Yes! Even has quilted leather just for you!
[doublepost=1461359594][/doublepost]
I will never understand the point of the S60 XC...
You should convince her to get a polestar V60
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The Car Thread ... !
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Yes! Even has quilted leather just for you!
[doublepost=1461359594][/doublepost]
I will never understand the point of the S60 XC...
You should convince her to get a polestar V60
Yes! Even has quilted leather just for you!
[doublepost=1461359594][/doublepost]
I will never understand the point of the S60 XC...
You should convince her to get a polestar V60
No Nissan pleaaaase. I meant V60. Sorry I have to recalibrate myself to rhe new nomenclature.
Nats S60 has I think 46,000 miles on her Volvo, I believe she bought it with 33,000. So far aside from maintence and the HVAC blend motors needing replacement (pretty major issue but under warranty). She's had it at least a year now and I think for the $23,000 or whatever she paid CPO it's a killer deal. 2013 T6, AWD, nav, xenons- all the basics. Really no sense in ever buying new when they hand out CPOs with 100k warranties like candy. Only gripes are the Turning radius sucks. Old school Sensus isn't great but the worst part is the interface (until you discover the scroll wheel on the steering wheel). Lastly the seats are so comfy they put my car to shame. Wayyyy better than her old Prius.
V60 seems like a solid car, probably should have come out long ago. The XC70 has a fairly big, heavy, lumbering ride. The last generation V50 (based off S40) was tiny and they barely imported any. I wish Volvo would reinvent the S40. An old gf had an S40 T5 AWD - that thing was a fun little ride.
The funny thing was my first car was a '94 Maxima, and it was a wonderful car. My dad(who drove it for 6 years before it was passed down to me) still swears it was the best car he ever bought. Even among the British Sports car crowd, the Datsun 240z is somewhat legendary.
That aside, newer Nissans really just don't do much for me.
Volvo has done an amazing things at upping their image-not only do they still make incredibly safe tanks, but-unlike in the past-are quite stylish.
The Lanos though...that's where it's at in cars-both in style and reliability. I hear the sedan versions are super rare and are going to be going up in value.
That aside, newer Nissans really just don't do much for me.
Volvo has done an amazing things at upping their image-not only do they still make incredibly safe tanks, but-unlike in the past-are quite stylish.
The Lanos though...that's where it's at in cars-both in style and reliability. I hear the sedan versions are super rare and are going to be going up in value.
Yes! Mods, like purple LED dash lights and airbag deletes increase their value sharply! Soon enough, they'll be worth $10k.
YES. The behind the center stack storage is cheesy. One of my biggest gripes of Volvos right now is the lack of center console space. Nowhere to put a cell phone if you're using the cupholders. The center console box is pretty small too.
I have a number of friends and coworkers with GL's. They all have at least a couple kids and love them. A couple of them are repeat buyers.
I miss the 3rd generation T4R's 97-02?). A bunch of my friends had those back in high school. I looked at T4R's (3rd and 4th gen) back when I was getting my first car. The Grand Cherokee offered a lot more for the money CPO than the Toyota. One of my old bosses had a 5th T4R limited (and a 4th prior). They're nice trucks, one of the last "true SUVs" but their styling imo has continuously gone downhill and the tech is aging too. The TRD is cool with the 4wd controls on the ceiling though.Wow, that was a pretty tasty deal, you know, assuming you didn't despise the car.
OK, I realize it may sound like I'm all over the map - though I did list it in my original "I'm considering these three vehicles post - but, I just love the styling on the TRD 4Runner (5th gen). I mean, it adds significantly better off road capabilities we'd mostly never need, but I'm a sucker for purpose bred designs like this. Plus, it really improves the looks of the 5th gen over the other models.
I think Nissan hit its peak around 2003. The old Maximas were good cars. I had a bunch of friends with Pathfinders (00-04?) which were awesome. I looked at couple Pathfinders when I bought my Jeep but the Jeep again had more features. Then the 05 Pathfinder came out which was garbage and the rest of their lineup generally dwindled. It's amazing the current generation Altima hasn't changed drastically since 2003. It's been reskinned but the platform, engine , etc is basically the same. Great cost saving engineering there.
I believe VJ found a quote on another site by our Lanos enthusiast saying something along the lines that the Lanos is "the best car in every way".
I wouldn't question it. 50k miles and they burn oil, shift incorrectly, and start rusting.
They're fantastic. Much better than those death-trap Toyotas.
For good reason too. It's a quality SUV that can go off road and is rugged. The second best in its class is the GX460, which looks awful on the outside. It's also one of the few Mercs from the previous era that don't have issues. I purchased the extended warranty because it was offered cheaper than retail at the time. That and I'd heard of the rare GL here and there with a blown motor. Merc would replace the motor with a new one on extended warranty, but a used one on regular warranty. That's what I heard and read on Merc World, but at the time I couldn't verify the info. That and the fact that the motor on this gen model cost (at the time) around 47K alone, I wasn't going to bother with it. The extended warranty was common sense.
