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Nonsense! I see many men driving RX vehicles here in Toronto and everyone of them I saw so far is not a cross-dresser.
I tried to sell my BMW 335i to my BMW dealership and I got an insulting offer for it.
I tried to trade in my BMW 335i at a Toyota dealership and I got an equally insulting offer for it.
So I sold my BMW privately at a 25 percent premium price over what Toyota or BMW wanted to offer me.
I am very happy with the price I got. And I am even happier now because I am going to be getting my arctic white Prius sometime next week.
"The most important things in life are not things."
OK may be I did not go yet to a hermitage to stay there permanently and make a "Vow of Poverty".
.I still want to buy a luxury car but my future luxury car will be very different from the luxury cars discussed in this forum. My interest right now is a Mercedes Benz SEL or SL from the the 1960s. I love old Benzes and I always did.
For me, it would have to be a first generation 190SL. All of the looks of the legendary 300, without the insane price. Not exactly a power house, but who cares when it looks like that. Never liked the second gen, the 230SL looked like a dowdy copy of a British roadster. I'd much rather have one of the '60s four-seat Mercedes cabrios than that. In fact I've never really liked any of the SLs after that first generation. Same goes for the Corvette. The pre-war Benzes are stunning, but there's something vaguely sinister about them that I don't like. There's nothing evil about an Auburn.
Regards,
Jose
Hell, personally I disagree with him. Sure it's a bit less masculine than some other models but girly isn't the word I'd use. The new one doesnt look any different IMO, and I actually like the old one better (except for the front end where the new one is somewhat better)
However I believe people are entitled to their own opinions so as long as he's not discriminating anyone I'd say nothing about it. Were he to say "all RX drivers are pansies" I'd be against it in no time, but if he personally thinks the RX is "girly" well, it's his right to think that way.
Hope we can peacefully agree or diasgree here. :shades:
Thankyou jimbres for putting this in words.
I just wish LG stop making comments about Lexus vehicles based on older models.
I am looking for something that is not priced in the stratosphere but has the potential to become a collector's car assuming ofcourse there are any SL and SEL that are not priced to the stratosphere as a collector's car.
I am at the first step of this Classic MB endeavor and I do intend to become more knowledgable in terms of pricing as time goes by. Back in the 80s I had the opportunity to buy a 67 or 68 MB 300 SEL that was in an impeccable condition from a sweet old lady who lived next door to my parents' condominium in Florida.
I still kick myself for missing that great opportunity. Today that old SELt would sit in matrimony beside my MB 300D. It has been almost 3 decades and my 300D still remains single. Pardon me for sounding like a nagging mother.
But in terms of engineering LG raises good engineering points about the current hybrid RX but at the same time the hybrid RX is far more of an engineering marvel than a Audi Q espeicially in terms of its fuel efficient drivetrain.
This is not a question of being "right" or "wrong".
Anyways it's too late for me to delete the joke below ( Edmunds will allow me to "edit" but not "delete" since I think you've heard those "bull run jokes related to wearing good running shoes" more than once.)
Instead I've edited my joke which is not much of an improvement. :surprise:
So here it goes:
With those angrily provoked and fast bulls at least you are driving a BMW 335d. Though I guess the whole point of the event is to outrun a bull no to outdrive a bull with a car.
Are you using Firefox? If so, and you are seeing the Edit link but not the Delete link, switch over to IE to find it. This is a recent, um, development.
Pat
In fact you cannot outrun a bull.
Regards,
Jose
PS. Looking forward to be envious if you buy the 190 SL
I've been silent on this so far. My only comment is this... Here in Malibu, I regularly see surfboards tucked inside the bed of pickups, poking out of convertibles, held in place on the side of bicycles, on top of minivans, and mostly tied to the roof rack of SUVs. I have seen so many different models of SUVs loaded with a surfboard or two at some point, but I have yet to see a single one on top of an RX.
But, I'm on the lookout!... and I'll let you know if I ever see one!
:shades:
TM
IE? I'm not familiar with this abbreviation.
