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  • lexusguylexusguy Member Posts: 6,419
    Another poster suggested that he would have chosen the Japanese Mazda 3 over the German VW Rabbit. All I did was rattle off some reasons why the German vehicle is superior to the Japanese car.

    I definitely get why you like the VW. If I were going to buy in that market, I'd get a 3 that was a few years old for $10K, and I would like the piece of mind of just not having to worry about can she make 48hrs before the electrics start going bad. The 3 is as reliable as a wood burning stove, so I would just keep it and use it as a workhorse, warranty-schmarranty. What could go wrong, and how big of deal could it be to fix it?

    The CR scores on the Rabbit are impressive considering VW's history, but I just wouldn't want to deal with the local VW shop on the chance I got a lemon.
  • lexusguylexusguy Member Posts: 6,419
    Recently, I got my wife an almost 2 carat diamond solitaire ring for our anniversary. Two days later she tells me she wants to go back to the store and get a second diamond ring.

    Whatever happened to the sweet, unspoiled rum-cake producing girl I used to know?


    Hahaha. Reminds me of what happens when I tell my wife I want to buy a new pair of speakers. No matter how impressive the system gets, she just doesn't seem to care, and thinks I am out of my mind. We've worked out a system where she won't argue about the speakers provided she gets some sort of present in return. My current $22K Joseph Pearls required a trip to France :sick:
  • lexusguylexusguy Member Posts: 6,419
    I wonder if Audi will make a convertible version...

    Yep, the A5 Cabrio will take over from the previous A4 drop top.
  • hpowdershpowders Member Posts: 4,331
    I understand your concern, but the Rabbit/Golf is the biggest seller in Europe. They can't be unreliable. People wouldn't keep buying them.

    Problems with VW's usually arise from the vehicles NOT made in Germany. The current Rabbit is made in Germany. The VW comes with a generous 4 year warranty, 5 years on the powertrain, 12 years for corrosion and free 24 hour roadside assistance for 4 years.

    It was kind of hard to say "no."

    Anyhow, It's been a week now. Happy to report the vehicle is still intact with no major system failures. :)
  • lexusguylexusguy Member Posts: 6,419
    LG are you serious about that A8? Another car worth considering, definitely.

    Yes indeed, sir. A quick search of Autotrader showed a price range of $32-38K in my area, with the CPO warranty covering the car for 3 years and 65K miles or so.
  • hpowdershpowders Member Posts: 4,331
    Funny! I get the same "retribution." The wife complains about my spending on computers, TV's and golf clubs- so a diamond seems to create detente... temporarily so, but still, better than nothing.

    $22k is indeed impressive. That should keep things peaceful for at least 2 weeks. ;)

    Doesn't it always seem to come down to "what have you done for me lately!"?? :)
  • hpowdershpowders Member Posts: 4,331
    I agree. The best deals right now are on CPO luxury vehicles coming off lease from BMW and Audi.

    One can buy a 2005 CPO 545i with less than 30k miles for $30k-$35k. Half the original price.

    The deals should be just as good on the off-lease A8 and BMW 7 Series.
  • m4d_cowm4d_cow Member Posts: 1,491
    A CPO A8 or A6 will be a great value. hpowers, I'm sure BMW will have similar offers, but I doubt it'll have Audi's attractive prices.... those off-lease cars, are there really lots of them? I barely have any experience in buying used, so...
    btw how come noone mentioned Mercedes, does this mean their CPO prices are still too high?
  • laurasdadalaurasdada Member Posts: 5,208
    "I suppose that's possible, but I have to wonder, just how price sensitive is that market? Would 911 or SL buyers really consider an XLR at $68K but not at $78K? I don't know, but I kind of doubt it. As for SC430 vs. XLR, frankly I'd rather drive a Miata than either of them."

    I agree, especially now that the Miata has the PRHT. I'm really not a convertible kinda guy, but the HT thing makes a bit more sense. Coupe, with the option of a droptop. Better for the New England winters.

