You are here: Forums Sedans Luxury Performance Sedans

Luxury Performance Sedans

10007 messages,  Last post on Dec 01, 2009 at 7:40 AM

You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? Lexus GS 430, Acura RL, BMW 5 Series, Volvo S80, Audi A6, Infiniti M35, Infiniti M45, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Cadillac STS, Sedan

#2042 of 10007 Re: nmdriver [nmdriver] by cdnpinhead May 05, 2005 (4:46 pm)
Replying to: nmdriver (May 05, 2005 4:05 pm) I'm guessing that you're going to have to wait awhile (or two) to get a serious answer to your question.   There's way more yuppie-scum status-seeking ladder-climbing going on than most are willing to talk about. The BMW of the '80's brought this into sharp focus, but it continues today, much to the delight of the manufacturers -- the margins are thinner on the lower-price units.   I'm always looking for comparisons that help me find what I'm looking for, and I walk the talk. I actually bought a Lincoln LS five years ago because it handled well, came with a manual transmission, and had a few luxury touches. It would have had more if the manual were available with the V8, but. . .   Anyway, I'll be interested in hearing from those who respond to your very provocative question.
#2043 of 10007 Re: nmdriver [nmdriver] by kdshapiro May 05, 2005 (5:01 pm)
Replying to: nmdriver (May 05, 2005 4:05 pm) In a 180 degree swing I happen to agree with you. To me nothing matches the overall fullfillment of a sports sedan as the 330. However, after driving a ton of cars recently, the one that caught my eye was the Forester XT. It's no BMW, but for $15K less with the premium package including the $2K rebate, it sure is a value leader. Subaru has figured out how to out value the other Japanese value leaders.   Luxury wise it's not in the same class as these other cars. But a silky smooth engine and shifter, AWD, LSD, turbo, and very neutral handling characteristics makes it a compelling argument. And for those who make decisions by the book - looking at CR, JDP, IIHS and NHTSA one finds there are no blemishes to be had for the vehicle or the manufacturer.   It's not a grand tourer, but the seats are very comfortable. I now understand why some people are passionate about these cars. If you can live without some electronics and luxo items it's a fine car for some that will almost beat a Porsche Cayenne turbo to 60. Replies to this message: commofficer (May 05, 2005 6:02 pm) nmdriver (May 05, 2005 8:27 pm)
#2044 of 10007 Re: nebraskaguy [rich545] by pearl May 05, 2005 (5:04 pm)
Replying to: rich545 (May 05, 2005 5:19 am) Agree on RWD not that bad in snow. I have a 97 528 manual transmission with traction control. I have driven it up hill with nearly bald tires simply by letting the TC help and by very lightly working the throttle. Have had the same experience living in Denver with a very light Mercury Capri 4-banger and with Pontiacs and FWD Audis. I think that many people who have trouble in snow try to drive as if they were on dry pavement. Stomping on the gas or brakes won't get it done. Key is to KEEP MOVING, even if 1 mph, feather the gas, etc. As long as the snow isn't over about 5", I am usually OK. After that, no doubt, AWD a must.
#2045 of 10007 Re: nmdriver [kdshapiro] by commofficer May 05, 2005 (6:02 pm)
Replying to: kdshapiro (May 05, 2005 5:01 pm) kdshapiro- the 330 is a great car. I hope they start to think about bringing the diesel over to the States so that we can have the BMW fit, feel and finish along with great gas mileage.   nmdriver- My wife and I are both 6' tall and we found the Subaru too narrow and cramped feeling. The last time we looked at them was 6/2003 and maybe we need to look again but have they grown in width? I had an 86 Subaru GL 4 door back when I was enlisted and it was a blast to drive on dirt roads. I wanted my wife to buy the Forrester but it was just too narrow so we ended up with the Pacifica instead. I really regret it now especially with the low resale of the Pacifica. Gas mileage isn't that good either for both vehicles.   Just my thoughts Phil
#2046 of 10007 commofficer by lexusguy May 05, 2005 (7:10 pm)
The Forester is still pretty much a compact SUV. Subie's first entry into the midsize x-over class ruled by Pilot and Highlander is the B9 Tribeca. It will be very interesting to see how this car turns out. Subaru managed to really turn the Legacy around from a car nobody really cared about to one of Japan's top players. If they can do the same with this new SUV, it will definitely put Honda and Toyota on notice that Subaru isnt to be ignored. Replies to this message: cstiles (May 05, 2005 7:28 pm) nmdriver (May 05, 2005 8:42 pm) bigrobnh (May 06, 2005 5:10 am) rich545 (May 06, 2005 9:13 am) ksoman (May 06, 2005 4:19 pm)
#2047 of 10007 Re: commofficer [lexusguy] by cstiles May 05, 2005 (7:28 pm)
