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Entry Level Luxury Performance Sedans

16251 messages,  Last post on Jun 18, 2013 at 7:02 AM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

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 1200 of 1626

#11983 of 16251 Re: In the market... [tlong] by wireless

Aug 28, 2011 (1:27 pm)

Replying to: tlong (Jun 11, 2011 4:29 pm)
Just ordered a 2012 C-350...
 
IS - The Toyota driving experience is just really bad for me. Terribly numb, bloaty, wallowey. Haven't driven an IS but the styling, like most Japanese cars is derivative. It yells "Me too." I understand it will be sporty but the Toyota roots are there. I've owned two Toyotas. Will not buy a third.
TSX - Wow where did Acura take such a wrong turn with styling? Just uncomfortable to look at. Nutty smiley face and weird rear end. What are they thinking? Cringeworthy. Acura never was that great at style. They've completely gone off the deep end. And Honda used be run by the engineers. Too bad.
A4 - good car and I could get a huge discount, better than employee's due the company I work for. Wanted to love this car. Thought it would be the one. Even got the discount all lined up. Interior has slipped a bit for Audi. Good car, but not much of an upgrade over the Passat I have. Actually like the Passat more - inside and out. The Audi has a couple of cool features, best styling but driving it just didn't do anything for us. Also I've heard a lot about the repairs especially the turbo, e.g,, "cripplingly expensive."
BMW - We drove the 330 and just don't get it. Distinctly downscale interior, drove fairly well. Honestly on this one I'll take a mulligan. I will allow that it is probably a great car, it wouldn't get all the accolades otherwise. For now neither my wife nor I get it. Just at a loss on this one.
CTS - Looks ok. Interior good. Doesn't get good reviews. Just don't trust this car to be reliable, and stand the test of time in styling.
S60 - I would be interested in a Volvo before Ford bought them. Now just like Jag, and the other PAG cars they have Ford parts running through them. Platforms, switchgear, engines. Like Saab and GM. You're buying a lot of Ford at an Volvo price. I like Ford... but at Ford prices. Also heard resale is bad as well as reliability.
C-class - we ordered the C-350. Drove this vehicle and within literally seconds I knew it was something different. Easily the best car I've ever driven. In every way, the sounds it makes, the way it feels, the way it takes corners, everything felt perfect. My wife felt the same way. Way better than the Audi or Bimmer. I know it sounds implausible but it the difference is stark. The price is on up there but I'm at a stage in my life where I can swing it. We even drove the E-class but since my wife will be the primary driver, the C is best for her, easy to handle and toss around, more fun to drive, etc. Only concern is the German electronics after 5 or 10 years.

#11984 of 16251 Re: In the market... [wireless] by qbrozen

Aug 28, 2011 (1:59 pm)

Replying to: wireless (Aug 28, 2011 1:27 pm)
BMW 330: did you drive a used one? Cause the 330 isn't made anymore.
 
S60: ford parts? I don't know who told you that, but it is not true. The only thing ford/Volvo shared were basic platforms, and even those were not "ford products" since they were jointly developed. There are no shared engines at all. Volvo always continued making their cars in Sweden with their own engineering. Under their new Chinese owners, that continues to be the case for now, too.

#11985 of 16251 Re: In the market... by wireless

Aug 28, 2011 (2:40 pm)

The Bimmer was a 328. Still same impressions apply.
 
As far as the Volvo goes: trim pieces, steering wheel, tires, wheels, seats, some emissions parts, etc. The may not be interchangeable but the same company makes parts for both. And while I agree that much may be substantially different, one cheap turn signal stalk is a real turn off. Resale value is said to be terrible, so used are a great deal.

#11986 of 16251 Re: In the market... [wireless] by carnaught

Aug 28, 2011 (3:22 pm)

Replying to: wireless (Aug 28, 2011 1:27 pm)
Are there any changes to the 2012 C350?

