could be wrong but I believe the Q7 is on it's own platform. It shares less than 16% of it's parts with the porsche, and VW. Edmunds latest article on the RDX says that it shares hardly anything with the CRV as it's drive trains are completely different.
Not all platform sharing is equal. Some vehicles that share a platforms may end up sharing a miniscule amount of parts. You are correct about the RDX drivetrain not being shared with Hondas. Personally I think they were better off putting in a V6, especially when you consider the less than spectacular gas mileage of the RDX turbo.
The new '07 MDX, which handles so remarkably that it was reported that it's as though God himself has His hand guiding the vehicle, will have no Honda counterpart for now.
How can I disagree with you without soundling like a heathen?
this here is my MB dream car. Unfortunately this new SL gullwing will not be availabe until 2010 ( about the same time when the new S Class convertible arrives) :P
I read in Globe & Mail (Toronto Newspaper)that American buyers will be deprieved of the most exciting leading edge Lexus LS460 technologies. Unlike USA, Japan and Europe ( I dont know about Canada) will get the following features :
1) A Rear Pre-Crash Safety System 2)An Advance Obstacle Detection System 3)An All-Speed Adaptive Cruis Control
Litigation fears and regulations are the main reasons why Americans will be deprieved of the above technology .
In other words Americans will be receiving the low tech version of the LS460.
Well as you know I was a huge fan of the previous CL, it being IMO the best looking car Mercedes had done in at least the last 10 years before it, but the new one is much more agressive yet keeps a lot of the old car's styling cues.
Yeah that would be a stunning car, but is has to be done right. No automatic only nonsense like the SLR and that new AMG V8 should have direct-injection and turbos by then for a good 700hp. Mercedes and BMW both need to get cracking on a DSG style gearbox for their higher-end models. Oh and it can't cost 450K like a SLR either, a good 190-250K would be much better.
That S-Class convertible ain't happening. Yes some brochures are quite large so if it does happen I won't be posting for a while, at least not from my hospital bed.
I've been waiting patiently for this vehicle, as I've thought that perhaps I might own one when it comes out, but I've got to say, the more spy photos I see, the worse it looks to me.
That is it!!! I'm withdrawing my stock out of ExxonMobil and investing BMW's steam power.
Are we sure we're the headliner country for all out lavish living? If I could put up with 115 degree heat everyday, I'd move off of L.I. and ship out to Dubai. Half the living expenses, low-to-no taxes, and mostly free health care, it's a no brainer.
As most know, I have a lot of cars. I'm no Jay Leno or anybody, but I still don't have a car for everyday of the week in 64 different colors. I shall become a sheik....
The Way Forward for Ford? Yeah, at the expense of 75,000 workers to take a artificial lure. The company also said that they will not turn a profit until '10/'11 at the very earliest. Whew....
Over at DC, the company scaled back it's operating profit lookout for '06 by about $1.27B, but that still leaves a healthy estimated $6.7B for the year...
And the General: The company said today on CNBC that the Sept sales at this point are 76% better than they were this time in '05. You can chalk this up to a recent and surprising uptick in their cars, not trucks, altho the full-size SUV's are selling outstandingly well, beating Ford 6-1 and DCX(Durango-Aspen) 5-1. The Solstice and the Sky are responsible for 36% more showroom traffic at their respective dealers. And the Caddy division is on the upswing, with the Escalade having only a 4-day lot time, an all-time high for any luxury SUV. And the DTS is on forecast to sell 90k copies this year, a record for that model and Cadillac as a whole. Add in the unbelieveable sales of the Corvette, G6, Impala(an always stronghold), Lucerne(a much better value than the DTS) and the investors see a bright future for the not-out-of the-dark-yet company. Oh, and yeah, the oncoming of the new GMT900 pick-ups don't hurt either, along with Pontiac finally being the American BMW it was intended to be and going full RWD on all models, including the G5 and G6 replacements. And the '08 Camaro? Whoa!!!!
Note to Toyota: GM wasn't giving up that easily. And they found your weakness: Asia. GM sells more cars in China than anyone else, kicking out V-Dub as number one. And I believe it won't be long before the American market is once back in it's hands, giving that the effort they're providing now, stays.
The only hope for GM/FORD is to go ch-11 and rid themselves of all UAWs and retirement baggages. Even though that only give them back to level playground with Toyota etc.
