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Sushi is in. Sauerkraut is out.
Happy New Year! I guess you don't like to really drive, then!
The trick will be to preserve the driving performance and achieve high efficiency at the same time which tends to be mutually exclusive at the level of existing technology. It must be created. Today, the sauuerkrauts of the world have the best driving dynamics IMHO. The efficiency of a BMW I6 would be greatly improved if the weight was reduced. The Holy Grail of a compact car should never exceed 3,000 lbs (1,361 KGS.).
For a car in the 128i/135i class, it should weigh no ore than 2,500 lbs (1,1134KGS.). A bullet-proof HO 4-banger needs to be the new world standard.
The balance of today's performance cars will be to achieve 20 - 30 MPG and keep close to 300/300 in the power category. Over 300 HP will be hard to achieve the stated efficiency without advanced hybrid technology to support the IC power.
Regards,
OW
Everytime I feel happy in my car I can almost predict I will soon get a ticket.
In the short term oil prices can fluctuate above or below $55 to $65 but not in the long term since marginal costs will creep higher and higher as "cheap to drill oil reserves" dry out.
Pardon my illiterate writings on my last post. What I really meant was the following:
In the short term oil prices can fluctuate above or below $55 to $65 but not in the long term since during long periods prices tend not to deviate too far from marginal costs. Despite that fact it is inevatable that marginal costs will creep higher as "cheap to drill oil reserves" dry out.
From everything I've read for the Saudi's and most of the Middle East the marginal price is about $5 as their capacity easily outweighs what they are pumping. For America it's about $45 because we are tapped out and we need a $55-65 price to make drilling worthwhile.
The $55 tp 65 dollar figure is the average world marginal cost of oil as of June 30th 2008 from the magazine called the Economist. Fortunately the highest marginal cost producers are Venezuala, Iran and to a lesser degree Russia. Oh and let me not forget Canada's high cost Tar Sands.
USA petroleum is not the costliest to drill but unfortunately there is not enough of it.
I hear you. I'm somewhat disappointed by their pricing strategy as well. Regardless of MSRP the 2008 model A4 cost only $1200 less than comparable 3series AWD in this area. The bloated price will make it worse imo. Of course, given Audi's superior popularity over BMW in this area it may not bother them much in the end...
As optimistic as I am on Audi's future, I'm expecting them to become a strong player globally, like Asia (except China and Korea) where MB normally rules (and overpricing like hell) or Europe where higher price (over BMW) never really bother them that much, not in US.
I actually paid my lowest premium price yet today - $1.63.
Good for you, ljflx. Premium in my area never dropped to less than $1.69/gal (2 weeks ago). Now? A solid $1.75 like back in the early 2000s... :sick:
And the price spikes reflect recent demand trends globally.
Damn those SUV's and Economic prosperity in the regions of the world!
Regards,
OW
In China I believe that Audi has the #1 share position in it's class. If you go there you willl see A6L's outnumbering 525iL's pretty handily. As far as big cars it seems as if the A8, 7, and S are about the same (from observations only).
HS250 to me sounds like maybe a 2.0L Atkinson cycle 4 and an electric motor, with a combined 220hp or so. Because it has to be a luxury car to wear the Lexus badge and luxury means weight, we're probably talking mpg in the low 30s - good, not great.
If the cops have completely drilled the enjoyment of driving out of you, just buy a cheap old ES300 from '03 or so. They were extremely reliable, and too slow to get into any real trouble. The price will more than make up for any fuel savings that the HS250 would deliver.
This week my wife and I are seeing a lawyer to sign papers that will allow her to commit me into a lunatic asylum if I ever sell our cars for a 93 Lexus ES300.
In fact I wouldn't even sell our 83 MB300D for a 93 Lexus ES300.
Just because a person wants comfort, luxury, fantastic fuel efficiency (assuming the HS has fantastic fuel efficiency), reliability and the latest technology does not mean I am willing to accept old gaudy junk from 1993.
Not only in China. Audi A6 outsells both 5series and E-class the past 6 years if I'm not mistaken (can't remember where I found the data). The S-class still rules the large luxo class, and BMW still dominate the compact segment with the 3series. Funny how each dominate specific categories don;t you think?
