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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

#8965 of 10007 Re: Need advise on what to buy please! [houdini1] by uglybear Dec 30, 2006 (2:54 pm)
Replying to: houdini1 (Dec 30, 2006 12:34 pm) Totally agree - it is excellent offering at $41K. I did test drive it. Replies to this message: lexusguy (Dec 30, 2006 3:08 pm)
#8966 of 10007 Re: Need advise on what to buy please! [uglybear] by lexusguy Dec 30, 2006 (3:08 pm)
Replying to: uglybear (Dec 30, 2006 2:54 pm) Totally agree - it is excellent offering at $41K. I did test drive it.   I'm not sure thats true. I'd rather have an '06 Infiniti M for the same money.
#8967 of 10007 2007 M35X by jmc07 Dec 30, 2006 (8:04 pm)
Bought a Black on Black 2007 M35X in late September. I am extremely pleased with the car. Everything works. It is very comfortable. It roars. It certainly is not a laid back lux. I have a hard time not hitting it every time I am in it.   I give it an enthusiatic thumbs up.
#8968 of 10007 Re: Need advise on what to buy please! [houdini1] by psychh Dec 30, 2006 (9:54 pm)
Replying to: houdini1 (Dec 30, 2006 12:34 pm) I have had an RL for about 9 months, and I love the car more each day. Dealer has been outstanding and I have not had a single regret...I think we got a remarkable car that we would have clearly chosen over the usual competition even if it had not been a good $6,000 less. I don't know if snow driving is a consideration, but the SH-AWD is wonderful. I just recently had my first chance to drive the RL on snow, and it was simply terrific. (Note I do have snows on it - and they are expensive as only Pirelli makes a snow in the RL's unusual tire size, but given the bargain we got on the car I splurged!) Only downside I have seen with the RL is that it is strictly a 4 person car and trunk size is not great. But the technology has been flawless, we enjoy the style and the class of the interior, and I find the drive to be tight, fun, and powerful. Replies to this message: danny318 (Jan 02, 2007 6:49 am) allagaroo (Jan 02, 2007 7:37 am) lexusguy (Jan 02, 2007 8:06 am) and 2 more... lexusguy (Jan 02, 2007 7:52 am)
#8969 of 10007 Re: Need advise on what to buy please! by danny318 Jan 02, 2007 (6:49 am)
Replying to: psychh (Dec 30, 2006 9:54 pm) Thanks very much to all who have provided advise and insight. This past weekend I tested the Volvo S80 (AWD), Lexus GS350 (AWD), Caddy STS V8 (AWD), and the Mercedes ML320. The SUV was not really where I was looking, but the AWD combined with their new diesel had me interested. I still plan on checking out the Audi A6, Acura RL and the Infinity M class before making my choice.   The Volvo was a blast to drive and was very comfortable, the Lexus not as powerful, but just beautiful inside and out, the Caddy turned me off (rude salesperson, thumping noise on the front left, not thrilled with the styling either). The Merc was impressive...their new diesel was quiet and really jumped when you asked it to. Considering the mileage I'm faced with (35-40K per year) I'm leaning toward the diesel as I think it'll have a longer life span.   I'll be back with final decision by next week (for anyone who cares), and thank you all again for your time and thoughts.   Happy New Year Replies to this message: allagaroo (Jan 02, 2007 7:37 am) lexusguy (Jan 02, 2007 8:06 am) lansdownemike (Jan 02, 2007 8:58 am) markcincinnati (Jan 02, 2007 10:45 am) lexusguy (Jan 02, 2007 7:52 am)
#8970 of 10007 Re: Need advise on what to buy please! [danny318] by allagaroo Jan 02, 2007 (7:37 am)
Replying to: danny318 (Jan 02, 2007 6:49 am) You must have driven the S80 8 cylinder, right? The 303hp lexus is quick. Was the Volvo technology on a par with the Lexus? I don't like the idea that the Volvo AWD is based on front wheel drive and has FWD emphasis. Haven't driven it and I am interested in your comments after you drive the M. I've ruled out the RL. Right now I'm between the GS and the M35X.   Jerry Replies to this message: lexusguy (Jan 02, 2007 8:06 am) lansdownemike (Jan 02, 2007 8:58 am) markcincinnati (Jan 02, 2007 10:45 am)
#8971 of 10007 Re: Need advise on what to buy please! [danny318] by lexusguy Jan 02, 2007 (7:52 am)
Replying to: danny318 (Jan 02, 2007 6:49 am) Considering the mileage I'm faced with (35-40K per year) I'm leaning toward the diesel as I think it'll have a longer life span.   Considering its a 'Bama Mercedes, you're probably going to run into electrical problems and other issues LONG before any engine problems show up. If you like the ML, drive the X5. It's just a better car in every way. The FX35 is also worth looking at. Nissan VQs last forever.
