You can't Wal-Mart your suppliers to death and achieve high-quality products.
Very well said.
We're in the process of teaching this to the bean-counters where I work. However, they continue to collect their bonuses & move on to greener pastures before the long-term effects of their work become apparent.
We just sold a 2001 S80 at a tremendous loss. They're insanely awful cars (poor steering, lousy interior pieces, cheap suspensions and just plain awful engines). I honestly feel bad for the guy who bought the car. It was a 2001 with only 56k miles on it but given the number of repairs we made in just one year of ownership (and 7k miles), I can safely say that was by far the worst car I've ever been around. It made my BMWs, VWs and even Fords look good!
My fiancee will never live down her decision to get that car. I won't let her.
Bruce, I've had my 2007 TL-Type S for a month and a half and enjoy the sound system very much. DVD audio gives complete surround (7 channels, I think) and the active noise cancellation plus speed sensitive volume gives a great experience. I also like the fact that it has a tape player for some of my old "custom" tapes. Jack
And don’t forget the seats I remember sitting in an S80 on the showroom floor and thought the seats were the most comfortable Though I didn’t think the showroom price was justified though a used one from blue guy’s fiancée might be
You like those seats? Oh my god, welcome to grandpa's LeSabre. Awful. Soft, squishy, soft leather, wide, no bolstering - like a 30-year-old recliner in an old person's home.
She will get teased for the decision because anyone who does even a modicum of research would discover the dismal repair rates and resale value of Volvos (she bought the car a week or so before we began dating). Volvos are like buying an American cars but more expensive to repair.
She's got her old Corolla for the time being. She likes the Mini. If she really wants it, she'll get it. Not an ELLPS person at all. Although she did express a bit of interest in the size of the TSX.
She feeds my addiction though as she keeps telling me to get a Cayman or Carrera to replace my 3 in 08. Not gonna happen with family plans for 09.
Sound system...what's that? I use my ipod so the sound system is irrelevant to me.
do you use earphones while driving?? I sure hope not. so if you play that Ipod through the car's system, it is still relevant to you. However, if you don't CARE what it sounds like, that is a whole different story.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
I haven't tried the G35's system, but I had those Bose system in my 350z and it wasn't very good at all. And, by all accounts I've read, Bose is typically near the bottom of the pile.
The Mark Levinson is supposed to be very good, but so is the TL. There was a magazine I read not too long ago while sitting in a doc's office that rated car sound systems ... wish I could remember what mag that was ...
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
I haven't tried the G35's system, but I had those Bose system in my 350z and it wasn't very good at all. And, by all accounts I've read, Bose is typically near the bottom of the pile.
The Mark Levinson is supposed to be very good, but so is the TL. There was a magazine I read not too long ago while sitting in a doc's office that rated car sound systems ... wish I could remember what mag that was ...
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
do you use earphones while driving?? I sure hope not. so if you play that Ipod through the car's system, it is still relevant to you. However, if you don't CARE what it sounds like, that is a whole different story.
Through the car's sound system. It sounds like garbage but that's because it's playing MP3s. Garbage in, garbage out.
do you use earphones while driving?? I sure hope not. so if you play that Ipod through the car's system, it is still relevant to you. However, if you don't CARE what it sounds like, that is a whole different story.
Through the car's sound system. It sounds like garbage but that's because it's playing MP3s. Garbage in, garbage out.
oh ... no, no, no. This is a common misconception. MP3s can be VERY high quality if you create them properly. Unfortunately, most of what you can download from the internet is not very good. But if you rip from your own CDs and set the quality high enough, it can be just as good as the originals.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
I set all my CD rips at 256 kbps. In the end I'm still stuck with a cruddy BMW Logic-9 million stereo, so there's little hope. Shrug...if I want music to sound great I'll... Oh wait, I don't own any CDs as I ripped them and resold them. Uh, go to a small concert venue and hope the crowd and acoustics are decent? :confuse:
In the end I'm still stuck with a cruddy BMW Logic-9 million stereo
well, there ya go. hehe.
