 17 of 40 brands tested were selling “substandard” goods. But the faults it uncovered were hardly the stuff of lawsuits. MaxMara and Burberry were both pulled up for selling trousers that “fade easily” while Armani's Collezioni jackets were singled out for lacking “fibre content”. Other big brands were accused of using poor dyes or having bad colour quality.
Most people perceive designer goods as having high quality. And the reason for that perception is because they are sold exclusively at very few expensive stores. Ofcouse as noted above that high quality notion is BUNK!
The same applies to a luxury Hyundai. Our perception of a Hyundai being luxurious can only happen if it is sold exclusively at luxury dealerships. In this case image is everything. Luxury Hyundai quality will be determined more by marketing than by the product(Genesis) itself.
The notion that Benzes are still high quality cars is more of a marketing phenemona than a real phenemona.
I have not a clue why BMW is even introducing this vehicle?
A large 4 seater Crossover? What's the point?
We only managed to obtain the press images of BMW’s highly anticipated sport crossover but inside sources informed that it’s based on the 2008 X5 platform using the 335Ci’s 306Hp twin-turbo straight-six. As you can see from the sketches and like several other prototypes that will debut in a few days at the NY Show, the 4-seater X6 Concept is practically production-ready. Expect the road-going version to make its official premiere at the Frankfurt Show in September with sales starting the first quarter of 2008.
Wait until BMW introduces a minivan which sould be introduced shortly after the X6. IMO I think BMW is misreading the US market. I think the X6 and Minivan will flop. But then again that is what I thought about the X3/X5 :confuse:
what's the point of a once proud, no nonsense, performance-oriented car company ...
That's what I alway thought about Porsche until it introduced the Cayenne. Unfortunately conformity is where the big bucks is. As long as BMW has its 3/5 series and M series and Porsche has its Carrera, Cayman and Boxster I will not hold a grudge against these two money grubbing companies.
Exactly! So long as BMW does not dilute the product they are famous for, one can only venture a lame sneer at the hypocrisy of it all.
When MB came out with that dreadful R-Class, you knew it was just going to be a matter of time before BMW came out with a competing version. Expect Audi to follow.
A minivan is designed to be utilitarian-to carry kids and stuff. Can you imagine the nightmare of some poor upscale family-guy being talked into buying the future BMW "performance minivan" and after 2 months, having those fancy schmancy second and third row expensive perforated leather seats irreversibly stained or otherwise damaged?
Even I know that if one needed a minivan, the Odyssey is the way to go.
"Upscale" and "minivan" seem to be a contradiction in terms.
I've never ever driven a minivan in my whole life. And so help me God I dont intend to drive a minivan in the future.
If my family experiences an increase in headcount by one then I would definitely have no choice but to drive a minivan/7 seat crossover. In otherwords a minivan would only happen if I was a victim of circumstances.
Even I know that if one needed a minivan, the Odyssey is the way to go.
Yes, the Odyssey is the ultimate minivan, without a doubt... although I will never own one, or any other minivan, whether it's from BMW or Mercedes Benz, or ANYONE.
I'm not even too sure about those cross-dressing, cross-over or cross-utility vehicles. Seem like genetic mutants, or gene-spliced creations... you know... half car / half SUV. Maybe if one of them was really done well, I'd consider it, but so far, who's got the best cross-dressed mutant out there?
For me, it began several years ago. Somebody drove down my block with something called a "Pontiac Aztek", I believe. I never saw anything like it. The most lopsided, unsymmetrical piece of crap I had ever seen. How could anybody actually venture out in such a hideous-looking vehicle? Ahh...a "cross-over", I found out. :surprise: And BMW will be joining the bandwagon. :sick:
I had dinner tonite with a bright guy who is very close to the car industry. I tried out on him the idea that the BMW high lease residuals puts them on the path toward hell. He responded with a couple of thoughts I'd like to share (and get Briteness'es opinion on).
a) High lease residuals. Sure, they're high but during the lease period, the factory makes money on the money factor and other (application fee, etc.) aspects of the lease. In any case the market supports these residuals. At the end of the lease, the car is turned back in and because of the free factory maintenance, most cars have been well maintained. The used market is strong for clean Bimmers, so the dealet can get the residual value or more for the car.
b) He then re-cycles it to another customer starting the process all over again. Both the dealership and the factory again make money on both the car as well as the loan. Everybody is happy.
