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OK... being an '05 is very, very good. My Vanden Plas is an '05 (not even one single issue to date), and it is the year I was hoping this one would be, but based upon the price, I actually guessed it might be an '04. The BRG color is a classic, and hopefully you love it, because as nice as it is, it WILL in fact tend to resell slower than the black, silver, platinum, etc. Not a big issue, but just be aware of the truth. The lack of NAV can be a bit of a deficiency, not so much just about the NAV, but because other options have typically been packaged with NAV, so features like Bluetooth, Jaguar Voice, integrated handsfree telephone system, for example, will quite possibly not be there either. So if you like the BRG color and don't need NAV or some of those other options, then you are all set to check that baby out, especially considering that its an '05.
Also... IMO, the body MUST be near flawless, and you should check the brakes... rotors and all. The '05 brakes were replaced with slightly larger ones in '06... really not a big deal, but the pre-'06 brakes can need to work a little harder and sometimes be subjected to slightly premature wear if used by an aggressive driver.
Y'know Bristol2, that all-aluminum XJ LWB car weighs in just slightly more than a 3-series, and boasts about the same 300 hp and torque as the 3-series twin-turbo engine. The 3-series may not seem like a proper comparison, but I make that comparison to add a touch of surprise when considering the power/weight ratio of the XJ, otherwise it would seem very lacking by comparison to today's typical HELCs. It is also the secret to its stellar fuel economy, which was rated 27 hwy, but in real life still manages to get well into the twenties, better than a Lexus LS600hL, another inappropriate comparison... LOL.
Man, wait to you stretch out in the back seat! It's got enough leg room suitable for Paris Hilton in high heels... just joking.
So... YES, because it is an '05 with low miles, you definately should move forward and drive it. Keep us posted.
TagMan
What I was saying is that I know if I lived where you live or other places you mention that I would get sick of it. But I don't live in those places and I will never get sick of it living here.
And yes, I'd be glad to take your snow off your hands, at least for a few days. Well, it would melt within a day or two, anyway.
-moo
I am comfortably right side up on my Accord (leather, v6, manual so it can claim some credit for being fun), it is the best value in my typical commute (140m per day, 3x week) and fits very easily into the family budget.
And then I go back and look at that British Racing Green classic and start calculating ways to self-justify.
The vehicle in question is in Dallas where I am frequently for work. If it is still available at my next scheduled trip I will take that as serendipity and go test drive. If it is sold, I'll have saved the money.
I will say that in reply to a long-ago question on what your next car would be, I am pretty convinced that a 2 year old XJ will probably be my choice. Maybe not this year but within the next 2.
No. He was considering an XJ in the long wheelbase version. A Vanden Plas is also the XJ long wheelbase version, but as you probably know, it is taken upscale with additional ammenities, some of which cannot be had on the regular XJ or long wheelbase XJ.
TagMan
That's a good night's sleep. Had you actually been ready for the car, it might have been a "sensible" opportunity to get one. But, everything has its time, and when/if you are ready for one, you will know it. I'm glad you have decided to pause on it, if that is better for your current situation. Impulse buying can be risky (I know from experience... LOL)
TagMan
We had a Vanden Plas traded in a few months back. It was the first one I had seen and I was rather impressed. I've never personally liked Jaguars, but the VP was very nice. Tons of rear seat room, nice touches on the interior, even the floor mats were made of wool (?). I can't remember exactly. Nice vehicle.
-moo
This was definitely going to be inspiration-buy. I was perceiving it as the kind of car that I could bore other people talking about... that British Racing Green was the real pull.
I just consider it a decision deferred at this point.
what happens when big dreams get mugged by reality? That’s what Nancy Fein addressed in her talk. As soon as the first Lexus 400 sedans hit the market, she said, the company learned that there were three minor technical problems with the car.
So more than 300 Lexus officials organized into small groups and traveled to all parts of the country. They visited the affected customers at home, brought them a gift, apologized for the glitches in person, and, of course, brought along a technician who fixed the problems. On the spot. In their driveways.
Example 2:
Last year, another small problem developed with a Lexus model—this time, the new ES 350 sedan. Something about the transmission skipping second gear and slipping from first to third. (Don’t ask for more details, I’m not a car guy.) The problem affected about 700 cars before the Lexus factories fixed it. This time, rather than visit customers at their homes, Lexus did ask them to visit their dealer. But instead of just fixing the problem, Lexus gave all the affected customers a brand new car. No questions asked.
