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Luxury Performance Sedans

10338 messages,  Last post on May 01, 2013 at 3:12 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 946 of 1035

#9446 of 10338 Re: choosing the right luxury car [markcincinnati] by rjlaero

Sep 10, 2007 (11:07 am)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Sep 09, 2007 3:17 pm)
I have a 2006 A6 4.2, and it's an awesome car. Audi's V8 is such a sweet engine. It's got amazing purr to it that makes me actually want to turn the radio off and hear the engine as I run thru the gears. I've been in a lot of high end BMW's and 400 plus HP AMG Mercedes', and none of them are as satisfying as sitting behind the wheel of a V8 Audi. At least not for me. There's more to it than whose car is fastest from 0-60.
 
The 3.2 A6 is nice, but it's a bit underpowered 255hp. It's a totally different driving experience between the V6 and the V8 A6.
 
When comparing 60k cars, the 4.2 A6 is probably the best bang for the buck out there. You can easily spend 5-7k more more on a comparably equipped AWD BMW or MB.
 
But everybody seems to want lease deals, and the A6 isn't the car to buy beacuse of a low lease payment. From the sales figures I see, Audi really doesn't seem to worry about how many A6's they're selling in the US market. It's not the best "deal" out there, but certainly near the top of best cars in that category.

#9447 of 10338 Re: what to do [circlew] by lexusguy

Sep 10, 2007 (2:13 pm)

Replying to: circlew (Sep 10, 2007 10:16 am)
Perhaps they should bring back the Legend.
 
The Legend never really went away. When the Legend became the RL in '96, it was still the Honda Legend in Japan. The problem was what they did to the car. The original Legend was low and sleek, and it had great steering for a FWD car. Sales were great. In '96, they decided to go after the LS400, by turning the RL into a boring luxo-cruiser with loads of body roll, ultra-light, ultra-numb steering, and styling that copied the LS.
 
Unfortunately the LS was already a copy of the S-class, so the RL was a slow, boring, weak V6 powered FWD copy of a copy. Sales absolutely tanked, and never recovered. It took Acura nine years to come up with a replacement for their colossal failure, and that replacement turned out to be a colossal failure. Acura just doesn't seem to understand the mid-lux category.

#9448 of 10338 Re: what to do [lexusguy] by circlew

Sep 11, 2007 (4:00 am)

Replying to: lexusguy (Sep 10, 2007 2:13 pm)
Good information, I did not know that. It amazes me of the corporate decisions at some car companies.
 
Regards,
OW

#9449 of 10338 All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi by lynnminny

Sep 12, 2007 (11:24 am)

Need some opionions from others about tires. Looking at the 2008 535xi. Am getting the sport pkg, so the car will have 18" tires. I do not want to have to buy winter and summer tires so am trying to find a very good all season tire that will work for both. Am in a snowy area so need something that handles well in the winter.
 
The BMW salesman has suggested a Kumho all-season tire or a Michelin all-season tire. Of course, he got this info. from a tire guy that his dealership uses and he did not know which Michelin tire the guy was talking about.
 
I have heard from other auto blogs that the Nokian WR is a superb all season tire and does very well in the snow.
 
Any opinions??
 
One other thing--- I love the front end of the 550, but need the all-wheel drive. For $4500 the dealer will install that sport grille on the 535xi that is on the 550. Seems a bit pricey to me!
 
I cannot wait to get rid of my 2005 Acura RL--- it is so boring and has had a lot of glitches that require us taking it back to the dealer on a regular basis. Very disappointing car. It is our 3rd Acura and the quality is not the same as our previous Acuras.

#9450 of 10338 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [lynnminny] by kyfdx HOST

Sep 12, 2007 (11:32 am)

Replying to: lynnminny (Sep 12, 2007 11:24 am)
The 535xi should come with all-season tires, even if you get the sport package..
 
Only the RWD models come with summer tires..
 
(I'm pretty sure.. but, you should check)

#9451 of 10338 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [kyfdx] by lynnminny

Sep 12, 2007 (3:41 pm)

Replying to: kyfdx (Sep 12, 2007 11:32 am)
The salesman told me that it comes with high-performance tires that would not work here during the winter even with the all-wheel drive.
 
So-- guess I'm not sure at this point:)

#9452 of 10338 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [lynnminny] by lexusguy

Sep 12, 2007 (4:07 pm)

Replying to: lynnminny (Sep 12, 2007 11:24 am)
I do not want to have to buy winter and summer tires so am trying to find a very good all season tire that will work for both. Am in a snowy area so need something that handles well in the winter.
 
I highly recommend the Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position. Tire Rack rated them #2 behind Pilot Sport A\S in the dry, and #1 in the wet, and they are a lot more affordable than the Michelins. I've been using them on my LS lately, they are fantastic. Very quiet, and brilliant in the rain.

#9453 of 10338 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [lynnminny] by warthog

Sep 12, 2007 (4:07 pm)

Replying to: lynnminny (Sep 12, 2007 3:41 pm)
The BMWUSA website has the sport package coming with summer tires, with the appropriate caveat that they are not suitable for ice and snow.

#9454 of 10338 Re: All-Season Tires for BMW 535xi [lynnminny] by bruceomega

Sep 12, 2007 (4:22 pm)

Replying to: lynnminny (Sep 12, 2007 11:24 am)
lynnminny,
 
When I ordered my 535Xi this past May, the sport package by itself still comes with the standard 17" wheels and all season tires you get without the sport package.
 
If you do order the sport package, then you can also order optional 18" wheels which come with run flat summer performance tires.
 
If you go with the 18" wheels and tires, then based on my own experience, I do not recommend using the summer performance tires in winter driving conditions, notwithstanding AWD.
 
Thanks
Bruce

#9455 of 10338 Long test drive of MB S550 by topspin628

Sep 12, 2007 (4:54 pm)

So continuing my decision process, I took another look at the S550 (another poster earlier suggested that this would be the perfect car for me). It's beautiful and has a great presence.
The interior quality is first rate and the car feels very substantial. As for the drive, it was very smooth and quiet but it's a car that I'd rather be driven in than drive. It felt a bit heavy to me and wasn't fun to drive. It's one serious machine and I think they did a great job but it's not for me. I prefer the way the Jag XJ handled and drove.
It felt a bit sportier and was much lighter. The MB was like driving a limo. I also took a long spin in the LS 460. They did a great job on the body and I think everything is a half notch up from my LS 430 but they are still quite similar. Interesting that the salesman kept stressing that the "entire car is different" and that "nothing's the same as the last model." I got the idea that this was drilled into him as part of the speech. Maybe too many people feel that they are similar to the last model and therefore balk at paying 30% more (at least that's what the lease deal works out as). I mean, the last model is the epitome of smooth and quiet. How much smoother and quieter can it be? They aren't going for road feel. I would say that the brakes felt more responsive, the car felt a bit quicker, the ML stereo was a bit more powerful and the seats were more comfortable. And I like the new body style. But it's still evolution not revolution. They really over sold it when the marketing dept said that this intro would be as important as the first introduction of the LS400. They would be better off under-promising and over-delivering.

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