BTW, I rip all mine at 320. Higher rates are on their way, I'm sure. Of course, that will just make people have to buy new Ipods to support it. But it should make Apple happy. Pretty soon they won't bother producing anything BUT ipods.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
'preciate the feedback! And, I understand where you are coming from about the turning radius, etc. Perhaps one day we will all be lucky enough to afford a fleet of desirable cars to rotate through our various needs and moods.
Let me just say that I do not envy you at all with the snow situation - that takes more grit than I can muster! If I were one of the first settlers, I would have perished instantaneously . . .
IMHO, it was the Acura TL, Lexus IS350 and Infiniti G35 -- in that order. Heck, the outgoing CTS almost sounds better than the new G35. (I wasn't too impressed by the G35's audio--handling was another matter.)
- Get Audiograbber. It's easy to configure external plugins. - Get the latest LAME codec and install it - drop everytihng in the Audiograbber directory and restart the app. - Set the mp3 encoding to 256Kbps, maximum quality(48k), dual stereo. This results in a 8-9mb file for most music and takes a little longer to encode.(few seconds, at most). Also turn on error correction.
256K is at best metal tape quality. A bit over 17Khz maximum frequency and about 1/3 the dynamic range of CD as well. But it's fine for normal listening in the car.
Most MP3s are encoded at 128Kbps, average quality(44k), and joint stereo. It sounds a lot like AM Stereo - with the same bleedover from each channel and distortion.(8.5Khz top end and barely anything for dynamic range - it's worse that a typical 11Khz computer game sound)
Note - if you really want to get best quality, set it to VBR 0 - which makes it go up to 320K sampling down to 128K or so for simpler passages. Sounds fantastic, but 15Meg files can be common.
did the board glitch? blueguy and me each have duplicate posts (8088 and 8089 are the same as 8075 and 8077).
Oh well.
plekto - i don't think 15 meg music files should bother anyone these days considering the size of mp3 players. To me, a couple of thousand high-quality songs is an easy choice over 4000 low-quality.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Me, either. I can still fit 100 songs on a MP3 cd to stick in my car. Times 6 for the changer... that's a lot of music.(about 30 hours without a repeat). More than enough for any drive, even long trips across several states.
VBR 0 often creates files in the 6-7mb size, since not al music is horribly complex and needs the higher bitrate. I get about 80-100 songs as a result.
Why bother with CDs and DVDs if they've got built in solid state disks? There's really no reason for an old fashioned spinning HD when a 32 GB SSD could be dropped in the car for under $200.
Better yet, have a base SSD HD of about 32 gb and then offer two things:
1. 80211n - up to 200 mbps transfer rate so you can just send info/gps updates/route planning/mp3s to your car from your house/pda/office. 2. USB/SD connectors to plug your mp3 player/usb drive/flash cards into the car.
USB is already showing up in cars. The 335is built after march are supposed to have a built-in usb port.
Anyone know if the G35's stereo only takes data off discs? Is there another way to transfer data to the stereo HD? Yep, just checked online. You can use a flash card to listen to music. No transfering from the flash card. Weird.
Apparently, the G35 system only allows you to play the songs, not scroll and select songs. Weirder.
Guess Infiniti set it up so only ripping from CDs will put the music on the HD. Lots of 07 G35 owners are apparently getting 2 GB flash cards and plugging those in for music.
Hello, I am very much lost and can't decide on which Intro. Luxury car I want to purchase. However, I do know what I am looking for and below is my list:
1) GPS 2) Mobile Link 3) Entertainment system to watch DVD 4) Audio unit should be able to play MP3s 5) Premium sound
Once I get few names of cars then I can narrow down based on ranking, performance, TCO, etc. However, the above list is the something which I require if I am getting into Luxury car. My budget is about 25 - 35 k and I would prefer to shop for a 2006 model rather than 2007. I live in the Dallas area.
1. all of them have navi systems available. honda's is by far the best.
2. no idea what mobile link is.
3. do you mean for backseat passengers? that'd be aftermarket. no manu is allowed to sell driver-facing DVD players that can show TV/movies; it's against the law.
