rjj130

I have had SIRIUS now for three years and absolutely love it. I have no qualms about paying a monthly fee for what I listen to on there.

Now with all of the talk of compression, this is true. The talk channels are definitely compressed, but it's only talk anyways, similar to an AM radio feed.

All of the music channels I listen to seem fine, including Howard Stern. When I listen online, it's 192kbps which is perfect. Hell, up until a year ago you couldn't get iTunes that was higher that 128kbps.

All that said, this year I got my invoice from SIRIUS (not on auto renewal) and it was over $300 for my main unit, my wife's, and my online subscription (need it for the office and my Android). After doing some reading online, I gave their retention line a call.

Low and behold, I'm paying $150 for my car, my wife's, and online. I'm assuming all royalty fees are included in that $150 as well or were dropped. My card was charged 50% exactly of what my invoice was.

It's worth calling and trying to negotiate for a better deal. They want your business!

VW = Ford of 5 years ago.

VW is maybe biting off a bit more than they can chew.

You need competition. It breeds better quality and innovation.

VW wants to be the #1 automaker in the world a bit too badly and hopefully they don't fall flat on their face because of this lust to surpass Toyota...

@Benfolio

It's from either people modding the hell out of their car and/or not knowing how to drive the car and stomping on the gas (wide open throttle) in higher gears/low RPMs (without downshifting properly) and putting too much stress on the engine.

I am at 61k now and the only the only issues I have had were:

#1 - the variable valve timing lockout that wouldn't function properly at a cold crank.

#2 - had to replace the high pressure fuel rail, something that was evident in the earliest examples of the MS6.

Yeah, I purchased an 06 MazdaSpeed6 GT in 2008 and it's CPO.

I had the balance of the factory warranty and my powertrain was extended to 7yr/100k miles.

@icase81

Because if his contract says he is only broadcasting on satellite and internet (.ASX format I believe) then it is his contractual right to forbid the redistribution of his content onto mobile phones, TVs, etc...

Stern isn't stupid and I'm sure he had some great lawyers when they were ironing out the details of this contract.

@Elranzer

The reason Stern is not on the iPhone/Blackberry/Android apps is because his contract with SIRIUS does not allow his show to be transcoded into other formats.

When he signed it stipulated the Satellite Radio itself as well as online streaming.

I believe from what I have read on the internet, and who says you cannot believe everything you read on the internet, that SIRIUS would have to pay him additional for this right and being that they are not making much money from this endeavor it would be stupid of them to pay him more than they have.

Hope this helps.

I wasn't the one to test drive the vehicle. I'm not the daily driver of said vehicle. Also it's intermittent. She could start and stop 5 times and it may not do it. The next 5 it may do it every time. There is no rhyme or reason.

She didn't complain to me about it. I merely complained about her driving when I was in the car with her. She said it was the car. I thought it was her because A) she constantly stomped the gas in her old Corolla and B) because I tried teaching her to drive a MT and she has no concept of feathering on/off the accelerator/clutch.

It wasn't until I changed the oil/rotated the tires on my own the first time that I noticed there was an issue. The tire wore unevenly on the driver side and upon doing a test drive after everything was buttoned up I experienced the sensation myself.

Call to Toyota dealership where she purchased resulted in a "It's the way you drive and we have not received any complaints."

I originally thought it was the transmission as the 07 V6's had issues w/ their transmissions. I even asked if there was an ECU flash available.

This will suffice the media for a few months, however no matter what the Toyota execs say, IT IS ELECTRONIC.

My fiancee's 07 Camry LE has had the problem since day 1. I used to think it was her and not knowing how to feather onto the accelerator. However, I drove it and noticed the issue immediately. It would either feather on nicely or go full tilt. I drive a MT daily so I thought it may have been the transmission as well however it happens when the car is in motion too, not just from a complete step.

Toyota needs to man up and realize that there is something wrong w/ the electronics associated with the accelerator to the throttle body.

While their demographic is 18-30 males, I think they play on the majority of the first time buyers to be right out of college.

I was out less than a year when the tC came out and it was the first car I purchased new. I was comfortably able to afford it making mid 30's a year. I think the sticker on mine was something like $18k, traded in my '95 Corolla for $500 and put $1k down. Payments were about $330/month.

Besides, a lot of your 18-23 year old's are most likely purchasing used and thus don't really factor into the new price.

I do agree though they have to either come down in price, but not much. You do get a lot standard in the cars.

I disagree wholeheartedly on your statement about missing the demographic. While you do see your share of blue hairs driving them around it can be sought up to this:

1) Reliable
2) Good price point

Besides, all you have to do is run an insurance quote for any Scion vehicle and realize that it's one of the most expensive brands to insure because of the moron kids (Scion's demographic) driving them and subsequently wrecking them.

Case in point, I went from an 05 tC to an '06 Mazdaspeed6 and my insurance did not go up. I believe it may have even went down a few bucks.