Audi A3
 

I'm not a wagon nut, but those are nice, and really well priced. Buy it.

I want one of these
 

Check it out--available next year in selected markets.

I've seen a prototype in person. Incredibly fast. 250 mile range.

Electric Sports Car

Audi A3
 

See, Coltrane? Get the A3 and you will be Sebby, Jr.

Audi A3
 

It WAS dead, but you revived it. It wasn't there before you posted this.

Audi A3
 

It just wasn't on the list of most recent posts. You had to go into the tech forum directly, and then the cars thread.

see (scroll down)

Audi A3
 

FWIW, I LOVE the a3, but it's a bit small for the family dL. The 9-3 SC in Aero trim is delectable, and a Britax carseat fits necely in back.

http://www.canadiandriver.com/photos...tcombi_1-1.jpg


http://www.car-data.com/photos.30/p....combi.30.1.jpg

Audi A3
 

That 9-3 is my current car obsession.

Hard to think about car payments though...

Audi A3
 

That is why I don't have a shiny new A3. I have been car payment-free for 4 years or so now. 4 wonderful years. And my A4 is only at 30k miles. I can only hope that they still make the A3's when I'm ready for another car.

Veyron
 

A Bugatti Veyron sucking the paint off of a 350 z. That Z is no slouch, but the Veyron is INSANE.

Veyron
 

Fucking A man.
Unbelievable.

I drove a 2007 Mercedes CLK 63 last weekend. At almost 500 hp, it was pretty fast and fun to drive. Unfortunately we got stuck in some heinous traffic and couldn't really open it up.

The weekend before I drove a Porsche Carrera S and a BMW 650.

They are all 3 very fast and very fun. The Porsche, of course, is a driver's car. But it would make a really crappy daily driver. Unless you had a 5 mile commute that was all on-ramp. The ventilation sucks, the navigation sucks. But it's a Porsche.

The BMW 650 was just the opposite. Loaded with every luxury item you could imagine and the blue tooth option loaded the cell phone directory in like 2 minutes. That said, it was not a lot of fun to drive. Was eerily quiet in the cockpit and 100 mph felt like 40. But, it's an awesome road car. The driving position is a little awkward, due to the console being really small and far away and the steering wheel doesn't drop as low as it should for the right 10 and 2 position.

The Mercedes was in-between. Stiffer and noisier than the 650, but smoover than the Porsche. All cars were about $90k. The CLK 63 only comes in a convertible. The top is like the SLK, motorized, completely quiet and massive in the trunk.


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

D'oh
 

Top Gear host crashes jet car

link to video on that page

Veyron
 

A friend of mine has the CLK 500, and it's a beast. I can imagine what another 150 bhp would do.

Veyron
 

The CLK 550 actually kicks its (the 500) ass. Mercedes went with more agressive gearing for the 06 and 07 models (because they really needed to). Now all they have to do is work on the steering. It still has a hard time finding center - just like the E class. And the braking (same issues as the E class, only not as bad now).
We sat in a new S class and aside from the size, it was a very beautiful car. Also, the salesman said that they had already sold and delivered 9 ML 63s. That is a rockin SUV. He also said that they're selling as many G class as they can get. That thing's freakin HUGE. When you sit in the front seat, you can barely see the back window.

$50k class
 

I recently drove three ~$50k cars: the S4, 335 coupe, and CTS-V.

The S4 was awesome. The interior is beyond luxurious. Everything feels like it costs $100,000 inside, like you'd really be getting your money's worth. The nav screen had this trick where it flipped over and also revealed slots for memory cards holding digital music. Nice. The car was saddled with an automatic, but it hauled ass. Fast, fast, fast. The back seat, however, is disappointingly small. It seemed like the back seat of a smaller car.

