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Luxury Performance Sedans

10338 messages,  Last post on May 01, 2013 at 3:12 PM

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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 804 of 1035

#8027 of 10338 Re: 2007 Infiniti G35 Sedan coming w/306 HP [drtravel] by jrock65

Aug 03, 2006 (10:36 am)

Replying to: drtravel (Aug 03, 2006 9:59 am)
I think M sales will drop a bit, but not "like a rock". It should be able to meet its annual sales goal of 24,000 units per year, even during its 3rd and 4th years.
 
The 2008 M will probably get the 306 3.5L engine, along with some updates to the exterior and interior. Or it may even get the 3.7L engine that the 2008 G Coupe is purportedly getting. At the same time, they'll have to up the hp in the M45, to compete better against the 550i, GS460 and E550. Nissan recently trademarked "FX50" (but no "M50" yet), so we'll see.
 
I bet that they change the M's amber instrumentation to the predominantly white instrumentaion, similar to the 2007 G35.

#8028 of 10338 Re: I didn't [dhamilton] by pat

Aug 03, 2006 (10:50 am)

Replying to: dhamilton (Aug 03, 2006 10:32 am)
Careful - no cussing in here!!
 
 

#8029 of 10338 Re: July LPS Sales... [rich545] by breld

Aug 03, 2006 (11:17 am)

Replying to: rich545 (Aug 03, 2006 8:07 am)
The Tip in my Cayenne is great when shifting manually. It's just not so great when left in full auto. I was just surprised at the different 0-60 times for the Boxter with Tip though. It's the same with the Boxter S too. The Tip is about .8 seconds slower than manual 0-60. The 911 Carrera 4S cuts that difference in half, and the Turbo cuts it to .3 according to the website. With differences that small I could see a really good Tip driver making up for them. I just wonder why 0-60 times are so different for the Boxter and Cayman, but not the 911. Is it the increased power?
 
I'd point out that the preference for a manual over an automatic has little, and perhaps nothing, to do with how fast you get to 60 mph. It's the experience of getting there. As you pointed out, it seems the gap in acceleration between today's automatics and manuals is decreasing quite a bit.
 
My wife doesn't quite get my desire for a manual in my potential 530 purchase - "Isn't a BMW fast enough with an automatic?" "Well, yes, but...oh never mind..."

#8030 of 10338 Rumours by dewey

Aug 03, 2006 (2:06 pm)

But motor industry experts said that Ford might have to package Jaguar with its four-wheel drive marque Land-Rover to attract a big, established volume car maker
 
Rumored suitor? Renault. Sounds like Ghosn's ambitions are beginning to resemble Napoleon's. A Renault-Nissan-GM-Jaguar-LandRover Alliance sounds like a beast that will be too humungous for its own good. The article is linked below.
 
SOURCE: THE INDEPENDENT
link title

#8031 of 10338 Re: 2007 Infiniti G35 Sedan coming w/306 HP [dewey] by james27

Aug 03, 2006 (3:46 pm)

Replying to: dewey (Aug 03, 2006 7:47 am)
Not everyone is interested in power. The M is signficantly bigger than the G series. Both have adequate power. It is not unusual for the sales to drop a little prior to the newer model being introduced. I think that there was a group of people waiting for the M to come out in its initial year, and things became more predictable. The initial glowing press got more people to consider the M. Because it is no longer new, there isn't anywhere near as much press. Some out of sight, out of mind is going on here.
 
The M will continue as a viable product for awhile yet.

#8032 of 10338 Re: July LPS Sales... [breld] by rich545

Aug 03, 2006 (9:04 pm)

Replying to: breld (Aug 03, 2006 11:17 am)
I'm not saying the preference for manual has anything to do with 0-60 times. The discussion is about why the Shipo's 328i with stick was able to beat the Boxter with tip that he raced from a toll booth. That kind of race has everything to do with 0-60 times in that the toll on the TZ Bridge is about 500 yards from the exit they both took. I love manual transmissions as well (in fact, my Cay S is only the second non-manual car I have ever owned) so I know about the joys of manual driving. I was just surprised that for the Boxter specifically the 0-60 times were very different for the Tip vs. manual tranny.

