ah, rats!

wish I was more technically able...

jl

Mazda 3 Sedan
 

Concur. If I were Acura, I'd be writing some nasty letters to Mazda's design team right now.

Mazda 3 Sedan
 

If you were Acura, you'd be too busy sitting around thinking how take a great engine and transmission, put it into a nice luxury car at a good price, and have it be really, really good at spinning the front wheels at whatever speed you're driving it at. And maybe thinking about how to incorporate a nice traction control system so that, most of the time, the wheels will just sit there and accelerate slowly instead of spin.

BMW's
 

Now that's a good looking BMW. Bangle, it's about time.



Edited to remove pic that was messing up the page.

Audi A8
 

I saw a silver 2004 Audi A8 this afternoon. Absolutely breathtaking, with only one exception: the fucking tumor growing on the roof.

Here's a pic...


http://www.audiusa.com/common/images...8model_a8l.jpg

Porsche Cayenne
 

http://www2.porsche.com/english/usa/...ntro_foto1.jpg
If you don't have the satellite radio, you don't need the tumor

So I drove a Porsche Cayenne a couple of days ago - here is your review...
Basic Porsche Cayenne with 3.2L V-6 - salesman said it was an "enhanced" volkswagen V-6 - enhanced because VW never got 247 horses out of it.

Had very good road manners, cornered better than 3.0L BMW X5 (without sport suspension) and was a little faster. Interior was nice. Typical of Porsche to deliver the cars fairly modestly equipped and everything was an upgrade.
Major drawback was the rear-seat fold-down mechanism. Stupidly designed - makes you remove the headrest and jump through hoops just to get the rear seat down.

Modestly equipped prices out at $54k. Not bad. Ran out of time before I could drive the Cayenne S. That update later.

Car Stuff
 

Since I missed Detroit and was elsewhere visiting family in another city which, oddly enough, had an auto show, I went. A few random observations:

(1) I didn't recognize the new 5 series as a BMW. I actually had to go look to see what it was. WTF?

(2) The X3 was very nicely done, but it's too small for me. It's also rather pricey when optioned out.

(3) I liked the Volvo S60 a LOT more than I thought I would, and the price was surprisingly reasonable -- 30k well loaded. I think I'll be visiting the local dealer sometime soon.

(4) I don't want to drop 75 large and you can read bad things about MB quality, but nothing is more impressive than a big, black S Class.

(5) Say what you will about SUVs & Trucks being bad, gas hogs, whatever, they were absolutely mobbed by people who looked like serious buyers.

(6) Speaking of quasi-SUVs, I think Chevrolet will sell an assload of the new Equinox:

http://www.chevrolet.com/equinox/images/thumb_ls.jpg

Nicely done, and the price should be good.

A lot of the interesting stuff from Detroit was missing, but this was still a good way to kill a couple hours.

Instead of a new car, I'm thinking about buying a '99 Audi A8 from a neighbor, for $21K. I will only do this if I can convince myself that the car's going to be reliable for a while. Anyone have any views about this?

Car Stuff
 

I visited the local dealer, and thought the back seat was very tight. Was I on crack?

Go to audiworld.com-->forums. I think Audis are generally regarded as not the most reliabile. But the A8 is a sweet car, and I enjoyed my test rides in an A6.

Car Stuff
 

The V70 (wagon) rear seat seemed tight to me, at least when the front seats were back (which were tight if they were up). I believe that other than the wagon/sedan back, the dimensions of the two are similar.

The A6, in contrast, (wagon and sedan) both had ample rear legroom, and far better than a BMW 3er or 5er (old model of the 5er).

I have a 98 A6 and I've been very happy with its reliability. And Audi has really stepped up to make me happy about the one thing that didn't make me happy. If you'd like more details of that extravaganza, PM me and I'll fill you in.

Car Stuff
 

No, I wouldn't say so. It's tight. Not something that matters to me, though, since I haven't found a vehicle yet that has any rear seat room to speak of behind an all-the-way-back driver's seat.

Now, if I could just find something with adequate (read: even more) seat travel, I would be thrilled. I'm starting to think I'm going to have to go Police Academy and just rip the front seat out f something small.

A8
 

I don't know about reliability, but doesn't that model have an all-aluminium body? If so, I recall reading an article about how it costs a ton to fix and maybe even that there weren't that many places that could do it. Oh, and the insurance is probably more than a steel-bodied car.

NTTAWWT, of course, if you're OK with those things.

was it that they misinstalled an oil filter and almost blew up the engine of your brand new car? because if so, you are not alone. the Audi dealership here sucks ass. and they have no competition. German bastards don't think Dallas is a big market apparently.

that said, I love my A4. but I'm sure it lacks the backseat room needed for Ty. A8's are beautiful. luckily (for my pocketbook) my tastes run a little smaller.