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Luxury Performance Sedans

10006 messages,  Last post on Nov 26, 2009 at 6:59 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


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#8379 of 10006
Re: Tire size 2005 A6 4.2 [markcincinnati] by kgary
Sep 24, 2006 (6:41 am)
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Sep 24, 2006 5:32 am)

Mark,
 
I have the Pirelli PZero Nero M & S tires on the car already. So I am in complete agreement on UHP tires for the car. I like the look of wider tires, but I don't want to go to a lower profile and risk getting a harsher ride. Do you know anyone who put 265/40/18s on the car?
 
Kevin
#8380 of 10006
C&D Comparo: M45 v. 550i v. E550 v. GS450h by jrock65
Sep 24, 2006 (7:31 am)
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Got this from somewhere else. My copy of C&D hasn't come in the mail yet.
 
"C&D November - M45 vs. 550i vs. E550 vs. GS450h
 
1. Infiniti M45 Sport
2. BMW 550i Sport
3. Mercedes-Benz E550
4. Lexus GS450h
 
The Infiniti had a one point advantage over the BMW overall. The BMW edged out the Infiniti by two points in the Fun-To-Drive category, but the Infiniti had a 5 point advantage in the Price category. The BMW cost almost $15,000 more than the Infiniti. The BMW was almost $71,000! The Infiniti also won the Got-To-Have-It category, edging out the BMW by one point."
#8381 of 10006
Re: Tire size 2005 A6 4.2 [kgary] by markcincinnati
Sep 24, 2006 (12:08 pm)
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Replying to: kgary (Sep 24, 2006 6:41 am)

No but AVON Tech 550 A/S UHP are well discussed as a plus zero approach. They seem to be a bit noisier than the PZeros accoring to reviews on tire rack.
 
I am considering the PZero M+S -- any feedback? Treadwear?
#8382 of 10006
Re: C&D Comparo: M45 v. 550i v. E550 v. GS450h [jrock65] by dewey
Sep 24, 2006 (2:08 pm)
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Replying to: jrock65 (Sep 24, 2006 7:31 am)

The BMW was almost $71,000! The Infiniti also won the Got-To-Have-It category, edging out the BMW by one point."
 
Fair enough. Price-wise BMW will lose out all the time against the competition, except maybe Benzes. The 'Fun to Drive" aspect of BMWs are valued more higher by some drivers who usually end up being BMW owners.

 
My BMW335i will be priced slightly above the competition. But IMO the BMW335i is the best value!
#8383 of 10006
Re: Tire size 2005 A6 4.2 [markcincinnati] by kgary
Sep 24, 2006 (2:58 pm)
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Sep 24, 2006 12:08 pm)

The PZero Nero M & S have been great tires. I would highly reccomend them as a replacement tire. I would estimate their treadlife at about 20,000-25,000 miles. Unfortunately, they do not come in 255/40/18. So I am thinking of the Avons. However, I think the 255s require an 8.5" rim and I am beginning to think that the Audi rims are only 8". If this turns out to be the case I may stick with the Pirellis.
 
Kevin
#8384 of 10006
Re: C&D Comparo: M45 v. 550i v. E550 v. GS450h [dewey] by pete_l_p
Sep 24, 2006 (6:27 pm)
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Replying to: dewey (Sep 24, 2006 2:08 pm)

IMO the BMW335i is the best value!
 
Note that the M also won the C&D "Gotta have it" category, which is the closest category they have to " most desired car, independent of price."
 
The interesting thing IMO, is that the M wins, despite the fact these reviews tend to ignore two very important areas almost entirely.
 
1) Reliability. Look at consumer reports reliability surveys where the M far outshines the BMW and M-B. Also look at the Consumer reports Owner Satisfaction Survey, where the M wins with 92% of owners who would buy again, as compared to about 70% of 5-Series owners, and 62% of E-Series owners. Seems to me these are very big issues when it comes to overall value, yet not even considered in the C&D review. Don't you feel kind of foolish every time you have to bring this very high priced car into the shop. I know I do with my M-B.
 
