Ask the Car People.SM


Luxury Performance Sedans

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

You are in the Sedans Forum.

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 847 of 1034

#8460 of 10338 Scandinavian Performance with Ultra Luxurious Styling throughout by rockylee

Oct 02, 2006 (11:22 pm)

Sell The Bimmers, Mercedes, Masaratti, and get a load of this real performance luxury car.
 
It's not the fastest, best handler, but arguably the safest. The all new 2007' Volvo S80. "Be prepared for the road ahead" as Volvo says.
 
IMHO, it's alot of car for the money. Just like Mercedes and BMW's use to be.
 
I know that might anger some of you, but in my eyes which some might say are distorted, it's a clear winner especially when you factor in price.
 
Look at the craftsmanship of the interior and tell me another car that has one that's easier on the eyes ?
 
2007' Volvo S80
 
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=116977?tid=edm- - - - - - - unds.il.home.photopanel..1.*
 
http://www.volvocars.com/campaigns/news80/OpenDoors/default.htm
 
Take a look for yourself. Kudos to Ford for allowing such a great vehicle to be made.
 
It's the perfect high-speed grand tourer for going a buck-thirty and listening to Sophia Scofield, on a winding country road
 
Volvo. for life
 
Rocky

#8461 of 10338 Re: German "feel" versus C&D "ratings" [sfcharlie] by markcincinnati

Oct 03, 2006 (4:07 am)

Replying to: sfcharlie (Oct 02, 2006 10:12 pm)
Your advice or would be advice is dead on what I tell folks: "drive 'em all."
 
Yet, more and more I've come to the conclusion that folks will almost always make up their minds in advance for whatever reason and then figure out a way to explain it to themselves.
 
Costs, if they really were equal, might reveal greater differences in preferences, but even then, I am not completely certain.
 
My first choice, German, Audi. My second choice, Japanese, Infiniti. My price weighted choices, switched.
 
When Audi coughed up a $200 per month lease payment reduction on the exact car I had wanted all along, switcheroo again.
 
I believe I would have been very satisfied with the M35X. I am certain I would have when I wrote the monthly lease check. Maybe I would have accepted the M's feel, especially since I thought it was really quite close to the A6's in the first place. And, all the magazines, FWIW, said Infiniti [in the M's] was closing the gap between themselves and the BMW LPS's.
 
Closing the gap -- well, darnit -- that is why the Infiniti was my close second, even with its superior sound system and superior navigation and voice command. But, coming from a country [Germany] that has for decades enjoyed wide open running and no speed limits and built cars that could do that competently, well, there was/is an advantage and it shows (less and less, I'll admit.)
 
So, for me, for the time being, the German feel is a bonus. All the writers who pick the M seem to compare the M to a German (usually BMW) -- even though they declare the M a winner. . . .
 
At this time, the German feel -- for me -- is also a bonus.
 
Nevertheless, I would still advise anyone to "drive 'em all" -- for I also believe these cars, all of them, have much in common.

#8462 of 10338 Re: Scandinavian Performance with Ultra Luxurious Styling throughout [rockylee] by purplem46

Oct 03, 2006 (6:48 am)

Replying to: rockylee (Oct 02, 2006 11:22 pm)
Cost nearly as much as the competition, but you still get a Swedish Ford. Low power (Heck, the V8 version barely breaks 7 seconds 0-60), front wheel drive, soft suspension. Fit and build are good, but you can get a Acura TL for much cheeper, and that is really it's competition.

#8463 of 10338 Re: Scandinavian Performance with Ultra Luxurious Styling throughout [purplem46] by markcincinnati

Oct 03, 2006 (7:09 am)

Replying to: purplem46 (Oct 03, 2006 6:48 am)
The V8 is FWD? What in the wide wide world of sports is a goin' on there?
 
I thought the web site was pretty cool, ONE TIME. Kinda reminded me of a later (Brosnan) James Bond DVD navigation.
 
I thought the V8 was automatically AWD. I can't prove it though.

#8464 of 10338 Re: Scandinavian Performance with Ultra Luxurious Styling throughout [purpl by lansdownemike

Oct 03, 2006 (7:24 am)

Replying to: purplem46 (Oct 03, 2006 6:48 am)
Might be worth a second look. The V6 is FWD with AWD as an option, but the V8 is AWD standard. It also has adjustable suspension from soft to medium-soft to tight ("Advanced"). The TL's a good ride, but probably not competition for any of the LPS's (possible exception of the RL). It will be interesting to read the comparos rather than just previews and "first drives" however.

#8465 of 10338 Re: Scandinavian Performance with Ultra Luxurious Styling throughout [purplem46] by rockylee

Oct 03, 2006 (8:27 am)

Replying to: purplem46 (Oct 03, 2006 6:48 am)
Cost nearly as much as the competition, but you still get a Swedish Ford. Low power (Heck, the V8 version barely breaks 7 seconds 0-60), front wheel drive, soft suspension. Fit and build are good, but you can get a Acura TL for much cheeper, and that is really it's competition.
 
