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High End Luxury Cars

24723 messages,  Last post on Jan 28, 2013 at 6:55 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

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.

Messages Page 2228 of 2473

#22269 of 24723 The Latest Lexus News from The Oman Times by dewey

Dec 13, 2006 (8:57 pm)

1) The latest important automotive news from Muscat indicates that as of Dec. 14, 2006 the very dated LS430 is a brand new Lexus model for the Oman market:
 
MUSCAT — One of the world’s best luxury cars in terms of quality and refinement, the Lexus LS430 features a near-magical mix of technology and comfort, together with low depreciation. A powerful V-8 combines with a 6-speed automatic to provide scintillating performance. Lexus does not have a long history but in a few short years, the marque has established itself as the world’s quality leader. The LS is Lexus’ flagbearer, a large, 4-door luxury sedan that truly pampers its passengers with class-leading luxury features. The Lexus LS430 takes this to a new level, adding performance to the mix with a powerful engine and a slick, multi-speed transmission.
 
2) Now here is a revelation about the LS that I never knew about and I can thank those hard working journalists from Oman for this tidbit:
 
The new LS, normally chauffeur-driven in its home country, continues this emphasis on executive comfort, drawing on an impressive orchestration of computer-operated electronic systems to accomplish its aims.
 
Frankly, you could live without most of these gizmos but in the high stakes luxury game, they gain bragging points. In the final analysis, the Lexus LS430 is premium transport, fit for a corporate president. Though the driving pleasure might often be the privilege of his chauffeur.
 
In otherwords the LS is mainly chauffeur-driven in Japan. And it appears the LS is mainly chauffeur driven in Oman. Is it any wonder that the LS is more of a passenger car than a driver's car?
Also this journalist wisely points out that the gizmos in the LS 430 are of little practical use but of great use for bragging rights. Hmmm, maybe we North Americans are a lot like those folks in Oman? And imagine the enhanced bragging rights involved with a LS460 Self park feature
 
3) And last but not least take a look at the perks of owning a LS in Oman:
 
Lexus vehicles are brought to you in Oman by the Saud Bahwan Group. In Oman, every Lexus vehicle comes with special benefits and privileges such as a six-year unlimited extended mileage protection — Aman Bahwan and Lexus Prestige Club Card that offers 24-hour on-road assistance from AAA, shopping discounts from more than 300 premium outlets, exclusive meet-and-greet service at Seeb International Airport, and much more.
 
Thanks to the Saud Bahwan group you get to be a part of an exclusive Meet-and-Greet service at Seeb International Airport. Sort of like the exclusive Lexus Meet and Greet forums at Edmunds. I guess no one will greet you or meet you at Seeb if you talk about LS perforance/handling vs. BMW performance/handling
 
SOURCE: THE OMAN TIMES

#22270 of 24723 Re: LS460 Self-parking instructions anyone? [drfill] by houdini1

Dec 13, 2006 (9:09 pm)

Replying to: drfill (Dec 13, 2006 8:31 pm)
Doc, I understand how you feel, but to me this is just a lame feature. Maybe some will buy it but it is not for me. Since it is optional that is a good thing. The LS is still the one true HELC. Peace.

#22271 of 24723 Re: LS460 Self-parking instructions anyone? [drfill] by dewey

Dec 13, 2006 (9:13 pm)

Replying to: drfill (Dec 13, 2006 8:31 pm)
If it is a disagreeable feature, at least it is optional, unlike iDrive, which you MUST buy if you want a 5 or 7-series BMW. That is something to apologize for!
 
True, very true. But at least you do not have to pay for the option of vandalizing your car and other cars while parallel parking.
 

#22272 of 24723 Re: LS460 Self-parking instructions anyone? [houdini1] by dewey

Dec 13, 2006 (9:31 pm)

Replying to: houdini1 (Dec 13, 2006 9:09 pm)
The LS is still the one true HELC. Peace.
 
 If you want to make peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.
Moshe Dayan

#22273 of 24723 Re: OK - Now here this. [merc1] by esf

Dec 13, 2006 (10:06 pm)

Replying to: merc1 (Dec 13, 2006 12:04 am)
I actually beat you to it. Last night, I noticed that article AudiWorld myself.
 
I live in Chicago, and I haven't really been spying every Audi that passes by, but yes, they seem to have increased by some margin.
 