They are big, old dragons, sentimental domestic too, so might take a while, but down is the inevitible direction they are going, like it or not.
Hmm, now there's a thought. Cadillac has come a long way, or is on its way if it stays the course. And Lexus is the Japanese Cadillac. This is getting confusing.
Hmm, now there's a thought. Cadillac has come a long way, or is on its way if it stays the course. And Lexus is the Japanese Cadillac. This is getting confusing.
The CTS, STS, and SRX are direct competitors with the 3, 5, and X5. Pontiac doesn't have anything like that. I wouldn't say Lexus is the Japanese Cadillac. Lexus is Lexus.
sorry for my delayed response. Nothing official yet on that gullwing SL!
But if it is selling at Merc1's predicted prices then I will have to wait until another lifetime to buy one (hopefully reincarnated as an Arab Sheik with a garage of 70 exoctic cars and a harem of 70 exotic concubines).
Does anybody notice the "W12" in the rear of this BMW770i?
BMW imitating Audi with a W12? Unlikely! Very unlikely? But who knows?
I just got the shock of my lifetime when visiting a BMW dealer. I was offered at most 1.5K off MSRP for the BMW335i sedan. In addition my dealer told me this discount is a very generous gesture towards me. Generous indeed!
I am going to another dealer. And if I dont get a better deal then I will defer my purchase until I do get a better deal( and maybe that deal may not even be from that very generous organization called BMW).
LG, did you read your last MT issue? Ah, yeah, that was the Soltice GXP knocking off the twice as expensive Z4 and the Z coming in a distant 3rd.
If that's no indication, then I don't know what is. Sure it isn't as refined as the Z, but for the ultimate bang for the buck, that little turbo 4 has a lot going for itself.
And if they go through with the next Grand Prix being based off of the super fun and BMW 5-Series beating in terms of dynamics Holden, then there's even more primal threat..
But I do somewhat agree, it's going to take more time to catch BMW, and by the time they do, BMW is going to elevate it's game even further.
Yes the Cadillac's are serious alternatives to the BMW cars, especially the STS and SRX. The CTS is out it's realm now at least for the next 5 months until the '08 comes out as the competition has heated up to the point of the class being "overly" competitive. But that is a good thing.
LG, did you read your last MT issue? Ah, yeah, that was the Soltice GXP knocking off the twice as expensive Z4 and the Z coming in a distant 3rd.
Well, MT has somewhat of a USA! USA! slant. Just MO. The Solstice GXP is a cool car, but, the interior is an obvious rush job in terms of its poor ergonomics and low-rent quality, the car still can't match a Boxster or Miata in terms of dynamics, the top isn't waterproof (classic Detroit), and I haven't had to get out of the car to put the top up since my '62 Austin Healey 3000 MkII. For whatever its worth, the 350Z is EOL, and the next generation will probably be much better, especially on the inside.
"the car still can't match a Boxster or Miata in terms of dynamics.."
Come on LG, give the dog a bone. Sure the car's interior is low rent, and the top is a piece of crap(a power top is going to be an option late in '07 for the Solstice and Sky), but where else will you get this type of performance for 25k? Nowhere.
And on the Miata, the GXP version is leaps and bounds ahead of the MX-5 in terms of handling and performance in every category. It's not as fluid as the Mazda, but it's just as tight as witnessed by a bank-vault like structure(actually, Pontiac quivers less on bad pavement than the Mazda, probably due to the extra 350 pounds).
And the Boxster, well, that car costs twice as much, but Porshce is the ace-in-the-whole in the roadster class. BUT: The GXP isn't far behind, in fact it's ahead in some respects, but the S version is still the "it" car in this class. And yes, the Nissan's ahh factor has long gone, but I'm sure the replacement will be just as good.
BTW: The MX-5's top leaked during a car wash run in two different publication tests. Thanks for the hard-top option, which takes .06 away from the car's accel times to 60 and reduces the handling and grip considerably.
Sure, for $25K it brings a lot to the table. Im curious to see how the inevitable Mazdaspeed MX-5 stacks up. Another contender could be the eventual S2000 replacement, with the 2.3L turbo (are you listening, Honda?)
Another contender could be the eventual S2000 replacement, with the 2.3L turbo (are you listening, Honda?)
