A Bit More on the Car Situation...

[MX793]

Take your mom to see an A6 in person, she might change her mind. They are one of the best built cars, period. I doubt after seeing it in person she would think its a step down from anything...but you never know.

Why don't you want a GS in your house by the way? I would think the upcoming GS350 would be a nice choose as well.

And, maybe just check out a 525i/530i. Sure they are probably the more "sport oriented" of their class, but they are also extremely comfortable and work perfectly fine as luxury cars. They are overpriced compared to Audi/Lexus/Everyone but if prestige is a concern BMW should be fine. They also have free maintenance as part of their warranty which is always a nice plus.

If the Audi is indeed a truly lost cause, I'll push the 550 or 650, or even the XJ8 SWB--that's in no way a step down from Mercedes.

Another thing about the GS is that it's almost as ugly as the new Civic, and I think the interior is terrible aesthetically.  

I am going to drag her to our closest Audi dealer to look at the A6.

I think if you can get her to take a look at it, she may take a shining to the A6.  I rather like them myself.

[Raza]

PS. Your dad is getting a 750i? That should be a fun car. However I would have reccomended he check out an S6 or S8. Its what a real man would get.  

The S8 is probably more than what he wants to spend, and I don't think he wants a smaller car.   I already tried to get him into an A8, but he wasn't thrilled by it.

[Raza]

And for the record, I don't have anything against Japanese cars, but I do very muhc dislike Toyota.  And if my mom thinks an Audi is a step down, then I can't imagine what she'd say about an Acura or an Infiniti, and it's not like I'd suggest an RL anyway (though initially I was gung ho about a Q45....perhaps and M45x would be a possibility...).

[Raghavan]

TL with the 6 speed?

[SJ_GTI]

If the Audi is indeed a truly lost cause, I'll push the 550 or 650, or even the XJ8 SWB--that's in no way a step down from Mercedes.

If an XJ8 is in her price range I would suggest that!

I love the XJ. Fantastic car! My dream "big car" would be an XJR.    

[850CSi]

XJ is a good idea.

Although, given the criteria (and if Mercedes wasn't out), it would be an easy choice for me:

[850CSi]

ahh yes the soul, the only cars i ever hear that have soul tend to be the ones that have several problems. I guess what makes a car have soul is when the driver suffers through hard times(car won't run/work) and the good times(car runs/works properly). I admit i never felt a soul from any of my japanese cars, maybe because whenever i was in them i was to busy driving and i never had to spend a long night sitting on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere while warming my hands over the shorting electrical circuit.

As I always like to say, saying that an inanimate object has charm, soul or character is just nice way of saying that it has flaws, quirks and problems.

So you really don't think your car has more soul than a Corolla?

[ifcar]

And for the record, I don't have anything against Japanese cars, but I do very muhc dislike Toyota.  And if my mom thinks an Audi is a step down, then I can't imagine what she'd say about an Acura or an Infiniti, and it's not like I'd suggest an RL anyway (though initially I was gung ho about a Q45....perhaps and M45x would be a possibility...).

If she'd consider an Infiniti, the M45 is a better car than the Q. Better ride and handling, and a nicer interior.  

[jadewolf123]

Hmmmm i do like me some 6 series, since Audi is a step down then how far down the pole are the Japanese makers?

[Submariner]

If you're going to to the mercedes route...I would wait for the E-550, CDI (the new one) CLK-550, Or...one of my favorite vehicles ever built, the 2007 Gelaendewagen.    

[Raza]

I can't believe someone can be so prejudiced and so stubborn.  I'm done trying to help her.

[JYODER240]

I can't believe someone can be so prejudiced and so stubborn.  I'm done trying to help her.

Try dealing with my sisters

My oldest one is considering a Solstice, but wont look at a Sky because its a Saturn  

[jadewolf123]

I can't believe someone can be so prejudiced and so stubborn.  I'm done trying to help her.

Try dealing with my sisters

My oldest one is considering a Solstice, but wont look at a Sky because its a Saturn

DUH cars need to match outfits  

[ifcar]

I can't believe someone can be so prejudiced and so stubborn.  I'm done trying to help her.

So what did she decide on?

[Run Away]

I can't believe someone can be so prejudiced and so stubborn.  I'm done trying to help her.

So what did she decide on?

Probably the blue car.

[MX793]

ahh yes the soul, the only cars i ever hear that have soul tend to be the ones that have several problems. I guess what makes a car have soul is when the driver suffers through hard times(car won't run/work) and the good times(car runs/works properly). I admit i never felt a soul from any of my japanese cars, maybe because whenever i was in them i was to busy driving and i never had to spend a long night sitting on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere while warming my hands over the shorting electrical circuit.

As I always like to say, saying that an inanimate object has charm, soul or character is just nice way of saying that it has flaws, quirks and problems.

So you really don't think your car has more soul than a Corolla?

See my followup post to that.  "Soul" does not necessarily have to mean that there are flaws, but cars that are tempermental are typically characterized as having a soul or charm.  Styling that stirs up an emotional response (visual attitude) and an engaging driving experience would also, to me, characterize soul.  However, what really gives a car soul, in my book, are its flaws or anything that makes it unique from the rest.  The things I consider "character traits" of my car are, in fact, its flaws.  For instance, my car is the only 3s I've ever seen that didn't have chrome "2.3" badges on the front doors.  I suspect that was a booboo either on the manufacturer's part or the dealer's.  The flaw doesn't bother me one bit, as it helps make my car more unique than the others.

