The real meaning here is that we can expect to see those higher-priced high-tech features inside Lexus vehicles before we see them in the Toyota vehicles.
How much more can we take? Apparently the 5-Series GT may be more than a single vehicle... it may be an entire line of GTs! Seems BMW is considering more monster-mobiles. They are possibly going to launch an entire line of 5-Series, 3-Series and 1-Series GTs.
Strange as it may be, but the solar cooling system in my Audi is one of the most favorite features I have...I posted on it a long time ago....It really works and keeps the car smelling fresh also...Tony
The real meaning here is that we can expect to see those higher-priced high-tech features inside Lexus vehicles before we see them in the Toyota vehicles.
I'll tell you what Tag. If I hear that Lexus is going towards the Toyota thinking, I am going to scream bloody murder :mad: . But as I stated above, I think Toyota is being stupid. They can still have the high tech features and allow the customer to order what they want.
Strange as it may be, but the solar cooling system in my Audi is one of the most favorite features I have...I posted on it a long time ago....It really works and keeps the car smelling fresh also.
It boggles my mind Tony that Toyota is heading in this direction. It makes no sense to me.
Then why are you looking at SUVs? They're not as much fun to drive as coupes or sedans. (They're also uglier, but that's just my opinion.)
If you don't need an SUV's hauling capacity, why are you willing to put up with an SUV's poorer handling?
If I wanted something roomier than a BMW sedan, I'd buy the 535 Sports Wagon
I don't know, I guess I just like the idea of having a high driving position.
Yes, I do not need a hauling capacity, I am never going to tow anything.
Oh no, I hate wagons, I'd rather take the sedan.
The thing is I want a Japanese car and a Lexus,I also want a high driving position. The LX is to expensive and to big, the RX is the only option which I myself consider a ladies car
Reliability is important to me, and bmws don't seem to be good at it, the 3 series is a better built car in everyway compare to the X6,the 3series is built in Germany,yet the troubles Mr. dewey had is something you can't ignore.
I really really like the x6, but don't want to be at the dealer the next day or the next month or even next year.
I don't like the idea of buying something as new and then fixing it in a garage, be it a car, a laptop or even a cell phone.
I'm curious. What do you find so appealing about the X6?
I would choose neither the RX nor the X6.
I would wait to test drive the new 2009 V6 TDI VW Touareg 2 or perhaps go for a CPO Porsche Cayenne S. The Porsche gets around 15 mpg while the VW gets around 21
I do not know. I liked it since the first time I saw it at the dealer 10 months back.
I've previously read lots of electronics trouble for the VW Touareg, but I'll take your advice and take a look, but as I mentioned in my other post, I prefer Japanese and Lexus, if its a non Japanese, then the X6,
Not sure about the cayenne, the options keeps adding more and more $$$...
True! That is why if you go back and re-read my post I indicated you could look at a CPO Cayenne. There are great deals to be had at this time across all luxury vehicle lines for vehicles that are 1-3 years old and certified by the dealers, just sitting there, waiting to be cleared off the anxious dealers' lots, some with low mileage.
Once this recession is over, gas prices will rise again with a vengeance, possibly above $4 a gallon again, which is why instead of going the SUV route, I will be visiting my nearest Lexus dealer to test drive its eagerly anticipated hybrid sedan, the HS250h, probably out by mid-summer and should sell for around $40,000 with some decent options. From the photos I have seen, the Lexus overwhelmingly trumps the Prius in the looks department. Looking forward to driving my first hybrid vehicle!
Then why not an X3? Sounds just right for a single guy-just enough space without being too much.
I personally hate the x3, I'd take the RX any day over the X3 without even thinking twice.
To tell you the truth, as I keep mentioning I am just to scare to put my hands on any bmw for reliability and electronics issue, but still want to get the x6 which I am completely aware is a very risky buy.
I've actually seen some used x6s already up for sale, which makes me even more curious for the x6 problems.
By my personal experience, Toyota, Lexus does not have any troubles for the first 3 years which is by my own and my family experience.
How is the reliability for the current 5 series? I sure that they will have big discounts once the redesign 5 seri hits the dealer,
Do you have any info when the new 5 seri will be coming?
Once this recession is over, gas prices will rise again with a vengeance, possibly above $4 a gallon again, which is why instead of going the SUV route, I will be visiting my nearest Lexus dealer to test drive its eagerly anticipated hybrid sedan, the HS250h, probably out by mid-summer and should sell for around $40,000 with some decent options. From the photos I have seen, the Lexus overwhelmingly trumps the Prius in the looks department. Looking forward to driving my first hybrid vehicle
I agree with you, gas prices are most likely to go up.
