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Sedans Luxury Lounge
21504 messages, Last post on Dec 04, 2009 at 5:15 PM
You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: clembo (Mar 28, 2009 2:13 am) I think this is a worldwide problem in many industries and it's leading to higher costs for no reason at all. I hardly think it's limited to BMW but in the auto industry they are probably first in trying to garner a headline with news or a breakthrough. I-drive, which is probably the biggest waste in auto technology is a perfect example. The Lexus auto park feature is a close second and I'm sure MB and Audi have others that can be nominated. This is all probably going to die off as we enter this new age of less leverage and tougher money access and it's probably better for all in these wasted cases of un-needed technology. This is a problem in many other industries too. We bought a Thermador freezer and refridgerator (built in freedom series) that allows them to be separate units or fused. Since most are replacements for old built-ins, a very low percentage of people can opt for separate units. Naturally we fused them. I wish i would have gone back to Sub-Zero. The latter had condensation issues but was so smartyly laid out inside. The Thermador is terribly designed inside and the new digiital icemaker is awful. I've had the repairman to my home 5 times so far (in 2 years) and he told me he gets 10 calls a month on this icemaker. The old ice-maker was literally flawless. The guy told me if he got 10 calls in 5 years he got a lot. We made him find a reason to replace the whole icemaker as we come off warranty in 30 days. Going digital doesn't mean it's going better and why on earth anyone needs digital technology to fill a glass with ice is beyond me. The problem we have is too many manufacturers violate the No.1 rule in business. If it's not core to you then don't fix unimportant side processes that are not broken.
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Replying to: ljflx (Mar 28, 2009 10:29 am) What a coincidence! About 3 years ago we bought a side by side top of the line Kitchen Aid refrigerator/freezer complete with an ice maker and dispenser. It's been a big disappointment. In this time span they had to replace the entire freezer door due to faulty wiring that made the ice dispenser stop working. Just last week, it stopped working again. Who knows? Maybe it's the motor this time. Why can't they make these things reliable like our Lexus vehicles  ?
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Replying to: cyclone4 (Mar 28, 2009 11:02 am) Kitchen Aid used to make Thermadors built-ins and they probably still do, but not the Freedom Series. That's pure Thermador and these days Bosch bought Thermador. But I'll bet you the ice maker technology is from Kitchen Aid. I wanted another Sub-Zero but my wife was disgusted with it's excess condensation, a known Sub-Zero flaw in the past. We almost went Viking and we're sorry we didn't.
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Sorry I dropped off for a while, but you folks are so prolific that it is hard to keep up! Anyway, I spent the last 3 months watching the used car market for my perfect "bargain" car, and I finally got it - a late '07 MB S550 4matic. It's black on black (very sleek and sexy), with just about every toy MB makes: Night Vision, Distronic cruise control, and - most importantly for me with my back problems - these incredible upgraded seats that include a gazillion adjustments, active bolsters that cradle you around curves, and even a really nice massage function. I know it is oh so financially incorrect these days, but I got it for almost $40K off of sticker, with over 3 years of factory warranty left (I then purchased another 2 yrs of extended MB warranty, so I don't have to worry about all the gizmos breaking for another 5 years). And since I got it from an MB dealer, I get all the benefits of a new car buyer (it gets picked up by a valet for service who leaves me a Benz rental, etc.). It makes buying a new one really hard to justify. Driving home yesterday on wet highways, the car was as stable as a rock, thanks to the AWD. Sitting in the massaging seat, surrounded by black leather and wood, listening to my own music on a DVD of my MP3s, I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn't sitting in my library at home. It's a helluva car. I only wish they imported the short wheelbase version to the US - it is monster big. But I am getting used to the size already (at least until I have to park it in a tight underground garage). And my wife is now driving my '05 LS430 and is very happy with it. Just had to share my excitement with my forum friends here. I'll even throw in a smiley face!
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Replying to: ljflx (Mar 28, 2009 1:41 pm) BTW, if you haven't done this already, I suggest a reverse-osmosis water filter for the water that goes to the icemaker and water dispenser. The frig's built-in charcoal filters can't begin to compare. Your ice and water will be awesome. We even use a reverse-osmosis filter at the wetbar, where we also have a sub-zero ice maker... the R/O filters honestly make a difference.  TM
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Replying to: garyh1 (Mar 28, 2009 3:38 pm) TM |
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Replying to: dewey (Mar 27, 2009 7:53 pm) The car in the pic is Edmunds' long termer A4 Avant, though the rest of the line is basically the same. The S cars and the R8 V10 have white needles, while curiously the RS6 uses standard red needles. |
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Replying to: tagman (Mar 28, 2009 3:49 pm) Also have the Thermador commercial cooktop - that one is awesome - and have the filtering system for both a special tap on our sink and the icemaker/dispenser on the freezer. Gary - best of luck. There were some phenomenal S-class deals in November on 2008 leftovers and it sounds like you got an eveb better deal than any of them. So far this GL is flawless and I couldn't be happier with it. But I do miss that Lexus nav system. Hopefully MB steps that up a lot in the future.
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Replying to: garyh1 (Mar 28, 2009 3:38 pm) |
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Replying to: garyh1 (Mar 28, 2009 3:38 pm) Congratulations on a new car. You didn't mentioned the price, except saying $40k off the sticker??? How many miles on the car? Happy driving.
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