High End Luxury Cars

24700 messages, Last post on Dec 01, 2009 at 12:24 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Jaguar XJ-Series, Lexus LS 460, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Volkswagen Phaeton, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-Benz CL-Class, Sedan

Let's try to define this forum as being limited to luxury performance vehicles where the mainstream version in a typical configuration has an MSRP of at least $60k.

A luxury vehicle with a base price of $59k qualifies because it would typically be bought with some additional equipment, bringing the MSRP over $60k.

Vehicles like the E, 5, A6, M, or GS, even if available in certain versions over $60k, don't qualify because they are cars from companies that have higher end cars in their lineups.

Outline

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#13054 of 24700 Re: That Is Why [hpowders] by rayng Jan 12, 2006 (4:47 pm)
Replying to: hpowders (Jan 12, 2006 10:14 am) Bangle has too much blame and credit for his designs. BMW should be applauded for their great sense of proportions and presence, as epitomized by the handsome and toned down 7 series. Ultimately, style does have its limits especially when a $100k car is stuck in traffic as all the others. Cars have no "soul." People do. The hyperbole lavished upon any vehicle is part marketing, part tradition, part experience, and at the end of the day purely up to the driver. BMWs are fun to drive, but so is a Porsche, Vette, Mini, Cobra, etc... What's pertinent to this group is how much sportiness can be dialed into a luxury sedan. I want a car that can be comfortable for clients. The Lexus certainly fits that bill. And though the LS does not have the presence and prestige of Mercedes, BMW falls a bit short in the prestige category as well. Almost all of the cars we discuss here are fine automobiles and we're all lucky to afford to drive them. Replies to this message: hpowders (Jan 12, 2006 5:34 pm) rayng (Jan 12, 2006 5:51 pm) hpowders (Jan 12, 2006 6:48 pm) and 1 more... blckislandguy (Jan 12, 2006 7:01 pm) and 6 more...
#13055 of 24700 Re: A8L [aabbcc112233] by rayng Jan 12, 2006 (4:56 pm)
Replying to: aabbcc112233 (Jan 12, 2006 4:34 pm) After seeing the A8L and the S8 at the L.A. auto show, I can certainly say that these cars are not ugly. They are gorgeous. If you guys haven't seen the '06 A8, check out the cars stance while parked. The sales guy claims that the air suspension lowers the car when parked giving it a nice crouched, slammed look. Would anyone in this group wait for the v10 this fall? I wonder how it compares to the v10 on the M5. I think the e55 still has the bragging rights for now--especially with the huge torque advantage. The replacement engine will have less torque but more hp to accomodate the new 7 speed transmission. I'll be sorry to see it go. And for the existing Audi owners, how's your dealer experience? Reliability issues?
#13056 of 24700 by lexusi Jan 12, 2006 (4:58 pm)
Read this: What's Edmunds' Take? And there's a hybrid LS still to come. The Germans had better prepare themselves. — Erin Riches Source, www.edmunds.com
#13057 of 24700 Re: That Is Why [hpowders] by oac Jan 12, 2006 (5:05 pm)
Replying to: hpowders (Jan 12, 2006 10:14 am) Instead of bragging that its interiors are made of wood from the same tree, give me a vehicle that will steer with road feel and whose steering wheel is not made out of slippery wood. Give me a car that will corner without body lean instead of like a big, bloated barge. Give me a Bangle BMW 7 series! Howard: Your needs and desire in a car are NOT necessarily those of the majority. You hardly even notice the interior content of your car... LOL.... Need I remind you that BMW is NOT the benchmark in the HELM space. Far from it. In fact, BMW's only claim to fame is its driving dynamics. That's it. Oh, lets add the 4/50K free maintainance service.... The Bangle design remains as polarizing today as it was 3 yrs ago when the new 7-series came out. I certainly do NOT like it any longer. Even the new e90 is a poke in the eye of Bangle. If Bangle is such a styling genius that everyone is copying, how is it BMW banished him, and ensured their new e90 will NOT be Bangled ? The LS460 and the S550 will set the benchmark in this class starting in 2006. BMW would scramble to save 7-series sales. A re-do for the 7 won't be out of order, and soon too. Replies to this message: hpowders (Jan 12, 2006 5:40 pm)
#13058 of 24700 Predictions by pat HOST Jan 12, 2006 (5:06 pm)
While not exactly the same different gear that merc1 proposed, you might be interested in 2006 Predictions: The Lunch We All Wish We Had an Invite To. What do you think?
#13059 of 24700 2006 Maybach 57 S by pat HOST Jan 12, 2006 (5:13 pm)
You also may be interested in this article: First Drive: 2006 Maybach 57 S. Just thought I'd mention this as well since I'm here.
#13060 of 24700 Re: That Is Why [rayng] by hpowders Jan 12, 2006 (5:34 pm)
Replying to: rayng (Jan 12, 2006 4:47 pm) You know, I kind of think your clients wouldn't object if you transported them in a BMW 760Li. I and many, many others feel comparable BMW models are at least the equal in prestige as Mercedes. Call it what you will: "soul" or an undefinable metaphysical something else. All I know is BMW has it. Lexus doesn't. I suppose you can prove your rather omniscient statement: "Cars have no soul. People do." Replies to this message: rayng (Jan 12, 2006 5:51 pm) hpowders (Jan 12, 2006 6:48 pm) brightness04 (Jan 12, 2006 9:11 pm) blckislandguy (Jan 12, 2006 7:01 pm) dewey (Jan 12, 2006 7:44 pm) and 2 more... brightness04 (Jan 12, 2006 9:24 pm) and 2 more...
#13061 of 24700 Re: That Is Why [oac] by hpowders Jan 12, 2006 (5:40 pm)
Replying to: oac (Jan 12, 2006 5:05 pm) BMW banished Bangle? I thought BMW promoted him indicating he will be with the company for a very long time.
#13063 of 24700 Re: That Is Why [hpowders] by rayng Jan 12, 2006 (5:51 pm)
Replying to: hpowders (Jan 12, 2006 5:34 pm) Most clients notice what I don't drive more than what I drive. One day, I pulled up in my wife's Honda and they wondered if my car was in the shop. It was. Whereas my younger clients (30-40s) think bimmers are as good if not better than Mercs, most of my clients who are baby boomers do note a difference. As superficial and image conscious as we are(n't), many of the people I work for do notice. As to what BMW has and Lexus does not, I think it's a matter of preference. My dad's ES330 is smooth quiet and refined. The 745 is fun, fast, comfortable, and also refined. I do enjoy driving down my parking garage during the weekends. But other than that, I don't get to drive the car as aggressively as I like. Ultimately, the difference between Lexus, BMW, and Mercs is a matter of preference. BTW, I can't "prove" the supernatural. Can you prove BMW has a "soul"? Replies to this message: hpowders (Jan 12, 2006 6:48 pm) brightness04 (Jan 12, 2006 9:11 pm) blckislandguy (Jan 12, 2006 7:01 pm) dewey (Jan 12, 2006 7:44 pm) tagman (Jan 12, 2006 7:46 pm) and 1 more... brightness04 (Jan 12, 2006 9:24 pm) tagman (Jan 12, 2006 10:00 pm) and 1 more...