Good luck for the HS250h drive,
Once you get use to Toyota Lexus reliability, its hard to trust another brand.
Yes. It will feel really nice going to a car dealer and being made to feel like a valued human being again. That is one thing Lexus seems to do better than anybody else.
This is why. From your post it looks as if you will be unhappy with the X6. You are not very complimentary about the X6 and to a lesser degree the X5. Have you driven the new generation RX yet? I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Also, the new RX is no longer so much a "lady's car". I know I would not feel uneasy driving the RX. I could not care less if some people think it is more of a "lady's car".
I went to check out the new RX today, the interior is nice, but not very special, exterior is ok, but again not special. When starting the engine it definitely feels how quite and smooth it is.
Then there is the x6, which is something different, very loud when starting, harsh ride which every1 talks about because of the run flats, which surprisingly I did not feel when testing the x6 inline6, engine heating troubles seems to be a normal thing for x6.
Which is the better choice?
I would like to point out that I don't have a wife, or any kids, so I really don't care if the car seats 4 , or 5.
I like to add that I've never in my life read engines troubles for any other car as much as I read about x5 and the x6.
I'd also like to point out, after testing the x6 the sales guy told me to take the x5 rather than the x6 which won't last you long,isn't a daily using car which was a shock from a dealer.
Apparently, sitting high is more important to you than excellent handling. If that's the case, you'd probably be happier with the Lexus RX. BMW's reputation is based on its superb sedans & coupes - not on its SUVs, which are nothing special.
I suspect that poor Dewey is the victim of bad luck. As others have noted, the 3 is a reliable car overall. My 330i is almost 8 years old & has been as trouble-free as most of our Japanese cars.
My wife drives a Lexus, so I know that Lexus cars are (1) very reliable & (2) rather boring. We'll visit our Lexus dealer tomorrow for a test drive, not because we're in the market for a new car - we're not - but because Lexus will send us a $75 gift card if we test drive something. If one is available, we'll drive a 2010 RX & I'll report our impressions.
Incidentally, Sanjay's suggestion that you consider an Acura MDX is an excellent one. If (God forbid) I had to buy an SUV, I'd pick that one.
Why? With financing( both equity and debt) being so costly as it is today a company like Microsoft that can internally fund itself with the oodles of cash flow from its sales of computing operating systems is a blessing.
But Microsoft does have its problems. Apple, Linux, lower profit margins with the new craze for netbooks, its dismal performance in web search, its weaknesses in the mobile markets, idiotic ads like that Seinfeld one, XBox still struggling to be profitable, and their not so bright plan to do retailing (retailing is a tough low margin business that will generate a far lower return on capital than algorithms).
Despite the above and the many other weaknesses with Microsoft it is still protected with large barriers of entry with its stranglehold in operating systems. As various software/internet companies hit the wall with financing issues Microsoft will be able to make some very opportunistic purchases at rock bottom desperate prices.
I have recently added Microsoft in my clients portfolios. Among the dozens of companies I bought recently is one called Leons (Canadian Furniture retailer).
Why furniture retailing which happens to be one of the worst industries possible right now? It has no debt. It has no retail lease obligation since it owns almost all of their own real estate( a lot of that real estate bought decades ago at dirt low prices which mean hidden asset values) . Despite the recession its profits are still growing. Its cash flow remains very healthy. Year after year its return on capital has been phenemonal and still is. A good dividend yield with a low pay out ratio. And here's the kicker: It is selling at a price that only a financially troubled company would be selling at. This stock is definitely a gem.
These markets are crazy indeed and I just cant keep up with all the compelling values that are out there right now.
You are fair, but I would doubt you would take a hit such as trading your new 3 , for a 1, as I am afraid we both will not find a car that is simple and not over engineered ,as use to exist......Maybe going from the big 5 to the 3 with the smaller engine--not supercharged--with the vw in between--was chasing an old memory...I have slowed down as time has passed, still enjoy a powerful car, but the weight is just there...and the traffic is also.....
When I go on a long trip and the mpg is twenty five, the depreciation on the car is way larger than the gas cost, so I`m just going to go with a pleasurable car, not so expensive as the A8, but nothing out there catches my eye.....Maybe I`l see something down in Miam in a week or so, as that is where life is still going as fast as it can, and nothing is hidden.....Women or cars...Tony
As previously mentioned by Tagman Toyota has Lexus as a showcase for technology.
Toyota is a mainstream brand that represents value and reliability. That is why many people love Toyotas.
Pricing has not been confirmed yet but if a 23K Prius becomes a 28K Prius because of a solar sun roof percentage wise that is almost a 25 percent increase in price. A 25 percent increase in price for one option is hefty. In a premium priced Lexus the 5K $ difference for such an option wont appear to be as much percentage wise as a Prius.