#8972 of 10007 Re: Need advise on what to buy please! [allagaroo] by lexusguy Jan 02, 2007 (8:06 am)
Replying to: allagaroo (Jan 02, 2007 7:37 am) You must have driven the S80 8 cylinder, right? The 303hp lexus is quick. Was the Volvo technology on a par with the Lexus? I don't like the idea that the Volvo AWD is based on front wheel drive and has FWD emphasis.   Perhaps the S80's torque advantage makes it "feel" stronger off the line, but the GS350 is the faster car, at least to 60mph. With most AWD cars, you really can't tell where the torque is in normal driving conditions. The Volvo's system despite being almost entirely FWD still eliminates any torque steer, which is a big problem with their T5 FWD cars.   The only AWD cars in the class that are willing to oversteer like a RWD car are the M35x and the 530xi, although I haven't driven a GS AWD with VDIM turned off. Even then, it wouldn't be as fun or have the control of the M or 5. Replies to this message: lansdownemike (Jan 02, 2007 8:58 am) markcincinnati (Jan 02, 2007 10:45 am)
#8973 of 10007 Re: Need advise on what to buy please! [lexusguy] by lansdownemike Jan 02, 2007 (8:58 am)
Replying to: lexusguy (Jan 02, 2007 8:06 am) I'm sure you're right that it's the S80's torque. The V8 AWD really pulls in low rpms, and strangely enough, that's where I usually need it since I don't do track days. You're right about the lack of torque steer. In a 20 minute drive I felt none. Also, for me, the lack of RWD oversteer is just fine. After driving AWD and 4WD vehicles for 25 years, I really prefer the precision of going where I'm pointing without any "funny business," and it seems that the Volvo delivers that. (My X5 does that extremely well for an SUV.)
#8974 of 10007 Next thing you know, I'll be quoting Consumer's Reports -- naaa! by markcincinnati Jan 02, 2007 (10:45 am)
Replying to: lexusguy (Jan 02, 2007 8:06 am) I read with keen interest the C&D comparison of the three middle cars from Audi, BMW & Mercedes. The Mercedes won with a one point greater score than the Audi. The BMW brought up the rear.   As I read the article, I thought, "well for the money, the Audi almost could be called a bargain, if a car costing over $70,000 could ever be called that."   Then Motor Trend tests the same three cars and I was nearly certain the Audi would, this time, be a "close third place." I would still think, so I predicted, the Audi would be the "economy" car version of the German super-sedan (third place or no.)   What's this? Motor Trend, despite its conclusion that the Audi is the "least quick" of the three, declares the Audi the winner ahead of the BMW and the Mercedes.   Then, I read the text closely and I see a word that I find difficult to associate with almost ANY Audi (especially when there is a BMW in the mix) -- the word: "Balance."   The S6 has ~60% of its weight on the front end, the engine is ahead of the front wheels, it is a bit heavier, underpowered and AWD (although it IS Rear Biased AWD this time) -- how in the wide wide world of sports could the word balance(d) be part of the text used to describe this car?   You read it, thus far I can find no link to the article; but, nevertheless, there it is "balance" in English for all the world to see.   Next up, Consumer's Report on frequency of repair and mean time between disk drive crashes, etc.   Now, when I think balance, I do indeed think of a capability to "oversteer," more like a proper RWD car. Yet, with my hand and arm vertical, I CAN attest that at the Audi driving schools with 50 50 quattro cars (which is to say nose heavy and not exactly RWD biased), we get them going essentially in oval shaped turns, steered almost entirely with the throttle (a la RWD oversteering.)   What is this world coming to?   Now, in a perfect world (if ever one could be,) wouldn't there be some reason for grave concern on the other German's part, if Audi were to move its engine back (say just a few inches) and re-bias all TorSen diffs to 40/60 F/R?   Then, just for spite, if they decided to put two tiny turbos on their I4, V6, V8, V10 and V12 engines, and call them "R"S "whatevers." . . .I wonder what something like THAT would perform like?   Oh wait, they've decided to do all that -- and more (think Torque Vectoring Technology) in upcoming models.   The point of all this, besides some revelation of incredulity on my part (upon seeing both C7D and MT praise the new S6 so highly), was to remark that my personal experience (which, thus far has been with 50 50 F/R torque "splitted" quattros) with Audis is they will oversteer, wag their tails and powerslide around corners.   Perhaps you are correct that only the M35X and 530XI are the "only" LPS cars (here on edmunds) willing to oversteer. Perhaps my experience and some of these kind of reviews are the exceptions -- but I must confess to a bit of a grin developing upon reading the reviews of the über Audi A6.   Finally, having tested the M35X EXTENSIVELY before plunking down my deposit (even though I later cancelled and went with the A6), I am hereby proclaiming the M35X, Audi A6 q and the 530XI as "willing" driving partners, far more alike than different.   And, glad to know the Volvo despite being FWD biased has apparently tamed torque steer.   Which leads me again to declare, these guys all produce very fine, very similar LPS cars that even with disparate AWD systems and philosophies will, as a group, acquit themselves well against virtually all contenders.

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