Re: A 6 Questions
 

xymergy writes:

>On 16 Jan 2004 18:55:00 GMT, davplac@aol.comPirate (Dave LaCourse)
>wrote:
>
>>The
>>4.2, otoh, came with 255/45 - 18 tires, more than enough to make the car
>feel
>>good.
>
>Can you explain this a little more for me? How do you experience the
>difference between 16" and 18" tires?

I'm not sure the 2.5 Turbo *had* 16 inch tires. They were much narrower (maybe
225s) and the aspect ratio was a bigger number (perhaps 50 or 60). The 255s on
the 4.2 took an on-ramp much easier (less/no squeal) that the 2.5T's tires. If
indeed the aspect ratio was higher on the Turbo's tires, that could explain
some of it, or the width (225 vs 255). I'm not sure, but the 225s may have
even been all-season (yuck) tires. And, there is air pressure to consider. I
know the 255s had their proper inflation (I bought the car), whereas the 225s
could have been under-inflated, causing more sidewall give in a high g turn.

The following year, the 2.5 Turbo came with a tire option that, I believe,
included the 18 inch 255s.




Dave

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/myhomepage/index.html

Re: A 6 Questions
 

For this kind of "snow", you really don't need an Explorer or any AWD...
None of these three are doing great, reliability-wise. My money would go on
a E Class.


"REInvestments" <nospam@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:TAKNb.45823$6y6.955027@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I have a 99 S 420. I am an occaisional skier, who lives in Northern
> California. I am attracted to the A-6 4.2 because it has the power I
> like, appears to seat four people with good leg and shoulder room, and can
> handle snow from time to time without me having to drive a Ford Explorer.
>
> However, in reading reports, the A-6 doesn't seem to get good points for
> reliability. Other choices for me would be the E - 500 4 Motion
Mercedes,
> or just a standard BMW 5 series.
>
> What can you tell me about long term ownership of an A-6 as far as fun,
> reliability, power, and steering?
>
> Thanks,
> Larry
>
>

4 wheel drive questions/reliability of vehicles
 

I currently have both an S420 (for sale) and a Ford Explorer lease car.
I'd like to consolidate to one vehicle since my only use for the 4 wheel
drive is a once per month ski excursion in the snow during the winter.

And I'm at the point where I'd like to get dead bang great reliability from
a vehicle over a 10 year ownership (which is about 140,000 miles for me)

I've been reading each of these newsgroups, as well as a few others for a
while, and in each newsgroup there are ongoing complaints about the
reliability of each marque. I'm ALMOST willing to go Japanese, but not
quite yet.

What are your recommendations for the most reliable 4 wheel drive car that
will comfortably seat four adults, and why?

Thanks very much,
Larry
LWallerstein@btcommercial.com

Re: 4 wheel drive questions/reliability of vehicles
 

"REInvestments" <nospam@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:mYgOb.26659$VS4.828669@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I currently have both an S420 (for sale) and a Ford Explorer lease car.
> I'd like to consolidate to one vehicle since my only use for the 4 wheel
> drive is a once per month ski excursion in the snow during the winter.
>
> And I'm at the point where I'd like to get dead bang great reliability
from
> a vehicle over a 10 year ownership (which is about 140,000 miles for me)
>
> I've been reading each of these newsgroups, as well as a few others for a
> while, and in each newsgroup there are ongoing complaints about the
> reliability of each marque. I'm ALMOST willing to go Japanese, but not
> quite yet.
>
> What are your recommendations for the most reliable 4 wheel drive car that
> will comfortably seat four adults, and why?
>

Lexus RX300

No brainer.

> Thanks very much,
> Larry
> LWallerstein@btcommercial.com
>
>

Re: 4 wheel drive questions/reliability of vehicles
 

"Oliver Keating" <oliver.keating@NOSPAMPLEASE.ic.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:4009a7c0_4@news.athenanews.com...
> Lexus RX300
>
> No brainer.

I'd like a standard sedan. Should have mentioned that. I'm done with the
SUV platform.

Re: 4 wheel drive questions/reliability of vehicles
 

"REInvestments" <nospam@yahoo.com> wrote...
>
> "Oliver Keating" <oliver.keating@NOSPAMPLEASE.ic.ac.uk> wrote in message
> news:4009a7c0_4@news.athenanews.com...
> > Lexus RX300
> >
> > No brainer.
>
> I'd like a standard sedan. Should have mentioned that. I'm done with the
> SUV platform.

Done? Having driven your Explorer as an example? Come on!

I don't think RX is built like good ol' SUVs. RX is not a truck
underneath. It's more like a car.

Nowadays there are more and more what we knew as SUVs built on
their own "platform". Take Infiniti FX (Nissan Murano), Lexus RX,
Porsche Cayenne, VW Touareg...

If you really need to get in the snow and not get stuck, a simple
AWD sedan is not going to work. You will need something with a bit
more clearance, like a Volvo XC or a Subaru Outback (am I allowed
to mention Subaru here?). Check out Chrysler Pacifica, maybe.
After all, they are Daimler now...


Victor

Re: 4 wheel drive questions/reliability of vehicles
 

Larry writes:

<snip>

>What are your recommendations for the most reliable 4 wheel drive car that
>will comfortably seat four adults, and why?

I thought we went through this already.

