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Entry Level Luxury Performance Sedans

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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 1162 of 1626

#11603 of 16251 different strokes by nyccarguy

Oct 05, 2010 (8:48 pm)

for different folks.
 
Every single one of these cars has pluses and minuses to different people. For the longest time I've actually favored handling and driving dynamics over raw power and torque.
 
Maybe I'm getting older & the fact that I live in CT where the entrance ramps on The Merrit Parkway are short and have STOP signs at the beginning of them has something to do with it. My 2001 Honda Prelude Type SH handles brilliantly. However, its 200 horsepower 7000 RPM (7500 RPM redline), 156 lb/ft of torque 5250 RPM, & almost 128,000 miles just doesn't quite cut the mustard anymore. Even my wife's 4cyl TSX feels like it has more pickup. I'm not in the market now because I just bought a house and a second car payment is out of the question right now. Plus I think we're going to try and ditch the TSX next year to get wifey an SUV of some sort (she misses her '07 X3).
 
So if she gets an SUV, then my next ride doesn't have to be huge. Just as long as it has LATCHes for the car seats so I can take my boys somewhere without stranding wifey without a car (she can drive stick, but hasn't in years). In my new home,I'll be putting over 21,000 miles per year on a car just commuting.
 
I believe with the modern electronic nannies (traction control, stability control, ABS), I can rock a RWD sport sedan through our winters with a dedicated set of snow tires (as I do with my Prelude).
 
The G37S is priced right, has gobs of power, and I'm really impressed with how it handles. I've only driven an AWD G37X, so I can only imagine how well the S handles.
 
BMWs are not cheap to buy. 3 series are everywhere you turn. I love the way the E90 3 series drives, rides, handles, brakes. I've only owned new cars in my life since I passed my driving test at 16 (I'm only 34 now), but I will totally consider a CPO N55 powered 335i in the future.
 
Like I said before, the Lexus IS350 appeals to me. I like the styling, the interior is very well finished I'm sure, They now offer an F Sport version of the IS which I'm sure sharpens the handling. I went to Lexus and built one, it isn't as expensive as I once thought. But no stick shift available on the IS350 kills me. I know there is a stick offered on the IS250, but that car has the pickup of a Corolla. At least the slushbox AWD version I drove did. The brakes are impossible to modulate. There is NO way the steering is as sharp as the 3 series.
 
I keep my cars for a while. Going on 9 years with my '01 Prelude (bought new as a leftover in April '02). We'll see what happens when the time comes.

#11604 of 16251 Re: spy shots of 2012 TL [edwardsf] by ivan_99

Oct 06, 2010 (7:47 am)

Replying to: edwardsf (Oct 05, 2010 5:03 pm)
heh...I think you have my email confused with somebody else.
 
I don't think I wrote "fact" in any email...Obviously I do not deal in facts Just conjecture, speculation, rumors...

#11605 of 16251 Re: The G25 [smarty666] by ivan_99

Oct 06, 2010 (8:08 am)

Replying to: smarty666 (Oct 05, 2010 5:14 pm)
Ahh...AWD...that usually kills mpg.
 
I can't think of an AWD that gets 30+mpg; even partial AWD systems that kick in at wheel spin. There must be one...somewhere; maybe an A3 TDI Quattro...something like that.
 
Other than cost I don't see much that would sway anybody towards the G25x

#11606 of 16251 Re: The G25 [ivan_99] by ivan_99

Oct 06, 2010 (8:11 am)

Replying to: ivan_99 (Oct 06, 2010 8:08 am)
I'll reply to myself
 
A 2011 A4 2.0T Quattro 6sp manual.
 
21/31

#11607 of 16251 Re: The G25 [ivan_99] by shipo

Oct 06, 2010 (8:28 am)

Replying to: ivan_99 (Oct 06, 2010 8:11 am)
You beat me to it.
 
Funny thing; I live in a rather hilly part of (often) snowy New Hampshire and I have yet to understand why so many folks "need" AWD. I mean geez, unless you have a driveway like my 'cross the street neighbor (a driveway that rises more than 100' over a distance of about 250'), I feel that the extra weight of an AWD system can actually lead to a less safe vehicle when it's slippery out there. "Less safe?" Some might question. Yes, less safe. Why? Because the extra weight will, if anything, lengthen stopping distances and reduce the already diminished capacity for a quick maneuver.
 