Replying to: lexusguy (May 05, 2005 7:10 pm) You boys are brutal. I leave for 2 days on a business trip, and I return to find 52 new messages on this one board alone....and a few of them ponder whether a Buick can beat a Lexus on a straightaway!   "B9 Tribeca" is one of the dumbest names ever for an automobile. And am I the only one who thinks it has exterior styling resembling a dung beetle with an edsel nose? Were the designers at Subaru on crack when they hatched this unit?   Okay, be serious....how many of you actually change your tires 2x a year between spring and winter? Show of hands, please. I have indeed done this for about the last 15 years now, but my neighbors look at me like I am totally nuts. Of course, my last 5 cars have also been manual transmissions, so that alone qualifies me as an alien here in America where hardly anyone knows how to shift gears for themselves anymore.   Owning 2 sets of tires for your car can also be an expensive habit, since every time I trade cars, the dealers look at me like I'm crazy when I offer to trade the extra tires (and sometimes wheels!) along with the car. But I keep doing it since the driving dynamics are truly improved by swapping tires.   Is it time to argue the pro's and con's of iDrive again? Just joking. Replies to this message: nmdriver (May 05, 2005 8:42 pm) bigrobnh (May 06, 2005 5:10 am) rich545 (May 06, 2005 9:13 am) ksoman (May 06, 2005 4:19 pm)
#2048 of 10007 Re: nmdriver [kdshapiro] by nmdriver May 05, 2005 (8:27 pm)
Replying to: kdshapiro (May 05, 2005 5:01 pm) kdshapiro:     I agree that the Forester XT is a great car. A neighbor whom I helped with car shopping was certain that she was going to buy a $40K - plus BMW X3. I convinced her to drive the XT back-to-back, she came back and told me: "They have the same room and the BMW is prettier, but the Forester is better built, quicker, much more comfortable, and more fun to drive. It gets better crash test ratings and it is $16,000 less expensive!"      When we bought our 2005 Outback XT, we had set out to buy a Forester XT. But we decided that the 2005 Legacy/Outback are in a different quality league from previous Subarus, and that the Outback could pull double duty as a long distance travel car as well.      One word of advice: change the tires. This is not a Subaru forum, but before taking delivery of any Subaru I would pre-arrange with a local tire dealer to swap out the OEM tires. No one likes the RE-92's on the Legacies and WRX's, and the Foresters come with mud tires which are noisy on dry roads and terrible in ice and snow. Unless you need the mud tires, swap them for a good set of street tires. It will transform your car.
#2049 of 10007 Re: commofficer [cstiles] by nmdriver May 05, 2005 (8:42 pm)
Replying to: cstiles (May 05, 2005 7:28 pm) commofficer said: "how many of you actually change your tires 2x a year . . . Show of hands please."      I am raising my hand.      We have AWD cars. I am completely sold on AWD as the best answer for all-weather driving (rain as well as ice and snow). Once you have experienced a good AWD system, you will never go back.      We have two sets of tires/wheels for our cars which live in Santa Fe (four season climate). Summer performance tires for warm weather, Blizzaks for cold weather. The out of season sets are stacked in the back of the garage. I swap them myself every spring and fall. It takes about 10 min. per wheel.      The car which goes back and forth to California has all season tires. (Too much trouble to swap them every time I have to travel, and I do not want to drive 12 plus hours at 85mph on winter tires.)      Our daughter who lives in Washington, DC (also a 2005 Subaru Legacy GT) keeps all season tires on her car. But she, too, used Blizzaks on her previous Subaru when she lived in Denver.      I have never gotten stuck in a Subaru or Audi with all season tires. But stopping and turning are more important than going -- and for this there is no substitute for good ice and snow tires.
#2050 of 10007 Re: commofficer [cstiles] by bigrobnh May 06, 2005 (5:10 am)
Replying to: cstiles (May 05, 2005 7:28 pm) "Okay, be serious....how many of you actually change your tires 2x a year between spring and winter? Show of hands, please."   I do. I have two AWD vehicles, 01 E320 4Matic and 05 Legacy GT Wagon. Both get them. E is a pain as I didn't get extra wheels. That is a mount/dismount. We just got the legacy, previous legacy wagon and legacy sedan before that used wheels/blizzacks from Tire Rack. On that I do the change over myself. 30 mins maybe?   Oh, and to "ksso" who says the roads are littered with stuck AWD sedans in the winter. That is so wrong. The roads are littered with stuck SUVs in the winter. THOSE are the guys you see down embankments, rear-ending other people, spinning out on on/off ramps, etc. AWD sedans form such a small percentage of the "population" here, I don't know how you could even claim that. SUVs on the other hand...man the place is lousy with them.   Bottom line is, though, it IS the tires as much as anything. I've driven FWD vehicles that were useless in the snow. Frankly, my E is not that great w/standard All Season rubber (admittedly, high performance).   Regards, BigRob. Replies to this message: rich545 (May 06, 2005 9:13 am) ksoman (May 06, 2005 4:19 pm)
#2051 of 10007 Re: M bitchin' [hpowders] by richcream May 06, 2005 (5:41 am)
Replying to: hpowders (May 05, 2005 3:56 pm) "We get the afternoon summer storms and you get the cold and the snow. Thus the need for AWD. I can play golf all year round. I don't golf. Tell me it's not hot and humid where you live in the summer. Hot, humid, and poisonous, what with the dust/smog dome. Down here AWD is unheard of. No M35's down here have it." Naturally. Replies to this message: hpowders (May 06, 2005 7:10 am) richcream (May 06, 2005 7:44 am)

You are here: Forums Sedans Luxury Performance Sedans