The Car Thread ... !

[kryten42]

You also want the M Sport Edition because it comes with the full-LCD cluster. I'm in the same area as you. They're hard to find.

Deep Sea/Carbon Black/Mediterranean Blue are all beautiful. I think Tanzanite might be an Individual color, so even rarer. For the interior, I love the Cognac/Black Bi-Color Nappa or Cinnamon. They go great with any dark blue exterior.

Mercedes COMMAND feels archaic compared to BMW iDrive or Audi MMI. They keep adding new features to it, but haven't simplified it (like BMW/Audi have)

I wouldn't buy one without CPO, but they should be fine (reliability wise), if you get the 640i.

IMO, the 6 Gran Coupé is best looking car in their lineup. Amazing road presence

We should see a new CLS soon because the E-Klassé just got redesigned. The screen placement in the current CLS looks awful.

I always felt the 6GC was about $15-20k too expensive. Almost $100k for a 6 cylinder model? Not worth buying new.

Yeah, I am looking at the M Sport Edition only anyway The CLS does just feel old inside.

Tanzanite is a BMW Individual color, so yes very rare. My other half likes the Frozen Bronze. It looks fantastic, but I am sure is a nightmare to care for.

As for CPO, does it really gain me much over just being <4 years old and under new car warranty still? I know it adds some warranty included, but other than that (which I can buy?) what does it gain me other than potentially a $5-10k hit in my bank account

 

[D.T.]

Lexus gray very nice looking color.

The original Lexus Graphite Gray Pearl is still the reference for dark, metallic grays.

 

[kryten42]

The original Lexus Graphite Gray Pearl is still the reference for dark, metallic grays.

I love that color but only on certain models. I did not like it on my RX, I ended up with Fire Agate Pearl with Saddle Tan interior

 

[D.T.]

I love that color but only on certain models. I did not like it on my RX, I ended up with Fire Agate Pearl with Saddle Tan interior

Yeah, it's a favorite of mine.

Years ago I was having a custom paint job done on a car, a light-mid silver, that was already in progress - I took my GS300 into the Lexus dealer for some maintenance, and while I was sitting there, they were prepping a brand new IS in GGP, well, I immediately flipped out, I called my tuners and had them change the color I had them keep the original silver color on the rollbar for better contrast against the mostly black interior.

Our T4R is Mica Metallic Gray, very close to the original GGP, it's actually a little more "complex".

I really _love_ dark metallic grays, I think they're a perfect split between black and silver in terms of upkeep and look - I sometimes wish I would've held out for Magnetic for my GT, but I am enjoying the black (and I think it makes the red interior pop a little more vs. gray).

 

[mrwuf]

I see some Teutonic fans in here--any Tesla fans/experience? We're test driving the S this weekend. We pre-ordered the Model 3, but if it's compelling enough and I can convince the boss to upgrade...

We drive Leafs right now (I know, I know, not very enthusiast-oriented) but until the Model S came out, I was always a BMW/Porsche (i.e. for "practical"/fun) fan. I'd be particularly interested in feedback from the Teutons.

 

[logicpro7]

I see some Teutonic fans in here--any Tesla fans/experience? We're test driving the S this weekend. We pre-ordered the Model 3, but if it's compelling enough and I can convince the boss to upgrade...

We drive Leafs right now (I know, I know, not very enthusiast-oriented) but until the Model S came out, I was always a BMW/Porsche (i.e. for "practical"/fun) fan. I'd be particularly interested in feedback from the Teutons.

Drive a i3 and reserved a Model3.

Love the Model S, but its quite a large car for our uk roads, so going for a PDL Model 3.

 

[0388631]

As for CPO, does it really gain me much over just being <4 years old and under new car warranty still? I know it adds some warranty included, but other than that (which I can buy?) what does it gain me other than potentially a $5-10k hit in my bank account

With M cars, a CPO may be a risky move into the unknown. All CPOs or used cars are a risk because you have no idea how it was really driven. But I would take extra precaution with an M car.

The original Lexus Graphite Gray Pearl is still the reference for dark, metallic grays.

One of the more popular colors for the 1IS.

 

[Alphazoid]

Buddy's RS3 is in Nado Grey. Anytime i see it i think of the fluid from a concrete/cement mixture. But its the factory offering and many play it safe and take that colour. I'd personally go for either Navarro/Sepang/Nogaro/Moonlight blue.

Sounds good. I find it funny how Audi offers leather standard on the A4 while it's difficult to obtain for the 3 and 4 from BMW and you're stuck with Tex with Merc.