Such hefty prices contradicts the Toyota value message. And value is what people want nowdays and that is why Toyota feels insecure in selling the 3rd generation Prius without a second generation Prius to compete with the far cheaper Honda Insight.
Everything now boils down to price, That is why Hyundai sales are the most healthiest in the auto industry.
. I am hybrid-curious, so when the Lexus finally arrives, I will be making one of my rare appearances at a Lexus showroom to drive one-my first hybrid!
I am hybrid curious too in terms of reading your test drive review of the Lexus HS250
Sorry I left out the A8 when writing about the new BMW 7 Series a while back. Folks who are fortunate enough to have that kind of money to spend, have an embarrassment of riches deciding among the A8, S Class and 7 Series!
The problem with the 328i is the 545i! I got spoiled, Tony. Nothing really wrong with the 328i.
"Women or cars" Why choose when one can have both??
From the photos, the HS 250h is a handsome-looking vehicle, but the front seats look a bit flimsy. I'm sure Lexus will offer better seats for oh....around $3000! LOL!!
Dewey, I am serious about driving the Lexus. Hybrid technology is the future and the future is now. When the world economies come out of recession, oil prices will be going up big time again. Anyone who thinks $2 for regular gas is here to stay hasn't thought this thing through.
The Solar Moon Roof is an option, right? So, if you cannot afford this option, don't order it. I imagine that there are many out there that will gladly be willing to pay for this very useful option.
I imagine that there are many out there that will gladly be willing to pay for this very useful option.
Absolutely.
If I were to ever buy a Prius, I'd certainly want a sunroof/moonroof if it were available. I think it's been a shame that there hasn't been a sunroof feature all this time.
If solar panels are built into the moonroof feature, then I'd take 'em.
Think Sunday. As in Super Bowl Sunday, the day its newest television ads hit the airwaves and took direct aim at luxury carmakers, particularly Lexus and BMW. The spot features execs from other companies screaming about newspaper stories featuring Hyundai's luxury sedan, the Genesis, being named North American Car of the Year at the Detroit auto show.
Having not driven the Genesis yet, I can't tell you if it compares to those other rides, but I can tell you about the commercial -- something that I can't do for the latest BMW or Lexus commercial hot spot. Similarly, I can tell you thanks to its ads, that Hyundai is offering to buy back its cars from people who lose their job (after they've made two payments). Rarely do 30-second spots interrupting a ballgame resonate with me -- particularly car commercials, which historically are among the least memorable.
both of you and myself have a history of paying premium prices for cars. Unfortunately us three are not representative of a typical Toyota buyer and Toyota knows that very well.
Yes this is a question of affordability for most Toyota ownners. And even if affordability is a non-issue there are quite a few owners of Toyotas who are affluent and who are just not willing to spend a lot on cars.
If Toyota or Honda used focus groups of luxury car owners to get ideas about their cars then these two companies would be in far more serious trouble then what they are in now.
Dewey, Toyota has been fairly true to itself for a long time. Reliable vanilla for the most part. Lexus, OTOH, is where Toyota can put its bling and high-tech.
The Prius is a special and unique niche car that appropriately began as a simple economy hybrid under the Toyota badge. As it has evolved, it has gotten to be a cool techie vehicle with an appeal that crosses all demographic groups, including the more affluent groups.
Options and packages with increasing tiers of equipment, sophistication and price are excellent methods that Toyota can easily utilize to maintain a broader appeal. As long as a reasonably-equipped and fairly-priced base version of the Prius is offered, then Toyota should have no problem. The new Honda Insight proves this and is already selling well beyond Honda's expectations.
Also, it is important for Toyota to fully understand that those cool techie options make the Prius the premium vehicle over a car like the Honda Insight, and Toyota should also be careful not to ever lose that "edge".
Again, Toyota has Lexus to pick up where Toyota leaves off, and comparatively Lexus is well beyond Honda's Acura division, so I think it's clear that Toyota holds many of the good cards here... they just need to make sure they play them correctly.
This afternoon I repeatedly drove like a satellite around a Lexus IS 220d Sport which was along her way on a highroad. Surely the Lexus female driver thought I was an idiot or else. She (the Lexus) was nice but not to the point of being aesthetically over appealing. Neat car nonetheless.
Just to show I am also fair and balanced :P but biased towards diesel:
My Spanish is coming along slowly (extremely) but I could tell from the Spanish site that they had alot more words to say about the Lexus English just abbreviated as their Law is....Ahhh the good old Spanish and their ability to live.
