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Bristol2 has worded very well my own feeling on this forum. Not that we cannot disagree from other's opinions—it is only we can do that without biting jugular veins at the same toke. This is why, though I also post sometimes in other forums, I come over this one with a sort of heart lightness. (David, I also miss a good paint of bitter most of the times). IMHO, every poster fellow has a share in keeping this atmosphere, even when the mood becomes a bit sour.
Regards,
Jose
I for one hope you decide to stick around. This board definitely wouldn't be as interesting without your perspective. I've been around since '04, and have found that I can't stay away for long. Thank goodness for mobile internet! In any case, don't forget to talk to me about cameras before making a purchase.
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Regards,
Jose
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Let me share an example about why I believe our economy can't be all that bad right now - Today I went down to Fenway for the Red Sox Opening Day game - I paid $80 for a parking space, and then had a few $9 beers! Crazy but in both cases supply was barely meeting demand as lines for paying for both of these were long. And for you old Sox fans out there - they had the tenacity to have Bill ('86) Buckner throw out the first pitch! :lemon:
For me this place is like Hotel California:
We are all just prisoners here, of our own device.
You can checkout any time you like,
But you can never leave!
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Now, having written that: I grew up a die hard Mets fan as I spent my formative years in the "New York, New Jersey and Fairfield County" (quotes as that is how many advertisers referred to it) area. My Dad, a native New Yorker, moved on to the Amazin's after his beloved Dodgers took the last train to Clarksville, er, LA and he passed his passion on to Bro and I. 1986 was a fab year for baseball, unbelievable drama in the playoffs and World Serious. I would not catch the disease known as the Red Sox until I moved to the Boston area in '91. But catch it I did... Bro and Dad don't quite understand although Dad does wear the Sox stuff I have given him throughout the years. Bro still bleeds blue and orange, although he is now an Angeleno (actually, a Pallisadeso?).
If the Mets and Sox met in the Series, I'm not sure who I would root for as each team has now won two championships in my lifetime. WWTSD (What would Tom Seaver do?). Ok, sorry Dad/Bro. 95% sure I'd be rootin' for the Sox... The only constant is change.
Now, Tag, how could you leave after such an off-topic post as this!
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Audi is in a squeeze, and I still fully believe that the 3.2 should be taken out of the lineup. It simply doesn't fit.
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
And I would say, yes, Lexus is chasing a moving target. And as of now, they aren't moving fast enough--RX is old, ES is bland, GX is stale, GS is competent at best, SC isn't getting any prettier, IS is midpack, LX is pointless (get a Land Cruiser)... heck, the only Lexus that could possibly be considered class-leading is the LS460. I would consider buying the GS also, but probably wouldn't end up with it, because the 5 Series, E-Class, A6 and M have better engine choices.
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
In fact, that's exactly what I was thinking about today. The Luxury Lounge is where I can hang my hat. That reminds me of "Happy Days," LMAO.
Tag, don't leave. We need everyone we can get... not to mention, you're one of the best posters here. What's the point? The advantage?
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Audi is in a squeeze, and I still fully believe that the 3.2 should be taken out of the lineup. It simply doesn't fit.
BMW offers you 230hp, "300"hp, or 414hp in the 3. M-B offers you 228hp, 268hp (soon to be 300 something) or 457hp in the C-class. The A4 2.0T is supposed to compete with the 328i and the C300, so that leaves Audi in the awkward position of having two cars to try and fit below the RS4. They should either equip the S4 with the new 3.0T and price it against the 335i and C350 and eliminate the 3.2, or replace the 3.2 with the 3.0T, and move the S4 up into M and AMG territory, which would require that the RS4 be a 500+hp monster priced at $75K+.
The RX and the ES are in no way enthusiast choices, but they appeal to a certain "Zombie" market and they are Lexus' perennial best sellers. Despite the RX's age, I'm sure its still doing quite well. The GX though is a bit stale, I wouldn't be surprised if that has seen a decline lately. It has never seemed like Lexus has been particularly interested in keeping the SC fresh or competitive. Rumors are there may not be another, Lexus may simply cede the big coupe/convertible market to the Germans and Jaguar.
The GS started out very weak with the underpowered 300 and the carry over 430, but the current 350 and 460 engine choices are very competitive if perhaps not the absolute best in class. The problem I have with the GS is everything else about the car. It's barely adequate in space and comfort, barely adequate in handling, and barely adequate in reliability. Lexus is no stranger to lousy handling, but above all a Lexus has to be comfortable, and it absolutely has to be reliable. There is no point to an unreliable Lexus.
