High End Luxury Cars

24699 messages, Last post on Nov 30, 2009 at 6:41 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

Messages Page 1353 of 2471: 1; ...; 1350; 1351; 1352; 1353; 1354; 1355; 1356; ...; 2471; Prev; Next; Last

#13516 of 24699 Re: S-Class [merc1] by lexusguy Jan 20, 2006 (5:55 am)
Replying to: merc1 (Jan 19, 2006 11:59 pm) Impressive, it sounds as though it makes short work of the A8 in terms of handling, thats unusual for a Benz. I really dont like those 800,000 identical silver buttons though, nor am I a fan of Mercedes' new steering wheel design. Not quite as bad as this one, which I think was the worst Benz wheel ever, but close.
#13518 of 24699 merc1 by syswei Jan 20, 2006 (9:32 am)
I noticed that autospies had only the S550, S600, S65, and 4matic in their cy2006 timeline. When will a 450 appear? Will they sell a 350 here? Diesels? Replies to this message: merc1 (Jan 20, 2006 2:07 pm) jrock65 (Jan 20, 2006 2:11 pm) merc1 (Jan 20, 2006 2:16 pm) syswei (Jan 20, 2006 2:21 pm) tagman (Jan 20, 2006 6:04 pm)
#13519 of 24699 Re: S-Class [merc1] by garyh1 Jan 20, 2006 (10:40 am)
Replying to: merc1 (Jan 19, 2006 11:59 pm) A few observations: 1. Technology: WOW. Sounds like they once again have achieved making a large car drive better than anyone believes it should. Seats and stereo sound amazing. But is there still no easy big dial to increase the volume of the radio? I love those 2 big rotary dials on my LS that let me (or my less tech-oriented spouse next to me) kick up the volume or slide up a few MHz to another station without having to think which button or combination of buttons I need to press. AND NOTE THE FOLLOWING: "Dynamic control invasive if the car begins to oversteer. And the system cannot be disabled." I wonder if germancarfans will knock this the way they knock the Lexus cars for this. 2. Styling: I can't wait to see it in person to judge for myself. The wheel flares and trunk bulge still turn me off in the pics, especially in the light colors where the shadows exaggerate the design elements. Maybe I could live with it in real life? I'd hate to have to rule the car out just on a design, like I have had to do with the A8 based on its just too, too ugly nose. NOTE TO GERMANCARFANS: NOT MUCH WOOD ON THE DASH, BUT THERE IS ON THE STEERING WHEEL! Oh no, MB goes Lexus just where I dislike it the most.... 3. Reliability: Can you imagine trying to maintain this car once the warranty is over- even if MB's past problems are resolved? Scary.... 4. Pricing: Starting at $86K, and then adding $18K more in options! Ow. I don't suppose there will be a well-equipped S430 version for a lot less than that? But I guess MSRP (and to a lesser extent, long-term reliability)doesn't matter if you can lease it for no money down, $499/month for 36 months. Any way you cut it, it's sure going to be interesting to compare the new S and the new LS! And Merc1, ditto everyone else's comments on a great and comprehensive report on the Detroit show! Replies to this message: syswei (Jan 20, 2006 10:59 am) oac (Jan 20, 2006 12:33 pm) jrock65 (Jan 20, 2006 2:03 pm) michael_mattox (Jan 21, 2006 10:40 am) merc1 (Jan 20, 2006 2:14 pm) michael_mattox (Jan 21, 2006 10:42 am)
#13520 of 24699 Re: S-Class [garyh1] by syswei Jan 20, 2006 (10:59 am)
Replying to: garyh1 (Jan 20, 2006 10:40 am) no money down, $499/month for 36 months Where do I sign?
#13521 of 24699 Re: S-Class [garyh1] by oac Jan 20, 2006 (12:33 pm)
Replying to: garyh1 (Jan 20, 2006 10:40 am) I did read Edmund's review of the S550. It was glowing mostly... I concur that this car will make a HUGE impact on the HELM sector when it gets released (within weeks, I suppose). For such a big and large car to corner flat is amazing. I love the cool non-shifter "shifter". Now that is a really cool feature I'd love on any car. 80mph and barely nudging 2K rpm ? Nice. But 6.1s to 60, with 382HP and 5.5L sounds slow, or am I imagining things wrongly ? Doesn't the 278HP LS430 do 0-60 in under 6s already ??? Overall, the technology in that car is impressive, the ride equally impressive, about the biggest complaint for me is the price - $86 to 104K ??? Ouch !!! That is serious money to shell out, lease or purchase. Maybe the lease rate will be generous and you can get one leased for under $1200/month... The car will be hot, and should do very well in the market. Good job, MB.. Replies to this message: jrock65 (Jan 20, 2006 2:03 pm) michael_mattox (Jan 21, 2006 10:40 am)
#13522 of 24699 LS460 pricing by jrock65 Jan 20, 2006 (1:59 pm)
This is according to someone else, who got it from his dealer. Personally, I think the dealer is talking out of his ass, but here goes: "LS460 Base $64,900 (fully loaded $85,000) LS460L Supposedly only comes fully loaded - $89,900 LS600hL $115,000 (only comes fully loaded) He said Lexus is trying to reduce the number of packages available to make it easier for them to produce. Also, he said the new LS600hL will have 140hp more than the LS460. So, that equates to about 520hp. It will get 35MPG in town. 460L will get about 20-21 in town. LS460L and 600hL will have AWD standard." Replies to this message: syswei (Jan 20, 2006 2:19 pm)
#13523 of 24699 Re: S-Class [oac] by jrock65 Jan 20, 2006 (2:03 pm)
Replying to: oac (Jan 20, 2006 12:33 pm) "But 6.1s to 60, with 382HP and 5.5L sounds slow, or am I imagining things wrongly ? Doesn't the 278HP LS430 do 0-60 in under 6s already ???" Edmunds gets the lowest 0-60 times for all cars, probably because they don't torque brake. For example, the got 6.1s for the IS350. C&D got 5.3s 0-60 for the S550 in their recent test. Replies to this message: michael_mattox (Jan 21, 2006 10:40 am)
#13524 of 24699 Re: merc1 [syswei] by merc1 Jan 20, 2006 (2:07 pm)
Replying to: syswei (Jan 20, 2006 9:32 am) I noticed that autospies had only the S550, S600, S65, and 4matic in their cy2006 timeline. When will a 450 appear? Will they sell a 350 here? Diesels? I asked all these question to MB reps in Detroit. I was told by one person that there will be no S450 and that there will be by another. The first rep came over during our conversation and said that there will be NO S450. Doesn't make sense to me. They both agreed that the new S320 CDI will be sold here sometime in 2007. The S450 and S63 AMG remain a mystery at this point. There is no way Mercedes developed a new 4.6L V8 for just the GL450. M Replies to this message: jrock65 (Jan 20, 2006 2:11 pm) merc1 (Jan 20, 2006 2:16 pm) syswei (Jan 20, 2006 2:21 pm) tagman (Jan 20, 2006 6:04 pm)