Self-parking Lexus no match for our auto critic

IamEvilHomer submitted on 03/23/2007 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 5:45 PM
from: www.freep.com

Tags: Lexus

Lexus

Self-parking Lexus no match for our auto critic

For now, at least, I am still the king of the asphalt jungle.

For years, automakers have promised that our cars would eventually drive themselves. They've added everything from radar and video cameras to skid-preventing brakes, power-closing doors, remote-opening tailgates and emergency overrides on steering in an attempt to make the driver irrelevant, if not obsolete.

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Someday, maybe, but not today. I've taken on what may be the most technically advanced new car on the market and beaten it at its own game.

I out-parallel parked the 2007 Lexus LS 460 L. Repeatedly.

The loaded version that I drove costs $85,331.

It's a technological showpiece, with a climate-control system that monitors the passengers' body temperature and cruise
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IamEvilHomer - 3/23/2007 5:58:16 PM

+10 Boost

this is the best quote "Lexus executives themselves
admit that they don't expect customers
to use the system, but they're proud of
it nonetheless."

if this dosen't prove lexus is all marketing and no substance nothing does

reply to this comment

jmrA480 - 3/23/2007 9:05:36 PM

Show Comment -16 Boost

AUDIMAN4 - 3/24/2007 6:44:59 PM

-10 Boost

This is why we see Lexus fails to capture the hearts of international customers. They can see right through the marketing! How else could a Toyota derived knockoff be perceived so highly in the US and have ZERO image abroad? Marketing.

How could a brand like Audi, a company who consistently DELIVERS in terms of luxury, driving dynamics, and quality yet doesn't market be perceived so highly internationally but devoid of a solid image in the US? Lack of marketing.

Americans = sheep who are easily manipulated via marketing. If they say it can compete with the boys, it can! 10 years from now, you'll hear these same Americans talk about Hyundai being as prestigious as MB.

Will_ - 3/24/2007 8:34:59 PM

+4 Boost

Audiboy,

Instead of constantly blaming Americans for Audi's marketing shortcomings, why don't you start blaming Audi? If it were true that Lexuses were just "Toyota-derived knock-offs" then your arguments might would begin to hold a little water. The problem(s) is(are) that Lexuses are not just rebadged Toyotas, Audi does not care about North American customers, and that Lexus was not expected to be an instant success the world over, but they are still doing quite good for themselves.

TheSailor - 3/25/2007 11:07:32 AMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

Audiman... That is just stupid... Would you please stop with the "toyota derived" crap? It pisses the Lexus fans off just as much as when people say that Audi is nothing more than a rebadged VW! Had someone said that, I am pretty sure we would have the whole Audi camp here in a minute telling people just how wrong they are! The same goes for Lexus!
Both companies has a few models which are basically reskinned Toyotas/ Audis with a few mods(the ES and the A3) but the rest of the cars have very little in common with their "mother company's" cars. Actually, since you opened the door to that silly notion, why didn't you mention that Audi shares most of it's smaller engines with VW and even Seat and Skoda?

The reason why Lexus is doing so bad in Europe is because we are a bunch of conservative wankers! Also, Lexus have focused all of their efforts on the American market until very recently. Now they are beginning to look towards Europe. Unfortunately, their efforts are still a little half hearted! Other manufacturers have different suspension setups for different markets (Try driving a European Audi, the suspension is quite a bit harder), but the european lexus models (at least where I live) are exactly the same as the american models... And that is a big minus! Also, they completely lack the prestige of their german competitors! It isn't because people think they are rebadged Toyotas, but because they have never heard of it! It is a bit as owning a Mac... Most people haven't heard of it, but to the few who have it is very hot. The IS is actually becoming very popular amoung young people overhere because it breaks with the norm, which is a german car!

SenSpeed - 3/26/2007 10:32:18 PM

+2 Boost

audiman needs an enema to relieve some of that bitter back pressure

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david999 - 3/23/2007 7:08:38 PM

+1 Boost

They are proving that they make a vehicle that is capable of doing what other car companies say can not be done. It is a great car!

