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Just got off the phone with the dealer, and it does look like they are in fact already able to place an official order for the 135i convertible. Amazing. So, I went with red Crimson, not Sedona) exterior and taupe beige leather interior. God, I sure hope it looks good with that interior. Anyway, I should receive a fax by early next week to confirm. The guy I'm dealing with at the dealership was so cool about it. I'm going to send him a steak dinner.
I'm feeling really good about this. Thanks for all your encouragement.
TagMan
www.allenbrothers.com Great source for gourmet steaks, I use them for business gifts, expensive but worth it. Treat youself as well for that Memorial Day cookout after you've put your 3rd coat of Zaino on your new toy.
Does the turbo engine still feel as smooth?
Absolutely. When I was "looking" for my wife, I drove the 530xi sedan, actually in 2006. In 2007, we drove the 535xi, twice. The smoothness was completely intact, but the 535xi's power was significantly better. It really is a treat to drive any BMW with a "35" attached.
I'm still into the M3, more than ever, though... same with the XF. :shades:
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
You will love it. Congrats!
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
The A8 certainly did change the game when it was introduced, but I think we all know it was the 1996 A4 that began Audi's renaissance. It had the looks, the dynamics, the practicality, the power, the luxury and the attitude that Audi needed to be known as a company in competition with BMW.
I actually think the B6/B7 model was a step backwards from the B5. Thankfully, the B8 is right back on track--killer looks, great interior, great turbo four, diesel coming, etc...
I still find it odd that the rest of the world has taken such a shine to Audi, while the US is (still) slow to catch on. At least it means they won't be losing sales in the US this year like Lexus and Acura... :sick:
BMW could easily snatch the top spot for 2008, further solidifying their place as the world's #1 premium automaker. I don't know why it's taken this long!
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
Better, yes, I agree... but THAT much better? Explain why.
TagMan
http://magazine.windingroad.com/windingroad/200804/?folio=1
Regards,
Jose
Isn't your 550i new? 12 days for a computer module? I hope you're still happy with the car.
I'm not going to lease my BMW, so I'll only benefit from the great resale due to the low mileage, since the car will be in the shop all the time unable to rack up too many miles. Good thing I've got the Porsche, but that's supposed to be in the shop all the time too, isn't it?
Sounds like a parts availability issue, and that's a shame. Uh oh... I imagine I could run into the same thing with my 135i, being such a brand new car. :surprise:
Doesn't FedEx go to Germany anymore?
TagMan
That A4 definitely did get Audi some attention, but I think they were as a brand still considered well below BMW and M-B at the time. I'm not sure what kind of sales numbers the A8 had in the late '90s, but I doubt they were much higher than the Q45's. The '04 A8 though showed that Audi could be more than just competitive at the entry-lux level, they could take on the very best luxury cars and win, which Acura and Infiniti and Cadillac have yet to do.
The new A4 does seem very impressive, but it still has that issue that has chronically plagued the A4 since 1996. The V6 needs more power. The A4 3.0 was embarrassingly slow, and the 3.2 didn't greatly help matters. You shouldn't have to buy an S4 just to be able to keep up with the 335i and M-B's new 300hp version of their 3.5L engine. It's time they properly replaced the 2.7T.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I'm thinking you will like that red convertible. Much more lively and not as somber as the black. I think it will fit your personality much better. Congrats!
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Yeah, there's no doubt that the red as a convertible will be better for me. But it's not official yet, so if for some reason the red can't be ordered, I'd have to pick another color, and I don't even want to think about going through THAT again!
TM
Beyond that, the model mix is excellent and comprehensive, almost too concentrated... so there is essentially a vehicle for almost anyone that will look. The interiors continue to be among best-in-class, and the engine offerings are exceptional. Performance remains a top priority and Audi delivers.
If you check the archives, I argued strongly with the Doc and with Brightness about Audi, and I tried very hard to convince them that Audi was in the beginning of a significant market ascention in the USA. I admit that I'd love to tell them "I told you so", but we are seeing it unfold before our eyes. If they continue to stay on the right path, they are going to do very well. The upcoming Q5 and smaller Q will help them even more, particularly the Q5, IMO.
On a side note, last year I posted to Dewey that VW will turn things around over the next few years. I still believe this, and we can look out for at least 6 new models from VW this year!
Mercedes will be OK, but stumble a little, as well as will BMW, IMO. Porsche concerns me however, and I do not see much on the horizon for them.
TagMan
Tag, congrat on the new car. Remember to post pictures, even if taken with a cellphone camera.
Well the reason I said that I would get the Cayenne over the X6 is assuming that driving dynamic is my top priority and only priority while shopping for a SUV. Personally I agree with you, if I am in the market for a SUV I would choose the X5 over them both.