My GF's mom has a 2012/13 GX460- prior to the even more hideous facelift. I took a quick look at in my current car search but it's just so dated now- no modern tech unless you spend top dollar, and they've nixed a lot of the features that were once standard and still want $55k+. The nav screen looks like something out of 2005. No more air suspension except maybe in the $65k top trim. The 2nd gen GX also have some severe stability issues and was recalled but people aren't loving the super sensitive stability control now.
The LX470 is even more ridiculous price wise. My dad had a couple Land Cruisers when I growing up and my GF's dad's still owns his 02 LC as a spare car/fishing truck. Land Cruisers are great, so I see no purpose in spending an extra $10-20k more for the Lexus badge. I wish Toyota brought the LC Prado to the US (Toyota badged GX) and allows us to save a few bucks while not having to lose the refinement with a 4Runner.
Lexus definitely has an edge on reliability/long existing and resale, as well as capability having a true truck frame, but the GL is definitely now the larger-sized SUV of choice in my neighborhood amongst the soccer moms (and grandchildren hauling grandmas too actually). I see way more GL then even Q7. Mercedes is also kind enough to offer a diesel option.
If you plan on owning a modern German car past the warranty period, an extended warranty is a given. I have 115k on my E60 (had an 80k b2b warranty) and feel I'm already living on borrowed time.
Lexus has issues. They have problems with their air suspension equipped models, oxygen sensors going bad, turning headlights breaking down, etc. The Q7 is awful. Trust me. Like most Audis, the thing drives as if it were on rails. And the seats are awful. The GL550 at its gargantuan weight is faster than your average sedan 0-60, fantastic braking and decent towing capacity. I've towed a hair over 8,000 lb with it, exceeding the max limit. And it's absolutely quiet inside even at high speeds or on a windy road. Quieter than the Lexus, IMO.
I've owned a few Mercs in my life and grew up with them as a kid. They've been in my family's blood since the beginning of the company. There were massive reliability issues at one point, but they're slowly being ironed out. The only thing I wish the new refresh had was the behind the knee extension that certain luxury sedans have. I believe BMW has it as a premium option on many of their cars. On long drives my legs feel strained because there's no support. The short ending of the seat area seems to press on your hamstrings and reduce circulation. The name change doesn't make sense to me though. We took a trip to Napa for the weekend a couple years back and it was nonstop except for fuel. Incredibly comfortable. I'd be surprised if a similar Lexus could manage to make driver + Passengers that comfortable.
The wife is actually favoring the 4Runner. She likes the "big truck" presence, without getting into something that's so *big* it becomes a liability (parking for example).
I remember last year, the point was crapped out, but still so good for SUP'ing, there was this big flat, we knew it would get cut off as the tide came up and we'd need to leave via the north end - there was this "cliff" from erosion, to get out, a few vehicles were having some issues, the good ol' T4R climbed right out.
We also get some serious flooding out here, it's great to know we have a family escape vehicle that can chug through 40-something inches of water.
For a pure urban vehicle, the TRD model is probably a bit much, but for our lifestyle, it really comes in handy.
The research / search continues ...
Oh, and for fun, our current 4R
[doublepost=1461419783][/doublepost]Oh forgot to post this after the NYC show - just saw it looking for the 4R photo - this is the same car that was recently on Jay Leno's Garage, Skyline (RB26 converted to NA!) powered, 240Z. Seeing it up close was neat, lots of really nice details.
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You can apply to purchase here:
https://www.fordgt.com/content/brand_ford/en_us/performance/gt/wired/application/welcome.html
Holy smokes.
The LX is definitely a more comfortable option than the GX. The GX's back row is a bit uncomfortable and the 3rd row is basically useless except for small children. The LX/LC has a lot more space.
My GF's mom had a '05 GX470 (sold with almost 200k miles) and now has the '12/13 GX460. I know a few others with both and they've all had great things to say about reliability. Just from anecdotal evidence the GL owners I know (all CDI and 450s) haven't had the same such luck and their reliability stats on paper aren't fantastic. But really it's a crapshoot when <50k is still relatively early in the true lifespan of the car.
Air suspension is usually a problem in every car at some point. Eventually the system leaks, the pump wears out, sensors go bad, valve block dies. Mercedes is smart to have a self contained system (Nitrogen?) but once that leaks you're in trouble. If you have a very slow leak it's not like you can continue to pump in air.