FWIW #1, when we moved up here I had a 530i SP, and after the first quarter inch snow fall I promptly ordered a set of winter wheels and tires; they in turn transformed my 5er from a car that couldn't make it up my driveway (only a 9% grade), to a car that could easily reel in AWD and 4WD vehicles in rutted snow up to about 7" deep (beyond that my car would turn into a snow plow, causing me to simply stay home or leave it at home in favor of a set of cross-country skis).
 
FWIW #2, the neighbor I referred to above has a winter tire shod Audi A6 Quattro, and as often as not, when the snow flies I see his car either parked down by the street, or stuck kinda sideways some distance up above the road. Said another way, even AWD isn't all it's cracked up to be on really steep slopes.

#11608 of 16251 Re: The G25 [ivan_99] by Kirstie@Edmunds HOST

Oct 06, 2010 (8:32 am)

Replying to: ivan_99 (Oct 06, 2010 8:08 am)
It isn't *just* AWD on these vehicles. I'm certainly not an expert, but for whatever reason, I haven't had good luck with MPG results on Infinitis. Right now, I'm looking at putting an average of under 10K miles per year on my car, so it's not a big deal. But when I was driving 22K/year, low MPG on my G35 (RWD) was disappointing.

#11609 of 16251 Re: The G25 [kirstie_h] by ivan_99

Oct 06, 2010 (10:06 am)

Replying to: Kirstie@Edmunds (Oct 06, 2010 8:32 am)
What kind of mileage do you get?
 
I had an 03 G35 and would see about 21mpg or so. This was mostly highway (70-80%).
 
At the time I thought it was fine...but TODAY... with Sonata's putting out more power than my G did back then (especially with the old hp rating system) and getting in the 30's mpg...my expectations have increased.

#11610 of 16251 Re: The G25 [sweendogy] by smarty666

Oct 06, 2010 (3:56 pm)

Replying to: sweendogy (Oct 05, 2010 6:47 pm)
no, I didn't say they were ending the G they will be due for a redesign on the G model since 2011 is the 5th model year of the 2G.
 
I wouldn't get so hung up on the lack of manual at this point. Like the article says, there is no demand for the manual and Infiniti even has trouble selling them in the G37 so most are not going to want the manual in a G25 and they might have some cost issues with at least offering. The TSX does not offer a manual and you don't see its sales tanking. Yes the option is nice to have but Infiniti might have the lack of it as an excuse to force people to get the more expensive G37 as a sales ploy so you never know. Maybe in the future they will make it an order only option.
 
The 3G G models are just around the corner and I'm eagerly anticipating what Infiniti is going to do to their best selling vehicle. I'm interested to see what influence MB is going to have on the next gen G engine since Nissan/Infiniti is now in a co-op partnership with Diamler and they are suppose to be sharing things between divisions!

#11611 of 16251 Re: The G25 [shipo] by smarty666

Oct 06, 2010 (3:37 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Oct 06, 2010 8:28 am)
Well I can't speak for when, how, and what kind of vehicle you have, but I know from multiple bad winter storms here in NJ over the years, that with my FX, I was all over the road with just the RWD. I tried driving numerous times without the AWD and II was scared for my life. Even doing 10-20mph below speed limit and being extremely careful the wheels would spin out. Once I engaged AWD the vehicle felt planted to the road and I stopped spinning out and having difficulties controlling the vehicle.
 
Everything I read to this day still says AWD is the preferable option for winter weather traveling and I concur with my own personal experience.
 
To me, there is usally only a 1-2 mpg difference between AWD and RWD so mise well not take the chance and sacrifice a little mpg. Personally, I like that Infiniti has AWD option and not AWD all the time like Subaru and others. This way, 85% of the year I can use just the RWD with better fuel economy and just use AWD when I need it specifically.
 
If there is ice on the road forget AWD or any drive for that matter. When there is ice on the ground nothing can help you.

#11612 of 16251 Re: The G25 [smarty666] by jimbres

Oct 06, 2010 (4:12 pm)

Replying to: smarty666 (Oct 06, 2010 3:37 pm)
Shipo's point is that with the right tires - dedicated winter tires - one can safely drive an RWD car on snow-covered roads. Did you switch to dedicated winter tires, or were you using all-season tires when you tried to drive in RWD mode in snowy conditions?
 
If the latter, then you really weren't addressing Shipo's point.

Messages Page 1162 of 1626

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