There are often decent enough deals on hotwire/priceline that a timeshare might be hard to justify, unless it is posh at a really good price.
I have taken advantage of crazy low airfare out of Seattle, and booked a flight into FRA later this year. Not sure of the itinerary yet, but I plan to stop in Hamburg, Miniatur Wunderland being the key destination. I like to plan a little in advance and pay for as much as possible before the trip.
One year we wanted to go to Amsterdam, this year tennis match in Halle Germany and miniature railroad in Hamburg......last year Switzerland.
What I am saying is I want to be in control of any travel plans.........not at the mercy of a timeshare....some people like them though and if it works that is fine. My guess is 80% of the buyers bought based on emotions....kind of like a car
I think the last year for Peugeot in US/Canada was 1991. I still a 505 now and then, but 405s are quite rare anymore. The comeback rumor comes up now and then, not sure of the planned distribution network, which is always the key.
I think you can get a $5/line/month discount if you use autopay, too. Their coverage has improved a lot in the last few years.
Starting on my next billing cycle with T-Mobile, I am going to "unlimited" everything including LTE data speed for $10.00 a month more than I now pay. So I go from $59.65 a month, tax and fees included, to $70.00 a month, tax and fees included. That way, I can use Car Play whenever I want without going over my current 2 gigs of high speed data. And I don't need to activate my BMW WiFi Hotspot in the car and pay AT&T $100 a month to use it! There, I saved $90 bucks.
T-Mobile has great rates. So long as you live in a metropolitan area, calls, texts and data are great.
Yes, I have been on autopay for years. That $70 a month tax in includes autopay.
I had a 504 for about two years as a second car--it was really good to drive and after squaring it away initially, it was very reliable the whole time. Parts were a pain to get, though.
I ordered one without Apple CarPlay. First, $300 for a piece of software is just an outrageous price. As much as BMW may deserve premium for stuff, nearly half price of a phone itself is a highway robbery. Second, just like Mike said, it will essentially project the iPhone screeen (or about) and burn through the data whenever any feature (like Navigation) is used. Why would I do that, if the car has its own navigation with Google engine in it? BMW Connect will also play stuff over the cable or Bluetooth. Apple CarPlay at $300 makes no sense to me, especially that I use relatively skinny data plan; don't need more, as I have WiFi at both work and home, so those rare occasions I'm on the go outside of those things, I'd rather use Nav from the car. Hope it's going to be better than the current one
Crazy - BMW charges $300 for the "privilege" of adding CarPlay, while it was free in my $21K VW.
Nothing is free in life, your VW might have been 20,700 instead of $21 K if they left out CarPlay. Same with rear view cam's, take another couple hundred off. Car's are being mandated to be too expensive in my view.
'21 BMW X3 M40i, '15 Audi S4, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
qbrozen.....you have found a way to make the Timeshare system work for you, and that is great.
I get about 20 trips a week that are offered from Travelzoo.com. They often have a week in Costa Rica flight and beautiful hotel and tours included for $700 or $800. The last few months they have offered China, 9 or 10 days, flight and hotels included, often internal flights to get to the great wall, pandas, Terra Cotta soldiers for about $1400. I think this week it was $1100 or $1200.
One year we wanted to go to Amsterdam, this year tennis match in Halle Germany and miniature railroad in Hamburg......last year Switzerland.
What I am saying is I want to be in control of any travel plans.........not at the mercy of a timeshare....some people like them though and if it works that is fine. My guess is 80% of the buyers bought based on emotions....kind of like a car
@qbrozen may be making the inherited time share weeks work for him, but he's not quite getting the deals he thought he was due to his oversight of the ridiculous inflation everything timeshare related seems to enjoy every year. He went from $140/year + maintenance fees to realizing it's more like $270/year + maintenance fees (that also tend to go up fast). Quite a difference, but still worth it if you find you can get what you want when you want. They couldn't find me a week in any of the the 4 Monterey, CA area resorts and I had a window of like 8 months and gave them a couple months to find it. To me that is unacceptable.
Lesson learned in life though; don't lock up your money into something you can't control in the least bit. Was supposed to be a hedge against hotel inflation prices, but in reality, the maintenance fees outpace hotel inflation by a massive margin.
'21 BMW X3 M40i, '15 Audi S4, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
I ordered one without Apple CarPlay. First, $300 for a piece of software is just an outrageous price. As much as BMW may deserve premium for stuff, nearly half price of a phone itself is a highway robbery. Second, just like Mike said, it will essentially project the iPhone screeen (or about) and burn through the data whenever any feature (like Navigation) is used. Why would I do that, if the car has its own navigation with Google engine in it? BMW Connect will also play stuff over the cable or Bluetooth. Apple CarPlay at $300 makes no sense to me, especially that I use relatively skinny data plan; don't need more, as I have WiFi at both work and home, so those rare occasions I'm on the go outside of those things, I'd rather use Nav from the car. Hope it's going to be better than the current one
Crazy - BMW charges $300 for the "privilege" of adding CarPlay, while it was free in my $21K VW.
