Luxury Lounge

bmlexus

I've got to agree with you here. I've noticed some of that as well. Not long ago, I posted two good posts about the S-Class, the most recent being an informative post about the upcoming hybrid S-Class, and I don't recall a single poster giving it any consideration, including you, IIRC

Yeah, I remember you posting about the Merc hybrid, But to be truthful, I am not really interested a lot about hybrids.

The only Merc. that I think are the best in its class are the S,CL and the CLS,

I went to see the LS recently and realized, that the S class definitely is more roomy in the front, The front visibility is really small for the LS compare to the S. There is also less head room in the LS.

circlew

Love the back...to much nostril in the front. The hood reminds me of an 90 something Camaro.



Regards,
OW

tagman

No thank you.

The Lamborghini badge will no doubt lend credibility to this car's design, but I think it's a terrible disappointment. In fact, I think it sucks.

TM

clembo

Interesting points Tag. In my case choosing the A8 over the S550 was made for a couple of reasons. First I actually like to drive the A8 better, the Benz has some other features that I think are better executed than the A8 but not driving dynamics in my opinion. Second and probably most important to me, I really didn't want the aura/stigma associated with an S Class at this point of my life. That is not meant to be a knock, I just like the fact that the A8 flies under the radar for 98% of the population yet is still a car that breathes rare air. I have a high profile job in a large public company and I didn't want the folks who work for me many layers down to see me getting in and out of an S Class, that being said a few guys who work for me drive them.

I have actually owned more Benzes (3) than Audis (2) and I am interested in them as well, I'm sure that I'll drive one again someday.

Good points that you brought up, it has been a bit quiet here regarding Benzes.

anthonyp

Dear Clembo

You sure exactly mirrow my feelings about the A8....A number of post back someone asked about the stigma of certain cars, and the S , although a very nice car, speaks a bit too loudly.....I think the Benz use to represent a different thing, but after the advent of all the smalls cars to go along with the big ones, the brand changed.....

Today I took my car in because I wanted to check on the arrival of the parts that were broken by the mean person---back pax window--- This visit I was even treated more nicely than the last one, and they went out of their way to be nice, and in fact set up an appointment to fix the window this Friday and further loan me a car for the few hours it will take, which I didn`t expect.....I asked if any A5 were in, thinking of Rock, but alas none.....I am encouraged by my contacts with the dealer, so really hope Audi gets their act together and beats Lexus...Wouldn`t that be something....Tony

laurasdada

Looks like here in the Boston area, '09 A5 are starting to trickle in. 5 in stock at the two dealers closest to me/work. One is advertising msrp + ~$1500 for a hood guard and 5 year Simonize Wax Protectant. That is one expensive wax job! Thank you, no. I'll Zaino it myself...

Interesting, with the article noting the down September for car sales, will deals on the A/S5 start soon? Or can deals be had with a little negotiating already?

Clembo: I'll theorize on your place of employ. If you could get the stock price back into the triple digits, say, within the next 12 months, I'd be most obliged. I'm sure a ~900% increase is doable for you...

clembo

Dada,

The dealer that I got my A8 from (Clair/Westwood) had no A5/S5's that I could see. A guy I know has one coming from Bernardi the first week of November so I thought they are still on high demand. Maybe the "value wax package " turned a few buyers off at the other dealer. If they can get $1500 for their package, maybe you and I could get our wives a job doing it for $1200 and undercut them. My wife could probably remove the wax with her nagging alone - no towels needed!

I am a shareholder of the company that you are thinking of (hometown heros) but I don't work there. Go sox.

laurasdada

Go Sox indeed! And, should your wife come across this forum and read your post, I fear you too shall disappear...As I would if my wife does the same!

