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From the the 2007 model year onward all of Mercedes diesel cars will be legal in all states - according to all the recent press. They're just waiting on the mandatory clean diesel to be available nationwide. The S320 I was told will be a 2008 model.
Airmatic is standard on all S-Classes so no choice there, but any problems with Airmatic were solved back in 2002-2003 production. Nothing to worry about there IMO.
The S-Class looks better in person IMO than in some photos, especially in AMG trim. What gets me is that it looks better in real life photos than in the ones Mercedes initially released.
M
Detroit is the most important for the U.S. auto industry and the domestices have to make sure they dominate it if for no other reason than to save face. If they start getting lax at participating in autoshow the domestics will really, really be in deep trouble in the minds of everyone, not just industry observers.
M
M
A shame they always get so defensive.
The Steelers will wipe the smiles off of those Sea Hawks although this prediction is not etched in stone.
Neither of these things should change with the introduction of the new LS 460.
Add a successful re-styling to the mix and you have a real winner here, much as it pains me to say so.
After driving age . . . I thought the Austins and the Triumph TR6 were "cool" (don't really know why, and never owned them), but the Porsche was actually the first car to truly excite me as a driver. I still love the Porsches, the Jags, and the MBs most of all. Guess I'm not that complicated.
TagMan
Reliability. Price. Reliability. Price. Reliability. Price. Reliability. Price. Reliability. Price. Reliability. Price. Reliability. Price. Reliability. Price. Reliability. Price. Reliability. Price. Reliability. Price. Reliability. Price.
Do you hear something over and over again . . . or is it just me?
TagMan
As for sensitivity - note that a Euro board had to be started to escape the Lexus crowd (who respected the exclusivity) but it seems it's a failure with only 30 or 40 posts a month. Take Lexus out of the equation and lux car talk loses all excitement and seems to get rather dull.
TagMan
What did I say that was sarcastic? You tried to imply that one has to be a buyer to understand Lexus' ability to price or where they will price their cars. I say that isn't true at all. Where is the sarcasm?
I don't think you were being sarcastic in the least, you were serious in stating that one needs to be a Lexus buyer to understand their pricing.
M
M
To me, the most significant thing coming out of Japan, Inc. is the hybrid. They will kick serious hybrid butt for a while, and I truly applaud them for it. Of course, things will change over time.
On a side note, I am SO freakin' anxious for the Mercedes diesels to hit all the models in all the states.
TagMan
The most interesting thing by far that Acura has done lately is the turbocharged RDX sport ute. The four in the TSX could really use that turbo.
Thanks to the internet, details of new cars and concept cars along with rumors from the show are reported in real time.
Think of how many people the various Edmunds topics about the Detroit show have reached.
All this adds up to a lot of free pubilicity.
The Acura name will improve, I believe, with new models such as the RDX, and next generation MDX, (NSX will only be an icon model), but a really GREAT flagship may still be a ways off. In the Japanese luxury arena, Lexus is practically untouchable, IMO.
TagMan
There is no way that people shopping for BMW, MB, and Acura would lump Toyota (not Lexus) into their small SUV search. The RAV4 appears to be a nice vehicle, but it isn't (and isn't meant to be) in the same class as those others. To consider the RAV4 a competitor to the X3, maybe the B-Class(?), the RDX, and even the RX330, is just crazy....
So, while I agree that they are not in the same league, it is clear to me that people WILL climb the ladder to get to a higher tier. And, as I mentioned, you can BET the auto rags will have some crazy mized up SUV "head to head" comparos of different models. They always do.
Read my original statement carefully and note that I clearly said the RAV4 is "not nearly the vehicle" (as the RDX). And, of course, the X3, etc.
Just a note: this is not really HELM material, IMO, but I want to be courteous and reply, so this is my last post on this.
TagMan
TagMan
TagMan
M
Maybe we'll *see* each other elsewhere away from Edmunds... I look forward to that...
Think of the sensation Toyota would make if they used an ES 330 instead of the Camry!
A hotrod Lexus loaded with shine outrunning the revenuers in the hills of Georgia........
Now THAT sounds like fun . . . I'm going to stock up on the mosquito repellent right now!
TagMan
But: what if someone had predicted 5 years ago that Toyota would join NASCAR?
Remember the days with the races like the "Camel GT"?
Toyota wants to capture that 'one-of-the-good-ol'-boys' aura that NASCAR exudes.
Also, Toyota wants to reach the NASCAR fan base. This an audience of millions of people who are not traditional Toyota/Lexus buyers.
More brilliance from Toyota to be a part of it.
I wouldn't call being this late to the party "brilliant".
What would you call it?
After all, NASCAR isn't about to end anytime soon. So, it's not really "late" in the game . . .it's ongoing, will be for generations. Just getting involved, particularly at a time when Toyota has now become one of the big ones, makes sense to me.
I suppose the risk would be that they don't fund it appropriately and that they end up looking pretty sad . . . then it would backfire on them.
In the racing world, Paul Newman historically did some good things for Nissan, and certainly HONDA has done absolute wonders for themselves recently. So . . . here comes Toyota?
Anyhow, I have always enjoyed reading your posts, and hope you change your mind and visit here from time to time.
Don't ever take any of this stuff too seriously.
Best of luck to you!
TagMan
Sorry that you feel the need to move on. Wishing you the best.
Martin
Thanks very much for adding to my knowledge of these cars.
Regards,
Gary
BTW, when did sale of the S550 start in the US? I thought the release date was not until some time in February.
M