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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 1271 of 1610

#12694 of 16087 ELLPS - IS350 by fkong

Dec 19, 2011 (10:53 pm)

I recently leased an IS350 F-Sport. Before making this decision, I also looked at a few other cars, and will let you guys know why I went with the big L. Even my brother was excited that I got the IS350, versus any of the other cars.
 
Acura TL - I did consider this car. I actually do find the car to be quite attractive. But, I find that it's a bit huge. Plus, why this car isn't RWD is a whole new story, and I don't want AWD. I can accept the front beak problem.
 
Audi A4 - Audi's never really appealed to me. Don't get me wrong, they're nice. My brother has an A6 that I do find some beauty in, but they just aren't my cup of tea. And, same situation with the Acura, why isn't it RWD?
 
BMW 3-series - Cost more than my IS350 F-Sport to begin with (almost $47k for the 328i w/ M-Sport package, Nav, auto, parking sensors) versus my car (F-Sport package, Nav, Backup camera, auto, NO parking sensors). Chances are, if I want the 335, it'll be more than $50k. Plus, I don't want to look like every other guy on the street. I'm in So Cal, and the 3-series are more popular than Camry's here.
 
Cadillac CTS - I wanted to buy American, but America's definition of luxury involves the use of low end materials. I do like the car, though.
 
Infiniti G37 - If I were to get the Infiniti G, it would be the coupe (I had a G35 coupe a few years ago and love it). Therefore, I won't be getting a ELLPS. I find the G sedan to be absolutely ugly, plus the fact that it's so big. At least it's RWD.
 
Mercedes C-class - I do like the way the C-class looks, but the C250, after configuring, costs as much as my IS350. I do believe that Mercedes finally decided they wanted a piece of the ELLPS pie, and seriously upped the ante with the C-class. The previous 2 generations of C-class were, IN MY OPINION, bad jokes gone wrong. BMW, at least, had the right formula with the 3-series.
 
With these points, I decided to go with the IS350, and absolutely love it. Perhaps when the lease is up, I might step up to the new 2013 GS.

#12695 of 16087 Re: real legend [fedlawman] by shipo

Dec 20, 2011 (1:07 am)

Replying to: fedlawman (Dec 19, 2011 10:47 pm)
Agreed on the Civic versus Golf thing. Three years ago I needed a new inexpensive commuter car and after test driving both cars (in addition to the Corolla, the Focus, and the Mazda3) I had settled on a Golf (called a Rabbit back then); the Civic simply wasn't in the same league. Unfortunately due to the Mark V to Mark VI model change-over, all of the Rabbits with manual transmissions had pretty much been sold and the only cars left were automatics; I ended up with a Mazda3 instead.
 
Fast forward to this year, my wife was looking for a new car, and while we didn't drive a Golf per-se, we did drive a GTI, and once again I was impressed with the vault like feeling of the car; after thirteen and a half years of driving exclusively minivans, my wife now has a new 2-Door black GTI 6-Speed sitting in her garage bay. Can't wipe the silly grin off of her face.

#12696 of 16087 Re: ELLPS - IS350 [fkong] by sweendogy

Dec 20, 2011 (5:35 am)

Replying to: fkong (Dec 19, 2011 10:53 pm)
Love the way the IS 350 looks- but again it's auto only,has been around for a bunch of years and has had minimal updates. The is f package is pretty cool looking but adds significant price and options on this car add up quickly as well. I sat in a 2011 IS 350 awd and it's sticker was almost 50k. Your right not many people ride the IS 350 but up north we do see alot of 250 Awds- so I don't know how exclusive the car may be where you live. Performance wise I know it's quick but have not seen many articles written to understand the full merit of its capabilities. The new GS is something that interests me - wonder which direction Lexus goes-
 
Enjoy the ride

#12697 of 16087 Re: real legend [fedlawman] by dino001

Dec 20, 2011 (5:56 am)

Replying to: fedlawman (Dec 19, 2011 10:47 pm)
It may just be, but again - you have to compare with base version, i.e. starting point. Golfs sold in Europe are good to understand how much any line can be refined.

#12698 of 16087 Re: ELLPS - IS350 [sweendogy] by billyperksii

Dec 20, 2011 (6:48 am)

Replying to: sweendogy (Dec 20, 2011 5:35 am)
Sween , are the new GS on dealers lot?
If, yes, I will probably pass by and take a look, the pictures I saw online did not impress me.

#12699 of 16087 Re: ELLPS - IS350 [billyperksii] by fkong

Dec 20, 2011 (10:44 am)

Replying to: billyperksii (Dec 20, 2011 6:48 am)
Depending on your location. Where I'm at (So Cal), Longo Lexus claims they're going to get it by early 2012.

#12700 of 16087 Re: real legend [dino001] by fedlawman

Dec 20, 2011 (11:27 am)

Replying to: dino001 (Dec 20, 2011 5:56 am)
"you have to compare with base version, i.e. starting point. Golfs sold in Europe are good to understand how much any line can be refined."
 
The trim version has nothing to do with what I'm talking about.

#12701 of 16087 Re: ELLPS - IS350 [fkong] by fedlawman

Dec 20, 2011 (11:29 am)

Replying to: fkong (Dec 19, 2011 10:53 pm)
"I recently leased an IS350 F-Sport. Before making this decision, I also looked at a few other cars, and will let you guys know why I went with the big L."
 
You place a lot of importance on having RWD yet you chose a car with a slushbox? I don't get it...

#12702 of 16087 The Great (Acura) TSX Debate by nyccarguy

Dec 20, 2011 (2:16 pm)

So my driving a TSX V6 (no tech pkg) loaner car has got me thinking about our board's Acura debate, argument, disagreement, thing. The TSX V6 has got some guts to it. I don't think it gives up that much fuel economy compared to my 4cyl. I do feel the extra 200 pounds in the nose though.
 
Acura's lineup right now has too much overlapping. There is a mere $885 difference between the TSX V6 w/ Tech Pkg (a small percentage of TSX sales) & a TL w/ Tech Pkg (FWD). The difference between a TL (FWD, No Tech Pkg) & a TSX (4cyl) w/ Tech Pkg is $2695.
 
Sween & Mark have both made some excellent points regarding the TSX, the TL, & the future of Acura.
 
Here's what I have to say:
 
Acura wants to be a sport/luxury division of Honda. The TSX is a good entry level starting point. Ditch the 4cyl & make the TSX V6 the base model. Acura constantly offers $4000 incentives on the V6 model anyway, so just make that the base engine. Offset the nose heaviness with Acura's SH AWD.
 
Now this is easy for me to say. It does have some problems though. The TSX V6 w/ Tech Pkg weighs in at 3680 lbs. Add another 241 lbs for Acura's SH AWD system. You've got a grand total of 3921 lbs. That's a big pill to swallow for sween who thinks the base TSX is too heavy.
 
The other problem about making SH AWD available on the TSX is its cost. $3550 per car is what Acura charges now on a TL.
 
I really do LOVE Mark's idea of making SH AWD standard across the line.
 
More on this later.

#12703 of 16087 Re: The Great (Acura) TSX Debate [nyccarguy] by tlong

Dec 20, 2011 (2:24 pm)

Replying to: nyccarguy (Dec 20, 2011 2:16 pm)
I just can't see going 6cyl on the entry car as making any sense. It destroys the handling and further bloats up an already bloated TSX relative to the original. And even BMW is going 4cyl. Just seems like a bigger bloated entry boat of a car isn't the way to go.

Messages Page 1271 of 1610

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