#11987 of 16251 Re: In the market... [carnaught] by wireless

Aug 28, 2011 (3:51 pm)

Replying to: carnaught (Aug 28, 2011 3:22 pm)
Yes, quite a few. MB say over 2000 changes. Big changes are the engine 268 hp to 302, direct injection, 10% better gas mileage, the interior was substantially upgraded, one review said it is better than the E class now. Just do a little research and you'll see the reviews. I haven't seen it in person yet. We drove the 2011. The 2011 wasn't bad but they say the '12 is a lot better. Read the Car and Driver review for more info.

#11988 of 16251 Re: In the market... [wireless] by plekto

Aug 28, 2011 (4:29 pm)

Replying to: wireless (Aug 28, 2011 3:51 pm)
I've been impressed by Mercedes as of late. Usually you had to get the S to get the top end engineering and reliability. And they were and still are incredible cars.
 
The C class feels like a half-sized S class. And the difference is more stark if you just do something as simple as let a new TSX and a C idle next to each other. One sounds like it is made out of tin cans by comparison. Now, the Honda *is* a great engine, but it lacks that polished sound and feel that you'd get in, say, a Porsche or other high end car. It's exactly like thinking that your American made Fender Stratocaster is a great guitar (which it is) and then getting your hands on a true custom guitar. The goalposts simply moved without you realizing it, and now you're a bit ruined in your expectations.
 
For the price, especially with year-end rebates, the C is becoming a very good deal.
 
The other car that impresses me is the CTS. Reliability is excellent as far as I can tell, aside from the yahoos who break their CTS-V models' engines and rear diffs and then blame it on the manufacturer. My father has one and it sounds and drives 2-3 times better than any other GM car that he's ever had or driven.
 
The IS and TSX and the rest simply feel dated.

#11989 of 16251 Re: In the market... [wireless] by carnaught

Aug 28, 2011 (4:40 pm)

Replying to: wireless (Aug 28, 2011 3:51 pm)
Sounds like a nice car.
 
Is the body changed for 2012? Was it custom ordered? When do you get it?

#11990 of 16251 Re: In the market... [carnaught] by wireless

Aug 29, 2011 (12:50 pm)

Replying to: carnaught (Aug 28, 2011 4:40 pm)
Every piece of plastic was changed on the C-class. :]
 
I ordered it with what I wanted. Not many options actually. The C-350 is pretty loaded to start with. I added keylessGO and 18" AMG Rims.
 
It's supposed to start production in the first "decade" (10 days) of October and be delivered in early November.

#11991 of 16251 Re: In the market... [wireless] by flightnurse

Sep 01, 2011 (3:56 pm)

Replying to: wireless (Aug 28, 2011 1:27 pm)
Not too sure why you drove a 328i and a C350, since they aren't comparable. YOu needed to drive the 335i since it makes the came HP as the C350, but the 335i is much faster, handles and is a better car overall then the C350.
 
You stated the A4 interior has slipped, how so? Since all mag's have ranked the interior of the A4 has best in class for the last 5 years, the fit and finish is above that of BMW and MB.
 
I almost got a A4 but the BMW made a much better deal for me, so I bought a 2011 BMW 328i with
6spd manuel
value package
Le Mans Blue Metalic
Chest Nut Brown leather
M sport package (it comes with the color)
Moon roof
Xenon headlights
Comfort Access keyless entry
paid $39K out the door.
 
I looked at MB, but the price for a C300 but MG does not offer a sport package (one os standard on the C300 but its only an apparence package) on its entry level C class. Plus the local MB dealer wasn't really dealing, which wasn't a smarl move since the 2012 is a new C class.
 
I'm very happy with my car, it handles well, its comfortable, and I love the manuel in the car. My next BMW will be a used 335d, I can't justify the price of a new one.

#11992 of 16251 Re: In the market... [flightnurse] by nyccarguy

Sep 01, 2011 (5:38 pm)

Replying to: flightnurse (Sep 01, 2011 3:56 pm)
Awesome that you bought a 328i with a stick & sports Pkg! Enjoy! You had to special order that car, right?

Messages Page 1200 of 1626

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