Now, admittedly, this may blow up at any time. But for now, he says, it is a profitable cycle.
I think we've already massaged this whole thing fairly well, but there is a question that will come up in the future... namely, how will BMW move those cross-dressing sleds that it is supposedly going to build? We all know that here is no way on God's green earth that those things will EVER have the resale value compared to a 3-Series, for example, and it begs the question, how will BMW construct a lease that will motivate the sales of such beasts, without creating wildly unrealistc residuals?
Perhaps the lease structure of the hideous Mercedes R-Class sets an example. Or not?
So in fact there is speculation that the first diesel BMW on our shores will be a 535d. For me that will mean that the next generation 535d Touring will replace our current 530xi Touring.
2) Roughly 40% of all BMWs sold in the world last year were diesels. Mercedes-Benz has already announced that its new diesel models.
how do you like the stats above. Forty percent of BMWs worldwide are diesels. I didn't know that the figure was that high.
3) with some, like the 325d shown here, able to hit 62 mph in 7.4 seconds while getting 30.9/45.8 mpg city/highway.
OK the 325d may be underpowered but look at the mileage on that car. Pretty good IMO.
The question is what do those marketing folks at BMW know about the X6 and MiniVan that we dont know? ANd let us not forget it is not only BMW. Lexus plans their own minivan version.
They are well aware of what is going on with the MB R-Class and I dont think they are eager to pursue such a money trap? So what plans do they have that will make these autos different from an R-Class?
Only time will tell. But I get the feeling that a lot of image conscious soccer moms/dads want a mini van with a badge on it. The R-Class is not selling well because it looks like a bulbous hearse (especially in black).
Well the only diesel BMW I would consider from the way things look right now would be an X5 version. Looking more amd more like an SUV in my future.
But the MDX Sport might be the one-great value and overwhelmingly positive reviews.
A neighbor has the MB R-Class R500 in, you guessed it, black. I'm wondering if he rents it out for funerals. After all, the vehicle is located in a retirement community.
Now why not order that vehicle in an available, cheerful, nice light powder blue to soften up the look a bit? Makes a huge difference!
IMHO, what he says makes general sense under normal circumstances. That's probably how BMW got into the leasing business years ago: making money from financing in addition to profit on cars. Over time, however, details start to change the picture dramaticly . . . and it's so easy to fiddle with the numbers in financing and turn the picture up-side down: e.g. the difference between an unsubsidized 6% interest and a subsidized 3% interest means $100/mo difference on a $35k car and $200/mo difference on a $60k car. That's profit vanishing into thin air just by a couple clicks on the interest bar :-)
In a normal lease, the financial institution should indeed make profit from the MF. However, not with the current 0.00125 MF (equivalent to 3%) that BMWFS is giving for 3 series; BMWFS borrows at much higher rate (BMWFS has a consumer retail banking operation in Europe, and it pays 5.5%; its multi-billion Euro bond issue pays even more). That gap itself means $100-200/mo revenue shortfall on every car that BMWFS leases out. Yes, the fees, lease inception and disposal fees add up to about $1000, but that gets eat up in the free tires (for 24mo leases) and free maintenance. There is one source of additional income: 20cents per mile beyond lease mileage limit, and/or damage severe enough that either the consumer decide to buy the car or the insurance pays out for the car, both of which means BMW turns a lease into a sale, which must be highly profitable if BMW is able to run those leases wihout losing their shirts (a big if).
If the used market price were indeed close to these lease residuals, we would not be witnessing such a high rate of lease returns. People would either try to sell these cars on their own or decide to keep the cars instead of turning them in. BMW seems to be trying to run the business over the entire service life of the vehicle instead of just sale to the first user of the car. The markup on CPO cars can be another source of income, however, that's income for the dealer not necessarily BMW itself, and that stream of income from CPO fee once again tends to be quite volatile: when products are reliable, the management can practically treat it as free cash, but if something like the Niksil incident happens again, the insurance claims would all arrive at once . . . and with CPO, the shadow of the ghost can cast as long as nearly a decade after the original product is made.
