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What car are you buying/test driving?

glennkglennkMember
Lease will be up in a little less than a year so I started some primary research for the next car last weekend and test drove the new Lexus GS and the Audi A6 3.0. The Lexus had nice punch when you hit it, but I didn’t love the overall feel and look of the car. Really liked the A6, but their residuals are so poor compared to MB, BMW and Lexus that it’s tough to justify the premium. The styling of Audi right now is second to none IMO though. Sweet looking cars.

Anyone else in the market these days?
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glennkglennkMember
When you compare lease payments for Audi, MB and BMW, Audi is always the highest due to the residual value. It’s getting better, but they don’t have the track record of holding their value like MB and BMW. I’m much more of a MB guy vs. BMW and my 2012 C350 is very fun. Wink

Just like the look and feel of MB over BMW, but agree BMW’s are certainly fun to drive. Lexus I agree is not very sexy/fun.
winetarelliwinetarelliMember
quote:
Originally posted by GlennK:
When you compare lease payments for Audi, MB and BMW, Audi is always the highest due to the residual value. It’s getting better, but they don’t have the track record of holding their value like MB and BMW. I’m much more of a MB guy vs. BMW and my 2012 C350 is very fun. Wink

Just like the look and feel of MB over BMW, but agree BMW’s are certainly fun to drive. Lexus I agree is not very sexy/fun.

Wait. You have a '12 and your lease is up in less than a year? What, an 18 month lease? 24 months and you got it as it was rolling out? If you are going for a very short term lease I guess the MB might be a better deal. I don't know; I, and virtually all the people I know, buy cars to drive for a while, so those are the parameters I'm used to dealing with. I don't know much about short term lease deals.

While I've driven recent models of all the cars you're looking at, if you are a MB guy, maybe that is what you are... I agree the Audi styling, inside and out, is second to none on the (realistic) market. I also happen to love the Audi engines, though the automatic shifting on the BMWs is slightly cleaner, I think. (That may be a 4wd v Rwd thing, too.) Personally, I just haven't had fun driving MBs, but...
W wine+artMember
quote:
Originally posted by PurpleHaze:
Love the CTS-V. It's a world class automobile. As far as Porsche is concerned, if 2 seats will get the job done, the new Boxster is a smokin' little vehicle.

PH


I just do not see Glenn buying / leasing an old man car. Razz

I agree ( like all the critics) the new Boxster is a must to consider. Glenn only needs two seats!
purplehazepurplehazeMember
quote:
Originally posted by wine+art:
I just do not see Glenn buying / leasing an old man car. Razz


w+a, I'm assuming from your continued insistence that this is an "old man car" that you STILL haven't availed yourself of the oppportunity to drive this thing. If your local Cadillac connection is still in play, I HIGHLY recommend you get your Texan ass into one of these vehicles and play. It is not, by any stretch, a geezer-mobile.... Big Grin

PH
W wine+artMember
quote:
Originally posted by PurpleHaze:
quote:
Originally posted by wine+art:
I just do not see Glenn buying / leasing an old man car. Razz


w+a, I'm assuming from your continued insistence that this is an "old man car" that you STILL haven't availed yourself of the oppportunity to drive this thing. If your local Cadillac connection is still in play, I HIGHLY recommend you get your Texan ass into one of these vehicles and play. It is not, by any stretch, a geezer-mobile.... Big Grin

PH


Oh, I had the car for a three day long weekend, I thought I told you, sorry.

Remember, a friend in my small wine group is some big corporate guy with Caddy. ( he is praying he does not have to move back to Detroit) A fine car for sure, but it is still a Caddy for old men, but now they may buy this car in lieu of a Vette. Wink I know my friend says this remains one of the hurdles they are trying to overcome, which is hard.

What is next, you want me to shop at Brooks Brothers? Razz Wink
S shavezMember
quote:
Originally posted by marcb7:
I love my BMW...and Im more of a BMW guy than MB but I will admit the S class by MB is very sweet! I also like the look of Audi but driving wise I will take my BMW any day.


+1, but with a lot of bias.