I heard it will be out by august sept. wonder how much better it can get than the current s class and lex LS.
I have notice that while sitting inside a 7 series its huge from the outside and very comfortable and space in the inside yet it doesn't feel big while driving.
LS looks great from the outside and the inside but feels huge while sitting in the drivers seat and less head room and ground clearance if i am not wrong.
No matter how much i try to convince my self that I like and want to get a lexus yet bmws seems to trying to win over me. :confuse:
Audi I think has great things ahead of them. VW, I'm not so sure. The Routan is a joke. Piech is making them try the whole Phaeton thing again. I think VW needs to focus on small and affordable products like those Up! concepts, making every VW available with a diesel in the US, and quality. Pulling in new customers with new models is great, but they wont get anywhere if those new customers never come back because of horrible experiences with their cars.
FWIW, while vacationing last fall in Central Europe - Hungary, Czech Republic & Austria - l didn't see a single 7-series BMW. This was particularly surprising & noticeable in Austria, which is in BMW's back yard & where we saw squadrons of S-class Benzes. I can't help but think that this has to embarrass BMW, which will respond with a vastly improved new 7.
Well the dealer went through every probable cause, including changing the oil sensor twice and they were stumped. So they called in a factory engineer who diagnosed the problem as the computer module. I was a little hot at first that it took so long, but in hind-sight it is understandable.
One really cool thing that came out of this... at first they gave me a 328i as a loaner, then after I bitched and moaned
Isn't your 550i new? 12 days for a computer module? I hope you're still happy with the car.
This car is a dream! I could not be happier. I picked the car up Nov. 24th and told myself I was not going to use it as a daily driver as I want to get the full 4 yr. warranty. OK, here it is Feb. 28th and I have over 6,000 on it. I just cannot stay out of it. It is really nice to drive!
VW is a mixed bag of upcoming results.
Boom Scenario
VW will succeed with a UP which basically will be a new VW LUPO just as the IROC is soon to become the SCIROCCO. VW will thrive in North America if the new Jetta diesel gets what they have claimed to be 40 city/60 Hwy mileage.
Doom Scenario
VW is likely to flop with a Routan, a new Phaeton, a coupe like 4 door Passat that is priced significantly above the regular Passat, a new Tourareg which based on description is not much differrent from the cuurent model.
Conclusion
VW will succeed if they stick to their roots of being a maker of value priced thrifty cars for a majority of Volks. VW already serves mainstream affluent Volks with Audi and a real small minority of super affluent Volks with Bentley, Bugatti and Lamborghini.
That depends? If VW management reads myBoom Case Scenario and Conclusion on my last post and follows my suggestions religiously than yes VW still has hope. .;)
But that will not be likely with Chairman Piesch who still suffers from delusions of grandeur regarding the cachet that VW still has with affluent buyers This guy honestly believes that buyers will flock to a new generation of Phaetons. :confuse:
LOL.
Let's hope Piesch takes your advice.
But that will not be likely with Chairman Piesch who still suffers from delusions of grandeur regarding the cachet that VW still has with affluent buyers This guy honestly believes that buyers will flock to a new generation of Phaetons.
Let's really hope Piesche takes your advice!
edit: BTW, Dewey, the BMW dealer just contacted me, and I have a fax with an official order on the convertible. It's a done deal!... red 6-speed w/ sport package. Now the wait.
TM
Great news! Congratulations. Glad you got it in the convertible version.
Now for the most painful part: the wait.
Though you should be able to start getting some very good deals on the current model once the new one is on the way.
FWIW, while vacationing last fall in Central Europe - Hungary, Czech Republic & Austria - l didn't see a single 7-series BMW. This was particularly surprising & noticeable in Austria, which is in BMW's back yard & where we saw squadrons of S-class Benzes. I can't help but think that this has to embarrass BMW, which will respond with a vastly improved new 7.
Yes, part of my family is from Poland and last March when we were there you mostly see either a S-Class or A8-Series. In Europe the S-Class averages sales at about 2 to 1 compared the next best selling A8. The 7-Series is usually trails the A8 and S-Class in Europe in sales although the A8 and 7-Series sometimes trade leads, but the A8 usually sells better. This is especially true in the V8 and V12(W12) engine catagories where the A8-Series in Europe outsells both the S-Class and 7-Series in that configuration combined. That was the data out of Automotive News Europe last year anyway. I can only hypothesize from my parents and many of my older German and Polish relatives and their acquaintances that regard Mercedes and Audi as the traditional builders of big luxury vehicles from history past (MB and Horch/Audi).
