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Luxury Performance Sedans

10006 messages,  Last post on Nov 26, 2009 at 6:59 AM

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What is this discussion about? Lexus GS 430, Acura RL, BMW 5 Series, Volvo S80, Audi A6, Infiniti M35, Infiniti M45, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Cadillac STS, Sedan


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#3599 of 10006
Hybrid tax credit by jrock65
Aug 12, 2005 (11:06 am)
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http://hybridcars.about.com/od/news/a/hybridtaxcredit.htm
 
The new hybrid tax incentive is a credit, not a deduction. It is available up to $3400. But the RX400h won't qualify for anywhere near the full amount.
 
The GS450h won't qualify for anywhere near the full amount either. And by the middle of 2007, Toyota hybrids will NOT qualify for ANY tax credits.
#3600 of 10006
Re: Consumer Reports [janssen] by hihomike
Aug 12, 2005 (12:26 pm)
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Replying to: janssen (Aug 12, 2005 10:19 am)

No, I'm not saying having a vasectomy will improve reliability of a vehicle, only the insurance premiums!
 
I know that if you own a dealership, and your CSI is marginal at best, you won't get another franchise from the Japanese manufacturer. The Japanese are intent on complete customer satisfaction and customer treatment. You can tell by the differences in their CSI surveys.
 
When I got my BMW, I was sent a survey with 5 questions on it. When I got my Infiniti, it had 35 questions on it. The questions on the BMW survey were general and broad. The questions on the Infiniti survey were specific and to the point for each area scored.
 
As for which vehicle is mine, it's the BMW 530i. I do drive the M35 occasionally, but prefer the Bimmer, not from a "status" standpoint, but rather from a practical one - it's more comfortable for "me" and the M35 is not.
 
Both vehicles are superior in every way imaginable. Consumer Reports wasn't wrong when it rated the M35 best 4-door sedan, sport or luxury. It's refined, reliable, and practical. The BMW is more fun to drive, handles better, and is a bit roomer inside for me.
 
If I had to pick a vehicle for a weekend trip, it would be the BMW - smoother road handling, handles bumps better, and drives like a dream. For driving around town, I prefer the M35 - more spirited - uses regular fuel instead of premium.
 
I also prefer the BMW's bluetooth as it downloads your entire phonebook from your cell phone. The M does not, you have to manually input all the numbers and names.
 
But to be honest, both are great luxury performance vehicles and both are hot cars.
 
Hope the above helped a bit.
#3601 of 10006
Re: Consumer Reports [hihomike] by janssen
Aug 12, 2005 (12:40 pm)
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Replying to: hihomike (Aug 12, 2005 12:26 pm)

Thanks!
 
Regarding the CSI, I had a recent interesting experience with one of the BMW dealers in SF:
 
I have had the two-year old car in either 14 or 15 times. At first, I would get a call from their third-party satisfaction evaluator. However, after a few not so great ratings, I never got another call. I would guess the last eight times I had service, I got no follow-up.
 
Through a little gentle investigation, I found that the dealer had my contact information incorrectly listed. The funny things are:
 
1. They had the contact info correct for the first four monhts/six visits.
2. The address had changed both in street number and street name, likely not a simple typo
3. The phone number had two digits changed, likely not a simple typo
4. The second phone number had two digits changed, likely not a simple typo
 
So, my suspicion is that, instead of providing appropriate service, they found the more efficient method of preventing my CSI rating from affecting their numbers.
 
What do you think? What would you do? I have already been in touch with the BMW NA Customer Relations Mgr, who has admitted that this SF BMW dealer is always a thorn in their side, but also tells me BMW has no control over individual dealers.
 
What should I believe?
#3602 of 10006
Re: $3.40 [bondguy1] by markcincinnati
Aug 12, 2005 (12:57 pm)
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Replying to: bondguy1 (Aug 11, 2005 4:23 pm)

I don't think we need to make this political -- we may make this national and "thank" other countries for industrializing, becoming wealthy enough to afford cars, etc. We may also thank rickety old refineries and the companies that "could have" built more capacity for NOT doing so (perhaps the lawyers could be "thanked" for making doing so more risky.)
 
