High End Luxury Cars

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24723 messages, Last post on Jan 28, 2013 at 6:55 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

Your Hosts are kirstie_h & 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.

#8865 of 24723 New Jaguar XJ by xkss

Apr 03, 2005 (8:11 pm)

The new Jaguar XJ's 4.2 liter V-8 does NOT have the Nikasil coated engines and water pumps problems of the old 4.0 liter V-8.

The new XJ has a curve in its rear doors that starts at the end, like old Jaguars. The previous XJ didn't have that curve.

The new XJ's outer headlights are bigger than the inner headlights, like the original XJ.

The new XJ's wheels are pushed out to the corners, like the original XJ.

The new Porsche 911 looks good and its styling hasn't changed much over the 40 years.

Here is a 2004 XJR in "Zircon" with the optional 20 inch BBS wheels.

Here is another 2004 XJR.

The new aluminum XJ was tested extensively at Germany's demanding Nurburgring race track.

As to the new XJ's technology.

As I've said before, the 2005 Jaguar Super V8 weighs over 800 pounds less than a BMW 760Li thanks to its advanced aluminum chassis and use of relevant technology.

The new XJR and Super V8 come standard with Brembo brakes which include four-piston calipers.

The new XJ has a ZF 6 speed automatic transmission which I found to be quite responsive when I drove one (a 2004 XJR).

The new XJR has optional 20 inch BBS wheels which are high quality.

The new XJ will be available with Bluetooth next month.

#8866 of 24723 The new XJ by xkss

Apr 03, 2005 (8:16 pm)

more pictures of the new XJ's aluminum chassis which is 40 % lighter and 60 % stiffer than if it were steel. The new XJ uses magnesium in its seat frames.

#8867 of 24723 Jaguars by oac

Apr 03, 2005 (9:45 pm)

I sure appreciate the new angle to this forum, and welcome it whole-heartedly. But I am no Jag fan and think Jaguar is well past its glory days with Ford at the helm of affairs. But that new XK concept is a real beaut if they build it "as-is". Saw it at the SD auto show in January, and it got featured in the April MT issue. Real positive styling direction imo.

#8868 of 24723 A look back at 1989 LUXURY car comparos by oac

Apr 03, 2005 (10:15 pm)

Replies to this message:

pat (Apr 04, 2005 5:54 am)
- oac (Apr 04, 2005 7:13 pm)

#8869 of 24723 Jaguar by xkss

Apr 04, 2005 (12:40 am)

is past their glory days, as is just about every other car maker (except for perhaps Aston Martin). The new 1995-1997 Jaguar XJ is a reliable luxury car. The new XJ has also been much more reliable than the previous XJ while having more quality. That article I posted about Jaguar and aluminum pointed out that the HUGE investment for aluminum Jaguars is continuingly being developed. The next XK will use the new XJ's aluminum chassis which will spread costs. The next S-Type would further spread costs if it used the new XJ's aluminum chassis.

I'm not to sure about the styling of new BMWs. They had record sales last year along with record recalls and service actions. Here is a 2004 BMW 5 series and a second generation M5 which was handbuilt (so was 1st generation) unlike the new V-8 and V-10-powered M5s. All second generation M5s had forged aluminum wheels.

(BMW also built an M5 Touring from 92-95)

Here is a BMW 850CSi (big, fast BMW coupe for the 90s)

Here is a new 6 series

Here is the revised 7 series

Here is the new M6

#8870 of 24723 Car & Driver's long-term XJR by xkss

Apr 04, 2005 (3:21 am)

read this article

Car & Driver picked up their long-term 2004 XJR in the summer of 2004, which was shorty after production of the new aluminum XJ began.

Car & Driver's long-term 2004 Jaguar XJR

Also, the 2005 Jaguar Super V8, the flagship XJ, gets better fuel economy than the BMW 760Li.

#8871 of 24723 Re: A look back at 1989 LUXURY car comparos [oac] by pat

Apr 04, 2005 (5:54 am)

Replying to: oac (Apr 03, 2005 10:15 pm)

Those links are not working - I think the ellipsis in the middle of them is the problem. I hope the software here didn't insert it. We've had some issues with links lately ...

Replies to this message:

oac (Apr 04, 2005 7:13 pm)

#8872 of 24723 Re: syswei, ljflx [michael_mattox] by stroudman

Apr 04, 2005 (7:48 am)

Replying to: michael_mattox (Apr 03, 2005 11:01 am)

My service dept. and tech's are as good as they come. Our CSI rating stays consistently in the top 10 in our region, which is 6 states. So from that perspective, most folks are happy.

....but, membership has it's privileges.

As I've said before, if you're shopping in this pricepoint, for any brand, that means somewhere, someone is paying you a significant profit, and life is VERY good. If you take up my time and expertise, then take your business elsewhere over the few dollars in net profit Benz places on their vehicle, then you get from me what you paid for. If you're putting more importance on the moment of glory at point of sale, than on the years ahead, then that is what you bought yourself. Again, why in the world would I stay late, provide free transportation, overnight a part or accessory, do anything for a person who put money in someone else's coffers?

Replies to this message:

#8873 of 24723 Re: syswei, ljflx [stroudman] by michael_mattox

Apr 04, 2005 (8:30 am)

Replying to: stroudman (Apr 04, 2005 7:48 am)

I would think the price of membership is simply buying the high priced car in the first place....

It is not the buyers privledge to use the service dept ..it is his right...Quality Service is critical in the high end market...as is Friendly, Accomodating, knowledgable staff from the receptionist to sales to service to management should be the norm and not a Privdledge handed out to a few "Special" customers...Those that can afford your product are all Special.

When those of us who own Lexus talk about the company and the Car ...the service is one of the big reasons we become repeat customers not just the outstanding quality and value of the machine itself.

Replies to this message:

garyh1 (Apr 04, 2005 8:57 am)
- stroudman (Apr 04, 2005 9:20 am)
- michael_mattox (Apr 04, 2005 10:38 am)
flyfisher1 (Apr 10, 2005 6:17 pm)

#8874 of 24723 Re: syswei, ljflx [stroudman] by designman

Apr 04, 2005 (8:41 am)

Replying to: stroudman (Apr 04, 2005 7:48 am)

�If you take up my time and expertise, then take your business elsewhere over the few dollars in net profit Benz places on their vehicle, then you get from me what you paid for.�

I don�t understand. When I take my BMW in for service I deal with the service department not salesperson. Haven't had a problem. They also go out of their way to get me the type of loaner car I ask for. I attribute this to the good business practices of the specific dealer. Are you telling us that your service department sucks and clients have to come back to you for support? You expect customers to pay you for this arrangement? I am all for the salesperson making a living, but it sounds like there could be something rotten in Denmark at your dealership and among your competing dealerships. Your gripe should be with MB and the dealership, not the clients.

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