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

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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#18236 of 24697 Re: Lexus future plans\models [syswei] by lexusguy Aug 22, 2006 (4:45 am)
Replying to: syswei (Aug 22, 2006 3:34 am) No problem. You could consider a 2-year lease on a JX, which would give you the option to trade in for an all new LX570 for 2010.
#18237 of 24697 LS 460 Frankel Review by hpowders Aug 22, 2006 (8:00 am)
Another review of the LS460, this one from Andrew Frankel of the "Times Online" was posted on August 20th. The review was quite positive. He even called the vehicle, "extraordinary." However, he had to spoil things a bit by saying it's "A car for the head, not the heart." He gave it 4 out of 5 stars which is just about as good as it gets with the sedate "Times of London." I caught the "MotorWeek" first look at the LS 460 on PBS the other day. They did everything but reveal driving impressions. Quite frustrating, but it wasn't supposed to be a test drive. They showed a comprehensive view of the exterior and interior and the vehicle in motion. They also showed the LS460L. I must say, I was impressed with the appearance of the LS460 as shown on that program-a huge improvement over the current version.
#18238 of 24697 Re: WHOA??? [blkhemi] by syswei Aug 22, 2006 (8:48 am)
Replying to: blkhemi (Aug 21, 2006 2:46 pm) Well, if you're still concerned about collision avoidance, the LS460 does have certain features that are clearly lacking in the S. See the Times of London LS460 review (here) that hpowders mentioned. In that box are six infrared eyes logging the position of your features so it can build up a picture of your mug. It doesn’t matter how tall or short you are or from which ethnic group. It can see you in the pitch black even when you can’t see it and you won’t faze it by donning dark glasses. And while it’s watching you, so another set of eyes, in the form of radar and cameras, is watching the road. This way the car can not only spot danger approaching from the back or front of the car, it can also tell whether you’re looking out of the side window or are fast asleep at the wheel as you hurtle towards this life-threatening hazard. If it figures that your attention is not where it should be, it will flash lights, bleep at you and nudge the brakes until it decides you’re back in control. And if you don’t snap out of your stupor it won’t just nudge the brakes, it’ll slam them on to save you from yourself. While some will see this as an unnecessary interference and worry about a car with the ability to exercise such a degree of control over its driver, it’s hard to argue against a system that is only ever active when it’s trying to save your life. And that’s not all this extraordinary car will do. While self-braking vehicles are not new, systems from Honda and Mercedes require the obstacle to be metallic, which is fine if it’s a car you’re about to wallop but entirely ineffective when a child runs out in front of you. The Lexus, by contrast, sees all, or so its maker claims. It will stiffen the suspension in anticipation of you trying to swerve around the danger and it even has eyes in the back of its head, or the rear bumper to be more precise, permanently scanning for something about to come smashing into the back of you. If it reckons that’s on the cards, it will move your headrest forward and up to minimise whiplash. Replies to this message: blkhemi (Aug 22, 2006 1:07 pm)
#18239 of 24697 Re: Lexus future plans\models [lexusguy] by houdini1 Aug 22, 2006 (1:07 pm)
Replying to: lexusguy (Aug 21, 2006 4:13 pm) Thanks for the info LG. I am a owner and big fan of the LX 470. My wife is the primary driver but I love to take it on long trips. It is just so darn comfortable. NVH is incrediblly low on this vehicle. I am glad it is not going away as I had heard. It would have been a shame and a waste. IMO no other SUV is even in the same category.
#18240 of 24697 Re: WHOA??? [syswei] by blkhemi Aug 22, 2006 (1:07 pm)
Replying to: syswei (Aug 22, 2006 8:48 am) The info that in this piece is incorrect. The 132,000 color camera/screen that resides in the grille of the S550 sees all things with daylight accuracy, and in the event of a near collision or if the object is deemed to close, it brakes the car accordingly and alerts the driver with audio/visual warnings. I'm sure the LS' system is nice, and is ground-breaking, only 8 months after the S550 indroduced it.
#18241 of 24697 Re: WHOA??? [brightness04] by blkhemi Aug 22, 2006 (1:11 pm)
Replying to: brightness04 (Aug 21, 2006 7:15 pm) Lexus doesn't have the gall to price the base LS460 over 60k with a '06 LS430 starting at only $56k. This is just business sense. About the self-park system, if you read correctly, I did say "Lexus" says the system operates this way. Nice joke about the S, altho the S550 is still the only one to fully brake without the dtivers intervention. If the LS' approach systems are fogged or rained on, it doesn't work.
#18242 of 24697 Re: WHOA??? [brightness04] by blkhemi Aug 22, 2006 (1:16 pm)
Replying to: brightness04 (Aug 21, 2006 7:21 pm) There have been several complaints about drivers not being able to hear emergency vehicles in the LS. Funny thing is, in one of the LS430's earlier commercials, the guy speaks on how you can COMPLETELY block out the outside environment. Not a coincedence they removed the ad?
#18244 of 24697 Re: Lexus future plans\models [lexusguy] by blkhemi Aug 22, 2006 (1:24 pm)
Replying to: lexusguy (Aug 21, 2006 4:13 pm) LG, a great compiled list you have for Lexus. I do wonder tho. Why is Lexus holding out on the supposed IS500? The car has been seen numerous times going around the N'Ring in Germany, in both coupe and sedan form. With Audi, BMW, MB, and Caddy offering V8 power, no doubt Lexus wants to be the first Japanese maker to follow suit. The RX is due for remake in only 4 years? Very much out of the Lexus norm. But hey, things do change, except that by the time the LX570 rolls around, the LX470 will be 14 years old since the SUV has been on sale in Japan and the Far East since '97. BTW: Since you're closer to Lexus than I am, please tell them, for all intents and purposes, please do not go from bad to worst in regard to the SC. The bulby body of the current to the frown of the 6-Series-like model will for sure keep things confusing for the once elegant car. The love I have for the 6-Series is akin to the love you have for a sweet ugly girl: The best is on the inside. Replies to this message: lexusguy (Aug 22, 2006 8:41 pm) merc1 (Aug 22, 2006 8:44 pm)
#18245 of 24697 Re: WHOA??? [merc1] by blkhemi Aug 22, 2006 (1:33 pm)
Replying to: merc1 (Aug 22, 2006 12:52 am) The S600 so impressed me with the 2nd drive that the S65 seemed unnecessary. Don't get me wrong. The S65 is the best thing with 4-doors to get to 60 in 4 secs. flat. But the utter opulance the S600 exhibits makes it the best thing for the money. And I get 20 MPG on the highway, with all of the MB stuff standard. The only option was the moonstone metallic paint w/ anti scratch/chip. And for the heck of it, I ordered a set of 20" AMG wheels with Michelin run-flats. Total cost: $146k, including freight and MB worry-free 120k mile Extended Protection from head to toe. To hear the the thunder from a German V12 without the need to ever have to worry about something breaking: Priceless. Let the fun began. Replies to this message: brightness04 (Aug 22, 2006 4:50 pm) houdini1 (Aug 23, 2006 6:45 am) blkhemi (Aug 23, 2006 1:46 pm)