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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

Messages Page 392 of 1035

#3908 of 10339 PR request by pat

Sep 12, 2005 (3:05 pm)

A reporter is looking to interview folks who recently bought, ordered, or are considering ordering an AWD BMW 5-Series, Cadillac STS4, Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic, Audi A6 Quattro or Lexus GS300 AWD and is getting the car to replace an SUV. Please respond to jfallonedmunds.com no later than Thursday, September 15, 2005 with your daytime contact information and the makes/models of the vehicles coming and going in your life at this time.
Thanks,
Jeannine Fallon
Corporate Communications
Edmunds.com

#3909 of 10339 Re: New M35x [markcincinnati] by lexusguy

Sep 12, 2005 (9:57 pm)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Sep 12, 2005 2:08 pm)
I agree. The GS is probably the least entertaining car to drive in this class, (well except for maybe the base STS that I believe was bashed in C&D) but this is a class of VERY entertaining cars. Fortunately it sounds like Lexus has gotten the IS350 right. C&D had a few nit-picks in their review, but they did not bash VDIM other than to mention that there is no off switch. Its 306hp was good for a class busting 5.1 second 0-60 sprint with an autobox, beating the G35 6MTs 298hp by a good second or so. It sounds like the IS is packing BMW horses and not Infiniti ponies. I'm itching for a test-flog.

#3910 of 10339 Re: what's up with that? [hpowders] by freddybb

Sep 13, 2005 (7:08 am)

Replying to: hpowders (Sep 12, 2005 3:02 pm)
And I am getting an incredible 30-33 mpg on the highway in 6th gear with my manual transmission BMW 530xi. My average over about 400 miles for the past four gas tank fill-ups is about 24-25 mpg -- very respectable for an AWD car.
 
The M is a nice car, but it was a clear second choice for me to the BMW 530xi I bought (first time BMW owner) because of the lack of a manual transmission, the awful gas mileage, the blah styling, and the overwrought interior with the canted-to-the-top console.
 
Oh, and BTW, the extra 25 HP in the M35x does NOT make it faster than the 530xi because the M weighs almost 400 lbs more than the 530xi. In a previous post I had mentioned that the lbs per HP that each car has to move are pretty much exactly the same. So they are both equally fast, and the BMW has a MUCH higher fuel efficiency -- go figure!!
 
Every once in a while I have to put out a post like this after reading a hundred posts from M owners claiming they have the best car on the planet. Not true, just personal opinions like mine, of course!

#3911 of 10339 Re: New M35x [lexusguy] by ksoman

Sep 13, 2005 (7:11 am)

Replying to: lexusguy (Sep 12, 2005 9:57 pm)
Thought the chances of me buying the GS are almost close to 0, i've to say, it looks far better than either of it's japanese neighbors. If you were to ask me a year and half ago which car excited me the most, it'd have to have been an RL, but, right now, sadly none of the 3 japanese cars stir my soul. i can bet, they will not break for twice as long or maybe 4 times a long as any of the 3 german contenders, from personal experience. I personally am unlikely to want a 8 cylinder in this category, i'd lie if i said i dont love power, but, my sanity prevents me from buying gas guzzlers and i honestly can say i'm one of the few who despite a family and two incomes still has never bought an SUV or dont plan to buy one in the known future.
 
Now of course, my 40 year birthday gift, which comes in 7 more years is decided. Well it was decided when i was 13... It is a jaguar XJR van dan plas or whatever the long version is with supercharger is... that is of course assuming jaguar is still around. of course, if i was to buy purely for "fun to drive" and "as passionate as a lover" reasons, then it has to be a 750i or whatever is the equivalent at that point (and not the longer version).
 
But since I've 7 more years to go for 40, i'm still in the sub 7/S category... and who knows, by the time I'm 40, gas might be so expensive that maybe BMW might be marketing the 730i in the US again??? hahahaha
 
either ways, today, my ksoman id on edmunds turns 7 years. I'd another id for about 6~8 months prior to this id, but this id still made the 7 years. So i hope in another 7 years, i'll still be using this id on edmunds, ocassionally contributing "nothing" to the forums and hopefully driving the car i dreamed of since i was 13...?
 
cheers!
ksso

#3912 of 10339 0-60 by jrock65

Sep 13, 2005 (7:38 am)

"Oh, and BTW, the extra 25 HP in the M35x does NOT make it faster than the 530xi because the M weighs almost 400 lbs more than the 530xi."
 
