Yesterday, my I test drove my colleague's Lexus '05 LS430. Nice car. Quiet, solid build, but interior is cathedral, and it still drove like a lead box. I'll consider it when I turn 70. I couldn't wait to get back into my D3.

My colleague's comment on the D3? 'Excellent, very sporty, steering too precise - may cause an accident (what?)'

But here is the problem. It turned out he has had 7 electronic/electrical problems in 4 months. He didn't think they were any big deal, since 'these are to be expected in a car this complex'. His defective stereo will be fixed 'when he has time or at the next service' In contrast, I have had a few MMI-related problems with my D3, and my dealer has a log of my problems, annotated for precision.

My colleague will tell J.D. Power initial satisfaction survey that his LS430 is 'perfect'. I'll tell the survey that I have problems - Lexus beats Audi in the survey.

Are we just too discerning?

A while ago someone posted a link to the A8L owner reviews on Edmund's. Of only 60 reports, the car got a 9.1 rating! Almost all the reports were glowing. The major complaint was no visibility to the rear due to the headrests. Big whoop. You gotta believe that most of the A8L owners, the wonderful silent majority of A8L owners, love their car! They love their car! This Forum has fewer than 20 owners. They are shipping cars with VIN's over 10,000 folks! Where are the angry masses? They ain't mad! If they were, more would find there way, um, HERE! :-)

My parents have owned a couple LS430s now. Their most recent one, an '04 model, has been in the shop a couple times for minor issues. But, as you indicated, if you asked my mother about her car, she'd tell you it was "perfect."

I think she just likes the free lattes while she waits.

When I picked up my car last year, a 76-year old man who had just finished chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation for lymphoma, picked up an identical A8L. I saw him at the dealership 2 months ago. He loves his car: correction, he worships his car. MMI problems? He also believes they are minor.

But XZLR8 has touched on a major point. Does pampering and A-class attention at the dealership translate to a higher level of tolerance?

Since The LS430 was on my short list (D3 A8L, BMW 545i, Lexus LS430), I have rather strong opinions on this:

LS 430 buyers tend to look at cars as an appliance, albeit a luxury one. They are interested in room, comfort, and appearance. Precision and drivability tend not to be among that which they look for. The LS430 is what Cadillac should be building for grandma and grandpa.

BMW drivers I think are interested in the performance and drivability of the car but are less interested in the engineering and design components. They also tend to be more image conscious and, as such, migrate toward the BMW marque.

Audi drivers tend to be those interested in performance, design, engineering, appearance, as well as comfort. We also tend to not want to run with the pack. In short, Audis seem to appeal to car wonks who tend to fall in love, holistically, with the whole package.

So much for gross stereotyping. Just my 2 cents.

through my trials and tribulations with this car and there have been many, the service AND sales people have "gone to the mat" to see that I was at least somewhat satisfied. While they may not have had all of the answers, I never felt as though they were putting me off or outright lying about something. Each time I would return, they would shake their collective heads and ask what they could do for me. Even if they couldnt do much, the simple task of asking "made my day"!

Greenie, you could take a national promo tour of All Audi dealerships. Promote your special Gateway Legal Cheese and perhaps wine from the infamous Gwelch's Vineyards, and, and... Can Mr.Ricco sing and dance? That's entertainment!

... make up for a multitude of sins, without question. My mother, who would have NEVER had anything to do with a car dealership or service department prior to this, loves to take her LS430s in for service. She loves to be fawned over and catered to. (And I'm just glad not to have to be the one to do it. Ahem.)

The German manufacturers could learn from this. A tremendous amount of good will and patience can be won from a customer who is treated well.

After saying that though, I have to admit that the Lexus attitude is always a little disarming to me. I tend to be a pretty matter-of-fact person and the Lexus "oh, Mr XZLR8, you look lovely today, may I get you a chilled bottled water" thing seems disingenuous... and dare I say, cheesy?

can sing but check the top of my shoes if you want to know whether he can dance or not!!! LOL. As for the tour, it begins in Malvern, sans the dealership! We immediately head for Lake Michigan where Paul W. will accompany my car back into the lake. When I say accompany, I mean he will be on the yacht and NOT in my car! Once that ceremony ends, the real fun begins. Now we pick out a new color for greenies new car. Because of a lack of interest in that part of the program, we move on to southwestern Pa. to find randy waiting with a new set of tires. Now were cookin`! With the tires and Buybeaches parted-out car, all I need is paint. But wait. This trip isnt about me. Its about, err, CHEESE! Quite frankly, I have no idea where I am going with this so its probably better that I stop here. All of this traveling has me dizzy but it also reminds me of my dream: 5 Audi stores strategically placed throughout the country(and Canada Gus)run by this forum!

dancing." I would enjoy serving Summons & Complaints for Mr. G. however.. . . you must admit it would be impressive to do so from an A8L!! :)

walking across the floor towards me on their knees with their lips buckered. "Just the facts" works best with me.

Main Entry: dis·cern
Pronunciation: di-'s&rn, -'z&rn
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French discerner, from Latin discernere to separate, distinguish between, from dis- apart + cernere to sift -- more at DIS-, CERTAIN
transitive senses
1 a : to detect with the eyes b : to detect with senses other than vision
2 : to recognize or identify as separate and distinct : DISCRIMINATE
3 : to come to know or recognize mentally
intransitive senses : to see or understand the difference
- dis·cern·er noun
- dis·cern·ible also dis·cern·able /-'s&r-n&-b&l, -'z&r-/ adjective
- dis·cern·ibly /-blE/ adverb

I am stressed out. Imagine all that attention!! On the other days, give me my D3

Those of you not leaseing and planning to keep this car will eventually run the warrentee out on this car, and you WILL need something like this to handle the repair bills that come to you. New MMI unit, 2900 bucks, cha-ching!

each and every time one visits their local dealer!