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High End Luxury Cars

24699 messages,  Last post on Nov 30, 2009 at 6:41 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.



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#23900 of 24699
Re: Tag, [blkhemi] by tagman
Feb 11, 2007 (11:59 am)
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Replying to: blkhemi (Feb 11, 2007 10:59 am)

Some of the same things you pointed out, I shared also.
 
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
#23901 of 24699
Re: Edmunds Most Wanted Sedan Over $60,000 [dewey] by lexusguy
Feb 12, 2007 (2:18 am)
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Replying to: dewey (Feb 10, 2007 11:26 am)

The 7 handles well, but it's no match for the QP Sport GT. On an empty back road, the QP becomes a sports car. The 7 is a lot more sophisticated and has a lot more electronic wizardry, but its still an executive cruiser.
#23902 of 24699
BMW M6 convertible vs MB SL65 AMG by houdini1
Feb 12, 2007 (8:48 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.
#23903 of 24699
Re: BMW M6 convertible vs MB SL65 AMG [houdini1] by lexusguy
Feb 12, 2007 (9:52 am)
Reply

Replying to: houdini1 (Feb 12, 2007 8:48 am)

The last line basically says it, the BMW won on price and more standard features. Apparently they weren't bothered by the fact that it's hideous, and the transmission is awful.
#23904 of 24699
Re: BMW M6 convertible vs MB SL65 AMG [lexusguy] by pat HOST
Feb 12, 2007 (11:16 am)
Reply

Replying to: lexusguy (Feb 12, 2007 9:52 am)

Link: 2007 BMW M6 Convertible vs. 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG
#23905 of 24699
Re: BMW M6 convertible vs MB SL65 AMG [lexusguy] by drfill
Feb 12, 2007 (3:02 pm)
Reply

Replying to: lexusguy (Feb 12, 2007 9:52 am)

If you call that a manual.
 
  DrFill
#23906 of 24699
Re: BMW M6 convertible vs MB SL65 AMG [drfill] by lexusguy
Feb 12, 2007 (3:21 pm)
Reply

Replying to: drfill (Feb 12, 2007 3:02 pm)

If you call that a manual.
 
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.
#23907 of 24699
The OTHER German high end luxury marque by blckislandguy
Feb 12, 2007 (7:11 pm)
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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.
#23908 of 24699
Re: Soon to be Sold on our Shores: BMW Alpina B7 [dewey] by esf
Feb 12, 2007 (7:38 pm)
Reply

Replying to: dewey (Feb 08, 2007 8:34 am)

I'd rather have an S8. The ducktail on the B7 is atrocious, and it just doesn't seem as satisfying as the S8.
 
Drop the twin-turbos from the upcoming RS6 into the S8, and you have an S65-eater. Yes, it's hard- but the car is already $100K with average options. I don't think an extra $10-15K for all that extra performance is a bad deal.
 
Alpina should leave BMW designs as they are. M does a much better job with bodykits.
 
'06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet • '04 Lexus RX330
#23909 of 24699
Re: The OTHER German high end luxury marque [blckislandguy] by esf
Feb 12, 2007 (7:41 pm)
Reply

Replying to: blckislandguy (Feb 12, 2007 7:11 pm)

I would say the "OTHER" German high end luxury marque is Audi. Porsche? Completely different class from BMW or Merc. I love Porsche, but everyone knows of Porsche- it's no secret. Everyone wants a 911 at some point in their lives. I can say with confidence that I do, and I'll be driving the Carrera Cabriolet in two years to replace the S4 ( ). If the Carrera, 650ci and XKR convertible are ALL not to my satisfaction, I'll probably end up with the next-gen S5 or RS5 Cabriolet. Audi is a pretty good secret in the US. Only their owners know how good they are.
 
'06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet • '04 Lexus RX330

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