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Sedans High End Luxury Cars
24697 messages, Last post on Nov 28, 2009 at 3:09 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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Great article on vintage cars in this week's Barrons. So what costs more than many vintage Ferarris? OF COURSE, many of the valuation methods now shaping muscle-car prices have been affecting collectible sports cars for years, especially high-end pre-1970 models. Ferrari tops this list. After a crazy speculative price bubble in 1989, when Japanese investors shelled out $10 million to $12 million for top Ferraris, prices nosedived, along with Japanese stocks. They've quietly come back, increasing by more than 50% in the past few years. RM sold a 1957 Ferrari 250 Boano LWB (long wheelbase) Berlinetta for $720,000; a 1967 330 GTC went for $220,000. Rarity works in Ferraris' favor: Even the more common versions seldom numbered more than 1,000 to 1,200; others totaled less than 100. "Interest is very strong for vintage sports and racing cars," says Rob Myers, the founder of RM. A 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda convertible sold for $2.42 million at the recent auctions. Imagine owning a spanking new low volume low priced car like the Cuda and seeing its resale value increase faster than the stock price of Berkshire Hathaway? So far I have not seen a single BMW 335i sedan in Toronto. Who knows maybe if I keep my car for a few decades... (OK, ok I am just kidding)  |
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Interesting conclusion on your experience with the S550. Some of the same things you pointed out, I shared also. The rear end is polarizing, yes, but to me so is the disorganized bustle of the pseudo-Bangle LS. This is a new venture for MB to stray away from the conservative status-quo, and think they nailed it. Those wheelarches must be liked by quite a few folks as the S sells pretty darn well... As to the tranny, I didn't experience any hunting in my test of an S550. The LS on the otherhand searched at random for the correct gear, particularly on hilly terrain whereas the 7-G held it's cool, and switched gears seamlessly if needed be. Even the old-tech 5-speed in the S600 rarely if ever hunted for gears. When you test the A8, if no S8 is available, try testing an A8 Sport. The additional suspension tuning will make the experience even more exciting, altho the base suspension is definetely not lacking..
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Replying to: blkhemi (Feb 11, 2007 10:59 am) I think most people who drive the car should have a similar experience but with different personal reactions to it... after all, the variable isn't the car... it's the driver. The S550's 7-speed was perfect, as I posted. MT's observation seems quite isolated and unique. The wheel arches are dramatic, but absolutely OK with me. Only the trunk is missing the bullseye, IMO. When I test the A8, I want to test a long wheelbase car, since that is the comparison I am making across the board, as I want to compare apples to apples here as much as possible. If there is a "Sport" available, I would drive it as an additional drive, but not in place of the A8L. And I would never turn down a drive in an S8, if one becomes available. TagMan |
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Replying to: dewey (Feb 10, 2007 11:26 am) |
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I just read this comparo on inside line and found it to be very confusing. The MB cost about twice as much, won the performance tests, won the speed tests, won the slamon, won the braking,etc. And every editor picked it as the car they would prefer for themsleves. The winner.....the BMW M6. Someone please explain this to me. And while you are at it please explain the scoring explanation chart. I don't have a dog in this fight and don't really care which car won but this comparo makes no sense to me. I have a feeling it all hinged on the fact that the BMW was a manual trans. and the MB was automatic. They didn't say this, it is just my hunch. |
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Replying to: houdini1 (Feb 12, 2007 8:48 am)
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Replying to: lexusguy (Feb 12, 2007 9:52 am) |
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Replying to: lexusguy (Feb 12, 2007 9:52 am) DrFill
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Replying to: drfill (Feb 12, 2007 3:02 pm) SMGs are in a gray area between paddle-shift automatics and full 3-pedal manuals. The M6 is not supposed to get the stick like the M5 as far as I'm aware. |
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Without belaboring the issue, everyone seems to agree that the ownership experience of an S Class or a 7 Series isn't great. Lots of little "issues" crop up, the dealership maybe isn't as accomodating as they were when you dropped 8 or 9 large on your vehicle, the car that you bought for your 25th wedding anniversary is a lemon (see a recent post on the S Class Board), the cars are overly gimmicky and require an MIT EE who doesn't wear bifocals to figure out the controls and turn on the radio, etc. So, what to do? One alternative is to shop Lexus, with all of that brand's positives and negatives. Another is buy a loaded SUV such as a Denali, Navigator, TLC, etc. Maybe the thing won't be as bullet proof as a Lexus, but it will handle snow and a bunch of prep school hockey players. It might cost less than a Lexus, too. A lot of affluent families in the Northeast did that for the last 10 years. Now many are moving into MDX's, X5's etc.. But here's a well kept secret: Porsche. Great cars and few problems. Porsche is a family owned company, the dealerships are relatively small and staffed by car nuts, the dealership experience is great with free PORSCHE loaners galore, etc. They really care about the customer experience with no end to the surveys, phone calls, and thank you notes from Porsche. Not some customer satisfaction company hired by the local dealership to smooth things over when your wife's Volvo consistently comes back from service unwashed and with more lost tools in the engine compartment than a Snap-On dealer has on his truck. Sure the routine service is expensive. But this time you get what you pay for. Just like Paul Stuart or Brook Bros. Moreover, they will even have a four door sedan in a year or two with a price point of 80K or so.
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