Not every one who buys a luxury vehicle has sporty driving as top priority. Otherwise, vehicles like S class, Maybach and Rolls-Royce would not exist. The basic specs for R class is actually decent: it has the wheelbase of an S class, and the ride height of a Mabach and Rolls-Royce. The right quality should be very good, and indeed it is. MB had high hopes for the vehicle: it was supposed to be the people-mover sibling of S class, hence the letter R. In the real market place, it faces several problems:
1. The initial build quality was atrocious;
2. It does not have the cachet of S class. S class represents a pedigree dating from the time when cars, especially luxury cars, were much more expensive in terms of prevailing wage levels compared to today's cars. If S class did not have such a lineage, say S-class or any car like it never existed, it's highly doubtful a segment busting "S class" would fetch much more than even $40k nowadays, just because cars are less expensive in general in relative wage-level terms (for reference, Azera sells for less than $30k, and it is loaded to the gills; what's an "Azera", you ask, well, that's my point, a luxo barge without pedigree). R class faces exactly that problem.
3. Very much related to point #2 above, in the current market place, shoppers who do not care much for badges compare R to loaded Sienna XLE Limited, simply because the loaded minivans are the only other 120"-wheelbase two-box vehicles, and come away wondering exactly what they are getting for $15k more. That's why the lease deals on R-class have to make the car go for about the same as a loaded Sienna XLE Limited.
IMHO, when other mfrs introduce their own luxo 120"+ two-box vehicles, loaded minivans like Sienna XLE Limited will disappear, and people will start to realize the ride quality and cargo loading advantage of long wheelbased vehicles. There's a reason why for decades the industry classified vehicle classes by wheelbase lengths. I just hope the BMW XVan can be 190" in length riding on 120+" wheelbase; that will make parking a lot easier than all those 200"+ R class and minivans.
ps. There is a packaging problem with R class too. Its interior space utilization is very poor, decidedly a version 1.0 effort. MB could learn a thing or two from its American sibling company, the maker of Caravan. The rear passenger doors on the R class are horrendous. Give me the sliders, and make them mandatorily powered and self-closing, then put on the marketting spin that they are the only standard equipment self-closing passenger doors on the market without stepping up to Rolls or Maybach :-)
IMHO, don't write off those luxo vans yet. MDX is based on Odyssey platform, after all. If it can deliver decent ride and handling, the others may do just as well in terms of entertaining driving experience if not better due to the inherent advantage of RWD bias instead of MDX' part-time FWD-based system.
I'd nominate Infiniti FX for looks. OTOH, those beasties are hardly ever bought for their looks. Those high-riding cars are usually purchased for three attributes:
1. Ground clearance in snow;
2. Height in crashes;
3. and they are not stationwagons. For some odd reason, Americans don't want to be caught dead in a stationwagon (just an observation, not my personal view; one of my cars is a wagon).
A van has more of a functional aspect to it than luxury. I can't see folks spending big bucks on them. SUVs, yes. Vans, no.
I do believe sales of the MB R-Class reflects this lack of interest.
I certainly agree with you about station wagons.
If I become disenchanted with the MDX and the X5 doesn't go diesel, than the 530xi wagon will be my next choice. Decent room with the familiar BMW ride.
Nice pool! I love the natural, asymmetrical, free form design and the fact that there isn't a straight edge on it. How did you arrive at the design. Is it custom drawn?
I have no problem with manufacturers getting into different product platforms as long as it doesn't dilute the quality and characteristics of the products they are known for. In the case of BMW minivan I actually look forward to it because no one makes one that can handle for spit. There is a LOT of room for improvement in this type of vehicle. If anyone can do it it will be BMW. Minivans are about room. Make one that can handle better with a lower center of gravity and it gets thumbs up in my book. This is a good engineering challenge.
On a styling note, I like the look of the X6 sketches. It looks mean as does the new X5 and the 3-series COUPE. I think BMW is getting away from the fruitcake look that they started in 2002. If the next 7-series and 5-series follow this direction I will be pleased. They also have to make a better looking sports car.
Whatever I get in the summer of 2008, it's nice to know my neighborhood exclusivity will most likely continue to be maintained.
No 7 Series, no 911's and one X5 where I live. No MDX's or 530xi wagons either.
Luxury to these folks means heavy on the comfort: a lot of MB and Lexus vehicles.
When I attend an NFL Bucs game, I get to see plenty of the above vehicles, missing from my community. A much younger, "look at me" type of crowd at the game.