Leather is 1 grand optional extra here. Only the 50 grand S4 has leather as standard. A decently equipped A4 will set you back around 39-43 grand depending on virtual cockpit

 

[iLog.Genius]

Sounds good. I find it funny how Audi offers leather standard on the A4 while it's difficult to obtain for the 3 and 4 from BMW and you're stuck with Tex with Merc.

Audi is typically going to have better packages than BMW/Mercedes but you have to factor in that Audi only offers two engines - the one in the base A4 and the one in the S4. I haven't played with the configurator to compare but I'm willing to guess that if you were to option any A4 (Premium, Premium Plus, Prestige), you can get a 330 or C300 to be around the same. The only difference is Audi offers things people want standard (like leather, xenons) so if you wanted a bare bones car with just leather and xenons, Audi is likely for you. Once you throw in options, it's all a wash and each car are within range of each other.

 

[kryten42]

With M cars, a CPO may be a risky move into the unknown. All CPOs or used cars are a risk because you have no idea how it was really driven. But I would take extra precaution with an M car.

Not looking at M6 GC, need xDrive, looking at M-Sport Edition, but still the 3.0 twin-scroll turbo N55 engine. If I was looking at a M car, it would be new and with European Deliver

 

[iLog.Genius]

Not looking at M6 GC, need xDrive, looking at M-Sport Edition, but still the 3.0 twin-scroll turbo N55 engine. If I was looking at a M car, it would be new and with European Deliver

BMW M6 Gran Coupe Individual? *drools*

(If only I had a money tree growing in my backyard...)

 

[0388631]

Audi is typically going to have better packages than BMW/Mercedes but you have to factor in that Audi only offers two engines - the one in the base A4 and the one in the S4. I haven't played with the configurator to compare but I'm willing to guess that if you were to option any A4 (Premium, Premium Plus, Prestige), you can get a 330 or C300 to be around the same. The only difference is Audi offers things people want standard (like leather, xenons) so if you wanted a bare bones car with just leather and xenons, Audi is likely for you. Once you throw in options, it's all a wash and each car are within range of each other.

Yeah. Pretty much. I don't like the interior of the new C though. The waterfall console looks rather silly.

Not looking at M6 GC, need xDrive, looking at M-Sport Edition, but still the 3.0 twin-scroll turbo N55 engine. If I was looking at a M car, it would be new and with European Deliver

I seem to recall reading a rumor that the next M6 will come with xDrive as an option. It might have been posted in this thread. How much does the Euro delivery cost instead of getting a similar one off the lot?

 

[iLog.Genius]

I seem to recall reading a rumor that the next M6 will come with xDrive as an option. It might have been posted in this thread. How much does the Euro delivery cost instead of getting a similar one off the lot?

I think xDrive is a must on the next M5 and M6 to be able to handle all that power. People may hate that but these cars are not Ferrari's, they need to be practical at all times and xDrive is the only way to do that.

I think BMW's European Delivery discount is for 2015/2016 is 5% so nothing that can't be had buying off the lot but no one that I know (from forums) really cares about the discount (it's almost a wash), it's more to visit the Welt and then take your fresh new car around Europe.

 

[0388631]

Might have been the G10 M5, actually. And yes, I've read the M5's output which exceeds it paper rating causes the car to get loose if the driver floors it while already going 80 on the freeway.

 

[kryten42]

I seem to recall reading a rumor that the next M6 will come with xDrive as an option. It might have been posted in this thread. How much does the Euro delivery cost instead of getting a similar one off the lot?

M5 for sure, but once that is xDrive then M6 may be too.

 

[0388631]

Yes, that may have been the one. I believe AU posted a link a while back of spy shots. Here's a video I found of the 17 740D going all out. I can't seem to find the specs on it, but I'm going to wing it here and say it's around 285-300 HP and pushing close to 440 lb ft. in torque. A decent bump via estimate going by the last generation. The M760Li is rather interesting. Quite fast for its size and weight. I doubt I'll see many if any on the road.

 

[2298754]

Cadillac offering buyouts to 400 small U.S. dealers

Cadillac is offering 400 U.S. dealers buyouts of up to $180,000 to “gracefully exit” the business, the General Motors Co. luxury brand confirmed Friday.

The voluntary buyout offers start at $100,000 and are targeted at dealers who sell fewer than 50 Cadillacs a year. Of those 400 dealers, all but six have other GM franchises, a spokesman said. For 290 dealers, Cadillac represents less than 10 percent of their overall business.