So according to you, we can agree with your choice of vehicle and be an "enthusiast" but if we prefer Lexus, then we are "zombies". Nice. You simply have to change your name.
You know, some people would correctly use the term "poseur" to describe many would be enthusiasts. But we "zombies" are much too civilized for that.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
By the way, I took my IS350 in for the first free scheduled service yesterday. I had a chance to see the IS-F up close (just the exterior, since it was roped off). I have to say that it's a good looking car IMO. It did not seem too much boy racer as appear in photos. The interior seen thru the windows appear nicer than regular IS which IMO is nicer than the 3 series. I wonder if someone has done a comparison test btw the IS-F and the M3...
1st Place
BMW M3
Speed, balance, and athleticism converge in today's best compact, high-performance sport sedan.
2nd Place
MERCEDES-BENZ C63 AMG
A solid, emotive machine that works as everyday transport-and accelerates like a first-gen Viper.
3rd Place
LEXUS IS F
Lexus's first effort in this category is a good one, lacking in only the finest of details.
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Regards,
OW
RX - of course it's old, and it's getting a replacement soon
ES - of course it's bland and it is supposed to be bland. Just so you know that there are a lot of people who like land yacht with luxurious feel of isolation. Yeah, they are out there.
GX - needs to go...
GS - mediocre at just about everything but not excellent in anything
SC - needs to go and is going
IS - midpack? It offers the best luxury in its class with impressive performance. I am not going to spell out its performance figures from all the reviews/comparos but it is proven to be as capable performance-wise as others in its class.
LX - not pointless, it is the halo off-road capable, uber-luxurious SUV. If it is pointless then all halo vehicles are also pointless...
LS - even a Lexus hater like you considered it as class-leading, what else do I need to add...
By the way, for the GS, the 5/E/A5/M does not have better engine choice, at least not in the V6 models.
As for the IS F, it is indeed a very sweet car. Totally agree with you that in person it doesn't appear boyracer-ish as shown 1n the pictures. I tested the car on a dyno machine during last year's Taste of Lexus and that engine is a BEAST!! Although this is a very good first effort from Lexus and the car is everything I had hoped for but from many comparos I saw it is not yet a M3/C63 beater. This is another classic example that the old master has once again out-smart the young up-and-comer. However, with such a good first effort (most testers like it but the competitors are just much stronger) I say job well done and can't wait to see the next variant.
By the way, Tag, I concede defeat in our little gentlemen's bet (if you still remember) . MB has priced the C63 much lower than my prediction and that's pretty much it. Kudos to them!
I'm sorry but if you drive an RX or an ES, clearly performance and handling are not your top priorities. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that or that brain eating Zombies are "bad people", but them's the facts. My wife is mostly a Zombie when it comes to cars, but even she got bored with the RX and decided she wanted something without so much body roll and heavier steering with better road feel, which is how we ended up with the X3.
I also wasn't saying that every Lexus is a Zombie mobile. The old SC actually drove pretty well in its day, the IS300 was arguably even more of a driver's car than the 3 series, and the IS-F definitely isn't for the Zombie crowd. There's nothing Zombie about the LF-A either.
Car and Driver:
2nd place: IS-F
Highs: Bellowing engine note, lightning shifts, power for all but the truly demented.
Lows: Brakes that don’t know when to take it easy, gear overload.
The Verdict: Compared with a normal car it’s amazing, but it happens to run with a tough crowd.
1st place: M3
Highs: V-8 pulls strongly down low and up to 8400 rpm, stability control that we can live with.
Lows: iDrive remains friendless.
The Verdict: The benchmark of sports sedans.
C&D M3 vs. IS-F comparo
Tracking your IS should be fun. I had the power shift mode on the other day in mine, and now I know why some people call it a muscle car.
The Friends of the Earth is OUTRAGED that Porshce wants to challenge a new law that would impose a $50 (approximately) daily rate on various Porsches driving within London (applicable also to residents living within London).
Based on a survey most Londoners whom a majority have cars with engines of 2.0L or less want a hefty tax on gas consuming cars. The majority versus the minority who will win? The answer is obvious!