Manipulation, manipulation, manipulation! I agree though that the supply and demand will force the crude to head back south and make new lows The gas at the pump will follow.
1) They're disappointed by the government's decision to give GM and Chrysler bailout with barely any strings attached, and
2) That GM and Chrysler have lost them as customers until every cent of the bailout is returned.
Not too many people signed, only 229. However in a living community of roughly 280-300 houses it sounds plenty. This is my living area only, I dare say there are lots of others out there. They may not do so much as make a petition, but they'll probably lose faith in D2 for good.
Given current situation, I'm not sure even GM can ignore that. Karma, I say. What goes around, comes around, bud. :shades:
Er, I said '03, not '93. Big difference there. The '03 ES was just one generation ago. It had the ML stereo, NAV, and pretty much everything else that the current ES offers, plenty of comfort and luxury, it's dirt cheap, and too slow and boring to get you in any trouble with the fuzz. I thought that's what you wanted?
Hang in there....Our wives apparently have the same type of bmw, and on the occasions I drive it, it is good....There is an article in the N Y Times, on your mercedes, and I swear if I could find a comprable new car like that one I think I would try the diesel route again even though I deplore the fueling process...I am tired of the changing the sheetmetal every few years, so wouldn`t mind getting a car that just was functional and comfortable and stayed that way for at least ten years.....Tony
Ok, my bad.
Just substitute the "93" with "03" in my last post and nothing changes.
If the Lexus HS is just a gussied up Toyota Prius as the ES is a gussied up Camry then obviously I will not buy a Lexus HS. Apparently that seems to be the case so most likely I may end up getting a plug-in Prius which is likely to be introduced in late 09.
OR
During 2010 an Audi A1 that has a lithium ion battery with fantastic mileage and spiffy performance (a disadvantage for me).
As you probably have noticed I hardly complain about my wife's BMW 530xi Touring. This car is problem free when compared to my car and I cant imagine driving a SUV instead of the BMW Touring.
Tony, just like you I am getting a bit tired of changing sheet metal every few years. But I dread the idea of keeping my BMW 335i for many years based on all the visitations I have done for services and repairs.
Despite my fears of long term ownership of a hybrid , Honda will have a 8 year drivetrain warranty for its Insight
link title
It’s fine,” Mr. Cucciniello said. “In my younger days, I was a reckless driver and racked up some tickets. I haven’t had a run-in with the police since I got these.”
BING0!! No cop has ever given me a speeding ticket with my MB 300D despite the fact that I got caught a few times already. Every time a police officer will laugh at my jokes and just give me a warning instead of a ticket.
Seven times I tried that with my BMW 335i and instead not a single officer laughed at my jokes and one even accused me of being too snarky and gave me two tickets instead of just one (dangerous lane changes and speeding) :sick:
I recently posted an article about a famous celebrity who insists he will never replace his 85 MB 300D with a car that is not a MB 300D. In July I had posted a NY TImes article reporting that the MB300D is about the only vehicle that has increased its resale values these past few years.
And now we have a new NY Times article on someone who cant stop buying MB 300Ds including his family members.
Coincidence? No! Certainly not based on my great experiences with a MB300D. Mine is for keeps.
I've spent the last 2 years not thinking much about cars but focussing on my business. And I am almost embarrassed to say, 2008 was financially the best year of my life. I ended up selling our firm, that we had built up for 22 years, to a large insurance company. We announced the transaction in September, just days before Lehman went down and the financial world fell apart. We managed to keep the transaction on track and closed 11/30 - probably about the only voluntary, profitable transaction done this last quarter (what do you think Len?).
I tell you all this because first, it is nice to be able to share some positive news with all my old friends from the HELM/HELC/LL boards; and second, I have started to think about rewarding myself with some tangible item that I otherwise would not buy myself, and of course a luxury car comes to mind.
One other thing you need to know - you may recall that I have a chronic back problem (from failed surgery), so I can't handle sitting in a sports car. So I have to stick with the luxury sedans.