I still believe that in most segments, BMW has the edge in terms of product. What's changed is that both Audi and MB have improved their products, so the gap is not what it used to be. In terms of driving feel and handling, it's still BMW. I've never understood the appeal of Lexus.

Audi definitely has some very nice designs. But I don't think they have an overall design advantage compared to other brands. All have their flaws on certain models - in Audi's case, I don't think much of Q7 design, nor do I like the A1 (current gen. not available in NA).
glennkglennkMember
quote:
Originally posted by winetarelli:
Wait. You have a '12 and your lease is up in less than a year? What, an 18 month lease? 24 months and you got it as it was rolling out?
24 month and I got it the week it came out. This is the first time I have had a car this quick and it’s been a blast, but I’m looking for something with a real back seat and space for golf clubs this time.
glennkglennkMember
quote:
Originally posted by wine+art:
quote:
Originally posted by PurpleHaze:
Love the CTS-V. It's a world class automobile. As far as Porsche is concerned, if 2 seats will get the job done, the new Boxster is a smokin' little vehicle.

PH


I just do not see Glenn buying / leasing an old man car. Razz

I agree ( like all the critics) the new Boxster is a must to consider. Glenn only needs two seats!
Funny I’ve always considered Porsche as an older guy car! Same with Cadillac and Corvettes. I’ve driven a cayman and a 911 and they are fun for sure, but I have never loved the look of Porsche and there is a certain kind of older guy that drives a Porsche in OC that I don’t want to be confused with. Wink If I was getting something sporty like that, I would go for a Maserati over a Porsche.

As for the CTS-V, my neighbor has one and it is badass. I don’t love the look of it, but it has grown on me for sure.
flwinoflwinoMember
quote:
Originally posted by GlennK:
quote:
Originally posted by winetarelli:
Wait. You have a '12 and your lease is up in less than a year? What, an 18 month lease? 24 months and you got it as it was rolling out?
24 month and I got it the week it came out. This is the first time I have had a car this quick and it’s been a blast, but I’m looking for something with a real back seat and space for golf clubs this time.


And that is why I just dumped my XKR. Had hard time getting golf bag into the boot. Could only carry groceries. Great car, but impractcal

Looking at 5 series of A6. Both have back seat, and great luggage [Golf BAg] space.
board-oboard-oMember
When we travelled out west this summer, we rented a 2013 Ford Explorer and drove it 6455 miles, mosty of it on highways and paved park roads, but also on a dirt, gravel, and rocky roads. The car performed extremely well. Voice recognition and clarity of phone calls were flawless. When we stopped to look at a few sights from the car in Death Valley in the sun in 123 degree heat, the engine temperature didn't raise at all, even after a few minutes of idling. The engine temperature didn't raise at all even when we were travelling on the rocky road to get into Titus Canyon at sustained driving at 1 or 2 miles an hour interspersed with idling periods. The air conditioning worked great and the voice recognition was fine. Mileage was good as was power, but of course it didn't say BMW or Audi or Mercedes on the outside, so I'm sure it wasn't prestigious enough for Patek Philippe wearing people.
W wine+artMember
quote:
Originally posted by jorgerunfrombulls:
quote:
Originally posted by wine+art:

No doubt. We hosted a baby shower this past weekend. I have never seen so many BMW, Audi, Lexus, MINI Coopers and Fiat's in one place in my life.



Good to see you're hangin' around folks with fine taste Wink


Well, more my kids friends...and none were wearing Lobb Chapel Double. Wink
robsutherlandrobsutherlandMember
I think we'll keep our E-class wagon for a few more years but it might seriously get replaced with a Tesla. The more loaded ones have all the range we need for 98% of the time (could go to the cottage and some running around without recharging). Otherwise it will either be a probably a barely used Range Rover (take advantage of terrible depreciation), Q7 diesel or used Panamera (my wife's pick).

And Porsche's arn't old man cars! I've had mine for 19 years and I'm still not old!
S seaquamMember
My wife spent a lot of time researching and test driving a lot of small to medium SUVs for the past few months, and finally after 13 vehicles narrowed it down to Audi Q5 or the newly revised Acura RDX. I drove both, and liked the Acura quite a bit more. Factor in better reliability, and that's what she bought.