I like your car alot more than the Lexus, although as you say `neat car`...Tony
Well Howard, we both have the `woman ` part covered...I guess we can still look at both the women and the beautiful cars though
As for the A8 that was three and a half year ago, so I sure don`t think like I did back then....I wouldn` even consider a new car in that catergory...I did briefly consider the cl second hand a few months ago, but I would really want a short version as I have with the Audi....I sat in an A4 the other day, and it has gotten quite roomy, just a very small amount smaller than my car..It funny how if a car company makes a variety of engines we (you and I) want the largest engine they make....I guess it was just our upbringing Tony
It's not just us, Tony-Jose seems to be circling "las mujeres"-using their nice cars they are driving as an excuse! :surprise:
Yes. I like the big engines, but then I get quickly frustrated when I find it difficult to keep my speed at "only" 8o mph on the highway, The 328i is very happy at 80 mph and doesn't urge me on to greater speed; luckily, in Florida, 80 mph is allowed on the highway I use most of the time. The 545i was another story, as I'm sure the 135i is. I can't imagine owning a BMW in the NYC area (my hometown) where one can get a "speeding" ticket on many highways for going a rather slow 65 mph.
One thing about BMW's Tony-they are only average vehicles when driven at 20-50 mph; but at 75+ mph, they are truly wonderful!
So lucky to be living in Tampa, Tony-I played 18 holes of golf today-temperature was 75-77 degrees. I may not have my swimming pool photographed for "Better Homes and Gardens", but I can use it every day of the year while those photographed pools are being used for skating rinks half of the year!
Hope you get back to Miami soon Tony, to enjoy some of this glorious weather!
PS: After having an A8, could you be happy in an A4?
PS': As for "upbringing", my father was very conservative. He was very happy driving a Chevy Impala, even though as a very successful Madison Avenue pharmacist who owned his own business, he could have owned a Cadillac(when owning a Cadillac really meant something). A touch of Warren Buffett, I guess.
Actually, the good thing about the 135i is you feel the speed far more than in a 5er.
That's a good thing, if you can dial in the feel of 80 mph and back off from the irresistible urge for the butter-smooth, effortless sensory rush as you advance to tipple digits in half a heart-beat!
The kicker is the scalpel-like performance as the roads bend that make this car one of the best in it's class. Perhaps a step under the 911, but what a value IMHO!
After driving the 135 vs. the 128, it's a little underwhelming for me to even consider cutting my ego in half!
Tag can add far more feedback on the pros of this fine machine.
Along with the Lexus HS 250h, I plan on driving the 135i this summer when dealerships are "slow" down here in Florida. I surely want to experience some of that excitement you so persuasively talk about! Too bad the salesperson would have to come with me. The only thing that concerns me from the reviews is the limited footwell space, which could be a problem for my 6'2" frame. I will have to check it out for myself.
Before you get too boastful about your pool, you ned to say if it is heated or not? I guarantee any pool as far south as Key West is frigid, until Mr Sun decides it is time for it to be warm ....I remember it took a hundred gallons of propane after each cold front to get it back to reasonable.( Iforget the unit of propane, but the tank was chest high) and I think it was gallons....Even back then I would only use it if a guest was coming as it was expensive...
Your father`s era was one that showed the American spirit at it`s best..Americans were asked (told really) to serve their country, and although greed was alive and well, it was not everything, and people were put in jail --as they should be now--for abuse....Your Friend Tony
Around here folks use solar panels to heat their pools. They do look unsightly on the roof, and for that reason I have done a good job staying off the roof! Also, I don't predict any ice hockey matches anytime soon in any of the pools around here as could happen in February in "Joisy".
The 135i is so full of mischief it will get hpowders a ticket! How's that for feedback. He will be better suited to take his warm swim, play a round of golf, and not be cruising the Florida highways at 90+ MPH, which is exactly what a 135i would do to him.
Besides, we dont' need to worry, because he will fortunately find an excuse to not get the 135i anyway... such as suggesting that the footwell is too small for his size 14 feet, or that he is too afraid that the HPFP will fail... or he will find some other reason he has heard on the 1-Series chat forums to discourage him from getting one. He will find a reason... guaranteed! :P
(Actually, while there is always a little negative to be expected on any forum, I've never seen a more excited bunch of guys about a car as I have when they are talking about the 135i!!)
This 135i is a car I can not part with. I was able to part with my 911, and I am OK with that. The 135i is just loaded with too much fun-to-drive dynamics. I am keeping it (until the warranty runs out... LOL!).
The other day, I got pulled over for having too much "fun" on the roadways. Honest. The two policemen said to relax, because they weren't going to give me a ticket, but they wanted to check out the car, and they wanted me to know that I was "close" to going too far with the way I was driving. I was amazed! What happened was that I quite easily darted around a couple of vehicles that were going way to slow, and I didn't speed around them, but I so easily tossed the 1er around that the cops just felt compelled to stop me and chat about it! True story.