The 335 has a great engine, very tractable, and you would never know that it was turbocharged. It just pulled and pulled and pulled, no matter where you were in the rev range. Also fast, fast, fast. Handled great, too. Clutch was super light - I felt like I was driving a truck when I got back in my car. It made starting out very easy, pulled away with no drama or anything, but when I tried to hotfoot it, and rip off a shift from 1-2 when gunning it, it was embarassingly ham-handed, because the clutch was so light. Hard to judge the size of the interior, because it was a coupe. The interior materials seemed nice, but a lot more austere than the Audi. (I had never been much of a dash stroker until I drove the S4.) I'm looking forward to driving the 335 sedan when it hits the dealership.

Then, on to the CTS-V. Nicely sized inside - probably about the size of a 5 series. Great engine and decent 6 speed manual. Exhaust note is great and terrific rumble when you goose the throttle. Who could say no to the 'vette's V8 and 6 speed in a sedan? Hauls ass, but I didn't get to really push it as much as I would have liked; we ended up behind a student driver. Car cornered surprisingly flatly - very little body roll, unexpected in a big American sedan like that. The interior is loaded with features, but the plastics seem cheap for a car that costs so much. Also, the non-V CTS can be ordered with a luxury package that upgrades the interior to a nice wood trim. It's not available on the V. Damned S4 made me some namby pamby idiot who is impressed by a fancy interior.

$50k class
 

I love the way the BMW looks but I think it's priced a wee bit high for a 3 series.

$50k class
 

Yeah, $46k for a 335 sedan with the sport and luxury packages. It adds up pretty fast.

Anyone hear as to when the new G35 sedan will be hitting dealerships?

$50k class
 

Far as I know, it's there.

At this point in my life, I am looking for (1) the cheapest safe vehicle; (2) that will last the longest. I'm not talking 200k miles but 400-500k miles, in my dreams anyway.

Hence the interest in those Ford cab cars and stuff.

$50k class
 

Get a Honda Accord. Change the oil at 5000 miles, the belt at 60,000 miles, and don't get hit. It will give you all the miles and more.

$50k class
 

That's the key. Swore by the Accord I had but am looking for something more tank-like.

$50k class
 

Dude, it's a twin turbo. That is reasonable for a car like that. In fact, I think when my lease is up, that will be my next car.

$50k class
 

That's the problem with GM, all they have to do is charge a few hundred dollars more and get the better plastic, but they won't do it. There was an article in last month's Automobile comparing the Porsche Turbo, the Corvette and Ferrari 430. For half the price, the Corvette keeps up with the big boys. But the main complaint was the cockpit's cheap interior.

Audi Group B
 

In the cockpit of an Audi Group B car. Holy shit. I forgot how reCoculous these cars were.

Viper attack
 

Yikes!

SFW, turn up the volume a bit.

German engineering in da house
 

Unpimp that ride.

SFW: VW ads

Audi Quattro Drift Car
 

Alex, this is ridiculous. I don't know what kind of tires those used to be, but he lit them up pretty good.

Audi Drift Car

Passat wagon v. 3er touring for a week in Germany
 

We are traveling to Germany for a week at the end of the month, and will be renting a car to get around and visit relatives, etc.. I have booked both a VW Passat wagon and a BMW 3er wagon: the passat through Hertz (around 530 euros for the week) and the 3er through Sixt (435 euros for the week), both with manual tranny and nav. We will be 5 people total: 4 adults and an infant in a car seat.

I need to choose which of the 2 cars I want to use.

My question is this: if you had these two options, which would you choose, and why? Obviously, the 3er is going to offer a different level of driving dynamics, but it is smaller. Is the extra size worth 100 euros?

Also, has anyone used Sixt before? I use Hertz exclusively in the US, but the Sixt rate seems too good to pass up.

thanks a bunch,
AdL

Passat wagon v. 3er touring for a week in Germany
 

I have never driven a wagon. Does this surprise you? I you had asked about the sedans, I would have told you to go with the Beemer, because with 2 adults in the back, the way the Passat is designed, you will not be able to see out the back window at all. Not even a little bit. But wagon? Probably a toss-up, but the Beemer will probably have better brakes - if that interests you.

