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Sedans 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
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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Just got back from Belmont. Some informational tidbits I got from chatting with the LS specialist (to be taken with a grain of salt...he seemed reasonably well-informed, but could be wrong about certain things) -LS600hL will start around 88k...at that price, it will be configured as in the preview brochure -AWD will come to the LS460 late CY2007 at the earliest. Original plan had been CY2008, but they are working to move it up. Big disappointment to me personally, as I require AWD and the 600hL's trunk is going to be too small for me. -Top management has mandated that every Lexus vehicle will be offered with a hybrid option by the end of 2009, at a price premium of no more than $1500. He said some of the engineers are a bit panicked about this (I assume because the price point will be a challenge). -Lexus is "toying" with diesel and/or diesel/hybrid for the LS. Doesn't sound like a near-term event. When I suggested that clean diesel circa CY2007 from the Germans looks pretty interesting vs hybrid, he said that GM has shown that designing good diesel engines is easier than designing a good hybrid system. -Neither the LS or GS guys had heard of the JX. As far as my personal experience with the drives, I think a 1-minute test drive isn't enough to guage a vehicle. My only comment from the short experience with the LS is that the steering felt a bit light to me. I got on line for the S550 but gave up after 10 minutes because it looked like the line would take another 30-40 minutes....they didn't have as many S550s or 750s as compared to the LS. I also drove the IS250 and IS350, RX400h, and ES350, as they had shortish lines. Overall, it was pretty fun for me because I normally don't drive aggressively...at this event, one of the Lexus people told me to "take a little off next time" after I finished with the ES350, and that driving that aggressively (I had made the tires, which I assume were not very sporting, squeal like crazy, and the VDIM or something beep at me) was more appropriate for the GS/IS course. (And I hadn't even hit any cones, which is something I saw one guy do in the S550, and heard another guy talk about doing in both the LS and S.) Anyway, for me personally, an LS460 in AWD trim is still the leading possibility, but we're talking 12+ months from now based on availability, and I'll be able to take lenghthy test drives of the S and new 7 when the time comes. So, I'm keeping an open mind.
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Since the LS will be a smash hit, delaying the AWD only makes sense, as it will not be needed early on, and it's a nice follow up to a strong 2007. I have to confirm, but I should be scheduled for A Taste next Sunday. Want to drive the S, the IS350, and the LS.  DrFill |
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Replying to: houdini1 (Oct 22, 2006 1:35 pm) |
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Replying to: anthonyp (Oct 22, 2006 1:55 pm)  I agree with you. Hopefully all former posters taking a "sabbatical leave" will come back one day. It's only cars. There is so much to life that is really more important. Some folks are taking this stuff much too seriously and are exhibiting childish behavior. Boycotting the HELM thread. Do you realize how ridiculous this sounds? Life is too short to waste it on being angry and carrying grudges. Nobody should really care that much if I prefer BMW to Lexus. To each his own and peace be with everybody.
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Replying to: unknown (Oct 22, 2006 2:19 pm) The only 2 cars I will be checking out are the LS460 and ES350. I will be keeping in mind that these 2 cars have been deliberately engineered toward luxury. I will not be driving them with BMW performance in mind. The IS is too cramped for me and the GS450h is a disaster. |
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Replying to: hpowders (Oct 22, 2006 3:05 pm) You can always get back in line and drive again, and I've no idea how crowded/uncrowded it will be at the event you go to. But it does seem like a long way to drive. You could instead opt to take the vehicles out for extended drives at your local dealer. Some dealers will even loan you a demo car overnight.
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Replying to: hpowders (Oct 22, 2006 2:59 pm) 100% agreed. In the past I have sometimes gotten frustrated myself, and even took a sabbatical once. But you're right, people shouldn't get too worked up over the debates that go on here. It isn't life or death. Or even politics. |
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Replying to: syswei (Oct 22, 2006 3:22 pm) In other words, no pressure at the Lexus Taste. |
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Replying to: unknown (Oct 22, 2006 2:19 pm) I don't know about this one Doc. With this car coming out in the dead smack middle of the NE winter, AWD would look more admirable to the potential buyer. But then again, the S550 was late also with AWD. And the sales never wavered one bit. So you may be one to something. |
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Replying to: tagman (Oct 21, 2006 8:48 pm) Hey Tagman, I had the great fortune of lurking here and noticed your discussion with brightness. I have not a clue how my name got involved here?  Unfortunately Brightness does not understand that a person like myself can have both an accountant's designation and a CFA designation at the same time. There are many Accountants with a CFA designation. The fact that Brightness expresses such a strong opinion about two professions in which he happens to be so misinformed about does not surprise me at all. Especially after reading his views on cars. Anyways back to my vacation from Edmunds (need to catch up with the non-virtaul parts of my life). This time I am serious. Well at least I hope so.  Looking forward to future discussions with you and fellow forum members. Take Care Dewey |
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