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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: tagman (Jan 15, 2007 11:14 am) I think the IS-F looks awful, like they sent it to DUB magazine and said "go nuts guys, we really want this to be in Fast and Furious 3". The cartoonish body kit makes it seem like they are trying to pull buyers away EVOs and STis, rather than M3s. All it needs is a big wing on the back and a roof scoop, and they'll be gold. I honestly can't see anyone shopping for an M3 or C63 even considering the IS-F. Park that in the executive lot and you'll be laughed at. The two problems I have with the XJ on the inside are that 1. its like a time machine straight back to 1996, and 2. they really cheaped out in places that are very noticeable. I was absolutely shocked when I felt the inside of the driver's door handle and it was hard plastic, like they pulled it out of a Kia Rio. I hope the guy who said "we can save $8.50 per unit if we use plastic here instead of leather...I mean how often are you going to touch a door handle?" was fired, then dragged out back and shot.
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Replying to: merc1 (Jan 15, 2007 1:01 pm) What's so stupid is that using twin turbos on the 3.5L V6 would've solved all of the IS-F's problems, and they could've easily gotten 400+hp out of it.
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Acura - You kinda feel sorry for Acura after looking at Lexus and Infiniti. They are in reality a collection of really nice Hondas with not one looker in sight. Porsche - The new Cayenne still looks best in Turbo trim only, just like before. Porsche didn't allow anyone to sit in the Turbo. The new 911 GT3 and GT3 RS were there for the hard-core 911 fans. I'd have a Carrera 4S Cabrio or Turbo myself. The Cayman and Boxster didn't disappoint either. The Carrera GT is out of production now so of course it wasn't there....sigh. Bentley - The new Azure as impressive as it is, gets upstaged quite easily by the Rolls DHC. The Azure is still as timeless as ever and looks the part though, but the Rolls is just I dunno. My favorite Bentley, the Arnage wasn't there. The new Continental GTC droptop was there in a "unique" shade of brown that was very much an aquired taste, IMO. As many of you know I'm no fan of these new VW-based Bentleys, not because of their VW connection but because of their looks. The sedan, the Continental Flying Spur is the best looking one of the trio. My favorites, the production and concepts that impressed the most. In no particular order, after #1 the Roller: 1. Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe - This car is so over the top, expect to it to cost about "400K" according the Rolls folks on hand. It was truly the star of the entire show for me. 2. BMW X5 - Inside and out, BMW has a hit on thier hands with this one. The best BMW interior going also. 3. Lexus LF-A - The first lust object from Lexus in the making. This is the car that could win Lexus some respect from the Euro-only crowd. 4. Audi Q7 V12 TDI - Awesome engine, interior, exterior, a killer package. 5. Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG - Stunning Mercedes coupe with the racecar engine. 6. Audi R8 - Just like Lexus this is a crucial image car for Audi. A stunning sports car with all the typical Audi goodness. Audi had 2 stars on their stand, more than MB and BMW. The should do wonders for their image. 7. BMW M6 Convertible - For this package I can forgive the trunklid, a must have from BMW. 8. Ferrari 599GTB - A real Ferrari in every sense of the word. There has never been a sleeker Ferrari. 9. Cadillac CTS - A huge improvement over the previous car. Now if Cadillac could pull off such a transformation with the next round of replacements of their other cars they'd be on to something. 10. Toyota FT-HS - A surprise. This concept looks much better in person that it does in pics. Sure the front end has a little too much going on, but it doesn't ruin the overall concept. I stood through the entire presentation, very impressive stats/drivetrain for the money. Notes: Aston-Martin's display was just awful for such a great marque. It was so bare and last-minute looking and their entire lineup wasn't there. The new V8 Roadster is gorgeous but gee whiz does selling the brand mean skimp on the display? Mercedes had their 4Matic cars displayed on a floor of real ice. No one fell while I was there..lol! They also had a wall of ice from the floor to ceiling with little "4Matic" badges embedded in it. There is hope for GM moreso than Chrysler and Ford IMO. I'll post my impressions about the "regular" bands later in the 2007 Detroit Autoshow thread over on News and Views. All I can think of at the moment about Detroit...so there you have it! Pics in a day or so! M
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Replying to: lexusguy (Jan 15, 2007 1:12 pm) True, but this is a matter of keeping up with the Joneses. This class will be all V8 when the M3 arrives so Lexus wasn't about to use a V6 no matter how much hp they could have rung out of it. M
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Replying to: merc1 (Jan 15, 2007 1:33 pm) |
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Replying to: tagman (Jan 15, 2007 9:41 am) I won't go into the the Jaguar's front end looking like a much lesser non-Jaguar vehicle because that isn't Jaguar's fault. I remember reading that the brother of the stylist of the XK did the Ford Taurus also. On the other hand all Mercedes coupes and roadsters have had the same front end for years. Whether or not it was the SL, CL or this generation CLK. I really don't see the problem with a similar front end when there are far less "exclusively" branded cars that look a lot alike also. This about the SL and CLK being identical is really trivial IMO. M
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Replying to: merc1 (Jan 15, 2007 1:38 pm) Its disappointing that cylinder count for the marketing guys trumps the engineers, and logic. Reminds me of the camera companies all shoving in more megapixels regardless of whether or not it actually improves (or in some cases degrades) image quality. |
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Replying to: merc1 (Jan 15, 2007 1:33 pm) |
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Replying to: hpowders (Jan 15, 2007 12:48 pm)
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Replying to: lexusguy (Jan 15, 2007 1:04 pm) For the most part the interior of the XJ is proper amounts of wood and lots of genuine leather. The IS-F definately is as you described. It isn't going to matter that it isn't in the same league as the BMW M3... all the comps will be between it and the Bimmer... just wait and see. Just by being compared to the M3 will give it credibility that it won't deserve. Diehard BMW fans will see through this, but there will be those that won't. TagMan
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