GETTING BLOG BACK INTO ACTION.........Electric Cars After quite a hiatus, getting back to adding content to this blog and will link to our dealerhsip website soon. Want to pick up discussion about electric cars. With gas prices at record high levels and lots smore options available to all of us, is this the time to jump in and buy one? Speaking to all the gas and diesel powered vehicle owners out there. I am one of you! Have run into an issue on being able to add a suitable charger at my home and office. My local city requirements are making it prohibitively expensive to install this charger. Who else is having these issues? What can you share about your experiences? While the sheer joy of driving an electric vehicle along with range for long distance driving, seems these cars will remain a very good option for daily and local driving. In addition, seems the used car values of these cars are much lower than that of gas powered cars. This add to the net cost.

Bentley Arnage

These are amazing automobiles! For a long time I thought these were ridiculously expensive, underpowered, overly ostentatious and unnecessarily expensive to maintain. Why spend all these $$ for just image? Why not buy a BMW or Mercedes and get reliability, performance and at a much lower price point. On an impulse, purchased a 2002 Bentley Arnage that was a one owner car with very low mileage with all original paintwork, no accidnets and all parts/books/keys. It allowed me to check out the car up close and personal and my experience really made me change my mind abot what these cars. Fortunately did not have to replace any of these. Parts and accessories are expensive but not that much more than a comparable Mercedes or Porsche. A car that was 12 years old at the time we had it still looked new. The chrome on the wheels was shiny. Paint had no scratches and had a deep rich lustre. Engine ran quiet and smooth and A/C blew real cold. All switchgear, with exception of one light switch, worked perfectly. Yes they are expensive to buy and maintaina and depreciate very quickly. However, and particularly the older cars represent a whole different type of car that, if one has the means, surely should posses one. Buying a good used and well cared for exotic such as a Bentley or Rolls will provide you with a driving experience that the other mainstream luxury brands just can provide. At the time we had the car in our possesion, it was the lowest priced car but garnered the most attention. Talk about a halo car. People I know who are not particularly into cars would ask me about it. When briefly driving it, it would get the most attention and usually very positive. Cars like these are truly aspirational cars and invoke emotions in people. I also came away very impressed with the reliability of the drive-train and overall build quality. The 6.75 liter turbo V8 while putting out only 400 hp for a car of this weight was supremely complemented by over 600+ lb of torque. The car cruised effortlessly and very quietly. The transmission, a 4 speed sourced from GM provide rugged dependability. Of course, the interior was made of up leather and wood. Everything was wood or leather. Very opulent and incredibly comfortable. A real old world type of interior that we just don't see today. I had a chance to speak with other owners and service techs. All complimented the model and told me that they best thing owners can do with their cars is drive them. Most of the problems develop when cars are not operated but "preserved". My conclusion came to be that cars like this, when purchased, maintained and operated properly, can be lifetime cars while offering unique driving exhilaration everytime one is behind the wheel. We will buy many more cars like this and hopefully get them to folks who will be first time owners and will come around to appreciating the quality of these automobiles.

Jaguar XKR 2009

Jaguars are unreliable-what a myth once you own and drive modern Jaguars. The XKR, model introduced in 2006, is an absolutely excellent example of the modern Jaguar.
We have owned a number of the XKR supercharged models and found them all to be a tremendous value and extremely fun to drive.
Of course, there are some quirks that I will mention later.
Till 2010, the standard XK was underpowered for my tastes. The engine power was enhanced in 2010 making the need to move to an XKR model more a personal desire rather than need.
The move to a 500+ horsepower XKR seemed to be more of a marketing decision to do something new and keep up with other luxury marques rather than an engineering driven sense and desire for product enhancement.
The 2007 to 2009 XKR cars are what we have had and I will focus on those. The cars in this timeframe are

essentially the same in terms of equipment level and drivetrain.
First of all, this car, particularly the coupe is simply beautiful. An elegant and enduring design that just turns
heads. The convertible is also very nice though the blind spots (with the top up) taking getting used to.
The body is lightweight aluminum construction and the thus the power to weight ratio is excellent.
In walking up to the car and opening the door (the key fob works like Keyless Go-Mercedes or Comfort

