Ask the Car People.SM


Luxury Performance Sedans

10339 messages,  Last post on May 30, 2013 at 3:26 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 895 of 1035

#8937 of 10339 Re: Our second new car [lexusguy] by markcincinnati

Dec 15, 2006 (1:46 pm)

Replying to: lexusguy (Dec 15, 2006 12:33 pm)
We drove the 2007 X3 with every option EXCEPT nav and this time we drove the 6speed auto.
 
The power and performance with the sport package and the 19" wheels and tires were, er, "inspirational."
 
The new interior was way nicer than my wife's 2005 and the car was quieter and fantastically powerful up a test hill we have coined "BMW hill."
 
I could take the auto trans in this little dude without hesitation -- must be the power of the uprated engine.
 
Woo Woo!

#8938 of 10339 Re: Our second new car [markcincinnati] by sfcharlie

Dec 15, 2006 (3:12 pm)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Dec 15, 2006 1:46 pm)
Mark,
 
In one of my early posts (maybe in the spring) when I first started posting on this forum, I mentioned in passing that I had been driving a BMW 3-series and referred to it as a luxury car. You were dramatic in your confrontation, emphasizing that if BMW had convinced me that a 3-series was a luxury car, then they had done a great sell job. Do your recent comments represent a change in thinking about that?
 
Charlie

#8939 of 10339 Re: Our second new car [sfcharlie] by warthog

Dec 15, 2006 (8:08 pm)

Replying to: sfcharlie (Dec 15, 2006 3:12 pm)
The current 3-series is nearly as large in interior volume as the 5-series was when this board was born. It's L is at least equal and the P is considerably greater. So, why isn't the 3 an LPS?
 
I have an E39 530 that I love and would gladly trade for a new 330 or (lustfully) a 335.

#8940 of 10339 Re: Our second new car [sfcharlie] by markcincinnati

Dec 15, 2006 (10:45 pm)

Replying to: sfcharlie (Dec 15, 2006 3:12 pm)
The 3 series and the X3 (sort of) are entry level luxury vehicles. The BMW family continues to advance the BMW way of presenting luxury.
 
IMHO the most lux oriented BMW today is the new X5, yes even over the 7's.
 
I really like the new X3 and the new 335 coupe.
 
When you have a Lexus and an Audi A6 interior to compare a car to, the 3 series cannot be a true lux car, despite its many features.
 
BMW's are NOT high on style nor interiors that make you exclaim "oooooo, ahhhhh, wow." That and the overall entry level lux category (which is discussed here on edmunds blogs) seem to still nicely define BMW's 3 AND X3.
 
The new X3 is quite a fine "entry level luxury" vehicle, and especially at the mo pay on a lease for what can easily be a $50K SAV.

#8941 of 10339 "Large Sedans for Under $30,000 Comparision" by sfcharlie

Dec 15, 2006 (11:02 pm)

"BMW's are NOT high on style nor interiors that make you exclaim "oooooo, ahhhhh, wow." That and the overall entry level lux category (which is discussed here on edmunds blogs) seem to still nicely define BMW's 3 AND X3."
 
By the same token, Edmunds has a forum titled "Large Sedans for Under $30,000 Comparision" about which one could say that it quite nicely defines the collection of cars it included at its outset: "cars like the Buick Lucerne, Chevrolet Impala, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego, Hyundai Azera, Toyota Avalon, Nissan Maxima, Kia Amanti."

#8942 of 10339 Narrowing the field by voxboy

Dec 18, 2006 (12:27 pm)

If anyone can help me narrow the playing field, that would be great.
 
For production years 2002 - 2007, please state your opinion on what you consider the best pick using the following criteria in order of importance:
 
1. Safety
2. Reliability
3. General Performance
4. Performance on slippery roads

#8943 of 10339 Re: Narrowing the field [voxboy] by markcincinnati

Dec 18, 2006 (3:00 pm)

Replying to: voxboy (Dec 18, 2006 12:27 pm)
Are you looking for maximum or optimum?
 
Are you looking at #1 as a "deal breaker" and #2 as less of a deal breaker?
 
What does the ranking of "performance on slippery roads" have to do with the [broader] "safety" trait? I would assume if #1 was safety that your current #4 would have been your #2, that is.
 
Again, "general performance," [I would argue] is a significant contributing factor to the overall safety of a car, yet reliability trumps "general performance."
 