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enthusiastx11 - 3/23/2007 8:20:57 PM

-1 Boost

except it can't actually do what you need it to do.
the system only works if the spot is 6 FEET bigger than the car.
people might need help with tight spots not giant parking spots.

jmrA480 - 3/23/2007 8:54:39 PM

-5 Boost

No david wrong, other car companies could do it if they tried, but they reaalize that it is useless, if you can park your own car you should not be driving a car. Take the bus!

IamEvilHomer - 3/24/2007 3:19:19 AM

-5 Boost

david i agree with you Lexus can market a useless system and sell cars

BMW, MB or audi could not do that

TheSailor - 3/24/2007 6:32:22 AMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

Uhmm... The VW Touran already has self parking! The only difference is that you control the speed yourself!

Will_ - 3/24/2007 6:48:18 PM

+6 Boost

Let's not forget that the Toyota Prius was already parking itself in Japan in 2003...

EL34 - 3/23/2007 7:26:24 PM

+1 Boost

Self parking is a good idea for those that have head injuries and are unable to turn their heads to know if they're about to ram the Lexus into the car in back.

Enjoy your day,

el34

reply to this comment

markusck - 3/23/2007 10:02:13 PM

-1 Boost

This is the best comment, You have to have a head injury to buy a Lexus...now its all beginning to make sense...

answer - 3/26/2007 3:44:47 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

If you are agreeing with EL34, then you definately have a head injury.

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Will_ - 3/23/2007 7:32:07 PM

0 Boost

Of course it wont be considered magnificent until the next BMW 7-series can do it!

Lexus woke up and decided to play the game the Germans have been playing for years. And unlike the Euros who would swear up and down that their new self-parking system was "revolutionary" and "magical," they shamelessly admit what's what. The Germans would have use the development of their new technology to show their skills and that they have the best engineers. Lexus does as well. When this becomes available on a German car, do you think that brand is going to "admit" that it's useless.

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TruenoAE86 - 3/23/2007 8:36:15 PM

0 Boost

To me, it's a waste-of-time feature, whether it is offered by Lexus or BMW. What's next? A car that drives automatically into your garage when you get home?

If you can't even accomplish a simple task such as parallel parking, just go surrender your driver's license and take public transit for the rest of your life.

markusck - 3/23/2007 10:08:06 PM

-11 Boost

So Lexus wakes up (on the wrong side of the bed) and 'invents' a system for a perceived need to park a car, and their own execs admit the system is flawed...the Germans go out, find a need and come up with technology that responds to that need, no they still don't understand the game...they should stick to the marketing hoopla, that they do better than anyone..

Anthony - 3/24/2007 12:29:25 AM

+2 Boost

Guaranteed when the 7-Series gets it the tunes will change. No question about that.

S4cabriofoxone - 3/24/2007 12:49:35 AMView My AgentSpace

-3 Boost

Will, I've been agreeing with you lately.

This, however, is not one of those times.

"And unlike the Euros who would swear up and down that their new self-parking system was "revolutionary" and "magical," they shamelessly admit what's what."

Is it just me, or isn't Lexus marketing the eight-speed and self-park as "revolutionary" in every LS ad I see? Lexus would never put what they said in an advertisement; they still want the general public to believe this is a world-beating, super-useful feature. They don't have a high horse that they ride on above the German manufacturers. They're in it to make money.

Anthony - 3/24/2007 1:19:52 AM

+6 Boost

I've seen no Lexus ad where they call any of those features "revolutionary" particularly. However I have seen new LS ads stating that the car is "Unprecedented" which is an accurate statement. No other cars in the class have an 8-Speed or self-parking.

" they still want the general public to believe this is a world-beating, super-useful feature. They don't have a high horse that they ride on above the German manufacturers."

Agree.

markusck - 3/24/2007 8:58:56 AM

0 Boost

My guess is you will NEVER EVER see a self parking feature like this in a Benz, Audi, BMW, or anyone else for that matter. There just is no need for it...Lexus has shown the only value of it is in the marketing and once you are the first to introduce a gizmo for marketing purposes it loses its cache...who wants to be known for copying a failed Lexus technology that is less than perfect and fails to respond to any actual need?

enthusiastx11 - 3/24/2007 5:10:44 PM

-7 Boost

bmw wouldn't put such a system on the 7 unless it actually worked.
but i still wouldn't want it personally...too gimmicky.

lexusis350 - 3/23/2007 7:36:53 PM

-2 Boost

This technology was designed for people who couldn't parallel park. Sure, it doesn't do as good of a job as a professional might, but it wasn't designed to be the best. It does what it set out to do, doesn't it? Even the self-driving Mercedes S-Class has a few glitches in it. It's called technology.