Regards,
Jose
Regards,
Jose
Indeed, it's quite a looker. The original SL ranks up there with the best Ferraris and the Maserati 3500GT Spyder from the late '50s. The second generation on the other hand looks like a Triumph or MG. The E-type just crushes it in the styling front, and that's not even my favorite Jag.
I think the issue may be that we have different definitions of the word "firm". I don't expect the ES350 to have the comedy suspension of a '70s Lincoln Continental, but when I think "firm", I think of a car with painted on tires and all of the give of a block of concrete. A 911 GT3 has a "firm" ride. If that's one extreme, and a Grand Marquis is the other, The ES would be on the softer side of the spectrum.
No problems here with Firefox 3.1. Perhaps the buttons were cut off by a too-wide picture?
Btw, back on the original question, it appears that decent AWD (hopefully w/ low range) is necessary, so apart from Touareg and RRSport, are there any other alternatives? If not, then is it safe for me to recommend the VW as the better choice? (I dont know about other places, but in my area VW service is excellent, but the T-reg itself is as reliable as gokart)...
Thanks.
I still say the Lexus GX470 is the best option. Service and reliability shouldn't be an issue, and its 4Runner based AWD system can challenge anybody off road. Either that, or a used LX.
Yeah supposedly there's going to be a replacement next year. There's always the used option since the GX basically hasn't changed since it was introduced. A CPO '06 can be had for under $30K.
So which browser can I use to delete all of my "high praise-BMW posts" from these past few years?.
Yeah, a bit. I just think it looks ugly, which is what Honda is all about these days. I hope it comes with a backup camera, because no one will be able to see anything out of the rear glass.
It's just you.
Given the body styles, they have basic things in common, but overall they are plenty different. I've seen pictures of the Honda before, and I never once thought it looked anything like the Panamera. Overall, the Porsche looks fairly attractive, although I have absolutely zero increase in adrenaline when I gaze upon it, but the Honda, OTOH, looks like a mess... IMHO.
I would be very surprised to see that Honda model succeed for all too long... but you never know. Personally, I dislike it quite a bit.
TM
the problem is that it's not only ugly but that there is a beautiful Honda Estate Wagon in Europe that could be sold instead.
Honda is behaving like a second-rate company by imitating everything Toyota does.
Xerox the Prius with an Insight
Xerox the new Honda crossover so it looks like a crossover offering from Toyota.
Toyota, Toyota, Toyota, Honda just wants to be a Toyota. Why should a customer buy a Honda instead of a Toyota? The Honda Insight SCREAMS " I want to be a Prius so bad but unfortunately I am not a Prius and that is why you can buy me for a few thousands of dollars less".
Pathetic, just so pathetic.
What happened to the Honda of the 80s that had exceptionally distinct cars that made Toyotas look incredible boring?
What happened to the Honda of the 80s that had exceptionally distinct cars that made Toyotas look incredible boring?
The same thing that happened to the people that bought them :P
I can't think of anything on the market like the full size Honda Accord hatchback, I think the Mazda6 hatch and the Malibu Maxx were close. I don't think the Accord Hatch is any worse looking than the BMW x6 hatch.
Dewey, did you get the LDW/LKA on your Prius? Its got to be better than the Infiniti system.
I agree that Honda lost its mojo about mid-90s, replacing the CRX SI with the "del-sol" was not a slick move, nor was replacing the Integra with the RSX, the Legend with a boat, etc. The current Civic SI has some great seats and a real limited slip differential, but other than that, there isn't too much of interest in the Honda/Acura camp...of course there wasn't when I bought my Accord either which begs the question...
No.
For two reasons:
I like to minimize passive driving. The Prius will be the very first car I ever bought with an non-manual transmission. CVT is a bit too exotic for me but I will learn to accept it. LDK/LKA, radar cruise control and self park would be overbearing for me.
The second reason is I want to keep this car as my downtown vehicle for a long time so reliability, durability and low maintenance are my priorities. Adding electro gizmo complexity can lead to far more maintenance headaches in the long term.