If Honda/Acura can screw up the next NSX design (based upon early pics), I shudder to think what they can do to the S2000. I just hope that Honda truly understands what the S2000 really is and how much better it could be.
I've always thought of the S2000 as a "sleeper" . . . a terrific car that was somehow held back from living up to its potential.
We'll see if Honda "gets it" this next time around.
I am going to another dealer. And if I dont get a better deal then I will defer my purchase until I do get a better deal( and maybe that deal may not even be from that very generous organization called BMW).
Dewey - somehow I've gotten confused about your new 3-series purchase/order. What's the status, and is there an issue with the dealer or the price? Or have you changed your mind about the car itself?
If Pontiac did go exclusively RWD with the Solstice, next G6, Grand Prix/G8 then they'd be alright in my book. Then add in a GTO Coupe and Convertible and I think they'd really have something. Pontiac has long wanted to be like BMW and going totally RWD would bring their closer to tha goal than they've ever been before.
The downside of this though is that sales volume would likely shrink quite dramatically at first, but then again GM as a whole is shrinking. A small sedan and coupe based on the Kappa (Solstice) platform would be awesome and a true 3-Series rival, of course if done right. GM's biggest problem is that they don't aim high enough and they don't sweat the details like the foreign makes do. The top fit on the Solstice/SKY is appauling and you have to wonder what else they rushed and skimped on if something that you can plainly see was so half-[non-permissible content removed] done. The top looks like it is tearing away from it's folding structure. It ruins the looks of the car when the top is up. That said I haven't been attracted to a Saturn in the history of the brand so I guess begrudingly they're on the right track.
GM's biggest problem is that they don't aim high enough and they don't sweat the details like the foreign makes do
And they ultimately shoot themselves in the foot.
Talk about Pontiac . . . the Fiero story is another classic example of a pitiful lack of self-support.
GM so often takes shortcuts and looks for ways to skimp . . . Their commendable attention to the Cadillac division should be their approach to ALL their divisions.
It's almost a deeper philosophical problem with GM. It's as though they attempt to climb a ladder but either never go to the top or try to skip steps along the way. I also see that historically the evolution of many (but not all) GM vehicles actually erodes rather than improves. It's all just plain stupid, IMO.
I would say yes and no. This poor dead horse has been beaten enough so I am content to leave it be. I just thought it added to my point of car identities sometimes being confusing. Although the LS has targeted Mercedes, it also stole a lot of Cadillac buyers in addition to driving like one IMO and this was my point of reference. Indeed, Lexus is Lexus when it comes to reliability, quality and service.
This comes up periodically. Are you referring to the kidney grille? If so, below is one of my posts from a debate I got into three years ago. Pontiac had it first even though BMW had the wherewithal to patent it, and apparently Pontiac has been unrelenting in not conceding the issue with their grille designs through the years. I can't see how else they try to be like them except in their dreams:
“ the “kidney” grille appears in the 30s. BMWs first car the 1928 Dixi 3/15 PS did not have it. Neither did the 1932 BMW AM4. However, the 1932 Pontiac 302 did indeed have it. And a year after that we see it for the first time on the BMW 303. Curiously, not only is the grille almost a dead ringer but the similar, successive designation numbers seem to be an admission on BMW’s part. Who gets the jump on patents, trademarks and copyrights first is one thing. The truth of matters is another.”
Dewey - somehow I've gotten confused about your new 3-series purchase/order. What's the status, and is there an issue with the dealer or the price? Or have you changed your mind about the car itself?
Price was an issue at 1.5 percent off MSRP. I managed to buy my BMW335i sedan today and got only 4 percent off MSRP today (nothing to be boastful about but it was the best discount I could get).
Options:
Sport Package Sparkling Graphite Metallic Paint
It will be manufactured in October and delivered to me sometime in November. Cant wait!
When we purchased the bmw last year, they had three stationwagons in stock and wanted to move at least one..5 series....Made a quick discount of thirty five hundred....When I negociated for the seven they would not come down but twenty five hundred as they didn`t have any on hand....I suspect you need to go to a dealer that has a few cars as you would want...All in all I as you found them to be difficult to deal with--all -- Tony
It's almost a deeper philosophical problem with GM. It's as though they attempt to climb a ladder but either never go to the top or try to skip steps along the way. I also see that historically the evolution of many (but not all) GM vehicles actually erodes rather than improves. It's all just plain stupid, IMO.