I'd be careful towing 8000lbs in a GL, or really any of the unibody SUVs. Not to say the car can't handle it, but the suspensions and drivetrain aren't really designed for it. Which reminds me of a big lacking feature in the GL-class, a low range transfer case. Seems to be a trend now though.
The BMW X7 is supposedly coming out soon. There you might get your seat extensions!
The dealer told me not to bother with the LX because it's often brought in for servicing. I thought it was BS until I spoke to a few other dealers. They all said the GX was more reliable, but it did come with its own set of issues. Such as the turning head lamps, the air suspension, rear seat dual screens, and the radar control. Which for all intents and purposes fares poorly compared to the Germans' implementation. As I said in someone else's thread, I'm not a fan of Audis. Their reliability is reminiscent of 90s and up to mid 2000s MBZ, BMW, except they've been at it for a long time. And even their high end sedans still have quite a lot of roadnoise within the cabin at highway speeds. Plus their firewalls tend not to be good in terms of sound suppression. This is where Lexus shines through in terms of engine sound suppression for that luxurious experience. Aside from that, I can't recall a BMW or Audi that had interior refinement close to MBZ. I'd say Lexus does, but still falls short in some places. Audi and BMW interiors look dated to me. Even their fans admit to them not changing much in the last 15 or so years or more if you think back to the old 80s and 90s BMWs. In the end, I'd still settle for the new GL/GLS. I simply have to pick out my preferred color scheme. Though I might pick out a different. Lunar blue with quilted brown leather and burlwood trim. My current model has a slightly redder tinged version of the espresso leather now available. The ashwood trim is quite nice but I've heard some fellow Californian owners stating the wood cracked due to the temperature extremes we experience during the summer. I can't recall if the wood is sealed/treated.
With some haggling I hope to get the price down to 100-105 and with the assured trade in, it'll only be about 60-65K which I'll probably pay off within a year or so. I'll have to visit the dealer to see how the brown interior is, but I'm sure it's lovely. I was doing some research today on their other cars and it appears they have atomizer oils available for the S class at 150 or 180 dollars per... what looks like a half ounce glass jar. Insane. And I'm sure the atomized fragrance ruins the interior.
Going back to the Lexus, their SUV lineup sans the RX if they still make it, their rear dual climate control is a bit more efficient than my car, but a wee bit noisier. I remember when cars/SUVs just began getting dual climate control. Everyone was amazed. Better these days of course. Never had issues with comfort in regards with the third row, though it's barely been used.
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Here's just a funny anecdote, and a statement to counter one particular person(not in this thread) stating that an E-class will get you noticed.
Last night, I was driving around in the MG down River Road in Louisville
I stopped by the Water Tower, a well-known local landmark for a photo op
And a young man came up offering to take a picture of me with the car(not the first time that had happened)
(ignore the big, stupid grin on my face-I was driving the MG )
In any case, the young man's father, an Indian gentleman, came over, and started talking to me about my car. He told me that he'd wanted to buy one as his first car but ended up going with something more practical. He spent a few minutes looking the car over, admiring it, and asking me questions about it. I also learned of Askok Leyland, an Indian manufacturer that is still around and actually uses the same "Circle L" logo of British Leyland(I guess not a surprise that a former British colony would have such a company, especially given how many other things I've noticed the two countries having in common)
In any case, after a few minutes of chatting we established a mutual connection by means of a co-worker's husband, and I then asked him the question that I think he'd been begging for-"Would you like to drive it?"
He-very carefully-climbed in, his wife climbed in the passenger seat, and he took off for a slow first gear drive around the park. The look and excitement on his face was priceless, and of course his son took plenty of pictures of him driving the car.
He concluded by saying that he was going to look for one, and we exchanged phone numbers with me offering to help him inspect any potential purchases. All in all, it was a really fun chance encounter, and probably not something that would have happened in an E-class
Last night, I was driving around in the MG down River Road in Louisville
I stopped by the Water Tower, a well-known local landmark for a photo op
And a young man came up offering to take a picture of me with the car(not the first time that had happened)
(ignore the big, stupid grin on my face-I was driving the MG
) In any case, the young man's father, an Indian gentleman, came over, and started talking to me about my car. He told me that he'd wanted to buy one as his first car but ended up going with something more practical. He spent a few minutes looking the car over, admiring it, and asking me questions about it. I also learned of Askok Leyland, an Indian manufacturer that is still around and actually uses the same "Circle L" logo of British Leyland(I guess not a surprise that a former British colony would have such a company, especially given how many other things I've noticed the two countries having in common)
In any case, after a few minutes of chatting we established a mutual connection by means of a co-worker's husband, and I then asked him the question that I think he'd been begging for-"Would you like to drive it?"
He-very carefully-climbed in, his wife climbed in the passenger seat, and he took off for a slow first gear drive around the park. The look and excitement on his face was priceless, and of course his son took plenty of pictures of him driving the car.