While she was looking at Mercedes GLK in an auto mall, I went across the street and looked at Audi A5 and S5, which are very pretty cars. I really liked the S5 and was thoroughly impressed with some of the electronic features, so even though I wasn't intending to buy a new car, I decided to check out a couple other all-wheel drive coupes that I like, the Infinity G37 and BMW 335i. I was able to arrange extended drives in the three of them, and these were the characteristics that I thought were outstanding:

Audi - looks, electronics (inc. driver adjustable steering, suspension, throttle response, all together or individually, very impressive)
Infinity - exhaust note (seriously, this car growls)
BMW - just handles extremely well, feels completely solid and predictable, more rear seat headroom than the other two (I don't need 4 doors any more, but still have to drive 2 or 3 other people sometimes)

I ordered a 2013 335i Xdrive, without the stiff M-sport package but with everything else. I like the more compliant ride, and am willing to give up some extreme handling abilities for greater comfort. I just picked it up on Monday, and will head out of town in it this weekend. So far, my only disappointment is an unnecessarily complicated nav system. The i-drive controller that I heard so many complaints about is not at all hard to get used to.
T tdubMember
quote:
Originally posted by Seaquam:
My wife spent a lot of time researching and test driving a lot of small to medium SUVs for the past few months, and finally after 13 vehicles narrowed it down to Audi Q5 or the newly revised Acura RDX. I drove both, and liked the Acura quite a bit more. Factor in better reliability, and that's what she bought.

While she was looking at Mercedes GLK in an auto mall, I went across the street and looked at Audi A5 and S5, which are very pretty cars. I really liked the S5 and was thoroughly impressed with some of the electronic features, so even though I wasn't intending to buy a new car, I decided to check out a couple other all-wheel drive coupes that I like, the Infinity G37 and BMW 335i. I was able to arrange extended drives in the three of them, and these were the characteristics that I thought were outstanding:

Audi - looks, electronics (inc. driver adjustable steering, suspension, throttle response, all together or individually, very impressive)
Infinity - exhaust note (seriously, this car growls)
BMW - just handles extremely well, feels completely solid and predictable, more rear seat headroom than the other two (I don't need 4 doors any more, but still have to drive 2 or 3 other people sometimes)

I ordered a 2013 335i Xdrive, without the stiff M-sport package but with everything else. I like the more compliant ride, and am willing to give up some extreme handling abilities for greater comfort. I just picked it up on Monday, and will head out of town in it this weekend. So far, my only disappointment is an unnecessarily complicated nav system. The i-drive controller that I heard so many complaints about is not at all hard to get used to.


I test drove a lot of cars early this year and ended up with an Audi S4. I have to admit by far this is the most fun; technologically advanced car I have ever owned.

Flat out this car destroyed the BMW. Add an aftermarket exhaust and this thing sounds like a freaking race car. Have it chipped by Stassis or APR and it IS a freaking race car.

This car destroys. Yes I said destroys not only the 335 but the M3. Have a friend with a new M3 and all he sees is my tailpipes with my exhaust and engine flash.

The Nav, MMI, B&O sound system all are fun toys. This is not your old Audi. They have come light years and I'll put any of them up against a BMW or Infiniti etc. etc.
W wine+artMember
quote:
Originally posted by PurpleHaze:
quote:
Originally posted by GlennK:
.....If I was getting something sporty like that, I would go for a Maserati over a Porsche.


Blasphemy......

PH


Funny I guess how markets are so different.

In our market, Maserati is clearly an old man car, and Porsche is a weekend car for many guys, and a weekday car for young women.
S stefaniawineMember
I'm gonna fly the practical flag until Ari shows up Smile

quote:
Originally posted by Rob_Sutherland:
probably a barely used Range Rover (take advantage of terrible depreciation),


My FJ's blue book is 92% of the purchase price. That's at age 6.

quote:
Originally posted by Seaquam: Audi - looks, electronics (inc. driver adjustable steering, suspension, throttle response, all together or individually, very impressive)


Electronics are limited, but I can pull the floor plug and hose the thing out.
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