Wait. You have to pay for it? It's standard on most vehicles now! I know my Volt has it.
Speaking of Volt how long does it hold a charge when not being driven and what your eMPG?
The big advantage for CarPlay is voice recognition. Siri in the iPhone is exponentially better than what I've experienced on any car.
You should experience BMW's voice recognition - far superior to Mercedes - that comes from someone who has experienced both!
My 2017 has much better voice recognition than the 2015 model.....BMWs may be better, but I think you would have to try a newer MB to really compare.
I had a 2016 CLS and I drove a 2017 S550. Not as good as my BMW. You can call up almost any car function using voice recognition. I found that Mercedes has limited voice recognition functions.
I ordered one without Apple CarPlay. First, $300 for a piece of software is just an outrageous price. As much as BMW may deserve premium for stuff, nearly half price of a phone itself is a highway robbery. Second, just like Mike said, it will essentially project the iPhone screeen (or about) and burn through the data whenever any feature (like Navigation) is used. Why would I do that, if the car has its own navigation with Google engine in it? BMW Connect will also play stuff over the cable or Bluetooth. Apple CarPlay at $300 makes no sense to me, especially that I use relatively skinny data plan; don't need more, as I have WiFi at both work and home, so those rare occasions I'm on the go outside of those things, I'd rather use Nav from the car. Hope it's going to be better than the current one
Crazy - BMW charges $300 for the "privilege" of adding CarPlay, while it was free in my $21K VW.
Nothing is free in life, your VW might have been 20,700 instead of $21 K if they left out CarPlay. Same with rear view cam's, take another couple hundred off. Car's are being mandated to be too expensive in my view.
You seriously think this piece of software should cost a consumer $300, almost half of the price of the phone itself? So let's see - on one side we have CPU, GPU, power amplifiers, all the cell phone hardware, full OS, support from company - THEN on the other some lines of code, a little testing, probably some royalties to this and that company. Yeah, it's worth half of the first thing. Right... I think it's more like $30 and that probably still would have some profit margin left and that's why other companies rolled the cost into the vehicle price and it only occurred to BMW that their customers would be willing to pay them and provide over 90% margin. OK, they sell much fewer vehicles than VW, so perhaps it is $50 or $60 per vehicle at a decent so the $300 has a gross margin of 70 percent (less if you take out the dealer's cut).
Cameras would probably be couple of hundreds, or more at a consumer level, assuming starting prices, but once economies of scale are reached and more the suppliers of those items get in competition, the expected cost-in plummets to a small fraction. Still not zero, but way less if it were an optional item selected by a small percentage of customers.
I think safety mandates, especially those based on electronics have pretty good cost-benefit to them. It's the fuel economy mandates that can be quite destructive, if they are overly ambitious.
With thicker pillars, porkier cars, and smaller spots, I am fine with paying a little for a camera.
Regarding voice recognition, MB doesn't often significantly upgrade such tech during a model run. A 2017 S-class entered production in 2013, and I think CLS internals are around the same age.
Stick, this is a rough idea of some events to consider for Labor Day weekend in Toronto...no particular order. If you remind me in early August and narrow down the kind of events you are looking for I can find out more then; Bar and Pub Tours, Dinner or view from the CN Tower, Cdn Football League Toronto vs Hamilton Mon Sept 4th 6:30, Blue Jays vs Orioles Fri Sept 1st 7 pm, Bus Tours of the City (this I would recommend, interesting history and good overview), St lawrence Market (food), Various plays at theaters in town, Trip to Niagara Falls and winery etc if 1st time, Tour Distillery District, Tours of Ghosts or Haunted Tours etc., Tour of Steam Whistle Brewery, Canadian International Air Show Sept 2,3,4,
I would double check on Tripadvisor to see how these are rated.
I totally agree with you on this one, dino. I would come up with the same conclusion you did, but through a slightly different perspective.
I bought a $92,000+ BMW vehicle from a manufacturer that is well known for producing quality products, world-wide. But you would think that something as insignificant in terms of cost as Apple Car Play would be a standard feature in such a "pricey" vehicle. Well, it isn't. It is offered only as an option at $300.00. BMW should be ashamed of itself for charging a customer $300.00 for that software add-on.
It really has nothing to do with increasing the profit on a car or SUV - it has to do with BMW's marketing strategy of its products which dates back decades. Starting with when I bought my first BMW in 2005, just about everything on the car was an option on the 5 series - and still is. At least they have now "packaged" those individual options into options containing a host of what used to be individual options. It's their mindset, for some strange reason.
So, it's their mindset and marketing strategy that enables them to offer things like Apple Car Play in their cars as an option since not all people have Apple Phones - many have other brands which are not compatible with Car Play. So, if some guy or gal who owns an iPhone wants to have the ability to connect the phone to the BMW's computer system, they are going to have to pay for it.
With thicker pillars, porkier cars, and smaller spots, I am fine with paying a little for a camera.
Regarding voice recognition, MB doesn't often significantly upgrade such tech during a model run. A 2017 S-class entered production in 2013, and I think CLS internals are around the same age.