He concluded by saying that he was going to look for one, and we exchanged phone numbers with me offering to help him inspect any potential purchases. All in all, it was a really fun chance encounter, and probably not something that would have happened in an E-class
By the way, has anyone seen the recent ads for the new Jaguar XE?
It's available in a diesel, and size wise looks to be somewhere between a BMW 3 and 5 series. Optioned out the way I would want it, the sticker price is around $45K
I'm actually giving it some serious thought as a replacement for the Lincoln. It's a little smaller, but the price is very attractive, and the fact that it can be had as a diesel will hopefully make it cheap to run. They haven't released EPA mileage figures yet, but I'm guessing something around 40mpg wouldn't be out of the question.
It's available in a diesel, and size wise looks to be somewhere between a BMW 3 and 5 series. Optioned out the way I would want it, the sticker price is around $45K
I'm actually giving it some serious thought as a replacement for the Lincoln. It's a little smaller, but the price is very attractive, and the fact that it can be had as a diesel will hopefully make it cheap to run. They haven't released EPA mileage figures yet, but I'm guessing something around 40mpg wouldn't be out of the question.
I saw the XE few weeks ago when I went to go see the F-Pace.
On paper, it's 3 series sized, but it's actually more tight in the back. Not sure how it drives. It's not officially out.
That being said, the interior looks low-rent. The B9 A4 can be had for the same price. Also a 328d might be possible in that price range.
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Thanks for the opinion on it...I guess that's how they are keeping the price down.
I love Jags, but it sounds like I'm better off holding out for a better one. The local dealership is going to call me when they come in and I'll go look, but if it's as you say it's likely going to be a disappointment.
I still think that if I buy a new/used Jaguar, I should probably be looking at an XF. I still love the DEW98 platform, and at least on paper it's the closest thing to my LS with the shared platform.
Looking around some, I was disappointed too to see that Jag no longer advertises Connolly leather and burl walnut in any of their vehicles. Although I realize the actually maker of the leather probably doesn't make a difference, both of those things have been synonymous with the brand forever and I feel like they're sort of cheaping out by not using them.
I don't think it's worth it. I'm not a fan of the interior and I'm highly suspicious of what the resale values will be, depending on how long you intend on keeping it. The diesel if it's the same in the F Pace is pretty slow. The A4 is probably my top choice in the small luxury segment at the moment. The IS is pretty good if you're looking for something a bit more reliable/cheaper to maintain. The jag is certainly unique which you can't really get with any of the others in the segment.
The last-gen XF has always been a great looking car. I'm sure you can pick up a CPO last-gen XF for dirt cheap, since Jaguar resale has always been questionable. I bet they're pretty reliable by now too. They made that car for so long.
It is unfortunate. The Euro-spec Jaguars gets higher quality leathers/trim than the US.
Like this interior on the F-Pace. Nowhere to be seen on Jaguar USA's order guide
But I do think it's a new era for Jaguar. Everything won't be covered in wood and leather anymore
From what I've read, these newer Jags still face reliability issues like the older ones. A damn shame as the interiors look lovely. Personally I like leather and real wood trim. The piano black lacquered trims, carbon fiber or aluminum (or whatever it is), looks garish. Took a look at a new-ish Lexus LS today while out at lunch and thought it was quite nice. The Japanese seem to be fixated on filling the consoles with as many nooks and crannies and buttons as they can. Which makes the otherwise understated LS (apart from the hideous front) look childish.
BMW seem to be doing something very cool with their central navigator. You can now write out letters and commands with your finger on a touch-pad. I think that's very cool, but makes me wonder about down the road reliability and loss of sensitivity.
BMW seem to be doing something very cool with their central navigator. You can now write out letters and commands with your finger on a touch-pad. I think that's very cool, but makes me wonder about down the road reliability and loss of sensitivity.
Touchpad on the iDrive has been available for a while now. It's a neat feature to have but I found that unless you're one of those people who absolutely needs to be using iDrive while driving, it's not something that you would use, I found it faster scrolling with the knob.
As for reliability, don't think that will/would be an issue. I think touch technology has pretty much been refined. While not exactly the same, I still have an first-gem iPhone and iPod Touch that still gets used everyday for little things and there's no sign of failure.
I had it on my 2014 335i (I think that was the first year with the touchpad) and disabled it in settings. I found it was much faster to just spin the iDrive knob around to the letter you want.
That said, I can't recall a single BMW forum post about anybody have trouble with the touchpad breaking down.
Agreed. I'm all for adding features that you have the option to use or not use. I mean it could be worse. You could be using Mercedes COMAND which is finally tolerable on most of their current-gen cars.
I can write on the touch-pad in my C-Class, I never use it though. It's much faster to use voice command or use the knob.