This is a good example of libery versus democracy. In this case I support the official motto from New Hampshire : Live Free or Die! The liberty to drive a Porshce without being punished should be everybody'r right
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It's not just the London congestion charge, in most western countries now and in places like Japan, the taxes on cars with large displacement engines are much higher. The only thing we have in the states that's comparable is the gas guzzler tax.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Rightly so in Spain as due to the steep increase in the registration taxation for cars with large displacement, for instance. :mad:
Regards,
Jose
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
The thing that bugs me most is that the percentage of people who drive Porsches or lux gas guzzlers are such a small fraction of the population especially in the UK that this tax will have nothing more than a very insignificant affect on improving the environment.
Wasn't meaning to offend you, sorry.
But yes, think about it. The 335i beats it in performance as well as the ride/handling balance, and even, arguably, materials quality. Don't care for German cars? Look to Infiniti. The IS350 is nice, but the bulk of sports sedan buyers prefer more road feel. It's more of a fast, comfy car than a sports sedan that happens to be comfortable (3 Series).
LX - not pointless, it is the halo off-road capable, uber-luxurious SUV. If it is pointless then all halo vehicles are also pointless...
Keep reading. I said it was pointless because of the Land Cruiser. The way I see it, there is really no point in buying one. On top of that, I prefer the looks of the LC. If I were to buy a large SUV, it would either be that, a GMC Yukon Denali or a Merc GL of some sort.
LS - even a Lexus hater like you considered it as class-leading, what else do I need to add...
1. I don't hate Lexus. I just don't love their lineup at the moment. The day they produce cars I want to own I will admit it.
2. I didn't call it class-leading. I said it could be considered class-leading. i.e., I don't personally think it's at the top of its class, but I can see why some may. I think the S-Class and A8 are the best.
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
A quad turbo i4 engine may also be in the works but that is unlikely to happen by 2010.
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Oh really?
Honda today is not capable of making any vehicle that is competitive with a BMW independent of price.
I can make the same claim that Chrysler can make a 45K $ BMW 3 series beater. But such a claim is empty and without substance just like your Honda claim.
The Honda S2000 and the 1990 Acura NSX were wonderful cars. Unfortunately today Honda has dropped the ball and now their performance engineering prowess is nothing more than a remnant of the past
I have to agree with you there. I think that the 3 series interior is one of BMW's best, while IMO, the IS interior just isn't that impressive. The aluminum trim in the BMW or even the Infiniti is all real, while the IS's "metallic finish" is just plastic. Even if you spring for the bird's-eye maple, there's just a bit of it on the console and the doors. The rest is still mostly plastic and vinyl. The IS is a much better execution than the GS, but in the class I would rank the IS no higher than 4th, behind Audi, BMW and Infiniti, and possibly Cadillac. I still haven't gotten a chance to drive the new CTS yet to be sure about that.
1st: http://www.leftlanenews.com/cars/image_enlarge.php?iid=cr2045&car=audi-a4
2nd: http://www.leftlanenews.com/cars/image_enlarge.php?iid=db4019&car=bmw-3-seri- es-coupe
3rd: http://www.leftlanenews.com/cars/image_enlarge.php?iid=12178&car=infiniti-g3- 7-coupe
4th: http://z.about.com/d/cars/1/0/X/j/ag_07lexusis_is350int.jpg
Keep in mind also that this is a central London congestion tax. The only people not riding public transport in Central London in rush hour during the week are stock brokers/ lawyers/ mayors etc. Not much need to shed a tear or fear for the freedom of that crew.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
So your opinion certainly has more weight than mine.
Beyond the US border the LS in terms of sales is a wimper. For Lexus the Big Leagues is global since that is where most luxury car sales are and not in the USA alone. Mind you the USA is VERY VERY VERY IMPORTANT. But please let's not overinflate the importance of the USA in terms of the Globe,
But my heart does bleed for such a great brand like Porsche or any performance brand that would be threatened by such ludicrous money grubbing policies that wont help the environment one bit. If every Porsche, Lamboor Ferarri ceased to exist on this earth mother nature will not breathe easier. The only ones that will breathe easier will be those politicians who will have the ability to increase taxes.
Human nature I guess. Or just the Ugly American Syndrome.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
But let's not forget I am a Canadian. Or should I say a not so Ugly Canadian
Cape Breton was very dark and foreboding to me but I still really liked it. I love the outdoors so I find Canada to be a very beautiful country. Of course all my visits there have been in the warm months.
Your wonderful country has tremendous potential but just like the U.S. it needs better leaders. But still, a great neighbor.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460