    I was thinking the XLR should have been priced closer to $60k than even $70k, take a page from Lexus by starting "low" and establishing the brand (or for Caddy, reestablishing?0 and walking the price up. Caddy just aims too high. But would their be demand? I, too, know not. 911 customer, no. SL, no as they seek the prestige of the three pointed star. But SC buyers, possibly. Maybe even folks who actually want a "softer" Vette, or the HT.

    It is unlikely I shall fulfill the irrational desire, I never have. Part of my problem, I'm too bloody rational, hence the TL vs. the E Class I was considering, too. I find the E class to be a really nice piece of work both inside and out (but I trust not its reliability. I"ve been spoiled by the good folks from Japan, Inc. in that respect). The E had me more emotionally (and maybe there's something in that my late mother loved her Mercedes? Calling Dr. Freud...) But, at the end of the day, the E just wasn't $20k more car than the TL imo.

    As I do here, I haunt Ebay Motors, cars.com, Autotrader.com, etc. I've got a thing about first model years, so I'd look for an '08 next year or in '10. Unless Mr. Stockmarket guy decides to bubble up again...please. And, yes, I consider myself more of a "GT" kinda guy (Maserati GT would be just lovely, thank you) than a "performance" guy (XK vs. 911 as you note). So the Jag is my heart's desire at the moment. "Pace with Grace."

    Gotta go to a stinkin' 1pm meeting... Hard to enjoy lunch and posting here with a 1pm meeting looming on the too close horizon. :mad:

    '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...)

  • circlewcirclew Member Posts: 8,666
    I checked out the A-8 used market yesterday...very tempting at $30 - $40K range.

    Regards,
    OW
  • louisweilouiswei Member Posts: 3,715
    I didnt know that a Prius is a sign of "hot" or "rich" anywhere in the states. There are very few here, and all I can tell you is noone seem to care much for it.

    Here in So. Cal the Prius is just about as common as the Corolla and Civic. They are so common now-a-day so they are no longer qualified getting the car-pool lane sticker.

    As for the IS, according to my observation only the IS250 has predominant female drivers, 80% of the IS350 I spotted are driven by males. Although the ISX50 is just about as common as the Corolla here in So Cal sometimes it is still hard to spot an IS350 in the sea of IS250s (the distribution is something like 30-70). I don't know where you live but if you are within the snow belt then I wouldn't be surprised if the IS doesn't sell well over there since Lexus only offers AWD in the smaller engine model.
  • anthonypanthonyp Member Posts: 1,860
    Howard, it won`t take you long to adjust to any car---the hard adjustment is no car--I was thinking if I got a prius, then it would be just like starting all over again, and my memories of the start are great....unfortunately I know what comes next so I probably won`t get a prius, but it is fun to think about what comes next....It`s nice to read about all of your new cars and how much everyone is enjoying them, so that holds me for a while...:) Tony
  • hpowdershpowders Member Posts: 4,331
    MB as well as Lexus are two companies that are off my radar screen. I don't follow either company. I'm sure there are good deals to be had on 3 year old S Class lease-turn ins; probably good deals on 2005 LS vehicles being turned in also.

    The bigger the engine, the better the deal.
  • hpowdershpowders Member Posts: 4,331
    Tony, I let out the engine a bit on the highway for the first time this afternoon and I must say I was very happy. The vehicle behaved very well. I just love the agility of this smaller vehicle. Also, better visibility than the 545i.

    One glaring weakness that it shares with the 3 Series-the side mirrors are too darn small, which create peripheral blind areas for me. I'm thinking of removing the factory mirrors and installing 5-Series size mirrors. Otherwise no complaints.

    A very nice car, Tony!

    You might wish to wait for the Lexus version of the Prius. That should be one hot car. I would get my name on the list as soon as it is announced for production. There will definitely be a waiting list.
  • louisweilouiswei Member Posts: 3,715
    As much as I hate the car I have to admit that from certain angle, with certain modifications and with the top down the car isn't bad looking at all...

    image

    image

    image
  • lexusguylexusguy Member Posts: 6,419
    They can't be unreliable. People wouldn't keep buying them.

