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High Performance Luxury Sedans

1038 messages,  Last post on Jun 18, 2008 at 12:12 PM

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What is this discussion about? Jaguar XJR, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW M5, Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG, Audi S6, Maserati Quattroporte, Audi S8, Sedan

#910 of 1038 Thoughts.... by merc1 Feb 20, 2005 (11:47 pm)
This class is quickly splitting into smaller classes and getting more interesting every year.   The XJR has already been beaten by the E55 and the Quattroporte in a C&D comparo.   The M5 I predict will simply walk away with this segment. I mean nothing can really touch it in power and dynamics equally.   The E55 and new CLS55 will continue to play second fiddle to the M5 in the car mags.   The STS-V while nice isn't going to top any of the German cars, especially the M5, but it may beat a Jaguar here or there. With 440hp its a little light on power for this class. Imagine a car with 440hp being short on hp for its class! What a era we're in for hp. It will however provide the classic GM formula, lesser car for less money. I actually like the STS-V a little, I like the idea of a supercharged Northstar. Now GM needs to make this new 6-speed auto standard in all STS variants.   Jaguar knew the S-Type R couldn't compete with the E55 or the old M5 so they dropped the price down to E500/545i levels where it appears to be much more competitive. I still can't help but think that a 545i Sport with the 6-Speed manual is almost as fast as the 400hp S-Type R, but I haven't seen any numbers for a manual trans 545i. It is just a matter of time before the 545i becomes the 550i with a 360hp wallop.   What I'd like to see is the battle of the sultry sedans: XJR, Quattroporte and CLS55 AMG.   M
#911 of 1038 sedans by xkss Feb 21, 2005 (3:00 pm)
It is too bad that the M5 isn't backed by the factory in racing like the Cadillac CTS-V, Holden HSV sedans, and Ford (of Australia) FPV sedans.   The M5 will just be a rich man's Subaru WRX. It has lost all of the style and class of the old M5s.   The Jaguar XJR is around the size of a BMW 7 series. The XJR obviously competes more with the big luxury sedans than with the mid-size sedans.   These two pictures sum up the new BMW 5 series:   http://www.theraceforum.com/images/forum/2915-36-1.jpg   http://www.theraceforum.com/images/forum/2915-36-2.jpg
#912 of 1038 the new BMW 5 series is just too ugly by xkss Feb 23, 2005 (1:11 am)
#913 of 1038 Maintaining an XJR by poorman Mar 17, 2005 (2:55 pm)
Hi folks, first post. I am the prototypical wants more car than he can really afford guy. I'm currently in a Mitsu Eclipse Turbo with 205k on it. I'm more than likely purchasing something in June and there are many cars I'm looking at from the 05 GTO to the Legacy GT. One I'm looking at is my bosses 02 Jag XJR. He is a total neatnik and the car is immaculate. It has about 34k on it and I can probably get it (If I kick butt in sales...) for around 28k, which I believe is a pretty good deal.   I've heard that Jags are very expensive to maintain and I've even heard that you can't just go to Jiffy Lube and get a standard oil change, that you have to have an OEM filter etc. I'd hate to end up with a 500+ dollar a month car payment and then end up with super high maintenance costs. I know the gas mileage isn't the greatest, but it's hard to get a sedan of that size under 6 sec. 0-60 without using a little gas! Please fill me in on whatever you can about owning and maintaining an XJR. Thanks in advance! Replies to this message: pablo_l (Apr 03, 2005 6:45 pm)
#914 of 1038 02 Jaguar XJs have the bugs worked out by xkss Mar 17, 2005 (7:42 pm)
They don't have the potential timing chain tensioner problems of the 98-00 XJ8s. Check the XJR out at a very good independent Jaguar repair shop if you can. Check the seat rails as they can become loose over time and make the seat wooble.
#915 of 1038 Re: Maintaining an XJR [poorman] by pablo_l Apr 03, 2005 (6:45 pm)
Replying to: poorman (Mar 17, 2005 2:55 pm) For what it is worth, I got rid of my XJR after only a year and a half. Great car if you don't care abiut being held accountable for $4k/yr in maintenance even during the warranty period. I did the math, and got a beater plus a Rolls Corniche that -despite it's reputation- it's only costing me an $1.5k/yr to maintain, with a higher uniqueness factor and far better interior quality than my '01 XJR... As fun a car as it was, I think getting rid of it was a good decision. Your motivations may be utterly different.
#916 of 1038 Re: [habitat1] by merc1 Apr 10, 2005 (8:38 pm)
Replying to: habitat1 (Jul 28, 2004 2:11 am) A reply just for you. Obviously a lot of folks feel like you do about the new M5 not having a row-it-yourself manual transmission. According to the May issue of Car and Driver BMW is going to do the right thing and offer a true blue manual on the U.S. market sometime after the SMG version goes on sale. You win!!!!!   M Replies to this message: habitat1 (Apr 19, 2005 3:42 pm) merc1 (Apr 20, 2005 3:08 pm) kyfdx (Apr 21, 2005 6:05 am) habitat1 (Apr 24, 2005 11:49 am)
#917 of 1038 perhaps by xkss Apr 10, 2005 (10:11 pm)
but, you still have to deal with the interior and exterior.
#918 of 1038 Re: [merc1] by habitat1 Apr 19, 2005 (3:42 pm)
Replying to: merc1 (Apr 10, 2005 8:38 pm) Actually, I didn't win. After I first heard that the M5 would only have an SMG, I cancelled my order. Now since they made that announcement, I would be #6 at a dealership that will likely only get 2-3 per year. And that's sneaking me in the middle of the list. The larger dealerships in DC have a proportionally long wait.   I guess if I really have $90k+ burning a hole in my pocket, I can go for a new 911 S convertible. That wait is only about 9-12 months. Barring any growth spurts, my two daughters might even still be able to fit in the back seat by the time I get one.   P.S. I wonder if BMW executives actaully saw all of my ranting in Edmund's about "true" manual transmissions? Probably wishful thinking, but it is nice they responded to consumer feedback. If GM did a little more of that, they wouldn't be giving away their stock. Replies to this message: merc1 (Apr 20, 2005 3:08 pm) kyfdx (Apr 21, 2005 6:05 am) habitat1 (Apr 24, 2005 11:49 am)
#919 of 1038 Re: [habitat1] by merc1 Apr 20, 2005 (3:08 pm)
Replying to: habitat1 (Apr 19, 2005 3:42 pm) Aww shux no going back now huh? Nothing wrong with a 997 Cabrio either.   I doubt if any BMW execs read this board, but I'm sure others like you wrote/called/emailed BMW because the article I saw stated that this decision was made based on U.S. market BMW customers.   GM is too big to react in such a way as BMW. GM is just too plain larger imo, but thats for another board.   M

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