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Luxury Performance Sedans

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

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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

#8549 of 10006 Re: S6 - the temporary king of the LPS class? [markcincinnati] by lexusguy Oct 10, 2006 (3:10 pm)
Replying to: markcincinnati (Oct 10, 2006 7:33 am) Do any of the Japanese brands offer the jump to ludicrous speed (Dark Helmet?)   Not in the LPS arena, no. Ultimate performance to a Japanese company is not "let's take one of our 4,000lb. luxury cars, give it a suspension overhaul, and insert a rocket motor." Thats a very German idea.   Here's the issues: 1. The current M is the first Japanese luxury sedan (at least in our market) that can even handle the "go faster" treatment. The GS400 would've been a very dangerous car with 400+hp on tap.   2. Japan doesn't really have any rocket engines, at least not in the "luxury rocket" sense. The Lexus 4.6 is the biggest, most powerful Japanese V8 ever available in the US. There may be bigger engines in the JD market, but I don't know of any in mass production.   Japan's UHP cars have always been very small and lightweight, with small displacement 4 and 6 cylinder engines, and massive turbocharging. This method allowed cars like the Supra TT and GT-R to have *wink wink* 276hp. Since Japanese automakers are no longer constrained by the 276hp limitation, the door is open for big, German style monsters. The Lexus GT V8 engine is probably going to show up in the IS, and the G or M will probably get the GT-R's twin turbo 6.   I assume the next TL is going to have SH-AWD, as Acura seems to want to offer that across their entire line. Without the current car's torque steer issues, Acura could easily turbocharge the Type S' 3.5L, and make a 350hp+ TL Type R. Replies to this message: rockylee (Oct 11, 2006 12:07 am) dewey (Oct 11, 2006 9:05 am) purplem46 (Oct 11, 2006 9:41 am) lexusguy (Oct 11, 2006 10:32 am) purplem46 (Oct 11, 2006 11:00 am)
#8550 of 10006 Re: German and American writing about cars [warthog] by lexusguy Oct 10, 2006 (3:22 pm)
Replying to: warthog (Oct 10, 2006 2:38 pm) As we all know, with CR reliability trumps all. I think they would recommend a Model T over a modern BMW, or MB, or Lexus for that matter, if the ancient Ford somehow came out more "reliable" in their estimation.   Thats not really true. They have their reliability ratings, and then the overall rating, which covers everything else about the car. They wont recommend cars that score "below average" in reliability, but that doesn't automatically mean that the most reliable cars get the best overall scores. Look at the E class vs. the GS. They rate the E 3rd from the top in the luxury category, despite it getting the full black dot for reliability. The GS has perfect reliability scores, but its overall rank is way down at the bottom.
#8551 of 10006 2007 525xi vs 530xi gas mileage by hedrick998 Oct 10, 2006 (4:43 pm)
Hi Folks,     I'm trying to decide between a 525xi and 530xi (automatic transmission). I like the extra kick of the 530 but I don't like it enough to tolerate a gas mileage plummet associated with the additional horsepower. Does anyone know if/how much gas mileage would decrease with the larger engine. I know the EPA says it's the same but I've heard you can't always trust their estimates. Thanks. Replies to this message: shipo (Oct 10, 2006 6:32 pm) markcincinnati (Oct 11, 2006 4:38 am) lexusguy (Oct 11, 2006 10:25 am)
#8552 of 10006 Re: 2007 525xi vs 530xi gas mileage [hedrick998] by shipo Oct 10, 2006 (6:32 pm)
Replying to: hedrick998 (Oct 10, 2006 4:43 pm) I know the EPA says it's the same but I've heard you can't always trust their estimates.   You're correct, you cannot trust the EPA. My own experience (and that of many other BMW drivers) is that the 530i/xi is capable of as good as, or better mileage than the 525i/xi siblings, and both engines can easily beat the EPA numbers.   Best Regards, Shipo
#8553 of 10006 Re: S6 - the temporary king of the LPS class? [lexusguy] by rockylee Oct 11, 2006 (12:07 am)
Replying to: lexusguy (Oct 10, 2006 3:10 pm) I assume the next TL is going to have SH-AWD, as Acura seems to want to offer that across their entire line. Without the current car's torque steer issues, Acura could easily turbocharge the Type S' 3.5L, and make a 350hp+ TL Type R.   That's the rumor I've heard for the 09' TL. If that is true, my god us consumers will have even more difficult of a time ahead of us on choosing.   Rocky
