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High End Luxury Cars
24723 messages, Last post on Jan 28, 2013 at 6:55 PM
You are in the Sedans Forum.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.
#1313 of 24723 Sounds like BMW took the features of several cars... by lemko
Jul 03, 2001 (5:48 pm)
...and incorporated them into the new 745i. The Lexus LS430 has the electric sunshades as does the Infiniti I30. The door closers and openers as the auto opening and closing decklid are from the 1992-99 generation Mercedes S-Class and the rear vanity mirrors are from a Cadillac Fleetwood.I find it amusing the one gentleman saying a poster's observations were "bolony." I'm sure anybody who can afford a 7-Series BMW is literate enough to spell "baloney" or "bologna."
#1314 of 24723 pablo by badtoy
Jul 03, 2001 (7:45 pm)
way late on this one, but I'd like to answer your comment that "All I am saying is that BMW is not known for great timeless designs. I do think Bemmers are great cars, but I also think they age less gracefully than a Merc or a Jag. They've had a few bigs hits (like the 3-series that came out in '92 or so), but most of them are, while not downright bland, not very innovative, either."The 507 (correct me if I got the nubmers wrong, it's been awhile) was one of the most beautiful cars to come out of the late 50s; the late-60s CSi was also a high-water mark in European sedans; and the 633/635 series of the late 70s and early 80s was sublime. The 850 of the early 90s was the last BMW I truly lusted after, and I keep waiting for them to repeat it. All it needed was a drivetrain to match the looks.
Sorry -- you and I part ways on this one. BMWs have the best continuity of passionate design of any automaker save Ferrari and perhaps Alfa.
#1315 of 24723 Audi has auto rear sunshades and built-in side shades by moimeme
Jul 03, 2001 (7:51 pm)
#1316 of 24723 badtoy... by pablo_l
Jul 04, 2001 (12:36 pm)
First of all, all respect for your opinion, which of course is just as valid as mine.
All in all, we all know there are no absolutes when it comes to taste, that is for sure, and I am not making a generic claim on this. I, humbly and personally, just have the impression that, when talking about all time classics in automotive design history, Ferrari, Bugatti, Mercedes, Aston Martin, Bentley and Rolls pop up to mind, and BMW does not. When I look at http://www.bmw.com/bmwe/pulse/heritage/klassiker/index.html , I truly don't see something that, if I were a million dollar car collector, would truly make me go crazy. The 3/15 is only remarkable for its simplicity. The 328 steals French design cues from the time. The 502 is entirely unremarkable. The Isetta goes back to very basic technology. The 507 liberally steals Italian design cues (Ferrari, Maserati) from the time. The 1500 is what made BMW a great brand: remarkable engineering savvy in a sporty, cost-efficient package, with the emphasis certainly not being on design, again. And the M1, let's admit it, is a rather forgettable supercar. The 8-series is a wonderfully competent GT, but again, I think the design is not ageing all that well.
I do overstate the point for the sake of the argument, but I think you can sense where I come from: no doubt BMW is a great car brand. But what makes them great is not necessarily design - different brands are made great by different strengths: Ferrari is performance and design, Mercedes competence and elegance, Rolls luxurious oppulence... and BMW is about competent technology. They've been upwardly mobile throughout their history, but I don't think they've yet build a super-car that made the world stand still just by standing there and being looked at. You got to sit behind the wheel of a BMW to appreciate their core competence.
#1317 of 24723 Electric Sunshades on new BMW 745i - sides not rear by is4b2rd
Jul 04, 2001 (3:30 pm)
The electric sunshades that I was referring to on the new 745i are the rear door shades, for the main window and the quarter windows. BMW is first to market with this cool feature and I am sure others will follow suit quickly. I think it is a great feature because there have been times while driving that I would have liked to lower the shades on the passenger side window, but it is a bit of a stretch. Having electric control makes it much easier.#1318 of 24723 pablo... by bitkahuna
Jul 04, 2001 (5:40 pm)
What about the Z8? I think its design is fabulous and will age well, although the guage pod in the center of the dash was a huge mistake.#1319 of 24723 by arcoates
Jul 04, 2001 (7:53 pm)
The Cadillac Catera had a rear sunshade in 1997, and that is by no means a great car. So let's not make it out as if BMW stole ideas from it's competitors, and it's nothing but a copy cat. BMW had electric trunk closers on the previous 7 series models. But, to make it in this market, a company must offer what thier competitors offer. But there is a fine line between adding equipment packages and copying the entire car~ A.R.#1320 of 24723 Umm by rexconde1
Jul 04, 2001 (9:08 pm)
Why are we so wrapped up in the electric shades...Robert
#1321 of 24723 Wrapped up in electric shades by is4b2rd
Jul 05, 2001 (3:49 am)
I was just replying to comments about the new electric shades in the 745i. Others comments thought I was mentioning the rear window shade. I was talking about the electric SIDE window shades, which I believe is unique to this car. Also, I guess I wasn't clear on the electric trunk opener/closer. This feature actually opens the trunk ALL the way electrically and closes it ALL the way electrically. This works the same way as the option on the S and CL-Class.#1322 of 24723 by arcoates
Jul 05, 2001 (10:25 am)
That is a very cool feature, and useful. Most of those cars, at least I think, only open the lock on the trunk when you hit the button. They do not actually OPEN the trunk up. I like that feature a lot.is4b2rd- are you saying you actually drove the 754i as well?~ A.R.
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