The targeted dealers represent more than 40 percent of the brand’s 925 U.S. dealers.

The story was first reported by Automotive News.

“Cadillac Transition Assistance is directly designed in response to smaller dealers’ requests for assistance should they wish to transition away from the Cadillac business,” the company said in a statement. The company said the program will support dealers who may wish to wind down their Cadillac franchises and focus on the core GM brands that drive most of their business.

Cadillac will contact eligible dealers beginning Oct. 10. They will have until Nov. 21 to decide whether to take the buyout.

That 925 dealers in the U.S. are down considerably from the 1,422 at the end of 2008 before GM’s 2009 bankruptcy. But Cadillac’s main luxury rivals in the U.S. — BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Lexus — all have hundreds fewer U.S. dealers and all sold more vehicles than Cadillac last year.

Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen has said the brand has “too many” U.S. dealers, and said last year he hoped to convince smaller Cadillac dealers to create downsized, standalone “boutique” stores to improve the luxury make’s image.

Later this year, will Cadillac launch “Project Pinnacle,” a new strategy that awards incentives based on dealership sales figures.

This seems pretty shocking. Cadillac's incentive based strategy will effectively drive small dealerships out of business because they can't sell enough to get inventory. What a poorly managed company in every sense.

 

[0388631]

That's what shocks you? It's the talk of boutique experience that's a riot.

 

[D.T.]

Wanted something to detail my tires, and wound up having a whole box of unopened cleaning/detailing supplies (tire gel, some extra polishing compounds, metal polish and a whole container of clay bars!) There are unknown treasures stashed all over this house

I'm getting ready to pull the 'sound tube', and yes, even with the glorious note of the 32v 5.0L V8, they still felt the need to add some artificial "sound enhancement" (been doing it since '11 I believe). So it's this HUGE mess of tubing, with a diaphragm and some kind of resonator box. This comes off the intake hose between the TB and the airbox/intake - I picked up a plug/grommet from Amazon to seal up the firewall side after this monstrosity is removed, I may pick up a temp cap for the air hose side - my intent was an aftermarket hose/intake that in addition to providing better airflow also "deletes" the sound tube connector, but I'm not 100% sure which way I want to go yet.

 

[AustinIllini]

Cadillac offering buyouts to 400 small U.S. dealers

This seems pretty shocking. Cadillac's incentive based strategy will effectively drive small dealerships out of business because they can't sell enough to get inventory. What a poorly managed company in every sense.

This is the only way to go forward if they want to reboot Cadillac's image. No one wants to go to their local Buick/GMC dealer to by an upscale automobile.

 

[iLog.Genius]

This is the only way to go forward if they want to reboot Cadillac's image. No one wants to go to their local Buick/GMC dealer to by an upscale automobile.

Part of the re-imaging of the brand would require them to mimic what BMW, Mercedes and Audi do, that is to have their own separate showrooms. I'm not saying they can't be joint, but you can't have Cadillac mixed with other cars. MINI and SMART have their own showrooms despite being connected to the same building as BMW and Mercedes showrooms and that's something Cadillac needs to do if they want to shed their current image.

 

[quagmire]

Cadillac offering buyouts to 400 small U.S. dealers

This seems pretty shocking. Cadillac's incentive based strategy will effectively drive small dealerships out of business because they can't sell enough to get inventory. What a poorly managed company in every sense.

I am all for getting rid of bad Cadillac dealerships though.... You know the ones that can't change to the times and still display an CTS, XTS, etc with a vinyl top in old man beige out front for everyone to see, treat the young professional with disrespect thinking they are just their for a joyride because they don't have gray hair meaning they can't afford it, and actually sell the car vs the deal.

When buying my dads 2014 Cadillac ATS, a few months before to test drive both the 2.0T and 3.6 V6, the salesman kept on harping on how much money we could save buying an off the lot 2013 model. Never once told us anything about the car itself. And wouldn't stop saying how much we could save despite not having any vehicles configured anywhere close to what my dad wanted in inventory. Also, my dad wanted a 2014 to get a car without the first year problems.

It wasn't a great experience buying the ATS. But we do love the vehicle itself.

 

[iLog.Genius]

It wasn't a great experience buying the ATS.

