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Comments
Before, of course.
M
And you're right. The products are very far and few between. They just don't produce cars people want to buy. No one says I want that underpowered and overwhelmed Five Hundred when they can have that spiffy new Camry, Accord, or even Impala. The same for the for the Zephyr(MKS). For 33k, there are at least 20 cars to be had at that price that is a more attractive deal. Even with the massive 8k off, I'd still be hard pressed to take it over an Accord, Camry, or even a Sonata, even with the MKS' supposed better interior.
The Explorer, the SUV that ruled the world, has fallen off so far that the company is now said to make an off-road model due to the Ford Edge being the more desired model. With all of this money spent in '06 to make the Explorer explore better, then why not create the Edge as the new Explorer in the first place??
And even the F-150 line is a major letdown. They're going to let SRT walk all over them in a category that SVT made hot with the Lightnin. The new Harley-Davidson Ford should've never seen the light of day.
1.75m vehicles worldwide to be recalled is a lot for any manufacture. Toyota has to remember to put it's quality first or people will walk away. Fast. In this day and age, people are not as willing to take second bat with every company either matching or exceeding another company's quality until another company 1-up's it.
Hyundai, does it ring a bell anyone?
Based on the pictures below it appears BMW's future will lack Bangle's influence and be substituted with blandest of bland styling. :lemon:
This picture looks alot like the current e90 3 series:
And the rear-end of this 5 series looks a lot like a Hyundai Sonata:
The most interesting specs are the following:
BMW hasn't forgotten about environmental initiatives, though. The diesel engines should get urea injection – as Mercedes is pioneering – to cut nitrogen oxide emissions. A stop/start system and upshift indicator for six-speed manual versions will help reduce fuel consumption, and the engines should be biofuel- and synfuel-compatible. Brake energy-regeneration, in combination with adaptive alternator control, should also save up to 10 percent more fuel too.
Link below for more 2009 5 series specs:
2009 5 Series
All-in-all, this is an attractive new 5 series that should sell very well, and lend itself nicely to a good-looking M, IMO.
TagMan
Given the car's good looks, I'd say that is a large compliment to Hyundai.
TagMan
I particularly love the front end. But the rear-end is like a few cars I can name, it doesn't match/complement the front. I don't think BMW will leave that flat crease along the rear end. But then again.........
ironically as other car makers are influenced by Bangle design (MB and Lexus), BMW is fleeing from its Bangle roots.
I hear the word elegance for the new 5 series. I guess elegance and conservatism in this case can be used interchangeabeably.
But then again these BMW pictures today are just as shocking as the rumors about a military coupe in Thailand.
Maybe there is a coupe in Bavaria and Chris Bangle is in handcuffs under house arrest :confuse:
;-)
Immediately after Dewey posted the pics, HP criticized it (although edited his response), but I stood up for the design, as did blkhemi. Now D-man gives it a thumbs down, totally opposite of blkhemi and me.
This just proves one thing . . . blkhemi and I have a better eye (lol).
But seriously, it sounds as though you are suggesting that this may not even be the real deal anyway.
TagMan
It is highly doubtful that they'll leave the car this way. Case and Point:
When the spy shots came out on the new X5, I thought to myself, what the heck are they doing? They already have the 530xi Wagon, as that what it was looking like. Then the official picks from Bavaria came out, and all was well. And just yesterday, Merc posted a pic of the new interior. Ultra posh.
So let's not get up in arms over something that may or may not be for real. As I stated, I highly doubt BMW will leave that rear-end that droopy with a Japanese styling treatment. Only the Jetta can get away with a vacation at Toyota's styling salon. And you see it's lost it's cult following...
link title
TagMan
Good point, but I still think the rumored car is decent . . . no, elegant.
TagMan
Just like the old Chevy Tahoe to the 2007 Tahoe, they polished out all the aggression and style, and controversy, and went into a non-offensive mode that will endear it to no one.
I am a HUGE fan of the "Bangled" 5, just not the standard iDrive in most models. The 550i would be perfect midsize sport sedan, but it has a heavy cross to bear!
Let's fix that problem before we emasculate the thing, k?
DrFill
Leave the inspired, gloriously sexy, animalistic, aerodynamically-styled for driving excitement masterpiece that is the Bangle 5 Series design alone and get rid of that ridiculous iDrive (you tune the radio) controller. If they must keep it, at least give us back a normal push button-tuning radio which can easily be switched from AM to FM without my having to have an advanced degree in computer science with the controller.
It's too bad sales are way up thanks to Bangle's brave and bold design, and BMW misinterprets that as positive confirmation of the iDrive (you crazy).
