SkyscraperPage Forum

SkyscraperPage Forum (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/index.php)
-   Southwest (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=643)
-   -   Southwest Coffee Talk (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173766)

Evil Empire Mar 25, 2011 8:59 AM

Not a fan of SUVs in general but if I had to have one, I'd go with the Acura MDX.

http://www.thesupercars.org/wp-conte...Acura-MDX-.jpg


What do you guys think of the CT Hybrid from Lexus? I've seen the commercial for it about 12 times tonight...it's definitely grown on me.

http://www.uucec.org/gallery/Lexus/l...5_1024x768.jpg

http://www.jackohk.com/wp-content/up...-Side-View.jpg

http://dashboarddispatch.com/wp-cont...xusCT200h4.jpg

With a little bit of modifying, it can look pretty damn good in my opinion.

http://www.misselectric.com/wp-conte...xus-ct200h.jpg

PHX31 Mar 25, 2011 3:35 PM

A4 vs. 328i...

According to my trusty 2011 Best&Worst Cars Edition from Consumer Reports:

A4 overall test score: 82. "Better" owner satisfaction "average" predicted reliability. Highs: Handling, braking, acceleration, transmission, fuel economy, fit and finish, crash-test results. Lows: Controls, rear seat.

BMW 328i overall test score: 77. "Better" owner sadisfaction"average" predicted reliability. Highs: Agility, steering, acceleration, powertrain, fit and finish. Lows: Rear seat, some controls, cup holders.

BMW is about $1,500 more expensive.

I'd say they are essentially even. According to them, the infinity G37 crushes both with an overall score of 95.

Vicelord John Mar 25, 2011 3:43 PM

Yeah but same problem, now you drive a Nissan. Something those tests never take into account is how a car ages. Nissan products are notoriously bad with their hard interior plastics, thin gauge steel, and generally bad paint application. I'd take even the Audi 100 times over the Nissan.

And that lexus looks nice, until you see the rear end. Its like they designed this classy nice looking car and then decide the back would be boy racer.

westbev93 Mar 25, 2011 3:55 PM

I had a 3 series. It was okay. Girls were impressed by it more than I ever was. The doors sounded solid rather than cheap and tinny like many cars, which was the only part of the BMW I really liked.

I dumped it and got a MazdaSpeed 3. That car was fun to drive. Sadly, I ended up unloading that for a more practical car for my wife to drive. After two years, they gave me as much in trade as I paid for the mazda in the first place. So I thought that was a pretty good value retention.

PHX31 Mar 25, 2011 4:04 PM

/\ They rank all of those items in their "reliability" section as well, which they base on the percentage of their respondents who reported problems for any given section of the car, compared with the average of all vehicles for that car's year. Let's call it (their ratings) 1 - 5... 1 being worse than average. 5 being better than average.

The A4, 328i, and G37 all have the best reliability data (5) for almost the entire car, except:

A4: Body integrity 4, body hardware 4, power equipment 4, audio system 3.

328i: Body integrity 3, body hardware 4, power equipment 4, audio system 1.

G: Brakes 4, Body integrity 4, body hardware 4, power equipment 4, audio system 3.

They all seem nearly identical (except what's up with the BMW's sound system?).

Vicelord John Mar 25, 2011 4:27 PM

Bmw owners are always the pickiest. Especially 3 series buyers who are overly comitted to complaining. Infinity owners are more likely to see their cars as appliances thus subscribing to the theory "it works dont it?" i think Audi owners fall somewhere in the middle. I think thats part of the scoring.

The true test is to take the person with the highest expectations and a knack for bitching, and buy the car they complain the least about. Unfortunately, such a test (over long term ownership) will never exist.

HX_Guy Mar 25, 2011 5:07 PM

I honestly see BMW, Audi, and Mercedes all being equal "status" wise...not sure why you see BMW as higher. Yes, Audi was bought by VW a while back...but so was Lamborghini...is that just a supped up VW?

Vicelord John Mar 25, 2011 5:21 PM

VW has made Audi, on the same platforms as VWs, for quite some time, with VW parts. Its the same relationship as infiniti/nissan, acura/honda, and toyota/lexus. Gussied up economy cars. Mercedes and BMW are not fancier versions of anything, they are their own cars built on their own platforms. Thars called brand integrity.

If I want a Passat, I'll buy a Passat, not a bloated pig of a Passat with LED lights and an A4 badge for $8,000 more.

Oh, and for the record, VW drastically cheapened the cache of Lambo too. Nobody buys those cars instead of Ferrari anymore. They used to compete, now lambos are just bloated VWs with fast engines. The interior buttons are the same as in my girlfriend's Jetta!

HX_Guy Mar 25, 2011 6:40 PM

I can see what you're saying but honestly I don't mind it. I'd they slapped a VW logo on the A4 and charged $8000 less, I'd be all over it. I'm not buying an Audi for the name, I'm buying it because a) I like how it looks inside and out, b) I like the features, such as the 8 speed transmission, and c) it's German.

Vicelord John Mar 25, 2011 7:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HX_Guy (Post 5215506)
I can see what you're saying but honestly I don't mind it. I'd they slapped a VW logo on the A4 and charged $8000 less, I'd be all over it.

Then you should buy a Passat. They are both the same car, on VAG's "B" platform.

HX_Guy Mar 25, 2011 8:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicelord John (Post 5215596)
Then you should buy a Passat. They are both the same car, on VAG's "B" platform.

Did you happen to read the rest of my reply...or did you stop after the second sentence? ;)

While the new Passat looks nice, I think the A4 looks better.

http://images.dealer.com/autodata/us...0/90AUGEM1.JPG
http://dailycar.info/wp-content/uplo...passat-swb.jpg

And the interior especially, it's on a whole other level design wise. The 2011 Passat's interior basically looks like my 2002 A4s interior.

http://a4audi.org/wp-content/uploads...or-picture.jpg
http://pinoytutorial.com/techtorial/...t-interior.jpg

My A4...
http://nitnelav.com/AudiA4Sale/1.jpg

Vicelord John Mar 25, 2011 8:40 PM

No I read it all, I just feel like if you want a volkswagen, buy a volkswagen! \


lol

HX_Guy Mar 25, 2011 9:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicelord John (Post 5215691)
No I read it all, I just feel like if you want a volkswagen, buy a volkswagen! \


lol

But I want an Audi!

I know...I know...Audi is VW, right? :banana:

Vicelord John Mar 25, 2011 9:42 PM

it is, and what is a BMW? A BMW!

HX_Guy Mar 25, 2011 9:46 PM

A Mini! :D

Vicelord John Mar 25, 2011 9:51 PM

Nice try wise guy!

You know who makes who in that relationship.

HX_Guy Mar 25, 2011 9:56 PM

:D :D :D :cheers:

Vicelord John Mar 25, 2011 9:59 PM

On a somewhat related note, I'd be very tempted to look at the new Genesis if I were in the market for a car of that segment.

HX_Guy Mar 25, 2011 10:00 PM

Its a great looking car but I can't get over the mental hump of paying so much for a Hyundai.

Vicelord John Mar 25, 2011 10:13 PM

yeah, same here, but supposedly they are now one of the most reliable cars on the market, and do a great job of holding resale.

"supposedly"


All times are GMT. The time now is 11:52 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.