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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: 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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It seems to me that in press releases, in ads, and (to a lesser degree) in what emphasis auto mags put on each brand, you get a sense of what niche (in the collective consciousness of consumers) the company is most interested in capturing. Infiniti's ads are heavily weighted toward "design" and one press release says unambiguously: we want to be the design leader. I think you have to like "a lot of design" to love look and feel of M35/M45. BMW appears targeted at "best engines in the world" and car mags pick that up -- the only full length articles on a brand's new engines, that I can recall, were on the engines in the new 3-series, when that line hit the market. I googled "Audi A6 V6 S-Line" and the first hit, from the UK press, read: "Audi's A6 is a highly evolved motorcar and their 3.2-Litre V6 FSI is a highly advanced engine. They make a good pair. Audi make great play of the advanced technology that they manage to pack into their products and well they might. Take the A6 3.2-litre FSI we feature here with its Fuel Stratified Injection engine, adaptive air suspension, the option of front-wheel or quattro four-wheel drive and the choice of three different gearboxes. That's before we even get into the options list where wonders like in-car televisions, voice command systems and distance-sensing cruise control reside."
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Replying to: merc1 (Jul 27, 2006 8:17 pm) True enough, but in 2008 I think the Japanese are ready to play their trump card. Everything I've heard about the anticipated Skyline GTR (Nissan Badge), would seem to put them square in the M division/ AMG ranks.
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Replying to: sfcharlie (Jul 28, 2006 5:42 am) I do remember full length articles on Audi's DSG, though. BMW may have the best engines, but their SMG is no match for Audi's.
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Replying to: lexusguy (Jul 28, 2006 3:16 pm) Exactly...German car reviews typically include discussions of the drivetrain and chassis, etc. Japanese car reviews more typically describe the pleasant (and sometimes exciting) experience, but, taking the M35 as example, looking over the reviews that got me excited about it, none go into any detail about new advances developed by Nissan in engine or transmission for this car. Nissan had a good engine/drivetrain (the V6 has been on Wards ten-best-engine list for years and the "rev-matching manu-matic" is good, for a 5-speed), but--my view now--a media-seducing vehicle was assembled by dropping an existing well-regarded (12-year-old engine) and an available transmission (geared to run like a 1960s muscle car and with about the same mpg) onto a modified 350Z->G35 chassis wrapped with a modified Maxima body, while all the left-over design and development money went into creating a swell living-room/command-post interior. A marketing marvel that seduced successfully; but it isn't BMW/Audi/MB 21st-century engineering.
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Jul 27, 2006 4:23 am) My introduction to autobahn driving was five years ago, in an A3 (1.9Tdi), and of course it was a lasting impression -- got my Jones for an Audi started. Sadly, the cars I like best over there aren’t even available over here -- diesel/manual, preferably both. Here, outside of the A3/A4 which at least still have manuals, the options are: neither. On another trip to Germany, I took the weekend (& an A4 1.9Tdi this time) & had my first Swiss adventure. Opted to drive over the San Bernardino pass (rather than through the tunnel) and learned that even with decades of Colorado experience, there’s nothing quite like an Alpine pass for narrow roads without guardrails (& tour coaches); same for Gotthard, then the Furka pass -- lifelong ambition finally realized, once again in an Audi. I used to do business in Ohio (Springfield, near Dayton) & had weekends free to discover WV, PA & KY backroads, so have a pretty clear idea of your “local” environment, and a fine one for fun cars it is. I don’t see how someone who lives in Kansas or Oklahoma or any of the other states where 90% of the roads are straight & the highest altitude is the NW corner (based strictly on tilt), can ever understand 3-D driving & the passion some of us have for it. Unless I’m severely pressed for time, I ALWAYS avoid the interstates. Your Inglostadt tale combines another good “where I enjoyed driving” (or learned to better) with a (partial) explanation of how you have come to have 2 dozen or so Audis in your household over the past decades. Given that you’ve been there several times, it’s certainly understandable how the Audi has become a lifestyle. The only cars I drive in winter weather are rentals, so AWD holds no attraction to me, given what it does to the car’s balance. It sounds like appropriate manipulation of tire pressure can compensate, but there’s still the extra weight & complexity. Munich -- well, in a perfect world, that’s where I’ll be taking delivery of a BMW 3-series diesel in a couple of years for my ED holiday with my wife. Time will tell. The text of your post has been saved, in case all the stars align properly.
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Replying to: sfcharlie (Jul 28, 2006 4:01 pm) Infiniti deserves more credit than that. They greatly increased platform stiffness and rigidity for the "FM-L" platform under the M compared to the G35. The Infiniti could use more forward gears, I will give you that. However, the rev-matching feature is something thats not offered on most of the competition. The Sport versions of the M have "rear active steer", while the AWD versions have a very sophisticated, race proven AWD system capable of sending 100% of the power to the rear wheels. Most of the competition can't do that, either.
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Replying to: sfcharlie (Jul 28, 2006 4:01 pm) Wow. I've never seen such a world-class, industrial-grade, water-cooled case of buyer's (or, more properly, lessor's) remorse played out so quickly. What a shame. I lost interest in the M when I learned that it didn't come with a manual. Of the handful (five) of new cars I've bought since '73, I was generally pleased with them all for at least the first few years, but the plethora of choices that are available these days certainly weren't a factor then, even as recently as 2000, when I was last in the market. Either way, I hope you can come to terms with your M, or come up with a way to unload it so you can indulge your passion for Audi. Good luck!
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Replying to: purplem46 (Jul 28, 2006 6:30 am) It might, but it will still be a "Nissan" and one car isn't going to trump the many AMG/M models or their hold on the luxury car buyers seeking performance. If anything the car should have been an Infiniti here in the U.S. if Nissan is serious about making Infiniti a true threat to BMW and their Motorsport division. A high-end Nissan is going to be percieved as a boy-racer to most, though a very competitive/impressive one. M
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