Sign In Join 



Luxury Lounge

21405 messages,  Last post on Nov 27, 2009 at 12:27 PM

You are in the Maserati Quattroporte Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Volvo, Porsche, Jaguar, Audi, Maserati, Maybach, Car Comparisons, Coupe, Convertible, Sedan


Messages Page 1983 of 2141
1
...
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
...
2141
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion

#19821 of 21405
Re: That Argentinan Woman [circlew] by lexusguy
Jun 30, 2009 (7:08 am)
Reply

Replying to: circlew (Jun 30, 2009 6:38 am)

Lexus is following close to Buick and better make some changes....FAST.
 
Their entire lineup is uninteresting, and many of their cars are not as reliable as they used to be. Lexus is getting squeezed on all sides. The Germans have made massive improvements to their overall quality in the last few years, Infiniti can match them on reliability with cars that are actually fun to drive, and they've been embarrassingly slow to enter many segments.
#19822 of 21405
Re: A Couple of Questions for the Lux Board [tagman] by lexusguy
Jun 30, 2009 (7:17 am)
Reply

Replying to: tagman (Jun 30, 2009 6:46 am)

BTW, AT&T cell coverage absolutely sucks here in Malibu. Going to the Sprint store today or tomorrow. Might have to settle for the Pre. Don't know what else to do.
 
Doh. Since my E90 is unlocked and I'm long out of contract, I could hop on to T-mobile tomorrow if I wanted to. Going to Sprint or Verizon though would unfortunately mean a new phone.
 
It could be worse though. I think the Pre will eventually shape up to be a decent platform. A beta version of the SDK was just released, so applications should start showing up in earnest by the end of the year. Verizon's got nothing. I think the Storm is awful, and besides that there's an upcoming Bold clone and some mediocre WM phones.
#19823 of 21405
Re: That Argentinan Woman [dewey] by lilengineerboy
Jun 30, 2009 (4:13 pm)
Reply

Replying to: dewey (Jun 29, 2009 10:41 am)

I know the wonders of being enthusiastic about cars and I don't mean to be judgmental towards anybody within this forum who has such enthusiasms. All I want to say is that life without being a car enthusiast is equally wonderful if not better
 
Wow, I envy you a lot. I actually ended up renting a car on this vacation to avoid having to pilot my mother-in-law's Prius for the week we are here. She loves the car and its been pretty much dead nuts reliable. My life would be so much less complicate if I was just willing to succumb to the slushbox transportation pod mentality (which would probably also better align with my budget) but I can't do it. I think its great that others can!
#19824 of 21405
Re: That Argentinan Woman [lilengineerboy] by cdnpinhead
Jun 30, 2009 (4:29 pm)
Reply

Replying to: lilengineerboy (Jun 30, 2009 4:13 pm)

. . .succumb to the slushbox transportation pod mentality. . .
 
Nice turn of phrase.
 
However, the concept of the car as an appliance seems to work nearly every time it's tried. Zero input of any kind -- oil checking (who needs a stinkin' dipstick?) & gear shifting (who cares what gear I'm in?), plus tire pressure monitoring & no spare.
 
We're a dying breed, 'boy.
#19825 of 21405
Owning a Lux Car Out of Warranty vs. Depreciation on Year One by blckislandguy
Jun 30, 2009 (4:33 pm)
Reply
Before everyone nods their head that the worst thing in the world is to own a lux car out of warranty, lets catch our breath. The absolute biggest expense in car ownership is depreciation. Owning a Lux car for a year or two out of warranty may not be that big a risk, considering the depreciation you are saving. Or, If you buy it used you begin ahead of the game. Moreover, not only do people who trade every three years pay heavily in depreciation, they forget to consider sales tax. The case saved on depreciation and minimizing sales tax can take the sting out of maintenance bills.
 
Finally, over a vehicle's service lifetime its position in the duty roster changes. As a couple's third car it may see only weekend use. Or it goes to the beach house for 6 months a year.
 