We looked at some pool pix from other sites to get a general idea and then free-formed it with the pool builder. It's 62 feet long so we had the ability to design that peninsula effect on the upper left side. In a shorter pool you wouldn't want to cut down on the water like that. Keys for me were a design that was flowing with a lot of curves, about 35 feet of shallower water and a wide width (we have 31' at the widest point) to swim across in the shallow end. It sought of has a United States shape if you look at it close enough.
Keys for me were a design that was flowing with a lot of curves...
Yep, you don't want to interfere with the flow in the dynaflow. ;-)
Maybe someday I'll post a pic of my herringbone brick patio. It's kidney shaped and I designed and built it myself. There are many odd-shaped cuts at the edges because of the curvature. When it came time to cut the bricks I tried to do it the old-fashioned way with hammer and chisel. After the first brick I said screw this and rented a diamond blade saw... cuts 'em like butter. I always admired top-notch stonework.
Briteness04, you write well and persuasively. BUT, if I read your second bullet above, you seem to say that because you can buy a loaded to the gills no-name these days for 30K, there wouldn't be an S Class segment if the cars in that segment didn't have lineage or tradition because without it, the cars wouldn't offer any meaningful differentation in features or benefits. Sounds good. Why pay more if you don't get more? Aren't we back to the old status issue? If you don't get some status with your 85K, why buy it? Kudos to Lexus though for doing so well without much status, at least initially, to offer.
pat, putting pictures of our homes on our Spaces is an interesting idea. I'm considering it. We're moving in 3.5 weeks (built in 2006, no previous owners), and maybe I'll put up a photo gallery... with the Cabriolet in front, of course.
The lineage that I was talking about was not brand but vehicle type. S and R have the same brand lineage, but the history of the vehicle type are very different. A car like S class can probably be made for not much more than $40k, but the manufacturers can get away with charging double that because people's expectation that such a long wheelbase 3-box broad-shouldered sedan is supposed to cost several times the average wage. R class is essentially a raised wagon version of the S class; if comparably fitted out probably costing more than S class to make. However, because the vehicle type is new, and the high price expectation by consumers is not there, it has to sell for much closer to the manufacturing cost.
As to Lexus, well, there's a reason why the original LS had those classic big lux sedan lines :-) You are absolutely correct that, in order for people to spend a big chunk of their change, the product has to look the part.
Bill Georgas is building a gated community on ranch land here, but where a golf course might have gone, he's constructing an automobile race track.
"Instead of the 18th green," he says, "you'll be looking at four miles of asphalt."
Set upon almost 1,600 acres about 40 miles east of Dallas, Racers Ranch will feature an 8,000-square-foot clubhouse where homeowners will be able to enjoy a burger and a beer while watching their neighbors stretch the limits of their Ferraris, Porsches and Corvettes, Mr. Georgas says....
Like a golf community, Racers Ranch aims to attract members as well as residents. Lou Gigliotti, a long-time Dallas area professional race-car driver and Corvette aficionado, is among those who have reserved a lot. He says the chief selling point of Racers Ranch is that many of the cars produced today are built to reach speeds drivers can never experience -- if they're obeying the law. The track's one half mile straight-away will allow drivers to reach speeds as high as 150 miles an hour, about the same as racers on professional courses such as upstate New York's Watkins Glen International. "To hot rod it, you've got to have a place like Racers Ranch," says Mr. Gigliotti.
That means about double the insurance rates of country-club golf communities and a safety program, whereby Mr. Georgas and Mr. Gage say they will determine the ability of the drivers who use their track and certify their progress before they are permitted to operate at high speeds. But the track will be designed without walls in all but the pit areas, allowing out-of-control cars to roll off the course and reducing the chance for crashes and injuries.
All right! About time someone in America builds something that rivals Nurburg, after seven decades . . . I do wonder though, who would want to live there :-) Talk about noise pollution, especially without any walls around the tracks. The "ranch" itself as a tourist attraction is a great idea.
Dr. Z wants to get rid of the sick patient, Chrysler... and I, for one, hope he is successful. This marriage has been a drain on Mercedes, IMO. Chrysler lost 1.5 billion dollars last year, and the flow of red ink isn't about to stop this year. I keep asking myself, "who would be a logical buyer for Chrysler at this point in time?"
More like DaimlerChrysler let Chrysler sink into the hole they are in now! Upper management(those in Germany) are more to fault than anyone in this debacle.
Comments
I don't how you'll ever sleep at night, knowing you posted that disastrous driveway on this forum.
