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Entry Level Luxury Performance Sedans

16087 messages,  Last post on May 09, 2013 at 9:32 AM

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What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G37, Acura TL, Lexus IS 350, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Cadillac CTS, Volvo S60, Audi A4, Acura TSX, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 1131 of 1609

#11301 of 16087 Re: will the real SLim Shady please stand up [nyccarguy] by sweendogy

Aug 06, 2010 (6:20 pm)

Replying to: nyccarguy (Aug 06, 2010 11:42 am)
HAVE TO AGREE THE VW CC?? for the money you can acually save 3-5k and just get the basic passat..CC maybe a good looking car but its no proformance sedan and it gets real pricy quickly seats only 4 and for the performance its far behind everything in its class.. plus your driving a VW and not a lux brand. -- I would also put the TL into this class a nice car but not a true performer unless you get a 6speed (have not come across one owner here on edmunds).
 
For those who talk about BMW and its maintainance program..sure its great but really -- i have a 3 year old G with 23k miles on its- -OIL changes and TIre rotations are all that are needed, airfilters and the like-- we are not talking about major service-- I paid 36.5K for a fully loaded G-- the comp a 335 would have cost me over 50k - - I will take my 15k and pay out of pocket any day for service.
 
Billy take a look at this link-- yes im not the only one who sees buick as a real competitor to acura--(link not allowed on acura TL lovefest chat)
 
http://forums.motortrend.com/70/8084497/the-general-forum/2010-buick-lacrosse-vs- - - -2010-acura-tl/index.html

#11302 of 16087 Re: will the real SLim Shady please stand up [nyccarguy] by nyccarguy

Aug 06, 2010 (7:42 pm)

Replying to: nyccarguy (Aug 06, 2010 11:42 am)
But sometimes price drives your decision more than anything else.
 
I've always dreamed of that perfect BMW (SP/6SPD/Heated Seats) sitting on a dealer's lot with a drop dead, can't pass it up price attached to it.
 
I saw an ad in the paper today for a very cheap lease on a C300 with an MSRP of only $35,570 that has a 6 Speed Stick & heated seats, RWD, but not much else. I think if I needed a car right now and could lease, I'd go down there and see how much I can steal the car from them for. Every MB sedan I see around here is 4Matic AWD.

#11303 of 16087 I don't get it ... by kfdmed

Aug 06, 2010 (9:54 pm)

Replying to: nyccarguy (Aug 06, 2010 7:42 pm)
BMW's are butt ugly, ride harsh, and cost a boat load of money to maintain/service (after the free stuff). Their interiors are from the '90's and there exterior design is Korean looking cheap. I would take a TL and pocket the 10 -15k in a heartbeat. The RWD/FWD debate is overrated much like the manual/auto trans debate.
Yes I know how to shift gears and work a clutch. Yes I have driven rear wheel cars. No, I am not sixteen anymore and don't care to drive like I am on the autobahn.
 
The TL/AWD, CTS/4, and G37X are the best choices. The Germans are just ugly/boring and expensive. Why Lexus is on the right I don't know.

#11304 of 16087 Re: I don't get it ... [kfdmed] by tlong

Aug 06, 2010 (10:28 pm)

Replying to: kfdmed (Aug 06, 2010 9:54 pm)
Don't know how you can call that post credible when you talk about butt ugly but then like the new TL.
 
And I'm a TL owner (2005!).
 
I agree the Bangle BMWs were a styling step backwards. Not real pretty.

#11305 of 16087 Re: will the real SLim Shady please stand up [nyccarguy] by ivan_99

Aug 07, 2010 (1:23 am)

Replying to: nyccarguy (Aug 06, 2010 11:42 am)
"I would think that to be a very heavy vehicle with (280 hp?) not enough motivation"
 
Yeah...I think that motor has been around for 5 years or so; time to upgrade i think. But still not too far behind
 
I thought about a CC 2.0T and chipping it...making a fun project car. But when they first came out you couldn't get the Nav system (really nice) with a manual. Their auto wasn't the DSG...just a regular 6spd (plus my wife was giving me a hard time about a 4 seater)
 
I had a few cars between the old G35 and IS350 (I have a problem).
 
I did a CPO for the IS350. I was looking at CPO'd 335's...coupe. I was scared off by the maintenance stories (the IS has not been perfect...even requiring a tow truck--boost).
 
I thought the BMW was gorgeous, but didn't care for the interior. The Lexus CPO was better than the BMW and one of the 335's I drove was only auto (i know like the IS ). The manual 335 i drove was a base...again the interior threw me off. Materials and quality were good, it just didn't look right to me (or not as good as others...although i'm tiring of the IS interior...that problem i have) .
 
An A5 would have been my first choice, but the price got too high (the S5 was a dream to drive---felt like James Bond ). The new A4 wasn't out yet...love the recent Audi's. I really liked the CTS as well; it just didn't feel as good as the others The new MB C was out, but I couldn't find a price similar to the IS's CPO (they were too new) -- it drove similar to the IS.
 