I have my '05 LS430 now with only 20,000 miles on it, so I don't "need" a new car, it's purely a "want" item. So what do I want? What else but a S550 4matic. Another LS just doesn't turn me on. My car has been great, but I have to say it does not "excite the senses" to drive it.
So here's the interesting thing: MB dealers are certainly willing to deal on a new car, but what I have found is that the used car market for '07 or '08 S550s is incredibly attractive. I find well-equipped 2 year-old cars with less than 20,000 miles on them (some as low as 8,000!) for the mid-$60Ks, vs. buying a new one for around $90K (MSRP around $100K) . A CPO'd 2 yr old car (with new tires and brakes) gets an additional year of warranty, so with the remaining original warranty you end up with 3 years, only one less than a new car. That's such a relative bargain that I am finding it difficult to pull the trigger on a new one, although I have yet to find a used one that has exactly what I want: 4matic, black on black (so the ugly wheel arches don't show as much as on the light colors), with the upgraded multicontour seats (the adjustable bladders really help to perfectly set up the seat for my back), but no Sports package (the low profile wheels and tires ruin the ride over the many potholes in this area).
So my friends, what should I do? A local dealer has the perfect new car for me just sitting there, but I am still hoping to find the same perfect used one, but not a one has been available anywhere in the country in the past 3 weeks.
The second point I want to make is that the Euros' financing arms are obviously getting killed on their lease turn-ins. My salesman tells me he lost 4 new car sales this month alone to people who bought used cars instead of new, given the large price differential.
The final point I want to share is that my salesman (who is an investment client of my firm, so he is straight with me), says that there are no new S class cars on order for his dealership (one of the largest in the country) except for 4 that are already in port in Baltimore. That's right - none on the water, in port in Europe, in production right now, or even ordered for production. Basically, MB believes it has enough already sitting in dealerships or in port to cover demand for the next few months. My salesman says that is the way MB is going to make it through this recession - cut production on the S to the bone. If you want a new S and none around meet your specs, they will build one for you with a 90 day lead time. But I assume that pricing will be very close to MSRP for such a custom build. So if I let that new one sitting at my dealer get away, and I can't find a used one the way I want it, I'll end up either not buying a car now, or paying $10K more for it than the one available now. Such a conundrum.
Anyway, I want to wish you all a Happy, Healthy and (hopefully more) Prosperous New Year!
GaryH
Isuzu says that it is officially ending new light vehicle sales in North America on January 31 as it attempts to clear out the last of its GM-derived pickups and SUVs. Isuzu had been selling rebadged versions of the Chevrolet Colorado (called the Isuzu i-series) and the Chevrolet Trailblazer (Isuzu Ascender), but the automaker managed to move just 7,098 vehicles in 2007 - and 2008 sales will be even lower when they are announced.
Isuzu has no plans to pull out of the commercial truck and diesel engine markets, where it has generally proven to be a strong industry force.
A bit off, as I expected Isuzu to go bye-bye totally from US. I had no idea how well Isuzu's commercial truck sales is in US market.
It has been a long time
Fairly recently I suggested the same thought to another poster on this board....I think the opening is probably only a month or so more, and I peronally would try and buy a slightly used car through your dealer friend...On the Audi d3 board there is a person mamed Bruce, who will purchase a car for you from one of the high end auctions, and he charges five percent to do so..Something worth looking into..
Good luck, and remember if nothing works out in the used market, there is bound to be that new one you have looked at Tony
Regards,
OW
Just curious, what do you think of the A8? '06 examples are available in my area for a lot less than $60K, more like $35-45, with warranty until the end of 2012.
About a year ago, I checked out A8. I dislike the nose of the car, but I guess in black I could live with it, since the oversized grille with the black piece through the middle gets lost in the all black background. But I really disliked the MMI interface; it just didn't work for me.
Plus I already own 2 MBs (both my kids drive older Es) and have a great MB-only mechanic, so that gives me another reason to go with an MB.
Clembo, the S8 is probably too much engine for me (and too much a sacrifice in mileage). In fact, I was really hoping that MB would bring out an S450 or S500 by now for a lower price, but they haven't. I guess it's because they don't make an engine between the 350 and the 550 anymore, right? In '06-'07, when they were selling S550s as fast as they could make them, maybe that made sense. But with sales almost gone now, why not bring out a more fuel efficient version? In the previous generation, the S430 was a big seller when the S500 was around. I just don't get it.