Wow!!
Source: The Passionate Pursuit
"another small problem"? Genuinely "small" problems don't get replacement vehicles.
But, that's certainly one way to turn 700 :lemon: s into :lemon: ade.
TagMan
BTW, glad I'm not the only impulse buyer around here...
TM
I don't know, I am just guess because I too don't think bad tranny issue is considered as small problem.
source: Automobile Magazine, January '08, page 18.
TagMan
Personally I wouldn't be surprised if this is true but I'll reserve my judgment until it has been confirmed. I will post the follow-ups for this topic once there are new developments.
Sources: The Passionate Pursuit, Autospies
A stick-less car like the Jag? Does this mean another manual tranny fan will soon bite the dust and go for an auto?
You wont find that kind of customer relations at BMW that's for sure. My BMW 335i has plastic moulding issues. This is the fifth time a piece of plastic moulding fell off. One time plastic from the rear view mirror flew into my face when I took a sharp left turn.
I guess BMW should start buying some more Krazy Glue.
For its part, BMW's decided that it's more cost effective to increase their ability to make some components in-house. With that in mind, the Leipzig and Regensburg stamping plants are undergoing expansion, and there will be a new Leipzig stamping facility in 2009. At least 200m euros will be invested in Leipzig and Regensburg, but BMW believes it's a better idea to invest its capabilities, rather than pay a supplier to sort it all out. By the time it's all said and done, further integration may happen to keep the slices on the pie chart looking healthy. If they keep ticking off the companies that make the pieces that they bolt together into automobiles, BMW may end up doing it all themselves.
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The next 7-Series could say goodbye to its current bluff-sided barge proportions. According to the latest renderings, a lower, wider, larger car swoops up from a front that takes cues from the CS concept to a rear in which there are no remaining traces of the Bangle Butt.
We have always been fans of the 7-Series, and would greatly welcome a return to elegance -- even if it's the brutish elegance of this rendering. We would also welcome a new interior, and word is that it will be equally redone. And that (pesky) iDrive? The annoying knob will be made ever more user friendly we're told, which shouldn't be too difficult considering the starting point. It appears the last user friendly upgrade to the iDrive wasn't as friendly as BMW thought. This time it will also get Google Maps and iPhone connectivity. Intriguingly, the gear shift could return to the center console instead of being on the steering column stalk.
Engines will start out at 3.0 liters (probably gas and diesel variants, but still not for the States, most likely), jump to a V8 with a 47-HP boost over the current model, and top out at an even more powerful 6.0-liter V12. Expect the car to debut next year as a 2009 model, so we should see its debut at an auto show early in the season.
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Somebody will be paying for those wonderful new Lexus dealerships . Guess who that will be?_
WALL STREET JOURNAL
Lexus of Palm Beach recently opened a luxury showroom featuring a water wall, back center.
Just last month, AutoNation Inc., the country's largest chain of auto dealerships, opened a gleaming glass-and-stone Lexus store in this wealthy enclave north of Miami. The sales floor is made of polished porcelain tile, and the walls and counters are accented with cherry and bird's-eye maple veneer.
"Guests," as Lexus calls its customers, leave their cars with a valet and are then guided by a personal concierge to a European-style coffee bar offering complimentary espresso, cappuccino and a selection of pastries prepared by a chef trained in Rome. "We have customers checking into world-class hotels, they shop on Fifth Avenue and they expect a certain kind of experience," says Mike Jackson, AutoNation's chief executive.
Newport Lexus, a store owned by Wilson Automotive Group in Newport Beach, Calif., opened a year ago. There, customers can work on their putting game on a seven-hole green. Across the street, a huge Mercedes-Benz showroom owned by the closely held Fletcher Jones Management Group offers free shoeshines, manicures and shuttles to the airport. Last summer, Herb Chambers Lexus in Sharon, Mass., part of the Herb Chambers Cos. dealership chain, moved into a new building with a fireplace lounge, soaring skylight and spiral staircase.
The rise of super-luxury dealerships reflects the country's growing ranks of wealthy individuals and the ways companies are trying to cater to them. At hotels, for example, five stars are now nearly passé, with more and more six- and seven-star properties cropping up around the world.
The Newport Lexus dealership in California features a putting green to draw customers.
