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Entry Level Luxury Performance Sedans

16087 messages,  Last post on May 09, 2013 at 9:32 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 1501 of 1609

#14999 of 16087 Re: Let me ask a question [habitat1] by andys120

Oct 07, 2012 (1:59 pm)

Replying to: habitat1 (Oct 07, 2012 12:24 pm)
Has anybody driven a 10 year old Cadillac anything and come away impressed??
 
You've hit on something important. I drive a couple of Bimmers that are more than 10 years old* and both are still solid, good -looking cars that are enjoyable as well as reliable. The only problem for BMW is that I can't find a reason to spend the money on a new one. If they could recapture the magic of the Reitzle-era cars maybe I would.
 
*2000 528i/146K
*2001 330ciC/80K

#15000 of 16087 Re: Let me ask a question [andys120] by plekto

Oct 07, 2012 (3:47 pm)

Replying to: andys120 (Oct 07, 2012 1:59 pm)
Again, the main problem here is that they are comparing a nasty turbo 4 to a 6. So of course the 6 wins in smoothness and torque delivery. Now, if they did the same with the V6 engine from GM, I suspect that the GM would win.
 
I've seen both interiors, and the GM clearly wins.
 
As for it being a little too sporty/stiff/whatever, I'd remind you that you want it to be a bit like that since the car will still drive great when it's 5 or 10 years old. Well, that and the reviewers are rapidly aging and have gotten soft. I test drove a Cadillac CTS with the sport suspension and it honestly was softer than my 1990 Volvo. Sure, it would bump a little here and there, but go sit in a BMW 3 series from the 80s. Those were like having the tires connected to a pogo stick. When you got the sport suspension, your teeth would rattle going over railroad tracks. It just was how it was back then.
 
BMW has gotten soft. Go test drive a Subaru WRX if you want a car that hasn't changed or gotten soft when it comes to "sporty". Be prepared to grab some Advil, though, if you're a typical couch potato. Personally I think GM has hit the right amount of sporty in their new cars. Enough so that you get good results and not quite so bad that your fillings fall out. If you want a couch on wheels that cradles you and sucks up bumps, buy a Buick or Lexus.

#15001 of 16087 Re: So is the BMW 328i better then the ATS? [dino001] by fedlawman

Oct 07, 2012 (3:57 pm)

Replying to: dino001 (Oct 07, 2012 1:38 pm)
"In whose favor?"
 
I think the Cadillac would win. A simple reflash would change the power map for the engine and the transmission would mask any power deliver deficiencies that might remain.
 
Of course, by the time the comparo is performed, BMW will release the MY14 and all the current complaints about the 3-series (soft suspension, numb steering, etc.) will be fixed.
 
It's really kind of sad that BMW is basically building a RWD Buick right now.

#15002 of 16087 Re: So is the BMW 328i better then the ATS? [fedlawman] by flightnurse

Oct 07, 2012 (4:00 pm)

Replying to: fedlawman (Oct 07, 2012 1:32 pm)
Hey Fed, you opened Pandora's box by using the word Automatic Transmission, as you know some people do not believe that Sport Sedan and Auto trannys should be used together.

#15003 of 16087 Re: Let me ask a question [plekto] by fedlawman

Oct 07, 2012 (4:01 pm)

Replying to: plekto (Oct 07, 2012 3:47 pm)
"they are comparing a nasty turbo 4 to a 6"
 
The BMW has a turbo 4.
 
I doubt if the Cadillac's turbo 4 is nasty - consider the turbo 4 of the dearly departed Solstice/Sky. I think the engine management software just needs a few more lines of code.

#15004 of 16087 Re: So is the BMW 328i better then the ATS? [fedlawman] by flightnurse

Oct 07, 2012 (4:01 pm)

Replying to: fedlawman (Oct 07, 2012 3:57 pm)
And they are selling every single one with very little discount too...

#15005 of 16087 Re: So is the BMW 328i better then the ATS? [flightnurse] by fedlawman

Oct 07, 2012 (4:06 pm)

Replying to: flightnurse (Oct 07, 2012 4:00 pm)
It's been a couple of years since I've driven one so things may be different now, but at the time, the Infiniti G37 was the perfect example of a car that was horrible with a stick but brilliant with an automatic.
 
Reading these two magazine articles, that's the impression I took away about the Cadillac. The ATS will be a segment killer with a slushbox.
 
Plus, it's a brand new car - and impressive already compared to the benchmark of the segment. Give GM a year to dial it in and it will absolutely brilliant - three pedals or two.

#15006 of 16087 Re: Let me ask a question [dino001] by mvs1

Oct 07, 2012 (4:07 pm)

Replying to: dino001 (Oct 07, 2012 12:41 pm)
Has GM already won?
 
Being that there is finally a discussion occurring on these boards and car mags running comparos they struck gold.
 
I've owned many a luxury sport sedan from Audi, Infiniti, Lexus (well not really), and now a 335. When the time comes to get a new car I typically evaluate the entire field. I'll no doubt at least drive the ATS....

#15007 of 16087 Re: So is the BMW 328i better then the ATS? [flightnurse] by fedlawman

Oct 07, 2012 (4:10 pm)

Replying to: flightnurse (Oct 07, 2012 4:01 pm)
That's why they're building it. They're giving North America exactly what it wants.
 
That's why I drive 20 year-old cars...

#15008 of 16087 3-series by fedlawman

Oct 07, 2012 (4:19 pm)

Oh yeah, I went to a DE day a couple of weeks ago and one of the guys in my run group had a 2007 335i. During our first session, I saw him leave the track after 4 laps. After the run, I asked what was wrong and he told me his car went into "limp mode."
 
I know BMW corrected this in later model years, but I've never seen it in real life before. To think that this could ever happen to a BMW is just sad. Times have changed and the sports sedan is dead.

Messages Page 1501 of 1609

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