I fear they will never get rid of it.
Having taken a check or two from Ford in my day, I can speak from experience that the Exploder problem was quite special. There were a few deaths, and permanent injuries attributed, plus the lawsuits that followed, plus, this was a largely American phenomenon. given the Exploder is a largely American-only product.
If we should have learned nothing over the years of this forum, it is that Americans could give a darn about what happens in the 3rd-world, which constitutes anywhere Bush hopes to colonize, holiday, or wire-tap, sans warrant.
The way things are going, this phone line has been totally compromised.
The point is, if 'Yota has 800k recalls in China, we don't care.
If no Americans died, it's not a story. Just fodder.
Funny how Ford used to make news, now they just make fodder...
DrFill
The General: 13.9%
Toyota: 12.3%
Ford: 12.0%
Yes folks, Toyota will beat Ford worldwide. They also said that that there will be a major shift towards Eastern Europe and China, areas that GM absolutely dominates. By 2010, if GM stays on it's steady pace and Toyota's output actually works, Toyota would become #1, reports suggests.
I just double checked, for the first 6 months of 2006. GM sold 4.60 million cars and Toyota sold 4.36 million. GM sold 5.5% more, not the 13% advantage (13.9% vs. 12.3%) as blkhemi suggested.
As of now, GM is indeed still No.1. But if the current trend continues, i.e. GM down 2.3% YOY(not counting the most recent announcements) and Toyota up 7.1% YOY, 2006 will be the last year that GM holds the title.
For those who thinks GM sells far more than Toyota in Europe and China, please do not forget Japan itself is still world's No.2 auto nation. And in China, Toyota just introduced Corolla under 2 years and Camry under 1 year. Let see what happens in the next two. :shades:
WHat if this 5 series became reality?
Then I can almost guarantee you that BMW 5 series repeat sales will plummet. How do I know that? Because I dont think it is mere coincidence that three out of three 5 series owners(Designman, HP and myself) are the ones that hate these pictures the most. I think many current 5 series owners will hate these bland looking pictures just as much as we do.
Sounds like a 5-year plan to make it into the Top 3.
Place your bets.
DrFill
Then I can almost guarantee you that BMW 5 series repeat sales will plummet.
You can't guarantee that. I said the same exact thing about the E60 5-series three years ago. I recall saying they would be giving them away at the end of the first model year. Never happened in spite of the dismay and schism it caused what with the online petition and everything.
Let's not worry about this now because these photoillustrations we are seeing are NOT the next 5-series.
And the General is down in the US for now, but worldwide their up 8.9% and with the new stuff with interest starting to roll off of the assmebly lines, they be back in shape faster than we thought.
Yes Toyota has introduced the Corolla in China, but to little interest. All of the General's subs. are the kings there. particular China market only Buicks, which outpace their next in class comp. 4-1. Funny, until the Lucerne got here, it was vice versa in the home market.
I may be the lone star, but I have much faith in this company. This is not the first time this companu has been in this much trouble, particulurly under the "Roger and Me" regime. They will pull through, especially judging from their new plan of action, which is apparently working as investors have let off some steam and GM's rating no longer being considered "junk" on the stocks...
This from the newly dubbed "Company of Ideas?"
Sheesh!
Ooh, that is TOO hard to let pass. :P
I do believe many of us make liberal use of the Edit feature, wouldn't you agree, Tag, my friend?
And I do the same. Sometimes you just can't get your thoughts expressed correctly until you see them posted one, two, six times.
I'm working on using the Preview feature but keep forgetting... :P
I must try it some time now that I realize it is not a crime to use it.
liberal? . . . Heck, I'd hard wire it, if it were possible. No one edits more than the TagMan! Well . . . maybe hpowders!
But, truly THANKS for pointing out the preview feature. I'll give it a try. Maybe it'll prevent such liberal use of the Edit feature.
TagMan
It is way too complicated and believe it shows extreme arrogance on BMW's part not to listen to all the negative press and consumer complaints.
I consider myself reasonably intelligent, (although I have been known to edit a post or two) and have given up switching between AM and FM stations. I just keep it on FM.
When the auto mags and regular folk criticized Lexus for the electronic meddling, they listened and now provide an off switch.
It would be nice if BMW would get off its high horse and listen to the folks, admit it made a mistake and provide a more user friendly system.
And if they refuse to do that, at the very least they should move to make it an option across the entire line.
That is music to my ears. Let us hope you are right.
I can live with that slogan as long as they introduce gorgeous cars like the new BMW 3 series coupe. IMO this car is the best looking coupe since the E34 635i . The current 6 series coupe has to be the most hideous looking coupe in BMW history. In fact it kind of looks like an overweight Toyota Solara.
