Which ones am I missing (AWD Near Luxury Sedans)
- Thread starter RTRD
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crystalpalace
The 4MOTION on Passat is the same as Quattro on the A4/A6/A8.MLAM said:
If you want to spend around 50K in the states then just go for a C63 AMG. With winters on it shouldn't cause too much trouble unless you live in the 'burbs. I have one on order in CA which is the perfect place for that kind of a car.
I'm curious, since you were leasing your last car do you plan to purchase in cash in the states or is there a secret way to import leased cars from states?
EDIT: You're right, looks like the new 4MOTION has indeed changed from the Quattro! I just did some more reading and it appears they are quiet different now.
See...
..what did I tell you? I try very hard to get my facts straight, or to at least state that I am less than certain.
C63 in US is 56K (like you'll ever get one at that price)...more than I am looking to spend, and does not have AWD. As mentioned before, I am not a winter tire kinda guy...seems far more hassle (and equally expensive) as an upgrade to AWD and good all seasons.
I wouldn't "import" the car. I have a home in the U.S., in addition to U.S. credit (being a U.S. citizen and all). I'd just lease it in the U.S. and register it to my home there...and drive it here, just as thousands of Canadians do with their "Florida" cars (you didn't think all those people were driving up from Florida to visit Toronto, did you?). The cars are cheaper, the insurance is cheaper. Technically, its illegal, but it isn't the sort of crime anyone actually pursues or cares about. The biggest risk is it would upset the hell out of the insurance company of they found out, but i am not planning to tell them...
crystalpalace said:
..what did I tell you? I try very hard to get my facts straight, or to at least state that I am less than certain.
C63 in US is 56K (like you'll ever get one at that price)...more than I am looking to spend, and does not have AWD. As mentioned before, I am not a winter tire kinda guy...seems far more hassle (and equally expensive) as an upgrade to AWD and good all seasons.
I wouldn't "import" the car. I have a home in the U.S., in addition to U.S. credit (being a U.S. citizen and all). I'd just lease it in the U.S. and register it to my home there...and drive it here, just as thousands of Canadians do with their "Florida" cars (you didn't think all those people were driving up from Florida to visit Toronto, did you?). The cars are cheaper, the insurance is cheaper. Technically, its illegal, but it isn't the sort of crime anyone actually pursues or cares about. The biggest risk is it would upset the hell out of the insurance company of they found out, but i am not planning to tell them...
I agree...
The 328xi coupe is on the list...most definitely. it really will come down to the test drive...if the G35x with 300 horses pulls significantly stronger than the 328xi coupe with 230...the G35x 9at 6K cheaper) will come out on top. But...if the BMW feels like the acceleration is adequate...I have more than once thought that, shit, what is the point of getting divorced if you can't reward yourself with a pussy wagon?
(though to be honest I am usually more practical than that...and the G35x really does look like the winner based on price, performance, and periodical reviews)
..with every word, but having never purchased snow tires, or had a winter related driving accident in 20+ years of driving in Toronto, Chicago and new York, I am going with the devil I know. not claiming it is "right", just being honest that the snow tire hassle strikes me as more than it is worth...but then again, I grew up in a place with frequent blizzard conditions, but no one buys winter tires...where i am from YOU LEARN HOW TO DRIVE IN THE WINTER.rubmeister100 said:AWD does not help you stop. It only helps you get going faster.
Snow tires do both.
I drive an AWD with traction control / DSC and have taken many performance driving courses including winter performance driving. All the BMW Driver Training including Mt Tremblant in the winter. The difference between all seasons and winter tires is nothing short of astonishing.
I would drive a Pontiac Sunfire in the winter with winter tires before I'd drive an X5 with xDrive and DSC with all seasons. It is THAT much difference.
The public underestimates (if they place ANY value at all on) their tires. Nothign happens with the rest of the car or driver when the tires break traction. Formula One teams can win or lose a race based solely on tire selection.
And it isn't only about snow. It is about hard frozen summer tires on cold damp roads. It is about ice. Soft, sticky winter tires are amazingly better.
And when you buy a $40k car, another $1200 for a set of winter tires is nothing. Less than the deductible of one slding off the raod into a curb.
And if you plan on putting more than 80k on your car, it will need a second set of tires. If you buy winters at the beginning, your all seasons will last almost tice as long and you will get the benefit of the winter safety.
To answer your original question... hard to beat the BMW 328xi Coupe when it comes to a cool performance car.
The 328xi coupe is on the list...most definitely. it really will come down to the test drive...if the G35x with 300 horses pulls significantly stronger than the 328xi coupe with 230...the G35x 9at 6K cheaper) will come out on top. But...if the BMW feels like the acceleration is adequate...I have more than once thought that, shit, what is the point of getting divorced if you can't reward yourself with a pussy wagon?
(though to be honest I am usually more practical than that...and the G35x really does look like the winner based on price, performance, and periodical reviews)
Infiniti's resale value is not very good. Just look through the AutoTrader and you'll see how cheap second hand G35's go for. BMW, on the other hand, maintain a pretty good resale value. This is just something to consider.MLAM said:
If I were you, I would go with either the BMW or Audi. Also, I know you said that the IS 250 is underpowered, but I would give it a test drive. It will give you the best reliability and fuel economy of the bunch.
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crystalpalace
But you sorta should as the residual value is a big factor in a lease.MLAM said:
G35 is a nice car but compared to the 3 series or the C class or even the IS it just doesn't feel all that solid when you drive it. Infiniti definitely cut costs to reduce the pricing on it and it shows when you compare it to the other marks in the segment.
Good luck with your choice and happy driving.
I have an 05 G35x.
At the time of purchase, I compared it to the Lexus ES, and the Accord TL and picked it quite easily.