This question is more for us in this thread because we know more about cars than the general population, but do you guys look for a good buying experience or what would you consider a good buying service? For me, all I ask from sales is can you give me x price, yes or no and ultimately draw up the paperwork. I can't be bother with the sales pitch because usually it's nonsense so I don't really care about how good or bad it is, in fact I don't really listen. I know what I want, I go look for the right car and start the negotiating.

 

[quagmire]

This question is more for us in this thread because we know more about cars than the general population, but do you guys look for a good buying experience or what would you consider a good buying service? For me, all I ask from sales is can you give me x price, yes or no and ultimately draw up the paperwork. I can't be bother with the sales pitch because usually it's nonsense so I don't really care about how good or bad it is, in fact I don't really listen. I know what I want, I go look for the right car and start the negotiating.

That's pretty much what I want too. Just go in, order/buy/pick up the car, make the deal, sign paperwork and drive off. I want to be in a dealer as little as possible. I know what I want and I don't need a salesman to tell me what I want in my car. I know I want to have the 8 speed auto( still need to drive a stick though), Magnetic Ride control, dual mode exhaust, and nav on my Camaro SS in nightfall grey metallic with the 5 spoke wheels. I won't be sold on any other options and features outside of those and will most likely be ordering the car because every dealer I have seen with a similarly equipped vehicle also has the sunroof. Don't want the sunroof. Plus, I don't want a car that has been sitting on the lot for months and don't want to own a vehicle that people trashed on a test drive.

When we first test drove the Saturn Aura when it came out, as soon as the sales person found out I already knew a lot about the car, she started quizzing me on standard equipment, etc like some kind of contest on who knew more. Couldn't stand that and when we eventually bought my Aura, we dealt with another sales person and he was a lot better. Knowledgable, but at the same time didn't try to out do me, very friendly, etc. Same case with the Cadillac purchase. We didn't end up buying the car with the salesman that kept hammering on the deal we could have had on a 2013. We went with a different sales person.

But for people like my parents who don't know anything about cars and what they want in a car( outside of my dads I think it is 4-5 must haves now), they heavily rely on me to explain what every feature is and how it works and why it would be worth it. A sales person needs to be knowledgable and be able to explain everything to people like my parents and don't push them into packages, trim levels, and features just to drive up the final price. A sales person should be there more to inform them then to sell the car per se.

 

[iLog.Genius]

That's pretty much what I want too. Just go in, order/buy/pick up the car, make the deal, sign paperwork and drive off. I want to be in a dealer as little as possible. I know what I want and I don't need a salesman to tell me what I want in my car. I know I want to have the 8 speed auto( still need to drive a stick though), Magnetic Ride control, dual mode exhaust, and nav on my Camaro SS in nightfall grey metallic with the 5 spoke wheels. I won't be sold on any other options and features outside of those and will most likely be ordering the car because every dealer I have seen with a similarly equipped vehicle also has the sunroof. Don't want the sunroof. Plus, I don't want a car that has been sitting on the lot for months and don't want to own a vehicle that people trashed on a test drive.

When we first test drove the Saturn Aura when it came out, as soon as the sales person found out I already knew a lot about the car, she started quizzing me on standard equipment, etc like some kind of contest on who knew more. Couldn't stand that and when we eventually bought my Aura, we dealt with another sales person and he was a lot better. Knowledgable, but at the same time didn't try to out do me, very friendly, etc. Same case with the Cadillac purchase. We didn't end up buying the car with the salesman that kept hammering on the deal we could have had on a 2013. We went with a different sales person.

But for people like my parents who don't know anything about cars and what they want in a car( outside of my dads I think it is 4-5 must haves now), they heavily rely on me to explain what every feature is and how it works and why it would be worth it. A sales person needs to be knowledgable and be able to explain everything to people like my parents and don't push them into packages, trim levels, and features just to drive up the final price. A sales person should be there more to inform them then to sell the car per se.

For the general public, I agree with you. I just find it interesting that most or the people I know who are passionate about cars still look for "good" service. Of course if you receive it, it's an added bonus but I won't hang my buying decision on it. As long as I get the car I want and the price I want, I will buy from anyone even if it's the worst-rated dealer in the city. Doesn't mean I have to go there for service.

It's not irrational to want a certain level of service if paying a certain price, but at the end of the day, it's about me and the car I want and if I can get my car on my terms, who cares about everything else. Someone on the forums once left a deal on the table because the sales rep was rude and unprofessional. He ended up buying from another dealer at a higher price but said he didn't mind because they valued him. It's that person's choice but I think its ridiculous that he did that.

Again, good service = getting the car I want on my terms. Everything else I don't care.