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enthusiastx11 - 3/24/2007 5:13:31 PM

-6 Boost

but, actually, it doesn't do what it's suppossed to do. let me know when you find a 24 foot parking spot in manhattan.

enthusiastx11 - 3/23/2007 8:22:10 PM

+6 Boost

lexus is about parking.
let's get back to the driving!

reply to this comment

EL34 - 3/23/2007 8:29:48 PM

+2 Boost

Truer words have never been spoken.

Now if Lexus comes out with a self washing car then I'lll be impressed.

Of course they should work on those breaks and I would not want to be driving down a mountain without good stopping power.

jmrA480 - 3/23/2007 9:20:49 PM

-8 Boost

awesome ,,so true

mitchatlexusofmarin - 3/23/2007 10:18:52 PM

+4 Boost

Self parking is fun- believe me.

reply to this comment

markusck - 3/25/2007 4:21:44 PM

-2 Boost

Fun..a gizmo...if you are going to spend research dollars on something, how about safety or performance or better yet, develop a design philosophy...why on a system nobody needs or really been crying for..oh i forgot, marketing marketing marketing....

huu76 - 3/23/2007 10:36:58 PM

+5 Boost

Enthusiast,
And if they programmed the car to attempt to park with less than 6ft of extra room and it starts scuffing other cars, then everyone would say its a crappy system.

A much more innovative idea is to put battery chargers on the brakes and call it a hybrid. I believe that technology was put to use on bicycle nightlights about 20 years ago.

reply to this comment

enthusiastx11 - 3/24/2007 5:18:56 PM

-6 Boost

oh huu, you always miss the point.
why would anyone need help getting into a 24 foot spot? sad.

so to make yourself feel better you mock the M3.

the regenerative braking system in the M3 has a very clear purpose. using that power to recharge the battery leaves every ounce of horsepower for the fun part: driving. something that is, unfortunately, lost on lexus fanatics like yourself. why can't you just be an adult and accept that different cars excel in different areas?

Anthony - 3/24/2007 12:32:14 AM

+1 Boost

The reviews of the Lexus parking system are typically trivial at best. Simply find a big enough space for this big car, and it will park. The system does not defy virtual space as many critics seem to expect it to do.

reply to this comment

enthusiastx11 - 3/26/2007 7:50:46 PM

+1 Boost

not looking for the car to defy any laws of physics. but people sometimes need help getting into a tight spot. technology might be helpful in those cases. this technology, however, doesn't meet a need. therefore, it's a gimmick.

EvoAudi - 3/24/2007 1:26:31 AMView My AgentSpace

-3 Boost

i've made an revolutionary discovery, Lexus made the self park system so that the driver that hates the Lexus so much, can get out faster and won't jump out of the car driving in its magical 8th gear.

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Anthony - 3/24/2007 2:19:07 AM

+1 Boost

Only the typical insecure German worshiper would make that comment.

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IamEvilHomer - 3/24/2007 3:17:59 AM

-4 Boost

ii have a German S6 and the backup and parking system is much more usefull then the 460 system

all show and no go

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TheSailor - 3/24/2007 6:39:32 AMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

I heard an interesting thing the other day: The system is completely useless if it rains! The problem is that rain drops "stick" to the camera making i impossible to see anything as they distort the image so you can't accurately choose your desired parking spot! What good is a system that doesn't work if it rains?!

Anyway, I think the gadget is very cool but utterly useless! It is really cool to be able to say "yearh, but my car can park itself" but the problem is that by the ime you have set up the system and the car is about to try, you have caused a major grid lock! I am pretty sure that I will be able to parallel park any car faster than any system will be able to in the near future!

reply to this comment

mitchatlexusofmarin - 3/24/2007 12:11:12 PM

+4 Boost

It doesn't use the camera, and it works fine in the rain- not sure where you heard otherwise.