Could be, fintail. But Apple Car Play was not available on my 2016 CLS400 because it was built before December, 2016. 2016 CLS's built after December included Car Play at no additional cost. It's BMW that charges extra for that software, not Mercedes.
As for Voice Recognition, I believe it is still limited in the Mercedes. In my BMW, I can say:
Display Tire Pressure Monitor Display fuel economy Contact BMW Assist Contact BMW Concierge
As well as a host of other commands that are not available in the Mercedes. But to be quite honest with you, I usually push a button on my console or use my menu and internal mouse and click on what I want to do rather than press the voice button on the steering wheel. I only use voice recognition to make a call or for navigation or to listen to FM, CD, DVD or Satellite radio - voice asks me what channel I want and I tell "her". Other functions, even though available, I rarely use. So it is not as important or critical to have expanded voice recognition.
My sonata did not have CarPlay. The 2016 did. But, Hyundai sent an email with DIY instructions on how to download directly to the car if you wanted do. I never bothered.
My sonata did not have CarPlay. The 2016 did. But, Hyundai sent an email with DIY instructions on how to download directly to the car if you wanted do. I never bothered.
As rarely as you drive it, CarPlay is likely not missed.
I ordered one without Apple CarPlay. First, $300 for a piece of software is just an outrageous price. As much as BMW may deserve premium for stuff, nearly half price of a phone itself is a highway robbery. Second, just like Mike said, it will essentially project the iPhone screeen (or about) and burn through the data whenever any feature (like Navigation) is used. Why would I do that, if the car has its own navigation with Google engine in it? BMW Connect will also play stuff over the cable or Bluetooth. Apple CarPlay at $300 makes no sense to me, especially that I use relatively skinny data plan; don't need more, as I have WiFi at both work and home, so those rare occasions I'm on the go outside of those things, I'd rather use Nav from the car. Hope it's going to be better than the current one
Crazy - BMW charges $300 for the "privilege" of adding CarPlay, while it was free in my $21K VW.
Wait. You have to pay for it? It's standard on most vehicles now! I know my Volt has it.
Speaking of Volt how long does it hold a charge when not being driven and what your eMPG?
I will find out when I go on vacation in a couple of weeks! Actually, I probably won't charge it before I go. It still has a a gas engine. Right now the longest it has sat in the garage is a couple of days. Empg is hard to determine because I use gas if I go more than 50 miles, like on a weekend trip. So far I'm using electric about 65% of the time, gas 35%, and have a lifetime 100 mpg. It dips down to 95 or so after one of those trips. We put gas in it every 6 weeks or so at a cost of around $18. It's pretty awesome.
Maybe it's me, but I tended to use CarPlay for a host of things, including sending texts to friends, family and colleagues while driving. That's a huge help (and certainly safer than reaching for my phone to type). I use it to search/play my music, my podcasts (love listening "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" on NPR and just finished a seriel podcast called "S-Town"....which was high drama about a true story), in addition to pulling up and listening to audio books.
Maybe I've used it more than others tend to. And, still say the voice recognition on Siri is the best I've ever used.
They are walking the line, when the greed crosses to ridiculous and borders on dangerous. Probably nobody would walk away from a vehicle just because of that, but in the aggregate it may just create enough bitterness in some number of customers, both existing and potential, that it may get to causing lost sales. There are many other examples when BMW, Benz, or even Audi (to lesser extent) charge (or used to charge) extra for thing that are often standard on entry-level vehicles. My big anti-favorite is fold-down seats on sedans, which I think still is optional on 320, standard on 330. Another one is backup camera, still optional, will become mandatory standard in 2020 - many manufacturers made it standard on most of their models, but BMW just made it "zero-cost package" on 2018 4-series (still pay up on 2017 3-, 2-). But Apple Play for $300 is on its own level of egregious greed.
Other things, are matter of opinion, or preference. Acura throws in a lot of luxury items, such as HID (before, now LED) lights, leather seats, as standard, as a value proposition for their cars to sell better. Germans charge for them just because they can. I can understand that, but $300 Apple Carplay on the entire line, up to 7-series is really making my head spin. At least they don't want $1000 on 7-series, just because they can. It's sort of you should be grateful, he only beat the s...t out of you, cause he could have killed you
I ordered one without Apple CarPlay. First, $300 for a piece of software is just an outrageous price. As much as BMW may deserve premium for stuff, nearly half price of a phone itself is a highway robbery. Second, just like Mike said, it will essentially project the iPhone screeen (or about) and burn through the data whenever any feature (like Navigation) is used. Why would I do that, if the car has its own navigation with Google engine in it? BMW Connect will also play stuff over the cable or Bluetooth. Apple CarPlay at $300 makes no sense to me, especially that I use relatively skinny data plan; don't need more, as I have WiFi at both work and home, so those rare occasions I'm on the go outside of those things, I'd rather use Nav from the car. Hope it's going to be better than the current one
Crazy - BMW charges $300 for the "privilege" of adding CarPlay, while it was free in my $21K VW.
Nothing is free in life, your VW might have been 20,700 instead of $21 K if they left out CarPlay. Same with rear view cam's, take another couple hundred off. Car's are being mandated to be too expensive in my view.