Access-BMW). No need to insert the key in the door or ignition-simply walk up, open the door, get in and push the start button and bring the cat to life!
Simply starting up the car is quite exhilirating with the wonderful exhaust sound and rumble.
The gear shifter moves very smoothly and the car is ready to go. For me, the standard drive mode is more than adequate for almost all type of about town and highway driving. Shifting to sport and/or using the paddles seems just more unnecessary work.
Steering feel is light and responsive and the car is very easy to drive.
Looking out over the long hood is rather fun. The accelerator responds quickly and car pulls very nicely.
Whether the car has the standard stereo or the Bowers & Wilkins, the sound is very nice though the car is loud and not as quiet as a Mercedes SL. Somewhere in between the SL and Porsche 911.
You will never think of this as a true sports car but far more of an incredibly elegant, fun to drive touring car and one that gets a lot of looks from everyone.
Of course the leather quality is exceptional and layout very nice. I know the back seats get a bad rap by all but then this is not a four seater. Just think of it as a two seater and all is OK. The SL has storage space on the back. The 911 has two seats in the back but they really are storage areas. So all three are really setup the same way.
Option list is limited which makes it easier to evaluate one against the other. The big options include adaptive

cruise (rather useless) and the Bowers Wilkins stereo---nice if you can get it but not to pay a lot more for.
On the other end, the car does have some quirks. Some design oriented and some, I suspect, bean counter

decisions to keep the production costs down and be able to sell this car at a very attractive price.
The seats are not as firm as I would like. The plastic trim feels cheap. To access the cupholder you have to slide back the center console lid/elbow rest and the two cupholders are sized differently-why?
On every car we have had, the plastic/chrome trim around the shifter J gate has been replaced under warranty because it would peel. The key fobs don't hold up well as the plastic/chrome peels.
I don't like the all in one touch screen. Obviously a cost decision where the accountants told the engineers to

make this work. All Jag had to do was buy the interface and avoid cost of extra buttons. The result is slow

response and laborious travel thru the world of sub menus. Don't do this while driving.
I have also been told there are no brake wear sensors on the front wheels. Imagine that on a 100K or so car.

We have also had some issues where the unit has gone out and been replaced under warranty.
On the coupes the rear cargo cover is held to the trunk by 4 push in buttons. These are poorly designed and can break off. Easy to fix but shows some cost cutting.
Some the cars we have had have been the Portfolio cars. These are very nice as they have a special paint job, unique wheels and are heavily equipped. Would not pay the 10K or so premium at retail for this package but for the same or slightly more cost at used, well worth it for the exclusivity and hopefully better resale value.
By the way, our Jag dealer has been fantastic and I think the factory is supportive of the dealers and customers end up getting very good service.
I have found the body and paintwork to be excellent. Do note that if you need any bodywork, make sure you go to a Jag authorized facility. The way the cars are built, they simply cannot be sent to any old body shop.
Overall the cars are reliable, super fun and comfortable to drive, reasonably low maintenance cost and just can't be beat in the looks department. Keep it up Jaguar!

Hybrids, Electrics and Diesels versus the Internal Combustion Engine

I write this section to get feedback that is supportive of my views and also with counter points. Would really love to hear from folks who have spent their hard earned $$ on hybrids and electrics and their reasoning for doing so.