That is why hpowders shouldn't (and he won't) get this car!
Size 14 feet? What am I Bozo the freakin' Clown? I'm only an 11 1/2 EEE! ROTFLMFAO!! Literally!!
When I get stopped, it's usually for changing lanes a bit too often, something the wife constantly chastises me for-one of the reasons I was glad to give her the VW, to take her mind off me...and it's working!!! :shades:
"He will be better suited to take his warm swim...." Sounds like you already have me living in a rest home! "Good morning Hpowders, some good news- I see your children have paid for another month; are you ready for your morning walk?"
You are indeed a funny guy, TM!! Another priceless post!
Comments
The real meaning here is that we can expect to see those higher-priced high-tech features inside Lexus vehicles before we see them in the Toyota vehicles.
TM
link title
Say it ain't so, Joe.
TM
OMG! That buck-toothed squirrel of a front end....I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
One good thing: Now at least people turned on by extreme ugliness are offered a choice by BMW:
The X6 or 5 Series GT. :shades:
"Oh, it be so, Joe....it be so." :surprise:
TM
Just trying to keep things fair and balanced.
TM
I'll tell you what Tag. If I hear that Lexus is going towards the Toyota thinking, I am going to scream bloody murder :mad: . But as I stated above, I think Toyota is being stupid. They can still have the high tech features and allow the customer to order what they want.
It boggles my mind Tony that Toyota is heading in this direction. It makes no sense to me.
why :confuse:
If you don't need an SUV's hauling capacity, why are you willing to put up with an SUV's poorer handling?
If I wanted something roomier than a BMW sedan, I'd buy the 535 Sports Wagon
I don't know, I guess I just like the idea of having a high driving position.
Yes, I do not need a hauling capacity, I am never going to tow anything.
Oh no, I hate wagons, I'd rather take the sedan.
The thing is I want a Japanese car and a Lexus,I also want a high driving position. The LX is to expensive and to big, the RX is the only option
Reliability is important to me, and bmws don't seem to be good at it, the 3 series is a better built car in everyway compare to the X6,the 3series is built in Germany,yet the troubles Mr. dewey had is something you can't ignore.
I really really like the x6, but don't want to be at the dealer the next day or the next month or even next year.
I don't like the idea of buying something as new and then fixing it in a garage, be it a car, a laptop or even a cell phone.
Let me venture a guess-ummmm- because the X6 has no purpose and on top of that is hideous to look at?
If I am right, it was just a lucky guess! :shades:
By the way, I am certainly not an apologist for Lexus and am usually biased in favor of BMW vehicles; but not regarding the X6.
I would choose neither the RX nor the X6.
I would wait to test drive the new 2009 V6 TDI VW Touareg 2 or perhaps go for a CPO Porsche Cayenne S. The Porsche gets around 15 mpg while the VW gets around 21
I do not know. I liked it since the first time I saw it at the dealer 10 months back.
I've previously read lots of electronics trouble for the VW Touareg, but I'll take your advice and take a look, but as I mentioned in my other post, I prefer Japanese and Lexus, if its a non Japanese, then the X6,
Not sure about the cayenne, the options keeps adding more and more $$$...
When will there be a redesign 5 series?
Is buying the current 5 series a good idea?
Okay, then what purpose does the Cayenne or the X5 have? extra seats in the back which I'll never use?
True! That is why if you go back and re-read my post I indicated you could look at a CPO Cayenne. There are great deals to be had at this time across all luxury vehicle lines for vehicles that are 1-3 years old and certified by the dealers, just sitting there, waiting to be cleared off the anxious dealers' lots, some with low mileage.
Once this recession is over, gas prices will rise again with a vengeance, possibly above $4 a gallon again, which is why instead of going the SUV route, I will be visiting my nearest Lexus dealer to test drive its eagerly anticipated hybrid sedan, the HS250h, probably out by mid-summer and should sell for around $40,000 with some decent options. From the photos I have seen, the Lexus overwhelmingly trumps the Prius in the looks department.
Looking forward to driving my first hybrid vehicle!
I'd rather but a honda accord then a used luxury car.
I personally hate the x3, I'd take the RX any day over the X3 without even thinking twice.
To tell you the truth, as I keep mentioning I am just to scare to put my hands on any bmw for reliability and electronics issue, but still want to get the x6 which I am completely aware is a very risky buy.
I've actually seen some used x6s already up for sale, which makes me even more curious for the x6 problems.
By my personal experience, Toyota, Lexus does not have any troubles for the first 3 years which is by my own and my family experience.
How is the reliability for the current 5 series? I sure that they will have big discounts once the redesign 5 seri hits the dealer,
Do you have any info when the new 5 seri will be coming?