You seriously think this piece of software should cost a consumer $300, almost half of the price of the phone itself? So let's see - on one side we have CPU, GPU, power amplifiers, all the cell phone hardware, full OS, support from company - THEN on the other some lines of code, a little testing, probably some royalties to this and that company. Yeah, it's worth half of the first thing. Right... I think it's more like $30 and that probably still would have some profit margin left and that's why other companies rolled the cost into the vehicle price and it only occurred to BMW that their customers would be willing to pay them and provide over 90% margin. OK, they sell much fewer vehicles than VW, so perhaps it is $50 or $60 per vehicle at a decent so the $300 has a gross margin of 70 percent (less if you take out the dealer's cut).
Cameras would probably be couple of hundreds, or more at a consumer level, assuming starting prices, but once economies of scale are reached and more the suppliers of those items get in competition, the expected cost-in plummets to a small fraction. Still not zero, but way less if it were an optional item selected by a small percentage of customers.
I think safety mandates, especially those based on electronics have pretty good cost-benefit to them. It's the fuel economy mandates that can be quite destructive, if they are overly ambitious.
No, I don't seriously think Carplay is worth $300 nor costs $300 to implement in a vehicle. I was just pointing out that every feature a car adds costs the manufacturer something. $30 here, $50 over there, it all adds up.
'21 BMW X3 M40i, '15 Audi S4, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
There are sometimes mid-cycle updates, as what happened to E nav systems in 2012 - but the basic screen and resolution is the same from 2010-16, and I am pretty sure a 2017 S-class is virtually the same in that regard compared to a 2014. Car Play is kind of a different thing, as it is a new fad and there's demand.
I'd hope BMW Assist and BMW Concierge wouldn't be available in a MB
I doubt I would use it either. I am fine with the factory nav and using the normal controls to display such things, which I view infrequently anyway. I might use it for the phone, but I prefer steering wheel controls for radio.
Could be, fintail. But Apple Car Play was not available on my 2016 CLS400 because it was built before December, 2016. 2016 CLS's built after December included Car Play at no additional cost. It's BMW that charges extra for that software, not Mercedes.
As for Voice Recognition, I believe it is still limited in the Mercedes. In my BMW, I can say:
Display Tire Pressure Monitor Display fuel economy Contact BMW Assist Contact BMW Concierge
As well as a host of other commands that are not available in the Mercedes. But to be quite honest with you, I usually push a button on my console or use my menu and internal mouse and click on what I want to do rather than press the voice button on the steering wheel. I only use voice recognition to make a call or for navigation or to listen to FM, CD, DVD or Satellite radio - voice asks me what channel I want and I tell "her". Other functions, even though available, I rarely use. So it is not as important or critical to have expanded voice recognition.
I think that automatic braking feature is standard or fairly low cost on several cars, Camrys, Suburus, Hyundais. It was part of a $5000 package if I got it for the 2017 E400. I really question that, but, I can live without it, and I would still rather drive my E400 than anything else....so, they got me :@
I totally agree with you on this one, dino. I would come up with the same conclusion you did, but through a slightly different perspective.
I bought a $92,000+ BMW vehicle from a manufacturer that is well known for producing quality products, world-wide. But you would think that something as insignificant in terms of cost as Apple Car Play would be a standard feature in such a "pricey" vehicle. Well, it isn't. It is offered only as an option at $300.00. BMW should be ashamed of itself for charging a customer $300.00 for that software add-on.
It really has nothing to do with increasing the profit on a car or SUV - it has to do with BMW's marketing strategy of its products which dates back decades. Starting with when I bought my first BMW in 2005, just about everything on the car was an option on the 5 series - and still is. At least they have now "packaged" those individual options into options containing a host of what used to be individual options. It's their mindset, for some strange reason.
So, it's their mindset and marketing strategy that enables them to offer things like Apple Car Play in their cars as an option since not all people have Apple Phones - many have other brands which are not compatible with Car Play. So, if some guy or gal who owns an iPhone wants to have the ability to connect the phone to the BMW's computer system, they are going to have to pay for it.
Shame on them - but it is what it is! :@
But as I said, you can access Siri or receive/send texts if you have Professional Navigation, so CarPlay is of no benefit to me. In any event, Munich's reputation for option finagling goes back to the 1960s when Max Hoffman imported BMWs. Magazine ads would list an MSRP, but at the dealership you would find the Monroney listed"Mandatory Options" such as a tachometer, a rear anti-roll bar, and Michelin XAS radials.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Automatic braking, or radar cruise? My 16 E has automatic braking. Radar cruise (part of the drivers assistance package) was a $2500 option, found on maybe 5% of cars, maybe less.
I think that automatic braking feature is standard or fairly low cost on several cars, Camrys, Suburus, Hyundais. It was part of a $5000 package if I got it for the 2017 E400. I really question that, but, I can live without it, and I would still rather drive my E400 than anything else....so, they got me :@
Automatic braking, or radar cruise? My 16 E has automatic braking. Radar cruise (part of the drivers assistance package) was a $2500 option, found on maybe 5% of cars, maybe less.
