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Luxury Performance Sedans

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

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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

#3577 of 10007 Re: Consumer Reports [hihomike] by warthog Aug 11, 2005 (1:42 pm)
Replying to: hihomike (Aug 11, 2005 11:00 am) hihomike wrote: "The main problem with BMW service centers is that they are so overwhelmed with work for warranty issues that unless you have an emergency, you need to wait a while for a loaner car and an appointment."   I'm a BMW owner in Charlotte, NC (county pop. 750,000) which has one BMW dealer. I dropped in several days ago (no appointment) to have a tail light replaced. The car was in and out before I could finish ogling the 911's and Boxters next door. It is necessary to make an appointment if you want a loaner for routine maintenance/service, but that's hardly a problem. Usually, it's quicker to wait on the car than to make an extra round-trip in the loaner to retrieve it.
#3578 of 10007 Re: $3.40 [markcincinnati] by bondguy1 Aug 11, 2005 (4:23 pm)
Replying to: markcincinnati (Aug 11, 2005 4:35 am) My A6 just broke 3200 miles...Leased it mid May...and am averaging 24.50 MPG so far...Pretty soon, when gas gets to $3 (which I understand it is in many places in California right now), maybe a lot of the comparisons will switch to MPG as a category. Thanks President Bush for screwing up our country and giving us higher gas prices!!! BTW, I heard the gas mileage on the Lexus hybrid RX400h isn't that great...I think its only like 8-10 MPG more than the regular gas version. Which may be good for an SUV but not worth the premium you're paying. I think the Toyota Prius is a cool car (with real high mileage...especially in the city). Replies to this message: lexusguy (Aug 11, 2005 5:00 pm) kdshapiro (Aug 12, 2005 7:07 am) quasiactuary (Aug 12, 2005 10:53 am) rats13 (Aug 12, 2005 2:31 pm) markcincinnati (Aug 12, 2005 12:57 pm) janssen (Aug 12, 2005 12:59 pm) markcincinnati (Aug 12, 2005 1:02 pm) and 4 more...
#3579 of 10007 Re: Platform Sharing..... [bondguy1] by lexusguy Aug 11, 2005 (4:43 pm)
Replying to: bondguy1 (Aug 10, 2005 3:28 pm) "Acura is the only one of all the Japanese High Line cars and most of the German cars that doesn't offer a V8 engine. Why don't we go there if you're really trying to defend the RL. Why is this the case?"   You'll notice that GS430 makes up a very small percentage of GS sales. Its always been that way. Most of the LPS cars have a vast majority of a 6 sold as the engine. Acura did the math and expected maybe 10% V8 RL sales. Thats 200 cars a year, and only if the RL was selling at the rate Acura projected. So far it seems to have only turned in one month of the sales numbers required to reach a 20,000\yr goal. They decided that the expense of developing a brand new V8 from scratch would not be worth it for 200 cars a month, so there's no V8. The other possibility is to slap IMA on the existing 3.5L V6, and I think thats pretty likely to happen. They are the only ones that can compete with the GS450h, and if the Lexus does well, its a pretty sure bet that Acura will make a RL hybrid. It would also cure the RL's low end torque problem. Replies to this message: cheerioboy26 (Aug 11, 2005 6:34 pm) bondguy1 (Aug 11, 2005 8:48 pm)
#3580 of 10007 Re: $3.40 [bondguy1] by lexusguy Aug 11, 2005 (5:00 pm)
Replying to: bondguy1 (Aug 11, 2005 4:23 pm) Lemme guess, it was the NYT article, right? I've had to defend the 400h 3 times today already. NYT completely missed the entire point of the 400h. When Lexus announced that they were going to offer hybrids, they said that the Toyota versions would strive for the best mpg, and the Lexus versions would be designed to get as much extra power out of the electric motors as possible, with any increased mpg as sort of a bonus. The RX400h was NOT designed to get Prius-like mileage. Another total misconception is the supposed $10K premium for the 400h, which is completely incorrect. The BASE RX330 stickers at just below the $40K mark, where as the RX400 starts at $49K, so everybody assumes that the 400h costs $10K more. What they fail to mention is that the $39,990 RX330 has cloth seats, and NO options. Any Lexus dealer will tell you that you cant actually buy a total stripper RX330 like that, unless you special order it. The ones on the lot all cost at least $42K.   