On Wednesday I will pick up a metallic blue Prius with premium package and a solar sunroof.
The turbodiesel Honda Accord Touring Estate Wagon which is available in Europe could have been my choice if it was available here.
link title
THERE’S no longer any debate or any doubt: Americans hate station wagons. Deep down, they still love and want their S.U.V.’s, even if most of these are now marketed as crossovers, a politically soothing yet increasingly pointless distinction.
Car companies foreign and domestic have learned that the best way to stumble in this market is to design and market a station wagon, no matter how practical, sporty or affordable. (Make an exception for Subaru and its wagon fanatics.) The best way to succeed is to offer a decadent, overweight would-be S.U.V. that looks bulky and capable but is mostly used for mall reconnaissance; even a weekend trip with two parents and two children can overwhelm the cargo-carrying ability of the typical downsized, do-little luxury crossover.
Audi sold nearly 21,000 of its big Q7 crossover in 2007, compared with barely 2,800 of its sprightly A4 Avant wagon and just 758 of the larger A6 wagon.
Absolutely the case in my household. No desire for a wagon at all and always likely to have an SUV in the garage until my old age. Reasons - Like being high off the road, more confidence in snow, require a 3rd row that is a lot better than a wagon, need the storage capacity for big ticket items I buy, for travelling vacations, and now to bring my son things for college. I have a pair of 50" plasmas and a 52" LCD and they all arrived via SUV.
I just received an email from Honda regarding the upcoming CR-Z. It is now official that the CR-Z hybrid sports coupe will go into production. It will be offered for sale in 2010. Nothing like it coming from Toyota at this time.
With regards to the Insight, I think there is little doubt that Honda is trying to be competitive with Toyota's Prius, but has no real method of doing so other than by offering a cheaper alternative. The Honda Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid drive system is simply not in the same league as Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive. They have no effective means of offering a better mousetrap. That leaves the price as their only real weapon against the Prius at this time. This is a special vehicle category that Toyota really kills Honda, and Honda knows it and is desperately trying to work around it.
Back to the upcoming CR-V... it is certainly not a Toyota wannabe. It is a smart move on Honda's part. If the economic crisis hadn't hit so hard, there would also be an upcoming convertible variant of that car, but it has been scrubbed for now.
Honda didn't try to copy Toyota with their Ridgeline truck... and frankly, they would have been better off if they had. The sloped walls on the Ridgeline's bed are much too weird, and they turned the truck into a freak, when it might have had a better chance with a conventional bed. It got great reviews for its engineering otherwise.
The Element is a strange vehicle, and does not follow Toyota. The CR-V is one of the very best SUVs out there, and Toyota has nothing to compare, IMO. I do not believe that Honda followed Toyota. If anything, Toyota's RAV-4 was an attempt to copy Honda's CR-V. The upcoming Accord 4-door hatchback is not like anything from Toyota that I can think of.
I would venture to say that Toyota copied Honda's Accord when it came out with the Camry.
Honda's S2000 is a unique and very cool vehicle. I am going to be sorry to see it come to an end. Nothing like it from Toyota, IMO.
The Honda Odyssey is still the king of minivans, IMO. But whether or not you think it is the best, it is still a superb vehicle for its category. The Civic is waaaay better than the Corolla. It's a terrific small car that deserves praise. Toyota could benefit by copying Honda on this one.
The Honda Fit is not a copy of a Toyota, and Toyota's Yaris is pathetic by any comparison or stretch of the imagination.
I do agree that Honda needs to improve their designs with regards to many of their vehicles at this point. And, the Acura line will always be a disaster until they abandon the beak look, and until they decide to truly present first class interior materials and workmanship.
In this competitive environment, and considering that these vehicles are from Japan, I think what we are seeing is natural.
But, I still like a lot of what I see out of Honda, and I see much of it as original and innovative. Can they improve? Damned right, but they deserve a lot of credit as well. (Again... I exclude Acura, as they are totally screwed up, IMO, except for the MDX, which is a terrific SUV, but even the MDX desperately needs improvement to its interior.)
