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Sedans Luxury Lounge
21519 messages, Last post on Dec 07, 2009 at 6:26 PM
You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: tagman (Jun 29, 2009 8:01 pm) Right. LS460 AWD, or LS460L AWD.
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Replying to: blckislandguy (Jun 29, 2009 6:28 pm) Yeah, I know. It's too bad Mercedes doesn't make AWD versions of their AMG cars, as the AMG S class has always had steep depreciation, and an S63 would close the acceleration gap significantly. An '08 is less than $90K. For me, I just can't imagine a situation where I would need more than the S8's 450hp. The S8 also looks crisp and modern compared to the somewhat (IMO) bulbous and doughy Spur, and the Spur's interior reminds me too much of the bad old days that Jaguar will be leaving behind with the new XJ. The materials are very nice sure, but there's too much of that "ye olde Arnage" look in there. 
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From what I heard Bentley use Yokohama Advans in Spurs because it's the only one that can be pumped up at such high pressure to withstand super high-speed driving. Regardless, I don't think Spur is a good purchase. Sure it looks cool, classy outside and so darn luxurious inside, but imagine the maintenance costs. Makes me shiver just thinking about it, and Spurs around my area (unlike it's sibling Continental GT) tend to have myriad minor problems. Minor in problem, hefty in price. Just my 2 cents. 
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Replying to: dewey (Jun 29, 2009 10:41 am) I know how you feel. Years ago I had simply had it with Mercedes and their service. I was done with what was at the time the luxury brand. I just wanted a spacious, comfortable car with big leather seats that would work like it was supposed to, and a dealer service department that did not act like they were doing me a favor by pretending to fix my car yet again. The LS400 was that car. Sure it looked boring and was boring, but it got the job done, day in and day out. An XJ or 7 would've been just as likely to be a nightmare as my Mercedes, and I wasn't willing to go down that road again. I was satisfied with the LS and its LS430 replacement for quite awhile, but eventually I wanted a bit of fun from my daily driver again. I'm still generally not interested in Mercedes products (partly because of my history with them and partly because I just don't like their designs), and I suspect you may feel the same towards BMW for quite awhile. However, you may find in 5 years, 10 years, or sometime down the line as I did, that you have an interest in cars again and the Prius is no longer enough.
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Replying to: lexusguy (Jun 30, 2009 12:32 am) I am shocked at your perspective. I would have thought that the requirement for AWD would have put the Audi S8 so far at the top, it would have ruled out an LS entirely... yet you put the LS on top of the S8. Personally, I admit I did not consider an AWD LS to be a worthy AWD candidate anywhere near the same league as an S8. Heck, I even thought about BMW AWD, but I still put the S8 first. Interesting you recommended an LS. After you bought your own LS, you eventually needed more than it could deliver. I usually understand your point of view, but I don't get it this time. I still think the S8 is the obvious standout recommendation,... by a country mile. The S8's exterior style, interior style, and performance all blow the LS off the map. TM
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Replying to: tagman (Jun 30, 2009 4:59 am) Well, I ranked them first and foremost in order of what I think would be the smartest choice for somebody who wants to keep the car 8-9 years and for 100K miles. AWD really isn't even a factor in that equation. If somebody says to me: "I wan't to buy a full size luxury car, and I want to keep it for 10 years, what should I buy?" my answer is going to be Lexus LS every time. It's not my favorite car, or what I would buy, or anything like that. And I certainly recognize that the S8 kills it in just about everything - except long term durability. Over a typical 3 year or even an extended 6 year ownership period the rankings would be very different. When we're talking 10 years and 100K miles though, long term durability becomes very important. If I were going to buy an S8, it would be a two year old CPO, I'd keep it for four years, and then sell it. Partly because I wouldn't want to own one out of warranty, and partly because Audi has stuff coming up like the A7 and the D4 generation A8, and I'd be looking to trade up.
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Replying to: lexusguy (Jun 30, 2009 5:33 am)  TM
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Replying to: tagman (Jun 30, 2009 5:45 am) Hahaha. The boring choice starts to look pretty attractive when the S8 turns into Dewey's 335i a year out of warranty. That's the risk, and why I think the best route is to let the S8 lose $30K of value before buying it, drive it for 3-4 years, and repeat the process. That way you still get to have a fun car, minimize the risk, and get a car with reasonably fresh shocks, weather seals, etc. Also, super pricey items like the $6K B&O stereo are essentially worthless in the CPO cars, which is definitely a nice bonus.
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Replying to: lexusguy (Jun 30, 2009 3:55 am) June 3 (Bloomberg) -- Bayerische Motoren Werke AG’s U.S. chief said its BMW brand, leading Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus in U.S. sales through May, has a “good opportunity” to unseat the Japanese automaker as the top seller of luxury autos. “It is a good opportunity for us to obtain No. 1 this year,” Jim O’Donnell, president of BMW of North America LLC, said in a Bloomberg Television interview today. “I think there is a good possibility that we will do that.” Lexus has held the top spot in annual U.S. luxury sales since 2000. A loss of that ranking would be another blow for Toyota City, Japan-based Toyota, which posted its first full- year loss in 59 years for the period that ended in March. Full article: Luxury Lead Regardless of the perceptions, BMW seems to have a better formula. Lexus is tops on quality but not even close with performance. Lexus is following close to Buick and better make some changes....FAST.  Toyota is a hurting corp. at this time. Hyundai has the best marketing campaign of any car firm out there. Now they want to lock in customers at $2.49/gallon of gas guaranteed as they bet the price will rise to $3.00/gal. in the U.S. Pretty savvy stuff on top of the assurance program. They are leading and others merely following. BMW at least gives free maintenance before you have to dump the cars! Lexus would do well to follow that immediately. Regards, OW
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Replying to: lexusguy (Jun 30, 2009 6:29 am) Well, LG, then THAT sounds like a MUCH better recommendation than the LS. 100,000 miles in superb increments. BTW, AT&T cell coverage absolutely sucks here in Malibu. Going to the Sprint store today or tomorrow.  Might have to settle for the Pre. Don't know what else to do. TM
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