Oh, well. Then as a shareholder, why not put out a GTC order to sell @ say, $104.50. For old times sake... If it's met, I'll jump on the bandwagon! Maybe a few shares of Larry Ellison Yacht Club, too... Sorry, just lamenting that my retirement age has been pushed back to my early 90s... :sick:

Actually, the Clair, now Prime, through Cars.com or Autotrader (forget which as I'm constantly window shopping...) had a couple of '09 listed. But they weren't the $695 Mop & Glo dealer, IIRC.

Don't forget to post ownership experience of the new A8...

lexusguy

They did make a bunch of subtle upgrades to the interior, more finished trim pieces than before, same basic look but really nice touches, and now it has a backup camera in addition to the radar system for parking.

For me, the most interesting new item by far on the latest A8 is the B&O sound system. Did you by any chance opt for the super stereo on your car? I feel about the same towards B&O home products as I do towards Bose (although the Beolab 5 is actually a decent speaker, the 901 is not). The A8 system though is just awesome.

clembo

My car does not have the B&O option, just the Bose system. This was really an impulse deal not an ordered car, I was trying to convince myself to get the A6 but I couldn't. The sales guy was writing up a deal on the A6 that I test drove when I basically told him to stop and make it for the A8 that was sitting in the showroom. They had 2 other '09 A8's with the exact same equipment but I really liked the way the Blue/Beige looked.

Now if they had an S6 like your car sitting there the story may have ended differently. They did have an S8 but I was certain that the $114K sticker price would have put my wife over the edge.

bmlexus

I think your the 1 who started the Audi fever after getting your S6

bmlexus

Now if they had an S6 like your car sitting there the story may have ended differently.

Then S6 would have been in your garage!

bmlexus

link title

tayl0rd

I like it. Kind of reminds me of the '99 Dodge Charger concept.

clembo

Then S6 would have been in your garage!

Bingo!

lexusguy

Great video. Once again the GT-R dominates everything in terms of performance per dollar (other than the track day cars like the Atom and Lotus). The Gumpert also beat out the Ascari A10 and is the fastest car Top Gear has had around their track.

lexusguy

Revealed in Paris. The design isn't bad, but like the sedan, the rear deck is too high, and there's far too much body above the rear wheel. It makes it look like a little luggage caster. It's a bit less awkward looking with the top up than the 335i convertible, but top down its not even a contest, the 3 looks massively better.

louiswei

HORRIBLE LOOKING CAR.

Period.

clembo

I don't think it looks better than the 335 with the top up. It looks too stubby/chubby.

tagman

I'm sorry, but the 3-Series convertible is clearly the better looker, top up and top down. Oh, I'm sure some will buy that Lexus for it's badge, but the IS, in convertible form, looks more like it should be wearing a Toyota badge.

In many cases (most, IMO) a convertible offers a special more exclusive quality to a model, but in this case, the IS coupe looks exponentially better than it's topless sibling.

TM

cdnpinhead

the reference to luggage wheels. Funny & apropos.

The 350Z convertible is uglier, but that's about it.

Let's hear it for side-impact requirements & other government s(tuff) that drives design these days. Some manufacturers deal with it better than others, but the general trend is NOT toward beauty. I had a '65 MGB, and it looked fine, much unlike the versions a few years later that had 5 mph bumpers that were at the "right" height.

tagman

Heck yeah, I remember those nasty rubber bumpers. Many cars were afflicted with them. Dada recently posted a Jaguar XKE with gigantic rubber bumper guards protruding outward. The car was gorgeous, but there were those rubber bumpers to contend with.

Safety regulations can be tricky for designers, but I see plenty of great designs that use more modern methods and technology to be in compliance with safety standards... so it's no excuse any more, IMO.

TM

laurasdada

Well, as with the '09 TL (Terrible Looking?), I'll have to reserve final judgment until I see it live and in person. But, in pix? Disappointing. Beyond the C pillar, the unfortunate "hump" of the SC430. With the top up, in profile, I see a bit of Chrysler Sebring. Not a car I would want to be compared to...

