Graycap23 said:

You remember how people raised HELL over the changes in the 7 when it first came out??? This would be too drastic a departure for a 7 and wouldn't appeal widely enough to their family car demographic. But if it's going head to head with the CLS500, as a big-body sporty sedan, that would be a monster.

SCNDLS said:

I remember that. The current 7 series body style will be 8 years old in 2010. Changes will be DUE by then. Given the state of gas prices around the world, I'm betting money that the designs are going 2 start focusing on smaller more efficient engines and the like, even in this demograhic.

Graycap23 said:

Weren't they working on a hybrid or some kinda hydrogen engine or something like that years ago?

SCNDLS said:

$$$$ from Oil companies.

Graycap23 said:

I remember reading about this new engine prolly 6 or 7 years ago when I used to get the BMW magazine. I wanna say they actually sold it in the 5-series or something. Wonder what really happened?

SCNDLS said:

I used 2 work 4 GM in the '80's.
$$ from Oil companies.....

Graycap23 said:

Hot.Mess.

ZombieKitten said:

Japan is in its own little universe. Straight men don't even like having sex with women there I've heard.

PopeLeo said:

Yes true! But when FIAT were in very deep financial shit they struck up some agreement with GM to help them out. But before the ink had dried on the paper work they made Ferrari an independant company which also owned Maserati. This was in case GM were actually going to take over FIAT, so GM couldn't get their hands on the 2 iconic brands! I'm not sure what went down in '04 but GM decided to pull out of the deal & had to pay for it dearly.
SCNDLS is right Maserati is back under the FIAT banner but they run Ferrari powertrains.

Amaxx said:

Thanks for the clarification. I would think that although they're both owned by Fiat that there's not as much direct involvment in the design as there was when Maserati was directly under Ferrari. But who knows. I just want one, NOW!!!

Steadwood said:

My dad or someone equally unreliable, told me this thing was built when swedes still drove on the left in the 30s, but then after they switched to driving on the right (H-day höger=right), it ceased to be an example of ingenious traffic and urban planning and became an embarassment to most residents of Stockholm.

Switch to the Right
"For all the predictions of mayhem on the highway on H-day, the elaborate preparations were well worth the $120 million that they cost motorists in special taxes. Aside from a few bent fenders and dented egos, the change was, in fact, so bloodless that two days passed before Sweden reported a single traffic fatality."
http://www.time.com/time/...44,00.html

Amaxx said:

Yeah, it cost GM about $2billion to back out of the deal to buy FIAT when they realised that Italy and accounting don't mix. And while you're right about the changes in the company structure, Maserati and Ferrari are based less than 20km from each other, so working together isn't that difficult.

SCNDLS said:

Yeah the new model is a major improvement on the 1 it replaces! I'd B tossing up between the Maserati or an Aston DB7 but I'd probably get an M5.

PopeLeo said:

The Italians have been credited with being at the forefront of many movements! Creative Accounting is probably one of them! Banca di Italia & Parmalat are just 2 of the outstanding creative accounting stories in their history!

Amaxx said:

Now see, why'd you go and say that???? I'm a Bimmer girl at heart but for that money I want something kinda exotic. Besides, the styling of BMWs, although I'm getting another next year, is SO utilitarian and plain, I just can't do it again. Next time around I want something unique. I looked at the Vantage and wasn't impressed, similar styling to but less power than the Maserati, but the Maserati was much sexier than the AM and the sales people were more pleasant too.

SCNDLS said:

I love my exotics purely because they R just that, "exotic"! But 2 live with them everyday??? I grew up with 2 Maseratis! & it left me scarred 4 life! They R beautiful works of art, but U constantly have 2 show them love because they're Italian. The new ones R waaaaay better as far as not being as temperamentality goes. But they still turn around 7 bite U in the ass when U're least expected. The M5 is every bit as exotic under the skin as the others. A real "Wolf in Sheeps clothing". But after thinking about it, I'd probably go 4 the M3 now! A 911 Turbo wouldn't b 2 bad either:hmm2:
I'm definately getting 1 of these though!


[Edited 7/3/08 17:28pm]

SCNDLS said:

I can see u in a Cayman.

applekisses said:

and posted on independence day too. but you still lost the war of 1812


"Napoleon likely played a major role in making the rest of Europe right side driving by imposing French rules on the countries he conquered....In Canada, the evidence is that Ontario and Quebec, which started out under French influence, always had right side driving. Other areas such as British Columbia and the Atlantic provinces, remained staunchly English in their influence and drove on the left. They switched to the right in the 1920s to conform with the rest of Canada and the USA." link

interesting! it never occurred to me that some parts of the country would have done otherwise during the past.

ZombieKitten said:

All the road signs would have been on the wrong side of the road and the arrows pointing in the wrong direction

MrsMdiver said:

Dan just told me he drove over there. I could never have...

After 20 days in the UK I still would cover my face randomly thinking we were about to have a head on collision. Toni made me absolutely car sick taking full speed in those ridiculous roundabouts and Jon was so sick of my walking to the wrong side of the car he called my name and pitched me the keys....

Amaxx said:

That's purty. I adore motorcycles even though I'd want a cruiser. I'm just scared to get one with all these fools on the road.

I completely agree with you about the M-series being as exotic under the hood but they look almost identical to the regular versions and for the money they want I'ma need something that is not common on the streets. Sure, the in the know aficionado knows the difference but the average Joe Blow is gonna think it's just another BMW or Benz. That's why I want something a lil more special.

A friend of mine just got an Turbo S4 and it's gorgeous. He's tuned it to get even more horses out of it. He says he likes to make it purr to make the girls' panties wet.

Graycap23 said:

Nah. . . when I was little I always wanted a Carrera but then I realized that I HATE roadsters, they're just not practical. I need some kind of back seat for the dogs and shopping bags.

obsessed said:

I've done 150 at night in the rain . . . . in Cali., racing
I would not recommend it to anyone and please don't use me as an example.
But was it fun? When it wasn't scary . . . . .
The only consolation is that you will probably only have to explain what happened to God . . .
Again, not endorsing it or recommending it, but it was fun.

SCNDLS said:

U don't use the Machine 4 that mundane activity.

SCNDLS said:

Maybe I'm getting old & Jaded! But with an S4 turbo, Who needs women!
I completely agree about being worried about the morons who drive with their heads up their asses! Which is why, the Ducati will be my spare transport, which will never be riden into the city!

Graycap23 said:

I KNEW you'd say that. But you never know when you'll need spare room and I can't justify a roadster as a primary vehicle. I know, I know, I'm being too practical which really doesn't belong in a conversation about dream cars, huh?

Amaxx said:

He got a great deal on it. He only paid an extra $10,000 for it after trading in his Viper. I think it's 4 or 5 years old with less than 20k miles on it. It's a MONSTER.
Wet panties aside, I enjoyed the ride.

SCNDLS said:

Cool!

SCNDLS said:

Every one should own at least 4 cars.

Graycap23 said:

My friend with the Porsche has 4 and not a sedan in the bunch.