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Entry Level Luxury Performance Sedans

16249 messages,  Last post on Jun 17, 2013 at 9:27 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 1201 of 1626

#11996 of 16249 Re: BMW free maintenance [plekto] by nyccarguy

Sep 02, 2011 (11:52 am)

Replying to: plekto (Sep 02, 2011 5:25 am)
I actually drove a loaded V6 Accord back to back with the "same car over here with an Acura badge on it."
 
Their price tags were remarkably similar. I know underneath my TSX sits on the Accord platform and is sold in Europe as an Accord.
 
Besides the V6 Accord's extra "punch," I prefered everything about the TSX. The suspension tuning is sportier on the TSX. My TSX has thicker anti-roll bars. The seats are comfortable and very thickly bolstered. It drives like a 4 door version of my 2001 Honda Prelude Type SH. For a FWD platform, they did a damn good job. Is it a 3 series? No? Did I like it better than the A4 2.0T w/ Quattro I drove? Yes. Does it belong in this discussion? Absolutely.

#11997 of 16249 Re: BMW free maintenance [nyccarguy] by billyperksii

Sep 02, 2011 (12:53 pm)

Replying to: nyccarguy (Sep 02, 2011 11:52 am)
I love Acuras/Hondas but the TSX is not Entry Level Luxury, it sits between everyday family sedan (accords, camrys) and the entry level luxury (TL, A4 3series)- not quite there yet.

#11998 of 16249 Re: BMW free maintenance [billyperksii] by m6user

Sep 02, 2011 (2:48 pm)

Replying to: billyperksii (Sep 02, 2011 12:53 pm)
You could say the same thing about the 3 series. Leather is optional on the 3 as well as many things that are standard on the TSX. Acura is a luxury brand. TSX is the entry level car at Acura. What part of "entry level" is so hard to understand. The TSX fits the definition perfectly. The G25 is the entry level at Infinti and the A4 at Audi. HP is about the same as as well and without turbocharging. The Skyline is a family sedan in Japan but the same car here is a luxury sport sedan, G37. I don't think anyone argues that the G series is not an entry level luxury sedan.

#11999 of 16249 Re: In the market... [flightnurse] by wireless

Sep 03, 2011 (6:58 am)

Replying to: flightnurse (Sep 01, 2011 3:56 pm)
Price-wise the 328 you bought and the c350 are comparable. If you can't drive a 2011 off the lot for under $40k right now you need to go to another dealer. But yeah, some MB dealers don't deal much. They just don't need to. But the engine while nice wasn't what sold me. It's for my wife so it is not much about the engine.

We like everything else. I sort of understand the Bimmer, it's kind of glued to the ground but it just felt heavier where the MB felt spry, light on it's feet, but very direct-able and responsive. The Bimmer didn't fell any faster and I drove it fast on traffic circles, etc.

The BMW interior was just not good at all. The dash alone took it right off our list. What are they thinking with respect to competition? So dated. I will give the A4 this - its interior was better than the BMW's but the driving feel and interior did not flow.

I recall the Audi's interiors easily being industry leading from the early 90s until the early 2000s. Don't know what happened but the interior now reminds me of mid-90s VW which was pretty nice but Audi's are not what they used to be. There's no art to them.

BTW, the sport package on the MB includes a lowered suspension and a stiffer suspension. Not much else except as you note styling. But the styling is youthful. Nearly all the sell are the sport version. The salesman said they don't even order the C in the luxury version. Same with the E-class.

 
Glad to hear your happy with your Bimmer. They're are many BMWs in my neighborhood, lot of men and women have them. Only a couple of MBs. I think the crowd in their 30s like the image BMW portrays. Certainly more younger that MB. Styling is good on many models. No problem with that. I like German car handling and design intent. I say buy whatever turns your crank!

#12000 of 16249 MB vs. Bimmer by shabadoo25

Sep 04, 2011 (6:43 pm)

Sounds like you and your wife are more impressed with bells and whistles than the driving experience. Nothing wrong with that, but the new Kia Optima blows the luxury class away with cabin toys.
 
BMWs appeal to a sportier driving populace that cares less about handbag hooks than they do about performance on a twisty road.

#12001 of 16249 Re: BMW free maintenance [m6user] by smarty666

Sep 05, 2011 (6:49 am)

Replying to: m6user (Sep 02, 2011 2:48 pm)
Agreed, cars like the TSX, G25, etc all belong in this discussion because they are entry level luxury sedans. They have four doors, and come from luxury divisions and hence why the auto industry classifies them as such. Just because someone else doesn't think so does not make it so. Let them keep telling themselves that.

#12002 of 16249 Re: BMW free maintenance [smarty666] by ivan_99

Sep 05, 2011 (8:35 pm)

Replying to: smarty666 (Sep 05, 2011 6:49 am)
I suppose that makes some sense.
 
It's a grey area with me.
 
When I see "Entry level Luxury Performance Sedan" I don't automatically think of the lowest model that a manufacturer offers.
 
So I'd say No to the TSX, IS250, G25, etc...the TL would be the representative for Acura's 'entry level', the IS350 would represent Lexus, G37 etc...
 
I don't recall...is there a price cap? Otherwise would the Panamera be the 'entry level'...

#12003 of 16249 Re: In the market... [nyccarguy] by flightnurse

Sep 05, 2011 (9:44 pm)

Replying to: nyccarguy (Sep 01, 2011 5:38 pm)
No the car was on the lot, reason why I got the deal was, people who get 328's want an Auto, this car had been sitting on the lot for a while. Infact you can't order 2011's only 2012s.

#12004 of 16249 Re: BMW free maintenance [nyccarguy] by flightnurse

Sep 05, 2011 (10:02 pm)

Replying to: nyccarguy (Sep 01, 2011 6:03 pm)
There is more to the free maintenance then what you are writing! It also comes with a bumperto bumper warranty too. So everything is covered except gas, tires and insurnace My 2005 BMW 330i with the ZPH package was used hard and the clutch was replaced without a problem from BMW, as well as brakes. Its nice to be able to drive in, and drive out with a loaner BMW and have your car worked on for nothing. BMW has done it right, its keeps the cars uptodate on its services so the value of the car keep says high.
 
Next year we are ordering a 535i and doing the European Delivery so we can enjoy the car in the motherland.

#12005 of 16249 Re: BMW free maintenance [billyperksii] by flightnurse

Sep 05, 2011 (10:23 pm)

Replying to: billyperksii (Sep 02, 2011 12:53 pm)
Well according to auto industry the TSX is an entry level luxury car. The TL is not an extry level car, period. If the Lexus IS an entry level car? Look at the price of the IS250 and TSX, very similar...

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