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

#7602 of 10007 Re: Oh yea, and another thing [jlbl] -- WOW factor [markcincinnati] by lexusguy Jun 19, 2006 (3:57 pm)
Replying to: markcincinnati (Jun 19, 2006 8:16 am) Here's an article for ya. The ex head of Bosch talks about the future of diesels in the states: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060619/FREE/60614011/1021/n- ewsletter02&refsect=newsletter02 Replies to this message: jlbl (Jun 21, 2006 12:26 am)
#7603 of 10007 Re: Oh yea, and another thing [jlbl] -- WOW factor [markcincinnati] [lexusg by jlbl Jun 21, 2006 (12:26 am)
Replying to: lexusguy (Jun 19, 2006 3:57 pm) Thank you for the link. Some time ago I posted that hybrids were not frequently seen on our streets probably because of so many diesels rolling here in Europe.   My sister in law, Spaniard, is married to an American citizen and lives in NY since the last Century. They and their (adult) sons very much love german cars with a stick . When I bought my first Diesel bimmer two years and a half ago, I told them, on occasion of a trip to the States, how impressed I was of its power, acceleration, quietness, clean exhaust, and so on. They looked at me with wide-open eyes: I had been against diesel cars til then. I am a 'sporty' driver. Also, my relatives remembered me coughing and crying due to big irritation caused by diesel exhausts when driving behind a diesel. A few months ago one of my nephews come to Spain and drove my car. No more ironic sights. He is now looking for more Diesel stations and Diesel car choices at the USA.   As for hybrid BMW engines, they are developing hybrid steam power and gas (and diesel?) ones. There is some information at http://www.partstrain.com/blog/Auto_Technology/Hybrid_Technology   Regards,   Jose
#7604 of 10007 Re: [lexusguy] by sfcharlie Jun 21, 2006 (4:49 am)
Replying to: lexusguy (Jun 07, 2006 1:15 pm) A couple of weeks ago you offered an interesting ranking:   "I would rank the brands in just terms of "badge effect" in the US market like this:    Tier 1: Mercedes, BMW Tier 2: Lexus, Cadillac Tier 3: Audi, Infiniti, Acura, Jaguar"   MarkCincinnati added Tier 4 and demoted Cadillac to it.   Then, there was someone asking about buying a car without test-driving it. The two sets of postings linked up in my mind and led me to wonder ... If we had to pick (in attempt to predict what would make him/her happiest to have gotten that car after, say, first two years owning it and driving it everyday) a car for a mythical buyer (mid-40s, married, two kids who ride in the car regularly, likes driving and not just getting from point A to point B), and we knew the person wouldn't drive all the ones we compare here, how much influence do you think "badge effect" would have on your recommendation and how what would your five top recommendations (brand and model) be in rank order? Replies to this message: markcincinnati (Jun 21, 2006 7:43 am) lexusguy (Jun 21, 2006 8:03 pm)
#7605 of 10007 Re: Buying without test driving [erfan] by sfcharlie Jun 21, 2006 (4:53 am)
Replying to: erfan (Jun 12, 2006 1:02 pm) erfan ... did you decide on a car yet?
#7606 of 10007 Automobile Mag's Best Sport Sedans by sfcharlie Jun 21, 2006 (5:24 am)
Just left post 7604 and the flipped through July "Automobile" magazine. They compared BMW M5, Audi S6, and Mercedes E63 AMG. Ranked AMG first, S6 second, and M5 third.   "Unlike the BMW, which feels a little twitchy as it nears the limit of adhesion, the AMG hugs the tarmac." I had previously thought it impossible (as in against the laws of nature) for a n auto mag to say specifically that another car outperformed a comparable bimmer in that specific area of performance. The editors continued to list the ways in which they found the Mercedes better to drive than the bimmer: "There is also less lift-off weight transfer, less acceleration squat, and less brake dive, and, despite the subdued body movements, you always know where you are on the speed and g-force map." However, the AMG "surpasses the [Audi] S6 only by a whisker." Replies to this message: markcincinnati (Jun 21, 2006 6:33 am)
#7607 of 10007 Re: Automobile Mag's Best Sport Sedans [sfcharlie] by markcincinnati Jun 21, 2006 (6:33 am)
Replying to: sfcharlie (Jun 21, 2006 5:24 am) Leaving the BMW how many whiskers behind, I wonder?