#8033 of 10338 Re: Mercedes models rated "most reliable" [sfcharlie] by bw45sport

Aug 04, 2006 (1:24 am)

Replying to: sfcharlie (Aug 02, 2006 6:27 am)
Statistics released by the German automobile association, ADAC, show that Mercedes passenger cars are among the most reliable vehicles in Germany
 
This is an oft cited statistic. Unfortunately, it only measures one component of reliability, breakdowns. While Mercedes has suffered woeful problems related to electronics, their mechanical systems appear to be rock solid as ever, hence no breakdowns.
 
Mercedes was my brand of choice for over twenty years and I never had a breakdown. However, the advanced control systems of the newer cars that rely so heavily on electronics malfunction far too often. The C-Class, "the most reliable" medium-sized car was miserable during the first year of its most recent overhaul. Over 30 percent of owners purchasing a C-Class that year reported "significant" electrical problems during the first year of ownership.
 
While they deliberately avoided a "kill shot", Fifth Gear's attempt to stop an old E-Class wagon is quite entertaining and does illustrate the incredible build quality of pre-merger Benzes.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bIV_hHPAFQ&eurl=

#8034 of 10338 Re: Mercedes models rated "most reliable" [bw45sport] by merc1

Aug 04, 2006 (4:56 am)

Replying to: bw45sport (Aug 04, 2006 1:24 am)
The only thing that video really shows is that a Mercedes was a much simpler car back then. The physical build of a of certain Mercedes has changed dramatically for sure (first generation ML, W220 S-Class and 2001 C-Class comes to mind), so I think the fair thing to say is that they aren't all built the same anymore. Some of the newer models are physically built as robust as car can be without going overboard and paying dearly in increased weight. Also, the W124 had bascially what is about as sophisticated as truck engine (I6) compared to MB's current engines. The only thing comparable today is MB's iron-block I6 diesel engine. No car would be able to withstand water in the engine and the other things that car went through and still turn over the way cars are built today so it isn't just Mercedes-Benz. Also he electronics on the W124 are primitive by today's standards. The merger had very little or anything to do with how Benzes were built. Mercedes downgraded themselves starting in 1994 with the C-Class that came out that year. Now the ML that everyone likes to point too did come out in 1997, but it was already a done deal by the time Chrysler joined the mix. The bumpy road test that they subjected that W124 wagon through is the same one that most car makers used today to test durability, either that or they have a "shaker" machine that duplicates that kind of stress indoors.
 
M

#8035 of 10338 Re: Rumours [dewey] by lexusguy

Aug 04, 2006 (5:47 am)

Replying to: dewey (Aug 03, 2006 2:06 pm)
Rumored suitor? Renault. Sounds like Ghosn's ambitions are beginning to resemble Napoleon's. A Renault-Nissan-GM-Jaguar-LandRover Alliance sounds like a beast that will be too humungous for its own good. The article is linked below.
 
At least that would give Jag access to a decent V6. A Jagified VQ would probably be good for well over 300hp. They'll never reach that with a Taurus engine.

#8036 of 10338 Re: July LPS Sales... [rich545] by designman

Aug 04, 2006 (6:13 am)

Replying to: rich545 (Aug 03, 2006 8:07 am)
I just wonder why 0-60 times are so different for the Boxter and Cayman, but not the 911. Is it the increased power?
 
You will always hear the rationale to be the difference in torque and it’s true, but ultimately the gearing and shift points in the Porsche Tips are not optimal. There’s really no reason why most cars should have less disparity in acceleration between auto and manual. I guess Porsche couldn’t give a flying fajita because 85%-90% of their sports cars sold have manual transmissions.
 
BTW in normal situations, the Boxster Tips start in 2nd gear. Not sure about the 911s. Is this the case with your Cayenne S? I had one as a loaner once but forgot to take notice. The SUV is one thing, but with the Boxster I am sure I would be quite miserable with the Tip.
 
Low end torque with a nicely geared auto transmission that has optimal shift points equates to point-and-shoot acceleration. We don’t see that in Boxsters. You have to be between 4500 and 7200 RPM (redline) and precise shift points to get max acceleration. Below that the car just doesn’t move. So if someone is not familiar with the transmission and engine power curves he ain’t beating too many cars.
  
Well we’re really OT now thanks to our pal Shipo and his duel at the friggin’ Tappan Zee bridge. Rich if you would like to continue I guess we should move to a Porsche thread.
 
Oh, one more thing now that I’ve already risked getting sent to the spanking machine in the principal’s office by digressing. Coincidentally, the headline on the front page of today’s local paper is about shipworms eating the piers that hold up the causeway of the Tappan Zee bridge.

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