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Sedans High End Luxury Cars
24697 messages, Last post on Nov 28, 2009 at 3:09 PM
You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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.
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Replying to: blkhemi (Aug 11, 2006 6:35 pm) I agree on the interiors. The German cars are, well German. The attention to the smallest details in the A8 and the new S is of course first rate. Every last piece has been calculated to absolute perfection. That, I think, is what German luxury is all about. The inside of the QP is also incredibly luxurious, but in an Italian style. It's in the look, the feel, rather than ultimate build quality. The QP reminds me of the famous Italian speaker company, Sonus Faber. They use lute shaped cabinets, with hand matched wood panels, leather baffles, and silk wire grilles. To Sonus Faber, the look and feel is just as important as the sound quality. The QP is not an engineering tour de force like the new S class, and it feels out of its element on bumpy city streets. What the QP does have though is soul inside and out, that you can't get from Jaguar, Mercedes, Audi, or BMW, and certainly not Lexus. It's not a well rounded car, but it is a fantastic Italian drivers car.
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Replying to: lexusguy (Aug 11, 2006 9:58 pm) And yes, the soul of the QP is undoubtedly tops in the class. |
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Some of us have been working hard to get this discussion back on the right track. Unfortunately there are a couple of you who don't want to cooperate. That's a real shame - this used to be such a high-class discussion. I know others join me in hating to see it going down the drain like this. I have removed a bunch of posts whose primary purpose was to snipe at one or more other discussion members. I'm going to continue to do so. If you are not able to keep your post focused on the cars, understand that it's not going to live very long. Thanks to those who have been trying to get this ship righted. We would all appreciate everyone else's cooperation. 
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much time looking at the QP. I can tell you that looking at the S8 at the Audi driving event in Dallas [southfork ranch for he release of the Q7] It is as stunning a car in the class and I would bet the house that most people would say the same. If I needed four doors that could perform like the QP then I might jump on it [finances permitting  ] However, I would probably take a GT3RS for maybe a little more money and have an awesome track car. The S8 will scare the pants of any unsuspecting soul riding in the front, while those in back would have no idea. My two cents, worth about two cents. |
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Replying to: lexusguy (Aug 11, 2006 9:58 pm) Basically, you are distinguishing between sport and luxury, road cars and living-room cars, and the levels at which they are achieved. Although I have not driven a Quattroporte I wouldn’t say you can’t get soul from a BMW. Their sport-tuned suspensions are impeccable. However a Quattroporte owner who also had an E39 M5 said he really likes the Q better. I pine for said M5. Maybe I shouldn’t drive the Q lest I get ruined. I don’t know though, I’m not a fan of low low-end-torque and high redline in the heavyweights, not to mention the sequential gearbox. Plus, a slushbox contradicts that type of engine. |
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Replying to: dewey (Aug 11, 2006 7:26 pm)  TagMan |
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I am currently into the last year of a 3 year lease of a Lexus LS430 and at this point I feel that I can give a good objective summary of this car. (By the way, I have also leased BMWs, MB's Infiniti and Lexus in the past). Before I got this car, I had considered the A8L (SWB was not available at that time),BMW 7 and MB S Class. The A8L was so long that it would not fit in my garage and I felt like a limo driver. I liked the ride but I was hesitant about Audi quality reputation and while I liked the interior, I was not in love with the exterior and it did not "feel" like a 70-80K car to me. The S Class stole my heart in terms of looks and image. But I had heard so many horror stories about electronics issues and with the lease price a good 400 per month more than the Lexus, I couldn't bring myself to pull the trigger. If the price would have been within 200 per month, I would have taken a shot that the quality issues would not apply to my car. But to stretch to 400 and be in the service shop was not my thing. The 7 series did not feel luxurious enough to me for the price and, not that it's a bad thing, but I "only" felt like I was driving a big 3 series, a car I had and loved. So I went with the "value" play and to me it is a compromise. (another big reason was that I wanted blue tooth conductivity for hands free and the others didn't offer at the time). While the car has a fantastic build quality and everything works the right way every time, it is not an inspiring car to drive. I got it for comfort, reliability and convenience and it delivers very well on those. However it definitely lacks the driving dynamics of the Euros. It floats over the road and doesn't convey the feeling of control that one gets from the Euros mentioned above. Sometimes I find myself getting a bit weary because I feel disconnected from the drive. The seats are OK, like a nice couch but I prefer the firmer more supportive MB, BMW style. I wish the steering was more connected and tighter even if just in highway driving not canyon carving. Great radio, great electronics in the Lexus and one gets the idea that this car will continue to be fully functional and flawless for 200,000 miles or more. All said, I think my next car will be European. I love the new S Class and while I haven't driven one, I may be tempted especially if they bring a smaller engine at a lower price. To me,that is still the king of the road luxury car with the most solid feel and good compromise between lux and sport (The last S430 I did drive). I look at the S Class and I think that it's the pinnacle and there's no where else to go (I wouldn't drive a Maybach,Rolls etc even if I could ever afford one or won the lottery) Or maybe the BMW, if it improves with the next 7 with a turbo engine and fixing the electronic glitches. Lexus is still a value based company in my opinion. Meaning that they must undercut the Europeans in price since they still lack in prestige even though it's amazing how far they've come in such a short time. Dollar for dollar being equal or close, I would have gone with the S Class last time around, but while my heart wanted the S, my brain convinced me to go with the LS which had more goodies for less money with the reliability aspect added in for good measure. I think it would be premature for them to price their cars equal or close to the Euros. I for one would love to see them take a stab at a sport version (like AMG or M) with firm seats, tighter steering etc) but I think that the marketing types and bean counters are looking at the typical US Lexus owner who wants the best Caddy, Town Car ever made. And it's that by a long shot. Do they want to alienate their core clients or dilute their approach for the sake a few guys like us that rant and rave on Edmunds! In the end, they are running a business to make a profit and to grab market share. As long as they are very successful I don't think we will see them change their strategy. |
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