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Performance Oriented Factory Tuner Automobiles

151 messages,  Last post on Jan 30, 2012 at 4:24 AM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

What is this discussion about? Cadillac CTS-V, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, BMW M3, Acura TL, Audi S4, Audi S6, Mercedes-Benz C36 AMG, Lexus IS-F, Audi R8, Coupe, Convertible, Sedan

Messages Page 16 of 16

#143 of 151 Reply to Page 1, Post 15 of this thread by kywildcat

Dec 04, 2007 (11:30 pm)

Replying to: robbieg (Dec 01, 2006 8:19 am)
You got it exactly right, best-to-worst: "In order, Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, BMW and Lincoln."
 
The Lincoln was designed with a compass and a straightedge. Their over-the-hill designers can put their pencils away already. "No more graph paper for you." I would be insulted if Lincoln tried to sell me their interior as entry-level luxury. Just look at that get-up.
 
The BMW's redesign took the car from the 80's to the 90's. The orange backlighting looks cheap, and the over-simplistic dash has no character. BMW's are beautiful on the outside, but they make me frown when I get inside, like a VW bag lady wrapped in a fur coat.
 
The empty chrome space on the Infiniti dash, combined with the cutouts and small climate controls, are disproportionate, the same problem you'd have putting 14" wheels on one of these cars. They took some cues from the Infiniti M, but did not execute it as well. What's up with those vertical vents? Looking at the car on the showroom floor, the exterior of the Infiniti G is more power than luxury. If you want luxury, keep moving.
 
The Acura is nice (I actually preferred the TSX interior to the TL, since I liked the wood trim strip arcing across the mid-dash). I almost bought the TSX. It's nice that their cars come loaded, with NAV as the only option, which works for me. The blue/white backlighting is beautiful. The TSX is the best bang-for-the-buck.
 
The Lexus is the best of the lot. My IS250 AWD is on special order for the Mark Levinson audio option. The car will come with every bell and whistle except NAV, which isn't worth $3K, but I'll miss the touch-screen climate controls--pure eye candy. All other entry-level luxury cars (and many more expensive cars) seemed to be missing items I'd want in my car for the next 10 years: hands-free entry (no keys or fob button pushing), pushbutton start, multi-level heated and cooled seats, HID/adaptive lights, electrochromatic rear/side mirrors, real wood trim, AWD--you know, the little things that help boost my carbon score. Even the steering wheel automatically raises/lowers for easy access. Lexus does have the best leather seats, and I can't wait to get my hands around that leather-wrapped steering wheel -- pure happiness. I'm also getting a clear bra and tint, dealer-installed, everything for $35K plus 6% tax. My only quibble with their layout is that the speedometer should be on the right side where it belongs. The only car I'd replace it with in the next few years would be an IS convertible.
 
Lexus has more luxury prestige (for me) than any of the cars in this group. From day one, Lexus earned their luxury reputation at a value price over the Euro luxury brands. I would be concerned about owning a MB past the initial warranty, and the trips to the shop for days/weeks would be unacceptable anyway. The price of adding every separate option to get all the bells and whistles puts their cheaper cars into the $50K+ range. I prefer Japanese reliability and price-points. I want trouble-free luxury.
 
I never made it to Audi, Saab or Volvo--maybe next time, maybe not. Those guys have always been collected together (in my mind) as faceless, boring, fringe, "rumoured" automakers to anyone from the States. However, the A4 (or A6) I recently saw was sweet as it drove by. But I had already finished my search before seeing it. They probably need more dealerships and should have been making more-noticeable cars all along.

#144 of 151 Re: Reply to Page 1, Post 15 of this thread [kywildcat] by pat

Dec 05, 2007 (2:40 am)

Replying to: kywildcat (Dec 04, 2007 11:30 pm)
Welcome to CarSpace!

#145 of 151 IS interior by ajvdh

Dec 07, 2007 (3:56 pm)

Hmm. A center stack that looks just like the rental Camry I had last September, gaudy Tokyo-by-night instrument cluster, fake looking veneer around a "we stole this from Mercedes" shifter, and door panels that look like they were copied from the '95 M3 I used to own. Yeah, that reeks of "luxury prestige."

#146 of 151 Mitsubishi Dealerships by ml16

Dec 08, 2007 (10:15 am)

Hi folks-
I'm a retired and disabled Army Sergeant Major that simply refuses to die, on that happy note...
 
I have the misfortune (for the moment) of living in the Northern Virginia/DC area and the uber-rich kids at Yahoo have no problem spending an additional $899 for pin striping and a tank of gas.
 
Can anyone recommend a dealership North or South of Virginia by, let's say, one state?
 
Lastly, are they taking deposits on the Evos yet?
 
Many thanks & Happy Holidays,
Mike Maggio

#148 of 151 Just a curiosity question. by 93buicklesabre

Mar 31, 2010 (7:35 pm)

I found a 1999 Mercedes Benz C43 AMG at a local dealer in my area. I am wondering if it is worth 8900 dollars. The reason I ask is because it has 132000 miles on it but it seems that the car has had everything done at the Mercedes Benz dealer from when it was new. I was wondering if that is too much for that car? Please guys I would love to hear your responses and tell me what you think. Thanks

#149 of 151 Re: Just a curiosity question. [93buicklesabre] by steveaccord

Jan 30, 2012 (4:24 am)

Replying to: 93buicklesabre (Mar 31, 2010 7:35 pm)
I see you never got an answer ....... surely it will not help you any longer but it could be something others may be curious about.....so almost 2 years late I will try to address your question....
Powertrains are generally engineered to last into the 150k miles range so a vehicle with 132k under its belt is left with one or 2 years of 'quasi' dependable service.
The 'quasi' is there to flag that any aged vehicle, even those aged well as in dealer serviced (if you believe that the 2 go hand in hand), is an unknown when it comes to the maintenance/repairs cost.
To be sure Mercedes was known to build some of the cars with great longevity, but that was decades ago and I would not expect a vehicle like the one you are eyeing to come without long...costly....strings attached....plus you would be set back 10 years when it comes to safety related technologies sitting in an already stressed chassis.

Messages Page 16 of 16

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