Seriously, very nice car. Your son is lucky, indeed. For some reason I had figured the car to be a coupe, but it makes an attractive sedan. It's a lot of car and amenities for $37K, that's for sure.
I'm more excited about your property. It looks very nice. My wife is from the south, and we own 38 wooded acres there. Your place remindes me of that type of country setting. Of course, property like that comes at a price when it's located in your "neck" of the woods, namely Colts Neck, N.J. (poor use of pun was intentional).
Do you need to heat that natural pool? Perfect setting for it!... except I'm guessing that "critters" or water bugs might be attracted to it?
BTW, after getting that nice car, I suppose your son can volunteer to rake all those leaves.
Anyway, thanks for the pics... good job. And... a toast to having good luck and fun with the new car.
TagMan
We cut down about 30 trees including a massive white oak that went the opposite way that 8 guys were pulling it. It just missed my deck and the whole house shook when it hit the ground. But the property has a lot of other massive white oaks and those trees live for 1,000+ years. I have great woods with mainly Beech (sometimes in groves) plus the white Oaks and some great Maples, Chestnuts and Walnuts. There's also an old logging trail that starts on my property and goes right up to the main road where it dies off because of township planted trees. It is amazing that with all the acorns and other tree seed that falls there, nothing ever grows. That logging trail has to be at least 100 years old. What makes my property very intiguing is the elevations as it slopes down about 20 feet to a brook well behind the pool. I could have done vanishing edge but preferred this look with the waterfall.
Here's the pool:
http://i3.tinypic.com/29m5fur.jpg
http://i7.tinypic.com/2zthmrb.jpg
http://i11.tinypic.com/34jcgv5.jpg
Despite all the woods the pool gets in the sun most of the day in June or July (back faces south) and about 6-7 hours in august. The stone makes the pool warmer than normal and the finish also creates warm water retention. Pool water actually got to 92 on its own last year and was usually between 82-87 degrees. I only used the heater in late August and September.
The appearance is so different than here... this is more of a tropical setting... with dozens of palm trees and lots of tropical plants and flowers, although there are some areas with thick redwoods, as well.
It is obvious that you are blessed with a wonderful family and terrific home to share you lives together. And add to that your latest business endeavors, and I'd have to say that Len has little to complain about in life.
edit: BTW, I think it is very kind and generous of you to share your personal pictures and information with me, and it is something I do not take for granted... I appreciate it very much. Thank you.
TagMan
BTW - here's my Brooklyn roots. These are pix from the blizzards of 1978 and 83 both of which dumped 24"+ on the area.
These are not only good for reminders of where you grew up, plus the incredible snow totals but I love looking at the old cars of that generation and looking back at these I can still recall some of the car owners.
http://i7.tinypic.com/2lsi9tt.jpg
http://i9.tinypic.com/2v2ce8i.jpg
Well said. Amen.
Gosh, I'm not sure I could identify any one of those cars, as they are so covered up with so much snow!
TagMan
By the way - it was me who was supposed to get that F-cruiser. I see you couldn't resist it in the end. I still love that thing. At the same time I'm thrilled with this G35.
As TagMan said, that looks like quite a nice property. New construction?
Wish I had the three-car garage. We're moving into a new home in a month, and sadly, it doesn't have a three-car. I'm used to it, though- current house only has a two-car, also.
Good luck with that 306hp beast. I'm sure you'll be surprising many-an-M3 at stoplights around your area.
'06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet • '04 Lexus RX330
The heck with the cars. Let's all have a big party at your place this summer
Do it. Do not pass go... go straight to photo-shoot. It'll be something to remember.
When my wife and I lived in Hawaii, our beach house was featured in a magazine called "Unique Homes". Perhaps you've heard of it. Anyway, it is a cool memory.
So, with that in mind, I suggest you let that NJ shore mag take all the pics they want. It'll be fun and worth it. Besides, if you ever do re-locate, it can't hurt to have that little piece of history to go along with the property.
TagMan
Definitely do it! As tagman suggested, when it comes time for you (or your heirs) to sell the home, trotting out that magazine spread will help. Where I live, people with the 15,000-40,000 sq ft homes tend to have their homes used a fair bit for charity events...in part to make the home better-known, which aids in resale down the road.
Why not post them in your CarSpace album? And feel free to add more pictures of all your other cars and more of your house if you'd like.