Looking forward to driving my first hybrid vehicle
I agree with you, gas prices are most likely to go up.
Good luck for the HS250h drive,
Once you get use to Toyota Lexus reliability, its hard to trust another brand.
The 2008 5 Series has had excellent reliability; probably the most reliable vehicle that BMW makes at this particular time.
Yes. It will feel really nice going to a car dealer and being made to feel like a valued human being again. That is one thing Lexus seems to do better than anybody else.
"Fair and Balanced" :shades:
There seems to be a pendulum swinging in front of your eyes and a voice from far far away is saying
You need X6
You need X6
:-)
Have/Will you consider(ed) MDX. Best driving dynamics in its class. Its Japanese, Reliable, have better dynamics then RX, High seat position.
How about Infiniti FX?
I went to check out the new RX today, the interior is nice, but not very special, exterior is ok, but again not special. When starting the engine it definitely feels how quite and smooth it is.
Then there is the x6, which is something different, very loud when starting, harsh ride which every1 talks about because of the run flats, which surprisingly I did not feel when testing the x6 inline6, engine heating troubles seems to be a normal thing for x6.
Which is the better choice?
I would like to point out that I don't have a wife, or any kids, so I really don't care if the car seats 4 , or 5.
I like to add that I've never in my life read engines troubles for any other car as much as I read about x5 and the x6.
I'd also like to point out, after testing the x6 the sales guy told me to take the x5 rather than the x6 which won't last you long,isn't a daily using car which was a shock from a dealer.
I suspect that poor Dewey is the victim of bad luck. As others have noted, the 3 is a reliable car overall. My 330i is almost 8 years old & has been as trouble-free as most of our Japanese cars.
My wife drives a Lexus, so I know that Lexus cars are (1) very reliable & (2) rather boring. We'll visit our Lexus dealer tomorrow for a test drive, not because we're in the market for a new car - we're not - but because Lexus will send us a $75 gift card if we test drive something. If one is available, we'll drive a 2010 RX & I'll report our impressions.
Incidentally, Sanjay's suggestion that you consider an Acura MDX is an excellent one. If (God forbid) I had to buy an SUV, I'd pick that one.
Why? With financing( both equity and debt) being so costly as it is today a company like Microsoft that can internally fund itself with the oodles of cash flow from its sales of computing operating systems is a blessing.
But Microsoft does have its problems. Apple, Linux, lower profit margins with the new craze for netbooks, its dismal performance in web search, its weaknesses in the mobile markets, idiotic ads like that Seinfeld one, XBox still struggling to be profitable, and their not so bright plan to do retailing (retailing is a tough low margin business that will generate a far lower return on capital than algorithms).
Despite the above and the many other weaknesses with Microsoft it is still protected with large barriers of entry with its stranglehold in operating systems. As various software/internet companies hit the wall with financing issues Microsoft will be able to make some very opportunistic purchases at rock bottom desperate prices.
I have recently added Microsoft in my clients portfolios. Among the dozens of companies I bought recently is one called Leons (Canadian Furniture retailer).
Why furniture retailing which happens to be one of the worst industries possible right now? It has no debt. It has no retail lease obligation since it owns almost all of their own real estate( a lot of that real estate bought decades ago at dirt low prices which mean hidden asset values) . Despite the recession its profits are still growing. Its cash flow remains very healthy. Year after year its return on capital has been phenemonal and still is. A good dividend yield with a low pay out ratio. And here's the kicker: It is selling at a price that only a financially troubled company would be selling at. This stock is definitely a gem.
These markets are crazy indeed and I just cant keep up with all the compelling values that are out there right now.
You are fair, but I would doubt you would take a hit such as trading your new 3 , for a 1, as I am afraid we both will not find a car that is simple and not over engineered ,as use to exist......Maybe going from the big 5 to the 3 with the smaller engine--not supercharged--with the vw in between--was chasing an old memory...I have slowed down as time has passed, still enjoy a powerful car, but the weight is just there...and the traffic is also.....
When I go on a long trip and the mpg is twenty five, the depreciation on the car is way larger than the gas cost, so I`m just going to go with a pleasurable car, not so expensive as the A8, but nothing out there catches my eye.....Maybe I`l see something down in Miam in a week or so, as that is where life is still going as fast as it can, and nothing is hidden.....Women or cars...Tony
Toyota is a mainstream brand that represents value and reliability. That is why many people love Toyotas.
Pricing has not been confirmed yet but if a 23K Prius becomes a 28K Prius because of a solar sun roof percentage wise that is almost a 25 percent increase in price. A 25 percent increase in price for one option is hefty. In a premium priced Lexus the 5K $ difference for such an option wont appear to be as much percentage wise as a Prius.
