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Sedans Luxury Performance Sedans
10007 messages, Last post on Dec 01, 2009 at 7:40 AM
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Replying to: curtisb (Jul 27, 2006 3:10 pm) European vehicles are "driving machines"! Again, over generalizing. The Japanese and Europeans can both make driving machines, they just have different ideas as to what a driving machine is. Of course a Nissan Maxima (which used to have a beam axle in back for "extra rear seat room") is no match for a 328ci. Japan's "ultimate driving machines" are more akin to a Porsche GT3 RS than anything BMW makes. They dont waste any weight on wood and leather. Generally, they also have never been sold in the US. Japan's highest performance cars that are currently in production are the Lancer Evo MR FQ400, and the WRX STi Spec. C WR. 0-60 takes place in about 4 seconds, and only the fastest Porsches would be able to catch them on a track. The M3 or M5 wouldn't have a chance.
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Replying to: lexusguy (Jul 27, 2006 4:46 pm) M |
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Replying to: merc1 (Jul 27, 2006 8:17 pm) True, just making a point that Japan can make world-beating UHP cars if they want to. At the same time, recent efforts from Mazda and Nissan like the MS6 and Infiniti M show that they can do Euro style, "mature" performance cars as well. I'd very much like to see Infiniti adopt an AMG style performance arm. Surely if Cadillac can do it, they can.
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Replying to: lexusguy (Jul 27, 2006 8:42 pm) I think what you said earlier about where the car originate from and the priorities that shape them on their homeland have a great deal to do with who make what. Brilliant point. Nissan and Mazda while credible, don't really apply here though. Cadillac doing a performance arm is really something, but as of late they seem to be taking one loss after another. They have the power, but not the refinement or polish to make any real waves in the AMG/M/RS world it seems. M
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Jul 27, 2006 7:37 am) |
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So, after all this talk of European vs. Japanese, my own experiences comparing the M35 vs. 530, and in particular, the emotional side of the car decision, I may just have found my car today. I browse Autotrader daily, getting a feel for the market for 530xi's, on a national basis. Figure I'd do something early next year, when there's more of a used market for them. There's been several interesting listings, but always out-of-state, which isn't unthinkable by any means, but it was enough to keep me at bay. Well, today a listing pops up at a local dealership - 2006 530xiT, 6,500 miles, CPO, and here's the kicker - manual trannie. Now, I've been a pretty die-hard stick shift guy, but over the last several months, as I started looking at this LPS class, I found myself accepting, and more recently, even embracing, the idea of getting an automatic. Part of it was indeed liking the idea of perhaps a more "relaxed" driving experience for the daily commute, and part of it was simply out of necessity - other than the BMW, there is no choice in this class. And considering I resolved myself to the used market for a 530 (for price reasons), I figured chances of finding a manual were pretty slim anyhow. Then I saw this listing, and it definitely gets my juices flowing. I'm the responsible father dropping off my two boys at daycare in the family truckster, and then continue on my way to work in my 6-speed manual sports wagon!  Well, I'll probably take a look at it tomorrow. I could see myself going ahead with it if the numbers work out, but I could just as easily see myself holding off until next year. I kind of enjoy the process - weighing the pros and cons of the different choices, doing the research, the "hunt" for that gem in the used market. Kinda crazy, huh?
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Replying to: merc1 (Jul 27, 2006 9:01 pm) Very true. The XLR-V came in dead last in C&D, and this line "A good choice if you must be seen in a domestic vehicle." was the clincher. For $100K, they have to do better than "not bad...for Detroit". Still, at least they're trying. Japan has a very long history of not even bothering to send their hot cars to the states, partly because of things like emissions, but I think mostly due to them being timid about whether or not they'll sell any here. Once in a blue moon Honda will send a "Type R" our way, but 9 times out of 10 they are only for the Europe and Japan markets, and we get some sort of watered down version instead. We only get the basic level of the Evo and WRX, and an even more basic Legacy Spec.B. It will be interesting to see what Nissan, Honda, and Toyota can do with their new supercars. We've got the Ford GT, Germany has the Carrera GT and the SLR, Italy has well, boatloads of supercars, but Japan's currently got nothing.
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Replying to: breld (Jul 27, 2006 9:46 pm) Not a bit. I've been doing the very same thing with used Jag convertibles for years. |
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Replying to: lexusguy (Jul 28, 2006 12:55 am) Yep, but oh wait it gets worse. The SL550 just beat the XLR-V in a head to head in the Sept issue of Motor Trend. What I find interesting is that the XLR-V's performance is only a few tenths of a second better here and there compared to the SL550. It doesn't stand a chance against the SL55 AMG. However I also give them credit for trying, there is nothing like the XLR from an American brand so I guess that has to count for something. Honda really should send us that really hot version of the Civic hatchback, I think it would sell on looks alone. What I'd most like to see is a 350Z killer from Toyota priced at the same level. M
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Replying to: merc1 (Jul 28, 2006 1:37 am) A Z killer from Toyota would be nice, but supposedly the Supra is going to price like the GT-R, rather than the Z. A Mazdaspeed RX-8 would be a good alternative to the Z however, as would a new S2000, if Honda ever gets around to it. 
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