In fact, many of you might like to do that on your own CarSpace pages. It's a great way to share these parts of your lives if you're so inclined!
Well, believe it or not, it seems that Hyundai sees the possibility of this happening, depending on what happens with the new Genesis luxury sedan and the Veracruz CUV. Here's the link:
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TagMan
It appears some of the smart folks in Seoul Korea read my post here last week.
It makes no sense whatsoever in introducing luxury in a lower mainstream setting like a Hyundai dealership.
Luxury is more about image than substance. The notion that your products have high quality (through extensive marketing) is more important than really having high quality.
This applies not only in the auto industry but also in the designer goods industry.
In January inspectors from the Shanghai Industrial and Commercial Administrative Bureau began an investigation of foreign designer clothing. It found that 17 of 40 brands tested were selling “substandard” goods. But the faults it uncovered were hardly the stuff of lawsuits. MaxMara and Burberry were both pulled up for selling trousers that “fade easily” while Armani's Collezioni jackets were singled out for lacking “fibre content”. Other big brands were accused of using poor dyes or having bad colour quality.
Most people perceive designer goods as having high quality. And the reason for that perception is because they are sold exclusively at very few expensive stores. Ofcouse as noted above that high quality notion is BUNK!
The same applies to a luxury Hyundai. Our perception of a Hyundai being luxurious can only happen if it is sold exclusively at luxury dealerships. In this case image is everything. Luxury Hyundai quality will be determined more by marketing than by the product(Genesis) itself.
The notion that Benzes are still high quality cars is more of a marketing phenemona than a real phenemona.
A large 4 seater Crossover? What's the point?
We only managed to obtain the press images of BMW’s highly anticipated sport crossover but inside sources informed that it’s based on the 2008 X5 platform using the 335Ci’s 306Hp twin-turbo straight-six. As you can see from the sketches and like several other prototypes that will debut in a few days at the NY Show, the 4-seater X6 Concept is practically production-ready. Expect the road-going version to make its official premiere at the Frankfurt Show in September with sales starting the first quarter of 2008.
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It's all about the money. In this day and age, it's conform or die. Too much competition out there.
Looks more like a hearse than the dreadful-looking MB R-Class.
Should be the ugliest BMW ever created, as one can easily see, despite the attempts to disguise the spy-shots.
BMW as PT Cruiser?
Please make it stop... :sick:
Wait until BMW introduces a minivan which sould be introduced shortly after the X6. IMO I think BMW is misreading the US market. I think the X6 and Minivan will flop. But then again that is what I thought about the X3/X5 :confuse:
what's the point of a once proud, no nonsense, performance-oriented car company ...
That's what I alway thought about Porsche until it introduced the Cayenne. Unfortunately conformity is where the big bucks is. As long as BMW has its 3/5 series and M series and Porsche has its Carrera, Cayman and Boxster I will not hold a grudge against these two money grubbing companies.
When MB came out with that dreadful R-Class, you knew it was just going to be a matter of time before BMW came out with a competing version. Expect Audi to follow.
A minivan is designed to be utilitarian-to carry kids and stuff. Can you imagine the nightmare of some poor upscale family-guy being talked into buying the future BMW "performance minivan" and after 2 months, having those fancy schmancy second and third row expensive perforated leather seats irreversibly stained or otherwise damaged?
Even I know that if one needed a minivan, the Odyssey is the way to go.
"Upscale" and "minivan" seem to be a contradiction in terms.
If my family experiences an increase in headcount by one then I would definitely have no choice but to drive a minivan/7 seat crossover. In otherwords a minivan would only happen if I was a victim of circumstances.
As you age, Dewey, and it's just you and your wife at home and there's an Odyssey in your driveway, all hope is lost!
Yes, the Odyssey is the ultimate minivan, without a doubt... although I will never own one, or any other minivan, whether it's from BMW or Mercedes Benz, or ANYONE.
I'm not even too sure about those cross-dressing, cross-over or cross-utility vehicles. Seem like genetic mutants, or gene-spliced creations... you know... half car / half SUV. Maybe if one of them was really done well, I'd consider it, but so far, who's got the best cross-dressed mutant out there?
TagMan
Best cross dressed mutant?
For this beauty contest I will voluntarily disqualify myself as a judge. :sick:
For me, it began several years ago. Somebody drove down my block with something called a "Pontiac Aztek", I believe.
