This week's best user mail
Some juicy stuff!
This week’s best user mail:
Thanks for the cool $2500 in my pocket guys!
I was just about to purchase an e500 until I stumbled upon your site. I was about to pay full list! I already had a car on order and talked the fleet manager down to $1500 over sticker- still $500 cheaper than cars direct. Now he did tell me that if I waited until Jan 03, I could get a sweeter deal of $750 over sticker and no luxury tax but the wife wanted it sooner than later.
Gc
Los Angeles
Absolutely fantastic! I read the Auto Spies newsletter religiously as soon as it hits my email each week. I had a gut feeling that the time would arrive when the negative comment or comments would begin to arrive from some unhappy dealers whose pockets were becoming lighter because of the great informative scoops available to us readers. Don't stop now, you have got their attention and keep the pressure on, it can't do anything but help the car buying public.
Joseph
Kingsville, Maryland
I love your newsletter and look forward to it each Thursday. I am writing to you because I traded my 2002 range rover yesterday for a 2003 and I am SO disappointed in the new Harman Kardon Logic 7 stereo. IT SUCKS. Not only are the controls difficult to operate, the sound quality is flat and the only adjustments are bass and treble. The "logic 7" supposedly automatically sets the rest. You should look into this and hear it for yourself. Keep up the good work.
John
Birmingham, Alabama
Jeez, 001... It's about frickin' time you acknowledge that the German emperor isn't even wearing skivvies... A couple weeks ago you went so far as to accuse Toyota/Lexus of paying off JD Powers to get top rankings... but you can't hide from Consumer Reports. Or can you?? I fully expect to see this headline next week: Confirmed! Consumer Reports Part of Toyota's Global Conspiracy To Humiliate Germany!
You know, I've seen indices in which Mercedes finished 31st out of 34 makes tested in vehicle quality. 31ST!!!! And yet all we get from you is a steady stream of Maybach this and SL55 that. I was starting to wonder if Jurgen Schrempp had a nice little Bavarian chalet set aside just for your clandestine weekend getaways to rendezvous with Sweet Eva and her Teutonic band of lovelies. Those Germans sure know how to throw a beer & pretzel party...
Enough already.
FYI, BMW & MBZ (and Audiwagen, et al) have had poor scores in CSI & VDI for the last DECADE!!! This isn't a recent phenomenon... Get a clue!
Kevin
Response from 001:
Dear Kevin,
We like Lexus very much for their quality and customer service...
Their antiquated designs and numb driving feel is what depresses us...
If they made a long wheelbase LS430 with an emotional design and priced it $15K less than the Germans (like they did with the original LS400) then we'd be talking.
In fact, if I had to pick the MOST disappointing car in the last ten years, it would be the LS430.
So much was expected...yet a glorified Avalon was delivered.
They could have CRUSHED the Germans if they put some 'emotional' cars on the road (not the SC430, official car of the Jelly Belly Jelly bean Co.) :)
It's actually kind of scary; the IS300 is the best looking Lexus...
But, in the end, Americans love mediocrity (does that make me un-American? NOT!)
In our eyes, it's all about the drive and the design.
Thanks for the feedback,
001
I am an Auto Spies reader and think your product is extremely informative. I plan on purchasing a Lexus GX470 in Jan and was wondering whether you have any information on pricing (including what I might expect to pay) and lease terms. (See this week’s article on the GX)
Alan
I just discovered this site about 2 months ago. How great is it? I wish it came out more than once a week. They know so much stuff, and best of all a lot of it is Mercedes.
MBC
Great newsletter and site! Can’t live without it!!
Have you reported on the 2002 (and some ‘03) BMW 745i’s and Li’s that experience a slew of consistent problems? Most are associated with iDrive and software but others are not. We took delivery on an ‘02 in late September and have experienced almost every problem on the message boards.
My question is: Why do dealers and BMW continue to sell these cars knowing full well that most will be in for service and why do they not make an effort to fix the cars before delivery? Besides the obvious that they want to move inventory, it’s a complete slap in the face for us.
I have also read that BMWNA is unsympathetic to it’s customers that have bought these $75k lemons. Our dealer has refused to exchange the car for a ‘03, so far. However, I know of many cases that the swap has been made, including my next door neighbor!
So how to get their serious and undivided attention is the challenge! Would appreciate your thoughts on this. Can you imagine Lexus selling cars with this many known issues?
Regards, Ross.
Ross,
As you know, we’ve reported (before any other magazines) the problems facing seven owners. Our advice is to be relentless with BMW and not to accept anyting less than complete satisfaction. Obviously, in these situations you must negotiate and be able to give AND take in certain areas…If they won’t give you a new car, ask them to pay 6 of your lease payments.
Best regards,
001
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