I think that automatic braking feature is standard or fairly low cost on several cars, Camrys, Suburus, Hyundais. It was part of a $5000 package if I got it for the 2017 E400. I really question that, but, I can live without it, and I would still rather drive my E400 than anything else....so, they got me :@
Is the "radar cruise" the same as Eyesight on Subarus?
I think that automatic braking feature is standard or fairly low cost on several cars, Camrys, Suburus, Hyundais. It was part of a $5000 package if I got it for the 2017 E400. I really question that, but, I can live without it, and I would still rather drive my E400 than anything else....so, they got me :@
There are two(2) different auto braking features available on most cars:
1. Part of the radar controlled cruise control system which will apply brakes to your car if it senses your car is getting too close to the car in front of you;
2. Accident avoidance system which is standard on many Mercedes and BMW's. If the system senses an impending collision it will apply 110% braking to avoid an accident.
Driver, your car has that #2 system. It's different than the Driver Assistance Package or Distronic. My 2015 and 2016 Mercedes vehicles had that Accident Avoidance System. My BMW 740i also has it. I also have the radar controlled cruise control with auto steering. But it's a completely different safety feature (#2 above).
Talking about crazy safety options, the Q50 allegedly can tell what the car in front of the car in front of me is doing and applies the brakes accordingly. Never seen it come on, and am afraid to test it.
just got a teaser email about the new TLX (available at dealers June 1). Says that the entire suite of safety stuff is standard, even on the base model. So adaptive cruise, lane watch/assist, auto emergency brake, etc. Should certainly make it competitive in the class, especially if the price did not go up!
Also upgraded the interior and infotainment stuff to the latest whiz bang tech. And gave it the new, attractive, version of the family grill (looks like an MDX now).
Getting quite interested to take a look at these. Hopefully there will be deals to be had around christmas time!
Talking about crazy safety options, the Q50 allegedly can tell what the car in front of the car in front of me is doing and applies the brakes accordingly. Never seen it come on, and am afraid to test it.
I had that technology on my 2014 Q50 Hybrid. I actually had it kick in a couple of times, it sounds a different chime than the standard alert warning if it's the car directly in front of you and actually worked fairly well. Apparently it can shoot the radar beams low enough under the car directly in front of you to bounce them off the pavement and back up to the second car ahead of you.
If it can pace the car in front of you, it is radar cruise. I've never experienced one of those Subies, but I have noticed the device near the rear view mirror.
Most radar cruise cars have a blanking plate in the grille, especially easy to see on Genesis and S-Class. MBs with a large grille star have it hidden there - ones without it have a star that has holes between the spokes of the star, ones with it have a flat shiny piece of plastic for the round star.
The drivers assistance package is the one toy I wish my car had - but the take rate for it on E class, especially diesel, is quite small. The steering bit looks like it is fun to play with, I have seen funny hacks of it on youtube.
Is the "radar cruise" the same as Eyesight on Subarus?
If it can pace the car in front of you, it is radar cruise. I've never experienced one of those Subies, but I have noticed the device near the rear view mirror.
Most radar cruise cars have a blanking plate in the grille, especially easy to see on Genesis and S-Class. MBs with a large grille star have it hidden there - ones without it have a star that has holes between the spokes of the star, ones with it have a flat shiny piece of plastic for the round star.
The drivers assistance package is the one toy I wish my car had - but the take rate for it on E class, especially diesel, is quite small. The steering bit looks like it is fun to play with, I have seen funny hacks of it on youtube.
Is the "radar cruise" the same as Eyesight on Subarus?
Yes, I can set the distance between my car and the car in front of me. I actually choose the shortest setting, which still provides ample distance. Anything more and folks tend to change lanes in front of you.
Subaru uses cameras on either side of the rear view mirror - nothing in the grille.
It is great technology, and I look forward to using it next week on our trip to Santa Fe. Not that there is a lot of traffic, but given it's the holiday weekend, anything is possible.
I don't like using normal cruise. Adaptive cruise might put me over the edge.
I think you should give it a chance, stick. Nice to not have to click the 'cancel' button or use the brake pedal when you come upon someone going slower than you in the left lane.
And, when they get out of the way, you resume your original speed without human intervention.
I don't like using normal cruise. Adaptive cruise might put me over the edge.
I think you should give it a chance, stick. Nice to not have to click the 'cancel' button or use the brake pedal when you come upon someone going slower than you in the left lane.
And, when they get out of the way, you resume your original speed without human intervention.
I agree. In most driving situations now I find it difficult to use regular cruise just because of the amount of traffic, but the adaptive/radar cruise makes it possible again.
I don't like using normal cruise. Adaptive cruise might put me over the edge.
I think you should give it a chance, stick. Nice to not have to click the 'cancel' button or use the brake pedal when you come upon someone going slower than you in the left lane.
And, when they get out of the way, you resume your original speed without human intervention.
I agree. In most driving situations now I find it difficult to use regular cruise just because of the amount of traffic, but the adaptive/radar cruise makes it possible again.