    I'm not so sure about that. Alfa Romeo is still around. So is Jaguar, and Land Rover. People will put up with quite a bit.

    Problems with VW's usually arise from the vehicles NOT made in Germany.

    ...except for the German built Passat, which as an awful reliability record. The Tiguan comes from Wolfsburg, it will be interesting to see how that fares. I definitely wouldn't buy one of the Puebla VWs.
  • hpowdershpowders Member Posts: 4,331
    Well, be so as it may, after one week, my VW has been bullet proof.

    I am quite satisfied with the car. Even the wife likes it. The test will be, can she identify the vehicle in a two car parking lot? ;)
  • lexusguylexusguy Member Posts: 6,419
    $22k is indeed impressive. That should keep things peaceful for at least 2 weeks.

    Doesn't it always seem to come down to "what have you done for me lately!"??


    Hahaha, indeed it does. What we do for love, huh? :)

    I think I'm going to have to force myself to stop the endless upgrade cycle with the Pearls. Buying a legitimately better speaker would require $50K+, and I'm not willing to risk a divorce for a bit more sound quality :)

    She does occasionally like to sit and listen to her Diana Krall or Norah Jones, or sometimes she'll put on some of my Coltrane, Mingus, or Monk. She likes music, but I've never been able to turn her into an audiophile, no matter how hard I try. When I start talking about "soundstage" or "air" I just get disinterested nods.
  • lexusguylexusguy Member Posts: 6,419
    btw how come noone mentioned Mercedes, does this mean their CPO prices are still too high?

    A 2005 CPO E500 goes for around $32-35K, and an S500 goes for $38-45K. The deals definitely aren't as good as they are with Audi. I also have no interest in either the E or the old gen S. The A8 still looks every bit as sharp as it did at launch, but the old S class just looks...old. 2005 also isn't a particularly smart year for a M-B, they were still pretty much junk.
  • lexusguylexusguy Member Posts: 6,419
    As much as I hate the car I have to admit that from certain angle, with certain modifications and with the top down the car isn't bad looking at all...

    The first one is a bit too "DUB Magazine" for me. The rest are tolerable, but that's as far as I'd go. Big wheels and a body kit on a bad design are ultimately just a band-aid.
  • hpowdershpowders Member Posts: 4,331
    "What we do for love, huh?"

    What we do indeed!

    Whoever coined the phrase, "money can't buy happiness" hasn't spent any time in my house. ;)

    Sounds like you like mellow jazz. John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" is one of my old favorites. I love Miles Davis' "Jack Johnson" soundtrack. "In A Silent Way" was great too. Man could he blow that horn!
  • lexusguylexusguy Member Posts: 6,419
    Whoever coined the phrase, "money can't buy happiness" hasn't spent any time in my house.

    That reminds me of a great joke. "Money buys happiness. It buys a wave runner. Have you ever seen a sad person on a wave runner? Have you? Try to frown on a wave runner."
  • lexusguylexusguy Member Posts: 6,419
    Sounds like you like mellow jazz. John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" is one of my old favorites. I love Miles Davis' Jack Johnson soundtrack. Man could he blow that horn!

    My interests are pretty varied, but I'm definitely a mellow jazz fan. "Kind Of Blue" and "Time Out" are probably my two all time favorite jazz albums.
  • hpowdershpowders Member Posts: 4,331
    You are correct. It cannot be done! :)
  • hpowdershpowders Member Posts: 4,331
    My musical interests are quite varied too.

    I would love to get a pair of B&W high end speakers. My next project.
  • tagmantagman Member Posts: 8,441
    Here in So. Cal the Prius is just about as common as the Corolla and Civic. They are so common now-a-day so they are no longer qualified getting the car-pool lane sticker.

