High End Luxury Cars

24700 messages, Last post on Dec 01, 2009 at 12:24 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Jaguar XJ-Series, Lexus LS 460, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Volkswagen Phaeton, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-Benz CL-Class, Sedan

Let's try to define this forum as being limited to luxury performance vehicles where the mainstream version in a typical configuration has an MSRP of at least $60k.

A luxury vehicle with a base price of $59k qualifies because it would typically be bought with some additional equipment, bringing the MSRP over $60k.

Vehicles like the E, 5, A6, M, or GS, even if available in certain versions over $60k, don't qualify because they are cars from companies that have higher end cars in their lineups.

Outline

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#13041 of 24700 Re: Sooner Or Later [hpowders] by sv7887 Jan 12, 2006 (12:08 pm)
Replying to: hpowders (Jan 12, 2006 11:43 am) Hi all, That is hardly the case. I've designed navigation systems for Air Force planes and they'd fire me if I designed something as inane as iDrive or these pointless systems. Look at the cockpits of Boeing 777's and 747's. Despite the glass cockpits, there are buttons everywhere. A 747/777 is far more complex than anything BMW, Audi, or MB could ever build, so if the military doesn't "need" one then I doubt a car will ever "need" one. The LS460 is as technologically as advanced as the competition yet they don't see the need to put a dumb iDrive clone system in there. If I need to change a radio station on my LS430 I merely set the right station and hold down the pre-set location for a few seconds. That's called user friendly. Notice how Lexus is able to pull off complex technology like Navigation systems without making it needlessly complicated? I'd never consider BMW the leader in style or anything beyond driving dynamics...The style award probably belongs to Audi or more recently Mercedes. SV
#13042 of 24700 Re: Sooner Or Later [hpowders] by lexusguy Jan 12, 2006 (12:28 pm)
Replying to: hpowders (Jan 12, 2006 11:43 am) I dont think so. I was surprised to see Acura go that route with the RL, but I dont see Lexus doing it. They've been showing the world that touch screens are the best way to go since '98, before BMW, Mercedes, or Audi had any idea how to design a proper NAV interface.
#13043 of 24700 Re: Sooner Or Later [hpowders] by rayng Jan 12, 2006 (2:37 pm)
Replying to: hpowders (Jan 12, 2006 11:43 am) iDrive menus are not intuitive and borderline unsafe to use when I'm on the cell phone. My wife hates the iDrive on our 745 and wished there were an easier way to just add her favorite radio stations. BMW should take a page from Audi's MMI which seems pretty easy to use. The Lexus dash has lots of buttons which I feel are easier to use than menus. Replies to this message: bdr127 (Jan 12, 2006 3:11 pm) rayng (Jan 12, 2006 3:32 pm) bdr127 (Jan 12, 2006 4:11 pm)
#13044 of 24700 Which cars have Voice Command? by tagman Jan 12, 2006 (3:09 pm)
As I've been saying, the solution is VOICE COMMAND, not a button-pushing song and dance act. Acura (and Honda) vehicles have a terrific voice command system that was developed cooperatively with IBM. Others have early generations voice command, and it will only get better. One command and it's done. Coupled with bluetooth . . . just say "call TagMan" and the call is placed automatically. "Find nearest gas station", and the navigation system calculates a route, or gives you choices of different gas stations. Tell the system to tune into "satellite channel 21", for example, and it's done!! Tell the system to set the "temperature at 70 degrees" and it's done!! So . . . problem solved!! TagMan Replies to this message: syswei (Jan 12, 2006 3:20 pm) tagman (Jan 12, 2006 3:32 pm) rayng (Jan 12, 2006 3:34 pm) and 1 more...
#13045 of 24700 Re: Sooner Or Later [rayng] by bdr127 Jan 12, 2006 (3:11 pm)
Replying to: rayng (Jan 12, 2006 2:37 pm) iDrive menus are not intuitive and borderline unsafe to use when I'm on the cell phone. My wife hates the iDrive on our 745 and wished there were an easier way to just add her favorite radio stations. What year is your 745? IDrive still gets bad press for some reason, even though the current version in the 750 is amazing intuitive and easy to use... Replies to this message: rayng (Jan 12, 2006 3:32 pm) bdr127 (Jan 12, 2006 4:11 pm)
#13046 of 24700 Re: Which cars have Voice Command? [tagman] by syswei Jan 12, 2006 (3:20 pm)
Replying to: tagman (Jan 12, 2006 3:09 pm) I agree with you, voice is the interface of the future. Replies to this message: tagman (Jan 12, 2006 3:32 pm) rayng (Jan 12, 2006 3:34 pm) tagman (Jan 12, 2006 4:05 pm)
#13047 of 24700 Keep Away! by hpowders Jan 12, 2006 (3:23 pm)
I hope anyone driving out there who has a need to be on a cell phone while driving and maneuvering through iDrive menus at the same time stays far away from me! Still better than being on the cell phone, going through iDrive menus and reading the morning paper while the car is left on cruise control, I guess....
#13048 of 24700 Re: Which cars have Voice Command? [syswei] by tagman Jan 12, 2006 (3:32 pm)
Replying to: syswei (Jan 12, 2006 3:20 pm) What is very cool to me is that Voice Command is here NOW, and will just keep getting better. Replies to this message: rayng (Jan 12, 2006 3:34 pm) tagman (Jan 12, 2006 4:05 pm)
#13049 of 24700 Re: Sooner Or Later [bdr127] by rayng Jan 12, 2006 (3:32 pm)
Replying to: bdr127 (Jan 12, 2006 3:11 pm) I have an '02, and was thinking of getting the 750--especially with the toned down Bangle butt. However, I'm intrigued by the new 'LS and am looking at an '06 S500. My wife thinks I should buy a minivan and use the left over $ for a '70 chevelle. Replies to this message: bdr127 (Jan 12, 2006 4:11 pm)
#13050 of 24700 Re: Which cars have Voice Command? [tagman] by rayng Jan 12, 2006 (3:34 pm)
Replying to: tagman (Jan 12, 2006 3:32 pm) Which systems have you used? And for the group, which have been pretty easy to learn and reliable to use? Is the voice command mainly a navigation feature? I understand that the RL and new GSs have voice command but I don't know if they are really all that useful. Replies to this message: tagman (Jan 12, 2006 4:05 pm)