I'll usually set the cruise to 5-10 over the posted limit, and will run with the flow of traffic when there is any.
For next week, only the first 90 minutes or so will be busy - south of Pueblo, there's only a couple places where the speed limit is not 75 - Raton Pass on the CO/NM border, and I think it's 65 through Las Vegas, NM
I took the i3 to work today and as usual, I played with what Munich calls Advanced Cruise Control(ACC). It works pretty well, even bringing the car to a complete stop if necessary. Once the car in front starts moving again you just tap the gas and ACC takes over. A fun toy, but hardly indispensable.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I don't like using normal cruise. Adaptive cruise might put me over the edge.
I don't mind using cruise control on long trips but I have a hard time justifying all these other gizmos. Auto braking? How about responsible driving and laying off the cell phone?
I see many of these high tech systems as just more expensive repairs down the road. Also as a buyer of older cars do I have to look forward to multiple system failure lights blinking on the dash every time I drive?
Oh for the days when all I had to worry about was the engine, tranny and AC system.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I experienced it on a rented Audi in Germany, same as you - anything but the shortest setting is too much of gap, which encourages people to cut in, which makes you drop back more. I was really leery of it at first, while driving someone else's 100K car, but then I remembered it had insurance, so I went for it. The Audi didn't have steering assist though. I am a cruise control enthusiast and use it whenever I can, maybe spillover from many years when I was younger spent driving the fintail, which of course is from ages before MB had cruise control.
I wonder if the Subie camera system could be used as a dashcam too. Integrated dashcams are something I wish would exist, and probably will over time.
Yes, I can set the distance between my car and the car in front of me. I actually choose the shortest setting, which still provides ample distance. Anything more and folks tend to change lanes in front of you.
Subaru uses cameras on either side of the rear view mirror - nothing in the grille.
It is great technology, and I look forward to using it next week on our trip to Santa Fe. Not that there is a lot of traffic, but given it's the holiday weekend, anything is possible.
I had that technology on my 2014 Q50 Hybrid. I actually had it kick in a couple of times, it sounds a different chime than the standard alert warning if it's the car directly in front of you and actually worked fairly well. Apparently it can shoot the radar beams low enough under the car directly in front of you to bounce them off the pavement and back up to the second car ahead of you.
Talking about crazy safety options, the Q50 allegedly can tell what the car in front of the car in front of me is doing and applies the brakes accordingly. Never seen it come on, and am afraid to test it.
I had that technology on my 2014 Q50 Hybrid. I actually had it kick in a couple of times, it sounds a different chime than the standard alert warning if it's the car directly in front of you and actually worked fairly well. Apparently it can shoot the radar beams low enough under the car directly in front of you to bounce them off the pavement and back up to the second car ahead of you.
Who'd a thunk it? Still not anxious to try its effectiveness.
I don't like using normal cruise. Adaptive cruise might put me over the edge.
I don't mind using cruise control on long trips but I have a hard time justifying all these other gizmos. Auto braking? How about responsible driving and laying off the cell phone?
I see many of these high tech systems as just more expensive repairs down the road. Also as a buyer of older cars do I have to look forward to multiple system failure lights blinking on the dash every time I drive?
Oh for the days when all I had to worry about was the engine, tranny and AC system.
We don't "drive" cars much anymore....we "guide" them. Hey, to each his own. For me, I need the discipline of no-nanny. I also ride a motorcycle and a bike so I feel I need to have that "edge" in my driving awareness at all times.
Heh..heh...can you imagine going from a modern car to an old motorcycle and expecting it to automatic brake for you?
My plan is to wait until I'm getting old enough to really notice a drop in reflexes and eyesight---then I think I'll switch to automatic transmission and all the safety devices I can pile on.
Right now, the only one that tempts me is rear-view camera for my truck.
Speaking of reflexes---anyone ever take one of those on-line reflex tests--for reaction time? V--ery interesting. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get under .275. I guess some kids are way better than that.
I happened to look at Acura Canada's website the other day and found the packaging of the (2017) TLX odd. They have a number of different models - probably too many - and depending upon which one you chose, the offerings are quite different. For example, I found one model of the V6-AWD fairly reasonably priced, but it only came in 4 dull colors with a black leatherette interior. Step up to a Tech model for a few $ thousand more and you get 8 or so colors with black, gray, beige or espresso brown leather interior depending on paint color. You could buy a 4-cyl model that cost more than the V6. It was all very confusing.
I think for the new model, at least in the US, they are streamlining the packaging. More like base and A spec (sporty), with most stuff standard. add a tech pack for more fluff stuff. And pick 4 or 6.
but yes, today you can get a 4 with tech and advanced (I think that is on the 4 also) to cost more than a base 6, but that has more standard stuff.
I think for the new model, at least in the US, they are streamlining the packaging. More like base and A spec (sporty), with most stuff standard. add a tech pack for more fluff stuff. And pick 4 or 6.
but yes, today you can get a 4 with tech and advanced (I think that is on the 4 also) to cost more than a base 6, but that has more standard stuff.