    Same here in the entire S.F./Oakland/Marin/Napa/San Jose/Silicon Valley area. Prius EVERYWHERE.

    TM
  • tagmantagman Member Posts: 8,441
    As much as I hate the car [SC430] I have to admit that from certain angle, with certain modifications and with the top down the car isn't bad looking at all...

    NO!

    But... after having ingested certain beverages or substances, perhaps.

    TM
  • tagmantagman Member Posts: 8,441
    Well, be so as it may, after one week, my VW has been bullet proof.

    LOL... for crying out loud, LG has us thinking it's a ticking time bomb. ;)

    Soooooooooooo much more car than the Mazda, the Rabbit is well worth it... even if it has a glitch or two! IMHO.

    TM
  • tagmantagman Member Posts: 8,441
    What we do for love, huh?

    You guys are getting love? What's that any more? I just want to be able to stay in my own house. ;)

    Damned hormones.

    TM
  • hpowdershpowders Member Posts: 4,331
    The only glaring fault with the VW is the too small side mirrors. But the BMW 3 Series vehicles have the same-sized side mirrors, so VW is in good company.

    "LG has us thinking it's a ticking time bomb." Heh! Heh! :)

    We must get LG to actually sit in a VW. The best way to overcome one's fear is to confront it head on! :surprise:

    Who knows, one day I may actually sit in a MB.
  • hpowdershpowders Member Posts: 4,331
    My wife calls it "Her House." I temporarily get her to stop using that phrase when I gently remind her who pays for all the utility bills, insurance, property tax, periodic upgrading and the never-ending lawn and plant trimming workers. If people in the US were treated half as well as my wife's trees and shrubs, we would be living in a GD utopia! :sick:
  • tagmantagman Member Posts: 8,441
    THIS VW is what I'm talking about...

    image

    link title

    Now... let us pray... ;)

    My wife calls it "Her House." I temporarily get her to stop using that phrase when I gently remind her who pays for all the utility bills, insurance, property tax, periodic upgrading and the never-ending lawn and plant trimming workers. If people in the US were treated half as well as my wife's trees and shrubs, we would be living in GD utopia!

    LOL... Check this out here in California. When married, everything becomes community property. California men work and slave hard supporting a family for freakin' decades, while California women can shop for decades and then legally take half of everything! :surprise: :confuse: :sick:

    TM
  • hpowdershpowders Member Posts: 4,331
    Could be nice. But I would expect Herr Winterkorn to provide a minimum 96 hour bumper to bumper warranty, 144 hours on the powertrain, otherwise I'm not interested.

    "California women....legally take half of everything!" No wonder my wife wants to exchange "HER" Florida house for one she can call "HER" own in California. ;)
    I had better bring "MY" checkbook! :surprise:
  • laurasdadalaurasdada Member Posts: 5,208
    That's why I married a strong, self-sufficient Evil Woman who has worked most of her life. So, should she sober up and decide she can do better, I get half her stuff!

    She was drunk, I was beautiful... :blush:

    '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...)

  • lovemyclklovemyclk Member Posts: 351
    How's everything working out now that she's sobered up and your beautiful years are behind you ;) :confuse:
  • hpowdershpowders Member Posts: 4,331
    Well, this advice comes much too late for me. :sick:

    Hey, looks like the Rays and Red Sox down to the wire. Should be exciting. :)
  • m4d_cowm4d_cow Member Posts: 1,491
    The Sc430 actually looks rather acceptable on your pictures.

    which reminds me, I saw a couple ads on low miles 06 Jag XJs for barely $30k. I guess the XK is the only jag to retain better value so far... awesome value, too bad I find the styling too old.

    Is it true there's barely any difference between the price for a v6 and a v8 version of the same model? (like 530 and 545i for example)
  • m4d_cowm4d_cow Member Posts: 1,491
    Ah, my musical interest varies as well, though I love jazz as well, Miles Davis is great, I agree.

