Cars and Other Driving Machines

[bold_n_brazen]

Originally posted by notcasesensitive
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.

No. There was a recall that was never done by the previous owner. As a result, the front bumper basically got torn off.

My dealer told me that Audi would pay for the car if the car was under warranty (which mine no longer was). I went up the chain a little at Audi and got a "district manager" who agreed to have Audi pay for the new bumper.

It probably cost Audi in the neighborhood of $2000 to do the repair. For that, they got one very happy customer. I will buy Audi again, when I am in the market.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Dave
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.

Perhaps the Maybach:



Although you could buy a few A8s for that, and they do have leg room.

My 6'8" uncle is wild about old MB L sedans (300 SEL, etc.). They do have a ton of room, even in the back seat. But that mid-80s feel detracts from all that space.

As for the A8, my understanding is that the old ones were all aluminum (don't know about the new ones released this year), and that there were only a few repair shops that could handle aluminum bodywork. But, because of the delays, Audi would give owners an extended loaner while the car was repaired. Of course, that may not apply after the warranty is up.

[baltassoc]

Originally posted by Dave
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.

Try the Mini Cooper. No, really. They claim that it was designed to accomodate drivers up to 6'7", and they aren't kidding. It's the first car I've ever driven where when I zipped the seat all the way back, I was too far back.* Of course, all the way back means that the front seat touches the front of the back seat. And getting in and out is a neat trick, but probably would get better with a little practice. I was okay with that, and when circumstances permit, will most likely buy one as my daily commuter. I almost bought one when they first came out, but that was about the same time I joined the parents board, and the car that was being replaced needed to have at least four doors.

* I only play a short round guy on the board. In real life I have very long legs.

[Alex_de_Large]

For the upcoming R32...


http://subtle.org/se/pictures/cars/vw/r32_wall.jpg

Edited to provide link since picture is messing up the board.

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
For the upcoming R32...


http://subtle.org/se/pictures/cars/vw/r32_wall.jpg

Edited to provide link since picture is messing up the board.

Sorry 'bout that...

[Alex_de_Large]

Stunning, IMHO. Read about it here :



This is my favorite:

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
Stunning, IMHO.

Looking pretty good. Not sure about the angular edge to the headlight enclosure, which looks odd to me from the front. From side, though, quite nice. Perhaps a little less chrome on the interior, but that may be a sport package or something. CErtainly better than the BMW 5er.

[Alex_de_Large]

I love this one too. No big surprise, of course...





Find more pictures here.

[Dave]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Looking pretty good. Not sure about the angular edge to the headlight enclosure, which looks odd to me from the front. From side, though, quite nice. Perhaps a little less chrome on the interior, but that may be a sport package or something. CErtainly better than the BMW 5er.

From the side, it looks like a Saturn L-Series. How bland. Overall, it's not bad, but not as appealing as the current A6, which is still stunning.

[Alex_de_Large]

The 2005 Maserati Quattroporte. Read more about it at Edmunds.com.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
The 2005 Maserati Quattroporte. Read more about it at Edmunds.com.

Interesting. Looks a lot nicer than when I saw it in testing last fall. Glad to know how it turned out. . . I sure was curious then.





And I will assure everyone that:

In truth, most of the people willing to part with $90,000 and up for a car (even one that can be pretty much custom-tailored inside and out) will not actually ever drive it as hard as it's capable of going.

Did not apply to the testers of this car, who, I was fairly worried, were likely to drive off the cliff we had been driving along before recognizing the car's limits.

[notcasesensitive]

Originally posted by Dave
From the side, it looks like a Saturn L-Series. How bland. Overall, it's not bad, but not as appealing as the current A6, which is still stunning.

Disagree. If the current A6 model is the one with the rounded trunk, I much prefer this new A6 bodystyle. Still probably too big for me, but it is pretty.

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Interesting. Looks a lot nicer than when I saw it in testing last fall. Glad to know how it turned out. . . I sure was curious then.


Did not apply to the testers of this car, who, I was fairly worried, were likely to drive off the cliff we had been driving along before recognizing the car's limits.

Where did you take that shot?

[Dave]

Don't know if this has been posted here before, supposed to be at the Geneva Auto Show:

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

BBC story about Volvo designed by women, with such touches as pony-tail holes in the head rests.