TheSailor - 3/24/2007 12:31:33 PMView My AgentSpace

-4 Boost

No... But you use the camera to select the position in which you want to park... I live in a country where we get a lot of rain and when a car magazine tested the LS460 with the system, it was rendered useless because they couldn't see anything on the screen.

david999 - 3/24/2007 9:08:48 AM

+6 Boost

The point of the self-parking is to prove that the technology works as advertised.
Why are people here so defensive about some feature on a car that others might find useful? If only other car makers could match the quality and reliability of Lexus, we would all benefit as consumers.

reply to this comment

Will_ - 3/24/2007 12:05:26 PM

-2 Boost

But people, isn't this the point of technology? As primarily German fans responding to this topic, I would have thought most of you would appreciate advancement in technology. How many times has the ABS warning light flashed on your dashboard? I see more use in a self-parking system than I do in ABS. And do you think the first S-Class ABS system was perfect?

I disagree that no other auto manufacturer will use self-parking. BMW has already used it on a 5er wagon prototype I saw in a video. The whole point of technology in the luxury car segment is to make the experience as laid-back and as effortless as possible. When one manufacturer introduces a new wave technology feature that could use some work, it is other manufacturers' job to find out what works and refine the system. Looking forward to BMW and Mercedes' self-parking systems. (The ones that actually guide the car, not just grid read-out ones, which Lexus already had.)

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TheSailor - 3/24/2007 12:35:23 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

WHAT?! You seriously want to claim that a silly little "show off" feature is more usefull than a system that allows you to avoid objects while stopping and reduces the stopping distance of the car on slippery surfaces?!? Ohh come on... That is just silly! That is like saying that the cigarette lighter is a more useful feature than airbags during a crash!

Will_ - 3/24/2007 1:51:25 PM

+2 Boost

I don't smoke, but the cigarette lighter has gotten more use than my airbags, but that was not the ultimate point I was trying to make. By the way, the self-parking system allows you to "avoid objects" while parking.

Mercedes has this NightView Assist feature that is supposed to let you see objects further off into the distance at during night driving. Even though Cadillac already had this type of system, the Mercedes system, while improved, is still not as useful as it could be. I know of a Fifth Gear review of the S-Class and I'm sure many more to back that up. Let's also not forget the fiasco the S-Class's Distronic Plus had with that tunnel crash! ;) Those two systems from Mercedes were marketed as important safety features, moreso than the self-parking system. Neither one of those systems were as harshly criticized as the self-parking feature on the LS.

TheSailor - 3/24/2007 2:46:39 PMView My AgentSpace

-2 Boost

Yearh... It might have been used more, but that doesn't mean that it is more useful... If I had to choose between the two, I would go for the airbag any day... The same goes for the ABS! I don't know where you live, but if you have ever driven a car with ABS in snow, you will know how much it helps! I have had a variety of old cars without ABS and I've had two cars WITH ABS... And the difference is HUGE! Especially if you drive them in snow... Have you ever even driven a car without ABS?!

Also " "Avoid objects" while parking" OHH PLEASE! That is just the most lame excuse ever! Are you too occupied when parking to see and stop if someone runs out behind you?!

Hmm... Between the appaling brakes of the LS and your inabbility to park AND avoid children at the same time explain your statement that a parking device is more important than ABS brakes!

Will_ - 3/24/2007 4:13:10 PM

+3 Boost

I've driven a car without ABS. My first car was one of the very first cars to come equipped with ABS. The system stopped working after a while, but did get fixed. ABS keeps your tires from spinning when you slam on the brakes in emergency stops. I'm a pretty slow driver, and can't even remember the last time I had to make an emergency stop. Same goes for traction control. ABS and TRAC lights flash in your car whenever they're in use. All I'm saying is that neither one has flashed in my car yet.

"Between the appaling brakes of the LS and your inabbility to park AND avoid children at the same time ..."

This statement is what's appalling. The brakes on the LS are not of dire concern. The LS brakes fine. And who said the system doesn't stop when an object gets in the way? Newsflash: it does.

TheSailor - 3/24/2007 4:58:29 PMView My AgentSpace

-3 Boost

Not compared to the competition... But ok... I'll admit, it was a poor attempt at a joke!

Anyway, my point is: ABS have saved many peoples lives, and it might very well save your life some day (or it already has)! I am pretty sure self parking isn't going to save any lives, maybe a few bumpers in Paris, but no lives!
Also, are you claiming that you've never been in the situation where someone suddenly drove or walked out in front of you or that in a slow moving traffic flow, the idiot in front of you suddenly slammed the brakes?! In those situations you probably didn't have the time to look at the dash to check if the ABS activated, but you can be pretty sure it did! Every time you brake hard, the system is activated. ABS isn't just something that helps people trying to fly through curves in a BMW, it is probably among the biggest steps forward in the automotive world when it comes to active safety!
Hell, it is even integrated into the ESP to make sure the car doesn't skid!

markusck - 3/25/2007 8:14:15 AM

-2 Boost

You don't understand what ABS does, you say "ABS keeps your tires from SPINNING when you slam on the brakes in emergency stops" No thats not what ABS does. ABS prevents the wheels from LOCKING while braking. The purpose of this is to allow the driver to maintain steering control under heavy braking and, in most situations, to shorten braking distances.

The fact that you have not had the need YET, says nothing. The one time you wished you had them could very well be the one time they save your life. Now find me an instance when the same is true for...self parking...or some other amazing Lexus technology...I think the issue here is most people don't understand these seamless safety systems and feel they are useless as they can't see something happen like a neat self parking gizom...something very easy to understand..

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BMW4me4ever - 3/26/2007 3:00:10 PMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

will. did you know that BMW has a brake system called CBC ( Cornering Brake control )? I know that Lexus never would have thought about a system that is developed to aid in braking through a cornering. Then lexus would have to develope an actual sports car. Cornering Brake Control is actually a better safety feature than ABS by itself. I am going to explain this system to the lexus impaired people on here ...

Cornering stabilization employs wheel speed sensors, steering angel sensor ( measures the steering angle ), lateral angle sensor ( measure how hard the vehicle is turning ), yaw sensor ( measure cars rotation ), brake sensor ( measures the amount of pressure being applied ).... By monitoring the sensors the car has the ability to detect any of the deviation from the path of the car when cornering and gently apply brakes to the individual wheel to keep the car on the intended path. This allows the driver in an emergency situation when they swerve to avoid and obstacle at speed to maintain control without having to use the steering to over compensate. Try that on a lexus and see what happens ...

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DallasMR2 - 3/27/2007 2:03:27 PM

0 Boost

the last time i checked the ABS light comes on when there is a problem with the system...not when it actually comes on.

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EL34 - 3/24/2007 1:58:54 PM

+3 Boost

Too many buttons to push and too many measurements to make to park a car.

Besides, anyone spending 80k will most likly know how to park a car, but a car with warning sensors that can be bypassed is an excellent idea

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WeAreMad - 3/24/2007 2:58:43 PM

+1 Boost

this is a great technology for those who are disabled and/or handicap.

if you are too lazy to parrallel park, then get a chauffeur or take public transportaion.

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izfuney - 3/24/2007 3:55:00 PM

+4 Boost

Self parking is an amazing piece of technology that epitomizes the supremacy of Lexus in the Automotive world. In one fell blow to the Germans, Japanense engineers have constructed a superlative marvel of engineered steel that can not only park, maasage and make small talk withs its driver and passengers but can simultaneouly deliver a crisp sport ride all in the hushed silence of a newborn's sigh ..

Scortched with the above .. BMW and Mercedes promptly release they legions of mindless hordes ..all suspicously name GoGo something .. to swamp the blogsphere with FUD. After all, releasing future and half baked technology has been their particular temple of expertise... even if their electronics were manufactured by blind gremlins with arthiritis...

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TheSailor - 3/24/2007 4:38:25 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

WOW... that was a whole lot of superlatives... Did you come up with all that by yourself?!

You might no how to expres yourself than most of the Lexus fanatics, but you sure as hell is just as blinded by that badge! Lexus makes great cars, but the LS does not, by any standard, deliver a "crisp sporty ride"! The LS is made exclusively to compete with the S-class, meaning that it's ride has one purpose in life: To offer the smoothest most uninvolving ride to make sure that the driver doesn't feel the slightest uncomfort while driving! I am not saying that is a bad thing! It is a very very good cruiser, but it is not a sports car! when it comes to handling, it can only dream of having the handling of an S8 or 760! The LS is a marvolous car, but the self parking is just a useless and silly show off feature!

Why is it that people feel the need to make stuff up, just to defend a certain car (a stupid idea when it doesn't concern motorsports)?! The more diverse a segment is the better, right? Wouldn't it be boring if we just had an s-class with four different badges on them?! I am going to admit, hands down, that I would choose a 760 if i had the money, partially because of the badge, but that doesn't mean that I can't appreciate other brands! Why do you have this childish need to bash the competitors blindly?! I can understand defending a brand, but attacking other brands completely unjustified and for no apparent reason is just silly and childish!

enthusiastx11 - 3/24/2007 5:27:01 PM

-6 Boost

"the supremacy of Lexus in the Automotive world"

i can hardly control my laughter.

again, lexus makes very high quality, reliable cars. they're also very quiet and comfortable. they keep their 50 and 60-something buyers who couldn't care less about driving very happy. however, they're not fun to drive, the ride is often too soft, and the styling so pedestrian that you can hardly pick one out in traffic.

do mercedes and bmw make perfect cars? no. but so many of them are great looking, fun to drive and deliver wonderful performance. and, surprise, those are apparently desirable features the world over. furthermore, both brands are able to charge solid premiums over their infiniti and lexus competitors. i wonder why?

Willis - 3/24/2007 5:27:27 PM

-5 Boost

Gogo has been around here for ages. He was just banned four times. And as far as I recall he likes Peugeot or something (French cars).

Will_ - 3/24/2007 5:33:28 PM

0 Boost

You know, in the review of the LS460, the tester did note that the suspension offered a "crisper ride." Obviously you've never driven one, and maybe he hasn't either, so both of you are going off of what othershave said...

His second paragraph may have included great imagery and other insensitive remarks, but his underlying point about the Germans and their technology is the same one that I was trying to make earlier: the Germans have come up with a lot of other just as useless technological pieces without even half the criticism.

TheSailor - 3/24/2007 6:08:27 PMView My AgentSpace

-2 Boost

You mean like ABS?! Sure... Night View is useless (but the idea is good though), and so is that flimsy little arm in the 3-series to hand you the seat belt and lots of other crap... But that was not the subject here, was it?! People are simply saying that self parking is useless... For some reason, if someone mentions anything bad about a Lexus, they automatically open the door for everybody else to take their wack at the german cars... I know it goes both ways (and that i am guilty as well), but that doesn't make it anymore right!

Will_ - 3/24/2007 6:15:40 PM

+1 Boost

Then stop complaining about it! And everyone knows that Lexus is far more criticized than any other brand on this site, evidenced by things such as the "boosting" system, which I get the impression was specifically implicated to annoy me and make me feel bad... ;)

TheSailor - 3/24/2007 6:31:51 PMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

ME?! STOP COMPLAINING?! NEVER! What should I do then?! After all, I am a sailor...After they took away our booze, that is all we have left... complaining! You've obviously never been on a merchant ship! ;)

BTW: I don't agree with you about Lexus being the number one target here. Because most of the time, the critizism is just people being defensive because the horde of immature Lexus fans (for some reason there are a lot of those here, just look at the funny guy's post above!) start out by attacking every other brand around... And ofcause people is going to be defensive then!

But I can see what is bugging you, because all those immature comments does spawn a lot of critizism of Lexus. An age limit would be nice, that would seriously limit all the trash talking...

Will_ - 3/24/2007 6:41:30 PM

+2 Boost

Oh is that what it is? I just always thought all of you were just extremely cocky and egotistical. That's another problem that this site is victim to often. German fans simply cannot ignore comments they do not like. Do you know how many ignorant comments I just ignore They're not worth responding to! Most German fans feel otherwise apparently.

Will_ - 3/24/2007 6:44:02 PM

+1 Boost

Also, it's a shame that most cannot realize that half of the "Lexus maniacs" are pure mockeries of actual Lexus fans, just trying to annoy real ones. Guess that plan backfired, for the people they are annoying the most are...the German fans. lol!

huu76 - 3/25/2007 11:10:16 AM

0 Boost

enthusiast,
If BMW alternators can't do the job and they need help from regenerative brakes, perhaps BMW should innovate and build themselves a better alternator. So what's the additional mileage you get from the regenerative braking opposed to the extra weight? It weighs probably 20lbs and you get 1 extra mile per tank?

My Jeeps battery is 4 years old and still runs like new, and it's had to startup in -25C temperatures regularly.

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TheSailor - 3/25/2007 11:38:15 AMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

You really can't be this stupid can you?! Please tell me that it was a poor attempt at a joke!?

You do know that the alternator takes a lot of power from the engine when it is loaded right? The less load you have on the alternator, the less power it takes, the less fuel it uses! Elseway, the GS450h and the Prius has weak alternators aswell!

enthusiastx11 - 3/25/2007 12:17:30 PM

-2 Boost

again, you just don't get it.
read sailor's comment again huu.

huu76 - 3/25/2007 11:14:41 AM

0 Boost

Hey sailor,
The LS's standards brakes are equal to the S-classes brakes, I've already had several tests NOT done by C&D to prove it.

So I guess you're saying the S-class must have pretty lousy brakes too.

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TheSailor - 3/25/2007 11:44:25 AMView My AgentSpace

-2 Boost

You should read the whole thread before you jump at me like that! I wrote further down that it was an attempt at a joke... But you obviously don't care!

huu76 - 3/25/2007 11:15:48 AM

-1 Boost

But yeah, I think self parking is pointless. Germans are just jealous that it's getting more attention than they like.

As for regenerative braking, unless it's on a real hybrid, it's pointless too.

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TheSailor - 3/25/2007 11:42:47 AMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

Why is it pointless? Because BMW is the only company who offers it? Had it been Lexus who had come up with it, you would be the first to praise the system!
You are just trying to pick a fight because you have nothing better to do right?

enthusiastx11 - 3/25/2007 12:19:05 PM

-5 Boost

why exactly is it pointless to provide maximum engine power to the driver?

Rupert - 3/25/2007 12:42:13 PMView My AgentSpace

-3 Boost

Why is it pointless? It's a cheap way to save fuel and reduce Co2 emissions...you really are ignorant.

enthusiastx11 - 3/26/2007 7:52:48 PM

-1 Boost

let's see how long it takes huu to log-in to his 7 accounts and de-boost me.

huu76 - 3/25/2007 10:36:52 PM

+1 Boost

Sailor,
The Insight (10 years ago), 1st Prius and Civic all have regenerative braking. Welcome to the party BMW.

Unless BMW's alternator's are basically a POS like their cars, then why does the battery need help recharging? What next, the fans in the air vents will start recharging the battery too? This is just as pointless as bolting 500ft.lbs on a car chassis.

I see BMW marketing is still efficient as ever.

Rupert,
"Cheap" is so very fitting.

Anyone have any numbers on what this revolutionary technology does for a gas engine? We might as well just get rid of hybrids now that BMW has this new "hybrid" technology?

reply to this comment

TheSailor - 3/26/2007 5:31:16 AMView My AgentSpace

-2 Boost

LOL... You know that you just make yourself look even more dumb by doing this right?

The regenerative brakes on your precious hybrids does exactly the same as on the "POS" germans... Am I pissing you off since you are beginning to use these childish and unfitting terms?
OKAY... Here you go, I am going to explain this once again, and again and again until it gets through your dense scull:
The alternator is connected to the crankshaft. Okay?
When electrical equipment is activated (as in lights, air con, the steering, the seats, the seat heater... you name it), it puts a load on the alternator. Are you still with me?
This is where it gets tricky, so hold on tight:
When a load is put on the alternator, it gets harder to spin because of the magnetic forces between the stator and the rotor. Following?
Now, since a higher force is excerted on the rotor (which is rotated by the engine) the engine must therefore deliver more power to pull the alternator! Did that make any sence?

Now here comes the smart part: The BMW system converts the energy from braking into electric power which is stored in a battery. when a consumer is turned on, the system uses the battery instead of loading the engine! Therefore you get a higher mileage, equaling lower consumption and less CO2 outlet...

Zackary - 3/26/2007 7:22:10 AM

+3 Boost

"when a consumer is turned on, the system uses the battery instead of loading the engine!"

lol!!! ;)

Zackary - 3/26/2007 1:22:08 AM

+4 Boost

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