    I'd love to get my hands on B&W, but its too much for me now, pricewise that is :( I guess I'd settle for something a notch lower, maybe KEF or Monitor? I wont buy Bose, theyre lame and overpriced. What kind of "high-end" brand use paper cones on their speakers??? Bose!!!
    Any recommendation?
  • circlewcirclew Member Posts: 8,666
    My wife still likes it, too. I guess I could live with it if forced to!

    Regards,
    OW
  • circlewcirclew Member Posts: 8,666
    I'd love to hear Satriani on your system. The guy's a genius with a guitar.

    Regards,
    OW
  • circlewcirclew Member Posts: 8,666
    Damned hormones.

    Heck, between the wife and the teenage kid, I could recharge a pug-in hybrid with the spare energy!!!!!!

    Now, the 10 YO dauhter is just lighting up!!!!

    What's that 'Crazy Eddie' Commercial? INSANE!

    image

    Regards,
    OW
  • circlewcirclew Member Posts: 8,666
    Re-register your fleet in a different stat! Holy Cow!

    Regards,
    OW
  • hpowdershpowders Member Posts: 4,331
    B&W is my goal. I'd stay away from Bose-overpriced for what you get.
  • louisweilouiswei Member Posts: 3,715
    to the 2009 TL!!!

    I knew it was going to be hard to top the current TL since it is arguably one of the sharpest looking sedans on the road. However, what I didn't expect was for Acura to create this monstrocity...

    WTF Acura!! image

    Check it out yourself... As for dada, I think you can move on now...

    image

    image

    image

    image

    image

    It's official now, Acura has accomplished the task of creating the most ugly luxury lineup on the whole planet...
  • circlewcirclew Member Posts: 8,666
    At least the retail values go up on the used TL's! I absolutely dislike it! :blush:

    Regards,
    OW
  • lexusguylexusguy Member Posts: 6,419
    I would love to get a pair of B&W high end speakers. My next project.

    I was never much of a B&W fan until they came out with the new diamond 800 series. The older models always sounded aggressive and slightly etched, but the diamond tweeter has tamed that nicely. Still, I would recommend pairing them with electronics that fall to the warm/rich side to counterbalance that B&W cool and dry nature. Levinson or Plinius amplification would probably work very well, but if you really want to make them sing, use a BAT tube amp, like the VK-55SE or VK-75SE.
  • hpowdershpowders Member Posts: 4,331
    Thanks for the advice!
  • laurasdadalaurasdada Member Posts: 5,208
    As long as they keep producing alcohol, I'll be beautiful! Would you like some more JD with your Cheerios, dear? ;)

    '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...)

  • laurasdadalaurasdada Member Posts: 5,208
    Indeed, but the Rays are messing up my retirement plans. In the Rays' lean years (all of 'em so far!), tickets were easy to come by. So, I retire to TB area, buy season tickets, or just Sox tickets, and catch all the Sox games! But, if the Rays start winning... :surprise:

    Won a free trip to TB a couple of years ago. Included passes to the Zoo and Aquarium, enjoyed 'em both very much. Spent a day at Clearwater Beach which was nice until I ended up between two gangs of kids, drinking and started fighting. Lot of shouting about "disrespect." Right out of a scene from NYPD Blue or something... Favorite moment was when one kid shouted, "Hey! My brother just got out of prison and we're just trying to show him a good time!" Methinks brother shall return from whence he came.

    '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...)

  • lexusguylexusguy Member Posts: 6,419
    We must get LG to actually sit in a VW. The best way to overcome one's fear is to confront it head on!

    I've driven the occasional VW here and there. They are nice cars, but not enough that I'm willing to forget all that history (ignition coils anyone?). Maybe if the local VW shop was fantastic I could overlook that, but they aren't. I like the Mazda because its cheap, and servicing would be just as cheap at the local shop I like to use. If I wanted more power and more features, I'd get the A3. The Rabbit just doesn't do it for me.
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