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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

#8398 of 10007 Re: Unbelievable [pete_l_p] by purplem46 Sep 25, 2006 (5:04 pm)
Replying to: pete_l_p (Sep 25, 2006 3:39 pm) Problem is, everyone finds an expert to validate the opinion they already made when they bought their car. I happen to find some very good qualities in about 75% of the cars that this forum discusses. I bought an M, I love the BMW five series (except for the banglisms), I respect the niche Mercedes dominates with the E series, and Lexus has made a quality product every year they have been in existance.   My point was, that if you bought what you want, it just doesn't matter who wins the magazine poll awards or which brand happens to sell the most. The chest pounding may be more telling than the opinions offered. Unless, you are affiliated with a dealership trying to sell a particluar vehicle, that is.
#8400 of 10007 Likely to buy the "X" (brand, model, color?) again? by markcincinnati Sep 25, 2006 (6:08 pm)
With cars as new as the M from Infiniti, it is difficult to know if the consumer actually WILL put money down for another one, in spite of what they may claim.   The willingness to claim "I'll probably get another one" is, however, important -- but when I read posts from "multiple offenders," I really take notice.   I have even been interested in the buy and re buy habits of/for TIRES since, until today, I was in the market for replacement tires for my A6.   Anyway, today, I would not be so keen to give a high value to "intentions."   Those folks who have multiple Cadillac's or BMW's or Acura's -- now those folks must have been treated well by their favorite brand and / or dealership.   I am certain there are one time BMW buyers -- the one's that I know are "serial offenders."   I recently went through an elaborate process of helping someone test drive a series of cars.   We started with the premise: I need to replace my Accord, I am pretty sure I want an SUV type vehicle, I am pretty certain I want to look at a CR-V and a Rav4. I am open to looking at something else.   My Audi dealer owns a Hyundai dealership. The new Santa Fe ('07) with ALL the toys on it had been highly reviewed and it obviously has a great warranty.   I set up the test drives of the cars noted and we made our first stop at the Audi dealer. "While I'm here," she says, "I'll test an A4 2.0T."   She was totally smitten.   She had to have an A4 with a whole bunch of options, bringing it to $39K.   The Santa Fe, similarly equipped was $27K -- ditto the Honda and the Toyota. The offer was made on the Audi.   The offer was met within $20.   She went with the CR-V.   No leather, no Bluetooth, no Sat Radio, no. . . .   All must have's. . .   The point has to do with the Brand Loyalty, I can only assume.   Those of you who actually have purchased the brand -- your brand -- a few times, actually have put your money where. . .your intentions are.   Speaking perhaps as an army of one, I appreciate the loyalty of those folks who keep returning to "their brand" even after testing the competition.
#8401 of 10007 To each their own by mbbrooks Sep 25, 2006 (6:15 pm)
I daresay that those of us in this forum are "mature" enough to make up our own mind as to what we like and want. We've all had enough cars and experiences to know what is most valuable to us first hand. While outside validation is always nice, I do not need the opinion of someone else to tell me what I like.   When I bought a car last month I made a point of going to all of the dealers and test driving all cars up for consideration. I ended up buying the car that I thought that I had already eliminated on certain grounds. Go figure. I'm now happier with the car than I was when I first got it - heck I've even waxed the thing.   When you spend as much dough as you will on cars in this class you really should get the car that makes you happy.