Passat wagon v. 3er touring for a week in Germany
 

Ordinarily, you know the answer: Bimmer of course, especially for a better price. But given the relatively cramped confines, I would put a premium on space rather than performance, and expect that you'll find that extra $18/day well worth it. Of course, I don't know how much extra space you get, but the 3er touring has always struck me as pretty short on room.

Passat wagon v. 3er touring for a week in Germany
 

Mrs. dL has already ruled out the 3er. Comparing the Passat to a 5er or e-class wagon (aout 100euros [15 eoros/day] more expensive than the Passat) does the calculus stay the same. Edmunds tells me the BMW/e-class have about 3 inches more of shoulder room in the back v. the passat, which strikes me as quite a bit.

Passat wagon v. 3er touring for a week in Germany
 

Does the passat come in pink? i'd get that.

Passat wagon v. 3er touring for a week in Germany
 

Cute. It's a space issue, because Mrs. dL is going to spend quite some time in the back seat with the baby. Right now I'm deciding between a Passat and a 5er/e class, with the difference in price about 100 euros (and the difference in passenger space 3" in shoulder room).

Passat wagon v. 3er touring for a week in Germany
 

I'd opt for Hertz. If something goes wrong you are more likely to get support with it than a company you do not know.

Passat wagon v. 3er touring for a week in Germany
 

Since presumably there's a chance you'll be in back as well, I would spring for the extra roominess. Of course, if you're not going to be doing a lot of driving, it changes the calculus. But I imagine you wouldn't be renting a car if you were spending all your time in cities.

Can you go to a dealer to check out the differences? I'd go, with the baby seat, and ask to try out the back seat with the baby seat installed. See how each feels. Maybe even get a test drive, on the pretense you're thinking of upgrading.

Passat wagon v. 3er touring for a week in Germany
 

We're actually going to be driving quite a bit, including a 6-7 hour driving tour of the Rhine.

Another option is a BMW x3: sixt has them, and they're about 600 euros for the week.

Passat wagon v. 3er touring for a week in Germany
 

Prediction: By the time you get there, you will have talked your way into renting a 750iL (or a 740d).

Passat wagon v. 3er touring for a week in Germany
 

They're available, but they're 1800 euros for the week. Not going to happen...

Passat wagon v. 3er touring for a week in Germany
 

6-7 hours is going to be unbearable in a Passat. Just write that one off right now. Are you dragging luggage too? If yes, the 5 series may be the best bet, nice handling, adequate ponies and a large trunk. You've been in the X3 - that would be a nice choice except for lack of cargo space. Unless you're stuck with the 2.5L, then with 4 adults - don't bother.

Passat wagon v. 3er touring for a week in Germany
 

I've never been in the new Passat, but I suspect that Mrs. dL and the rest are going to be more happy in a 5er or e-class than in a Passat...

Passat wagon v. 3er touring for a week in Germany
 

I think we've settled on the E220 CDI.

Passat wagon v. 3er touring for a week in Germany
 

OK, so after all that, when we arrived in Frankfurt they did not have a E220 CDI available. They had a Volvo V70 D w/o navi and a Grand Cherokee CDT w/ navi. We took the Jeep, as it was more roomy than the Volvo, and we really wanted the navi.

Despite the irony of flying to Germany and renting an American SUV, the car proved pretty good. We fit rather well (4 adults, one baby in a car seat, 6 suitcases, and a stroller), and the truck went 160 kph all day long w/o a problem. They must sell an upgraded suspension in Europe, as the chassis was much more buttoned-down than I expected, especially at high speed.

The navigation system was terrific, with great maps and very complete POI data. I don't know if this is the same software sold in US models, but if it is, I would not hesitate to buy it.

Also, as a diesel, we got about 20 mph over the course of the trip (2600 km), despite spending most of the trip (on the highways, at least) over 100 mph.

Some driving highlights:

Doing 180 kph and getting passed by a Audi S4 Avant like I was standing still: I couldn't even read the license plate. Now THAT is an exhaust note.

Also, getting passed by a MB Mclaren SLR in heavy traffic around Stuttgart. At the wheel was none other than Dieter Zetsche, Dr. Z himself.