And if they refuse to do that, at the very least they should move to make it an option across the entire line.
Well, according to the article, the iDrive is supposed to be more user friendly. So, it would appear that the iDrive will be tamed right along with the styling.
Oh, by the way, has anyone mentioned that the new styling looks sort of, well . . . elegant?
Uh oh, let's see now, do I need to use that edit button again? Ah yes, there we go . . . that's 3 edits already!
TagMan
Yes as Lexus styling becomes more agressive , the styling of BMWs is becoming somehat homely (or elegant as Tagman would say)
Personally I can live with homely styling as long as this homeliness does not spread to BMW performance/handling specs.
And yes I will confess that I like the new styling of the new LS a real lot.
It never has been a major priority with me, but after viewing those high resolution photos of the new MDX interior and then sitting in my 545, there is much room for improvement in the latter.
As far as driveability is concerned, not to worry. BMW's will always be among the best.
At least the wood in the BMW is real. I didn't realize that the new MDX, loaded with options (you can now do that with Acuras) hits $48K. There's absolutely no excuse for plastic at that level.
Yep, especially when just about every SUV in it's class at that price range as the real stuff, including the domestic top dog, SRX.
Will Mazda use the name Rover for new luxury autos? Will Rover soon compete with Lexus, Acura ,Infiniti and various German marques?
This may make a lot of sense if Ford did not own a large portion of Mazda. But unfortunately Ford does have a major ownership interest in Mazda.
Ford already needs to use various Mazda platforms for its existing luxury marques. Using Mazda platforms to a new Rover division will simpily spread the Mazda platform far too thin among too many non-luxury/luxury vehicles.
This will be like the repeat of the bad old days when platform sharing was overdone among Mercurys, Fords and Lincolns.
IMO a Rover division of Mazda would be a new disaster for Ford. A disaster Ford cannot afford.
link title
Despite Toyota's expansion and rising earnings, the car maker has recently made a series of embarrassing recalls, which have tarnished its reputation for quality. Last year, it recalled 2.38 million vehicles in the all-important U.S. market, more than the 2.26 million it sold.
Toyota recalled more autos than they sold? OUCH!!
To help prevent such problems, Toyota said it expected to hire 8,000 engineers over the next four years. President Katsuaki Watanabe said that Toyota would spend more time in the development process of each product, conducting more up-front quality checks and delaying product launches if necessary.
I can recall in the 1980s Ford made the same promises and used the slogan "Quality is Job Number One". In fact every single auto maker with quality problems have made the same kind of promises that Toyota is making now and despite their promises these troubled automakers have continued to incur major recalls.
Will Toyota be different from other auto makers? If Toyota contines to try to build as many autos as they can in the shortest time possible then the answer is no. It is very hard to focus on quality when your top priority is to build things as fast as possible (that applies equally to auto manufacturing and every other human endeavor)
The timing may be off a bit but the phenomenon is inevitable.
Yes. Even BMW has decided to go with the Hyundai Sonata rear for its next generation 5 Series and they could have "borrowed" from anyone.
The SRX does not sell well here at all. Have you checked the nat'l sales figures recently?
TagMan
Well, data is just data, meaningless without proper context.
Toyota sells as much as Ford in the US (exceeds Ford globally in 2003). Toyota's recalls is only a fraction of that of Ford.
Maybe the photo illustrator of those 09 5 series pictures was Korean?
But you are going a step further and saying Toyota recalls are a fraction of Ford recalls. If that is so then Ford recalls must be 4 million or above. I dont think so?
And even if that is the case Toyota has far stronger recall momentum than sales momenutum. Quality and Toyota are synonyms. If this recall momentum continues then Quality and Toyota will become antonyms.
GM sales far exceeds Toyota in China because they started doing business at least 5 years earlier.
As I mentioned, Camry was introduced to China just under 1 year. The sales number are not amazing because the plant just started and not to full capacity. I personally know people from China that Camry is now selling 10% more than MSRP there.
The source I viewed stated that Ford recalled about 10 million. If you are not too short-memoried you should remember the 1 million recall at a single time (for truck) just a couple months back.
Remember, recall is not just for the new cars. It dates back as far as 10 years. Although Toyota's quality slipped recently, the earlier Toyotas (i.e. 1995-2004) are still far more reliable than Fords of the same year. Thus causing the total Ford recall far exceeds Toyota recalls.
Do these figures include the Ford Pinto, Torino and Mercury Capri?
I suppose that number include everything made by Ford, if they cared to recall a Pinto as of now.