Despite what one other poster on here says, the 3.5 Nissan Engine is as solid as a rock by all accounts (including the mechanics who fix them) and I would tend to agree with that assessment. The Nissan 3.5 v6 has been around a long time and gets consistantly high marks.
Pros:
All wheel drive is unbeatable in the snow (with snow tires). Last winter it was unstoppable.
Styling
Engine peformance. I'll blast right past any 3 series, A4, TL, or Lexus ES.
Handling - very sure footed and secure car.
Styling.
Cons:
Transmission, the 5 speed automatic sucks large. At 125 or 130 Km/hr, I'm doing 3,000 RPM's which uses a lot of fuel. The car needs a 6 speed automatic, but lets face it, designing a new automatic transmission costs large.
Brakes, the car is very under braked, it needs larger disks and better calipers
Paint, fucking sucks. Chips very easily for some reason. This is a common complaint with all Infiniti owners.
Fuel economy - not good, due to poor transmission.
Very shitty dealer service (at least my dealer). Oil changes are 80 bucks. That's rediculous.
As far as I am aware, the 08 G35x has the same shitty transmission and the same pretty much everything else as the 05. It was restyled, the horsepower has been increased to 306, but the car has not really been re-engineered. (The new interior is vastly superior however. Styling, I hate that chrome strip on the trunk lid.)
I'd wait till the 09 G35x comes out. If Infiniti sticks to tradition, there will be a reworking of the car after 2 years. (Current model came out in 07.) Maybe they will lose the "Harly Earl" Chrome strip.
At the time of purchase, I compared it to the Lexus ES, and the Accord TL and picked it quite easily.
Despite what one other poster on here says, the 3.5 Nissan Engine is as solid as a rock by all accounts (including the mechanics who fix them) and I would tend to agree with that assessment. The Nissan 3.5 v6 has been around a long time and gets consistantly high marks.
Pros:
All wheel drive is unbeatable in the snow (with snow tires). Last winter it was unstoppable.
Styling
Engine peformance. I'll blast right past any 3 series, A4, TL, or Lexus ES.
Handling - very sure footed and secure car.
Styling.
Cons:
Transmission, the 5 speed automatic sucks large. At 125 or 130 Km/hr, I'm doing 3,000 RPM's which uses a lot of fuel. The car needs a 6 speed automatic, but lets face it, designing a new automatic transmission costs large.
Brakes, the car is very under braked, it needs larger disks and better calipers
Paint, fucking sucks. Chips very easily for some reason. This is a common complaint with all Infiniti owners.
Fuel economy - not good, due to poor transmission.
Very shitty dealer service (at least my dealer). Oil changes are 80 bucks. That's rediculous.
As far as I am aware, the 08 G35x has the same shitty transmission and the same pretty much everything else as the 05. It was restyled, the horsepower has been increased to 306, but the car has not really been re-engineered. (The new interior is vastly superior however. Styling, I hate that chrome strip on the trunk lid.)
I'd wait till the 09 G35x comes out. If Infiniti sticks to tradition, there will be a reworking of the car after 2 years. (Current model came out in 07.) Maybe they will lose the "Harly Earl" Chrome strip.
Of course...
But all that will be factor into what I am quoted.
beyond that, both dealers and manufacturers will play various games with the numbers in order to get them to work and the car out the door.
All I care about is where we land. Remember, a lease is essentially an extended rental. All I care about is what they are charging me to drive it...if they want to eat some of the depreciation, great. If they want to push it on to me, and there numbers come out worse as a result versus another brand, I walk.
...it does.crystalpalace said:
But all that will be factor into what I am quoted.
beyond that, both dealers and manufacturers will play various games with the numbers in order to get them to work and the car out the door.
All I care about is where we land. Remember, a lease is essentially an extended rental. All I care about is what they are charging me to drive it...if they want to eat some of the depreciation, great. If they want to push it on to me, and there numbers come out worse as a result versus another brand, I walk.
Well then...
Buy them...store them...mount them...dismount them...sure, they gain me an advantage, but what I am saying is that MY learned winter driving style will never exploit that advantage, or at least rarely press the envelope. The gain that I would exploit is not worth the hassle for me.
..maybe I'm a poser.rubmeister100 said:Well leading an horse to water and all that...
MLAM, if you are really a performance guy and not jsut a poser, then putting winter tires on any of the cars you buy will make it a much higer performance car than any of them without.
In fact, I'll bet you my upcoming diesel BMW 3 series (if it comes in a coupe) or RWD 328i Coupe will smoke any AWD vehcicle from 0-100 km/h on any damp (or worse) road this winter. And if any corner is involved, even more humiliating.
Snow tires are no hassle for a real man....and are de riguer for a real driver.
Buy them...store them...mount them...dismount them...sure, they gain me an advantage, but what I am saying is that MY learned winter driving style will never exploit that advantage, or at least rarely press the envelope. The gain that I would exploit is not worth the hassle for me.
a redesigned Audi A4 (quattro) comes out in the fall.
here's a peek. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM7wW3Xbf_A&feature=related
(the new interior is seen near the 1:50 mark)
here's a peek. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM7wW3Xbf_A&feature=related
(the new interior is seen near the 1:50 mark)
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crystalpalace
Nice link.JD75 said:
Can't say I really like those new Audi trademark weird curved LED premiter lights or the 3 series coupe inspired bum but the interior (or the top half of it at least) is a lot more civilized. They still haven't done away with the bottom half and those red LED temperature readouts though which is a shame...
I don't know, I had an Audi in my previous car life and had nothing but electrical problems, always bringing it back for one thing or another. Great engine, solid, but I'm jaded now with it's rep for electrical issues. I know they've tried to fix that bad image, but I can't get over it. Many other former Audi owners told me to stay away as I almost bought one last year, but they swayed me to not buy.