We could also thank ourselves, for if we didn't have as much demand, price would probably lower.
 
I didn't mean to start a political debate.
 
If we would run out of the stuff altogether due to consumption, I would really be hard pressed to place blame on any country, entity or politician.
 
Indeed, to close this portion out -- I believe that at a sustained price average for regular of $3.40 we would be at 98% of the "real price" that gasoline was during the Carter administration. And, I, for one, don't blame him either.
 
Rather my point was to wonder out loud about the future of LPS cars (and cars in general) since often LPS cars lead in the innovation of "stuff" (features, options, technologies, etc.) perhaps to ask if we will be seeing future cars and their propulsion mechanisms coming out first as luxury items (in LPS cars for example).
 
If more demand is made on "oil" by the users of this stuff, well, eventually there will have to be a change (and not a minute before, I'd wager.)
 
I love my A6 w/3.2 V6, for its ability (in THIS HEAT) to sip gas, keep me cool, entertain me with an excellent sound system all whilst I am cruising along at about 80 miles per. Round trip to Columbus from Cincinnati netted an indicated MGP of 26+ (and, shhhh, we were really bookin')!
#3603 of 10006
Re: $3.40 [markcincinnati] by janssen
Aug 12, 2005 (12:59 pm)
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Aug 12, 2005 12:57 pm)

I have two words for you:
 
"Peak gas and oil"
 
!
#3604 of 10006
Re: $3.40 [janssen] by markcincinnati
Aug 12, 2005 (1:02 pm)
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Replying to: janssen (Aug 12, 2005 12:59 pm)

Isn't that four words?
#3605 of 10006
Re: $3.40 [markcincinnati] by janssen
Aug 12, 2005 (1:12 pm)
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Aug 12, 2005 1:02 pm)

There are three types of people in the world: Those who can count, and those who can't.
#3606 of 10006
Re: $3.40 [janssen] by markcincinnati
Aug 12, 2005 (1:22 pm)
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Replying to: janssen (Aug 12, 2005 1:12 pm)

You're killin' me!
#3607 of 10006
Re: $3.40 [lexusguy] by rats13
Aug 12, 2005 (2:31 pm)
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Replying to: lexusguy (Aug 11, 2005 5:00 pm)

bzzzzt $4,500 more for an RX440 nice try maybe on paper but not in real life. My dad and my boss both bought one at MSRP plus they had to take the overpriced rim to the tune of about $51k and yes my wifes loaded AWD RX330 stick at I believe $48.5 BUT we paid $42.5 for that car when we actually bought it. so you are back to and 8k difference. As far as the tax credit I'm betting the RX400 doesn't qualify for the full $3k. It doesn't qualify for the carpool lanes here in CA. I understand the point of the RX400 but given it's current supply the extra cost will not be recovered in mileage in a long time if ever.
 
Maybe the next generation or when production keeps up with demand and we can get the hybrids for close to invoice but right now purchasing an RX400 makes sense from a statement/ecological standpoint but not a cost standpoint.
 
Heck I bet its probably better to buy an RX330 and cut a check to the Sierra club for $5k.
#3608 of 10006
Re: Consumer Reports [hihomike] by kdshapiro
Aug 12, 2005 (4:33 pm)
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Replying to: hihomike (Aug 12, 2005 12:26 pm)

"When I got my BMW, I was sent a survey with 5 questions on it. When I got my Infiniti, it had 35 questions on it."
 
That's a good point. I throw away surveys with more than 5 questions. Maybe BMW realizes that.
 
I also agree Lexus works hard at customer satisfaction, but you are generalizing about all BMW dealers. Mine wants to earn my business, not pretend they are doing me a favor by selling me a car. BMW or not, I would drive away (fast) from any dealer with that attitude.
 
Interestingly enough I encountered that attitude from a number of car dealers recently. The one that really surprised me with Lexus like customer service though was Cadillac.
 
The one dealer that I couldn't understand that attitutude coming from though was Honda.

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