Hybrids are here and have been for many years are going to be part of the automotive landscape for a long time. In fact, even the luxury cars are now offering hybrid options and augmenting gasoline cars with hybrid technology. Electric cars while still in their infancy are getting better and should become a viable transportation option.
I hail from the mindset that cars should represent excellent value that is measured by high level or reliability, great comfort and absolutely very enjoyable to drive, affordable price (this of course varies by personal budget) and good resale value.
If you agree with my mindset, then how does a hybrid or electric car meet that requirement?
I don't see how hybrids are a good option. I hope electric cars get to the point where they are functional for daily use. Today they are not.
Both cost a lot more than comparable gas powered cars.
Gas mileage on hybrids is not as high as advertised-though getting much closer with the revised EPA rating system.
Cost of replacing the battery
Environmental impact of building and disposing off the battery packs
Added cost of maintaining two engines in the hybrids.
What is the cost of repairs after the warranty period runs out?

What about the cost of charging electric cars-the cost of power?
What about the cost of installing charging stations/systems to fast and adequately charge electric cars.
Limited range of electric cars
Unusual, possibly unattractive appearance
What about durability?
Of course the benefits are obvious:
Higher gas mileage
NO or very low gas cost with electric cars
Very low maintenance on electric cars

I have driven most of the hybrids and electric cars out there. I find the hybrids very boring to operate and for those, like the Cayenne or Lexus that have hybrids engines augmenting gas engines, odd to drive engines switching on/off. I keep wondering why not simply get a V8 with all the reliability and smooth power that comes with that and at a lower cost?
For the electric cars, the torque is wonderful and quietness very interesting. However, the lack of range combined with long time to re-charge just don't make them viable for regular use.

The only viable reasons I can see for buying either hybrids or electrics is emotional. It makes the buyer feel good that they are doing something positive for the environment or by some stretch actually like the odd design.
And, on the other hand, why aren't turbocharged diesel cars a better way to go?

Diesels provide the following benefits:
1. Lower cost of maintenane--this makes up for the higher purchase price
2. Lower fuel cost per mile--though diesel fuel costs a bit more, the higher mileage more than offsets the cost differential between diesel and gas
3. Longer durability-further helps make up the difference in purchase price

Again, I welcome feedback and hope to learn from your comments.