When I took the GL 450, the MB dealer had a stunning brand new (25 miles on odometer) 2008 S550 in charcoal grey (IMO the LS460 and the S550 are made for that color and black) that MSRP'd at $99,500 that they were offering for $76K at Christmas. This one had AMG styling (not AMG) and several other options. Best buy I've ever seen on an S-class.
http://www.badidea.co.uk/2008/12/adolf-merckle-like-some-financial-crisis-jack-b- auer-has-just-24-hours-to-find-the-cash-to-save-vem/
One victim already did last week I believe. Here is some other bad things created from greed...I pray for them all!
German billionaire Adolph Merckle, who has been beset by money woes, committed suicide.
According to Bloomberg News, Merckle, listed as 94th on Forbes' list of the world's wealthiest people, was hit by a train. His family released a statement saying he was "broken by his inability to handle the situation." Until recently, Merckle had a good reputation but ran into some bad luck.
"Merckle, whose holdings spanned the cement, machinery and drug industries, was battered by bets on Volkswagen AG, a drop in the value of his HeidelbergCement AG stock and increasing debt," Bloomberg News said. Shares of HeidelbergCement slumped on the news of Merckle's suicide.
Though my heart goes out to his family, the fact that the businessman chose to end his life is not surprising. The current economic crisis has placed people under unbelievable amounts of stress. Sometimes things go horribly wrong.
A French investor recently caught up in the Bernard Madoff scandal recently took his own life. Last year, an executive with a subprime mortgage company murdered his wife of 10 years and the mother of his two children before leaping off a bridge spanning New Jersey and Delaware.
Countless other tragedies that happen every day do not make the news. Divorces are bound to rise and I bet domestic violence is increasing. Let's hope that the government funds mental health services with the same gusto it provides money to money-losing financial institutions.
Regards,
OW
Avoid making all RWD cars (NSX, S2000 and RWD Acura Sedans)
Avoid building a V8.
Avoid building exciting sports cars like the NSX and S2000.
Potentially pulling the plug on the Acura Legend (RL).
If I owned an Acura dealership I would be concerned, very concerned.
link title
Regards,
OW
As Warren Buffett once said an investor with average intelligence and self control is likely to be far more successful than a genius who is driven by emotions.
Anybody who bases his ego and and his whole life on his personal balance sheet should be investing only in risk free Government paper. Otherwise high risk investing can be as deadly as Russian Roulette.
God bless poor Adolph Merckle and his family.
As I said I think the luxury segment will become far more exclusive and smaller in future years. The incumbents with heritage in such a market will become strongest while a brand like Acura which has always struggled to define themselves in the luxury segment will become irrelevant.
Perhaps Acura has caught the dreaded GM influenza of the past!
Regards,
OW
They can't offer the badge, or the dedicated RWD platforms, or the materials quality. Why pay $43k for an ugly, glorified Accord?
good to hear about your successful sale and even better to hear about your new object of interest: A MB S Class.
Pardon me for being such a simple Luddite but I am not as informed about the new MB S Class as I am about MBs from the 1970s or before that time.
A spanking new S Class, a 2 year old S Class or your current Lexus LS?
All three sound great to me. You cant go wrong with that choice. Good luck with whatever you choose.
I think this latest news proves that Honda is raising the white flag in the luxury segment. Acura may soon become Honda's Oldsmobile.
Regards,
OW
Well, at the very least Acura's "we're going to be a tier one player that's taken seriously" plans are over. So much for the $70K Acura.
Have the VIN for the soon to arrive new car & a listing of 6 miles on the ODO after leaving Germania. New ETA for port arrival in GA is 13 Jan, so I expect to see her here at the end of next week.
Tony, if you have you're eyes on, I've got a friend who is going to do a daily drive by next week. He lives West of the Ash & just wants a ride. Ha!
Getting stoked!