I agree with that, but Piech seems determined to make VW upscale which continues to make no sense at all. However, you get conflicting messages from VAG/Porsche. Porsche CEO wants VW brand to be like Toyota and Piech wants VW to be more upscale so it can compete against MB and Audi. Which of course makes no sense. What makes matters worse for VW-Audi-Porsche is that Piech has huge influence over the Porsche family and the family business Porsche Holdings. Eventually, he might wind up in conflict with Porsche CEO and VAG CEO and Piech usually wins. We know what happened to the last guy that tried to cross him, and I do not think anyone in his family is strong enough to challenge his authority. I guess Piech is what you call a true monarch. Even the German government cannot bring him down in the previous sex scandal at VW.
Porsche should assume 51% in VAG shortly, then the fun will really begin with Piech, Wiedeking, Winterkorn, VW labor Unions, and the State of Saxony all battling it out. The should change VAG to Auto Union and be done with it since most of the top executives at VAG are from Audi anyway.
But when the '04 A8 came out, Audi was very aggressive with the ads, touting all of it's trickery(ie: height-adjustable suspension, MMI, super slick interior, std AWD etc). And it had the price point to compete, which @ $64K for a base A8, was great deal. The only thing cheaper was a super-stripped LS, which was near impossible to find.
I can say that my experiences with Audi has been extremely positive. The W12 is definition of what a an ultra-lux sedan should be. The S8 is a great alternative to the 760i Sport and S63 AMG. Super fast and supremely comfortable, it is going to pain me to sell it.
But that is what they make R8's for.....
I like your focus on the polarized goals... Those being "like Toyota" and "upscale". They don't really go hand-in-hand.
Building reasonably priced vehicles that excel in engineering and have good value coupled with improved reliability should be the obvious goal.
I am still optimistic considering Porsche's 51%. It's an interesting story that can't help but change one way or another in the near future.
TM
I personally had never gave any Audi a second look before the '96 A4 and honestly, back then it was the best looking entry level luxury sedan in its class.
Also, it didn't have the Town Car style center stack... :P
Even back in the 90s the Audi A4 2.8 was a sluggish car to say the least. The Audi A4 1.8T was even a better performer than the 2.8. If credit goes to the A4 for Audi's comeback than it should be attributed to the Audi A4 1.8T and not the Audi A4 2.8.
Audi recognition in North America really began in the late 70s with the Audi 5000 and later the Audi 4000. Also let us not forget the Audi Quattro Coupe Before that there was the Audi Fox and that was nothing to write home about.
Pardon me for asking but are you of East Prussian heritage?
I know you mentioned that one of your family members owned a 1935 Horch Pullman (the very few Pullmans that existed back then were owned almost solely by Germans especially in the East Prussian area that is now called Poland)
Congrats on the car... you are going to love that engine! Plus going with a light color interior on a 'vert was a good choice as well. One thing I noticed on the 335i loaner I was driving, the motor has a pretty good exhaust note! Hope they do the same in the 1 series. If not... Dinan is in your backyard. Enjoy. :shades:
Yeah, that's for sure. The Fox... a car that had a successful start, but it turned out to be a car that came with a knife as standard equipment... a knife that backstabbed many of its owners, as the Fox ultimately betrayed the public trust and left a legacy of being a true P.O.S. A real shame.
Reminds me of the Chevy Vega story, another car that came with a backstabbing knife as standard equipment, as it was almost a sure bet that nearly every Vega engine would suffer terminal failure. Replacements had to be kept in stock in the Chevrolet parts department.
And, then there was the recent Yugo. :sick:
TagMan
• Better looks
• Better interior
• Better handling
• (Slightly) better mileage
• Safer (five-star rating)
• Free maintenance
• Better image
• Bigger trunk
• More technology
• Better road feel
...and finally, significantly less expensive when the options add up.
That enough???
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
Absolutely!!! That is exactly what I've always wanted! They dumped the 2.7T for no reason in particular, and kept the lame-@ss n/a engine! I would like it if it were an inline six (think 330i), but a naturally aspirated 3.2L V6 just won't cut it any more. I hope, hope, hope Audi realizes this.
I was discussing this on AutoSpies ( :sick: ), and I had a brilliant idea. Dump the A4 3.2 altogether. The lineup should look like this:
A4 - 2.0T engine with 240hp. It should be about $32,000, going up to $40K.
S4 - 3.0TT engine with 320-350hp. It should be $45K, with most things standard, like the S5.
RS4 - 4.2L N/A with 420-460hp. $55K, in line with the M3 and C63.
This would automatically align Audi's 4 line more precisely with the competition, in terms of price, performance and engine offerings. I am really considering writing Audi about this, or at least mentioning it to my dealer.
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
I also can't wait for the Jetta diesel to hit the US and show Toyota who's boss...
