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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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Replying to: syswei (Nov 15, 2006 4:20 am) Yes, I remember the day my friend told me about those unfortunate and relentless issues that plagued his Mercedes Benz vehicles. We were in the Napa Valley Wine country that beautiful day. So, I understand your perspective here, but, in some fairness, the GL will have had an extended '07 model year, and the '08 is likely to come with the diesel. The diesel (as used in the E) will have had a year to prove itself in 45 states (w/o the urea tank...no big deal) and the GL itself (gas version) will have proven itself one way or another. Perhaps the jury is still out on the GL? (Afterall, it is MT SUV Of The Year, if that means anything.) The risk levels may likely be related to which of the assembly plants the vehicle model was manufactured in. Most importantly from my point of view is that ALL cars can have lemons, and exceptions to the norm. We all take those risks when we purchase our vehicles. Regardless of where a certain vehicle might rate with regards to reliability, I don't think that "lemon-type" circumstances are representative of anything that resembles the typical experiences the vast majority of people have with their cars. TagMan
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Replying to: tagman (Nov 15, 2006 9:34 am) |
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Replying to: syswei (Nov 15, 2006 9:41 am) Not really. The "main 7-passenger SUV" in my garage must always be a reliable vehicle. This is because the wife and kids, and sometimes the entire family depend upon this single vehicle way too much to take the usual chances we are willing to take with the rest of our vehicles. As you know, the ONLY Lexus we ever considered was an SUV, but the third-row flip-flop seats were too clumsy for my wife, so it didn't happen. If the GL ends up with very poor reliability data, this would be the one and only vehicle that I would then say "pass", due to the unacceptable risk level. TagMan
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Replying to: tagman (Nov 15, 2006 9:54 am) I didn't exactly word this well. Considering the rest of my post, it would have been clearer if I had said that ANY vehicle we consider for our family's primary SUV (not just the GL) would need to offer decent reliability, otherwise I would "pass" on it. TagMan |
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Replying to: tagman (Nov 15, 2006 9:54 am) Once you have decided on what to buy just go out and drive an LX and compare it to whatever you have decided on. I was all set to buy an ML until I drove the LX. My overriding reason for the LX was my wifes safety. This vehicle is virtually all she will drive now. Her last vehicle was as RX 300. She loved it until she drove the LX.
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Replying to: houdini1 (Nov 15, 2006 6:14 am) I doubt it. Studying how they put them together isn't going to yield the secrects of how a BMW is on the road. To duplicate a BMW Toyota is going to have to have a fundamental change in what they think a car should be and that ain't gonna happen. Lexus will edge closer and closer and BMW will keep moving the sport bar higher and higher. Likewise don't be surprised if one day if BMWs start to top the reliability surveys. BMW is nothing like any company in the American car industry. BMW is one of the best run companies around, arguably the best of the Germans along with Porsche. M
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Replying to: houdini1 (Nov 15, 2006 12:11 pm) My wife's everyday use seems a bit more complicated somehow. Don't ask me why, but she needs to put those extra seats up and then down quite often . . . too often for those flip-flop seats, I'm afraid. This is why she ruled out the GX or LX. I've posted this before. The previous GMC Denali XL was so darned big, she could leave the third row up and still have the enormous room she needed. Easy enough. Problem was, the vehicle had reached the end of its usable life, and we weren't going down the "giant" suv road again. Darned thing only got 12 mpg and was near impossible for her to park in certain situations. Also, the repairs were really major at times. So, our goal was a reliable SUV, reasonable on gas, reasonable size, with a functional 3rd-row. Lexus was first (surprised?) on the list until those rear seats blew the deal. So, she selected an Acura MDX, in the beginning of this year, loaded with everything possible, and it has been fine for her. Not even one service issue. When the GL came out I thought I had the chance to offer her an upgrade, but then I figured I might as well wait for the diesel. In the meantime, I've recently wanted an SUV of my own, because there are times when I've got my son and and his friends and I take him to his different sports with all the gear, etc., but I don't need a 7-passenger like my wife does. That's why I was checking out the Range Rover Sport. If I'm going to have an additional SUV, it might as well be a really cool one, IMO. I'll check out the Cayenne and X5 as well. So, the Lexus is out for her, but for me, I dont want a "mainstream" SUV. So, I won't get one. As you must already know by now, my vehicle needs don't always make a lot of sense. I just want to enjoy my vehicles as much as possible. That's why the Lotus and Jag, and the upcoming Porsche Targa (to replace the Lotus). Anyway, I know that the Lexus SUV's are nice. If my wife would have been good with the third-row seats, we'd have one in the garage right now. Now, as far as the rest of the Lexus vehicles go, I doubt I would ever own one . . . because in all honesty, even though they are very well made, and I know that they are, they never seem to interest me enough. When I look at them, I don't feel anything at all. But as I said, I know they are darned good vehicles, and I don't want Lexus fans to misunderstand me. I just don't like the way they look or drive for some unknown reason. TagMan |
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Replying to: syswei (Nov 15, 2006 4:20 am) Your obsession with reliability will deprieve you of wonderful driving experiences. In my case I will choose a higher level of unreliability for the sake of improved driveability. When buying a car I willl intentionally pay extra for low profile performance tires. With such a choice my tires, wheels and suspension parts will be more suseptible to road hazards and damage. Do I care? Ofcourse I do. But the extra costs and risks involved do not even come cloes to the pleasures I will gain with such tires. If I wanted to pursue risklessness I would take the subway home instead of driving my car. I would forgo eating the foie gras at restaurants in order to avoid artery clogging issues. . I would forgo everything I desire in life. IMO reliability and risklessness is far too over-rated!
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Replying to: merc1 (Nov 15, 2006 12:39 pm)
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Replying to: dewey (Nov 15, 2006 12:54 pm) Words of wisdom. I agree.
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