I don't think Audi being connected to VW is much of a problem. Well, maybe to some. To them, I say, thank God for their new modular platforms! By 2015 at the latest, not a single Audi is going to have a platform shared with a VW. They're all going to have platforms shared with each other, configurable with different trannys, engines and wheelbases. The first to get this treatment is the new A5 coupe, which will debut at the Geneva Show in March. I'm excited- it's supposed to have much better handling than past Audis (much less front overhang; engine behind front axle) and will effectively rid the brand of its nose-heavy attitude. The RS4's nose-heaviness magically disappeared even without it, however, and I wish they could've worked the same magic with the current, lesser models!
 
I'm glad Audi is more separate from VW than Lexus is from Toyota, however. Audi develops their own engines and technologies, VW theirs. They share a few common ones- 3.2FSI, 2.0TFSI, 4.2FSI -but not much else.
 
Next year, there's a possibility that China will surpass the US as the #1 world car market, which would propel Audi to the top of the heap. They have a huge sales lead, and could easily surpass 1,000,000 cars next year. Audi, Mercedes and BMW are all very close, but the others trail significantly.
 
'06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet • '04 Lexus RX330

#22274 of 24723 Re: OK - Now here this. [esf] by esf

Dec 13, 2006 (10:10 pm)

Replying to: esf (Dec 13, 2006 10:06 pm)
Whoops! They actually don't share the 3.2FSI engine- that's exclusive to Audi.
 
Confusingly, there's a 3.2L engine without FSI that makes identical power, but with slightly worse gas mileage. It's a true VR6, unlike the FSI version.
 
The 3.2L w/o FSI is used in the A3, TT, and R32, and I'm sure a few more.
 
The 3.2FSI is used in the A4 and A6- I don't know if any others are using it at this time.
 
'06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet • '04 Lexus RX330

#22275 of 24723 Re: OK - Now here this. [esf] by nvbanker

Dec 13, 2006 (11:12 pm)

Replying to: esf (Dec 13, 2006 10:06 pm)
I'm glad Audi is more separate from VW than Lexus is from Toyota, however. Audi develops their own engines and technologies, VW theirs.
 
Clearly, you know nothing about Lexus and their parent, Toyota.

#22276 of 24723 Mercedes-Benz by merc1

Dec 14, 2006 (2:25 am)

Thank Goodness!
 
M

#22277 of 24723 Re: OK - Now here this. [esf] by houdini1

Dec 14, 2006 (6:17 am)

Replying to: esf (Dec 13, 2006 10:06 pm)
The first to get this treatment is the new A5 coupe, which will debut at the Geneva Show in March. I'm excited- it's supposed to have much better handling than past Audis (much less front overhang; engine behind front axle) and will effectively rid the brand of its nose-heavy attitude
 
Another mea culpa about some of the faults of the outgoing model.

#22278 of 24723 Re: Mercedes-Benz [merc1] by dewey

Dec 14, 2006 (8:14 am)

Replying to: merc1 (Dec 14, 2006 2:25 am)
Definitely great news for the MB productline.
 
No shared platforms between MB and Chrysler.
No shared platforms in the near future between Audi and VW.
BMW continuing its tradition of avoiding re-badged engineering.
 
So whose the blacksheep of the family now? Porsche. Unlike the other German marques Porsche plans to increase its links to VW. In this case tradition prevails since we should not forget Dr. Ferdinand Porsche did build his first 911 with VW parts.
 
Here is some interesting tidbit about Porsche's grandson from the Economist:
 
ACCORDING to rumour, Ferdinand Piëch likes to run chickens off the road in his Volkswagen Touareg. Whether that is true or not, he certainly tends to ride roughshod over humans, metaphorically at least. During his long career as head of Audi, chief executive of Volkswagen and now VW's supervisory-board chairman, he is reckoned to have fired at least 30 directors. They include three of his successors as head of Audi, a Volkswagen subsidiary, and his latest victim, Bernd Pischetsrieder, who succeeded him in 2002 as boss of VW. On November 7th the firm said that Mr Pischetsrieder would leave at the end of the year. It was another swift and bloodless execution by Mr Piëch. A manic, blue-eyed 69-year-old, Mr Piëch combines the cold logic of Darwinism with a military ruthlessness in his commercial dealings.
 

Messages Page 2228 of 2473

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