BTW, contrats again on your Prius. I think this G3 Prius is a terrific vehicle and is a genuine smart purchase and a great value. I like the looks of it soooo much more than the previous generation. There is absolutely nothing to compete against it on the market at this time, IMO. The only other small economical vehicle that I would consider that is currently for sale would be the Jetta clean diesel... but I would still pick the G3 Prius over that. I think the G3 Prius is the best economy car ever built. The upcoming Honda Fit Hybrid might be an interesting economical approach to transportation as well... but the Prius has a more luxurious and techie nature about it... lots of cool factor, IMO. You have made a wise choice. If my 135i were ever to betray me, as your 335i betrayed you, I would probably get a Prius... or just maybe an Audi S4 convertible... LOL.
TM
Indeed, I read that this morning. So far the Q5 has gotten pretty much universally positive reviews, and has won every comparison test it has entered, easily besting the GLK and the XC60.
The article though is a bit dated when it comes to Subaru and their wagons. The Legacy wagon is dead, and the new Outback has sort of morphed into a crossover. It's four inches taller than the old one, and it's obvious from the styling that Subaru is saying "don't worry, its not really a wagon, you don't have to be embarrassed." The mainstream wagon has essentially disappeared from the US market.
Only the Swedes and the Germans still have them, and it looks like the days of BMW wagons may be numbered.
Yes my mother's minivan used to move us back and forth to college and taking out the second and third row left us a u-haul size cavern for our stuff. In Southern California, snow isn't so much an issue. Of course in Michigan, our awd Subaru Legacy wagon was great for bringing home our LCD HDTV.
As a driver, I really don't see myself in a SUV/CUV, even if the media tells me I need one and I am not cool enough without one.
I guess it depends on which aspect of Apple you're talking about. I don't have much of an issue with Apples' designs or its choice of materials in products like the MacBook Pro. They are certainly much better than your average plasticky HP (Toyota?) and I think that's what the author was referring to.
What I don't like about Apple is their secretive, controlling nature run by the all-mighty Jobs who knows all and wills all. Don't like mobile Safari? Too bad! Jobs has willed that you will use it and so it must be so! It's that kind of thing that rubs me the wrong way, and you don't get that with Audi.
If anything, that sort of "we know better than you" attitude makes me think more of BMW.
I do like the CR-V eyes pleasing shape thought.
The CR-V and the RAV4 are really neck-and-neck overall. Each has pros and cons. I also prefer the CR-V's styling... quite a bit I might add. The comparison I made between the two vehicles in my previous lengthy post did not fit in with the rest of the post.... which was really more about the point that Honda isn't just manufacturing Toyota wannabes. The Insight is an exception, and is obviously a result of the Prius's incredible success... but the other vehicles stand on their own merit. I think my point is explained fairly well, except for that glitch... sorry 'bout that.
Do you agree with the rest of my post?
TM
The same could be said of the Civic and Corolla. The latest versions of both cars are farther apart than they ever have been. The Civic is competitive with the best in the segment, while the Corolla remains a cardboard box on wheels.
But for LCD TVs I have my brother in laws to help me there. One drives a Chrysler minivan and the other drives a Toyota Highlander.
Personally I am still more of a wagon person than a SUV person.
I
The steering feedback is phenomenal. Rated above the Rav-4. Underpowered but spot-on driving dynamics.
Regards,
OW
But most of Honda's products are not as distinguished as they used to be.
Also their strategy is an echo of Toyota's. I just recently read that Honda will put their hybrid drivetrains in every model. That sounds a lot like Toyota to me. At least Nissan is focusing on Electrical Vehicles which just may become the new and better type of vehicle.
Honda Fit Hybrid? Forget it! What about a Honda Fit Diesel? Now that would be one distinguished small car with a lot of interior space and fuel efficiency. Once you start fitting a hybrid system in a Fit it's much lauded space efficiency will diminish