Yeah....in the U.S. Acura TLXs all come with the safety stuff (lane keep, laser cruise, etc) regardless of 4 or 6 Cyl. Then you have standard, Tech Pack, ASpec and Advance. The only thing the '18s added from a model perspective was the ASPec and the across the board laser cruise and lane keep/blind spot inclusion.
Funny, just today my dealer called and invited me to a kick off for the new models. I guess they're having an invite only roll out for past customers. I told him I'm not in the market, but he said to come anyway to look and test drive them.
Automatic braking, or radar cruise? My 16 E has automatic braking. Radar cruise (part of the drivers assistance package) was a $2500 option, found on maybe 5% of cars, maybe less.
I think that automatic braking feature is standard or fairly low cost on several cars, Camrys, Suburus, Hyundais. It was part of a $5000 package if I got it for the 2017 E400. I really question that, but, I can live without it, and I would still rather drive my E400 than anything else....so, they got me :@
Is the "radar cruise" the same as Eyesight on Subarus?
Heard an anecdotal story from someone that this "auto braking" feature braked for an ant on the road (hard braking to a stop from speed), so no thank you on this technology. What a bummer it would be if you got rear-ended for no reason other than a mosquito, a fly, an ant, or worse, nothing at all. I'm joking about the ant The system made a mistake and saw something that wasn't there. I think these system would work better if it was just a driver notification feature, like a chime, a rumble of the car seat, or an electric shock for serious cases.
'21 BMW X3 M40i, '15 Audi S4, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
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I have taken advantage of crazy low airfare out of Seattle, and booked a flight into FRA later this year. Not sure of the itinerary yet, but I plan to stop in Hamburg, Miniatur Wunderland being the key destination. I like to plan a little in advance and pay for as much as possible before the trip.
Yes, I have been on autopay for years. That $70 a month tax in includes autopay.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
You should experience BMW's voice recognition - far superior to Mercedes - that comes from someone who has experienced both!
The voice recognition in the 2er and i3 works extremely well. The system in the Clubman isn't all that bad either.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Lesson learned in life though; don't lock up your money into something you can't control in the least bit. Was supposed to be a hedge against hotel inflation prices, but in reality, the maintenance fees outpace hotel inflation by a massive margin.
http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/wireStory/nevada-joins-handful-states-spans-80-mph-driving-47391917
They are about 15% more righteous than CA maximum speed law now.
Speaking of Volt how long does it hold a charge when not being driven and what your eMPG?
You should experience BMW's voice recognition - far superior to Mercedes - that comes from someone who has experienced both!
My 2017 has much better voice recognition than the 2015 model.....BMWs may be better, but I think you would have to try a newer MB to really compare.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I had a 2016 CLS and I drove a 2017 S550. Not as good as my BMW. You can call up almost any car function using voice recognition. I found that Mercedes has limited voice recognition functions.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Cameras would probably be couple of hundreds, or more at a consumer level, assuming starting prices, but once economies of scale are reached and more the suppliers of those items get in competition, the expected cost-in plummets to a small fraction. Still not zero, but way less if it were an optional item selected by a small percentage of customers.
I think safety mandates, especially those based on electronics have pretty good cost-benefit to them. It's the fuel economy mandates that can be quite destructive, if they are overly ambitious.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Regarding voice recognition, MB doesn't often significantly upgrade such tech during a model run. A 2017 S-class entered production in 2013, and I think CLS internals are around the same age.
Bar and Pub Tours, Dinner or view from the CN Tower, Cdn Football League Toronto vs Hamilton Mon Sept 4th 6:30, Blue Jays vs Orioles Fri Sept 1st 7 pm, Bus Tours of the City (this I would recommend, interesting history and good overview), St lawrence Market (food), Various plays at theaters in town, Trip to Niagara Falls and winery etc if 1st time, Tour Distillery District, Tours of Ghosts or Haunted Tours etc., Tour of Steam Whistle Brewery, Canadian International Air Show Sept 2,3,4,
I would double check on Tripadvisor to see how these are rated.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I bought a $92,000+ BMW vehicle from a manufacturer that is well known for producing quality products, world-wide. But you would think that something as insignificant in terms of cost as Apple Car Play would be a standard feature in such a "pricey" vehicle. Well, it isn't. It is offered only as an option at $300.00. BMW should be ashamed of itself for charging a customer $300.00 for that software add-on.
It really has nothing to do with increasing the profit on a car or SUV - it has to do with BMW's marketing strategy of its products which dates back decades. Starting with when I bought my first BMW in 2005, just about everything on the car was an option on the 5 series - and still is. At least they have now "packaged" those individual options into options containing a host of what used to be individual options. It's their mindset, for some strange reason.
So, it's their mindset and marketing strategy that enables them to offer things like Apple Car Play in their cars as an option since not all people have Apple Phones - many have other brands which are not compatible with Car Play. So, if some guy or gal who owns an iPhone wants to have the ability to connect the phone to the BMW's computer system, they are going to have to pay for it.