#8402 of 10007 Window tint in Florida by steveking1 Sep 25, 2006 (8:30 pm)
I was wondering if anyone had recommendations for getting very dark, illegal, window tint in the central florida area. Replies to this message: pat (Sep 26, 2006 2:58 am)
#8403 of 10007 A Tale of Two Cars by sfcharlie Sep 25, 2006 (9:11 pm)
I agree with the general sentiment of Domenick's post and those of others which question the value or enjoyment of reading "I've found the golden car at the end of the rainbow" claims, although I do understand the emotion behind such claims when they are offered in the spirit of "I'm in love with the car I just bought and I want to sing it from the rooftops."   As some of you recall, in late May I bought an M35 and within a month wished I had bought the other of my two final choices, the Audi A6. I was quite hyperbolic and dramatic in the throes of buyer's remorse. After a few months, I came back down to earth and settled into this driver's version of Thoreau's "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." In this more sober state, I realized the car was the source of my discontent only in the sense that I knew, on some level, throughout the final stages of choosing between it and the Audi that I was being inexorably pushed toward buying it largely by what I had read and not by my own reactions to driving it and the A6. A couple of Edmunds forum participants picked this up before I did and even drew my attention to what they saw I was doing. I ignored them and my own feelings and bought the M35. The aftermath was made worse by the fact that there is nothing objectively wrong with the car. Trying to argue that it is better than the Audi or vice versa is futile. The auto mags were excited about the most acceleration per dollar of the M35/M45 and CR did its job of identifying the M's valium-value in offering relief from fear of visits to service departments. I was looking to be told, I realize in retrospect, by the voice of collective authority that one car had finally been found, which trumped all the rest and was guaranteed to fit all the best. Unfortunately, for me, it was like being allergic to wool and discovering that the new Armani suit was in fact pure wool. For many, it will be the best suit they ever bought. For me, it itched every time I drove it.   Yes, past tense. My brother and his wife came to visit over Labor Day. Lo and behold, she had decided that in March 2007, she would start looking for a used M coming back off one of the first (February/March, 2005) two-year leases. She was in love with the car in my garage. She drove mine all weekend and fell more deeply in love. A local Audi dealer facilitated a buy-through process to avoid double tax paying. She has the M35 and I now have the A6. We are both as happy as each of us has ever been with a new car. Go figure. Replies to this message: pat (Sep 26, 2006 3:02 am) anthonyp (Sep 26, 2006 1:29 pm) sfcharlie (Sep 26, 2006 3:03 pm) cdnpinhead (Sep 26, 2006 4:02 pm)
#8404 of 10007 Re: Window tint in Florida [steveking1] by pat HOST Sep 26, 2006 (2:58 am)
Replying to: steveking1 (Sep 25, 2006 8:30 pm) Sorry, we don't do "illegal" here - check the Membership Agreement.
#8405 of 10007 Re: A Tale of Two Cars [sfcharlie] by pat HOST Sep 26, 2006 (3:02 am)
Replying to: sfcharlie (Sep 25, 2006 9:11 pm) Congrats, Charlie, that's great! If you had told us that before, I missed it. Glad to hear you're both happy.
#8406 of 10007 Re: Unbelievable [pete_l_p] by pat HOST Sep 26, 2006 (3:02 am)
Replying to: pete_l_p (Sep 25, 2006 3:39 pm) Good post, Pete.
#8407 of 10007 Je ne sais quoi? by markcincinnati Sep 26, 2006 (10:58 am)
I've driven and driven and driven quite of few of these LPS cars discussed here and I would argue some that aren't discussed here but could be.   These days, I find so little differentiates them -- they are all quite good. I suspect style -- whatever that means to you -- does have a great deal to do with our choices and even the development of loyalties to a brand.   Yet, most of us probably argue it is the performance, features, options, perhaps economy or value -- SOMETHING other than style that really, in the final analysis, had drawn us to THIS car, over the others.   I'm gonna stick with the main reason to pick A over B or E over C is style.   Of course, I know (and maybe you do too) that my choice (and yours, too, of course) really are more than about looks alone -- let the other folks buy on looks, just don't accuse me of that.   Yea, that's it, my choice really is, objectively speaking, the best choice -- it is too bad YOU can't see that, for I alone, apparently (well maybe a few thousand other folks each year), know that my choice has that. . .ummm, er, it is on the tip of my tongue je ne sais quoi that your inferior steed will never have and that, frankly, most folks just don't get.   Shhh -- thank goodness there are a few of us rational folks out here, buying up the truly good cars and leaving the dregs for the other poor slobs. Poor kids, they don't even know who they are, but WE do, don't we?   Keep it under your hat, pretend you agree when someone says their brand new MSTSA635X530GSE45SRL is "clearly and objectively" the best car, just smile and nod knowingly.   Quickly glance at them, and what ever you do, don't make eye contact. Replies to this message: lansdownemike (Sep 26, 2006 11:14 am) markcincinnati (Sep 26, 2006 12:36 pm)

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