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Sedans Luxury Lounge
21399 messages, Last post on Nov 26, 2009 at 11:02 PM
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Replying to: lexusguy (Apr 20, 2009 10:52 pm) That is what I'm getting from brother out in Pacific Palisades, Ca. He was really interested in getting the X5d as a replacement for his aging 528 wagon. But he is on the fence about it because he has to go 6 miles from his home just for ULSD. And there is 40 cent difference in transaction prices, versus the equal to 5-10 cents difference here. Bummer because 335d is a marvel of engineering to show how far diesel technology has come in such little time. Athough MB has been building dieses for 7 decades, I do believe that BMW's compact diesels are more refined and deliver better performance over the Bluetec rival. And if my wife heard me say that, she would kill me. As to the A7, of course you know I love the freaggin thing. I am so over the CLS and now that BMW has shelved the CS for now, I think it is now the prime time to release something of this sort. It is an evolution of where Audi is taking the design language with their cars. The new A8 will use the new corporate single frame grille and swept styling, but of course will have a higher roof line. I will not replace until I get my hands on all of these rides. I've always had my eye on the A7 since Audi allowed the design and R&D team to go foward with the prject 3 years ago. |
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Replying to: lexusguy (Apr 20, 2009 9:47 pm) Other take away for me: always have admired Mitsu's engineering capabilities, and for good reason. It's their execution that sometimes isn't quite up to the task. I owned two cars with Mitsu V6s in them years back, one a 2.5 and the other a 3.0, and they were flawlessly smooth and reliable, if a little underdeveloped. I also spent some quality time in a 2G Eclipse GSX, and came away a believer in Mitsu sport prowess. I've mentioned more than a few times elsewhere that the cockpit of that car was the best driver's control center I've encountered, whatever it may have lacked in materials. I'm not at all pleased with how any segment of the IS program has evolved, frankly. It was one of the most disappointing test drives I've experienced. Well, two actually, because when the sales person finally got it through her head that I wasn't interested in considering a 350 without the sport package, even though she got me into one for a drive, she quickly ushered me to one of the ten IS-Fs they had on the lot. No sale, no how. They should have given it its own smaller, lighter platform and updated their beautiful inline six with a new block and head and some heavy breathing. But that would only have sold me and a few thousand other IS enthusiasts a year. This way, going LCD (lowest cushiest denominator), they've created a sales success.
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Replying to: blkhemi (Apr 20, 2009 6:31 pm) Pale shade of green coming on over here.  Beautiful machine, soup to nuts, even just static. Replacement for the 335, eh? Well, what are the key factors keeping you in the car now? What would you miss most about it?
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from a friend in Ingolstadt who engineers for Audi, to a question I posed about a Brit enthusiast's article I saw on McChip: McChip and DKR-Tunung joined forces this January, but I don't know much about either. I checked a few forums, the pos/neg ratio seems about 25/1. They have been featured lately with a 660hp Audi RS6 and a 540hp Porsche 911 BiTurbo. The fact that they offer extended engine warranties (36 months/549 €!) sounds good to me. The re-mapping is apparently done through the OBD-port, and does not require any change in hardware. Remains to be seen whether the Audi-dealer gets some sort of readout while checking error messages at service time. The deal is also relatively inexpensive, at least compared to competition in Germany, the 315hp kit for the TTS is 849€ - that's waaay less than, say, MTM or ABT. At a hp gain of 16% paired with a plus of 26% torque, that sounds like winner to me! The remap takes the numbers from 265/258 to 315/325, with no hardware. I don't need it, don't really want it, but it remains intriguing nonetheless. Just because. 
