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Luxury Performance Sedans

10007 messages,  Last post on Dec 01, 2009 at 7:40 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

#8558 of 10007 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)
#8559 of 10007 Re: 2007 525xi vs 530xi gas mileage [hedrick998] by lexusguy Oct 11, 2006 (10:25 am)
Replying to: hedrick998 (Oct 10, 2006 4:43 pm) 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.   Get the 530xi. They will be close enough for it not to matter. You should also consider that you'll have to keep the 525xi "on the boil" for things like passing, merging, etc. Full throttle is not great for mpg. With the 530xi you could take a more relaxed approach, and ultimately save gas. Besides, spending an extra few dollars on gas is an easy thing to get over. One less trip to Starbucks a week. Suffering from "I should've gotten the bigger engine" syndrome, however, is not.
#8560 of 10007 Re: S6 - the temporary king of the LPS class? [markcincinnati] by lexusguy Oct 11, 2006 (10:28 am)
Replying to: markcincinnati (Oct 11, 2006 4:47 am) 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.   What about refresh time, '08? I assume you're going to want some of that. Replies to this message: markcincinnati (Oct 11, 2006 1:19 pm) domenickamarc (Oct 11, 2006 3:36 pm)
#8561 of 10007 Re: Do any of the Japanese brands offer the jump to ludicrous speed (Dark H by lexusguy Oct 11, 2006 (10:32 am)
Replying to: purplem46 (Oct 11, 2006 9:41 am) 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'm not sure how much "luxo" the GT-R will have. Previous GT-R's have been all business on the inside. Then again, the same could be said about 911s previous to the 996 generation or so. Replies to this message: purplem46 (Oct 11, 2006 11:00 am)
#8562 of 10007 Re: Do any of the Japanese brands offer the jump to ludicrous speed (Dark H [lexusguy] by purplem46 Oct 11, 2006 (11:00 am)
Replying to: lexusguy (Oct 11, 2006 10:32 am) re the GTR: I'm assuming about as "luxo" as a BMW M car. Which like you say, is on the sparse side, with the exception of gadgetry.
#8563 of 10007 Re: S6 - the temporary king of the LPS class? [lexusguy] by markcincinnati Oct 11, 2006 (1:19 pm)
Replying to: lexusguy (Oct 11, 2006 10:28 am) That has been a recurring theme for me -- the '05 - '07 A6's (for instance) are very similar. My all optioned '05 does not have a backup camera.   Most of the '07's don't either, but it can be had.   A new '07 A6 configured as mine is would be almost impossible to pick out from a lot full of 05's - 07's.   New functions, features, safety, or whatever haven't come as quickly this cycle.   My previous Audis, on the other hand, did seem to come with more and more and more even when I would get them every other MY.   I was pumping gas the other day and a person came up to me and said how do you like your A6 -- he thought mine was either an '06 or '07, and he had just ordered an '07.   When I told him mine was an '05 he said, "it looks brand new."   It drives that way too.   Sure an '08 B8 A4 or Whatever A6 or BMW or Infiniti M35X or whatever it is called then, may be tempting -- if it brings something new to the table other than a new style.   I've come to the conclusion that only the very well informed even KNOW what MY they are looking at.   I try to keep up and it is difficult.   Can you really tell a 2005.5 A4 from an '07 A4, etc?   I look at the BMW's and have sometimes the same issues -- without a guidebook, I can't tell if it is a 2006 5 or a 2007 -- heck, I am not even sure if it might not be a 2005.   Only when the major body style comes along do I know for sure.   As I find myself aging, I find (somewhat in contradiction to my past behavior) some genuine fondness for my car even with 25K miles on it.   I have previously written about "the itch."   I am not saying I will not "itch again" -- I am noting a satisfaction with this vehicle that is a pleasant surprise.   Now that I have my new tires, I can't wait to drive it next.   Just like it was when it was at 0 miles.   This may pass.   This may pass.     Replies to this message: domenickamarc (Oct 11, 2006 3:36 pm)
#8564 of 10007 Re: S6 - the temporary king of the LPS class? [markcincinnati] by domenickamarc Oct 11, 2006 (3:36 pm)
Replying to: markcincinnati (Oct 11, 2006 1:19 pm) According to Road and Track ... "Late in 2009 Audi will launch a 4-door coupe similar to the Mercedes CLS. It will use an all-new Modular Longitudinal Platform (MLP) that will eventually be used on all new Audis from A4 upward...Engine choices will include a new V-6 and a V-8, power ranging from 300-500 bhp (the latter being the S7 version) and prices ranging from $50,000-$100,000."   Just to make it harder for the itch to pass
#8565 of 10007 What is alreday being done with the Audi 2.0T by sfcharlie Oct 11, 2006 (9:30 pm)
Tuner MTM has put together an MTM-TT where the 2.0 TFSI, after being souped up by MTM, outputs at least 245 bhp (355 Nm at 1,850 rpm). In addition to this, MTM offers 250 (363 Nm/1,850 rpm), 272 (370 Nm/1,850 rpm), and a 313 bhp (395 Nm/ 3,230 rpm) versions.
#8566 of 10007 press request by kirstie_h HOST Oct 12, 2006 (10:07 am)
A reporter from a large daily newspaper is looking to speak to Mercedes-Benz owners in the Washington DC area about the expectations you have with the car when you purchase it and any problems you’ve had to deal with. Please provide your daytime contact info to ctalatiedmunds.com no later than Monday, October 16, 2006.
#8567 of 10007 CR shapes the American dream by domenickamarc Oct 13, 2006 (5:33 am)
Although, as one recent post pointed out, CR isn't as simple-minded in its "ratings" of cars as it sometimes seems, or as sometimes is alleged (for example, they often rate the Passat first or second on family sedan list, despite its not being near top of their reliability scoring), nonetheless, I believe there are enough people who are mostly swayed by the reliability ratings themselves or by CR's "recommendations". When CR puts a group of cars together and says: "we recommend you buy this one, in fact, it's the only one in the group that we recommend," that's a powerful market force.   For example, CR has a category "ultra-performance & luxury sports cars". The category includes everything from Porsche 911 Carrera S to BMW 650i coupe to Cadillac XLR Base. The only car they recommend in this class is the $65,0000 Lexus SC, which they find to have "handling that feels no more agile than on ordinary sedan," with "a harsh ride that doesn't befit a luxury car," and overall performance that makes it not "game for driving with enthusiasm."   If a CR reader was considering venturing into one of these "ultra-performance & luxury sports cars," to whatever extent they were influenced by CR, they'd probably tend to back off and not buy any of the cars. The magazine's rhetoric, which is the total deciding factor for a significant number of car buyers who have described their decision-making to me, has made a big contribution to a mind-change about cars: aim for 365 days of trouble-free, emotion-free driving and look elsewhere to be engaged with the world around you. Replies to this message: sfcharlie (Oct 13, 2006 7:31 am) lexusguy (Oct 13, 2006 12:44 pm) merc1 (Oct 15, 2006 9:04 pm) lexusguy (Oct 15, 2006 10:18 pm) and 8 more... carnaught (Oct 13, 2006 1:15 pm) lexusguy (Oct 13, 2006 2:20 pm) lansdownemike (Oct 13, 2006 1:21 pm) domenickamarc (Oct 13, 2006 7:03 pm) lexusguy (Oct 13, 2006 10:13 pm) and 1 more...

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