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Sedans Article Comments - Comparison Test: 2007-2008 Sport Sedans
475 messages, Last post on Jul 25, 2008 at 4:41 PM
You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
Comparison Test: 2007-2008 Sport Sedans - This is exactly why we gathered this group of sport sedans. That is, to find out if the 2008 Cadillac CTS, 2007 Infiniti G35 Sport, 2008 Lexus IS 350 or 2008 Mercedes-Benz C350 Sport can topple the Bavarian champ — the 2007 BMW 335i. In the spirit of the segment, each car in the test is outfitted with sport package hardware — usually a stiffer suspension and bigger wheels and tires — and an automatic transmission. (more)
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Replying to: drtravel (Dec 05, 2007 11:07 am) The last couple of posts illustrates differences in peoples priorities. I don't want any of that stuff and it's a postive that I don't have to spend money on items I don't want, to get the car I want. |
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Replying to: kdshapiro (Dec 06, 2007 8:06 am) Lexus sent MB back to the drawing board in part because they offered a comparable driving dynamics and luxury in a much more relaible package. And even if the discerning driver might find MB a bit better in the handling, steering and braking departments, most MB buyers were more luxury oriented than driving enthusiasts. Infiniti never threatened BMW's position as successfully as Lexus did Mercedes. Even today, with the G37 having impressive "objective" performance, most reviewers give BMW the nod for precision driving dynamics and subjective feel. When you go beyond the G37, Infiniti is far less competitive with BMW. The M35/45 can't even be ordered with a manual transmission and Bugatti sells more Veyrons than Infiniti sells Q45's. Gadgets and luxury amenties are great for those that want them. But how much are you are willing to compromise the driving dynamics of a car for a 24 speaker 800 watt stereo system and butt-cooling ventilated seats? I am sure there are a few Porsche engineers that would secretly like to return to manual roll up windows in the 911 just to filter out those "softies" that don't truly appreciate what the car is all about. BMW engineers, probably less so. But I sure as hell wouldn't want to see them prioritize gadgets over driving dynamics. |
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Replying to: habitat1 (Dec 07, 2007 6:20 am)
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Replying to: habitat1 (Dec 07, 2007 6:20 am) The M has won many more comparos than the 5-series since it's introduction. A variety of sources have come to this conclusion so it is definitely competitive. It can't compete with BMW based on sales but I'm not headed down that road. A large majority of the buying public wants an AT so the manual transmission craving is for a niche market only. How many BMWs (not ordered) are produced with mannies? Not that many. It's always curious that BMW owners tend to criticize the Infiniti the most - that says alot. Infiniti really needs a killer Q45 - they have been biding time with their current fiasco for way too long. prioritize gadgets over driving dynamics I'm not sure anyone actually put these "gadgets" ahead of driving dynamics. Some gadgets actually improve driving dynamics. Some new technologies are more beneficial than others and some car makers are more adapt at producing quality "gadgets" or have much better application of them. A friend and I each have recent model cars with Navigation, voice-control and back-up cameras. We both thought these gadgets were funky at best. Now after living with them for awhile we both agree that the Nav is useless, the jury is out on the voice-control, but we both agree that the back-up camera has proven to be far more beneficial than we had thought. I think it should be standard on all cars. Of course, we wish the manufacturers would stop forcing us to buy the nav to get the camera. Now it's funny to hear some criticize back-up cameras (or say who needs them?) who have never used them in their daily driving. If you actually had them in your vehicle, your perception of their value might be far different. How can you evaluate something you've never tried? |
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Replying to: louiswei (Dec 07, 2007 3:40 pm) |
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Replying to: drtravel (Dec 07, 2007 4:43 pm) Now it's funny to hear some criticize back-up cameras (or say who needs them?) That's me. I still do not want the added expense of a backup camera nor the repair costs when my bumper is hit. I would not pay extra for it. You can't tell me because you think it's important I should think it's important. If I had an Escalade I would get one. Nav I agree it's useless in a car, but very useful. I use VZNAV and can take it with me for $9.99/mo. Maybe a Tomcat for another car. |
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Replying to: drtravel (Dec 07, 2007 4:43 pm) No offense, but that statement is just plain bunk. Not only has the 5 series been dubbed the top premium sport sedan by just about every enthusaist magazine, the previous (pre-i-drive) model received the highest score ever given from, of all places, Consumer Reports. The Infiniti M engineers would collectively give their left wingnuts to have a fraction of the trophies in BMW's case. And when you look at the dramatic difference in residual values, it's pretty obvious that the M is not held in nearly as high regard as a used car: 2-3-4-5 year lease residuals from cars.com: BMW 535i: 65% - 53% - 43% - 35% Infiniti M45: 54% - 44% - 35% - 28% Nav is useless, the jury is out on the voice-control, but we both agree that the back-up camera has proven to be far more beneficial than we had thought. The relative value of gadgets is highly subjective and I respect your preference. Mine is the reverse. But we happen to have nav systems in all three of our vehicles (MDX, TL, 911), back up camara in the MDX and voice control in the MDX and TL. Certainly the back-up camara is handy when squeezing the MDX into a tight parking place. But I would never back up without checking over my shoulder as well and a camara in a car (not SUV) is, IMO, unnecessary. With navigation, I have saved countless hours rerouting around traffic jams in unfamiliar areas, been able to venture off the highways for a scenic route, and found quick routes to destinations that would have been a bear to figure out on the fly. Back when we first bought our MDX, we were returning to DC on the PA turnpike when the traffic started slowing for an accident ahead. We could see the Medivac Helicopter landing and knew we were in for a long one. To make matters worse, one of our daughters was sick. We shot off the exit and went through God's country on dirt roads that eventually took us back to the Turnpike 15 miles down from the accident in less than 45 minutes. That night, on the news, we learned that the Turnpike was closed for over 6 hours. The backroad route we took to get back to the Turnpike wasn't on the road atlas we used to carry. This summer, on a vacation to the Finger Lakes, we did 300 miles of sightseeing and wine country touring that we improvised as we went, without any fear of getting seriously lost. Five years ago, I would have been driving, my wife would have been holding a map upside down blocking part of the windshield and when we finally reached a vineyard, I would have been asking for a shot of vodka. I'm still capable of looking over my shoulder, but I'm not capable of jumping 5 miles up into the air, getting a birds eye view of a 20 mile radius and picking a new route before I land. So I'll take Nav over a back up camara.
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| There are a whole lotta off-topic vehicles floatin' around here!! | |
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Replying to: habitat1 (Dec 08, 2007 10:53 am) I have to agree with Pat that we are getting a little off-topic here. My bad, but just one last correction before I retire from this forum - the highest score ever given by Consumer Reports is for the current Lexus LS. The previous record holder was the Infiniti M35x. These scores are freely available at your current new stand. top premium sport sedan by just about every enthusaist magazine Magazine comparo results available on-line paint a different story: Motor Trend March 2005, C & D May 2005, and R & T June 2005. Happy holidays to all
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Replying to: drtravel (Dec 08, 2007 8:02 pm) And I'll give one last correction to your correction. Before CR started this score stuff, the best car they every owned, according to them, was the 530. These impressions are clearly available to the general public. Why are you citing stuff almost 3 years old? They have no relevance at this point. |
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