I think it all has to do with the guys at the top. Companies like BMW, Honda, etc. are run by engineers. GM is run by accountants. They've said it themselves "we're in the business of making money, not cars". That worked great in the '50s, when GM had half the US automarket. Not anymore.
Fortunately it seems like they are finally getting the message. Their new full-size SUVs are pretty much best in class, with interiors better than Toyota and Nissan. Cadillac is finally getting proper interior treatments as well. The interior of the freshened SRX is no longer a cheap joke. Maybe not quite at Lexus\Audi level yet, but very competitive.
Fortunately it seems like they are finally getting the message.
That's to be seen.
I've only owned four GM vehicles. ALL, except for a '92 Corvette convertible, were pathetic in terms of reliability. Some with MAJOR problems. Maybe they will get better, but I'm not about to find out, as I won't purchase one, period.
Quite simply, there are better alternatives than General Motors, IMO.
The same thing goes for me with my 8 Corvettes. From my '63 Split Window to my current '06 Z06, with the exception of my '92 ZR1 with total engine failure due to a faulty oil pump, the cars have served flawlessly.
But I must admit, I have owned 2 GM cars other than ny Vettes. My '97 Caddy STS was a rare reliable model, needing only the crazy BOSE system replaced, as witnessed by many Nissan and MB cars. And the 2000 DTS was a great car that I used to travel to and from the City everyday for work for a year. Racked up 42,000 miles in the first year without so much as an unscheduled visit to the dealership, a first for any luxury ride I've owned. No wonder they sell 90k copies of this car a year.
And to add, judging from this years JDP reports, the makers divisions are on a roll, save for the plagued HUMMER and Saab brands. Cadillac was right along with Jag and Lexus this year. Very interesting. I do think that the General has gotten the hint, even the top general himself, Wagoner. It's either do or die.
I've only owned four GM vehicles. ALL, except for a '92 Corvette convertible, were pathetic in terms of reliability. Some with MAJOR problems. Maybe they will get better, but I'm not about to find out, as I won't purchase one, period.
I had an Oldsmobile in the early '70s, which was pretty much junk as well. After that I was finally able to afford my first Mercedes, a 280E. That car and my later 300E were great. When I went to the S, though, lots of troubles that ultimately soured me on the brand.
very similar experience. During March I got a good deal on a BMW 530xi wagon that was among two wagons on the lot. The novelty of owning a twin turbo BMW is the main reason for why I am willing to forgo a good discount.
Thanks. Two times is enough. I have no intention upon buying a new car soon. And if I ever do have an urge to buy a car soon then I will be definitely joining an Edmunds Forum called "Compulsive Auto Buyers Anonymous".
Based on my history I usually keep a car for seven to eight years.
This comes up periodically. Are you referring to the kidney grille?
Not really because of the grille, but thanks for the info.
My reason for saying that about Pontiac is that for as long as I can remember they've always compared themselves to Cadillac. Back in the 1980's when a relative had a Bonnieville SSE Pontiac compared it to the 7-Series of the day. They boasted about the how their 3800 V6 was "larger" than the I6 in the 735i of the day. Of course it was another one of GM' empty, specious claims because the I6 in the BMW had more power anyway. Through the years they've often compared the late Bonnie, Grand Prix and G6 to various BMWs. Of course none of this means anything until they get right wheel wheel drive, IMO.
Comments
Edmunds latest article on the RDX says that it shares hardly anything with the CRV as it's drive trains are completely different.
Not all platform sharing is equal. Some vehicles that share a platforms may end up sharing a miniscule amount of parts. You are correct about the RDX drivetrain not being shared with Hondas. Personally I think they were better off putting in a V6, especially when you consider the less than spectacular gas mileage of the RDX turbo.
How can I disagree with you without soundling like a heathen?
link title
TagMan
I can guarantee you this Acura will not be based on an Accord platform.
Sorry that I cannot translate this article ( I can only count to ten in Japanese)
this here is my MB dream car. Unfortunately this new SL gullwing will not be availabe until 2010 ( about the same time when the new S Class convertible arrives) :P
1) A Rear Pre-Crash Safety System
2)An Advance Obstacle Detection System
3)An All-Speed Adaptive Cruis Control
Litigation fears and regulations are the main reasons why Americans will be deprieved of the above technology .
