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Sedans Luxury Lounge
21447 messages, Last post on Dec 01, 2009 at 3:35 AM
You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: tagman (Aug 06, 2008 4:29 pm) I'm not sure, I just remember reading something to the effect that Audi's AS system is more natural feeling than BMW's. The last AS equipped BMW I drove was the 5, and I didn't particularly like it. The latest BMWs such as the 135i may have a better system. |
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I'm just back home after driving 600 miles for ten days. I did it partly on mountain roads up to 10% (and even 14%) incline. Ten days but with four stages to leave the car for one or more days at each and go for trekking and soft climbing at the 'Picos de Europa' (link title). Supposedly such a name, European Peaks, is due to the fact that those mountains are the first to be seen when approaching continental southern Europe from the Atlantic Bay of Biscay (link title). Driving the 335d up and down the winding road was part of this summer little pleasure. The coupe chained the curves glued to the road like a snake, but a fast one!!! Upwards I comfortably drove in 'DS' mode. Downwards, I used to put 'M' to brake and engine-braking to rev to my astonished content—I am little by little taking pleasure of driving with the BMW auto tranny.  Anyhow, I understand TM when says that his feelings when driving his 135i are not to be shared by words. If driving my 335d on winding roads made me feel so precise and powerful, the lesser weight, shorter drive train, more power and absence of top shall give TM the most insane sensation.  Regards, Jose
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Replying to: jlbl (Aug 07, 2008 10:23 am) Glad you made it back safely. I'm taking a "rainy day" break today... I'm not used to that in California. We've still got a little more time for boating and skiing, boarding, and eating too much tomorrow and Saturday. Then it's finally home on Sunday. Frankly, I'm ready. I'm already burned out. Hopefully your trip was more relaxing then mine. Gosh, we are fast approaching the new 2009 model year, and I always get excited around the new model year. This time there will finally be some new diesels and hybrids to give us a small taste of what the future has in store for us. I suspect the 2010 year will be the "big one" to look forward to. Anyway, looks like OW will need a car by year's end, and laurasdada has got a bad itch for a car, possibly a Jag XK. LG is holding out for a new Audi, and Dewey is waiting on a gas-mizer from Toyota or Lexus. Me? I'm probably going to sell the Porsche and later on the Jag, to be replaced by hybrids and something unknown for the wife. Strange times. TM
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Replying to: jlbl (Aug 07, 2008 10:23 am) I always enjoy your trips, as it takes me out of the USA and somewhere in Spain .My what a beautiful area...Instead of buying a new car, I spent an even larger amount in maintaining a series of dikes on the farm....Very hot here, and alot of driving to the farm and back....I sure can appreciate the cost for fuel for a person commuting to work everyday....Tony
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Replying to: lexusguy (Aug 05, 2008 8:50 pm) FWIW, the LR Defender ragtop is a blast on a beach in the summer. Must be dozens on Nantucket driven by wealthy prep school kids or their 40ish fathers. Saab 9-3 rag tops are sleepers. IMHO they are a lot of summer fun for not much money. A guy and his new friend could hit the Berkshires or Maine in one this weekend and never stop grinning. Think of it as BMW 3 Series ragtop without the attitude and 20 grand less.They even have room in the back seat for a golden retriever to complete the picture. |
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Replying to: blckislandguy (Aug 07, 2008 6:09 pm) Somehow there is logic to that madness. TM
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Replying to: blckislandguy (Aug 07, 2008 6:09 pm) Perhaps, but on actual roads, not so much. Same goes for the Wrangler, which is so bad on the road that it makes you laugh. The 9-3 convertible is like a 3 series without the attitude, quality, or fun. A used Boxster will put a much bigger grin on your face than a Euro-Pontiac. There's just far too much mediocre GM in the 9-3 to get me remotely excited about it.
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Replying to: lexusguy (Aug 07, 2008 6:55 pm) TM |
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Replying to: tagman (Aug 07, 2008 11:29 am) At least the prior gen XK8 is a three seater in that I and two kids could ride together. Nowhere to really put two adults/two kids in any real comfort. At least, not for more than a few minutes. Unfortunately, I believe that the current gen XK offers even smaller rear "seat" accommodations. Since I rarely see them, I sometimes forget how lovely the prior XK8 coupe is. This one was, dum,dum,dum: black! So a no go for me. But, beautiful nonetheless... Vedy, vedy British inside with the expanse of wood on the dash and the stitched leather. And, of course, the late, not so lamented J-gate shifter... Tag, I know: 1 series. But I try to limit my obsessions to one car at a time. When the time is right, I shall review the entire spectrum of cars so oft mentioned in the thread. My 9 year old son has started to read my Car and Driver. He wants to know why I prefer the Aston Martin over the Ferrari in the latest C & D comparo. Well, the AM got much better mpg: 11 vs the atrocious 9 of the Ferrari! The AM must be a hybrid!
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Replying to: laurasdada (Aug 07, 2008 7:26 pm) I am fairly sure after all of this that it's "style" you are primarily after. I can understand that. We're married with kids and we can only stretch things just so far. We are committed to taking care of our families first. After we've got that all covered, we sometimes have a little left over, and we know we deserve some of it. That's where a little style and fun enter the equation. Sometimes it's just not that easy to pull that illogical, irrational, and impractical trigger... let's face it... we know we want these cars for the way they make us feel and because we have genuine appreciation for them... for their style and driving dynamics, and sometimes also their status and prestige. No reason to feel guilty or resort to being too practical when this isn't a practical decision. As I understand you from this forum, you are a guy that truly deserves to go out on a limb here to a reasonable extent and really allow yourself to indulge enough to get the car YOU really desire... not what will escape criticism back here on this forum. We don't have to approve of your choice, although I do think there's every likelihood that we are all on the same page anyway. Be patient, be persistent, be honest with yourself. Have a lot of fun testing out different cars. You might surprise yourself. If you love having your kids with you in the car, than don't buy a car they can't fit in and enjoy with you. There are wonderful cars that have plenty of style and a functional rear seat. OTOH, if this car is exclusively for you, then the rear seat doesn't matter. But, be honest with yourself on this. As for me, I insist on rear seats. I thrive on having my kids with me in the car now and then. To each his own. Be true to yourself here. We sometimes don't get too many extra chances. So, I am hoping you take a plunge that makes you happy... Regardless of what I or LG or OW or Dewey or Tony or Jose or BIG or hPowders, or any person on the Internet thinks. Damn... You deserve this. You have righteously earned it. TM
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