On Acura...if Accord becomes one version, what's the point of TSX? RSX is a guzzler to be forgotten, RL goes away. What does that leave them? The abomination of TL (although their best performer) & MDX? Acura, the death toll rings for thee...
Unless they shift to hybrid lux.....
That was indeed a incredible deal on a new '08 S550. But I guess you have to allow that the '08 already had a year of depreciation built in, and we now see how big that depreciation hit actually is. Personally, I also decided I really don't want that "AMG Sport package", which is basically some extra fender skirts (which are fine) and the oversize 19" wheels (which look fine but IMHO mess up the ride on bumpy roads and are easily bent).
So do tell, how do you feel about the LS460? Does it stir your loins when you drive it, or does it just do everything well but does not inspire you? I have to say that my LS430 is the latter to me.
I agree my conundrum is the kind that is good to have. I hope it didn't sound like I was looking for sympathy!
Taking into account the input from here, and some more soul-searching, I think I am coming to the conclusion that I will not worry about the new '09 "perfect car" sitting at the dealer that might get away, and will either wait for a used one equipped the way I want it to show up, or just hold onto the LS for a while longer.
Of course, as I am sure every person who participates in this board has felt themselves, once you start thinking about getting new wheels, it is hard to stop pursuing the "dream". But I am going to try to exercise self-control - at least for the moment!
Well, in my case, it provided a manual transmission, smaller more nimble size (the American Accord is growing into a Buick, with what appear to be Town Car aspirations), stiffer suspension & several lux features. Rear seats fold down, too, which the TL's don't. However, I got my TSX before the "beak" and am quite pleased. Would have preferred RWD, but that's another very long story.
Acura may very well be on its way down the chute but, as they say, I got mine.
You & others who got the TSX & TL before the extreme makeover should enjoy them now & remember them fondly.
I've got the LS460L with air suspension. The longer wheel base and the air suspension make for a completely different feel than the LS430 particularly if you put it in sport mode. Power is up, hesitation is gone, handling is improved and gas mileage sometimes blows me away as I've been up to 29mpg on highwy runs. Pure city is 19ish and a blend is usually around 23-24mpg. For a large 380HP car those are great figures. I love it. I also love the GL450. One thing though is that the MB navi is kidnergarten vs grad school for the Lexus navi. MB stereo system and bluetooth is excellent. Lexus bluetooth system on paper is the best but it completely prevents you from using it to its abilities while driving. it's like giving you a 5,000 foot house and then closing off 4500 feet of it from use.
I also picked up an Infiniti G about 22 months ago. My son is principally driving that now, though my wife and I put about 12,000 miles on it. We love it also. The Infiniti bluetooth is nice in that it recognizes any bluetooth phone any driver has. So you don't need to select phone. The Infiniti just prioritizes and defaults to the highest priority if calls come in on two phones at the same time. I haven't set up more than one phone in the MB yet but i believe you have to select phone like Lexus.
We looked at the 3 series and loved it but the Infiniti interior was just so much nicer and the Infiniti handling was very close if not equal so we went Infiniti.
That's exactly the plan.
We've got the last "small" Pathfinder (made in Japan, too) also ('04), so now have two "last of their kind" vehicles that have both proven to be totally satisfactory so far.
It will be interesting to see what happens to the Accord. It's possible they'll continue to upsize it to compete with the Avalon and let the Civic meet the need for a smaller vehicle. Time will tell.
For starters Honda so far always fails in making a proper v8, or make a v8 at all in this regard. Many customers on midsize segment and up expects v8 or at least RWD. The latter Honda can do properly but only for it's sports cars.
Second, Honda's struggling image in the upper luxury class, Acura's failure to redefine itself plus weakening economy makes forcing itself to keep up with competitors a no brainer move.
With this decision, I think Acura decides to move down and compete in the near luxury to entry level luxury segment at the highest. Smart move given the current situation, focus on what you do best. I seriously doubt Acura's will become another Dodo like Olds, but if they don't do something about the design theme quickly it may become one soon. :P
Unfortunately, the stock market is also taking a dive today. In fact, just about every commodity known to man is on its rear today. This includes gold which is down about $25 as of this moment.
Regards,
OW