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Comments
Have a healthy New Year everyone!
Neither. Both are inseperable. What is bad for a shareholder is bad for a customer and vice versa. You cant prioritize one group over another since in the long term one group cannot thrive without the other. The same is applicable to suppliers and employess. No firm can thrive in the long term with lousy supplier relations and demoralized employees just as no firm can thrive with very low investor confidence.
Quarterly Financial Reporting should not be treated as a taboo subject since all investors should be entitled to have feedback on their investments and especially updated disclosures on how management is handling a business. Apparently many German executives disagree.
My Happy New Year Wishes to everyone including Wiederking fans.
TagMan
I hope you are enjoying the 535i. I allowed one to pass me about a month ago. I'm getting tired of practically everyone out there gunning for me in the 545i. Enough already!
Happy New Year to all lovers of the great and incomparable German driving machines produced by Audi, BMW and Porsche!
Likewise, check your CarSpace mailbox.
Happy New Year to all !
If/when the Pats run the table, they are without a doubt the team of the decade (the team of the 21st Century!). And can certainly, arguably be considered the greatest team of all time. I think it is hard to really compare teams of such disparate times on a direct basis. And, while the '85 Bears have been considered the greatest, they lost a game, couldn't maintain the edge they had 100% of the games. No shame at all in that. But, if the Pats maintain perfection? Heck, The Fridge was a large football player back in '85 right? Now punters are his size! But I have to believe that if the '07 Pats traveled through time in a DeLorean, that "as is" for each team, the Pats beat Dolphins, Bears, Cowboys, Steelers, Niners and, of course, the Detroit Lions. :shades:
While it is unlikely that I join the ranks of "Luxury Lounge Certified Cars" in '08, I'll continue to read the posts here and occasionally add nonsensical comments. From the middle-class eye view...
And I'm with Tag on the customer/shareholder balance... (Warning: Simplistic Analogy Alert!) If I don't take care of my internal customers first, my "shareholder" invites me to find another place of employ...! So far, I've kept my clients pleased and reaped the annual 2% benefit...
Happy, Healthy, Prosperous, Generous and Humble New Year to All!
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Under more favorable circumstances, I would have loved to compete with the 535i straight to hell....but....85 mph is the cruising max. I allow myself these days and he had to be pushing 100.
The 2 year lease you did was the way to go on the 535i, IMO. If I decide to lease another BMW, I would also do no more than 2 years. The technological innovations come along so rapidly, I would like to experience as many of these fine vehicles over the future years as I can.
I share that feeling of immense pride that swells up inside of you whenever you take that sexy beast out for a spin. It is sooo fantastic to be driving a great BMW vehicle! :shades:
You & me both, dada.
Happy New Year to you & all the high rollers alike. Things have calmed down here a bit, but still very entertaining.
LOL... reminds of that song Lady Marmalade. Gitchee gitchee yaya, dada.
Good point. I just think that they put it into a pretty healthy persepective and place priority where it belongs, which includes pride in product and loyalty to the workers and country. I also think it is helped by the fact that, in the case of BMW, Porsche and VW that majority control is private.
A-ha, another good post IMO. Hybrids belong at the extreme end of the fuel and emissions spectrum. Performance hybrids don't seem to be taking root, probably because the performance is compromised.
Whew, "new democratic order." Gotta think about that one...
But they did do something no other team has done and there is no doubt that Brady is the best QB of this era, perhaps all-time. I'll never forget that final drive of their first Super Bowl win. They weren't supposed to win that game and they did - with a young QB and their nuts in a vise.
Jeeze, Title Town. How are we ever going to handle this in NY? I am s-o-o-o looking forward to baseball this year and of course a Ranger run... with apologies to my long-suffering Toronto friends.
One more thing... I'll thank you not to bring up the Boston Three Party for another month or two... let's get through football. Deal?
The technology just isn't there yet. The electric motors aren't powerful enough, and the batteries are far too heavy. The hybrid weight penalty needs to be well under 200lbs. before the performance hybrid idea can really work, IMO.
At this point, the all-time greatest is probably still Montana... And yes, Brady could easily be the next... but, in due time.
TagMan
TM
Not only performance but mileage is also compromised. Today a performance hybrid driver who thinks he is green is kind of like the smoker who insists only on organically grown tobacco due to health reasons.
At this day and age extremism still rules. Performance is what sells performance cars and mileage is what sells hybrids. How many people care about the Audi R8's gas mileage and how many environmentalists or fuel conservationists care about the performance of a hybrid?
BMW rose 46 cents, or 1.1 percent, to 43.18 euros. The automaker's Rolls-Royce unit is likely to have increased sales by 25 percent in 2007 as demand grew for the Phantom Drophead Coupe, the London-based Times reported.
link title
Don't have to wait, that was last season! And they went 12-4 and unfortunately just ran out of steam in Indy...