[850CSi]

ahh yes the soul, the only cars i ever hear that have soul tend to be the ones that have several problems. I guess what makes a car have soul is when the driver suffers through hard times(car won't run/work) and the good times(car runs/works properly). I admit i never felt a soul from any of my japanese cars, maybe because whenever i was in them i was to busy driving and i never had to spend a long night sitting on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere while warming my hands over the shorting electrical circuit.

As I always like to say, saying that an inanimate object has charm, soul or character is just nice way of saying that it has flaws, quirks and problems.

So you really don't think your car has more soul than a Corolla?

See my followup post to that.  "Soul" does not necessarily have to mean that there are flaws, but cars that are tempermental are typically characterized as having a soul or charm.  Styling that stirs up an emotional response (visual attitude) and an engaging driving experience would also, to me, characterize soul.  However, what really gives a car soul, in my book, are its flaws or anything that makes it unique from the rest.  The things I consider "character traits" of my car are, in fact, its flaws.  For instance, my car is the only 3s I've ever seen that didn't have chrome "2.3" badges on the front doors.  I suspect that was a booboo either on the manufacturer's part or the dealer's.  The flaw doesn't bother me one bit, as it helps make my car more unique than the others.

To me, your car has more soul than a Corolla ever will simply because it's not the automotive equivalent of a toaster.


Although I guess it's true that sometimes it is a nice way of characterizing flaws, but often also accompanied by other things you mentioned.

[saxonyron]

I know where your mom is coming from (although I am diametrically opposed to her POV     .)  My very good friends insist on having 2 MB's - a C240 (Poseur!) and ML320.  To them, they know very little....OK, basically nothing about cars, but they know the 3 pointed star is top of the heap.  Any facts are irrelevant.  Your mom is from the generation that only knew Caddies and MB as being the pinnacle of automotive wonder.   Jags may fit that bill, too - so give it a shot.  If you try to persuade her and God forbid anything goes wrong or she doesn't like it after a month, you'll be persona non grata (or is that persona au gratin?).  It'll hurt like hell, but let her make her own decision cause anything else will just bite you in the ass.  

[850CSi]

I know where your mom is coming from (although I am diametrically opposed to her POV     .)  My very good friends insist on having 2 MB's - a C240 (Poseur!) and ML320.  To them, they know very little....OK, basically nothing about cars, but they know the 3 pointed star is top of the heap.  Any facts are irrelevant.  Your mom is from the generation that only knew Caddies and MB as being the pinnacle of automotive wonder.   Jags may fit that bill, too - so give it a shot.  If you try to persuade her and God forbid anything goes wrong or she doesn't like it after a month, you'll be persona non grata (or is that persona au gratin?).  It'll hurt like hell, but let her make her own decision cause anything else will just bite you in the ass.  

Ooooh man I know exactly what you're talking about.

My grandfather one time ranked the German marques. He was like Mercedes, Volkswagen, BMW, Opel, ..... Audi.

I'm like "Huh!?"

[saxonyron]

Ooooh man I know exactly what you're talking about.

My grandfather one time ranked the German marques. He was like Mercedes, Volkswagen, BMW, Opel, ..... Audi.

I'm like "Huh!?"

VW then BMW??  Wow!  He's not the kind of guy you ask for recommendations when buying a car, eh?  Hell, prejudices are prejudices - they don't tie into reality, so in this case, it's best to back off and let the person get what'll make them happy - even if their happiness is based upon a hideous lie!  Ignorance is bliss, baby!    

[Raza]

Ooooh man I know exactly what you're talking about.

My grandfather one time ranked the German marques. He was like Mercedes, Volkswagen, BMW, Opel, ..... Audi.

I'm like "Huh!?"

VW then BMW??  Wow!  He's not the kind of guy you ask for recommendations when buying a car, eh?  Hell, prejudices are prejudices - they don't tie into reality, so in this case, it's best to back off and let the person get what'll make them happy - even if their happiness is based upon a hideous lie!  Ignorance is bliss, baby!  

If you ask me, it's Porsche, Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, then Opel.  



Anyway, after my prying and my dad's prying (explaining that Audi is a company with a great and storied history that had a few problems in the 80s) she's open to driving one.  But she still seems to think that a C class is a not a step down, and an Audi, any Audi, is.  I mean, she could go to an S8 or A8 W12 and still think it's below a C class.  

[SJ_GTI]

So the XJ is out of the running?  

I love that car.

[Raza]

It's still in the running, but an XJ8, not an XJR.  I've been trying to get my dad to try the XJR, but he's unwilling.

[cawimmer430]

Your mom wants something comfy obviously.

-E320 CDI / E350 / E550

-GS300 / GS430

^My choices^

[omicron]

The trouble with a decision like this is that there are plenty of brilliant cars to choose from. Get the 750 and you miss out on an XJ; get an A6 4.2 and you miss out on an E550. Aside from cars that you definitely don't want, it's not so much a wrong decision that could be made; it's more of a less-preferable one in the worst-case scenario.

For your mother's purposes I'd be ushering her towards an XJ, an A6 4.2 quattro or an E550.  

[JYODER240]

When is the new E-class set to debut?

[ifcar]

It'll be awhile, they just gave it a facelift for 07. Maybe 2010?

[TBR]

I can't believe someone can be so prejudiced and so stubborn.  I'm done trying to help her.

So now we know where you get it from...


What does she think of the XJ? That would be my choice.

[ifcar]

I can't believe someone can be so prejudiced and so stubborn.  I'm done trying to help her.

So now we know where you get it from...

:D  

[Raza]

I think we can be fairly certain that any of my brand biases are not class based.