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.

Outline

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#20511 of 24700 Re: I hope... [drfill] by blkhemi Oct 28, 2006 (5:11 am)
Replying to: drfill (Oct 27, 2006 8:59 pm) Yes Doc, it is true. Toyota has finally entered the horsepower war, and the Tundra is said to develop a stout 370-380hp out of it's new from scratch 5.7L i-Force V-8. Earlier in the year, Toyota's Vice-President of NA Trucks said this was a move to instill no doubt that this engine will bring down even the mighty 5.7L HEMI. Ironically, they have the same displacement. But Dodge has something up there sleeve with the 6.1L 420hp HEMI that is going into the '07 Rams as top dog. This engine also will in effect move the 4.7 to the middle of the engine availability. It also will replace the 4.7's in the LC/LX's eventually, along with a 6-speed tranny.
#20512 of 24700 Re: MB marketting quirks [tagman] by blkhemi Oct 28, 2006 (5:20 am)
Replying to: tagman (Oct 27, 2006 12:04 pm) Yes, I read something in Autocar a couple of months ago that Porsche was playing with the idea of making the 911 EVEN MORE hardcore. For one, they're working with Audi now as I type this with their new A4 and MLP platforms that will in effect give it a front-midship design for better performance and weight distribution. Now from what I can take from this, the only thing I can see is they're finally going to take the 911 front-engined after many years of debate to do so. That would give a bit better weight distribution and add some much needed weight over the front tires to alleviate that lifelessness feeling at high speeds due to hardly any weight over the front tires. Kinda reminds me of Merc's fav MB, the 500E, which Porsche made into an iconic status. That car to this day is still unbelieveable, right along with it's still-ridiculous price tag. The first E55 wasn't the car the 500E was, but these latest monsters will smoke it. Tho they still don't have the charisma or soul the 500E did. Replies to this message: tagman (Oct 28, 2006 12:04 pm) lexusguy (Oct 28, 2006 12:12 pm) blkhemi (Oct 28, 2006 1:13 pm)
#20513 of 24700 Re: I hope... [tagman] by hpowders Oct 28, 2006 (5:35 am)
Replying to: tagman (Oct 27, 2006 8:45 pm) Yes. Concise and to the point.
#20514 of 24700 Re: I hope... [dhamilton] by hpowders Oct 28, 2006 (5:45 am)
Replying to: dhamilton (Oct 27, 2006 8:01 pm) Next Thursday the auto show is coming to town, so at least I can test seat comfort, legroom and the new LS' dreaded driver's foot well that has been getting complaints on Lexus threads. It will be interesting to compare the Camry, Avalon, ES and LS designs for similarities and...uh... similarities. Hope the Toyotas aren't a mile away from the Lexus exhibit, but I guess that's what cameras are for. Looking forward to sitting in the MB E-Class for the first time. Hope they have a BLUETEC, although I'm sure it would feel the same as sitting in the regular E. Replies to this message: lexusguy (Oct 28, 2006 8:09 am)
#20515 of 24700 Re: I hope... [hpowders] by lexusguy Oct 28, 2006 (8:09 am)
Replying to: hpowders (Oct 28, 2006 5:45 am) Looking forward to sitting in the MB E-Class for the first time. Hope they have a BLUETEC, although I'm sure it would feel the same as sitting in the regular E. The bluetec definitely isn't the fun one of the bunch, despite its enormous torque. The car sits higher and has smaller tires than the E350 sport for less rolling resistance.