Audi has the most experience with all wheel drive passenger cars. The Quattro
system is bullet-proof. Plus it is one of the safest cars out there.
Dave

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/myhomepage/index.html

Re: 4 wheel drive questions/reliability of vehicles
 

Ever hear of the Audi All-Road? It's a direct competitor to the
Cross-Country, and it isn't a piece of . Chrysler Pacifica?
Jesus, Chrysler hasn't built a decent car since the Hemi 'Cuda, and
even that thing had flimsy gearbox and only went straight.
The RX300 is now the RX330, but it's still boring. Lexus makes a
great, boring product. Hell, they make Honda reliability look bad. I
just can't get past the boring.
One car for all purposes? That's a tough one. For me, it's an old
Audi. Strength, reliability, safety. Wrap my family in high strength
German (galvanized, undercoated) steel and hope for the best. I can
tolerate the bullshit in leau of the benefits. Then again, I can fix
anything that would ever fail. I highly doubt I'd have two V8 winter
cars if I had to pay the repair bills. There is, however, nothing
better in the snow than and old V8 on four studded Hakka's.
Audi still has the best AWD system. I own a million miles worth of
quattro systems without one quattro failure. They were building AWD
automobiles long before the rest of the marques were even paying
attention to marketing. Audi single handedly created the AWD fad of
today. Do you think BMW or MB would have bothered with AWD models if
they were not losing sales to Audi? MB wouldn't even gives us a damn
cup holder until the late 90's! Screw German law, you're losing sales
to Asia over a cupholder!
Audi uses direct mechanical differential lockup when needed, and
also use the brakes as "traction control." Other makers do not.
4-Matic comes closest, but its frequent and costly ups make it
less admirable in my book. The Asian trash can't hold a candle to
quattro's function. They rely on brakes alone to handle power
distribution. Open diffs are cheap. Brakes are reactive, not
proactive.
As for the 420, Mercedes quality is nothing like the old days. I
worked for MB back in the late 80's, and they had some excellent
vehicles. The 126 sedans were excellent, strong, and crashed like
nobody's business. Now they seem to be over-complicated, slapped
together budles of woe. And that's just the German made ones. The US
built one has turned out to be a joke.


On Sat, 17 Jan 2004 22:14:56 GMT, "Victor Bazarov"
<v.Abazarov@comAcast.net> wrote:

>"REInvestments" <nospam@yahoo.com> wrote...
>>
>> "Oliver Keating" <oliver.keating@NOSPAMPLEASE.ic.ac.uk> wrote in message
>> news:4009a7c0_4@news.athenanews.com...
>> > Lexus RX300
>> >
>> > No brainer.
>>
>> I'd like a standard sedan. Should have mentioned that. I'm done with the
>> SUV platform.
>
>Done? Having driven your Explorer as an example? Come on!
>
>I don't think RX is built like good ol' SUVs. RX is not a truck
>underneath. It's more like a car.
>
>Nowadays there are more and more what we knew as SUVs built on
>their own "platform". Take Infiniti FX (Nissan Murano), Lexus RX,
>Porsche Cayenne, VW Touareg...
>
>If you really need to get in the snow and not get stuck, a simple
>AWD sedan is not going to work. You will need something with a bit
>more clearance, like a Volvo XC or a Subaru Outback (am I allowed
>to mention Subaru here?). Check out Chrysler Pacifica, maybe.
>After all, they are Daimler now...
>
>
>Victor
>

Re: 4 wheel drive questions/reliability of vehicles
 

I would recommend a Range Rover.
They have an outstanding rep, and have the luxury needed.
I had a 2.5 diesel, it was great. Mind you if your in the US, I would go for
the 4.HSE. Here in the UK, fuel prices are crippling :(

Bhoona

"REInvestments" <nospam@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:mYgOb.26659$VS4.828669@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I currently have both an S420 (for sale) and a Ford Explorer lease car.
> I'd like to consolidate to one vehicle since my only use for the 4 wheel
> drive is a once per month ski excursion in the snow during the winter.
>
> And I'm at the point where I'd like to get dead bang great reliability
from
> a vehicle over a 10 year ownership (which is about 140,000 miles for me)
>
> I've been reading each of these newsgroups, as well as a few others for a
> while, and in each newsgroup there are ongoing complaints about the
> reliability of each marque. I'm ALMOST willing to go Japanese, but not
> quite yet.
>
> What are your recommendations for the most reliable 4 wheel drive car that
> will comfortably seat four adults, and why?
>
> Thanks very much,
> Larry
> LWallerstein@btcommercial.com
>
>

Re: 4 wheel drive questions/reliability of vehicles
 

If you insist on "most reliable", avoid German cars then.

Possible alternatives.
- Lexus RX330
- Acura MDX
- Infiniti G35X.

I'd still take an E-Class. :o)))) Or an Acura TL for 20K$ less.


"REInvestments" <nospam@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:mYgOb.26659$VS4.828669@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> I currently have both an S420 (for sale) and a Ford Explorer lease car.
> I'd like to consolidate to one vehicle since my only use for the 4 wheel
> drive is a once per month ski excursion in the snow during the winter.
>
> And I'm at the point where I'd like to get dead bang great reliability
from
> a vehicle over a 10 year ownership (which is about 140,000 miles for me)
>
> I've been reading each of these newsgroups, as well as a few others for a
> while, and in each newsgroup there are ongoing complaints about the
> reliability of each marque. I'm ALMOST willing to go Japanese, but not
> quite yet.
>
> What are your recommendations for the most reliable 4 wheel drive car that
> will comfortably seat four adults, and why?
>
> Thanks very much,
> Larry
> LWallerstein@btcommercial.com
>
>