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

Messages Page 2063 of 2470: 1; ...; 2060; 2061; 2062; 2063; 2064; 2065; 2066; ...; 2470; Prev; Next; Last

#20621 of 24700 Re: Well... [lexusguy] by hpowders Oct 31, 2006 (1:45 pm)
Replying to: lexusguy (Oct 31, 2006 12:13 pm) Of course anyone who has issues with the typical dark BMW wood can order for no extra charge the brushed aluminum trim which can brighten up the interior somewhat. However, as far as I know, this choice is only available in the 3 Series. Perhaps it will spread across the line.
#20622 of 24700 Re: New Vehicle Hype [houdini1] by tagman Oct 31, 2006 (1:55 pm)
Replying to: houdini1 (Oct 31, 2006 1:28 pm) ...when new models are being introduced. It is about the only time that the rags and even sometimes the manufacturers will tell you what was wrong with the outgoing models. A lot ot truth to that idea! But sometimes the weaknesses are only seen by contrast to the latest and greatest version itself . . . so it was never really seen as a weakness in its own time. I still wonder just how rigid a car body can be. Each year it seems that the new body is 30 or 40 percent more rigid that the last one. They could potentially get a whole lot more rigid . . . as a result of nano technology . . . if, in the future, it is utilized in automotive design and production. TagMan
#20623 of 24700 Re: Well... [hpowders] by pat HOST Oct 31, 2006 (2:34 pm)
Replying to: hpowders (Oct 31, 2006 1:37 pm) like a typical Edmunds poster Where have you seen one of those? Replies to this message: hpowders (Oct 31, 2006 2:56 pm) pat (Oct 31, 2006 3:04 pm)
#20624 of 24700 Re: Well... [pat] by hpowders Oct 31, 2006 (2:56 pm)
Replying to: pat (Oct 31, 2006 2:34 pm) Good point. I should have re-read the truth in labeling law. I took the liberty of assuming that most of us around here are probably shameless gawkers when we see a new vehicle we haven't seen before. For those of you who are "too cool" to do so, I apologize. Replies to this message: pat (Oct 31, 2006 3:04 pm)
#20625 of 24700 Re: Well... [hpowders] by pat HOST Oct 31, 2006 (3:04 pm)
Replying to: hpowders (Oct 31, 2006 2:56 pm) Heh, my point, perhaps not made, was that none of us can be considered typical since we are all - mostly - quite different from each other in many areas. Anyway, please continue... we atypical and typical Edmunds posters look forward to your TOL report!!
#20626 of 24700 Re: New Vehicle Hype [houdini1] OMG!! by nvbanker Oct 31, 2006 (4:19 pm)
Replying to: houdini1 (Oct 31, 2006 1:28 pm) I always smile when new models are being introduced. It is about the only time that the rags and even sometimes the manufacturers will tell you what was wrong with the outgoing models. A Lexus exec even said that the outgoing LS was not up to some other luxury cars. They all sing the praises of the current model until the new one comes out. Then, "Well this new model takes care of the heavy nose, or the bad brakes, or not enough power, etc. I thought I was the only person who noticed this! What you say is SO TRUE. Outgoing models change in one day from "state of the art" to "tired, old, antiquated and worn out" styling, don't they? Makes you wonder how the old car changed so much, just because the new one is out. Plus, I've noticed in the rags that ANY new model they love, no matter who makes it, or what it is - it's just wonderful, until the next new model comes out. I still wonder just how rigid a car body can be. Each year it seems that the new body is 30 or 40 percent more rigid that the last one. Interesting time of year. Another of my very own thoughts, that I didn't think anybody else shared. Just how friggin rigid CAN a frame be! You'd think, after each model being 10 times more stiff than the last one, you'd have the rigidity of the Sears Tower by now. Gotta love the magazines...... Replies to this message: lexusguy (Oct 31, 2006 6:23 pm) brightness04 (Oct 31, 2006 7:13 pm) houdini1 (Nov 01, 2006 12:24 pm)
#20627 of 24700 Re: New Vehicle Hype [houdini1] by lexusguy Oct 31, 2006 (6:16 pm)
Replying to: houdini1 (Oct 31, 2006 1:28 pm) They all sing the praises of the current model until the new one comes out. Then, "Well this new model takes care of the heavy nose, or the bad brakes, or not enough power, etc. While most of the time this is true, its not always the case. Top Gear did a "new vs. old" test, and in several cases the new cars were beaten by the old ones, at least in acceleration. The 300ZX TT outran the 350Z, for example.
