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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.

#20954 of 24700 Re: "I guess no one wants to talk anymore, huh?" [merc1] by houdini1 Nov 13, 2006 (3:26 pm)
Replying to: merc1 (Nov 13, 2006 10:49 am) You know, I thought that is what it sounded like.
#20955 of 24700 Re: I liked [dhamilton] by blkhemi Nov 13, 2006 (3:32 pm)
Replying to: dhamilton (Nov 13, 2006 3:10 pm) True to most upper-end MB's, the dash controls are the result of an F5 tornado making landfall.   But I must confess, the new S-Class controls are by far and away the most intuitive I've seen from MB in a while.   I've seen the MDX, both inside and out, and I came away not all too impressed, especially with the downmarket interior, looking rated under an Explorer Limited's interior. And that exterior, is well let's just say uninspired. I'm now convienced the Honda/Acura designers post-TSX/TL are completely moronic. The new CRV looks like something off of the cartoon movie Cars(and not in a good way), and the new RDX is even worst.   On the X5, I've heard glowing reviews on it. Everything from the improved driving dynamics to the newly embossed interior is said to be of first-rate.   I can tell you the Q7 is more than competitive. Replies to this message: tagman (Nov 13, 2006 4:13 pm)
#20956 of 24700 Re: I liked [blkhemi] by tagman Nov 13, 2006 (4:13 pm)
Replying to: blkhemi (Nov 13, 2006 3:32 pm) Since we're talking SUV's (of a HIGH END nature, Pat, as promised) the Porsche Cayenne deserves a mention, as does the Range Rover. I will be looking at the '07 X5, the '07 Range Rover, and the '07 Cayenne. They will make for an interesting comparison. (The GL diesel is a seperate consideration at a future point in time, so I can not consider it now, as it does not yet exist.)   TagMan
#20957 of 24700 Re: Quality is Job One Again for MB [blkhemi] by merc1 Nov 13, 2006 (5:38 pm)
Replying to: blkhemi (Nov 13, 2006 2:57 pm) Well a member on another board I post on asked MBUSA about the GL550 and the V8 GL420 CDI and he got:   "Thank you for your recent internet inquiry.   We anticipate the release of a GL320 CDI at some point in the first quarter of 2007 as a 2008 Model Year vehicle. At this time, we do not have any information regarding the release of a GL550 and the V8 Diesel engine will not be available for the US Market. We would encourage you to periodically check our website. This would be the best source for news on all our models, and can be accessed at www.mbusa.com"   So I'd say that for 2008 we might, might get the GL550 (GL500 that is running around Europe now), but no to the V8 GL420 CDI. There will be no GL63 AMG, one of the AMG bosses has already stated this.   M Replies to this message: tagman (Nov 13, 2006 6:00 pm) merc1 (Nov 13, 2006 9:06 pm) brightness04 (Nov 14, 2006 9:50 am)
#20958 of 24700 Re: Quality is Job One Again for MB [dewey] by merc1 Nov 13, 2006 (5:45 pm)
Replying to: dewey (Nov 13, 2006 2:24 pm) I think we can stick of fork in the W220 S-Class and possibly the W211 E-Class as far as JDP and Consumer Reports are concerned. I really believe that once a car gets a bad rep for reliability with them there is no saving the design. We'll have to see what the 07' E-Class will do next year since it no longer has the SBC brakes and has been revamped. Ditto for the new S which is all new and judging by the owners here and there and word of mouth it seems to be an about face when it comes to reliability.   There is no way I'd ever let these surveys dictate what type of car I buy. Never. There are GL450 owners who are reporting that their GLs are making a slight hissing noise when parked, i.e. the airmatic is just leveling the car or lowering it after it is parked, but I'm sure some have reported this as a "problem".   M
#20959 of 24700 blkhemi by dhamilton Nov 13, 2006 (5:59 pm)
I totally agree. I'm a big Honda/Acura guy, but the first time I sat in the new MDX I said to myself, this interior isn't up to German standards. I had hoped that they would step it up a little and be more competitive. I guess in order to hit their price point, they have to cut somewhere. All that to say, the driving dynamics are pretty competitive IMO.  I have driven the Q7 extensively and I love it. I think [hope] my wife will to.  The S class interior is very clean and modern. I can't speak to how intuitive it is, or isn't.
