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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: drfill (Oct 29, 2006 7:24 pm) My assessment of the Benz is a better interior than the 7 (not too hard), and more low-end torque than the LS. But the exterior is seriously flawed, relative to the LS. I didn't spend enough time with the car make a huge impression on it's ability to work with me. But it didn't come across as something above the LS. It was similar in material quality, but the LS was more logical, cohesive, and familiar. It would seem I'd have to adjust to the S-Class' design. Very interesting. The exterior of the S is severly flawed? The slab-sided, ill-proportioned front to rear LS460/L is some type of design triumph or beauty? That is really hilarious doc. Of course you would have to get used to the Benz interior when you're Lexus fan, they're two different car companies and have their own way of laying out the controls. That is something you'd bascially have to do with any car in this class considering all the controls they all have. You find the Lexus to be "familiar" and I find a Mercedes to be "familiar", where is the superiority in that? Lexus' fundamental definition of "luxury" is loads of bright beige leather and funny colored woods all made as buttery feeling as possible all the while being isolated from the driving experience. They're working on that latter part, but still have a ways to go. Lexus' interiors themes really aren't that far off from a Buick or Cadillac of years gone by - in concept...not exection mind you. I personally don't see how anyone could find anything special about the interior of a Lexus beyond their materials because the layout is the same as a regular Toyota, right down to the center stack design. Look at the LS and the Camry for example. German cars are about more understated luxury that feels more spartan if you're only doing a 10 minute test drive. That along with their dynamics is what makes them different. Doesn't make the Lexus more "luxurious" or the German cars any less luxurious. I agree that the BMW 7-Series' interior is a mess. When you take a simple seat-mounted switch that is shaped like a seat and convert it to a twist knob and a several buttons around it there is a fundamental problem. Complication for the sake of doing so in other words. You say a 30 second test drive doesn't reveal everything or even a lot, and I agree with this, but if the first impressions are that a S550 is a superior car dyanamically in a tight course staged by Lexus don't you think that would carry over the real-world roads? Japanese cars aren't known for improving their dynamics as speeds increase like German cars are. M |
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Replying to: blkhemi (Oct 29, 2006 7:01 am) Thats exactly what I've been saying. The GS450h has an enormous hybrid premium (at least $8k), and you get almost nothing for your money. Its an utterly pointless car. |
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Replying to: drfill (Oct 29, 2006 11:52 am) Ok, you completely lost me on this one, doc. The SC430 is not, a "kick in the pants" or "snappy." Its the 2nd most boring convertible on the market, just behind the Camry Solara. It drives like an ES350 minus the roof. Granted my XK is no Porsche 911, but the fact that it handles significantly better than the SC with a platform thats three decades old is just sad. Even without a CLK550 or 650 on hand for comparison, anyone with a pulse should be able to tell that the SC is a bathtub shaped snoozebox. |
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Replying to: tagman (Oct 27, 2006 6:09 am) M |
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Replying to: blkhemi (Oct 27, 2006 7:24 am) You were able to get a U.S. market S600 with the AMG package? M
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Replying to: brightness04 (Oct 29, 2006 9:09 pm) 
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Replying to: hendjaz (Oct 29, 2006 6:03 pm) I hope for Lexus' sake that the Touring version is what they give to C&D, R&T, etc for comparos.
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Replying to: syswei (Oct 30, 2006 4:33 am) You would think they would, but it may end up not being the case. I'm pretty sure all of the LS430 road tests were done on cars without the "Eurosport" suspension option. Then again, its somewhat questionable as to whether Eurosport equipped LS430s even exist. |
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Replying to: syswei (Oct 30, 2006 4:33 am) The sheet also shows which color combinations are common and which are rare. |
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C&D's short take review of the MKX is now on their website. Their conclusion is completely predictable, its a badge engineered Edge with a $9K price hike. They are marching right into RX350 and MDX territory with this: 
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