Such hefty prices contradicts the Toyota value message. And value is what people want nowdays and that is why Toyota feels insecure in selling the 3rd generation Prius without a second generation Prius to compete with the far cheaper Honda Insight.
Everything now boils down to price, That is why Hyundai sales are the most healthiest in the auto industry.
I am hybrid curious too in terms of reading your test drive review of the Lexus HS250
Sorry I left out the A8 when writing about the new BMW 7 Series a while back. Folks who are fortunate enough to have that kind of money to spend, have an embarrassment of riches deciding among the A8, S Class and 7 Series!
The problem with the 328i is the 545i! I got spoiled, Tony. Nothing really wrong with the 328i.
"Women or cars" Why choose when one can have both??
From the photos, the HS 250h is a handsome-looking vehicle, but the front seats look a bit flimsy. I'm sure Lexus will offer better seats for oh....around $3000! LOL!!
Dewey, I am serious about driving the Lexus. Hybrid technology is the future and the future is now. When the world economies come out of recession, oil prices will be going up big time again. Anyone who thinks $2 for regular gas is here to stay hasn't thought this thing through.
Absolutely.
If I were to ever buy a Prius, I'd certainly want a sunroof/moonroof if it were available. I think it's been a shame that there hasn't been a sunroof feature all this time.
If solar panels are built into the moonroof feature, then I'd take 'em.
TM
Ad campaign resonates
Think Sunday. As in Super Bowl Sunday, the day its newest television ads hit the airwaves and took direct aim at luxury carmakers, particularly Lexus and BMW. The spot features execs from other companies screaming about newspaper stories featuring Hyundai's luxury sedan, the Genesis, being named North American Car of the Year at the Detroit auto show.
Having not driven the Genesis yet, I can't tell you if it compares to those other rides, but I can tell you about the commercial -- something that I can't do for the latest BMW or Lexus commercial hot spot. Similarly, I can tell you thanks to its ads, that Hyundai is offering to buy back its cars from people who lose their job (after they've made two payments). Rarely do 30-second spots interrupting a ballgame resonate with me -- particularly car commercials, which historically are among the least memorable.
But Hyundai has done it.
Regards,
OW
Reminds me of Old GM! Smokey and the Bandit comes to mind!
Regards,
OW
both of you and myself have a history of paying premium prices for cars. Unfortunately us three are not representative of a typical Toyota buyer and Toyota knows that very well.
Yes this is a question of affordability for most Toyota ownners. And even if affordability is a non-issue there are quite a few owners of Toyotas who are affluent and who are just not willing to spend a lot on cars.
If Toyota or Honda used focus groups of luxury car owners to get ideas about their cars then these two companies would be in far more serious trouble then what they are in now.
If money is no object then get a X6 5.0i. I a m sure there are some really good discounted deals on such a vehicle.
Toyota has been fairly true to itself for a long time. Reliable vanilla for the most part. Lexus, OTOH, is where Toyota can put its bling and high-tech.
The Prius is a special and unique niche car that appropriately began as a simple economy hybrid under the Toyota badge. As it has evolved, it has gotten to be a cool techie vehicle with an appeal that crosses all demographic groups, including the more affluent groups.
Options and packages with increasing tiers of equipment, sophistication and price are excellent methods that Toyota can easily utilize to maintain a broader appeal. As long as a reasonably-equipped and fairly-priced base version of the Prius is offered, then Toyota should have no problem. The new Honda Insight proves this and is already selling well beyond Honda's expectations.
Also, it is important for Toyota to fully understand that those cool techie options make the Prius the premium vehicle over a car like the Honda Insight, and Toyota should also be careful not to ever lose that "edge".
Again, Toyota has Lexus to pick up where Toyota leaves off, and comparatively Lexus is well beyond Honda's Acura division, so I think it's clear that Toyota holds many of the good cards here... they just need to make sure they play them correctly.
TM
Just to show I am also fair and balanced :P but biased towards diesel:
Spanish site
English site
Regards,
Jose
PS: Tony I've thought you can take advantage from the Spanish site to practice your Spanish!
