dieseldoc

Great pic. Need to photoshop out the ducks head. The duck needs to be decapitated.

superangrypenguin

Bahahahahaha!!!!

superangrypenguin

LOL! Yeah it was windy as hell. The cold took the air out of my lungs. FRICK it HURT to breathe. Literally the inside of my lungs would freeze up. There's a really awesome chinese restaurant there though. The one plus for Regina

Also, I felt like this penguin when I got out of YQR. Next few times I went to Regina I made sure I bought and brought my Canada Goose jacket. It's the worse for planes b/c it takes a whole bin to store it, but I always made sure I flew in the front of the cabin so they could hang it up - and I made sure I was pretty full of gin by the time I got out of that airport (took the taxi in those circumstances). Regina is a much better place to visit when pretty inebriated actually, life's a lot better...drunk, but that's a whole different story

dieseldoc

superangrypenguin

So, drove the 2017 S class today - and I didn't like it. I think they got rid of Magic Body Control? I couldn't find it as an option. I'm actually not liking the interior either - pretty bland (sorry guys). Ride was decent with Airmatic, but still pretty wafty.

Drove the 2017 Lexus LS. Wow this car is long in the tooth, no thanks.

However, I was FLOORED by the Audi A8. Amazing interior, quiet, great ride and handles very very well. Maybe I might buy a 2017/2018 A8. Amazing vehicle and CHEAP when compared to the MB! Normal tires still and quite honestly it's like putting on a nice suit. No one else will know, but man you feel good inside. It's the only beast of a vehicle that I had fun in throwing it into a corner, and it's still svelte smooth on normal roads!

What to do, what to do? Sigh

dieseldoc

Audi makes a great product. The A8 is a nice vehicle. If you like it, go for it.

superangrypenguin

Thinking about it. Feels like I'm cheating on my Mrs. W204 though

I dunno, I mean the A8 is a nice car, but with 19" wheels/rims and stuff, maintenance all up is a solid 20% more I guess for every thing I buy. (and right now the Mrs is paid off)

Anyways, I'll think about it. I do feel this outgoing A8 is nicer than the new S class (both before and after the refresh). The new S just doesn't feel "luxurious" to me. Again - maybe I'm old school.

Carsy

Interested to know the costs of the cars you mention ?.

Is your house paid off & your retirement fund overflowing ,your kids through Uni ?

Or are you just dreamin !

superangrypenguin

I don't entertain buying things I can't afford - I'm not a dreamer

No, house isn't paid off, retirement fund is doing well, and the main cause of the latter is that I have no kids - it was a choice I made years ago b/c I'd rather be financially secure for retirement, retire early, and be able to make one or two poor financial decisions - one of those being the ability to drive a nice vehicle.

Price of cars

1) 2018 S450 SWB (TBD - probably around $125,000 CDN)
2) 2017 Audi A8 ($96000 as specced, before a $8000 cash incentive)
3) 2017 Lexus LS460 (roughly the same as the A8 - also a $8000 cash incentive)

Probably looking at $1200 - $1600/month to finance the vehicles over 5 years (1.9% interest) depending if I get what I think I'll get for the W204 with $1600/month if I get $0 for the car.

I don't have a mortgage because I don't believe in buying high - and this market that I'm living at is now insane. It's about $1 million for a moderately sized detached home in the burbs. I'll wait until the next housing crash

The W204 is coming up to Year 5, and it has 1 year more of 'bumper to bumper' warranty until Year 7 which will only have powertrain warranty. I'll probably wait until Year 6/7 to buy my next car - which will hopefully be a 2018 Audi A8 with heavy discounts as they roll out a new model/body shape for 2019. But who knows? I've been known to make a poor decision here and there

dieseldoc

You can always keep Mrs W204 since she is paid off and get Miss A8 and have 2 rides.

Carsy

Interesting.I would rather be on the bones of my **** & have my 3 kids.

You are a clever man & know that accumulating assets that appreciate in value is the way to accumulate wealth. Modern vehicles depreciate a a rapid rate.

superangrypenguin

To each their own, as they figuratively say, sir. Some people would much rather have kids, and some would rather make a poor financial decision, or two. I won't refer to children as an appreciating or depreciating asset but that's wholly dependent on how they turn out, right?

But yes, I am well aware of how vehicles quite literally plummet in value - hence why I referred to these vehicles as a poor financial decision. I mean, as the kids say these days, #yolo, right I mean, I'm not silly enough to declare that any of those vehicles will ever appreciate in value....

