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Sedans Luxury Performance Sedans
9978 messages, Last post on Nov 02, 2009 at 1:30 PM
You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: tayl0rd (Sep 05, 2007 7:46 am) Good point. To clarify, my comment was intended to apply to the 535Xi in comparison to the M-45x, assuming the engine in the M-45x is the same as in the current M-45. Thanks Bruce |
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Replying to: tayl0rd (Sep 05, 2007 7:46 am) The conclusion? Who needs a V8 with a V6 THAT good. Ditto, I say, for the BMW with the 300HP turbo i6. I wouldn't think the lack of a V8 is the reason for the Acura's lackluster sales. If "magically" an Acura RL V8 would be brought out otherwise identical to the current 6 cylinder version, I seriously doubt there would be anything more than a temporary bump in sales. A V8 ALONE is not the street cred needed -- at least not anymore methinks. Sure, having the REPUTATION that goes with offering your cars with V8's or V10's or V12's doesn't hurt. But, MOST of the Audi A6's (90%) sold are V6's, the 535 + the lesser non blown 6 account for virtually all the sales of the BMW 5's too -- there are reasons, beyond offering a V8 that Acura can't give 'em away. My assumption is it is the product, the marketing, the sales organization, the price or the terms. And, while it could be argued that the product is lacking the option of a V8, I just don't buy that as the dominant reason for the Acura's lackluster sales. They've really cut the prices around here on the RL, and it is a very nice car. No one asked me, but if you did, I would say it is because the Acura RL is able to be mistaken for an Accord, er, make that EASILY mistaken. No V8 would fix that. So, it is the product that is at "fault." In this case, not the propulsion, but the style. Back in the day, when it was easy to call GM cars, Oldsmobuicks there were issues of differentiation too. Now, the issue of the M V6 being a last gen engine when compared to the G's, that, too, IMHO is a valid concern, not tied to the sheer number of cylinders. I have driven the BMW with the "35" engine -- WOW; who needs a V8 (and almost $10,000 more in cost)? |
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Sep 05, 2007 10:51 am)  It's clear that Honda doesn't really want to sell RLs. And I think the term you really want is Chevoldsmobuiac (shev-olds-mo-BYU'-ee-ack). 
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Replying to: tayl0rd (Sep 05, 2007 11:04 am) I agree the Accord-like RL is NOT going to make it until the style is drastically scaled to the target market. Regards, OW |
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Sep 05, 2007 10:51 am)
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Replying to: gohorns1 (Sep 05, 2007 5:49 pm)  The 535 is a fantastic driver's car that retains the magic of the BMW straight six... It is the 1st car to come along to make me even think about giving up my '03 e39SP! Still hanging on to mine for now, though. Gotta love those comfort seats with the SP Pkg too... |
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OK, so I'm getting down to the wire. I just got some prices on the BMW 535xi optioned up with all the goodies: Sport Package (on the xi the sp includes comfort seats,shadow line trim and sport steering wheel-no change in suspension which is fine with me),auto trans, logic 7, hud,cold weather, Prem Package, Ipod, Nav. The dealer's first shot out of the box was about 2800 over invoice which converts to a very good lease price for either 24 or 36 mos. As you may remember, I am ending my Lexus LS 430 lease, a car which I wound up getting by "default" because I just couldn't find anything else out there in my price range that "rang my bell". So after 3 flawless, comfortable and numbing years, I am again looking for the "gusto". I like the 5 series but it's not a "gotta have it" car for me. Sometimes when I get a car that I lust after, the honeymoon soon ends and the blemishes become apparent. With my last BMW 330i, I liked it and then the more I drove it the more I loved it. So maybe that will happen again with the 5 series. The 550i which leases at about 250 per month more (8K difference in price!) is a real looker because I really like the sport trim available (body moldings) but I worry that the sport suspension and the wider tires will make the ride too jarring on the lousy NY streets. Shipo,do you know if you can you get the body moldings on a 535? I don't want another LS especially since the new model is so similar in feel and costs substantially more than the one I have. The BMW 7 is in contention, but again I don't know if I can justify the price difference to the 5 and I really don't need the room, it's just that I've gotten used to a big car ride. Maybe I should try the 6? I love the looks and it is kind of a rare car- don't see too many around. It's expensive but to me it's kind of close in look and style to the Bentley GT, the car that I would drive if I won the lottery and if I could also have a Prius for my conscience. The Jag XJ8 can be had for a very good price these days. I love the look but it kind of drove like an Avalon or Buick to me. Maybe I'm missing something. I also don't think that the interior is anything special-not like the Jags I remember. But I do love that style and again it's not so common- except in SO. CAl where I saw a lot of them last week. Oh, and by the way, in Beverly Hills, it's all S Class all the time and very few LS460s. So the bottom line, doc, is that I need a car I can love for 15,000 miles a year in the congested NE where my average stint behind the wheel is about 2-2.5 hours per day. Yes, I want comfort, reliability, style and something special. I want to get excited every time I go into my garage just to sneak a peak at my ride and every time I fire up the engine. You guys understand; If you didn't you wouldn't be here at Edmunds. I admit it, I am a Car-aholic! Within 6 mos of my 3 year leases, I find myself wandering by car dealerships "just looking". Then about one year in, I actually go in and start taking test drives... It's horrible-but fun:) I want it all! Let the fun begin. Comments? (Be nice) |
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Replying to: topspin628 (Sep 06, 2007 6:59 pm) Regards, OW
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Replying to: circlew (Sep 07, 2007 3:57 am)
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Replying to: topspin628 (Sep 06, 2007 6:59 pm)
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