Edit: I forget to say I also overtook a massive but slow black Lexus GS 450h. :P
My Spanish is coming along slowly (extremely) but I could tell from the Spanish site that they had alot more words to say about the Lexus
I like your car alot more than the Lexus, although as you say `neat car`...Tony
As for the A8 that was three and a half year ago, so I sure don`t think like I did back then....I wouldn` even consider a new car in that catergory...I did briefly consider the cl second hand a few months ago, but I would really want a short version as I have with the Audi....I sat in an A4 the other day, and it has gotten quite roomy, just a very small amount smaller than my car..It funny how if a car company makes a variety of engines we (you and I) want the largest engine they make....I guess it was just our upbringing
Yes. I like the big engines, but then I get quickly frustrated when I find it difficult to keep my speed at "only" 8o mph on the highway, The 328i is very happy at 80 mph and doesn't urge me on to greater speed; luckily, in Florida, 80 mph is allowed on the highway I use most of the time. The 545i was another story, as I'm sure the 135i is. I can't imagine owning a BMW in the NYC area (my hometown) where one can get a "speeding" ticket on many highways for going a rather slow 65 mph.
One thing about BMW's Tony-they are only average vehicles when driven at 20-50 mph; but at 75+ mph, they are truly wonderful!
So lucky to be living in Tampa, Tony-I played 18 holes of golf today-temperature was 75-77 degrees. I may not have my swimming pool photographed for "Better Homes and Gardens", but I can use it every day of the year while those photographed pools are being used for skating rinks half of the year!
Hope you get back to Miami soon Tony, to enjoy some of this glorious weather!
PS: After having an A8, could you be happy in an A4?
PS': As for "upbringing", my father was very conservative. He was very happy driving a Chevy Impala, even though as a very successful Madison Avenue pharmacist who owned his own business, he could have owned a Cadillac(when owning a Cadillac really meant something). A touch of Warren Buffett, I guess.
That's a good thing, if you can dial in the feel of 80 mph and back off from the irresistible urge for the butter-smooth, effortless sensory rush as you advance to tipple digits in half a heart-beat!
The kicker is the scalpel-like performance as the roads bend that make this car one of the best in it's class. Perhaps a step under the 911, but what a value IMHO!
After driving the 135 vs. the 128, it's a little underwhelming for me to even consider cutting my ego in half!
Tag can add far more feedback on the pros of this fine machine.
See? I still have my caviar dreams!
Regards,
OW
The only thing that concerns me from the reviews is the limited footwell space, which could be a problem for my 6'2" frame. I will have to check it out for myself.
Thanks!
Before you get too boastful about your pool, you ned to say if it is heated or not? I guarantee any pool as far south as Key West is frigid, until Mr Sun decides it is time for it to be warm
Your father`s era was one that showed the American spirit at it`s best..Americans were asked (told really) to serve their country, and although greed was alive and well, it was not everything, and people were put in jail --as they should be now--for abuse....Your Friend Tony
Around here folks use solar panels to heat their pools. They do look unsightly on the roof, and for that reason I have done a good job staying off the roof!
Also, I don't predict any ice hockey matches anytime soon in any of the pools around here as could happen in February in "Joisy".
I agree with you on the jail thing.
I remain:
Hpowders
(If I didn't, I'd actually be somebody else).
The 135i is so full of mischief it will get hpowders a ticket! How's that for feedback. He will be better suited to take his warm swim, play a round of golf, and not be cruising the Florida highways at 90+ MPH, which is exactly what a 135i would do to him.
Besides, we dont' need to worry, because he will fortunately find an excuse to not get the 135i anyway... such as suggesting that the footwell is too small for his size 14 feet, or that he is too afraid that the HPFP will fail... or he will find some other reason he has heard on the 1-Series chat forums to discourage him from getting one. He will find a reason... guaranteed! :P
(Actually, while there is always a little negative to be expected on any forum, I've never seen a more excited bunch of guys about a car as I have when they are talking about the 135i!!)
This 135i is a car I can not part with. I was able to part with my 911, and I am OK with that. The 135i is just loaded with too much fun-to-drive dynamics. I am keeping it (until the warranty runs out... LOL!).
The other day, I got pulled over for having too much "fun" on the roadways. Honest. The two policemen said to relax, because they weren't going to give me a ticket, but they wanted to check out the car, and they wanted me to know that I was "close" to going too far with the way I was driving. I was amazed! What happened was that I quite easily darted around a couple of vehicles that were going way to slow, and I didn't speed around them, but I so easily tossed the 1er around that the cops just felt compelled to stop me and chat about it! True story.
That is why hpowders shouldn't (and he won't) get this car!
TM
Size 14 feet? What am I Bozo the freakin' Clown? I'm only an 11 1/2 EEE! ROTFLMFAO!! Literally!!
When I get stopped, it's usually for changing lanes a bit too often, something the wife constantly chastises me for-one of the reasons I was glad to give her the VW, to take her mind off me...and it's working!!! :shades:
"He will be better suited to take his warm swim...." Sounds like you already have me living in a rest home! "Good morning Hpowders, some good news- I see your children have paid for another month; are you ready for your morning walk?"
You are indeed a funny guy, TM!! Another priceless post!
PS: I'll drive it! I'll drive it!