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
VW should be left in the cold along with Skoda and SEAT because they obviously have no idea what they're doing.
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
Here's a recent '08 comparison review...
BMW X5 vs. Porsche Cayenne Review
How the BMW X5 stacks up against the Porsche Cayenne - by Nigel Cooper, Topanga CA
Porsche Cayenne Info | BMW X5 Info
Performance
With that kind of horsepower, both the BMW X5 and the Porsche Cayenne are full-blown speedsters.
Handling
The Porsche and the BMW X5 have approximately comparable tires. With their similar turning circles, the Cayenne and the BMW X5 indubitably handle about the same into and out of tight spots.
Drivetrain
The Porsche's engine isn't much bigger than the BMW X5's. The Porsche Cayenne has no lessons to learn when it comes to torque from the BMW X5.
Utility
There's no clear winner between the BMW X5 and the Porsche Cayenne regarding hauling capacity. Neither the X5 nor the Porsche Cayenne has a marked advantage as far as seating capacity. The Porsche Cayenne outpulls the X5 by a sizeable margin.
Convenience
You'll very likely take the Porsche Cayenne for a fill-up about as often as the BMW X5.
Comfort
While the front cabin in the X5 offers a bit more head room than the Cayenne, there honestly isn't much of a difference. The Cayenne is not particularly roomier for your passengers than the BMW.
Dimensions
The Porsche Cayenne is a little heavier than the BMW X5. The X5's tank is roughly the same size as the Porsche Cayenne's, though the Porsche Cayenne's is somewhat bigger. The BMW X5 and the Porsche Cayenne compete for the same parking spaces.
Cost
The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. The BMW is quite a bit cheaper to get to the dealership than the Porsche. When it comes to fuel economy, the BMW X5 beats the Porsche. The BMW X5 will save you money at the pump compared to the Porsche Cayenne. The BMW X5 is markedly less expensive than the Porsche Cayenne with respect to MSRP.
Overview
The Porsche Cayenne and the BMW X5 have the same basic after-sale protection.
Other than the price, and a small difference in fuel economy, what's that significant, very significant difference you speak of? Am I missing something here?
TagMan
Absolutely!! Just as that was the case then, it is the same situation w/ the 02-07 model. The 3.0 and 3.2L engines, while leaps and bounds above the 2.8, really never fixed Audi's V-6 problem. The fact is the 200hp/207lb-ft 2.0T 4cyl w/ DSG gets to 60 in about 6.5 secs. That is enough to be faster than a Lexus IS250(204hp), BMW 328i(230hp), Jaguar X-Type 3.0(221hp), Cadillac CTS 3.6(260hp), and it ties with the Acura TL(258hp).
And all of those are 6-cyl cars. It all boils down to that free-revving direct-injection 2.0T and the super quick DSG that was never really copied until Mitsubishi figured a way to do so with the new Evo.
The new A4 is said to run w/ the 265hp 3.2 initially, to be followed with a new version of the 3.2FSI, good for over 300hp and still return the same mileage, despite the A4's weight gain. It sort of what BMW did with the 3 Series in '06 with the 260hp version of the 330i, in which case the base engine was the 215hp 325i.
I always love your Audi posts, hemi... they so often come from both knowledge AND first-hand experience. There's something to be said for that, IMO.
TagMan
Yea i know i sure will be kicking my self, but my first option is SUV i can wait until i am sure what i want.
want, which will respond with a vastly improved new 7
how better can it get than the new LS and S class :confuse:
I just hope new and future bmws would be more reliable which will give a big boost to sales.
I think u should wait .
I have felt it as well that lexus isn't always exciting,
i think bmw gives the best excitement.
A wee bit anachronistic, IMO. That comment was apropos to the 1990's.
No auto company has improved its product more than BMW since that time.
And sure enough, sales have been up as a result.... way up!
Buy or lease a BMW with confidence. Just stay out of Texas.
The Porsche and the BMW X5 have approximately comparable tires. With their similar turning circles, the Cayenne and the BMW X5 indubitably handle about the same into and out of tight spots.
Wow. So apparently handling boils down entirely to tires and turning circle. Sure it wasn't CR that wrote that? Actually, CR is usually a lot more descriptive when it comes to handling.
S4 - 3.0TT engine with 320-350hp. It should be $45K, with most things standard, like the S5.
RS4 - 4.2L N/A with 420-460hp. $55K, in line with the M3 and C63.
That would definitely make sense... but I don't see it happening. I'm sure the new RS4 will probably come in closer to $70K. If Audi is going to go the M-B route and just redo the 3.2 for more power, does that mean the rumored 3.0T is off?
TM
Ouch! :surprise:
TM