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

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.

Outline

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#24146 of 24700 Re: breaking news [dhamilton] by 2001gs430 Mar 05, 2007 (6:12 am)
Replying to: dhamilton (Mar 04, 2007 10:21 pm) I really admire your taste for Audi, but I think the company still has a lot to over come the bad reputation they had back in the 80's (or early 90's?). I was at a gathering last night, and some friends mentioned that they test drove BMW sedans. They loved how the BMW drove but was disappointed with the interior. I told them to looked at Audi since I heard from this forum that the company has the best interior and very good cars lately. Guess what was the first response from my friends, "we heard that Audi vehicles have this issue with unintended acceleration ".
#24147 of 24700 Re: breaking news [dhamilton] by brightness04 Mar 05, 2007 (9:43 am)
Replying to: dhamilton (Mar 04, 2007 10:21 pm) Not surprising at all. M5 is a whole size bigger than RS4, with the inevitable dynamics handicaps, both due to the physical size and weight as well as intended market (people who do not have families get M3 not M5; DSC disable is not a good idea if BMW doesn't want law suits with crushed babies in the backseat in a family car). It just goes to show that, if your primary pursuit is vehicle dynamic performance, HELC is not the place to be. Replies to this message: lexusguy (Mar 05, 2007 11:18 am) brightness04 (Mar 05, 2007 2:39 pm) dhamilton (Mar 05, 2007 6:06 pm) and 1 more...
#24148 of 24700 Re: OAC [hpowders] by brightness04 Mar 05, 2007 (11:00 am)
Replying to: hpowders (Mar 04, 2007 6:50 am) I don't know of any leasing deals for any auto manufacturer where tires are covered when you turn the car in. No other auto manufacturer is advertising "pay nothing and drive 4 years / 50,000 miles" either. $1000+ (or even $2000+ for two sets in 50k miles) is certainly not "pay nothing," especially when we are talking about cars that get leased for only about 20-30% MSRP between cap cost and residual. What I do is replace the tires after 2 years whether they are worn or not. That way I get one year of use out of them and the tread will pass the 36 month inspection turn-in. Exactly! What with my wife driving, after about 2 years/20k miles, the tires can't pass state safety inspection Replies to this message: hpowders (Mar 05, 2007 12:56 pm)
#24149 of 24700 Re: OAC [dewey] by brightness04 Mar 05, 2007 (11:03 am)
Replying to: dewey (Mar 04, 2007 6:16 am) Tires are car maintenance items, just like brakes. Gasoline, car insurance, travel and restaurants are not car maintenance.
#24150 of 24700 Re: breaking news [brightness04] by lexusguy Mar 05, 2007 (11:18 am)
Replying to: brightness04 (Mar 05, 2007 9:43 am) DSC disable is not a good idea if BMW doesn't want law suits with crushed babies in the backseat in a family car). It just goes to show that, if your primary pursuit is vehicle dynamic performance, HELC is not the place to be. You're not actually serious, are you? BMW's reasoning was not "crushed babies". This M5 was botched from day one. If they had designed it around a manual transmission, you would be able turn off the DSC, just like in the last M5. The RS6 is going to mop the floor with BMW's failure. Replies to this message: brightness04 (Mar 05, 2007 2:39 pm) dhamilton (Mar 05, 2007 6:06 pm) brightness04 (Mar 05, 2007 6:22 pm)
#24151 of 24700 Re: OAC [brightness04] by hpowders Mar 05, 2007 (12:56 pm)
Replying to: brightness04 (Mar 05, 2007 11:00 am) Well, after 2 years, every one of my vehicles' tires have had sufficient tread left. It's more the principle of the thing. If I'm going to have to spend for tires at lease termination, I want a year's worth of use out of them.
#24152 of 24700 Re: breaking news [lexusguy] by brightness04 Mar 05, 2007 (2:39 pm)
Replying to: lexusguy (Mar 05, 2007 11:18 am) You're not actually serious, are you? Actually, I am. The 5 series is first and foremost a midsize family sedan. 114" wheelbase is a platform engineered for smooth ride, not turning on a dime! For comparison, 911 has a wheelbase of 93", and RS4 has a wheelbase of 104"! With that in mind, automatic transmission only made marketting sense. Just to bring the topic back to HELC a little, a typical stretched HELC nowadays rides on a 120" wheelbase! Handling afficienadoes need not apply. Replies to this message: dhamilton (Mar 05, 2007 6:06 pm) brightness04 (Mar 05, 2007 6:22 pm)
#24153 of 24700 Re: breaking news [brightness04] by dhamilton Mar 05, 2007 (6:06 pm)
Replying to: brightness04 (Mar 05, 2007 2:39 pm) So let's just forget about handling? No wonder your a Lexus fan. LG is right, the manual can't handle the torque. they should have re programmed the ratios and software, instead they put it out as is [with undefeatable DSC]. I almost wonder if they did it on purpose, because they want to stop making manuals. Everyone in Europe seems to be in love with SMG/DSG style trannys. But, there is no asterisk next to this Audi win IMO. I realize to some degree they are in different classes. OK. Sorry Pat, no more off topic. Replies to this message: brightness04 (Mar 05, 2007 6:22 pm)
#24154 of 24700 Re: breaking news [dhamilton] by brightness04 Mar 05, 2007 (6:22 pm)
Replying to: dhamilton (Mar 05, 2007 6:06 pm) So let's just forget about handling? No wonder your a Lexus fan. That bit of personal jab is quite uncalled for. I have owned two BMW's, but no Lexus so far. Not putting handling as priority #1 makes me interested in HELC. Notice, not a single S, 7 or LS was tossed into the RS4 vs. M5 jumboree. Size and weight are enemies in handling. As you pointed out, both RS4 and M5 are quite off-topic for HELC. When I shop for a weekend race car, I care about handling very much, just not when shopping for HELC.