The V-8 goes 0-60 in 6.4 seconds in a car mag test and it has AWD. I owned a 05' TL, please don't compare the 2 since they aren't in the same league. It's embarassing to compare a rubberized Acura TL (which are pretty nice) to a leather, metal, wooden, sex machine like the S80
 
Rocky

#8466 of 10338 Re: Scandinavian Performance with Ultra Luxurious Styling throughout [markcincinnati] by rockylee

Oct 03, 2006 (8:29 am)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Oct 03, 2006 7:09 am)
It is AWD, go to the Volvo site and the proof is there.
 
Or just visit the 30 or 40 posts I've posted through-out the year on Volvo site. Most have links.
 
Rocky

#8467 of 10338 Re: Scandinavian Performance with Ultra Luxurious Styling throughout [purpl [lansdownemike] by rockylee

Oct 03, 2006 (8:31 am)

Replying to: lansdownemike (Oct 03, 2006 7:24 am)
Agree, the S80 is a Scandinavian God. Thor-ish if I may.
 
Some say that about me. I'm a Norge car forum posting God J/K
 
Rocky

#8468 of 10338 Re: Scandinavian Performance with Ultra Luxurious Styling throughout [rocky by lexusguy

Oct 03, 2006 (9:06 am)

Replying to: rockylee (Oct 03, 2006 8:27 am)
The V-8 goes 0-60 in 6.4 seconds in a car mag test and it has AWD. I owned a 05' TL, please don't compare the 2 since they aren't in the same league. It's embarassing to compare a rubberized Acura TL (which are pretty nice) to a leather, metal, wooden, sex machine like the S80
 
A Volvo sex machine. Wow, I'd never thought I'd see that. Can we tone down the Volvo PR a bit though? In reality, it's not all that sexy. The exterior is the same Volvo shape thats been with us since '01, just in large size. The interior is Volvo S40, with some nicer materials. It is no match for the A6, or M on the inside.
 
This car reminds me a lot of the S60R, which Volvo thought could take on the M3, a $40K car that is all bark, no bite. The S80's engines (especially the 6) aren't nearly powerful enough. The adjustable effort steering is a very cool idea, I can't wait for Infiniti or BMW to offer that. On the Volvo, its would you like "light effort-numb, medium effort-numb, or heavy effort-numb"? Heavy steering does not mean "good" steering. You don't buy a Volvo for road feel. That hasn't changed.
 
The AWD system (I assume) is the same that's used in every other AWD Volvo. That means a Haldex-clutch with a 95\5 front\rear torque split. It's there for bad weather conditions and mitigating torque steer. The idea of a "sporty" AWD system, like ATTESA E-TS, or even Audi's latest rear biased Torsen Quattro systems, has never crossed Volvo's mind.

#8469 of 10338 Re: Scandinavian Performance with Ultra Luxurious Styling throughout [rocky [lexusguy] by rockylee

Oct 03, 2006 (9:14 am)

Replying to: lexusguy (Oct 03, 2006 9:06 am)
A Volvo sex machine. Wow, I'd never thought I'd see that. Can we tone down the Volvo PR a bit though? In reality, it's not all that sexy. The exterior is the same Volvo shape thats been with us since '01, just in large size. The interior is Volvo S40, with some nicer materials. It is no match for the A6, or M on the inside.
 
Audi's newest interiors are as bad as BMW's. M-what ? Infiniti M ? Ummm, no. I declaring you legally blinde.
 
This car reminds me a lot of the S60R, which Volvo thought could take on the M3, a $40K car that is all bark, no bite. Its engines (especially the 6) aren't nearly powerful enough. The adjustable effort steering is a very cool idea, I can't wait for Infiniti or BMW to offer that. On the Volvo, its would you like "light effort-numb, medium effort-numb, or heavy effort-numb"? Heavy steering does not mean "good" steering. You don't buy a Volvo for road feel. That hasn't changed.
 
Well they have made major improvements in that dept.
 
The AWD system (I assume) is the same that's used in every other AWD Volvo. That means a Haldex-clutch with a 95\5 front\rear torque split. It's there for bad weather conditions and mitigating torque steer. The idea of a "sporty" AWD system, like ATTESA E-TS, or even Audi's latest rear biased Torsen Quattro systems, has never crossed Volvo's mind.
 
The Haldex, does its job. I never said it would out sport a BMW, but it's competitive enough to play. It's styling both inside and out along with "exclusive gadgets" makes it a Scandinavian God among cars. The other plus side is it can be driven in inclement weather, something the others can only do with snow shoes at the 4 corners.
 
Rocky

Messages Page 847 of 1034

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement