dutchie01

The real issue here is that the car market is changing rapidly. A- segment cars are disappearing as manufacturers are taking them out of the market. The Ford Ka, C1, Aygo, etc. Then prices have doubled/tripled for new cars. Thirdly the younger generation sees cars as a commodity, something that brings you from A to B. For them it does not represent status nor a feeling of freedom as it did when i was 18. They are not prepared to spend 30/40k for a car that looses value the day you own it. Enter subscriptions like mobile phones. Volvo has over 30% on subscriptionbase now. Hire a car and dump it when you dont need it anymore. Where does that leave the enthusiast cars? the V8 etc? Well maybe just maybe in 10/20 years the owners will be seen upon as todays owners of fine horses. For Lexus it will remain a niche market, small and smaller so i do not expect values to increase. Other top brands like Ferrari etc are producing luxury products, status symbols like LV, Patek etc. Lexus is nowhere near. If you own a Lexus V8 and can afford to keep it do not sell. Keep it even if you dont drive it. Store it as you will be very very sorry in the future you sold it. As a famous person once said "you have to recognize it to see it".

Old cars are like old people. They dont go as fast as they used to and they leak a bit... When something goes wrong always ask for a second opinion!

Thats a big jump from repairing your car and driving on to a brandnew BMW for 540/month. That monthly sum can be temptive but how does it look if you have to pay 1 invoice per year for 5 years of 6480? and in the end you have to give it back and have no car? How about leaving the shocks, get the battery repaired as cheap as possible so the light goes out and swap it for a newer model? Its only for 2500 mls a year?

Lexus and Monaco go way back. Click below link and you will see some background pics. It is His Serene Highness aka Head of the Tax Office aka The Ultimate Wife Cheater picking up his new car. https://fr.motor1.com/news/236070/prince-albert-de-monaco-ls-500h/

its this one. https://caratduchatelet.com/lexus-landaulet/

Is that a two stroke? Bit of a classic it will be easy to sell. Long ago i had an RC350LC twin 2 stroke. Hated that bike! The smoke on start up was enough for the fire brigade to panic and it was so peaky that below 7000rpm nobody was home and then all power came at once. Too difficult to ride for me you always had to mind the revs in corners make sure you are in the powerband or it will throw you off. Hated it. Got a Suzuki GS550 4 cylinder after that.

Maybe the difference is that China has long term planning and interests and we do the 100 mtr sprint going from politician to politician and NO this is not a request to abolish democracy!

In the West we are too naive and continue to look at situations through our western eyes with our values. China has been undermining western economies for decades by undercutting all they supply heavily in price compared to our home production. And we all fall for it. Buy jeans for 9 euros, fake cartridges, cheap toys and so on. It is only now with the EV business that it gets more attention. In the same time we are witnessing european de industrialisation with companies de investing and moving production out of europe. Automotive, chemicals, steel the list is endless. Remember China is subsidising all export they are fighting a war without guns.

Some in the West are more afraid of a trade war with China Malc. Biden just increased import tariff for Chinese cars to 100%

Thankfully i have never lived through war which seems exceptional if you look at wider European history. My Parents on the other hand had to live through WW2 and my grandparents through 1 and 2. That seems good progress to me.

Iife expectancy did improve a lot since the eighties as did healthcare. Economic growth has lifted millions out of poverty, Animals seem to live on just like they did 45 yrs ago and the overall quality of life, in our part of the world, has never been better. We can travel freely wherever we want and are free to speak our opinion. I am not too pessimistic.

Are you happy with the car? What is the range you get out of it or doesnt it matter as you charge at home?

Could wrapping be an option? its not only used for the tuning scene to create bizarre colors but can well replicate original paint colors. Cheaper than a respray i think?

true professionals and that should be the standard

So many lost opportunities in sales it is frightening. A courtesy car is a once in a ownership lifetime opportunity to sell a car. Come in with a Q4, give a Q5 etc. prepare an offer and when the customer returns the car go for it. It just seems not recognized or is too much trouble. I received dirty cars with personal belongings ( Jenna from admin normally drives this sir) or empty tanks, so i had to fill up, car parked in between others so i had to wrestle my way out. In all cases the sales department was not envolved they did not even know i was there. Only with Lexus this was different got a nice RX when bringing my IS in for service

I once had a Honda Jazz Hybrid as a rental and that for me was the surprise of the year. Great little car and due to the hybrid fast in city traffic. Great little thing and what more do you want from alittle runabout. BTW not so special for a Honda to reach 100k miles. Now , if it was a Range Rover...

6000 miles in some years time. isnt using a taxi cheaper?

European ports are completely full with Chinese EVs. Hamburg, Zeebrugge, Antwerp, Rotterdam and so on. Previously cars were unloaded and then disappeared to the end customers mostly through dealers. The Chinese have a different approach they just use those ports as storage area. Some cars have been there for 1.5 yrs. Chinese manufacturers get paid per car by the Chinese government so keep producing my friends happy days and who cares if nobody buys them ?! Demand for 2nd hand ones is very low out of consumer fear. What are you buying? what is the state of the battery? High electricity prices make EVs as expensive as petrolcars? In most countries you pay roadtax based on weight and that is much higher with a battery? How about value will they continue depreciating like crazy? From the model you are interested in for sure there will be newer versions withmore range faster charging so why buy this one? In short there are too many uncertainties for private buyers. Like before the market is driven by companycars only.

You know when you feel a dinosaur? When your five year old grandson can operate the satnav better and faster then yourself ( without any form of explanation whatsoever) !!!

The sound warning when driving over the speedlimit is new regulation. all new cars do have this now, just wait until they introduce the next step in limiting your speed so even if you want you cant go faster. The LBX dash and infotainment seems relatively simple compared to some of the German competitors with humongous screens and a thousand options. They design this to impress customers in the showroom. First time a potential customer sits in the car they have to be wowed and immediately the car is sold especially with the younger generation. That you never use 95% of possibilities does not seem to matter. I like the LBX, it looks good and is the right size for what it needs to be. If you want a small car and like some more upmarket feel what is the competition?

Dont underestimate the power of food. Connoisseurs of risotto likewise paella are to be found in every region and all claim their way of cooking is the original best and forget about the rest. This runs deep. Remember Jamie Oliver some years ago? He published his Paella recipe and the highest diplomatic circles were working overtime to prevent Spain from declaring war!

Chefs surprise dinner at an Asian fusion restaurant with trendy purple lighting and too beautiful people ( me not included). So basically i have no clue..

Will you make an offer? https://www.knightfrank.co.uk/properties/commercial/for-sale/burgh-island-hotel-burgh-island-bigbury-on-sea-kingsbridge-devon-tq7/HTV012399404