<kegler (AT) bowling (DOT) net> wrote

Hey....makes my mom happy (80 years old) and the thing is exceptionally
reliable (not like in the old days)...so mom....ROCK ON!

"David Z" <me (AT) privacy (DOT) net> wrote

Overall, I have to agree with you (and am quite happy for my luck!). I do
think CR "paints" things worse then they often are though...

You know....I must say I was disappointed with the ML stereo....but
personally, I like more punch to my stereo (I'm a a serious rocker). I like
to have the car vibrating with music. Note though that I did replace the
system in my SLK320 cause I'm an audiophile. The good news is that the TT
Bose system rocks....great system (have had it before). Now if only I don't
blow out a speaker LOL.

Myself? I want the best of both worlds....an engine that growls and a stereo
that rocks my world. The ML system is not for rock-n-rollers (though a great
system).

"b22r" <b22r (AT) erols (DOT) com> wrote


I'm very pleased with the ML audio. In fact, I bought the navigation
system just to get the ML audio. I only later realized what a cool toy
the nav is. :-)

I did that to my Pontiac Firebird when I was in my 20s. Ordered the car
from the factory without a stereo. Had a high end shop put in an
awesome sound system. I loved the sound, but found myself at the audio
shop about once a quarter because the speakers would occasionally cut
out. After that, I vowed not to do that again.

I haven't heard the system you have, but I can say that (1) Bose is not
considered "high end" in the high end stores I frequent, (2) ML is
definitely considered high end in those stores, and (3) a system that
has "punch" is often distortion rather than high fidelity. The Bose
products are generally thought of as "colored," rather than "pure"
sound.

On Mon, 13 Mar 2006 08:32:43 -0500, "b22r" <b22r (AT) erols (DOT) com> graced
this newsgroup with:

...which is also surprising to me since the Jags are in the basement in
all the reviews I've read as well.

On Mon, 13 Mar 2006 08:36:49 -0500, "b22r" <b22r (AT) erols (DOT) com> graced
this newsgroup with:


I'm not sure how much "painting" they had to do. The results were
derived directly from the owners, not their own test drivers.

Additionally, the reviews are nearly identical to what other auto
reviews on the same cars from different sites/mags have written.

<kegler (AT) bowling (DOT) net> wrote

Hey....maybe my family has been extremely lucky with our cars. My bet is
that it definitely helps that we drive low milage cars and only keep them a
few years.....the trials and tribulations of all of us getting a new car
every year in the 70s (my dad would buy cars wholesale that just came off
lease from his friend who owned a dealership, we'd keep them for a year and
then my dad would sell them at a profit....obviously my dad wanted to be a
car salesman but instead was stuck with a multimillion dollar advertising
company)

On Tue, 14 Mar 2006 08:28:43 -0500, "b22r" <b22r (AT) erols (DOT) com> graced
this newsgroup with:


You make a good point. Just about any car will be fine as long as
it's relatively new and, (most importantly), under warranty. I really
liked our Jag but the electrical problems were never ending.

It basically boils down to this, (for me anyway). I've reached a
point in my life where power is important, but not at the expense of
reliability. I want a car that's powerful enough to get me out of a
jam but not loud and noisy. I don't want a car that advertises what's
under the hood. Most people unfamiliar with an LS, would never know
that if pressed, can do damn well for a car that weighs as much as it
does. Also, I want a car that is reliable. If I spend a small fortune
on a car, I not only expect it to be reliable, I *demand* it. Most
people would never tolerate a home appliance failing several times a
year yet for some reason seem to think it's perfectly acceptable to
have spent fifty times that amount on a car that can't seem to get
them to the end of the street without breaking down.

If I want noise and performance, I hop on my motorcycle. Otherwise,
I actually enjoy the quiet solitude of my LS. The days of roaring
engines and high speed turns are, fortunately or unfortunately, behind
me.

<kegler (AT) bowling (DOT) net> wrote


My mom had a jag in the late 80s, maybe early 90s. She had leased it.....it
was the most unreliable POS imaginable. An incredible amount of electrical
problems. Half the time it would not even start (often stranding her
somewhere). She returned it to the leasing agency within 2 months. In
contrast, the relatively newjag she has now is quite nice....good ride and
has held up nicely.

Nothing worse than an unreliable car. Nothing worse than going to start a
car and it won't....or being stranded at the side of the road. Once bitten
twice shy. Too bad that overall for the auto biz, there is not better
quality.

The Lexus brand is about 22 years old now. The Mercedes one is over a
100 years old. Thats the biggest thing going for Merc. Likewise for
BMW, Porsche and the other European brands. But quality will out.
Lexus, Infinito and Acura will do to the European brands what the
Toyota and Honda did to the big three. Might be a matter of 10 years or
more... but it will happen.

That said, what is still great about the European marquees are:
1. Great Styling
2. Performance and fun factor
3. Snob value (!!??)

Lexus styling is still seems dominated by the Toyota Design Bible -
make it timeless. Will Lexus do a spinoff like Scion - create out and
out style icons with loads of performance. Now that's a thought!

On Wed, 15 Mar 2006 03:10:20 UTC, "b22r" <b22r (AT) erols (DOT) com> wrote:

I agree. I had a VW Rabbit that did the same things. It's been over
25 years, but I swore I'd never buy another VW, and probably another
German car, ever again.....and I haven't.

The Japanese have elevated reliability to an art form. Amazingly,
Hyundai is nearly that good these days. Heck, if a company that just
a few years ago was building cars in buildings that had dirt floors
can now build a car that reliable, there's no reason on earth why
Europe and the Big 3 can't to it too.....other than that they can't be
bothered.

Similarly, now that they know how to make reliable cars, I don't see
why Lexus can't build a car that's attractive and sporty......other
than that they don't want too because too many people are buying are
buying their blandmobiles now.
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