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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: dewey (Mar 04, 2007 6:16 am) |
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Replying to: brightness04 (Mar 05, 2007 9:43 am) 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.
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Replying to: brightness04 (Mar 05, 2007 11:00 am) 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. 
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Replying to: lexusguy (Mar 05, 2007 11:18 am) 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.
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Replying to: brightness04 (Mar 05, 2007 2:39 pm) 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.
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Replying to: dhamilton (Mar 05, 2007 6:06 pm) 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. |
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Here is a link to a virtual Audi S6-BMW M5 and MB E63AMG road test. Follow the instructions about using keys and your mouse and this virtual test can be quite fun. Enjoy! VIRTUAL ROAD TEST |
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Replying to: lexusguy (Mar 05, 2007 1:35 am) BMW M series models have evolved from the very harsh 88 M3 into the more refined and sophisticated M series models you see today. Unfortunately the current M5 is a bit too civilized for its own good. The very best M series for an enthusiast is the 88 M3. It may not be the fastest but overall it is by far the most exciting car to drive than any of the current versions of "computers on wheels" like the Audi RS or BMW M series models you see today. The future enthusiast cars of tomorrow will not be new cars but vintage luddite cars of the past like dated Porsche Carreras and 1980s and 90s BMW M series models. Unfortunately "Computers on Wheels' is the future for all cars including performance ones.
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That BMW would hamstring their own car that way, Toyota-esque, if you will. I would think Toyota and BMW have different clientele, different objectives. If the BMW can't outperform, what good is it? At $90k, not much. Bad enough iDrive is standard. No joy for 5 fans.  Wouldn't put it past BMW to stack the deck against the manual, to put over the controversial SMG. The SMG does have to pay for itself, at some point. BMW is not as prescient as other companies in knowing what it's customers want/expect. You get what they give you.  DrFill
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