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Sedans Luxury Lounge
21411 messages, Last post on Nov 28, 2009 at 12:42 AM
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Get ready to experience Honda's ad campaign for the new Insight. Here's one of the first commercials we can expect to see. It may not seem like it, but the focus is actually on affordability. I didn't check to see which agency is responsible for the ad, but from my perspective, I don't think the ad is as powerful as it could have been, and I'd have to say Honda didn't get their money's worth. Of course, it is early to make a complete determination, as I would expect that the ad campaign should have follow-up ads that evolve the message further within the same theme. I certainly hope so. link title TM |
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Replying to: garyh1 (Mar 28, 2009 10:30 pm) I drove the S550 in November when I took the GL. I also had a 2007 for the better part of a day. In both cases I loved the S but in 2007 I couldn't pull the trigger because reliabilty still scared me. My perspective is that both cars have dream rides and MB has now equalled Lexus in ride and quietness while offering superior handling. With the earlier models I thought the S sacrificed a little of both to get that achievement. But Lexus has also stepped up the handling too though they just won't make this a car the sport mags will ever love because they don't see it as that. MB, with improving the ride and quietness (not that the old car didn't have a great ride, they just took it up in quality) looks like it's also there as ultimately the preferred handling of the mags gets you nowhere in sales in this class. In fact folks I know around here that have the cars gave no consideration at all to the 7 or A8 and disregarded any mag opinions and simply went by past experience or respected opinions of friends. So these cars are becoming more of a mirror image of each other every year with Lexus finally offering AWD and the longer wheel base. Both are great and if the S reliability is there I may take one on the next lease, especially if it is a new body style I like. Today I would be equally satisfied in either car. Size is same as far as I'm concerned. So it comes down to the better Lexus nav and easier controls plus it's flawless nature vs the S improving (but not yet proven) reliability and superior handling. I'd give the S better styling but both cars are flashy (in a conservative way) and beautiful to my eyes. |
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Replying to: clembo (Mar 28, 2009 2:13 am) I agree. While I've lost interest in the full-lux class as a whole, if I were buying in that class, it wouldn't be a 7. I just don't think that area is really BMW's forte. Their best cars are the small ones focused on performance and handling. I would either take my chances with a Quattroporte automatic, or wait for the upcoming D4 Audi A8 (most likely the latter).
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Replying to: garyh1 (Mar 28, 2009 10:30 pm) Indeed, the lines are beginning to blur. In very general terms, Japanese cars seem to be getting better to drive (with Infiniti leading the charge), and while they still lead, reliability in some cases is not as good as it used to be. German cars are getting more reliable, though of course the occasional lemon still gets through. Feature and weight creep has also made some German cars duller to drive than earlier generations. The brands to watch in the future will be Infiniti, with their hybrid G and M, and upcoming Q flagship which has apparently gotten the green light, and Audi, with their proposed radical weight loss plan. Jag's next few years should also be very interesting. |
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Replying to: tagman (Mar 28, 2009 9:34 pm) As I have already stated weeks ago, I also think the new Prius is awesome. I would have loved it if my wife had decided on the Prius. But she is obsessed with AWD and we are instead going with the RX450h.
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Replying to: garyh1 (Mar 28, 2009 9:28 pm) And I think your 460L is almost as big as the S550 (maybe an inch smaller?). So you're probably well-adapted by now to the size increase over your old LS. It's really interesting to see people now so willing to cross over between the German vs. Japanese manufacturers. We've come a long way from the oac vs. Merc wars, haven't we? I now have 2 Lexi and 3 MBs in the family fleet. Gary, first of all congratulations on the purchase of your S550. It looks like you got a terrific deal. A year and a half ago I did give it some thought (going with the S550), but to be honest with you I could not see paying $15-20K more than the LS460L to get the S with the options I wanted. And at that time, I felt that the LS reliability would be better than that of the S, but it appears that there is no longer much difference. Also, unless the handling is horrible, I don't really have a concern about handling. The seats on the S are definitely superior to the LS. Two years from now when I am ready to get a new vehicle, I will definitely consider the S. But I have a feeling that at that time, I will be going with the best luxury hybrid sedan available, (but NOT the LS600h). The LS600h seems like a waste of money to me now. I am really happy I canceled my order back in the fall of 2007.
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Replying to: cyclone4 (Mar 29, 2009 12:46 pm) Even though I don't need a Prius right now, I almost wish I did. It's just got so much cool factor going for it, for what would normally be considered a dull and boring car. I understand your need for AWD. Nice to have enhanced road-worthiness, IMO. TM |
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Replying to: cyclone4 (Mar 29, 2009 1:03 pm) No doubt about it. In fact, there really never was any doubt about it from my perspective. You must recall how hard I tried to convince you and Len to go with the LS460L instead... I'm very glad you didn't waste all that money on the 600. TM
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Replying to: tagman (Mar 29, 2009 3:16 pm) You must recall how hard I tried to convince you and Len to go with the LS460L instead... I'm very glad you didn't waste all that money on the 600. You sir, were right on! You were pleading with us not to go with the LS600h. Fortunately, as soon as I found out that the EPA estimate was only 21 mpg for the LS600h, I was turned off. That along with a small trunk and about $35K additional expense totally killed the deal. |
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Just to play devil's advocate (& keep things lively)... IMO(emphasized), hybrid & 'cool factor' have not met, & will be years in the making. 'Cool' comes from the bottom up, not vice-versa. I'm not a full survey of any kind, but have a 20 year old son with many friends that love cars, & hybrids are not a topic. Let me know when the script has been written for 'The Semi- Fast & The Semi-Furious, but Fuel Sipping.' I'm not doubting their coming down our throats, but 'cool?' More like propeller-headed dink-mobiles. 
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