2) Navigation and other electronics. As a serious user of Navigation (and a successfully retired software developer), I feel pretty clear about the fact that the M's navigation (including a wonderful voice command for destination street addresses) completely blows away the BMW and M-B systems, in so many ways. These reviews place far less weight on these systems than than their actual effect on most potential owners. (C&D IS an enthusiast rag after all. However PC magazine, Popular Mechanics and others also give the M luxury car of the year, coming from a very strong technology perspective) Look at the M's incredibly bright rear view monitor (even in the black of night) The lines showing your car's path, as you turn that steering wheel, are a total pleasure in every parking experience and every time you're in reverse. Again, given very short shrift in these reviews.
 
If you look at the total package: The "Gotta Have It" quality, reliability, great electronics, a fantastic performer and a great handling car to boot, it's hard to see how the M wouldn't be a much bigger winner, or how the BMW can be the better valued car.
 
My plan, before I bought my M, was to find the best car I could for less than $110K. I got the M not because it was the best car for the money, but because, from my perspective, it was the best car period. I'd really have preferred to pay more if meant getting a better car and getting some more prestige along with it. In the end, I had to go with what I thought was the best car, and after more than a year, I haven't been disappointed.
 
But to each their own.
 
Pete
#8385 of 10006
Re: C&D Comparo: M45 v. 550i v. E550 v. GS450h [jrock65] by rayainsw
Sep 25, 2006 (5:13 am)
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Replying to: jrock65 (Sep 24, 2006 7:31 am)

"1. Infiniti M45 Sport
2. BMW 550i Sport
3. Mercedes-Benz E550
4. Lexus GS450h "
 
Were they all automatics?
Since the M & E550 only come that way, I hope the BMW was also equipped with theirs...
Thanks,
- Ray
Also not yet received my copy of C+D....
#8386 of 10006
Consumer Reports, Owner Satisfaction Survey: Luxury Cars by jrock65
Sep 25, 2006 (5:47 am)
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Got this elsewhere.
 
Consumer Reports annual owner satisfaction survey (April 2006) asks OWNERS to rate their satisfaction with their own cars. The question they ask for this survey, as always, is: "Would you buy this car again?"
 
The Survey lists the following cars (Shown next to the percentage of owners who would buy it again.)
 
* 92% - Infiniti M35/M45
* 89% - Lexus GS300/GS430
* 89% - Lexus LS430
* 80% - Audi A6 sedan (V6)
* 78% - Acura RL
* 75% - Jaguar XJ Series
* 75% - Audi A8
* 72% - BMW 5 Series (V8)
* 70% - Lincoln Town Car
* 69% - BMW 5 Series (6-cyl.)
* 67% - Cadillac STS
* 64% - BMW 7 Series
* 63% - Jaguar S-Type
* 62% - Mercedes-Benz E-Class
#8387 of 10006
Re: C&D Comparo: M45 v. 550i v. E550 v. GS450h [jrock65] by drtravel
Sep 25, 2006 (10:03 am)
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Replying to: jrock65 (Sep 24, 2006 7:31 am)

It's already been a few hours and no BMW owner has come out to refute the C + D methodology!? I'm sure that C + D didn't include the prestige (impressing your neighbors with how much money you can afford to pay for a new car) category. Give BMW 10 extra points and low-and-behold, the 550 comes out on top.
 
On a more serious note, I wish they would have tested the V6 varieties. Most people actually buy these than the V8s. The M35 probably would have come out on top as it is very near the M45 in performance. The 525/530 not so close to the 550, the GS350 is close to the GS450h.
 
Went to the Taste of Lexus event yesterday. Test drove the IS350, GS450h, LS460, S550, and 750 on a road course. Pretty good experience. Curiously no special instructions were given to us prior to blast off except for the 750 where they explained to all drivers how to shift and adjust the seats. You mean BMW controls are not intuitive?
#8388 of 10006
Re: C&D Comparo: M45 v. 550i v. E550 v. GS450h [drtravel] by erickpl
Sep 25, 2006 (10:57 am)
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Replying to: drtravel (Sep 25, 2006 10:03 am)

It would appear you are as emotional about your Infiniti as BMW owners are about their rides.
 
I agree the 6 cylinders are probably the most commonly sold, but LPS's, as described here, refer to the performance side, so the V8's are probably the item of choice for folks in this crowd, if possible.
 
The 5, like the 3, has long been considered a benchmark in their class. While I would like to see the 5 on top, I'm just as happy to see other car makers making such high calibre rides. We all win with vehicle choices like this.
 
I'd take any of the cars in the comparo and be happy with them. I'm more into the LPC's (Luxury Perfomance Coupes).
 
-Paul

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