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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.



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#19703 of 24700
Re: BusinessWeek on BMW - Great Article [tagman] by dewey
Oct 09, 2006 (3:05 pm)
Reply

Replying to: tagman (Oct 09, 2006 2:44 pm)

other words, Lexus vehicles aren't "better-handling" than BMWs, they are "better-handling" than previous Lexus vehicles . . . which he further explains makes them something to be aware of.
 
Good interpretation!
 
If Lexus will produce a car that can serious handle and perform like a BMW I would be a very happy camper!
I am hoping that my next car will not be a BMW. Not that I dislike BMWs but I do like novelty and change when I buy new cars.
#19704 of 24700
Dewey!!!! by blkhemi
Oct 09, 2006 (3:07 pm)
Reply
Please tell me that you were just nipping at Tag when you said the A8 will take the BMW's place.
 
The A8 is still built with the most technology available in it's class. And not just i-Drive.......
#19705 of 24700
Re: BusinessWeek on BMW - Great Article [hpowders] by lexusguy
Oct 09, 2006 (3:12 pm)
Reply

Replying to: hpowders (Oct 09, 2006 1:59 pm)

The Lexus 450h came in dead last in an absolutely scathing review-nothing good was said about this vehicle.
 
Yeah the last thing the GS needs is more weight and a lifeless transmission to go along with its lifeless steering. The GS350 with its hydraulic rack is a much smarter choice than the 450h. Its essentially just as fast, with similar mpg.
 
Next year's Infiniti will be the same as this year's Infiniti. It will be refreshed for the '09 MY, which should mean a change to white gauges, more power for the V6 and possibly a displacement bump for the V8, and an updated interior.
#19706 of 24700
Re: BusinessWeek on BMW - Great Article [hpowders] by dewey
Oct 09, 2006 (3:18 pm)
Reply

Replying to: hpowders (Oct 09, 2006 1:59 pm)

Based on that Businessweek article I think Munich has not a clue ?
 
While you sleep, your BMW will scour the Net -- via Wi-Fi and other connections -- collecting, say, 15 minutes of new jazz followed by a 10-minute podcast on the energy industry. It may sound far-fetched, but
 
Is BMW trying to out-search Google? Are they trying to out-Pod Apple?
 
BMW appears to be going a bit off tangent. Geographically Munich is not Silicon Valley. Industry-wise BMW is in the auto industry and not in the Silicon Valley industry of high-tech
 
#19707 of 24700
Re: BusinessWeek on BMW - Great Article [anthonyp] by hpowders
Oct 09, 2006 (3:20 pm)
Reply

Replying to: anthonyp (Oct 09, 2006 2:49 pm)

You are probably correct, my friend.
 
I did drive the M45 last year and at that time I was not impressed. The car felt heavy compared to the 545, the engine had a roar to it that would prove annoying over time, the steering felt a little phony and I couldn't find a comfortable fit for my left foot. I also didn't care for the wood-looked too thin-almost see-through. That center stack looked kind of weird too. Also the rear tail lights at night make the vehicle look like a pimp mobile. It's more of a younger person's car-35-45 years old max. I wouldn't feel comfortable with the styling. And the gas mileage is SUV-like.
However, the brakes were terrific-better than the BMW's.
Needless to say, all criticisms of the M45 were absent regarding the 545, a true masterpiece, seriously flawed only by the iDrive.
 
But the M45 keeps winning the comparos, so I will grudgingly take another look next year.
 
Looking forward to driving the LS and seeing for myself if any of the criticism I have read are valid. Would like to spend a lot of time with the LS. Perhaps they will let me drive it twice, if it's not too busy, and I tell them I came from far away. (If they read some of my previous posts, they may think that may be a different galaxy!)
 