4. AFAIK, all cars sold today can play MP3s from CDs
5. premium sound is a wishy-washy term. some people like the sound of boston acoustic speakers but to me they're warm and 1970s sounding. I like crisp, hard sounds. Shrug, to each his own.
25-35k - you're essentially down to a few cars - assume MSRP:
TL - 34k with navi TSX - 30k with navi A4 2.0T - maybe with navi G35 - 34-35k with navi IS250 - maybe Maybe a stripped 325/328 (pretty much impossible with navi at those prices)
I think I read about a manufacturer dash-installed DVD system in a car or truck recently, but it could only play a DVD if the transmission was in Park.
I can't remember the makers, but a few manufacturers have a DVD-Audio player in their car. This also plays MP3 CDs - so it will - surprize.. play DVDs with 4.6 gigs of MP3s on them.
Plus, IIRC, most have in-dash changers. That's 5*4.6 Gigs. Why use a 20 gig IPod when you can burn DVDs for less than a dollar each?
Edit - I checked - Cadillac and Audi seem to be on the ball here. The 2008 CTS with the upgrraded audio appears to be the same system as the current STS has.
Comments
Very well said.
We're in the process of teaching this to the bean-counters where I work. However, they continue to collect their bonuses & move on to greener pastures before the long-term effects of their work become apparent.
Others of us get to clean up after.
I hear you. It's long overdue that the pendulum will swing to balance the 3 areas: Service-Quality-Costs
It's about balance. Not squeezing the last penny out of the process and giving all the spoils to the execs. House of cards mentality!
The bean counters at the big 3 now have to deal with the triage after years of imbalance.
But it takes integrity to pull off this massive task.
Regards,
OW
People - Service - Profit
A three-legged stool.. Without taking care of all three, the stool will fall over..
Sappy, I know.. but, true nonetheless..
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The G35 Sedan with the Bose on wheels thing with the 9.5 gig harddrive?
Lexus IS350 with Mark Levinson?
Acura TL?
From its engine that is.
Not a bad car, either.
My fiancee will never live down her decision to get that car. I won't let her.
You could have traded it in for another vehicle, no?
Regards,
OW
Great question. I myself would be interested in expanding the question across the set of ELLPS cars.
I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the sound system in my 2006 330Xi (came standard with premium sound and Logic 7).
Thanks
Bruce
I've had my 2007 TL-Type S for a month and a half and enjoy the sound system very much. DVD audio gives complete surround (7 channels, I think) and the active noise cancellation plus speed sensitive volume gives a great experience. I also like the fact that it has a tape player for some of my old "custom" tapes.
Jack
Regards,
OW
She will get teased for the decision because anyone who does even a modicum of research would discover the dismal repair rates and resale value of Volvos (she bought the car a week or so before we began dating). Volvos are like buying an American cars but more expensive to repair.
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Blue, What will she choose next :confuse:
I wonder what would happen if she bought the wrong kind of peanut butter. Just once. :P
She feeds my addiction though as she keeps telling me to get a Cayman or Carrera to replace my 3 in 08. Not gonna happen with family plans for 09.
Besides, you shouldn't get on her case for a car that she chose for herself, with her own money (not yours), before she even started dating you.
do you use earphones while driving?? I sure hope not. so if you play that Ipod through the car's system, it is still relevant to you. However, if you don't CARE what it sounds like, that is a whole different story.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
The Mark Levinson is supposed to be very good, but so is the TL. There was a magazine I read not too long ago while sitting in a doc's office that rated car sound systems ... wish I could remember what mag that was ...
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
The Mark Levinson is supposed to be very good, but so is the TL. There was a magazine I read not too long ago while sitting in a doc's office that rated car sound systems ... wish I could remember what mag that was ...
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Through the car's sound system. It sounds like garbage but that's because it's playing MP3s. Garbage in, garbage out.
Through the car's sound system. It sounds like garbage but that's because it's playing MP3s. Garbage in, garbage out.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
well, there ya go. hehe.
BTW, I rip all mine at 320. Higher rates are on their way, I'm sure. Of course, that will just make people have to buy new Ipods to support it. But it should make Apple happy. Pretty soon they won't bother producing anything BUT ipods.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
BTW, does anyone know if the G35's HDD is solid state or an old fashioned spinner?