Regarding rating QBs, I guess you would really have to define what you consider the important stats. If winning Super Bowls is the ultimate stat, Montana & Bradshaw are the best with Brady and Elway there too. Career passing stats, Marino (no SBs), Favre (One SB win. And, if it weren't for stinkin' Desmond Howard, Drew Blesoe may have gotten a ring...)... Combine 'em and Montana and Elway probably on top (note that I've not researched any of the actual stats, just theorizing on general knowledge). Let's check back in 5 years, see how many (more!) SBs Brady has under his belt and how his career stats stack up. Keeping Moss and Welker around might be a good idea...
Personally, it doesn't really matter to me. In the Patriot-like manner/mantra, today is all that is important, the next game. Not the past or the future. We did some things well, there are certainly areas where we could get better...
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Grew up in the New York/New Jersey/Fairfield County area, a big Mets/Giants/Jets fan. Hated, and still do, The Yankees. Moved to Boston, Sox are a disease most catch and the Pats, at the time, were such loveable losers a la the pre '69 Metsies. So I adopted the Pats. Looking back, one of the only investments I made since moving to The Hub that has actually paid off!
Over on the Stories from the Sales Front board a local (Boston) car salesman made a bet about the Perfect Pats. I think a Southern non-believer now has to tag all his posts for a week now with an allusion to the Perfect Pats or admitting that Nissans are better than Fords. The Pats bring people together: America's Team!
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Let's not go overboard now. Everybody knows the Jets are America's team... :P
Not since they left lovely Shea Stadium for the swamps of Jersey...! :P
Wasn't it great going to Shea, sitting way up high and being able to read the brand name of the tires on the planes as they flew right over Shea approaching LaGuardia! And parking for free outside the stadium...
Namath and Boozer still playing for the Jets?
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
MB is paying the highest fine ever for not being green enough ($30.3 Million). Just imagine the hefty annual fines MB or BMW will be paying when tougher emissions/gas consumption regulations are imposed in both the EU and USA. It may drive these companies out of business.
No American or Asian car company has ever had to pay a fine for violating government CAFE standards. Only European car companies, which mostly sell luxury and performance-oriented cars here, have had to pay such fines - and many do so routinely.
MY FUTURE PREDICTION: Just like Porsche is doing with VW both BMW and MB will have to merge or take over a mainstream brand in order to avoid future hefty enviro fines Yes, that means MB will have to do that Daimler Chrysler stunt again except without Chrysler this time. Hopefully they will have better luck. BMW intends to create their own brand new fuel efficient brand (MINI will not be a part of that brand) but in the very end I think BMW will be merging or taking over another established car company whose production is mainly FWD fuel efficient models.
Or maybe BMW and MB will be taken over? Unlikely, highly unlikely but if the price is right that in itself may persuade BMW's Quandts , MB's shareholders and last but not least the German Government who has the power to block such a transaction.
CNN
I thought for sure I was going to hate the gas consumption on my '08 550i... however as it turns out I get 17 - 18 city & 25 - 26 Hwy if I am not driving it like I should
Well we are off to a New Year, and things here are exciting .....After driving the eight year Honda, I certainly understand your enthusiam for a light car...The BMW felt absolutely ponderous in comparison.....I have really gotten nostalgic for the simple easy to operate knob or button...So engaging and simple, and the weight difference in the city is bliss.. I guess the wife`s absence was felt for the first few days, and the return much appreciated....Too much up and down stairs for a snack?? Just think only a few more months before the lease runs out, and the new car appears--unless you decide to keep it for a little longer Your Friend Tony ps I tried to make the `friend` official, but couldn`t figure out the procedure on your page
Maybe we'll start seeing the little four cylinders that the Germans offer in Europe? German car fans love to pick on brands like Infiniti and Lexus for their Nissan and Toyota origins, but the advantage there is Infiniti and Lexus can sell nothing but big, powerful thirsty engines while not being hit with CAFE fines because they aren't standalone automakers. Then again, big CAFE fines aren't exactly new, and they haven't driven BMW or MB out of business yet. How much does $10 million here or there hurt if you're making several billion a year? How much did MB's quality issues from '00-'05 hurt them in terms of warranty claims, lemon law buy backs, etc? Probably more than $30 million.
You are correct $30 million for MB is nothing more than the size of an ant's pimple. But that is based on today's fines not tomorrow's kind of fines that may be imposed by more enviro sensitive politicians. I can assure you with the new stringent EU emissions restrictions MB's bill will be far more than a trifling 30 million dollars.
Add it all up. Heftier mileage/emissions fines across the world (not only USA) plus new heftier luxury consumpitons sales taxes worldwide that will hit the buyer himself (here in Canada these taxes are brand new and they do have a hefty bite).
And yes Lexus ,Infinti, Audi and soon Porsche are quite lucky to be hiding behind the numbers of more fuel efficient i4 engines.