The trunk looks decent though and the IS interior I find a bit more inviting than the 3. But, top down, I go with the 3. Top up? Well, there aren't too many HTC that look good with the top up. The MB SL, to me, looks the best, the top most integrated and coupe-like. Volvo C70 comes next, maybe the MB SLK. Tough call IS vs. 3 here. Need to taste 'em live...

Next up, Infiniti G37. Well, and Ferrari California, but that's the can't afford (if only it were the year Y2K again...) dream car...

laurasdada

It lives on, Tag. With the fangs!:



To possibly redeem the proud cat:



Anyone interested in this?:

tagman

Anyone interested in this?

I'll just keep admiring from afar.

TM

bmlexus

IMO, the 4 door coupe looks a lot better...

bmlexus

I am in love with the front end of this car! the rear is a problem!

2001gs430

the unfortunate "hump" of the SC430
I see that too. I think Lexus did that on purpose since a convertible looks best with a pretty driver in it. We all know that the SC is a chick's car. So I say the posted pics are incomplete versions of what was intended by Lexus
Personally, I am not a fan of any convertibles, period.

tayl0rd

What is it?

tagman

What is it?

It is a Mercedes concept car called "Fascination", showing at the Paris 2008 show.

It is intended to show off some of the latest technologies from Mercedes.

Here's a good link with all the pics and info...

link title

TM

tagman

I think Lexus did that on purpose since a convertible looks best with a pretty driver in it.

Well... uh... for the most part, I'd have to say that ANY car looks best with a pretty driver in it, unless you just prefer an ugly one. :P

But, I must agree, a gorgeous gal does deserve the best looking car... a convertible. :shades:

(unless it's a Lexus convertible, that is... yuck!)

TM

tagman

Audi is about to bring a new supercharged S4 to our shores in about one year from now.



Apeaking of convertibles, this car will make for a terrific convertible, and I have confidence that Audi wouldn't blow it, like Lexus did.

Here's the link and some better pics:

link title

TM

laurasdada

I saw my first R8 (besides at the Auto Show last year) rolling down the road yesterday. Pulling out of the Porsche/Audi dealer, led's aglow with menace. What a beautiful piece of machinery! Windows tinted all around, might have been Tom Brady of the soon to be Super Bowl champions again (sans Tom Brady) Patriots.

My friend was A6/8 shopping there this weekend, saw the R8 and was told it was Brady's... Tint was fairly dark, so hard to make out the driver. Wonder if Giselle had shotgun?

tagman

Just SEEING an R8 is a memorable moment. What a truly stunning car. What color was it?

TM

bmlexus

No wonder people buy cars by looking at these track time, and never take it to a track.

The Nurburgring war continues - Nissan is defending the GT-R’s Nurburgring lap time of 7:29 after Porsche said the automaker had exaggerated its claim. Porsche recently took a GT-R along with its new 911 Turbo and GT2 to the Nurburgring and said that there is no way that the Nissan GT-R had lapped the Nurburgring in 7:29 unless special tires were used.

“The final word from us is that it was done on absolutely standard tyres which are available to customers in the showroom. They’re not trick tyres – absolutely standard tyres, normal road tyres,” said Nissan Europe’s spokesman Neil Reeve.

Reeve said that the GT-R comes with Bridgestone and Goodyear Dunlop tires and that the Dunlop tires gave a slightly better time around the Nurburgring.

He went on to say: “I’m cheeky enough to say it’s flattering that Porsche have bought themselves a GT-R and flown it to Germany, they want to try it. I guess that’s some kind of stamp of approval.”

We’re not sure why Porsche isn’t calling out the Corvette ZR1 which claims 7:26 or the Viper SRT10 ACR which claims 7:22.1.

bmlexus

I saw my first R8 (besides at the Auto Show last year) rolling down the road yesterday

Saw your first ever R8 :surprise: It took you a long time spotting an R8.

bmlexus

laurasdada

I believe that it was Daytona Gray Pearl. Possibly Black, but I think Gray with a dark blade. So low, wide and just gorgeous. I really was a bit mesmerized by the LED DRLs... And I bet it tastes good, too!