Does this, then, suggest "safety" is more or less a "crashworthy" metric than overall safety suggests [to me]?
 
I read your list and try not to figure out the rationale for the order of your criteria and my knee jerk reaction would be to perhaps suggest an all wheel drive Volvo of some middle or big size (in the Volvo lineup.) I guess I would suggest it be equipped with either a turbo motor or a V8 and either be CPO'd or brand new with a warranty extension "just in case."
 
Whew, this is a somewhat difficult question, especially given your criteria's numeric ranking. And, to further exacerbate the situation, you have asked this to be, apparently, listed by car for a period spanning 6 different model years.
 
Perhaps a Japanese marquis would pass "reliability" with flying colors, but not be #1 in Safety nor be particularly high performing "generally."
 
Perhaps a Mercedes would acquit itself well in 1,3, & 4 and not so much in #2.
 
The new A6 was one of 13 "most safe" cars -- period -- and the report was issued within the past month or so. Yet, before the 2005 model year (notably 2002 into 2003, the Audi reliability was not as high as the others, but the car was completely covered for 50,000 miles with a full on free maintenance and warranty protection.) And since most A6's were awd and many many many were turbos or V8's, well performance -- generally and on slippery roads -- was up there. But in some years the best performing on dry pavement, by far far far, was the car with the blue and white propeller. Not so much when conditions were slippery unless you got one of the X-drive versions, but they have not been around in that configuration for as many years as your date range demands.
 
BMW, also a favorite for General Performance and, with X drive, Performance on slippery roads. BMW's -- some at least -- pass the safety ratings of the insurance institute. BMW reliability of late has gotten up there, but they still are nowhere near as reliable in some of those early years you list as some of the LPS Japanese makes.
 
If safety is the #1, go look up the cars that have made the safety list for each of the past 5 or so years. List them.
 
Then pick ones with at least 5 speed auto transmissions or with stick shifts (available); make certain they have high hp and/or high torque engines, within reason, the number of cylinders is important, but not the end all be all answer to your quest.
 
How about this: the car must have at least 5 cylinders and at least 250 HP and similar torque (assuming it is an LPS or LPS-wannabe sedan.)
 
If you could narrow your years that you are considering, that could go a long way for helping someone give you an informed (but still biased) opinion.
 
With your ranking, I'd still have to strongly consider the Volvo 60 or 80 series w/AWD and the Turbo motors or a V8 if new enough -- leaving all other subordinate traits as you have them listed.
 
Help us help you by further narrowing and/or clarification.
 
To me, performance (within reason) IS a safety characteristic.

#8944 of 10339 Re: Narrowing the field [voxboy] by lexusguy

Dec 18, 2006 (3:15 pm)

Replying to: voxboy (Dec 18, 2006 12:27 pm)
For production years 2002 - 2007, please state your opinion on what you consider the best pick using the following criteria in order of importance:
 
2002 - 2007 is a VERY large range of cars. That covers two generations of the RL, GS, M, 5, A6, and S80.
 
If you are considering buying one of these cars, you first need to narrow down how much you want to spend. The difference between a used '02 LPS and a new '07 can be $30K or more.

#8945 of 10339 Re: Narrowing the field [voxboy] by domenickamarc

Dec 19, 2006 (6:48 am)

Replying to: voxboy (Dec 18, 2006 12:27 pm)
Two questions:
 
Does your question imply that you're open to buying any car? No aesthetic, test-drive, or previous ownership experiences, nor even things you've read, have narrowed down the field in your mind?
 
Are you interested exclusively in cars in this LPS category (e.g. a Volvo S80 but not an S60, or Infintii M, but not a G35)?

#8946 of 10339 All Wheel Drive Comparison by allagaroo

Dec 19, 2006 (7:10 am)

I had a 2000 A6 2.7T and have a 2003 coming off lease in March. They've been great in snow and wet conditions. Because of the secure feeling they have given me I'm only looking at all-wheel drive cars to replace it. In all the professional and personal reviews I have read I have seen very little comparing the all wheel drive systems in rain and snow between the M35X, 530Xi, GS 350, RL and E350. Right now I'm leaning to the M35X but would like to know how it compares in inclement conditions to the other cars. Can anyone give me any insight into this? Thanks

Messages Page 895 of 1035

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