I probably wouldn't buy another IS today. I get very annoyed by Auto trannies; they never do what i want them to. I can rant even further about the shiftable auto trannies like the IS and CTS (etc)...shift...wait...wait...wait...wait...gear change (if you ever see a grown man screaming at the shift leaver...that is me ) BTW -- Like the DSG
 
I can't drive the IS in 'normal' mode...i have to leave it in 'power' mode. This alters the throttle response (makes it shift less smooth -- sometimes jerky ). In normal mode I feel like i'm going to loose my mind; think driving a Corolla in the sand.
 
The traction control comes on WAY too early (this is an 06); I believe they altered it for other years. You can disable the traction control...through an esoteric sequence of brake and parking brake taps...at every startup.
 
The thing I like the least is the low torque at normal driving speeds. If you squeeze the pedal too slow you're left wondering if something is wrong. You have to learn to tap it just right to get a one or two down-shift.
 
If you keep the pedal down and past 4K the thing flys; but at this point you're getting into triple digits and you'll need a good layer and a lenient Judge...mommy why's daddy in jail...
 
During my test drives i was a maniac so I didn't notice the little nuances in 'normal' driving; which I suppose we all have to do at some point
 
But it's an ok car...I like it...looks nice, interior is fine. Goes fast when I need to. My average mileage is 22ish which i'm content with.
 
Think my next car will have to be a coupe...or a tunned up turbo something...or both

#11306 of 16087 Re: will the real SLim Shady please stand up [ivan_99] by cdnpinhead

Aug 07, 2010 (6:04 am)

Replying to: ivan_99 (Aug 07, 2010 1:23 am)
Thanks for that post.
 
Lots of interesting comments & insights. I've looked at several of these cars over the years, but don't change up very often myself.
 
If I had to replace my TSX today, it would probably be with a VW TDI w/ a manual transmission -- hopefully the VW reliability issues have been tamed, at least for your sake.

#11307 of 16087 Well I was a bit tipsy when I posted that ... by kfdmed

Aug 07, 2010 (6:42 am)

Replying to: tlong (Aug 06, 2010 10:28 pm)
BMW's overall are not butt ugly. The rear end styling is awful. The rest is pretty good.
 
I have stated this before that I like the TL's look. I think it gets a bad rap.
 
As far as looks goes I rate them CTS, TL, G37, 3 series, A4, IS250/350.

#11308 of 16087 Re: will the real SLim Shady please stand up [ivan_99] by nyccarguy

Aug 07, 2010 (6:59 pm)

Replying to: ivan_99 (Aug 07, 2010 1:23 am)
great post! Thanks for the detailed info.
 
What did you have between the 2 cars? It seems like you're dissatisfied with the Lexus, so why hold on to it? Unless it is a financial reason.
 
(if you ever see a grown man screaming at the shift leaver... - This is one of the funniest things I've ever read on town hall!
 
the IS has not been perfect...even requiring a tow truck--boost). . Funny, my wife's former 2007 BMW X3 only saw the back of a tow truck once, when she swerved to avoid some debris in the road, hit a curb, and popped her 2 left tires as well as bent one rim (about 2000 miles before we had to tuen the truck in

#11309 of 16087 Re: will the real SLim Shady please stand up [nyccarguy] by ivan_99

Aug 08, 2010 (12:24 am)

Replying to: nyccarguy (Aug 07, 2010 6:59 pm)
What did you have between the 2 cars? It seems like you're dissatisfied with the Lexus, so why hold on to it? Unless it is a financial reason.
 
I had a 2003 accord -- 4 cyl 5 speed (I run the gamut from mid-end to affordable low end...); funny thing is I made *sure* with my wife that the manual was fine...took about 3-4 months...then after we got it..."I can't believe I have to use the clutch with my bad knees" We already had a mini van...so I thought -- why do i need another family car...and it went
 
Then it was a Mazda 3i 5speed sedan. Great car, one of my favorite...it was like the whole body was carved out of one piece--very solid and composed. I took a test drive, didn't look in the trunk or try the stereo or sit in the back seat...was very impressed (sport package) and said "I'll take it". Fun car (more than my IS)...but the engine was lacking (didn't care for the hatch which is where the 3SPEED was limited to) and it was too buzzy on the highway (really needed a 6 speed).
 
Then it was an Infiniti Q45. V8 was very nice...but way too quiet. Car wallowed a bit too much. It was luxurious, but I quickly felt like an old man. When I had this I was at a VW dealership with a co-worker and the salesman convinced me to take a test drive (he didn't have to try hard) . I took a VW Fahrenheit GTI and loved the burble sound of the engine compared to my quiet V8.
 
I still would have kept the Q45 longer except I had an encounter with a deer...nobody tells you the air bag could rip all the hairs off your arms with friction...think wax scene from 40 year old virgin...
 
The longest I've kept a car (other than our min-van) is almost 3 years...a 99 1/2 Audi A6; 10 years later and i still think the interior is one of the best out there.
 
I'll probably keep the IS longer...it's a CPO which isn't transferable. So you end up paying a few $k more than 'normal' when you purchase it. I'm tired of being 'upside down' when trading in so i figure I picked it for a reason...and those reasons must have been valid at the time...basically talking myself out of going car shopping; which I enjoy...i can take a new mini-van out and have a good time.

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