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Sedans Luxury Lounge
21423 messages, Last post on Nov 28, 2009 at 10:00 PM
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Replying to: garyh1 (Jan 06, 2009 9:17 pm) I've got the LS460L with air suspension. The longer wheel base and the air suspension make for a completely different feel than the LS430 particularly if you put it in sport mode. Power is up, hesitation is gone, handling is improved and gas mileage sometimes blows me away as I've been up to 29mpg on highwy runs. Pure city is 19ish and a blend is usually around 23-24mpg. For a large 380HP car those are great figures. I love it. I also love the GL450. One thing though is that the MB navi is kidnergarten vs grad school for the Lexus navi. MB stereo system and bluetooth is excellent. Lexus bluetooth system on paper is the best but it completely prevents you from using it to its abilities while driving. it's like giving you a 5,000 foot house and then closing off 4500 feet of it from use. I also picked up an Infiniti G about 22 months ago. My son is principally driving that now, though my wife and I put about 12,000 miles on it. We love it also. The Infiniti bluetooth is nice in that it recognizes any bluetooth phone any driver has. So you don't need to select phone. The Infiniti just prioritizes and defaults to the highest priority if calls come in on two phones at the same time. I haven't set up more than one phone in the MB yet but i believe you have to select phone like Lexus. We looked at the 3 series and loved it but the Infiniti interior was just so much nicer and the Infiniti handling was very close if not equal so we went Infiniti. |
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Replying to: rockshocka1 (Jan 07, 2009 6:10 am) That's exactly the plan.  We've got the last "small" Pathfinder (made in Japan, too) also ('04), so now have two "last of their kind" vehicles that have both proven to be totally satisfactory so far. It will be interesting to see what happens to the Accord. It's possible they'll continue to upsize it to compete with the Avalon and let the Civic meet the need for a smaller vehicle. Time will tell. |
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Acura is actually being smart. For starters Honda so far always fails in making a proper v8, or make a v8 at all in this regard. Many customers on midsize segment and up expects v8 or at least RWD. The latter Honda can do properly but only for it's sports cars. Second, Honda's struggling image in the upper luxury class, Acura's failure to redefine itself plus weakening economy makes forcing itself to keep up with competitors a no brainer move. With this decision, I think Acura decides to move down and compete in the near luxury to entry level luxury segment at the highest. Smart move given the current situation, focus on what you do best. I seriously doubt Acura's will become another Dodo like Olds, but if they don't do something about the design theme quickly it may become one soon. 
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It looks as if a new crude oil meltdown has started today. The oil stocks report released this morning showed a huge build-up just as predicted by Len (ljflx). I am still of the opinion that we will see crude oil futures drop to less than $30 per barrel and gasoline at the pump down into the $1.25-1.30 per gallon level. Unfortunately, the stock market is also taking a dive today. In fact, just about every commodity known to man is on its rear today. This includes gold which is down about $25 as of this moment.
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Replying to: cyclone4 (Jan 07, 2009 11:32 am)
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Replying to: ljflx (Jan 07, 2009 12:02 pm) Regards, OW |
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Replying to: garyh1 (Jan 06, 2009 9:17 pm) Gary, thanks for that heads-up. I'd certainly consider the S-class again, especally if this GL proves to be reliable. I'm very impressed with the GL build quality and I expect it to be reliable. The S, just like the LS460L is a dream machine for luxury and a plush ride. I wouldn't want anything to interfere with that attribute. I had the S550 for the bulk of a day in test driving and was very impressed with it. |
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Replying to: m4d_cow (Jan 07, 2009 9:44 am) I don't think any of this was Acura's decision. I think if it was up to them, they'd still be full steam ahead with a V8 powered, RWD 7, S, LS competitor. I think Honda HQ came in with a hatchet. If I were in charge, the beaks would be gone - tomorrow. The new electric steering systems in the TSX and TL would be replaced with the old versions that people actually liked. I'd buy new 8-speed transmissions from Aisin or ZF, and dump the 5-speeds that Acura has been using for a decade. I'd offer Type R versions with available manual transmissions for every model, and have Recaro design the seats. I'd steal designers from Audi, and have them redo every Acura interior. Plastic wood, fake aluminum, and fake carbon fiber would be banished from the brand. I'd bring back the RSX, and offer it with SH-AWD and a turbo four for the Type R version, same with the TSX Type R. I'd bring back the CL as a soft top convertible version of the TL, with its own bodywork. I'd eliminate the RL, and have the MDX be the flagship of the brand. Unfortunately I don't think any of the above is likely, and I predict that Acura will be crushed by a combination of Hyundai and Infiniti. |
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Replying to: circlew (Jan 06, 2009 11:23 am)
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Replying to: ljflx (Jan 07, 2009 7:34 pm) Regards, OW |
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