Car Chat

[SJ_GTI]

I'd go with a Giulia if I got a sport sedan. The stories I've read about it say it's as dialed in and engaging as a Miata - but much more comfortable, and hell of a lot faster.

I've never driven one myself, but based on all the reviews it would certainly be at the top of the list of cars to test drive (if I was OK with an automatic).

[SJ_GTI]

So I've been thinking, infotainment systems age like dogs. So you may buy a perfectly nice three-year-old off-lease CPO vehicle; the car itself is fine but, in terms of development, usability & relevance, its infotainment system is now like an old 2G cell phone.  Base models are more desirable: they don't put up the barriers that frustrate buyers' access to their smartphones.

I think Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were hoping to resolve this conundrum.

For myself I mainly do rely on CarPlay for my in-car entertainment, but of course for car specific things (driver settings, for example) I have to use the cars system.

[MX793]

I think Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were hoping to resolve this conundrum.

For myself I mainly do rely on CarPlay for my in-car entertainment, but of course for car specific things (driver settings, for example) I have to use the cars system.

And what happens when the latest version of Carplay or AA are no longer compatible with the hardware in your 5-6 year old car?

[r0tor]

I'd go with a Giulia if I got a sport sedan. The stories I've read about it say it's as dialed in and engaging as a Miata - but much more comfortable, and hell of a lot faster.

It is all that and more

[Eye of the Tiger]

I'd go with a Giulia if I got a sport sedan. The stories I've read about it say it's as dialed in and engaging as a Miata - but much more comfortable, and hell of a lot faster.

I'd go with a Fiesta 1.0 eekobewst for a sports sedan. The stories I've read about it say it's basically a hum drum Fiesta with a stupid little turbo engine that is still slower than a stock NB Miata after tuning and bolt on parts.

[dazzleman]

They are great looking cars and initially got good reviews.  The XF is a different class than the XE and, with the optional V6, would be a bomb to drive.  Jaguar is defined by elegance, and the XF would be a fitting car for you.  Of course, there are many other options including a couple from Alfa Romeo.

Thanks.  I may try a test drive to compare with the new Audisa.

[NomisR]

I'd go with a Giulia if I got a sport sedan. The stories I've read about it say it's as dialed in and engaging as a Miata - but much more comfortable, and hell of a lot faster.

Seriously, i almost got one.  When I test drove it, i definitely wanted one.. the only thing that really stopped me was the reliability issue and the traffic.  But now that there's no traffic and I don't really need to go into work every day, I'm thinking about getting one once the Bolt's lease expires.  As much as I love the instant torque, the roaring engine sound is just as good.

[CaminoRacer]

So I've been thinking, infotainment systems age like dogs. So you may buy a perfectly nice three-year-old off-lease CPO vehicle; the car itself is fine but, in terms of development, usability & relevance, its infotainment system is now like an old 2G cell phone.  Base models are more desirable: they don't put up the barriers that frustrate buyers' access to their smartphones.

All I want is a basic headunit with bluetooth and aux input. And a good place for a magnetic phone mount if I need to pull up a map.

[r0tor]

Seriously, i almost got one.  When I test drove it, i definitely wanted one.. the only thing that really stopped me was the reliability issue and the traffic.  But now that there's no traffic and I don't really need to go into work every day, I'm thinking about getting one once the Bolt's lease expires.  As much as I love the instant torque, the roaring engine sound is just as good.

Reliability is surprisingly good especially after the first model year

[SJ_GTI]

And what happens when the latest version of Carplay or AA are no longer compatible with the hardware in your 5-6 year old car?

That would be pretty bad if the hardware is out of date that quickly. My car is 4 years old now and it still works just fine with CarPlay, I suspect it will be fine for 2 more years (and probably longer).

[NomisR]

Reliability is surprisingly good especially after the first model year

Great.. now i'm looking at it for possibly 2021.. Guilia Ti Sport.. what the hell is a Carbon model?

[Laconian]

Great.. now i'm looking at it for possibly 2021.. Guilia Ti Sport.. what the hell is a Carbon model?

If your kid scratches a panel with his bike, the whole bodywork explodes into sharp fragments.

[r0tor]

Great.. now i'm looking at it for possibly 2021.. Guilia Ti Sport.. what the hell is a Carbon model?

Just a Ti Sport with nicer mirrors, side skirts, and trim...

Make sure you get the performance package... That what really counts - lsd and adjustable suspension

[Raza]

Just a Ti Sport with nicer mirrors, side skirts, and trim...

Make sure you get the performance package... That what really counts - lsd and adjustable suspension

With enough LSD, everything is adjustable, baby.

[dazzleman]

With enough LSD, everything is adjustable, baby.

I want to hear your opinion about the Jag.

[MX793]

That would be pretty bad if the hardware is out of date that quickly. My car is 4 years old now and it still works just fine with CarPlay, I suspect it will be fine for 2 more years (and probably longer).

That assumes that the hardware in the 5-6 year old car was the latest and greatest 5-6 years ago.  A 5-6 year old car may have hardware that is actually 9-10 years old, if you bought a model year that was later in the design cycle.