#20960 of 24700 Re: Quality is Job One Again for MB [merc1] by tagman Nov 13, 2006 (6:00 pm)
Replying to: merc1 (Nov 13, 2006 5:38 pm) Well a member on another board I post on asked MBUSA about the GL550 and the V8 GL420 CDI and he got:    "Thank you for your recent internet inquiry.   My personal experience with contacting manufacturers has typically been a waste. It is nothing more than a lesson in public relations.   The primary interest of MB is to sell cars. Almost every time there is internal knowledge that an upcoming model could canabalize existing sales, the information is somehow non-existent, not up-to-date, or is totally incorrect.   I completely understand how it is in MB's interest to suggest that there will be no upcoming diesel GL for the US market, because there are lots of current units to sell, and those sales are mission critical. But there have been other indications that there will be a diesel GL, and it just makes too much darned good obvious sense. I still believe that there will be a diesel GL for the U.S. market announced or available within 2 years.   BTW, I read your post about the ML quality issues that seem to emerge from the Alabama assembly plant. I found that to be very interesting.   TagMan Replies to this message: merc1 (Nov 13, 2006 9:06 pm) merc1 (Nov 13, 2006 9:37 pm) and 33 more... brightness04 (Nov 14, 2006 9:50 am)
#20961 of 24700 Re: Quality is Job One Again for MB [tagman] by merc1 Nov 13, 2006 (9:06 pm)
Replying to: tagman (Nov 13, 2006 6:00 pm) Yeah they're holding back on the GL320 CDI, but it will be here in late Jan/early Feb. Buyers on MBWorld already have production dates and specs from their dealers. The 4L V8 diesel engine I would imagine isn't clean enough for U.S. duty. On the GL550 I'd always read that if the GL450 is a hit (which it is) then they'd sell a GL550 here the following year. Fingers crossed for the GL550 as a fully loaded, nappa leathered, very few options, 70K or so, true Range Rover fighter for the 2008 model year. The GL550 is going to be a beast with the GL450 already matching the acceleration of way more powerful trucks already, i.e. the Caddy Slade. A 382hp GL550 is going to be a hoot.   Yes the issues at the Bama plant go back to day one. I guess they're too deep to correct this time around. A shame really. One plant in Germany spits out the SL, S and CL, all shimmering in build quality and the Bama plant isn't anywhere close except for maybe the GL450. Hell if this new S proves to be reliable there will be no excuse as to why the ML, GL and R aren't. Mercedes knows how to build a reliable car, they did it for years. Someone, somewhere forgot that, but they seem to have remembered how to do so with the S (fingers crossed), but no one told the folks in Bama how to or showed them the best materials to assemble the ML and R with.   M Replies to this message: merc1 (Nov 13, 2006 9:37 pm) tagman (Nov 14, 2006 10:14 am) and 1 more... anthonyp (Nov 14, 2006 12:31 pm) and 8 more... blkhemi (Nov 14, 2006 1:28 pm) dewey (Nov 14, 2006 3:16 pm) and 20 more... brightness04 (Nov 14, 2006 9:50 am)
#20963 of 24700 Re: Quality is Job One Again for MB [tagman] by merc1 Nov 13, 2006 (9:37 pm)
My theory has always been that they're purchasing a lot of things from the same suppliers that do business with Ford, GM and Chrysler. I've read where a lot of German suppliers opened up shop here back in 1998, but my nose told me otherwise when I sat in the first ML. The same smell and feel you get in a German made Benz simply wasn't there. Now the new generation Bama vehicles seem to be a mix of American and German suppliers by my nose. On thing I truly hate is that steering wheel. It screams cheap when you order it with wood and only one half of it is made of wood in contrast to every other Benz. I couldn't care two lugnuts about a wooden steering wheel in general, but if they're going to do one they could at least do it right. That 1/2 wood stuff was for Cadillacs and the like. Then there are the huge gaps between the buttons and the steering wheel hub, it reeks of American supplierism. See the gaps in this photo:     M Replies to this message: tagman (Nov 14, 2006 10:14 am) merc1 (Nov 14, 2006 2:58 pm) anthonyp (Nov 14, 2006 12:31 pm) blkhemi (Nov 14, 2006 1:30 pm) tagman (Nov 14, 2006 3:02 pm) blkhemi (Nov 14, 2006 1:28 pm) dewey (Nov 14, 2006 3:16 pm) merc1 (Nov 14, 2006 3:22 pm) tagman (Nov 14, 2006 3:42 pm) dewey (Nov 14, 2006 5:00 pm) and 16 more...

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