In the only timed test so far that featured both the M35x and the 530xi, the M35x was half a second faster to 60 than the 530xi.
 
http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/vdp/articleId=106555/pageNumber=9

#3913 of 10339 Re: New M35x [ksoman] by lexusguy

Sep 13, 2005 (8:50 am)

Replying to: ksoman (Sep 13, 2005 7:11 am)
I definitely like the GS better in person than I do in pictures, which make it look kind of tubby. The M35 is a little more anonymous, but I do prefer it to the looks of the RL and 5. I would like the A6, but I still havent warmed to the Cyrano de Bergerac nose.
 
I'll say it again, the logic of Lexus' engine juggling between the IS and GS still completely escapes me. If I were in charge, the IS would have the 3.0L as the base engine, and the 3.5L would come with a six-speed manual from day one. If Toyota doesnt have one thats suitable, buy one. I would also launch an IS350 AWD a year after the initial intro. Save the 2.5L for Japan and Europe.
 
The GS would intro with just one engine, a 306+hp GS350 and GS350 AWD. The GS400\430 has never sold well, and surprise!, the current one is not selling well. Lexus crippled the V6 version of the car (which makes for some 90% of sales) with a weakest in class engine, when they could've had the most powerful engine in class. Just skip the V8 until the 4.6L is ready. I doubt anybody would notice anyway.
 
I have to say, an XJR VP (or maybe a Super V8 Portfolio), is not the type of car I would expect a 13 year old kid to be drooling over. When I was 13, I wanted a 550 Speedster. Keep in mind that even with the highest end XJs you will still want to buy at least a 2 year old car. The blown Jags dont depreciate quite as badly as the NA versions, but the 1-3 year hit is still huge.

#3914 of 10339 Re: what's up with that? [hpowders] by drtravel

Sep 13, 2005 (8:56 am)

Replying to: hpowders (Sep 12, 2005 3:02 pm)
Through the first 5K miles with my M35 I have averaged 18.5 MPG in combined city/highway driving. On a road trip I averaged 25 MPG on the highway.
 
I felt both the BMW and Infiniti were fine cars - the Infiniti was just a better fit for me but I'm sure I would have been just as happy with the BMW.

#3915 of 10339 Re: New M35x [lexusguy] by ksoman

Sep 13, 2005 (11:14 am)

Replying to: lexusguy (Sep 13, 2005 8:50 am)
I was 13, 20 years ago. For some reason that I never particularly researched, i'd a bunch of people in my extended family who had all the famous collectible Jaguars from the 50s, 60,s 70s etc. The shape of the jaguar has always been something that i found very very ummm, alluring (?) and it represented a part of the pinnacle of what hard working people in my family achieved in the 70s and 80s. Not a bad goal to have for a teenager i bet. So i just decided that rather than be swimming in money in old age, i wanted to be comfortable to do whatever i want in life from the time i was 25 and have more than enough bandwidth to buy a XJR at 40. As i said, who knows if Jag will be around 7 years from now, but if it is still making some good "cats", i'm in the market.
 
Lexusguy, About your comments on GS, i've to agree, the car does look prettier in person than in pictures. I personally think both the RL and M look kinda ummm, un-intriguing and un-passion-worthy. Personally I like the looks of the 5, despite all the criticism, atleast it's not another blah nobody in a nobody body. i was quite shocked by the performance of last year's 5, but with the new engines, it's starting to get it's sensibilities together. I love the E, from a looks perspective, i find it droolworthy and that's certainly my exclusive opinion. Recently i was offered a lease through MB employees that i could not have refused. It was ummm so cheap, i'm afraid to quote it here for fear of ridicule. I backed off literally at the point of signing on the paper, only because of the zillion torture cases i've heard of from the reliability point of view. having one painful bmw convertible in the house is enough... but yet, despite the horrendous quality experiences, i'm in no way going to throw out my bmw... geez.. that's the car that automatically puts a grin on my face the moment i start it up... nothing else ever did that to me... in the car world... hehehe
 
ksso

#3916 of 10339 Re: New M35x [ksoman] by bdr127

Sep 13, 2005 (1:23 pm)

Replying to: ksoman (Sep 13, 2005 7:11 am)
But since I've 7 more years to go for 40, i'm still in the sub 7/S category... and who knows, by the time I'm 40, gas might be so expensive that maybe BMW might be marketing the 730i in the US again??? hahahaha
 
The current 2006 BMW 750i gets 17/25.... Not too bad for a 4.8L V8.

#3917 of 10339 Re: what's up with that? [drtravel] by hpowders

Sep 13, 2005 (2:14 pm)

Replying to: drtravel (Sep 13, 2005 8:56 am)
The point is that I am getting 27 mpg on the highway from a BMW 8. The Infiniti 6 results in 25 mpg. I agree that the BMW 5 and Infiniti M are both fine cars. I drove them both and actually prefer the brakes in the M to the 5 series.
So far 1200 miles driven in my 545i and no problems to report.

Messages Page 392 of 1035

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