#20628 of 24700 Re: New Vehicle Hype [houdini1] OMG!! [nvbanker] by lexusguy Oct 31, 2006 (6:23 pm)
Replying to: nvbanker (Oct 31, 2006 4:19 pm) Another of my very own thoughts, that I didn't think anybody else shared. Just how friggin rigid CAN a frame be! You'd think, after each model being 10 times more stiff than the last one, you'd have the rigidity of the Sears Tower by now. When you consider that thirty years ago car frames were as stiff as a bowl of jelly, its not that hard to imagine that platforms can continue to improve. I remember in one of the early road tests of the new Infiniti M, the reviewer mentioned that in order to show off the enhancements they had made to the FM platform compared to the G, Infiniti showed a computer simulation of the frames of the G and M under hard acceleration. The reviewer said that compared to the M, the G appeared to be "flopping around like a fish".
#20629 of 24700 Re: New Vehicle Hype [houdini1] OMG!! [nvbanker] by brightness04 Oct 31, 2006 (7:13 pm)
Replying to: nvbanker (Oct 31, 2006 4:19 pm) No kidding. The rags certainly know which side of their bread get buttered . . . or was that never bite the hand that feeds I have always considered the ads-based magazines as little more than sales literature.
#20630 of 24700 Car mags... by merc1 Nov 01, 2006 (3:58 am)
I always smile when new models are being introduced. It is about the only time that the rags and even sometimes the manufacturers will tell you what was wrong with the outgoing models. A Lexus exec even said that the outgoing LS was not up to some other luxury cars. They all sing the praises of the current model until the new one comes out. Then, "Well this new model takes care of the heavy nose, or the bad brakes, or not enough power, etc. Interesting. A lot ot truth to that idea! But sometimes the weaknesses are only seen by contrast to the latest and greatest version itself . . . so it was never really seen as a weakness in its own time. Even more interesting. I think both viewpoints are valid depending on the vehicle in question. I notice that with the new CL the writers and a Mercedes exec (like a Lexus exec before him) is saying unflattering things about the old CL, design wise that is. Design wise the outgoing CL was praised all across the world, it even won several European design awards, but now Holger Hutzenlaub is saying that old car was too conservative and didn't look the part. The old CL is easily regarded by most Benz fans as one of Mercedes' best looking cars of the last 20 years, but now it didn't look right? Right. Not every new car gets this type of treatment relative to the old one though. Various GM, Nissans (new Sentra C&D Dec) and more germane to this thread the 5-Series didn't get instant praise over their immediate predecessors. C&D has come around to the 5-Series in recent comparos, almost putting it in 1st place, but there is a problem: the M45. If it weren't for this car they'd now be singing the praises of the 5-Series, now that the car is going into its 4th model year. Automobile Magazine stated flat out that they liked the previous W124 E-Class (1986-1995) better than the W210 (1996-2002) E-Class and they did so for years after the W210's introduction. This sentiment was echoed by more than a few owners also. I agreed with this also, still do when it comes to most things about the W210 relative to the W124. Then you have cars like the Saturn Ion which truthfully is just a piece of junk so there is no way its replacement could be any worse so the new model praise will be fully justified. Off thread I know, but it is one outstandingly crappy car! Oh, the Infiniti M45 comes to mind too. Compared the place-holder model Infiniti first brought over the new model is in another league. How could I forget Acura. The press moaned big time when the Acura Legend was replaced by the RL and while the press has come around to the car this last time around, buyers have been moaning every since for the Legend. M Replies to this message: lexusguy (Nov 01, 2006 4:06 am) merc1 (Nov 01, 2006 4:11 am) hpowders (Nov 01, 2006 4:55 am) houdini1 (Nov 01, 2006 5:54 am) and 16 more... designman (Nov 01, 2006 5:54 am) merc1 (Nov 01, 2006 9:41 pm)