#20516 of 24700 Future Porsche 911[blkhemi] by tagman Oct 28, 2006 (12:04 pm)
Replying to: blkhemi (Oct 28, 2006 5:20 am) Now from what I can take from this, the only thing I can see is they're finally going to take the 911 front-engined after many years of debate to do so. Certainly that's one way to go, but I've got to differ with you on this one. I'll predict a mid-engine position . . . similar to the Cayman. It's just a natural, IMO. The 911 may have to drop its rear jump seats for the sake of better pure performance. Of course it will be necessary to distinguish and distance itself from the Cayman. To accomplish that, I imagine that the future 911's HP will be significantly more than the Cayman would ever even hope to get, and that the styling will be a new major leap for a Porsche 911, and of course, well above the Cayman, inside and out. Dropping the rear jump seats makes further sense to me, because the Panamera would then be the ticket for rear passengers. It's surprising that there has not been more info leaked out about this. I would expect very serious HP and slalom capabilities with a new potentially mid-engined 911. Of course, you could be right and they go front-engine, but somehow I see the first true mid-engined 911 in my crystal ball, and at this point I'll take a big risk and go on record early here with my prediction. ETA? Maybe model year 2009 or 2010. TagMan Replies to this message: lexusguy (Oct 28, 2006 12:12 pm) blkhemi (Oct 28, 2006 1:13 pm)
#20517 of 24700 Re: Future Porsche 911[blkhemi] [tagman] by lexusguy Oct 28, 2006 (12:12 pm)
Replying to: tagman (Oct 28, 2006 12:04 pm) Of course, you could be right and they go front-engine, but somehow I see the first true mid-engined 911 in my crystal ball, and at this point I'll take a big risk and go on record early here with my prediction. I think you're probably right. Porsche is supposed to compete with other front engined GTs like the 599GTB and DB9 with the Panamera based 928, which will have a front engine. The 911 is supposed to be the pure sports car, so it makes sense for it to have the engine in the middle.
#20518 of 24700 Re: Future Porsche 911[blkhemi] [tagman] by blkhemi Oct 28, 2006 (1:13 pm)
Replying to: tagman (Oct 28, 2006 12:04 pm) I think you and LG may be right on the 911. I poked around a bit at a couple Carrera owners that I know and asked what if anything they knew. And one of them confirmed that he heard something on Porsche going mid-engine with the 911. This way, they still can achieve the Boxster's and Cayman's perfect 50/50 WD. True, you will have to give up the rear seat, but if that's biggest penalty, then the "penalty in-law box" has to go. The 911 owners I know say that the occassional grocery bag is the only thing it sees anyway. And to boot, the car will in effect gain the other cars phenomenal combined 20+ cu.ft of combined space. Tag, I figure we won't see a new 911 until about '10 or '11, as that's the average life span, altho the previous Boxster survived from '97 to '04, clearly a milestone in it's class, but it can do that because that car is second to none in it's class.
#20519 of 24700 Re: Taste of Lexus [syswei] by designman Oct 28, 2006 (1:30 pm)
Replying to: syswei (Oct 24, 2006 5:34 am) Have you considered possibly going again? Maybe if you went this Sunday and arrived before the doors opened to fill out the waiver, you could be first up for the S, drive the LS set to 'sport', and drive the GS400h some more. Just an idea. I would like to have gone again but registration is full and I threw out my badge. Did you go early? My time was at 12:30 but these times did not seem strictly adhered to. I think they were just trying to balance the attendance. Replies to this message: syswei (Oct 28, 2006 4:17 pm)
#20520 of 24700 Re: Taste of Lexus [lexusguy] by designman Oct 28, 2006 (1:32 pm)
Replying to: lexusguy (Oct 24, 2006 6:13 am) Why??? Is 0.3 seconds quicker to 60 and 1 more mile per gallon worth $10K more than the GS350? The PCS with radar cruise, 18" wheels, NAV, ML stereo, and everything else the 450h has is all available on the 350. GS450h "perks" are 400lbs. of extra weight to lug around, and a 5 cu.ft smaller trunk. The GS doesn't have much to begin with (12.7). 7.5 cu.ft is what convertibles have. Actually, my XK has more space in the trunk. A Boxster has more total luggage space than that. I just dont get it, the 450h makes no sense. . Hmm, three question marks. Have I short circuited the logic of Spock? Notice I said I would CONSIDER buying it but need to test it further. The shortcomings have been well noted for some time now. This doesn’t lessen my intrigue with the technology and my short test drive fanned the flames of this intrigue. I haven’t driven the GS 350 and yes, I would like to. BTW, Automobile mag says the GS 450h is capable of a 4.6 0-60. Mistake? Probably. It felt fast but not that fast. Replies to this message: lexusguy (Oct 28, 2006 3:26 pm)