I never saw anything like it. The most lopsided, unsymmetrical piece of crap I had ever seen. How could anybody actually venture out in such a hideous-looking vehicle? Ahh...a "cross-over", I found out. :surprise:
And BMW will be joining the bandwagon. :sick:
Someone, please, make it stop!
a) High lease residuals. Sure, they're high but during the lease period, the factory makes money on the money factor and other (application fee, etc.) aspects of the lease. In any case the market supports these residuals. At the end of the lease, the car is turned back in and because of the free factory maintenance, most cars have been well maintained. The used market is strong for clean Bimmers, so the dealet can get the residual value or more for the car.
b) He then re-cycles it to another customer starting the process all over again. Both the dealership and the factory again make money on both the car as well as the loan. Everybody is happy.
Now, admittedly, this may blow up at any time. But for now, he says, it is a profitable cycle.
Perhaps the lease structure of the hideous Mercedes R-Class sets an example. Or not?
TagMan
1) where BMW will announce its North American diesel strategy, led by the low-emission 535d.
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So in fact there is speculation that the first diesel BMW on our shores will be a 535d. For me that will mean that the next generation 535d Touring will replace our current 530xi Touring.
2) Roughly 40% of all BMWs sold in the world last year were diesels. Mercedes-Benz has already announced that its new diesel models.
how do you like the stats above. Forty percent of BMWs worldwide are diesels. I didn't know that the figure was that high.
3) with some, like the 325d shown here, able to hit 62 mph in 7.4 seconds while getting 30.9/45.8 mpg city/highway.
OK the 325d may be underpowered but look at the mileage on that car. Pretty good IMO.
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They are well aware of what is going on with the MB R-Class and I dont think they are eager to pursue such a money trap? So what plans do they have that will make these autos different from an R-Class?
Only time will tell. But I get the feeling that a lot of image conscious soccer moms/dads want a mini van with a badge on it. The R-Class is not selling well because it looks like a bulbous hearse (especially in black).
But the MDX Sport might be the one-great value and overwhelmingly positive reviews.
A neighbor has the MB R-Class R500 in, you guessed it, black.
I'm wondering if he rents it out for funerals. After all, the vehicle is located in a retirement community.
Now why not order that vehicle in an available, cheerful, nice light powder blue to soften up the look a bit? Makes a huge difference!
In a normal lease, the financial institution should indeed make profit from the MF. However, not with the current 0.00125 MF (equivalent to 3%) that BMWFS is giving for 3 series; BMWFS borrows at much higher rate (BMWFS has a consumer retail banking operation in Europe, and it pays 5.5%; its multi-billion Euro bond issue pays even more). That gap itself means $100-200/mo revenue shortfall on every car that BMWFS leases out. Yes, the fees, lease inception and disposal fees add up to about $1000, but that gets eat up in the free tires (for 24mo leases) and free maintenance. There is one source of additional income: 20cents per mile beyond lease mileage limit, and/or damage severe enough that either the consumer decide to buy the car or the insurance pays out for the car, both of which means BMW turns a lease into a sale, which must be highly profitable if BMW is able to run those leases wihout losing their shirts (a big if).
If the used market price were indeed close to these lease residuals, we would not be witnessing such a high rate of lease returns. People would either try to sell these cars on their own or decide to keep the cars instead of turning them in. BMW seems to be trying to run the business over the entire service life of the vehicle instead of just sale to the first user of the car. The markup on CPO cars can be another source of income, however, that's income for the dealer not necessarily BMW itself, and that stream of income from CPO fee once again tends to be quite volatile: when products are reliable, the management can practically treat it as free cash, but if something like the Niksil incident happens again, the insurance claims would all arrive at once . . . and with CPO, the shadow of the ghost can cast as long as nearly a decade after the original product is made.
1. The initial build quality was atrocious;
2. It does not have the cachet of S class. S class represents a pedigree dating from the time when cars, especially luxury cars, were much more expensive in terms of prevailing wage levels compared to today's cars. If S class did not have such a lineage, say S-class or any car like it never existed, it's highly doubtful a segment busting "S class" would fetch much more than even $40k nowadays, just because cars are less expensive in general in relative wage-level terms (for reference, Azera sells for less than $30k, and it is loaded to the gills; what's an "Azera", you ask, well, that's my point, a luxo barge without pedigree). R class faces exactly that problem.