May bypass the GS450h. C&D absolutely tore this vehicle apart in its latest issue. Pretty much what I felt about the GS 430. ( but not the GS 300, which I liked. )
#19708 of 24700
Re: BusinessWeek on BMW - Great Article [dewey] by hpowders
Oct 09, 2006 (3:22 pm)
Reply

Replying to: dewey (Oct 09, 2006 3:18 pm)

There has been such a snowballing of criticism regarding the iDrive.
Since sales of the 5 Series have been up big time, BMW doesn't have to listen to the uproar.
If sales slowed down to a crawl, they would listen real well.
#19709 of 24700
Re: Dewey!!!! [blkhemi] by dewey
Oct 09, 2006 (3:30 pm)
Reply

Replying to: blkhemi (Oct 09, 2006 3:07 pm)

Please tell me that you were just nipping at Tag when you said the A8 will take the BMW's place
The A8 is still built with the most technology available in it's class. And not just i-Drive

 
I honestly dont know what it will be? Whichever car provides the best "drive" and not neccessarily the best idrive or mmi system?
#19710 of 24700
Re: BusinessWeek on BMW - Great Article [lexusguy] by hpowders
Oct 09, 2006 (3:45 pm)
Reply

Replying to: lexusguy (Oct 09, 2006 3:12 pm)

Regarding the GS 450h, C & D couldn't stand the constant clatter as the car noisly switched between gas and electric modes-what C & D refers to as a "sonorous racket"-in addition to the usual suspects-the brakes, the steering, the lack of sportiness. What C & D refers to as "Dismal Dynamics."
Add the practically useless 8 cu ft. trunk to this horrid mix, and I see this vehicle being withdrawn faster than you can say "Accord Hybrid."
 
This was as bad a review as I have ever seen on a vehicle from an upscale manufacturer.
 
Let's stop all this hybrid foolishness and bring on the cleaner diesel vehicles to market as quickly as possible.
#19711 of 24700
Re: BusinessWeek on BMW - Great Article [tagman] by merc1
Oct 09, 2006 (10:16 pm)
Reply

Replying to: tagman (Oct 09, 2006 7:12 am)

While I believe that Lexus has BMW in their sights, I only see them going so far with it. This isn't easy to explain, but a Lexus just isn't built like a BMW. BMW's suspension, steering and penchant for manual gearboxes will see to that. Lexus has proven that they'll only go so far in their quest to compete with BMW with the IS350. The car has a killer engine, but fall flat in the chassis and gearbox areas. Ditto (even worse) for the GS vs. the 5-Series. Now since "sport" isn't as important at the 7-Series level they can make more progress against BMW there. If this IS500 does come to be a reality, I highly doubt it will have a stick shift to compete with the next M3 and the RS4, it will be more a C63 AMG competitor than anything else. Lexus can chase BMW in flair and styling and what not, but those core values that make BMW drivers put up with idrive and sometimes wierd styling are safe from Lexus, IMO.
 
Lexus simply put just isn't going to build a machine as hardcore as Sport packaged, manual tranny BMW. Also, I really don't seem them making something like an M3 or M5 when it comes to track work. Lexus' reason for being is Mercedes-Benz and it will stay that way IMO. BMW is a different thing all together and they've proven so far that they aren't really serious about tackling BMW.
 
What Lexus will do however is pull some BMW intenders or wannabes, not their traditional fan base, unless they make some fairly radical changes to what they think a peformance car should be. This would shop Infiniti (G35s specifically) before Lexus. Guys like Habitat, Blueguydotcom and others on the ELLPS board. You should check out that board, they're a lively group. Ask Habitat who steered him in the right direction concerning his 911.
 
M
#19712 of 24700
Re: BIG DIESEL NEWS!! [dewey] by merc1
Oct 09, 2006 (10:19 pm)
Reply

Replying to: dewey (Oct 09, 2006 7:19 am)

read in Autoweek that Audi, VW and BMW agreed to use MB's Blutec system in order to accomplish selling cars that can pass tough emissions standards like that in California.
 
Isn't this grand! The more things change the mroe they stay the same, Mercedes-Benz showing the way!!!
 
M

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