In other words Americans will be receiving the low tech version of the LS460.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Is this official . . . any mention of $$?
BTW, I prefer the old NSX from a design standpoint compared to that pic.
TagMan
Same here. This design seems like a chunky coupe, rather than a long, low, sleek sports car.
M
M
That S-Class convertible ain't happening. Yes some brochures are quite large so if it does happen I won't be posting for a while, at least not from my hospital bed.
M
Video
If there was ever an incentive to stop our dependence on foreign oil this is it!
M
link title
TagMan
Are we sure we're the headliner country for all out lavish living? If I could put up with 115 degree heat everyday, I'd move off of L.I. and ship out to Dubai. Half the living expenses, low-to-no taxes, and mostly free health care, it's a no brainer.
As most know, I have a lot of cars. I'm no Jay Leno or anybody, but I still don't have a car for everyday of the week in 64 different colors. I shall become a sheik....
Over at DC, the company scaled back it's operating profit lookout for '06 by about $1.27B, but that still leaves a healthy estimated $6.7B for the year...
And the General: The company said today on CNBC that the Sept sales at this point are 76% better than they were this time in '05. You can chalk this up to a recent and surprising uptick in their cars, not trucks, altho the full-size SUV's are selling outstandingly well, beating Ford 6-1 and DCX(Durango-Aspen) 5-1. The Solstice and the Sky are responsible for 36% more showroom traffic at their respective dealers. And the Caddy division is on the upswing, with the Escalade having only a 4-day lot time, an all-time high for any luxury SUV. And the DTS is on forecast to sell 90k copies this year, a record for that model and Cadillac as a whole. Add in the unbelieveable sales of the Corvette, G6, Impala(an always stronghold), Lucerne(a much better value than the DTS) and the investors see a bright future for the not-out-of the-dark-yet company. Oh, and yeah, the oncoming of the new GMT900 pick-ups don't hurt either, along with Pontiac finally being the American BMW it was intended to be and going full RWD on all models, including the G5 and G6 replacements. And the '08 Camaro? Whoa!!!!
Note to Toyota: GM wasn't giving up that easily. And they found your weakness: Asia. GM sells more cars in China than anyone else, kicking out V-Dub as number one. And I believe it won't be long before the American market is once back in it's hands, giving that the effort they're providing now, stays.
Blkhemi... I would have thought you were a sheik, that is until I read your last Motown post.
;-)
I wouldn't go that far. I know Lutz said that, but it takes more than going to RWD to take on BMW. If anything, the American BMW is Cadillac.
They are big, old dragons, sentimental domestic too, so might take a while, but down is the inevitible direction they are going, like it or not.
Hmm, now there's a thought. Cadillac has come a long way, or is on its way if it stays the course. And Lexus is the Japanese Cadillac. This is getting confusing.
The CTS, STS, and SRX are direct competitors with the 3, 5, and X5. Pontiac doesn't have anything like that. I wouldn't say Lexus is the Japanese Cadillac. Lexus is Lexus.
link title
TagMan
sorry for my delayed response. Nothing official yet on that gullwing SL!
But if it is selling at Merc1's predicted prices then I will have to wait until another lifetime to buy one (hopefully reincarnated as an Arab Sheik with a garage of 70 exoctic cars and a harem of 70 exotic concubines).
BMW imitating Audi with a W12? Unlikely! Very unlikely? But who knows?
I just got the shock of my lifetime when visiting a BMW dealer. I was offered at most 1.5K off MSRP for the BMW335i sedan. In addition my dealer told me this discount is a very generous gesture towards me. Generous indeed!
I am going to another dealer. And if I dont get a better deal then I will defer my purchase until I do get a better deal( and maybe that deal may not even be from that very generous organization called BMW).
If that's no indication, then I don't know what is. Sure it isn't as refined as the Z, but for the ultimate bang for the buck, that little turbo 4 has a lot going for itself.
And if they go through with the next Grand Prix being based off of the super fun and BMW 5-Series beating in terms of dynamics Holden, then there's even more primal threat..
But I do somewhat agree, it's going to take more time to catch BMW, and by the time they do, BMW is going to elevate it's game even further.
Yes the Cadillac's are serious alternatives to the BMW cars, especially the STS and SRX. The CTS is out it's realm now at least for the next 5 months until the '08 comes out as the competition has heated up to the point of the class being "overly" competitive. But that is a good thing.