3. Very much related to point #2 above, in the current market place, shoppers who do not care much for badges compare R to loaded Sienna XLE Limited, simply because the loaded minivans are the only other 120"-wheelbase two-box vehicles, and come away wondering exactly what they are getting for $15k more. That's why the lease deals on R-class have to make the car go for about the same as a loaded Sienna XLE Limited.
IMHO, when other mfrs introduce their own luxo 120"+ two-box vehicles, loaded minivans like Sienna XLE Limited will disappear, and people will start to realize the ride quality and cargo loading advantage of long wheelbased vehicles. There's a reason why for decades the industry classified vehicle classes by wheelbase lengths. I just hope the BMW XVan can be 190" in length riding on 120+" wheelbase; that will make parking a lot easier than all those 200"+ R class and minivans.
ps. There is a packaging problem with R class too. Its interior space utilization is very poor, decidedly a version 1.0 effort. MB could learn a thing or two from its American sibling company, the maker of Caravan. The rear passenger doors on the R class are horrendous. Give me the sliders, and make them mandatorily powered and self-closing, then put on the marketting spin that they are the only standard equipment self-closing passenger doors on the market without stepping up to Rolls or Maybach :-)
1. Ground clearance in snow;
2. Height in crashes;
3. and they are not stationwagons. For some odd reason, Americans don't want to be caught dead in a stationwagon (just an observation, not my personal view; one of my cars is a wagon).
I can't see folks spending big bucks on them.
SUVs, yes. Vans, no.
I do believe sales of the MB R-Class reflects this lack of interest.
I certainly agree with you about station wagons.
If I become disenchanted with the MDX and the X5 doesn't go diesel, than the 530xi wagon will be my next choice. Decent room with the familiar BMW ride.
On a styling note, I like the look of the X6 sketches. It looks mean as does the new X5 and the 3-series COUPE. I think BMW is getting away from the fruitcake look that they started in 2002. If the next 7-series and 5-series follow this direction I will be pleased. They also have to make a better looking sports car.
No 7 Series, no 911's and one X5 where I live. No MDX's or 530xi wagons either.
Luxury to these folks means heavy on the comfort: a lot of MB and Lexus vehicles.
When I attend an NFL Bucs game, I get to see plenty of the above vehicles, missing from my community.
A much younger, "look at me" type of crowd at the game.
Yep, you don't want to interfere with the flow in the dynaflow. ;-)
Maybe someday I'll post a pic of my herringbone brick patio. It's kidney shaped and I designed and built it myself. There are many odd-shaped cuts at the edges because of the curvature. When it came time to cut the bricks I tried to do it the old-fashioned way with hammer and chisel. After the first brick I said screw this and rented a diamond blade saw... cuts 'em like butter. I always admired top-notch stonework.
Here's a stock photo of it:
http://wibiti.com/images/hpmain/451/142451.jpg
Enjoy.
'06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet • '04 Lexus RX330
As to Lexus, well, there's a reason why the original LS had those classic big lux sedan lines :-) You are absolutely correct that, in order for people to spend a big chunk of their change, the product has to look the part.
"Instead of the 18th green," he says, "you'll be looking at four miles of asphalt."
Set upon almost 1,600 acres about 40 miles east of Dallas, Racers Ranch will feature an 8,000-square-foot clubhouse where homeowners will be able to enjoy a burger and a beer while watching their neighbors stretch the limits of their Ferraris, Porsches and Corvettes, Mr. Georgas says....
Like a golf community, Racers Ranch aims to attract members as well as residents. Lou Gigliotti, a long-time Dallas area professional race-car driver and Corvette aficionado, is among those who have reserved a lot. He says the chief selling point of Racers Ranch is that many of the cars produced today are built to reach speeds drivers can never experience -- if they're obeying the law. The track's one half mile straight-away will allow drivers to reach speeds as high as 150 miles an hour, about the same as racers on professional courses such as upstate New York's Watkins Glen International. "To hot rod it, you've got to have a place like Racers Ranch," says Mr. Gigliotti.
That means about double the insurance rates of country-club golf communities and a safety program, whereby Mr. Georgas and Mr. Gage say they will determine the ability of the drivers who use their track and certify their progress before they are permitted to operate at high speeds. But the track will be designed without walls in all but the pit areas, allowing out-of-control cars to roll off the course and reducing the chance for crashes and injuries.
--WSJ
Here's the article...
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TagMan