Porsche Panamera

Having owned, bought and sold most of the major luxury sedans, I think a know a thing or two about such cars. Large performance luxury cars are also some of my favorite cars as they combine great comfort, performance, amenities and space to carry friends to places.
These are the cars you can drive every day and on long distances.
The Porsche Panamera, while first I really did not like its looks, is one singularly impressive car.
I tracked its development closely with all materials sent by Porsche and in the industry publications and eagerly awaited my first test drive in it.
The very first drive did not disappoint. What a wonderful car in almost every way and what an exceptional addition to the already superb Porsche product line?
Now we have had a few in our stable and have had a chance to really experience these great cars over long drives, local city driving and continue to be very impressed with the product from Porsche.
At first, the car seemed a bit intimidating given its seating position, center console layout and the front and rear visibility. The car seemed bigger from the driver seat than I was used.
The BMW 7 series and the Mercedes S class cars, though bigger always seemed to get smaller once I got behind the wheel and started driving the car. It has always amazed me how the engineers from these companies could build such a powerful and large car yet make them seem so sporty on the road.
The Porsche 911, Boxster and Cayenne also all seemed to fit like a glove and feel very comfortable to me very quickly. The Panamera was an exception.
The very first car in our possession took some getting used to. It was sold very quickly so I never had sufficient time to thoroughly examine and experience it.
Now after several, I can honestly say this is a car that once one is used to it, is probably and arguable the finest performace large luxury sedan in the world today. The S class still remains the finest luxury performance sedan. The 7 series BMW is a close second but definitely the 2nd of the two.
The fit and finish of this Porsche is truly amazing. The seats just by themselves envelop the occupant and provide superb comfort and support. In fact, I think the rear seats are more comfortable than the front. While having only two seats in the back may seem limiting, quite truthfully in most cars, the middle seat position in the back is about as bad as the middle seat on an airplane. With just two seats and a highly functional center console, both passengers are very comfortable and ready to be driven around.
Just love the leather dash and the controls layout. I do think some of the buttons have a bit of a plasticly feel and the tactile experience can be enhanced. Also the turn signal lever seems a bit flimsy. But I am nit picking.
The position of the steering wheel with all its adjustments and the gear shift position just demands the car be driven commandingly. Combined with the supportive seats, one feels they can fly this car.
The PDK transmission takes a bit getting used to as it is a manual transmission with dual clutches that operate electronically. In fact, while the car can be left in a full automatic mode, it is just so much more fun in manual mode. I find shifting with the gear shift to be a lot more enjoyable and funcational than the steering wheel buttons. Also, I am just not a big fan of shift buttons and paddles. Give me a good solid gear shift anyday. This transmission shifts fast and the engine response very quickly.
The one thing to really watch for though is the height of the car around curbs. This car is low and the side skirts can get easily damaged. The front bumper can easily get scraped.
Thus the parking control sensors are hyper sensitive and loud and also allow for a greater margin of error. To be on the safe side trust the sensors and avoid damage. Repairing a Porsche can get expensvie.
The steering wheel feel to a bit of getting used to also. At low speeds it is very light but very firm once the car picks up speed. Having driven Porsche sports cars which have a heavy steering wheel feel, this was quite a change.
The engine is louder than some of the other luxury sedans and has the exhaust sound to go along with it. On the first Panamera's, I thought the engine idle was a bit rough and asked the dealer to check it out. I was told it was normal.
After the experience of having several, I concur. This is not a luxury performance car but a PERFORMANCE and luxury car!!
Amazingly the hatch back design that orignally seemed out of place, is extremely functional with the fold down rear seats. Also the power operation of the hatch is loud and purposeful.
For my money, and for our US market-particularly in my state of California , I do feel the Panamera S with its V8 engine and 2 wheel drive is the car to have. The 4S would be the one to get in cold/wet climates.
The standard Panamera and Panamera 4 with the 6 cylinder engine, is in my opinion, underpowered. With a car of this caliber, the solid horsepower and torque of a V8 give the car the right "feel". The turbo Panamera, particulary for our market, is way overkill in every way.
I look forward to the opportunity to check out the Panamera GTS. Will add my comments after I have had a chance to drive it.
In terms of options, the parking sensors with our without the rear view camera are simply a MUST. You simply cannot see out of the back window and park this car without the sensors. The rear bumper will get gouged-guaranteed.
Also the complement of heating and cooling seats both front and rear are a wonderful touch and to be obtained if at all possible.
The Sport package should also be considered essential. It provides for the adjustable shock setting and sport shift patterns. The Sport Chrono, again in my opinion, is overkill. Do you really expect to operate this car on a racing track?
The Bose sound system is also very necessary as this is not a quiet car in comparision to other luxury sedans and this sound system complements the car very well. Without it, one may find the stereo quality a bit lacking.
If budget allows, the full leather treatment is simply magnificent. Porsche does an amazing job with leather. While Bentley, Aston and Rolls also have great leather interiors. I do find Porsche full leather treatment to be just right--great fit and finish with the over the top beaty treatment of the other brands.

Panamera is the ultimate Porsche combining all the qualities of a large luxury sedan with functionality of a Cayenne SUV and the performance charteristics that made the 911 such an iconic product.

Performance & Luxury Automobiles--A Must !

Just think about how much time we all spend in our vehicles. Next to our homes and offices, the car may be the only other place where a great deal of our life is spent.

Add to this, for a lot of us, driving is a singular pleasure. We certainly spend a great deal of energy considering driving, talking about it and thinking about it.

Isn't driving right up there with many other pleasurable activities?

Therefore, for me, it is very important my vehicle be a place I really want to be!!!

Like it or not, expensive gas as it is, our country and lifestyles are automobile based. This is not going to change anytime soon and has been this way for a very long time.