He estimates the Palm Beach store will generate an after-tax return on invested capital of more than 15%, outstanding for any type of retailer. His forecast is based on the expectation of a dramatic rise in new-car sales and service revenue. In November, the first full month of operation, the store sold 335 new vehicles, making it the fifth-largest Lexus dealer in the U.S. A year ago, it sold 199 and ranked 25th.
He also borrowed from some Four Seasons hotels, in particular the Four Seasons Aviara Hotel, in Carlsbad, Calif., a site used by Lexus for dealer seminars on customer service. "It makes you feel like you're in a high-end place, but it's not gaudy or stuffy or pretentious," he says.
He found the two types of wood he used by leafing through Yachting magazine. The centerpiece of the main display floor is a black granite wall with water trickling over it, giving the wall a shimmering appearance. A Lexus logo in brushed metal seems to float on the water. Mr. Hagen got the idea from a similar water wall he saw at a Ruth's Chris Steak House in Florida.
Not surprisingly, some car owners hail the changes. "I'm telling you, this is class, buddy," says Barry Speak while reclining in a vibrating massage chair at the Palm Beach Lexus store. Owner of a 2005 Lexus LS 4300 sedan, Mr. Speak says there is no doubt he will come to the Palm Beach store for a new vehicle in a year or two.
"My wife and I are going to be fighting over who gets to
Gear shifter return to center console - thank god!! Oh and please no buttons, knobs like the MB and Jaguar. An old school gated shifter will be great.
More user friendly iDrive - that's nice but I would still rather see a touch screen. KISS (keep it stupid, simple)
Google map and iPhone connectivity - all good ideas, hopefully the nav system will provide 3D views. It'll be even better if BMW can find a way to integrate Google's "street view" function into the nav system.
I would guess the next 7-series will look a lot like the renderings but tone down a bit to further differentiate itself from the future 8-series (the CS). Oh yeah, and good to see that the Bangle butt will be gone too...
Sorry, but I don't think BMW will surrender that much. It will most likely have the same center-stalk shifter found in the X5 and 2008 5 Series. No worries, though; it's not gimmicky--we've adapted quickly to the X5's shifter, and now it's second nature. I will feel very comfortable test driving the 535xi for that reason alone.
Google map and iPhone connectivity - all good ideas, hopefully the nav system will provide 3D views. It'll be even better if BMW can find a way to integrate Google's "street view" function into the nav system.
Yes, Google maps will be very interesting indeed. However, iPhone connectivity is already available... again, in the X5. My wife and son both employ iPhones (unfortunately I have a BlackBerry), and they connect seamlessly with BMW's Bluetooth, as well as the car having a simple, perfect USB connector in the center console.
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
Is that really good news? Doesn't this new CS5 Crossover sound a lot like the X6 Crossover. Why on earth should there be two similar vehicles to satisfy one kind of sporty crossover niche?
This is overkill IMO. BMW's success is getting to their heads and now they think that every single new BMW model will be warmly received. Such complacency is the precursor to future weakness.
I'd only compromise for a big old barge like that.
Believe a 3-series would not be allowed without a stick!
Apparently you don't have to commute in LA traffic during rush hours...
The good news/decision I was referring to is the dropping of an R-Class type of vehicle! I do indeed think that is good news.
As far as there being two similar vehicles from BMW,... well... IMO, this could be a dated report, and that the CS5 report might actually be about the X6, especially considering that the pic associated with the CS5 article looks like the X6 to me.
TagMan
Nothing like LA traffic.
In fact my boss is trying to move my office closer to home and I am resisting just because the drive is so good.
I agree. The last thing BMW needed was a big minivan. How many R63s did MB sell? Two? Who wants a performance people carrier?
Here's the scoop:
http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=440939&topart=hybrids
TagMan
http://www.lefigaro.fr/automobile/2007/12/07/03001-20071207ARTFIG00335-infiniti-- ex-la-chasse-au-bmw-x-est-ouverte.php
The objective is to compete with the BMW X3 and the EX35 will put its price a bit lower than those of the X3. Internal accomodation is not class leading, but comfort is of very good level. Naturally, road manners are not as sporty as the X3 but it offers very advanced safety and comfort equipment.
THe issue is that it is only available with the VQ35 / 300 HP Gas engine, whereas 95% of SUV sold in France are with Diesel ICE. (French brand PSA recently introduced a new SUV based on the Mitsubishi outlander, they did not bother to offer a gas version). This means purchasing an Infnity SUV will guarantee you a true exclusivity at lest until 2010 when the Renault-developed V6 Diesel will find its way under the hood.