[r0tor]

And what happens when the latest version of Carplay or AA are no longer compatible with the hardware in your 5-6 year old car?

Yea... Like Android auto is now capable of filling up a widescreen format like car play - but unlike car play it needs hardware that is programmed to do it and OEMs largely don't care enough to update preexisting infotainment systems.

[Morris Minor]

Car and Driver is so thin it's now useless as shiterature. You can read cover-to-cover in less time than it takes a turd to drop from arse to water.

[MX793]

Car and Driver is so thin it's now useless as shiterature. You can read cover-to-cover in less time than it takes a turd to drop from arse to water.

And it's probably 50% ads, as it always was.

With the direction the market is going, maybe they should rebrand as "SUV and Autopilot".  They can have a 1-2 page monthly column called "Car and Driver" where they can cover any news pertaining to car-shaped vehicles that require human intervention to navigate roadways.

[r0tor]

C&D was improving.... But pretty much the entire automotive industry is on hold so what's left to even report on?

[MX793]

C&D was improving.... But pretty much the entire automotive industry is on hold so what's left to even report on?

Also true.  Car shows canceled, press drive events curtailed, many motorsports have been put on hold...

[Laconian]

C&D was improving.... But pretty much the entire automotive industry is on hold so what's left to even report on?

Boner pills and Weathertech's Amerigasms.

[RomanChariot]

My brother is a used car salesman in a small town in Nebraska. He recently picked up a one owner, garage kept 1992 Lexus LS400 with 20,000 original miles. The owner was moving and was planning to take the car with him so he had just had new tires put on it and had it inspected and serviced. My brother convinced him to sell it rather than move it.

[Raza]

I want to hear your opinion about the Jag.

I like them.  The XE seems beneath your financial station, but I think it looks fantastic.  I think they used to come with a manual but don't anymore, but I don't think that'll affect you either way.  Modern 4s have come a long way and are much smoother than they used to be with a lot more power, but at your age, I would think the smoothness of at least a 6 cylinder would be more your preference.  The XF is another great looking car and the Sportbrake (British for wagon) is achingly gorgeous.  It's probably not as good a car as the Audi A6, but it's certainly just as stylish.  In its class, I'd only buy it or the A6. 

I generally like Jags, have for a long time.  I mean, the F-Type V6S manual is one of my top choices to replace my Z4. 

[r0tor]

Bleh, I drove an F Type V6S on the track... Sounded good but that was about it as far as positives.   It was rather boring and uninspiring to drive and the cockpit felt tight (which seems like a jaguar trend in all of their cars).

[dazzleman]

I like them.  The XE seems beneath your financial station, but I think it looks fantastic.  I think they used to come with a manual but don't anymore, but I don't think that'll affect you either way.  Modern 4s have come a long way and are much smoother than they used to be with a lot more power, but at your age, I would think the smoothness of at least a 6 cylinder would be more your preference.  The XF is another great looking car and the Sportbrake (British for wagon) is achingly gorgeous.  It's probably not as good a car as the Audi A6, but it's certainly just as stylish.  In its class, I'd only buy it or the A6. 

I generally like Jags, have for a long time.  I mean, the F-Type V6S manual is one of my top choices to replace my Z4.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.  So you wouldn't consider the BMW 5-series?  Aside from the Jag, Audi and Alfa Romeo, what else should I be looking at?  I haven't been keeping up with things the way I used to.

[MX793]

AMG E53

[r0tor]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.  So you wouldn't consider the BMW 5-series?  Aside from the Jag, Audi and Alfa Romeo, what else should I be looking at?  I haven't been keeping up with things the way I used to.

What are you really looking for?

Audi is the best all around
Alfa easily the sports car off sedan
BMW is now luxury and tech
Merc is more of a softer sophisticated muscle car
Jag... A worse Merc

[Raza]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.  So you wouldn't consider the BMW 5-series?  Aside from the Jag, Audi and Alfa Romeo, what else should I be looking at?  I haven't been keeping up with things the way I used to.

I mean, back in the before times, I used to see dozens of luxury cars everyday, but the 5 series became increasingly rare after the E60.  To be honest, I can't even picture the current 5 series in my mind right now.  I think that's a bad sign--I know more and more people are getting SUVs instead of midsize sedans, but of the midsizers, I do see A6s more than E classes or 5ers. 

The E class is kind of dumpy looking.  I feel like they've been playing it too safe since they dumped the quad headlight design.



My mom just recently got an A6 3.0 and it's everything you want in a luxury sedan.  It's plenty quick, it's comfortable, it's easy to get in and out of, the styling is conservative but not boring, and it's not too big for its size class.  I've driven it a couple of times and it's really quite nice. 



The XF is still really nice, but I think my dollars would go to the A6 or the Alfa first.

[Laconian]

I mean, back in the before times, I used to see dozens of luxury cars everyday, but the 5 series became increasingly rare after the E60.  To be honest, I can't even picture the current 5 series in my mind right now.  I think that's a bad sign--I know more and more people are getting SUVs instead of midsize sedans, but of the midsizers, I do see A6s more than E classes or 5ers. 

There's a reason you can't recall seeing the current 5er. BMW's playing it too safe.