Actually, if you think about it, there are millions of people in the Western world who will buy a house at a million $ (60 year old house with a roof about to collapse) because they believe that the price of real estate will only go up. Clearly they don't know anybody who lived in the US with a property in 2008 prior and after the financial crisis/housing collapse. At least with buying cars, everyone's on the same page that the value of said vehicle will only go down - with the exception of a vehicle driving by Clarkson/Hammond/May et al as cars driven by them seem to hold their value, despite it being treated very poorly on television.....

superangrypenguin

Woohoo! Young Stephen Harper with a smile got voted as Conservative leader!

There's a hope to kick that smelling dumb turd of a prime minister to the curb in 2019! Little known fact Trudeau was my Grade 4 teacher and he was friends with a Chris Ingvaldson (check him out on Wikipedia) - convicted child **** distributor. Funny how mainsteam media didn't pick that up about Trudeau eh?

yay!

superangrypenguin

Am I the only one turned off with how the new MB exteriors and interiors look?

Just @ the dealership and there's really no current car which grabs me at the lapel. I don't even like the S class interior (great quality, fit and finish, but I don't like the look).

I feel strange - I used to love MB cars, and now, I'm not a big fan of these modern looking cars where everything looks like a freaking coupe. Am I the only one?

CGC

I agree. Had a loaner "c" for a while and felt like the nav screen was an afterthought stuck to the dash. If it was removable and usable like an i-pad, great idea. If it's just sitting there looking like you should be able to take it with you but can't, horrible idea. And all the new Merc's look like they were left in the oven too long and all the sharp corners melted. Just my opinion...

superangrypenguin

Agreed.

I remember seeing a behind the scene video that MB put up on their official Youtube channel which outlines why the screens are the way they are...

Apparently it's because the only alternative is the W204 style design where they emcompass the screen completely. This adds 'shelf space' (not his words, but mine), so you get a pretty bulky cockpit feel (which I actually like). The alternative is a dinky screen that sticks out (which I don't really like).

Anyways, yeah, great description that you used. Captures how I feel completely.

When it comes to the flagships....

The 7 series is a nice, technology forward geeky car.
The A8 is a nice Italian suit
The S class is...a snowman that's melting in the summer. Not a fan, at all.

Carsy

A Citroen C5 for me next?.
http://www.citroen.com.au/new-car/c5/

superangrypenguin

I think I'll be long dead before I drive a car made by the French. Clarkson et Al have scared the crap out of me from driving a French made car.

Thankfully Citroens aren't sold in Canada. YAY!

dieseldoc

No French cars in USA. Drove my Uncle's Renault in Ireland. No thank you!

Carsy

You just do not know what you are missing .

I started with Peugeots in 1979 when US manufacturers were still in the dark ages. I had 4 wheel discs, rack & pinion steering, 4 wheel independent coil suspension (McPherson struts up front),cross flow aluminium head, dual throat carburettor. It did 450,000 km without having the head off . The only major replacement was a new clutch.

The problem in the North Americas was that folks did not understand how to maintain aluminum heads & other strange components that were new to them. Reading this forum , things have not changed all that much over 40 years.

Peugeots have a proud history in Australia for managing the countries harsh condition. The modern Peugeot 308 & 508 are very good vehicles.

Colin G

I'd drive a Peugeot over a US car any time. Plus Peugeot makes damn fine pepper and salt grinders.


I really can't stand USA/Canadian cars. More so the looks is what bothers me.


Same with KIA. Yuck.

superangrypenguin

Canadian may make cars for other automakers (Lexus, GM etc) but there are no well known Canadian car brands that are mainstream.

I did recall on Top Gear Canada made this crazy bulletproof thing that made a hummer look small, but as per paragraph #1, no mainstream car is made by Canada

(and if we did, it's be crap anyways)

superangrypenguin

Oh man

So...cruising along the highway, zipping in and out of traffic and sure enough, I come across another W204...who starts following me and then just FLIES right past me. Anyways, obviously I don't follow...and then another 204...and then another!!

Here's the cool part. All 4 of our cars are the same color...

We're hauling as* for a solid....time. That was a BLAST of fun

One of the best drives I'd had in a long time - was a great way to blow off a lot of stress lately ***** you pohlice. Made me re fall in love with my 204 again. She handles great

Adi-Benz

Necro bump cause Marko never posted pics of Croatia :P

Adi-Benz

THEY FINALLY DID IT

https://youtu.be/XT_qC-e0Fu4