I highly doubt BMW will build such a machine. And BMW never puts I-6, V8 badges on their cars, let alone a W12 badge.
But then again, they did say there is about to be a radical change in Munich..
Well, MT has somewhat of a USA! USA! slant. Just MO. The Solstice GXP is a cool car, but, the interior is an obvious rush job in terms of its poor ergonomics and low-rent quality, the car still can't match a Boxster or Miata in terms of dynamics, the top isn't waterproof (classic Detroit), and I haven't had to get out of the car to put the top up since my '62 Austin Healey 3000 MkII. For whatever its worth, the 350Z is EOL, and the next generation will probably be much better, especially on the inside.
Come on LG, give the dog a bone. Sure the car's interior is low rent, and the top is a piece of crap(a power top is going to be an option late in '07 for the Solstice and Sky), but where else will you get this type of performance for 25k? Nowhere.
And on the Miata, the GXP version is leaps and bounds ahead of the MX-5 in terms of handling and performance in every category. It's not as fluid as the Mazda, but it's just as tight as witnessed by a bank-vault like structure(actually, Pontiac quivers less on bad pavement than the Mazda, probably due to the extra 350 pounds).
And the Boxster, well, that car costs twice as much, but Porshce is the ace-in-the-whole in the roadster class. BUT: The GXP isn't far behind, in fact it's ahead in some respects, but the S version is still the "it" car in this class. And yes, the Nissan's ahh factor has long gone, but I'm sure the replacement will be just as good.
BTW: The MX-5's top leaked during a car wash run in two different publication tests. Thanks for the hard-top option, which takes .06 away from the car's accel times to 60 and reduces the handling and grip considerably.
If Honda/Acura can screw up the next NSX design (based upon early pics), I shudder to think what they can do to the S2000. I just hope that Honda truly understands what the S2000 really is and how much better it could be.
I've always thought of the S2000 as a "sleeper" . . . a terrific car that was somehow held back from living up to its potential.
We'll see if Honda "gets it" this next time around.
TagMan
Dewey - somehow I've gotten confused about your new 3-series purchase/order. What's the status, and is there an issue with the dealer or the price? Or have you changed your mind about the car itself?
TagMan
If Pontiac did go exclusively RWD with the Solstice, next G6, Grand Prix/G8 then they'd be alright in my book. Then add in a GTO Coupe and Convertible and I think they'd really have something. Pontiac has long wanted to be like BMW and going totally RWD would bring their closer to tha goal than they've ever been before.
The downside of this though is that sales volume would likely shrink quite dramatically at first, but then again GM as a whole is shrinking. A small sedan and coupe based on the Kappa (Solstice) platform would be awesome and a true 3-Series rival, of course if done right. GM's biggest problem is that they don't aim high enough and they don't sweat the details like the foreign makes do. The top fit on the Solstice/SKY is appauling and you have to wonder what else they rushed and skimped on if something that you can plainly see was so half-[non-permissible content removed] done. The top looks like it is tearing away from it's folding structure. It ruins the looks of the car when the top is up. That said I haven't been attracted to a Saturn in the history of the brand so I guess begrudingly they're on the right track.
M
And they ultimately shoot themselves in the foot.
Talk about Pontiac . . . the Fiero story is another classic example of a pitiful lack of self-support.
GM so often takes shortcuts and looks for ways to skimp . . . Their commendable attention to the Cadillac division should be their approach to ALL their divisions.
It's almost a deeper philosophical problem with GM. It's as though they attempt to climb a ladder but either never go to the top or try to skip steps along the way. I also see that historically the evolution of many (but not all) GM vehicles actually erodes rather than improves. It's all just plain stupid, IMO.
TagMan
I would say yes and no. This poor dead horse has been beaten enough so I am content to leave it be. I just thought it added to my point of car identities sometimes being confusing. Although the LS has targeted Mercedes, it also stole a lot of Cadillac buyers in addition to driving like one IMO and this was my point of reference. Indeed, Lexus is Lexus when it comes to reliability, quality and service.