For my dollar, I want to be in a car that is exciting, handles well and is simply fun to drive. After all, if I am going to have to drive anyway, let's make it one that I will enjoy!!

When I look for a car, I want it to be exactly what I want--no compromises. For me, I don't to be stuck in traffic, burning gas, and in a car that I did not aspire for.

Regardless of the cost, once the car is purchased and paid for, the experience of buying it is a memory but we have to live with the car daily, look at it, drive it, maintain it and repair it.

When I am in a car that I wanted and worked towards getting, it is a continual joy to operate this fine vehicle. The color, options, performance, "feel" when right continually reinforce THIS IS RIGHT!!

After having owned economy cars, I purchased my first luxury car a '85 Toyota Cressida. Bought it with all the options, exact color I wanted and at the price I wanted to pay. Every day i drove it for 5 years and 100K miles, it was a truly enjoyable experience. I always looked forward to driving it. Even when washing, waxing it, I was reminded that this was MY car.

Compare this to my first new car--a '82 Toyota Tercel. I kept this for 3 years and put 90K miles on it. This was a very reliable car, extremely low on maintenance and met my budget--BUT it was a $$ compromise. I had really wanted a Celica but could not come up with the extra $2000 to buy it. First chance I had to sell it, I did.

My first two Mercedes' were exactly what I wanted-color, model, specs--all. Every mile driven was great fun.

Even my first SUV--'92 Range Rover County was purchased after a long ardous search--got the exact one I wanted. Now this was a highly unreliable, very expensive to maintain and drive vehicle. Absolutely impractical, in efficient but what I wanted. Kept it for 10 years--drove it for about 95K miles, spent as much on maintenance and repairs as I paid for the car BUT even today it is the most talked about & fondly remembered car in our family. Both my kids learnt to drive on it, took it on numerous ski vacations and were all sad when we sold it. In thinking back, we never should have sold it.

I truly believe that as we all work hard for our success and getting the car we want is a simple reward.

Today, I make it a point to ONLY buy cars that I get real excited about. Fortunately, most cars made today are very well made and enjoyable to drive so it is hard to buy a bad car.

For me, the important considerations include a great design, performance engine, excellent ergonmics inside, excellent handling and full power options. Gadgets such as navigtaion, power seats, rain sensing wipers, SAT radio are all great pluses. I don't buy cars simply for the make or engine size or what someone else may think of it.

In my opinion, there are cars that are made by engineers and others that are conceived in the marketing departments. Every car manufacturer has certain cars that are their best. The others are added to complete the product line. After all, every co. wants to get their buyers to buy as many of their models as they can.

My focus is to search and acquire the best examples of the "engineered" models. These are the most fun to drive.

Just some of my favorite cars are Mercedes S class sedans, Mercedes AMG models, BMW 3 and M series, Porsche 911 cars, Audi S class cars, Jaguar XK, Range Rovers (of course), GMC full size SUV's, C6 Vette's, mid 60's Cadillac's, Infinit G35/37's, just to name a few. Of course, luxury convertibles are always at the top of the list!!

How about sharing with me some of your favorite cars?

Buying A Car....Open Invitation to Submit

For all those who visit my blog, I am interested in compiling a list-maybe even creating a separate blog with stories about buying cars from car dealers, private parties, etc. Just about any interesting story about buying a car is welcome.

I think, after having talked with a lot of people, the whole process of deciding what to buy, searching for the right car, visiting dealers and other sellers to find it, searching the web, finally getting down to negotiating the purchase and then coming to grips with the acquisition is such an exercise for all of us!!

These are the stories we always share with families and friends. Just about everyone has a fun story, a horror experience, a truly wonderful encounter and so on!!

I believe your submissions will make for fun reading and hopefully help everyone become a better shopper for cars. After call we spend a great deal of time in our cars and a lot of money.

I reserve the right to edit your submission for length, remove people's names and names of dealerships. Vehicle make/model/year/mileage and data is OK.

Thanks!!!