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Replying to: plan_man (Apr 21, 2009 1:45 pm) Welcome to the world of mods! There are many mods out there... but one of them I particularly like... is a simple undetectable plug 'n play ECU mod now available for the BMW N54 twin-turbo engine... the engine that is in my 135i... that takes it from an already-healthy 300/300 to 380/380!... and we're talking plug 'n play! The same company offers additional mods that can take the N54 to 457/439! These aftermarket mods, such as the Burger MotorSports JB3 plug 'n play, which I described above, will void the factory warranty... hence the risk associated with using them, although a company like Dinan offers their own warranty. That's why Burger MotorSports has built in a stealth code making it undetectable. But, even though they claim that, if it should ever be detected, the warranty is toast. That's why I haven't purchased it... even though I really would love to get those extra ponies. BMW recongnizes this, and will likely be selling their own upgrade as early as later this year, but more likely next year. If it becomes official, it will be covered by their own warranty. Word is that BMW's own upgrade would deliver about 320/325... maybe a bit more. I'd much prefer to have the 380/380, but I'm a definite buyer for the BMW factory upgrade if it comes to market. Take a look at these Porsche specs for comparison... For comp purposes, a standard Carrera delivers 345/288, and a Carrera S delivers 385/310. The Porsche torque figures are interesting, in that they are at rated at 4,400 RPM. Consider that a standard BMW twin-turbo N54 engine delivers a full 300 lbs. of torque as low as 1400 RPM!... which is absolutely awesome! These numbers are part of the reason that Blkhemi still loves his 335i, which uses the same N54 engine as the 135i. Too bad that Dewey's 335i has frustrated him, because I know that he fully appreciates that engine. Just to be clear, I do think that Audi's 3.2 FSI V6 is a very nice engine... delivering a reasonable 265/243 in standard form, but the torque isn't there until 3250-5000 RPMs. I guess if I were to choose an Audi engine, I'd have to say that I like the specs of Audi's 4.2 FSI V8, delivering 354/325, although the torque comes in at 3500 RPM. Very nice numbers for that V8! The only thing better is the BMW M3's V8, IMO, which delivers a blazing 414/295 and redlines at 8300 RPM! Sweeeet. Numbers aside... whether it's the 135i, 335i, TTs or the S5, we are a lucky bunch to be driving these fabulous cars. Now, go ahead and get that mod!! TM
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Replying to: plan_man (Apr 21, 2009 10:09 am) And I really dont need anything bigger than the mid lux size as I have the 204" long A8 W12 that I will be trading for a new HELC, possibly the next A8 or new Jag XJ. The new 7 Series looks impressive too.
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Replying to: plan_man (Apr 21, 2009 7:28 am) I don't really think the engine is the problem. The old straight six was an ancient engine, dating back to 1991. In twin turbo guise it's famously capable of ridiculous amounts of power, thanks to the strength it had as an engine developed for racing. Lexus' 3.5L V6 though is not a bad engine, and the IS350 isn't a slow car. I just don't think Lexus really knew what to do with the IS. The old one appealed more to the EVO/STI crowd than BMW customers, and it was a slow car. It had by far the best steering ever bolted into a Lexus product, but it had similar at the limit handling problems as the current car. The current IS is at least aimed at the right market, but its execution is confused, much like the GS. I don't think Lexus understands how to do a luxury performance sedan properly. They get too caught up in what attributes a Lexus branded product is supposed to have, even if they are at odds with the car they are trying to make.
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Replying to: blkhemi (Apr 21, 2009 8:36 pm) 'Bout as often as you post.  The 335's everyday livability, refinement, and performance is hard to come by. Those items are what I'd miss most... And I really dont need anything bigger than the mid lux size... The 335i is an iconic legend in its own time, without any doubt a great mix of all those things... but surprisingly the new Benz E-class might also be worth a very thorough look. I will be trading for a new HELC, possibly the next A8 or new Jag XJ. The new 7 Series looks impressive too. BMW's marketing folks sent me a beautiful hard cover book on the new 7-Series. It's a beautiful car, IMO. My guess is the the Jag XJ will be an overgrown or fat XF, which isn't necessarily a bad thing... but the 2011 model year will very possibly bring a hybrid version, delivering up to 57 mpg, according to some reports. That's impressive.    Well, those Jag XJ pics don't work for me at all. I do not like the headlights, and the body lines look clumsy to me. BTW, the very-anticipated Mercedes S400 might appear during the same time as the Jag hybrid. The S400 is a must see. Audi should be considered as well, and that almost goes without saying. Welcome back, Hemi.  TM
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Replying to: tagman (Apr 21, 2009 5:25 pm) That's forced induction for you. Bolt twin turbos to Porsche's 3.6L flat-six, and you've got well over 500hp and 500ft.lbs of torque from 2200 rpm onwards. More power than BMW's V-10, and some 120 more torques. Audi's 3.2L V6 is fine, but Audi has never been known for their normally aspirated 6s. The 2.7T was a very capable engine, and it has finally gotten a proper heir in the supercharged 3.0T, which matches the capabilities of the N54 TT quite nicely, while being more fuel efficient. Interestingly, Audi actually developed a TT version of the new 3.0 V6, but scrapped it in favor of the Eaton roots blower for reasons of packaging, low-end power, and overall smoothness, according to them. Let's not forget that there are several versions of Audi's 4.2L V8. In ultimate R8 spec, its putting out 420hp and 317ft.lbs at 4500rpm. It's superiority to the M V8 is arguable, but when it comes to V10s, there's just no contest. R8 V10 wins.
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Replying to: lexusguy (Apr 21, 2009 10:27 pm) Excellent diagnosis, LG. I'd love it if Lexus could come up with a convincing reply to Infiniti's G37, but I don't think that I'll live long enough to see it happen
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