Let me just say that I do not envy you at all with the snow situation - that takes more grit than I can muster! If I were one of the first settlers, I would have perished instantaneously . . .
IMHO, it was the Acura TL, Lexus IS350 and Infiniti G35 -- in that order. Heck, the outgoing CTS almost sounds better than the new G35. (I wasn't too impressed by the G35's audio--handling was another matter.)
- Get Audiograbber. It's easy to configure external plugins.
- Get the latest LAME codec and install it - drop everytihng in the Audiograbber directory and restart the app.
- Set the mp3 encoding to 256Kbps, maximum quality(48k), dual stereo. This results in a 8-9mb file for most music and takes a little longer to encode.(few seconds, at most). Also turn on error correction.
256K is at best metal tape quality. A bit over 17Khz maximum frequency and about 1/3 the dynamic range of CD as well. But it's fine for normal listening in the car.
Most MP3s are encoded at 128Kbps, average quality(44k), and joint stereo. It sounds a lot like AM Stereo - with the same bleedover from each channel and distortion.(8.5Khz top end and barely anything for dynamic range - it's worse that a typical 11Khz computer game sound)
Note - if you really want to get best quality, set it to VBR 0 - which makes it go up to 320K sampling down to 128K or so for simpler passages. Sounds fantastic, but 15Meg files can be common.
Check out an engineer's analysis of the commercial proving its impossibility - http://lexustech.org/Performance.htm
Rocky
Oh well.
plekto - i don't think 15 meg music files should bother anyone these days considering the size of mp3 players. To me, a couple of thousand high-quality songs is an easy choice over 4000 low-quality.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
VBR 0 often creates files in the 6-7mb size, since not al music is horribly complex and needs the higher bitrate. I get about 80-100 songs as a result.
Do you think we will see dvd-rom capability in these players soon? We could listen to over 3,000 songs on a single disk.
Regards,
OW
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Better yet, have a base SSD HD of about 32 gb and then offer two things:
1. 80211n - up to 200 mbps transfer rate so you can just send info/gps updates/route planning/mp3s to your car from your house/pda/office.
2. USB/SD connectors to plug your mp3 player/usb drive/flash cards into the car.
USB is already showing up in cars. The 335is built after march are supposed to have a built-in usb port.
Anyone know if the G35's stereo only takes data off discs? Is there another way to transfer data to the stereo HD? Yep, just checked online. You can use a flash card to listen to music. No transfering from the flash card. Weird.
Apparently, the G35 system only allows you to play the songs, not scroll and select songs. Weirder.
1) GPS
2) Mobile Link
3) Entertainment system to watch DVD
4) Audio unit should be able to play MP3s
5) Premium sound
Once I get few names of cars then I can narrow down based on ranking, performance, TCO, etc. However, the above list is the something which I require if I am getting into Luxury car. My budget is about 25 - 35 k and I would prefer to shop for a 2006 model rather than 2007. I live in the Dallas area.
Any advise would be appreciated.
2. no idea what mobile link is.
3. do you mean for backseat passengers? that'd be aftermarket. no manu is allowed to sell driver-facing DVD players that can show TV/movies; it's against the law.
4. AFAIK, all cars sold today can play MP3s from CDs
5. premium sound is a wishy-washy term. some people like the sound of boston acoustic speakers but to me they're warm and 1970s sounding. I like crisp, hard sounds. Shrug, to each his own.
25-35k - you're essentially down to a few cars - assume MSRP:
TL - 34k with navi
TSX - 30k with navi
A4 2.0T - maybe with navi
G35 - 34-35k with navi
IS250 - maybe
Maybe a stripped 325/328 (pretty much impossible with navi at those prices)
Plus, IIRC, most have in-dash changers. That's 5*4.6 Gigs. Why use a 20 gig IPod when you can burn DVDs for less than a dollar each?
Edit - I checked - Cadillac and Audi seem to be on the ball here. The 2008 CTS with the upgrraded audio appears to be the same system as the current STS has.