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21520 messages,  Last post on Dec 08, 2009 at 10:26 AM

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


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#21265 of 21520
Re: Status quo, yet so different... [circlew] by jimbres
Nov 07, 2009 (7:34 am)
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Replying to: circlew (Nov 07, 2009 6:50 am)

...shows in the recent sales results...
 
Sales results? Are you talking about the Genesis? It certainly hasn't caught on in the NYC metro area. I've seen more Lamborginis than Genesises - whatever the plural is - during the past year. I don't think that the Genesis would rate a footnote on the sales charts in the Northeast.
 
I dunno - maybe it sells well in the South.
 
I'm not saying that it's a bad car. Not at all. It's a handsome, well-made car that delivers much bang for the buck. But I do think that Hyundai rushed it to market without sorting out everything. The suspension, for example, seems to be a work in progress.
 
I'd certainly give it serious consideration in, say, 2 or 3 years. But not today.
#21266 of 21520
Re: Status quo, yet so different... [rockshocka1] by lexusguy
Nov 07, 2009 (8:15 am)
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Replying to: rockshocka1 (Nov 06, 2009 5:15 pm)

I'm actually looking forward to the ditching of cd players as well. I know no one who has bought a cd in years.
 
I know what you mean. This is another area where Lexus is behind the times. Their new models that use the mouse control system have hdd based navigation, but you can't use the hard drive to store any music on. Why? They give you a slot for a USB thumb drive so you don't have to use the CD player, but that still pales in comparison to Audi who gives you two SD slots, AMI, and hard drive space.
 
LG, I know it just came out, but any opinion on the Droid that dropped today? I read many reviews of it's flaws, but the common conclusion was it's the best phone Verizon has available. & to keep it on topic, is a new phone like this compatible with Audi bluetooth, or would that take a software upgrade?
 
I've been looking at the Droid for a little while, it's a cool phone. The biggest flaw seems to be the keyboard - it's cramped and flat. For the life of me, I can't understand why they put blank "dummy" keys on the bottom corners. Hello, symbol keys? Something? Anybody home?
 
I'm more interested in some of the upcoming GSM Android phones since Nokia's N900 is disappointing and T-mobile only, but for Verizon subscribers, it's definitely the best of an otherwise meager smart phone lineup. The HTC TP2 is passable, but that's about all they've got. The Storm2 doesn't do it for me.
 
As for in car bluetooth, don't know.
#21267 of 21520
Re: Status quo, yet so different... [jimbres] by clembo
Nov 07, 2009 (8:25 am)
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Replying to: jimbres (Nov 07, 2009 6:12 am)

A guy that I work with picked up a 2009 G37xs sedan last weekend. I drove it for a few miles and it is impressive. It was loaded with features, it looks good, and it has great performance. It would be hard to justify the extra cost of a 335xi unless one would really want a BMW. The G37 coupe is probably a great bargin in the market today, a great car at a fair price. I do agree that Infiniti is well positioned in the marketplace and if the new M is good, they will do very well in the future.
 
I also don't have quite the passion for cars as I did when I was a bit younger, but I still get a thrill from them and it is a safe (albeit) expensive hobby.
#21268 of 21520
Re: Status quo, yet so different... [jimbres] by lexusguy
Nov 07, 2009 (8:39 am)
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Replying to: jimbres (Nov 06, 2009 6:00 pm)

Someone, perhaps you, defended Audi by saying that they turned a corner in 2005, but for me that's not a terribly convincing claim. Since I don't lease & won't buy a car that I can't keep for at least 8 years, I'd have to wait until 2013 at the earliest to see if the good news about Audi really is true.
 
According to JD power VDS reports, 2005 Audis were around the industry average after 3 years, worse than BMW, but slightly better than Mercedes. For 2006 Mercedes was up slightly, BMW made no improvement, and Audi made huge strides, ranking ahead of BMW and just below Honda. Audi said in an Automotive News article a couple of weeks ago that they made a system wide effort to improve quality a few years back, and it is paying off.
 
If I'm going to buy a car tomorrow, I would have more confidence in a 2010 A6 than I would in a 2010 5 series, especially the xi version which has a very poor record. I would also have more confidence in the A6 than a 2010 Lexus GS AWD, which according to CR, continues to be a rattle trap plagued with issues. You say BMW is better, I say the Audi of today, not 8 years ago, is better than BMW.
#21269 of 21520
Re: Status quo, yet so different... [lexusguy] by smarty666
Nov 07, 2009 (8:43 am)
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Replying to: lexusguy (Nov 06, 2009 2:29 pm)

only time will tell when it comes to both what happens to German reliability and the styling of the Japanese automakers: I do agree 100% with you about Acura in regards to the exterior styling and the ugliness that their lineup now has: despite having an 08 TL with some problems, all of which have been addressed, I am so thankful I got the last generation body style while it still looked great: when the 09 TL came out I was disgusted by the front end and thought well maybe it would be better in person because sometimes pictures do not do justice: well I was wrong, it is just as ugly in person as it is in the pictures: that is why many Acura dealerships and outside body shops are offering to spray paint the majority of the nose the body color of the car to try and hide the grill: I've seen one in person and it does help:
 
