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Sedans Luxury Lounge
21520 messages, Last post on Dec 08, 2009 at 10:26 AM
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Replying to: clembo (Dec 04, 2009 7:40 pm) All luxury cars could be accused of overpricing options. Yuz getz wahtz you payz for! Here is a snip it of a recent Panamer review. The six-digit price syndrome has crept quietly into the luxury-car market in the past few years. It is difficult to keep the price of a BMW 750Li or Mercedes S550, with a few options, under $100,000. Still, I was put off by the test car's $122,975 sticker. Granted, it had a lot of added features, but its overall feel was not commensurate with the price. Its performance was brisk but not breathtaking. The interior is luxurious, but gimmicky with its array of buttons. Its exterior styling is strong, but far from pretty -- I can think of no contemporary cars that share the Panamera's humpback aesthetic. Porsche is known for focusing more on its cars' engineering than its looks. But beauty is a reasonable expectation for customers who pay this much for a car. Its lack of it is yet another way the Panamera misses the mark. Porsce Sedan Now I know the 335i could outmaneuver this big baby, despite the RFT's and no oil dip stick! Regards, OW
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Replying to: dewey (Dec 04, 2009 8:38 pm) To an extent that's true, and MB was actually leading the way towards over-computerized madness a few years ago, but I think BMW now firmly holds that title. To be clear, when I say "computer with wheels", I'm not talking about NAV or media systems, LCD screens, etc. The M5 has a bunch of dumb functions that only seem to serve to make the car worse. Not one of the seven adjustable transmission settings make the transmission smooth or enjoyable to use. Maybe rather than giving the driver seven transmission choices and 400, 500, and 500 "Sport" engine power choices, BMW should've spent the time making the car as good as the one it replaced. That car had no transmission aggressiveness controls and no power settings. The power settings control was the throttle. The Jag XFR still gets it. The M5 just doesn't. It's so obsessed with computers and options and choices that it forgot how to be enjoyable to drive. |
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Replying to: circlew (Dec 05, 2009 5:37 am) I pretty much agree with the Panamera review, I drove one about a month ago which stickered about $120K as well. I was actually very impressed with the way the car felt, more than I thought I would be. But thinking about the $120K price combined with having to cringe every time you look at the rear of the car makes it a tough proposition for me. I also agree with your point that the lux cars have high option prices, my IPod point on the 7 was more around - when will this stop? If BMW is going to charge the same $400 for a cheap IPod wire to people who buy a 128i and people who will buy their $106K Hybrid 7, that doesn't show a lot of respect towards their best customers. |
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Replying to: lexusguy (Dec 05, 2009 7:03 am)  Gotta luv it! Regards, OW |
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Replying to: dewey (Dec 04, 2009 8:54 pm) If Motorsport wants to be another AMG, that's certainly their prerogative. If I recall correctly though, BMW deliberately kept the M badge off of the old X5 4.6is and 4.8is because they didn't want it to be like the performance brand that will slap their name on the R-class and G-class to make a quick buck selling over-powered super trucks to idiots. I don't think Audi would ever do a Q7-RS. They could prove me wrong of course, but at this point it still seems like the RS brand is purely about enthusiast machines, which is what M used to be. |
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Replying to: lexusguy (Dec 05, 2009 7:03 am) Different configuartion settings which makes the driver more in control in terms of choosing what types of modes of driving styles is this new phenemona that exists not only in a BMW M5 but also in the more humble machine called the Subaru WRX sti. It's stupid I agree but welcome to the 21st century this is the "it thing" in terms of driving premium priced cars which are not neccessarily more fun to drive than more humble and less expensive and more dated performance cars. The best configuaration for any performance car is a manual stick. The computer guys will never be able to figure out a better configuation then that (DSG eat your heart out). Having said that enen in my Prius I sit there wondering what the hell is all the hullabaloo about the new EV mode button. I can drive my car on battery power by the way I press the pedals and the way I choose to drive without even pressing that silly EV button. Also there is a "B setting on the transmission" that uses the brake to recharge the battery. I haven't read the literature in depth but this choice IMO is totally useless when I can choose to engage the brake myself by pressing the brake whenever I go downhill and that in itself will recharge the battery. Why on earth do I need to choose "B" when there is a brake pedal to begin with? Pardon me for not correcting some of the grammitical mistakes above since right now I am pressed for time.
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Replying to: dewey (Dec 05, 2009 8:37 am) It's not that I'm necessarily against the idea entirely, I just think that the core aspects of the car should be worked out first. Recent Audis work with or without Drive Select because the transmission and throttle response have been properly sorted by the engineers first. The Q5 isn't unbearable to drive unless you have DS in comfort mode, but that option is there if you want it. BMW should've first figured out how to make the SMG usable in daily traffic, and then worked on the seven settings you can customize. |
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Replying to: dssxxxx (Dec 04, 2009 5:23 am) The A3 TDI is already available, and it won the "LA Auto Show Green Car" award. The Q5 Hybrid should be arriving mid-2010. So, it is on its way, though a Q5 TDI would be much better than any hybrid. |
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Replying to: dewey (Dec 05, 2009 8:37 am) Don't forget the Nissan GT-R. Such cars are built to appeal to the "Playstation generation." I am part of the older sect of that generation, somewhat, but I despise all that gee-whiz gimcrackery. Some people just love tinkering with stuff. Even in the computer market, there is a whole sect dedicated to overclocking and overclocking tools and equipment. Those guys spend more time trying to beat an overclock benchmark than actually using the computers!  Anyway, just give me a powerful car with a smooth, responsive engine (V8 preferably), a manual transmission and a well sorted out suspension, and I'm happy. No need for a bazillion buttons and dials to change this and that or "active roll stabilization." Just build a good car!! |
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