#7608 of 10007 2007 M now on website by jrock65 Jun 21, 2006 (6:50 am)
Only change I can see is a 10 way power passenger seat, and break up of the packages.   And they retested power ratings to conform to the new standard.   2007 M35 "lost" 5 hp (275 hp) and 2 torque (268 torque). 2007 M45 "lost" 10 hp (325 hp) and 4 torque (336 torque). Replies to this message: rayainsw (Jun 21, 2006 7:53 am) jrock65 (Jun 22, 2006 6:27 am) jrock65 (Jun 22, 2006 9:30 am) pearl (Jun 22, 2006 12:00 pm) lexusguy (Jun 22, 2006 4:36 pm) cdnpinhead (Jun 22, 2006 4:53 pm) and 1 more...
#7609 of 10007 Re: [sfcharlie] by markcincinnati Jun 21, 2006 (7:43 am)
Replying to: sfcharlie (Jun 21, 2006 4:49 am) Obviously, those of us who buy Audis must suffer through the critiques (even from our wives) -- from what one would assume are badge effect customers.   I'll go out on a limb here then and say I do think badge effect is real. When the rubber hits the road, or the check hits the bank, however, I believe people would buy what they like.   I tend to think that in a universe of ONLY badge effect, people would STILL buy the car that they most liked based on styling. Of course, this would still probably be tempered by badge effect -- assuming price parity.   In other words, people would buy the car they liked the looks of within the badge. For some that would mean the "best looking" BMW (best looking to them, that is.)   For others, of course, it would be the best looking Cadillac.   Being in the US it is impossible for me, at least, to put Audi on the same tier as BMW and Mercedes. Likewise it is impossible for me to put Cadillac on any other tier than the lowest. Moreover, if that means putting Audi on tier two or tier three, Cadillac would have to be on tier three or tier four.   Likewise, Lexus and Infiniti (to me) have the same badge effect -- but (to me) Lexus just plain builds uninvolving cars in which to sit behind the wheel. So, for that and only that reason, the overall positive effect of the Lexus badge is largely neutralized. Ininiti would be my Japanese choice, that is.   Currently, for no other than things I cannot wipe out of my memory, Acura, despite its apparent stellar comeback, still has the hangover from the previous generation (to me) -- besides, Acura has simply not ever been able to command the badge effect that Lexus, for instance, has, so it is, for the time being relegated to Cadillac's status.   In the US then (personal choice for "badge"):   o BMW & Mercedes o Infiniti & Lexus o Audi o - the rest   I have driven most of the cars here, some of them extensively. There are times when I would place the Germans all on the same tier from that perspective (driving, performance, etc.)   The Lexus and sadly the Jaguar would be on the same level as the Cadillac from that perspective and, oddly, that might make an STS/4 with all the toys preferable to the Lexus no matter what the badge effect.   Overall, the cars in this crowd are more alike (to me) than they are different, despite all the above.
#7610 of 10007 Options Re: 2007 M now on website [jrock65] by rayainsw Jun 21, 2006 (7:53 am)
Replying to: jrock65 (Jun 21, 2006 6:50 am) In my Zip code (NE of HotLanta) I can again 'build' an M45 Sport (almost) as I'd actually prefer to buy one - with ONLY OPTION = rosewood. "Almost", because I still cannot order XM without a Package . . ( sigh ) - Ray Always shopping . . Replies to this message: jrock65 (Jun 22, 2006 6:27 am) jrock65 (Jun 22, 2006 9:30 am)
#7611 of 10007 wow by dhamilton Jun 21, 2006 (7:53 am)
I just read a Jeremy Clarkson review of the new A8 and he hated it. Said it was creeky at low speeds, got bad gas mileage, and acceleration was slow, as was handling.  Very bizzare as he usually has nothing but praise for Audi. Replies to this message: lexusguy (Jun 21, 2006 8:12 pm) upuaut (Jun 23, 2006 1:31 pm) lexusguy (Jun 23, 2006 2:35 pm)

You are here: Forums Sedans Luxury Performance Sedans