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High End Luxury Cars

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

You are in the Sedans Forum.

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.

Messages Page 986 of 2473

#9851 of 24723 Re: The $30k-$40k used car question... [designman] by oac

Jul 20, 2005 (9:50 am)

Replying to: designman (Jul 20, 2005 4:37 am)
If you can tolerate high mileage you can get an 02 745 for well below $40K...
 
Is this not the year you want to AVOID at all cost ? The 2002 745 was, well, a big phat dud reliability-wise.... If you must buy a used Bangled 7-series, get one post 2002, period. Sometimes, spending a little bit more $$ can get you a much better car. Try expanding the price to the low to mid-40K range and the choices are limitless....
 
Good luck with your search. BTW, any LS430 of any year (2001 - date) is a much better choice than any BMW of any year (like you don't know that already, eh !) bcos you need not worry about reliability or any issue with the LS....

#9852 of 24723 chat tonight by kirstie_h HOST

Jul 20, 2005 (12:28 pm)

Don't forget tonight's member-to-member chat - it's open mic night, so come and discuss whatever's on your mind.
 
6-7pm PT/9-10pm ET. Drop by for live chat with other members. Hope you can join us!
 
kirstie_h

#9853 of 24723 oac by lexusguy

Jul 20, 2005 (9:09 pm)

Good point. '97 BMW 540is can be had for pocket change, the reason being their reliability was horrendous. BMW often doesnt have great luck with initial model years.

#9854 of 24723 Oac—the operative term—true driver by designman

Jul 21, 2005 (4:30 am)

”Is this not the year you want to AVOID at all cost ? The 2002 745 was, well, a big phat dud reliability-wise....”
 
You forgot to mention that if you have a low tolerance for risk, don’t buy volatile stocks. I thought this was common knowledge, and truluv_cars said he has been a reader of the boards for many years now. But hey, the Lexus buyer has a 15 amp circuit breaker for this stuff, so lets reset it until it just pops again, and then we’ll do it again and of course again.
 
If reliability is priority then you’ll want to avoid all 7s “at all cost” even E60 5s. BMWs with iDrive are showing electronic gremlins and their reliability rating has suffered because of it.
 
When iDrive first came out in 2002 the remedies lagged because the techies in service bays weren’t up to speed and the service bins weren’t amply stocked. Is it any different now three years later? I don’t know, it can’t be worse and it appears that the inherent problems with the 02 7 are no different in nature than current models. I could be wrong and welcome the opportunity to be educated.
 
What I do know is that “true drivers”, as truluv_cars claims to be, often weigh the benefits against the risks and want performance cars AT ALL COST. I point now to Porsches which come with the distinct possibility of RMS and broken intermediate shaft problems, the latter of which requires complete engine replacement. The latest iteration of Porsches also has some electronic concerns. Guess what, people still buy them because nothing drives better than a Porsche at Porsche prices. For the umpteenth time, the same is said about BMWs in the sedan category.
 
I guess we have to remind ourselves yet once again. Camp Lexus loves its white CR dots, savoring time not spent at the dealer. But the performance drivers—the true drivers—get on the roller coaster, climb the mountains, ride the surf, just as financial risk takers lay their money on volatile stocks. I’m wondering, are there ANY owners of 02 7s that climbed Mt. Everest and lived to tell about it? I’m sure the happy campers know the answer. They read about it from their chaise on the beach, at a certain calculated distance from the water so the sharks don’t jump out and get them.
 

#9855 of 24723 "Honda says it will build V-10 engine" by syswei

Jul 21, 2005 (6:52 am)

"New powerplant scheduled for Acura NSX replacement"
 
source Automotive News

#9856 of 24723 syswei by lexusguy

Jul 21, 2005 (9:31 am)

Sure, now that the NSX actually has some home based competition, Honda is finally getting off their butts. They had 15 years to do this. The next NSX better be good, because the current car has long been forgotten.

#9857 of 24723 Re: syswei [lexusguy] by designman

Jul 21, 2005 (12:30 pm)

Replying to: lexusguy (Jul 21, 2005 9:31 am)
The NSX was/is a great car. But that’s what happens when a company is blind enough to price it some 28% and 100% above its competition which are icons. Heck, the S2000 is a great car and look how much cheaper it is than its competition. Where are the sales? Goes to show you what the Japanese are up against in the sports car segment. That said I totally look forward to a 10 cyl. Honda.

#9858 of 24723 Re: syswei [designman] by lexusguy

Jul 21, 2005 (2:32 pm)

Replying to: designman (Jul 21, 2005 12:30 pm)
Well, the NSX was built by hand. That costs money. Chevy doesnt exactly do that with the Corvette. As for the S2000, its kind of a niche product, even among sports cars. The rev happy 4cyl is not exactly great for regular traffic, nor is it easy to drive fast. The 350Z on the other hand, you can just mash the pedal and it goes, which is what Americans like.

#9859 of 24723 Lexus spy pics??? by maxhonda99

Jul 21, 2005 (3:12 pm)

Check this out:
 
http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=102821

#9860 of 24723 Re: Oac—the operative term—true driver [designman] by oac

Jul 21, 2005 (8:01 pm)

Replying to: designman (Jul 21, 2005 4:30 am)
I guess we have to remind ourselves yet once again. Camp Lexus loves its white CR dots, savoring time not spent at the dealer. But the performance drivers—the true drivers—get on the roller coaster, climb the mountains, ride the surf, just as financial risk takers lay their money on volatile stocks. I’m wondering, are there ANY owners of 02 7s that climbed Mt. Everest and lived to tell about it? I’m sure the happy campers know the answer. They read about it from their chaise on the beach, at a certain calculated distance from the water so the sharks don’t jump out and get them.
 
I am laughing so hard, Designman.... Gosh, you are good at words...
 
There is this fallacy about Lexusophiles, that all we care about is our snoozemobiles... Au contraire. I know many Lexus owners with BMWs and other assortment of cars on their drive ways or in their garages. Even lowly me with my little sport-wagon - the Matrix. That car is real fun to drive. Yeah, it ain't no Porsche (cannot afford one now) but a nice handling car/wagon all the same. It zips and zaps, has tons of room, rides like its on rails, and generally puts a smile on my lips everytime. I love that car much as I like my LS, but for different purposes. But nothing compares to the LS in pure driving; by which I mean enjoying a ride around town in luxury and comfort. Supremely quiet, refined and plush. I don't need to feel all the ruts on the roads to tell me I am driving on the pavement. That, to me isn't driving. Driving is having a great ride, in absolute comfort, with my fav music on the CD player, completely oblivious to all the worries outside. Man, that is a nice feeling... Is there anything wrong with that ?
 
BTW, truluv_cars loves the 7 series, but WANTS an LS. Hmmmmmm ! Isn't that strange music to the ears of the *driving enthusiasts* ? Maybe he values his time more than the jarring ride ? Maybe....Its certainly not about the money cos he can get an '02 LS430 for about the same as an '02 745i. So.....??

Messages Page 986 of 2473

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