This comes up periodically. Are you referring to the kidney grille? If so, below is one of my posts from a debate I got into three years ago. Pontiac had it first even though BMW had the wherewithal to patent it, and apparently Pontiac has been unrelenting in not conceding the issue with their grille designs through the years. I can't see how else they try to be like them except in their dreams:
“ the “kidney” grille appears in the 30s. BMWs first car the 1928 Dixi 3/15 PS did not have it. Neither did the 1932 BMW AM4. However, the 1932 Pontiac 302 did indeed have it. And a year after that we see it for the first time on the BMW 303. Curiously, not only is the grille almost a dead ringer but the similar, successive designation numbers seem to be an admission on BMW’s part. Who gets the jump on patents, trademarks and copyrights first is one thing. The truth of matters is another.”
designman, "BMW 5-Series Wagon 2004 Redesign" #448, 1 Oct 2003 8:42 pm!keywords=allin%3Amsgtext%20kidney%20grille
Price was an issue at 1.5 percent off MSRP. I managed to buy my BMW335i sedan today and got only 4 percent off MSRP today (nothing to be boastful about but it was the best discount I could get).
Options:
Sport Package
Sparkling Graphite Metallic Paint
It will be manufactured in October and delivered to me sometime in November. Cant wait!
As a kid during the 1970s I always admired the looks of a Pontiac grille. Kidney shapes certainly do look sexy.
I think it all has to do with the guys at the top. Companies like BMW, Honda, etc. are run by engineers. GM is run by accountants. They've said it themselves "we're in the business of making money, not cars". That worked great in the '50s, when GM had half the US automarket. Not anymore.
Fortunately it seems like they are finally getting the message. Their new full-size SUVs are pretty much best in class, with interiors better than Toyota and Nissan. Cadillac is finally getting proper interior treatments as well. The interior of the freshened SRX is no longer a cheap joke. Maybe not quite at Lexus\Audi level yet, but very competitive.
That's to be seen.
I've only owned four GM vehicles. ALL, except for a '92 Corvette convertible, were pathetic in terms of reliability. Some with MAJOR problems. Maybe they will get better, but I'm not about to find out, as I won't purchase one, period.
Quite simply, there are better alternatives than General Motors, IMO.
TagMan
Sounds like a terrific car! Good color choice, IMO, and I'm glad you got the Sport Package.
TagMan
The same thing goes for me with my 8 Corvettes. From my '63 Split Window to my current '06 Z06, with the exception of my '92 ZR1 with total engine failure due to a faulty oil pump, the cars have served flawlessly.
But I must admit, I have owned 2 GM cars other than ny Vettes. My '97 Caddy STS was a rare reliable model, needing only the crazy BOSE system replaced, as witnessed by many
Nissan and MB cars. And the 2000 DTS was a great car that I used to travel to and from the City everyday for work for a year. Racked up 42,000 miles in the first year without so much as an unscheduled visit to the dealership, a first for any luxury ride I've owned. No wonder they sell 90k copies of this car a year.
And to add, judging from this years JDP reports, the makers divisions are on a roll, save for the plagued HUMMER and Saab brands. Cadillac was right along with Jag and Lexus this year. Very interesting. I do think that the General has gotten the hint, even the top general himself, Wagoner. It's either do or die.
I had an Oldsmobile in the early '70s, which was pretty much junk as well. After that I was finally able to afford my first Mercedes, a 280E. That car and my later 300E were great. When I went to the S, though, lots of troubles that ultimately soured me on the brand.
very similar experience. During March I got a good deal on a BMW 530xi wagon that was among two wagons on the lot.
The novelty of owning a twin turbo BMW is the main reason for why I am willing to forgo a good discount.
Thanks. Two times is enough. I have no intention upon buying a new car soon. And if I ever do have an urge to buy a car soon then I will be definitely joining an Edmunds Forum called "Compulsive Auto Buyers Anonymous".
Based on my history I usually keep a car for seven to eight years.
Not really because of the grille, but thanks for the info.
My reason for saying that about Pontiac is that for as long as I can remember they've always compared themselves to Cadillac. Back in the 1980's when a relative had a Bonnieville SSE Pontiac compared it to the 7-Series of the day. They boasted about the how their 3800 V6 was "larger" than the I6 in the 735i of the day. Of course it was another one of GM' empty, specious claims because the I6 in the BMW had more power anyway. Through the years they've often compared the late Bonnie, Grand Prix and G6 to various BMWs. Of course none of this means anything until they get right wheel wheel drive, IMO.
M