Price : about 72K USD (50K Euros) availability : fall 2008 (France)
Let it be an expensive lesson learned for MB. Did nothing to polish that once sterling brand, although the new S is certainly getting them back on track! May their climb back to prominence continue!
Oh god let's hope Lexus doesn't do a minivan because if there is any other luxury brand that has the "potential" to do such thing it has to be Lexus...
-moo
HAMBURG (Reuters) -- German carmaker Volkswagen is aiming to quadruple return on capital at its VW brand to 21 percent by 2018, a company spokesman said today, confirming comments by VW CEO Martin Winterkorn.
The CEO also told managers at a strategy conference in Dresden, Germany, on Tuesday that he wanted VW brand unit sales to rise to 6.6 million by 2018 from 3.4 million last year, the spokesman said.
Volkswagen has said it wants the number of vehicle sales at its VW, Audi, Seat, Skoda, Bentley, Bugatti and Lamborghini brands as well as at its commercial vehicles division to rise to more than 10 million annually worldwide by 2018 in total as it chases Japanese rival Toyota.
The carmaker is in particular aiming to boost its presence in the growth markets of Brazil, India, Russia and China to help achieve this target.
German magazine auto motor und sport today reported in addition to the 2018 targets that the return on capital at the VW brand should already more than double in the next three years. It cited a 10-year strategy paper called "Mach 18."
Source: Automotive News (subs. req'd)
TagMan
Tata Motors, which is considered a front-runner to buy Ford Motor Co.'s luxury Jaguar and Land Rover brands, will unveil the world's lowest priced car at an auto show in India next month.
Tata Motors, India's third-biggest auto marker, will showcase its $2,500 car at the Auto Expo in New Delhi on Jan. 10, with a commercial launch planned for later in 2008.
The company has promised to sell the car for 100,000 rupees ($2,500) although some analysts say high raw material costs may push the price of the "people's car" closer to $3,000.
TagMan
Here's the Edmunds Inside Line scoop:
link title
TagMan
Yup, that's what I though...
:P
Firstly, the vehicle's styling is a little polarizing.
Secondly, I'm used to Nissan vehicles. Will they actually be introducing a very nice interior on these vehicles? Fit and finish from the vehicles made in Japan are normally better than the U.S. or Mexico born products, but still...
Third, service? If you have an $80k supercar, do you want the local techs working on your vehicle? I've seen how some of the guys in the back treat some of the vehicles. I would not be excited about turning it over to Nissan techs. Also, Nissan does not provide any of the luxury upgrades like loaner service when your car is in the shop. As I understand it, the service work will be included in your sticker price (ala BMW) while it is under warranty, so that's a plus.
Fourth, performance. I guess this isn't much of a worry here. Based on the numbers that they are posting on it, it is an extremely fast vehicle. Hell, they've been using the 911 Turbo as their benchmark. They've been flaunting the test runs at Nurburgring for awhile now.
Anyhow, that's my thoughts on that vehicle. Mixed nuts.
-moo
Makes sense to me, crazy cow.
The exterior styling is not seductive at all. The interior is all tech and all business. Overall, this car is strictly about performance numbers and therefore owning those numbers and the adrenaline fix that goes with them... while I'd love to drive the GT-R at some point, it's not enough car to get me to trade in the Porsche, as Lou already knows very well.
TagMan
Instead of being a Nissan, what this GT-R need is Infiniti badges around it.
I also notice that I am sounding more and more like my dad.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
The downside for me is that it takes away from the driver actually driving..... but then again, you're probably driving these vehicle for maximum speed anyhow. That launch assistant certainly delivers there.
-moo
LOL. Lou, while I do love the wine now and then... just for the record, I typically prefer a cold bottled beer (especially with BBQ!!) rather than the wine.
TagMan
Gosh, maybe they drive around looking for a "perfect" place to park so they can use the park-assist.!!
I wonder if that has something to do with the "pursuit of perfection"? :confuse:
TagMan
As I said, whoever needs to rely on the parking assist in order to parallel park shouldn't be driving in the first place anyway, it was definitely a gimmick but great advertisement tool. With some improvements it might even become a very useful equipment in the future.
Pursuit of perfection indeed.
Now that you mention it, I could have used that park assist to my advantage back when I was a teenager!
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Seriously, you and I both know that a Lexus driver could also own a Porsche... I've just never met one!
TagMan
TM
-moo
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460