I do not agree with you about Acura when it comes to interior quality: both my TL and the new TSX has really nice high quality interior materials and the ergonomics and build quality/fit and finish of the TSX is just top notch: I have never read any professional review on edmunds, motor trend, car and driver, consumer reports, etc that stated Acura, or for that matter Lexus, having lousy interior's with bad interior materials/quality and fit/finish: if anything, Infiniti I would say is still slightly behind Acura and Lexus in regards to interior quality/fit and finish, and ergonomics and has a minor few cheap interior plastics and hard surfaces that they need to get rid of but with the EX35 and the 2011 M it looks like Infiniti will have solved these minor problems and hopefully they will do that with the next generation G since that is Infiniti's bread and butter:
 
In regards to German reliability, it has improved but they still have ways to go for catching up to the Japanese in reliability according to 2009s consumer reports and US News and World Report: here is a quick quote out of Consumer Reports For This years car manufactures:
 
"Europe Rebounding: While the resurgence of Mercedes-Benz reliability remains the big news out of Europe, though a third of their models we surveyed still have moderate reliability problems. Two-thirds of Audi's lineup scored avg or better in reliability. It's sister brand, VW, has several models rating average or better in our survey, but the Passat sedan, Tourag SUV, and EOS convertible have not done well: BMW has shown the best progress of the big three German makers in recent years, with most versions of the 3-series and some 5-series being avg or better. The 6 series improved to above average"
 
the German automakers make some very nice vehicles, but I do not buy or lease them because you pay thousands of dollars more for the same technology or option extras in the German vehicles that you can get either standard or in much less expensive option packages in the Japanese vehicles: plus with the Japanese vehicles your getting a better CHANCE of having a much more reliable and trouble-free car for thousands of dollars less then their German counterparts!
 
Just My Two Cents, But I would Say that the Majority of Professional Reviewers stretching from Consumer reports to MotorTrend would agree with me!!
#21270 of 21520
Re: Status quo, yet so different... [jimbres] by lexusguy
Nov 07, 2009 (8:45 am)
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Replying to: jimbres (Nov 07, 2009 6:12 am)


That's why I'm keenly interested in the upcoming 2011 Infiniti M. If it can deliver 90+% of the driving pleasure of a comparable German car together with the level of reliability that we associate with a top-tier Japanese brand, it might just be my next car.

 
That's what I'm expecting from it. I also want to see if the NAV and electronics are anything new. Infinitis current system is decent enough, but not great when compared to the latest MMI system, or even COMAND.
#21271 of 21520
Re: Status quo, yet so different... [jimbres] by lexusguy
Nov 07, 2009 (8:48 am)
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Replying to: jimbres (Nov 07, 2009 7:34 am)

But I do think that Hyundai rushed it to market without sorting out everything. The suspension, for example, seems to be a work in progress.
 
That's what I've heard. I took a look at one awhile back, wasn't impressed. It's a nice enough looking car, it doesn't offend like the TL, but there's nothing really attractive about it either. The interior just seemed like the Azera's, nothing special. It could make a compelling used car for some, provided they actually hold up longer than 3 years (not a Hyundai strong suit), but it doesn't tempt me away from Audi.
#21272 of 21520
Re: Status quo, yet so different... [jimbres] by circlew
Nov 07, 2009 (12:38 pm)
Reply

Replying to: jimbres (Nov 07, 2009 7:34 am)

Well, here are the comparisons from 2008 for you to review..While I agree with you it needs to improve, the Gen is doing quite well in the current market..
 

 
...and ytd 9/09.
 
CARLINE SEPTEMBER/2009 SEPTEMBER/2008 CY/2009 CY/2008
 
ACCENT 4,864 3,014 55,525 44,393
SONATA 7,898 8,629 93,575 97,442
ELANTRA 7,513 3,681 82,706 86,144
TIBURON 37 677 8,579 7,730
SANTA FE 7,010 4,676 58,067 56,629
AZERA 339 483 2,932 13,437
TUCSON 1,583 1,294 12,772 16,247
ENTOURAGE 28 455 3,423 4,360
VERACRUZ 574 827 8,704 8,427
GENESIS 1,665 1,029 15,934 2,855
TOTAL 31,511 24,765 342,217 337,664
 
Should sell at least 19K units in 2009.
 
Regards,
OW
#21273 of 21520
Re: Status quo, yet so different... [lexusguy] by jimbres
Nov 07, 2009 (5:01 pm)
Reply

Replying to: lexusguy (Nov 07, 2009 8:39 am)

You say BMW is better, I say the Audi of today, not 8 years ago, is better than BMW.
 
Well, I'll try to keep an open mind. I almost certainly won't buy anything before the spring of 2011. By that time, the next generation M (assuming, of course, that I like it) will have been out for a year. (As a rule, I stay away from the 1st year of a new design.)
 
Perhaps by then I'll have changed my mind about Audi.
#21274 of 21520
Re: Status quo, yet so different... [circlew] by jimbres
Nov 07, 2009 (5:09 pm)
Reply

Replying to: circlew (Nov 07, 2009 12:38 pm)

Gen is doing quite well in the current market
 
Again, I have to believe that most of those sales are concentrated in the South & Southwest. The Genesis is virtually invisible in the North.
 
If a monster tsunami obliterated Boston next week, it would probably destroy 10,000 Mercedes Benzes, 12,000 BMWs, 25,000 Volvos (most of which would be sporting Obama '08 bumper stickers) & 11 Genesises.

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