#8554 of 10006 Pricing: 2007 Volvo S80 Starts Under $40K by rockylee Oct 11, 2006 (2:45 am)
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=117081   Now here's one of my dream cars.   Rocky
#8555 of 10006 Re: 2007 525xi vs 530xi gas mileage [hedrick998] by markcincinnati Oct 11, 2006 (4:38 am)
Replying to: hedrick998 (Oct 10, 2006 4:43 pm) The 525xi with a manual transmission MIGHT give you "almost" the performance of the 530xi auto.   The two cars, here, use the same size engine.   The 530xi, according to sources OTHER than the EPA, apparently, is more efficient.   If you are going with the auto trans (and you KNOW I am torn on that from a "fun" vs "control" perspective) the 530xi certainly seems to be the better choice (assuming you are looking at this from an MPG perspective -- which, if I may, seems a bit odd considering the MSRP differences you would have to overcome if buying the lowest TCO was one of your top considerations.)   Go with the 530xi. OR, wait for the almost certain to be sold: 528xi (230HP)or 535xi (turbo 300HP with improved MPG's.)
#8556 of 10006 Re: S6 - the temporary king of the LPS class? [cdnpinhead] by markcincinnati Oct 11, 2006 (4:47 am)
Replying to: cdnpinhead (Oct 10, 2006 12:36 pm) The latest and greatest are, for me, often draws. With a virtually all optioned 2005 A6, there is nothing in a 2007 clone of my A6 that would make it worth extra money -- no, not even the back up camera and the color trip computer (mine is only red and black.)   My question, now that I have configured both an S6 and S8 and actually sat in an S6 is "where is the extra $25 to $35 thousand dollars" the S8 will seem to command?   Is it size? Is it features (other than the B&O sound system?)   Were I to acquire one of these cars, it would seem that you are correct -- and, as always, I appreciate the somewhat contrarian view (since, as you pointed out, most of the LPS cars are leased -- but often they are less expensive to do so due to generous sub-venting programs.)   The depreciation hit on an S8 will be "breathtaking" I am sure.   I just put new shoes on my 25,000 mile young A6. Nothing is not doing what I want, nothing has broken (other than the initial bout of bad pushbutton starters) -- and other than my none too secret desire for a diesel, I can see an argument for KEEPING this car.   Another sub vented lease on another German (and possibly non - German) car may change my mind. But, now at 55, I am much less likely to feel the need for the new wheels in 18 months.   But a new product COULD certainly change that attitude.   The question still stands, what makes up the 5 figure difference in the two siblings? Replies to this message: lexusguy (Oct 11, 2006 10:28 am) markcincinnati (Oct 11, 2006 1:19 pm) domenickamarc (Oct 11, 2006 3:36 pm)
#8557 of 10006 Re: S6 - the temporary king of the LPS class? [lexusguy] by dewey Oct 11, 2006 (9:05 am)
Replying to: lexusguy (Oct 10, 2006 3:10 pm) Without the current car's torque steer issues, Acura could easily turbocharge the Type S' 3.5L, and make a 350hp+ TL Type R.   Torque steer seems to be a key complaint about the FWD TL. All powerful FWD cars need to be equipped with a good torque steer management system. Honda engineers have not yet figured out how to make a great torque steer management system that can channel all the power to the road through a limited slip differential.   Before the new MazdaSpeed3 was introduced I thought it would be AWD. But I was quite surprised to hear that the 263Hp/280lb-ft torque MazdaSpeed3 would be avaiallble only in FWD. What amazed me even more were the positive Mazda3Speed reviews that did not even mention torque steer as an issue.   Obviously Mazda engineers have designed a superior torque steer management system that Honda/Acura lacks.
#8558 of 10006 Re: Do any of the Japanese brands offer the jump to ludicrous speed (Dark H by purplem46 Oct 11, 2006 (9:41 am)
Replying to: lexusguy (Oct 10, 2006 3:10 pm) They don't have "uber-power" now, but they will. The 2008 Nissan GT-R "Skyline" will be the first true Japanese super performance/Luxo car to date (available in the US). Lexus will follow in the not to distant future (LFA 10 cylinder).   I love the horsepower wars. I just wish there was somewhere to drive them as they were intended to be driven, safely/legally. I say we lobby for a new, U.S. Autobahn. Replies to this message: lexusguy (Oct 11, 2006 10:32 am) purplem46 (Oct 11, 2006 11:00 am)

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