Lotux Exige
 

I'll admit it was clean looking, but I don't see a terrific amount of sifference between the slopwed front end of a 5000 and 1980 Coupe De Ville. Sure, the Caddy was more angled, but both it and the Audi shared the the long flat hood and wide face.

I don't think a Taurus looked anything like the 5000. The Taurus had no angles at all.

Speaking of Tauruses, I was leaving the gym last nite and there was a Taurus parked near one of those small or mid sized Jags. Its amazing how lazy Ford was in building those Jags. When you see a Taurus next to one, the only real difference you spot is the lights and the emblems. Talk about getting fleeced...

Lotux Exige
 

It's mostly a VW bug with a kicked up engine and a little nicer interior. But yeah, I'm going to have to agree with Sebby on this - speed bump. One of our neighbors has a black one and it just doesn't do it for me. I'm sure he's lost his ass on resale already.

Lotux Exige
 

Hmm:

http://www.swiss-limousine.ch/images/cad80devcpe_1.jpg http://www.carword.com/special/ford1...517-278_HR.jpg http://www.audiworld.com/model/histo...86/pix/5ks.jpg

But, agreed on the jag/taurus thing. At least the low-end jag.

Shoot me but I actually like this one:
 

Saab 9-2x
 

The Saab 9-2x has made its appearance on Saabusa.com under "Build your Saab". A fully-optioned 9-2x Aero (227 bhp, 217 lb. ft. of torque) with a manual tranny is $31,890.

http://9-2x.saabusa.com/images/ext6.jpg

Saab 9-2x
 

Careful with the new Saabs. I was thinking about picking one up until a mechanic told me that they're being made with loads of American parts and the quality is going downhill.

Saab 9-2x
 

When was the quality at the top of the hill

Shit
All
Accessories
Broken

Saab 9-2x
 

Come to think of it, I think someone on these boards also told me that the quality of Saabs has dropped dramatically in recent years.

Saab 9-2x
 

As far as reliability, it's the same mechanicals as a WRX, and those have been pretty reliable. I had one for about a year. There is a lot of talk about weak transmissions, but that's mostly because all the boy racers are souping them up and sidestepping the clutch at 5000 rpm, which is a recipe for eventual transmission failure in an all-wheel-drive car.

But, price? Damn, what do you get for your extra $7,000 over a WRX? Nicer body and interior, I guess, but those aren't as great as they used to be in Saabs. It's a GM, now.

Lotux Exige
 

I'm not really talking about design process; I'm talking about the appearance. Few cars look good both as a coupe and a convertible. See, e.g., New Beetle, 350Z and PT Cruiser. I just don't like the way that the 3 series convertible looks; it just looks like

And I like the current Audi styling, especially the TT. With the exception of the hardtop convertibles (the real reason I was looking at the SLK) I don't really like any Benz styling these days, though. All the sedans look the same, and they've made everything boring. The previous generation CLK was a beauty; the current ones look like Accords.

Yeah, but that ended pretty quickly once I realized I'd have to change the tops twice a year and find a place to store the other top for the rest of the year...

Saab 9-2x
 

Them Swedish parts ain't so good either.

I had a friend who shipped her brand new Saab up to Anchorage where she worked. For 2 entire years she had numerous electrical and oil leakage problems. The Saab mechanics told her, I shit you not, "Well Ms. Soandso, the weather up here gets pretty cold, and it's hard on these cars." When she replied, "how do you think the weather is in Sweden?" They had no reply.

Saab 9-2x
 

I do have to say, the seat warmer never failed me on my Saab. Every other part of the car failed, but never the seat warmer. I paid about twice as much on repairs as I did on the damned car.

In defense of Saab
 

I'm on my second Saab (both last generation 9-3s). No problems except for minor ones that were fixed under warranty. A bit quirky, sure, but I like the style (bring back the hatchback!) and it's a lot of fun to drive.

I worry a bit about the future of the brand, in part because of GM's general ability to fuck things up, and in part because they just about give the cars away. I leased my first 9-3 on a heavily subsidized lease. At lease end, I thought I'd probably switch to an A4 or a 3-series, or maybe a G35. But the incentives were so good from Saab at the time, I ended up buying a 9-3 for way less than I could have gotten the others (in the range of about 6K less than a base A4 to 15K less than a fairly loaded 330).

I'm not sold on the 9-2; looks too much like the Subi, and may not justify the price difference. I'd like to see them put AWD in the 9-5; an AWD 9-5 Aero would be pretty cool.

I just don't know
 

Veggie cars?

Environmentalists with diesel cars have used vegetable oil for years as an alternative fuel to cut back on sooty emissions, but as gas prices soar above $2 a gallon, they say their “veggie cars” are a great way to save cash.
Etta Kantor drives to a local Chinese restaurant to fuel her blue Volkswagen Jetta. She calls ahead and the owner puts aside a few buckets of used oil for her. At home, Kantor uses a colander and a bag filter to remove water and any food particles (insert feline joke here).

Restaurants who would have to pay to get rid of their old vegetable oil are happy to give it away for free.
Vegetable oil is becoming so popular that a Massachusetts company called Greasecar is buying it in bulk from a distributor and selling it to local customers. (Those wacky Massachusettans).

“Oh, I zip around town, go fast on highways. It’s not any different,” said Kantor, 58, of Weston.

Can it really be the same?
One number 12 and one number 6 with eggrolls

Saab 9-2x
 

There's nothing American about the 92-x. It's basically a subaru wrx with new skin. I guess that makes it Japanese?

Saab 9-2x
 

My first car was an older 900Turbo. I bought it with 73k miles, and traded it in with 187k. Awesome fuckign car that, with some preventative maintenance, lasted a really long time.

Lotux Exige
 

Agreed. I don't understand all of the raves in the automotive press. The new car is boring as hell.

Saab 9-2x
 

The 9-5 is a the last Saab. GM will totally ruin this brand like it has ruined everything else it has touched.

The new 9-3 Sedan has grown on me and actually drives well but the interior reeks of Chevy Cavalier. So does the dink radio. And there are enough (or maybe there were) negative complaints to make you worry. Might as well buy a Buick.

Lotux Exige
 

I like the CLK coupes, but the convertibles look like shit. But then again, so do the SLs. Am I alone in thinking Benz really fucked up its styling when it started rounding all the edges? I was looking at a 1998 600 S which was parked outside a yogurt shop Saturday and thinking "Damn, that's a fucking car." It looked like a tank, and those fuckers had heavy heavy doors. The new ones have too much chintzy looking shit on them and they resemble Lexuses. As to the SLs, the new ones have too much chrome and the clean lines have been replaced with those ugly side gills and the wanna-be-SLR front grill. Compared to the new 6 Series convertible (even with its ugly ass end), the 2004 SL looks like shit.

Lotux Exige
 

I have to disagree. I think that the 2004 SL is amazing. I realize that it is all subjective, but the side grills and the chrome look terrific, in my view. Plus, the technology in that car boggles the mind. Also, they finally gave it a glass rear window. The previous gen SL with it's little plastic rear window was an insult, in my view.

I could use a SL55 AMG with the panorama glass roof as my daily driver. Sure I could. Only $120k...



http://www.mbusa.com/media/images/ma...500_0_main.jpg

http://www.mbusa.com/media/images/ma...all_2_main.jpg

http://www.mbusa.com/media/images/ma...500_8_main.jpg

Lotux Exige
 

As to appearance, that's a matter of taste. As to performance, I didn't say it wasn't a GOOD car. Lord, I couldn't say that in a million years.

The cat I buy my rides from tells me that the 600SL is a better ride than the SL55. You can't go wrong with either one, but he claims the 600 is the better ride. Keep that in mind when you're choosing between the two.

They're almost done building the Maybach showroom down the road apiece from me. I plan to wear a monacle, top hat and tails over when it opens and see if they'll give me a test drive.

Lotux Exige
 

Dude. You don't test drive one. You get a test ride. No one who buys a maybach actually drives it. Bring your chauffeur.

As for the MB--it's lacking in one important respect. Slushie only.

Lotux Exige
 

SL 55 is a sweeet ride.

BMW ultimate experience
 

I seem to remember someone here strongly endorsing the BMW Ultimate Experience. I just got my invitation and signed up for Auto-x and a spin in a Z4 with SMG. Can't wait.

BMW ultimate experience
 

I was keyed up to do the ultimate drive for breast cancer in a 545 with manual and a 530 with SMG. But some assjack strippied the clutch in the 545 (well, I assume, they just told me it was "taken out of service and unavailable"). I didn't bother to show. :mad:

BMW ultimate experience
 

If you get the chance to do the Porsche Ultimate Experience - dude you would love it. You get to absolutely thrash a Turbo on a closed track. For free.

But yes - do the BMW - yet another opportunity to thrash a car that you don't have to worry about buying tires/brakes/clutch for.

BMW ultimate experience
 

I am a little bummed that the auto-x is in a X3, but hey, I can thrash that. I assume that it will have the sport pack. I am also really looking forward to the Z4 with SMG. How do they do this, logistically? Does everyone assigned to a specific timeslot wimply wait in line for a turn in the car?

Chrysler's new 300
 

Thoughts?

Chrysler's new 300
 

I like the looks, and I like the fact that it is essentially a previous-gen E-Class under the skin, with a Chrysler engine. I reserve my judgment on the interior until I've driven one.

One thing is for sure: DCX is selling a SHITLOAD of them.

Pic to keep things interesting:

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/1...0c.f34.500.jpg

Chrysler's new 300
 

(1) It's a Chrysler. Accordingly, I won't be buying one, for the same reason Willie Brown said "no thanks" to a government-issue car when he was elected mayor: "My body would reject a Plymouth." However, there are aspects of Chrysler's styling over the past ten years that I think look kind of cool --- the '30s art deco accents on the grilles of the Seabring, PT Cruiser, and even the minivan. The family looks alike, distinctive, and cool. Whoever is doing their styling is earning his money. I commend them on their boldness. I think Mazda is also doing pretty well in the "meh car, but coolly styled" department.

(2) That said, this particular car looks like a brute --- heavy-looking body, but almost cartoonishly so, like somebody sat on the roof of a Rolls and squished it down. The thing looks like it's heavily armored for something --- the superstructure looks more like a gun turret than anything else.

(3) WTF is a Hemi, and why am I supposed to be impressed? I'm asking seriously.

(4) It's a big car for its entry-level price. I might make a teenager drive one* --- there's no way you could lose a game of chicken in this thing.

*Edit to clarify: I mean a well-used one, when my kids reach their driving years, 15-20 years from now. I wouldn't give a kid a new $25K car, as I find it morally objectionable.

BMW ultimate experience
 

Last time around, I signed up for Z4 SMG, 545 6M and the autocross. Autocross was on a Saturday, and I had to miss it. Z4 and 545 were on a Sunday. 545 (as someone else here mentioned) had been trashed by someone who couldn't drive a stick, and was unavailable. Z4 had an automatic instead of the SMG, which sucked. They give you a predefined course and record your mileage in and out. I imagine you could go somewhere else and just equal the total mileage, but I didn't fuck with them and just did the proscribed course. It was all pretty low speed, too, and I never got above 45 or so.

I asked them if I could do the autocross, and they had space. IT was fun during the driving portion, but the classroom portion was kind of boring. The info might be useful to a first-timer (weight distribution, apex, etc.), but I found it pretty basic. I don't think the X3 had the sport package (it might have had performance, though), but a lot of the cars had upgraded tires. It was a lot of fun. It will make you want to get involved with regular autocross...

BMW ultimate experience
 

Typically they don't invite that many people. So you won't be there with the general public. Second there will be several cars. You won't get to drive too long, but you will get several chances in each car.

And Atticus - we had the hemi discussion a couple of months ago. Please scroll back.

BMW ultimate experience
 

Cool, thanks for the input, everyone. I will be sure and post reviews with pics, if possible.

Chrysler's new 300
 

I like the style of it and the fact that it offers a V8. Add in a manual transmission, and I'd be sold.

BTW, I read somewhere that Snoop Dogg called the head of Chrysler to tell him (the Chrysler person) that he wanted one.

Chrysler's new 300
 

Well, that does it. If the Snoop Dogg wants one, then I'm there, baby.

BMW ultimate experience
 

My sister did the Ultimate Driving Experience last December and she says it was the best day of her life. She was the only girl in the class, showed up in 4 inch stilletto heels and kicked ass. She came in second in the final race, and that was because she got penalized for hitting a cone on the last curve. She said that the class of 8 people went through an entire flatbed of tires. They took turns driving. The first hour or so was spent learning theory, and the rest of the class was on the road. I think they had one instructor for every two students, so they switched out driving a lot, and she said she was behind the wheel for a good two hours of the eight. She was driving 325s and Z3s.

I think she was ready to quit her job and figure out how to be a professional driver for BMW. Hell, she may still do that.

Chrysler's new 300
 

Carmel Anthony has one, and he recently posed with it in Dub Magazine.

BMW2iPod
 

Apple announces iPod-to-auto interface developed in conjunction with BMW.

QuickTime ad here.

I hope there's nothing proprietary in this technology, as it only seems fair to allow non-assholes to enjoy their music in other makes of car.

BMW2iPod
 

It's an apple product. would it be anything but?

Chrysler's new 300
 

Have you seen the new Rolls up close? Its bizarre. I can't decide if its a joke. Its really over the top. But the interior looks like a plush living room. More wood than the clubhouse at Merion.

I have no idea what a hemi is either, and I'm too lazy to google it.