Just a thought.
#19826 of 21405
Re: Owning a Lux Car Out of Warranty vs. Depreciation on Year One [blckislandguy] by anthonyp
Jun 30, 2009 (6:12 pm)
Reply

Replying to: blckislandguy (Jun 30, 2009 4:33 pm)

Hi
 
I think you certainly put your finger on the real cost--depreciation--I have decided not to get an extended warranty on either the BMW or Audi...Both have been excelent cars well maintained, and there should be no reason for them to have some major breakdown...I`l see..
 
I almost got the Bentley Continental, and think it a very attractive car, that four years ago didn`t cost as much as they are asking now...Still very steep depreciation, which makes a person think before they jump again....Over on the Audi d3 board there is a person named Bruce that buys cars for certain people , and I think you may find his service to be reasonable if you do not buy from a dealer...Good Luck with your decision...Tony
#19827 of 21405
Re: Owning a Lux Car Out of Warranty vs. Depreciation on Year One [blckisl by jimbres
Jun 30, 2009 (7:00 pm)
Reply

Replying to: blckislandguy (Jun 30, 2009 4:33 pm)

The absolute biggest expense in car ownership is depreciation.
 
So true, & yet not widely understood or appreciated. This is why non-business leasing has always struck me as financially senseless. You're buying the most expensive portion of a car's life - the early years, when depreciation is most costly - in return for the purported peace of mind of warranty protection. Those big post-warranty repair bills that you're afraid of are a possibility, but depreciation is a certainty.
 
In effect, you're paying $1.25 (or more) today to avoid paying $1.00 tomorrow.
#19828 of 21405
Re: Owning a Lux Car Out of Warranty vs. Depreciation on Year One [blckisl [jimbres] by lexusguy
Jul 01, 2009 (12:31 am)
Reply

Replying to: jimbres (Jun 30, 2009 7:00 pm)

In effect, you're paying $1.25 (or more) today to avoid paying $1.00 tomorrow.
 
It depends on the car. There's no way I'd buy a brand new S8 or XJR. These cars lose buckets of money in their first two years, and with CPO programs and extended warranties and such you can still enjoy a lightly used example while saving $30K or more, and have the piece of mind that if the Jag's supercharger fails, you're not on the hook $6K for a new one.
 
On the other hand, when we got the X3, BMW was subsidizing the leases so heavily that it was the only option that made sense.
#19829 of 21405
July 1 Gas Update by circlew
Jul 01, 2009 (10:09 am)
Reply
Just a tidbit to keep the fires stoked...
 
Gas Futures Tumble
 
Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Nikolas Tsakos today said 60 million barrels of refined oil products are being stored on ships at sea.
 
“That volume at sea is going to weigh on the market come winter,” said Lipow.

 
Regards,
OW
#19830 of 21405
Re: That Argentinan Woman [dewey] by ljflx
Jul 01, 2009 (10:57 am)
Reply

Replying to: dewey (Jun 29, 2009 10:41 am)

Good to see you back Dewey. You had some of us worried. I also have lost car ambitions which is why I hardly ever discuss them anymore. I simply take what best suits me at the time I need a car and hardly care about anyone's perception of it. Best of luck with the Prius.
 
BTW - Brought the Infiniti in for service and my keyless entry key fob device was low on battery power. I'm not even sure how I check this on the GL450 or LS460L. I now realize what that battery signal on the dash means when I turn on the G. In the past I noticed it but never really looked long or hard enough to see that it was giving you a battery charge level on the keyless entry key fob. If that battery dies on you can you still get in the car? and if you do can you start it with that key fob in the ignition? These are little details I never thought about or read up on, nor were they pointed out by Infiniti, Lexus or MB dealers on car delivery.

Messages Page 1983 of 2141
1
...
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
...
2141
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion
To POST a message, please Sign In.

New? Join Now!

Forum Tools

Please sign in.
Email Address:

Password:

Forgot Password?

Search Forums

Enter Keyword(s)

Advanced Search

Browse by Vehicle



View All Vehicles
Advertisement
Ask the Community
See What People Are Asking

Browse by Board

Browse by Topic


View All Topics

Today's Chats

Advertisement