Another reason why it is good to be Tom Brady... Giselle and an R8. Probably worth and ACL/MCL injury... :confuse:

Go Matt Cassel-led ( :surprise: ) Pats!

laurasdada

"Saw your first ever R8 It took you a long time spotting an R8. "

Sorry, bml. I live in a rather impoverished part of the country. We just don't see many of them fancy Eurpeen horseless carriages round these parts...

lexusguy

In many cases (most, IMO) a convertible offers a special more exclusive quality to a model, but in this case, the IS coupe looks exponentially better than it's topless sibling.

To be fair, I think the 335i coupe looks exponentially better than the convertible. The 3 convertible isn't bad top down, but I really just don't like the way its top looks. The 3 coupe in terms of both styling and performance is by far my favorite BMW.

lexusguy

To possibly redeem the proud cat:

'fraid not. The only true E-type is the Series I, with properly covered headlights.

lexusguy

Apeaking of convertibles, this car will make for a terrific convertible, and I have confidence that Audi wouldn't blow it, like Lexus did.

The upcoming S4 should be the entry-lux performance king, short of the tuner division cars. Less weight in front than the V8 combined with Audi Drive Select, the S-tronic gearbox, and the QuattroSport rear differential will make short work of the 335i, and it actually should be a bit quicker on a track than the S5.

Considering how good the A5 looks, it will be tough for Audi to screw up the cabrio version. From what I've seen of the G37 drop top, its not as bad as the Lexus, but not nearly as good as the G coupe, or the 3 convertible.

anthonyp

I was thinking to myself `my what a wonderful day` when they phoned and said the car was ready late today....Shortly phoned back and said he forgot to mention they found a nail in the rear tire....I asked them to fix it but they said thed didn`t do tires...I suggested to run it up the street to the tire place ( the one they previously sent me to, and he said it was late in the afternoon....So here they do everything in a nice orderly manner, and then send me out with a nail in the tire....Things like this are what needs to be worked on with Audi.....As a side line to the above I asked about getting a new tire to go with the one in the trunk, and they would be pleased to do that, but not fix the one with the nail...Tony

clembo

It was a 2008 that he hadn't taken delivery of for a couple of months, The guys at the dealer thought that it may be returned and offered for sale again pretty quickly. The dark grey color didn't match the hair. :lemon: Maybe Dada will buy it.

tagman

To be fair, I think the 335i coupe looks exponentially better than the convertible. The 3 convertible isn't bad top down, but I really just don't like the way its top looks. The 3 coupe in terms of both styling and performance is by far my favorite BMW.

I agree the retractable hardtop didn't hit the nail on the head, but it's still plenty good, IMO, and with the top down, the car is gorgeous. I particularly like the M3 convertible as well.

But, in top up mode, the coupe is the better looker... I agree... but not exponentially.

TM

laurasdada

Fine, fine, fine. You are one tough customer to please. But, whatever you want, Stuart appears to have:





Okay, how's that!

rockshocka1

Tony, that is just pi$$ poor service to send you down the street to Geralds, although they actually have good service, just too crowded. You have me a little worried what to expect from them in the future, appreciate you sharing. What loaner did they give you?

rockshocka1

& the S4 sounds like it will burn less petrol than the S5 in everyday use. Ah well, don't want to start second guessing....

lexusguy

Fine, fine, fine. You are one tough customer to please.

Hahaha, indeed I am. This one is more like it, much better than the other two. Technically the very best E-type is one post flat floor and Moss gearbox (ironically the flat floors are the most collectible and worst to drive), but still with the aluminum dash, but I certainly wouldn't kick this one out of the garage.

lexusguy

& the S4 sounds like it will burn less petrol than the S5 in everyday use

Indeed. The new TFSI engine is 7hp down on the old V8 but 22ft.lbs up, and yet manages a combined 25mpg, a huge credit to Audi's engineers. It doesn't have the S5's looks though.