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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 987 of 2473

#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.....??

#9861 of 24723 Ooh Hah! by bobcatman

Jul 21, 2005 (8:51 pm)

Just like Honda. Work secretly and then BAM! Whack the competition again. The current NSX while dated in design ain't no slouch. Far from it. The full factory backed Comptech supercharger option puts out close to 400hp and makes the NSX go bye-bye in 4.0.. A guy at work has a 98 bought from a doctor who paid close to 130K optioned out. The car costs well over $100k to actually build just like the S2000 costs over 40K to build. Gotta love hand buiilt 50/50 balanced cars that drive like race cars. The Z8 a had much shorter shelf life I recall. Just think the new Lexi V-10 supercar and all new NSX will be the baddest, fastest ever conceived from Japan. At Infinti land Carlos Ghosn is pushing his engineers to bench the 911 turbo performace for the upcoming Skyline GTR AWD supercar in 07. Merc1 you information overloaded yet LOL...

#9862 of 24723 Re: Oac—the operative term—true driver [designman] by michael_mattox

Jul 21, 2005 (9:04 pm)

Replying to: designman (Jul 21, 2005 4:30 am)
Designman:
 
Lexus gets full Red DoTs on virtually everything...At least the LS430 does.
 
It seems to me if you love BMW because you want a drivers car...Then Buy a BMW you can Afford...A nice 5 series...or older 7 series...It will cost you some money to keep it up but you will have a car you love.
 
If you want solid luxury...Lots of toys...Great Ride..GPS...a Great Mark Levinson sound system....and REAL reliability that you can count on...it is LEXUS
 
If you want a great ride and big prestige...with the knowledge that you will not get all the bells and whistles of the Lexus and a not very reliable car, then by all means get the Mercedes S430
 
Life if hell if you don't have unlimited wealth...I DON"T...But I am Very happy I streached to get the Car I really wanted and just LOVE.

#9863 of 24723 Re: Oac—the operative term—true driver [oac] by ljflx

Jul 22, 2005 (6:19 am)

Replying to: oac (Jul 21, 2005 8:01 pm)
OAC - well said. I guess it's hard for some people to realize that you can love the pampered luxury of a car like the LS430 with "it's just enough sure footed handling" and still love or want a high performance car. Somehow the old aged Cadillac driver is what people want to paint as LS430 owners. Perhaps that may be true to a high degree in Florida but then that would be true of virtually all high end lux sedans down there anyway. Around my neck of the woods most LS430 drivers are aggressive drivers and in their 40's to low 50's and can afford almost any car they want. I drove a 280Z, ZX and a Porsche 944 in my pre-LS days.

Messages Page 987 of 2473

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