If you actually spend the time to build an RX at lexus.com (apparently NYT was too busy for that, or too biased to report anything that would dampen their argument as to why the 400h stinks) you'll notice that a completely loaded RX330 comes in around $46,5. The 400h comes with just about every RX330 option as standard equipment. The only option is the ML stereo, which brings it up to around $51. Therefore, the actual price for JUST the hybrid motor is $4500, not $10k. Factor in the $3500 tax credit for hybrids, and you can get into a RX400h for $1000 more than a similarly loaded 330. Try going to a MB dealer and telling them you want an ML500, but you're only willing to pay $1000 more than the ML350 costs. See what kind of reaction you get there. Replies to this message: kdshapiro (Aug 12, 2005 7:07 am) quasiactuary (Aug 12, 2005 10:53 am) rats13 (Aug 12, 2005 2:31 pm)
#3581 of 10007 Re: Platform Sharing..... [lexusguy] by cheerioboy26 Aug 11, 2005 (6:34 pm)
Replying to: lexusguy (Aug 11, 2005 4:43 pm) "Acura did the math and expected maybe 10% V8 RL sales. Thats 200 cars a year, and only if the RL was selling at the rate Acura projected. So far it seems to have only turned in one month of the sales numbers required to reach a 20,000\yr goal."   My 10% of 20,000 math equals 2,000
#3582 of 10007 V-8 RL by bartalk3 Aug 11, 2005 (6:55 pm)
I believe I read in the current issue of Motor Trend (Sept.) that Acura will introduce a V-8 for the RL in...2011.
#3583 of 10007 Re: 325 HP... [kyfdx] by hpowders Aug 11, 2005 (7:10 pm)
Replying to: kyfdx (Aug 11, 2005 12:42 pm) The fire sale lease I got on the car more than pays for the gas. I imagine the mpg will improve after the break-in period is over. I'm getting 19mpg in mixed driving.   The problem is that 80mph with my 325i has effortlessly become 90mph with the 545i. I'm going to really have to watch it on the interstate.   What's really a lot of fun is all the redneck flat-bed truckers who come tearing down an adjacent lane with the sole mission of attempting to pass in front of me, giving it all they have, but you know what? I just give it a little touch on the accelerator and they simply can't do it. Regards, The Titanium Silver Streak
#3584 of 10007 Autoweek Comparo: M45 vs. GS430 by senneca01 Aug 11, 2005 (7:49 pm)
The new issue of Autoweek has a comparison of the M45 vs. GS430, it is their cover-story. The M45 beat the GS430 by a landslide. They thought that the VDIM system on the GS is too obtrusive and the both the brakes and steering are overboosted. They also complained about the transmission not knowing the proper gear to be in at the right times. They said that the GS has a good chassis, but Lexus uses too many electronics with ill effect to try and make a great car.   They liked the M45 in almost every respect. They liked the intelligent transmission, acceleration, brakes, handling, rear-active steer, and grip. They basically say that the Infiniti has sportyness built into the car without having to resort to what Lexus does (i.e., to many electronic nanny's).   In the last sentence they call the M45 a champion, and say, "Sayonara Lexus!" Replies to this message: hpowders (Aug 12, 2005 4:05 am)
#3585 of 10007 Re: Platform Sharing..... [lexusguy] by bondguy1 Aug 11, 2005 (8:48 pm)
Replying to: lexusguy (Aug 11, 2005 4:43 pm) You say 20,000 cars a year...then you say only 10% of these and state 200 cars a year...then you later say only 200 cars a month. Which is it?
#3586 of 10007 Re: Consumer Reports [hihomike] by cmybimmergo Aug 11, 2005 (9:09 pm)
Replying to: hihomike (Aug 11, 2005 4:07 am) for $80,000, you can buy 1/2 a 3 bedroom home.   Wow, not where I live. The three bedroom house next door just went for $750,000.   The only time I rode in an e60 530, I found the hesitation on acceleration to be very annoying. How's yours? Replies to this message: hihomike (Aug 12, 2005 4:33 am)

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