Shame on them - but it is what it is! :@
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
As for Voice Recognition, I believe it is still limited in the Mercedes. In my BMW, I can say:
Display Tire Pressure Monitor
Display fuel economy
Contact BMW Assist
Contact BMW Concierge
As well as a host of other commands that are not available in the Mercedes. But to be quite honest with you, I usually push a button on my console or use my menu and internal mouse and click on what I want to do rather than press the voice button on the steering wheel. I only use voice recognition to make a call or for navigation or to listen to FM, CD, DVD or Satellite radio - voice asks me what channel I want and I tell "her". Other functions, even though available, I rarely use. So it is not as important or critical to have expanded voice recognition.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
I will find out when I go on vacation in a couple of weeks! Actually, I probably won't charge it before I go. It still has a a gas engine. Right now the longest it has sat in the garage is a couple of days. Empg is hard to determine because I use gas if I go more than 50 miles, like on a weekend trip. So far I'm using electric about 65% of the time, gas 35%, and have a lifetime 100 mpg. It dips down to 95 or so after one of those trips. We put gas in it every 6 weeks or so at a cost of around $18. It's pretty awesome.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
Maybe I've used it more than others tend to. And, still say the voice recognition on Siri is the best I've ever used.
Other things, are matter of opinion, or preference. Acura throws in a lot of luxury items, such as HID (before, now LED) lights, leather seats, as standard, as a value proposition for their cars to sell better. Germans charge for them just because they can. I can understand that, but $300 Apple Carplay on the entire line, up to 7-series is really making my head spin. At least they don't want $1000 on 7-series, just because they can. It's sort of you should be grateful, he only beat the s...t out of you, cause he could have killed you
2018 430i Gran Coupe
I'd hope BMW Assist and BMW Concierge wouldn't be available in a MB
I doubt I would use it either. I am fine with the factory nav and using the normal controls to display such things, which I view infrequently anyway. I might use it for the phone, but I prefer steering wheel controls for radio.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
In any event, Munich's reputation for option finagling goes back to the 1960s when Max Hoffman imported BMWs. Magazine ads would list an MSRP, but at the dealership you would find the Monroney listed"Mandatory Options" such as a tachometer, a rear anti-roll bar, and Michelin XAS radials.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
There are two(2) different auto braking features available on most cars:
1. Part of the radar controlled cruise control system which will apply brakes to your car if it senses your car is getting too close to the car in front of you;
2. Accident avoidance system which is standard on many Mercedes and BMW's. If the system senses an impending collision it will apply 110% braking to avoid an accident.
Driver, your car has that #2 system. It's different than the Driver Assistance Package or Distronic. My 2015 and 2016 Mercedes vehicles had that Accident Avoidance System. My BMW 740i also has it. I also have the radar controlled cruise control with auto steering. But it's a completely different safety feature (#2 above).
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Also upgraded the interior and infotainment stuff to the latest whiz bang tech. And gave it the new, attractive, version of the family grill (looks like an MDX now).
Getting quite interested to take a look at these. Hopefully there will be deals to be had around christmas time!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Most radar cruise cars have a blanking plate in the grille, especially easy to see on Genesis and S-Class. MBs with a large grille star have it hidden there - ones without it have a star that has holes between the spokes of the star, ones with it have a flat shiny piece of plastic for the round star.
The drivers assistance package is the one toy I wish my car had - but the take rate for it on E class, especially diesel, is quite small. The steering bit looks like it is fun to play with, I have seen funny hacks of it on youtube. Is the "radar cruise" the same as Eyesight on Subarus?
Yes, I can set the distance between my car and the car in front of me. I actually choose the shortest setting, which still provides ample distance. Anything more and folks tend to change lanes in front of you.
Subaru uses cameras on either side of the rear view mirror - nothing in the grille.
It is great technology, and I look forward to using it next week on our trip to Santa Fe. Not that there is a lot of traffic, but given it's the holiday weekend, anything is possible.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
And, when they get out of the way, you resume your original speed without human intervention.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
For next week, only the first 90 minutes or so will be busy - south of Pueblo, there's only a couple places where the speed limit is not 75 - Raton Pass on the CO/NM border, and I think it's 65 through Las Vegas, NM
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I see many of these high tech systems as just more expensive repairs down the road. Also as a buyer of older cars do I have to look forward to multiple system failure lights blinking on the dash every time I drive?
Oh for the days when all I had to worry about was the engine, tranny and AC system.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I wonder if the Subie camera system could be used as a dashcam too. Integrated dashcams are something I wish would exist, and probably will over time.
Heh..heh...can you imagine going from a modern car to an old motorcycle and expecting it to automatic brake for you?
My plan is to wait until I'm getting old enough to really notice a drop in reflexes and eyesight---then I think I'll switch to automatic transmission and all the safety devices I can pile on.
Right now, the only one that tempts me is rear-view camera for my truck.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
but yes, today you can get a 4 with tech and advanced (I think that is on the 4 also) to cost more than a base 6, but that has more standard stuff.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Funny, just today my dealer called and invited me to a kick off for the new models. I guess they're having an invite only roll out for past customers. I told him I'm not in the market, but he said to come anyway to look and test drive them.