Wow, you're V8 mileage is equivalent to my i6 twin turbo. I guess I should start pretending my car is a Prius and maybe just maybe I can accomplism 19City/27Hwy instead of 18/26
While I realize the cost of gasoline is still relatively small given the miles we drive and in comparison to other costs associated with owning a vehicle like this, I am concerned about how others perceive the ownership of this vehicle.
A diesel engine would help but then you would lose that silky smoothness. All the first ones to arrive will have every option known to man plus little of no discount so I won't be doing anything for some time if ever. In the meantime our old LX still drives like new.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Also... just got back from Cabo San Lucas! It was lovely. All I saw were Nissans, Fords and VWs, but one gorgeous 997 Turbo Cabrio in black. Of course, the weather was perfect, and I'm sad to be home where it's 15º F.
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
Fortunately, it has yet to be involved in a collision, so I can't speak for their possible advantage in that situation.
Jose, I'm glad to hear you and your family are unharmed--that sounded like a devastating accident. Two days ago, I witnessed a man walking on the beach with his family, and a waverunner flew up onto the beach (driven by a local in Cabo), hitting him in the leg, flipping him in the air and looking absolutely awful. He had to be taken away on a stretcher... and it only reminded me of 2006, when I broke my ankle with the Honda scooter we had for three days... :sick:
Too many accidents in too little time!
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
You're making me seethe...
As much as I love Chicago, I have considered moving for that reason alone.
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
Nope; in fact, it just might be the opposite. With their superb mid-range torque and passing power, diesels give you commendably smooth power delivery and obviously also attain much better gas mileage. They make too much sense in luxury rigs like the LX to ignore.
I think the 570 is growing on me, too, but there's just something about it that isn't quite right. I can't put my finger on it. I definitely prefer the LX470's classic looks, that's for sure.
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
I agree with that. Obviously, one have to check it by him/herself to be convinced. In few time I hope you will be able to compare gas and diesel engines as put in similar luxury drivetrains in the USA.
My daughter went to skiing a few days after the accident. My wife and I are doing postponed things at home, and waiting for the car damage evaluation. It is true that I am well aware these days of the accidents I read or see about in the news.
Regards,
Jose
MB S sales, Lexus LS sales, BMW 7 Sales, Audi A8 sales have all one thing in common and that their sales are plummeting just like mid-tiered coupe models( Honda Prelude ,Nissan SX, Toyota Celica, Acura Integra, Mazda MX6 and the Ford Probe) did during the 90s.
These big humungous models are may become as relevant in the near future as your grandfather's Oldsmobile .
All the reviews I have read say you can HARDLY tell that you are driving a diesel. Hardly being the key word.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
GM Corp. has abandoned plans to build a V-8 engine for luxury vehicles at a plant near Buffalo because of new federal mileage requirements and high gasoline prices cutting into consumer demand.
No diesel BMWs for me. No thanks. Not until there is a new generation 5 series model. My wife and I already have the current 5 and 3 series models and that is enough for now.
In fact to tell you the truth I am all BMWED OUT! I've had enough! I want something novel, something different, something anti-BMW. The car below is an ideal anti-BMW model but a bit too ideal for me.
The LS600h--a rave reveiew linked below that gushes on and on about the exciting technology of this model. BUT the conclusion is:
Lexus LS600H
This is not a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, nor is it an Audi S8, nor a BMW 7-Series. No, the big Lexus hybrid is something else entirely — a technological tour de force.
I admired it almost instantly, but after a week I never grew to love it, or even hate it.
You want quiet? You got quiet.
Maybe too much of it. I'll confess the chauffeur was out for the week I had a test drive, so I did the steering myself and that's when I came to the conclusion that for all its genius, the LS600h is not much fun.
Source: Autoblog
0-62 in 6.2 seconds is a little bit slower than I expect it to be, however the 23/33 mpg FE is sure sweet though.
To BMW: make it 300hp and 0-60 in 5.0 seconds then you got my business.
Thank you Mr. Obvious...
What an idiot. :sick:
In that case buy a BMW335i. I myself would never ever think of trading in my 335i for a 335d.
The 335d is the best compromise between fuel economy and fun performance. There is no other car that offers both those attributes so successfully(at least based on the reviews I read so far)
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Yes!
LWB S Class , BMW 7 and Audi A8 drivers claim to have a lot of fun.
Personally I have no desire to drive any LWB car. Unless ofcourse my business goes downhill (I am in the Feast and Famine business of Investments) and as a result I have to wear a uniform and be hired as someone's driver.
In that case I'll just stick with my IS350. It offers equal FE as the 335i with adequate handling. The only reason why I am interested in the 335d is due to the sweet FE since Lexus doesn't offer a hybrid version IS.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
If I have tons of phone calls to answer, thousands of emails to read, hundreds of paperwork to sign and a LS600hL then I'll definitely let a chauffeur drives me around town. Otherwise, you are right, a sports sedan like the 3-series will be a better choice.
That's what the LS600hL is for, whoever expecting it to be fun to drive must be either uninformed or mentally challenged.