ajayz

Does this "king" comparison have a price range? If not..then either the Maybach or the new RR Phantom would probably be considered as the new king.

Dominic

Pretty soon we'll be adding a couple new contenders to this topic! They're American cars to! The Cadillac STS for 2005 and the new Lincoln Continental for 2006! I know they're price range will be between 50K and 60K as a base price!
ajayz- this topic is referring to full-size luxury cars say under 100K! This of which excludes the Maybach and RR and Bentley! Just my 2 cents!

DOMINIC

ajayz

Oh okay, thanks.

I'm anxious to see the new American cars in this category, are there any spy shots or anything? Hopefully they've worked out the problems in the current ones (FWD! and design)

Dominic

Yeah I'm ancious to! I think there will be GREAT competition when the American versions come out and the redesigned versions of the European and Asian models as well! As far as spy pics there are 2 possible designs of the Continental and STS in the September issue of Road & Track! I also just got word that Lincoln as well as Cadillac are planning on ultra-lux cars in the 80K-150K price range by 2006 or 2007! That's also when the new MB S/CL, Lexus LS, and BMW 7 are planned to debut as well! That will be interesting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


DOMINIC

P.S.- It looks like the European and Asian upper class are going to lose big time in America if they don't pick up because the American companies are figuring out the luxury market fast! In 2007 we'll see who the "KING OF THE RING" really is!!!

ajayz

Yea...they should be amazing vehicles.

It's not too hard to figure out the luxury market...Lexus has it down. For a nice luxury car, you need:
1. Quality of Materials and should be top notch. (Mercedes. )
2. Design should be sexy and elegant. (One of the only things lacking in the Lexus LS)
3. Gadgets should be plentiful while still keeping simplicity as a main goal. (BMW! )
4. Power should be adequate enough for a large sedan...I would recommend 350 + hp nowadays.
5. Cabin quietness- exactly what it says. Also comfort-as in seat cushins(sp?) it all should be nice and soft and comfy.
6. Ride quality (most companies have this down by now..with Lexus leading)
7. Nice sound system- something that gets you excited when you listen to it (no Bose please )

Feel free to add more

ajayz

Here is one spy shot of the new STS and some drawings or photoshop or whatever it is.

the body shape in the spyshot looks nice...but the drawings with the headlights and tailights and everything else makes it look butt ugly. Hopefully they'll use some of the Sixteen designing into their new cars.



UGLY

Dominic

Look in the Road&Track magazine on page 51. The photo of the STS is more elegant, sleak, and more rounded off than any of those! It's an actual picture to, although I'm not sure if it's the real thing!


DOMINIC

vraa

Butt ugly is an understatement.

If someone could get some scans up I'd appreciate it greatly!

Dominic

I wish I could vraa, but I don't have a scanner!

davis449

They should've just left the Seville the hell alone! It was good lookin' car through the last two body styles. Now it just looks as gay as the CTS. I don't like Cadillac's new style direction, it's all way too chistled. I hate the way the Escalades look too, they had it nailed with the previous body style, but once again, they screwed it up. I think GM's body styles in general are going down hill.

Dominic

I understand where you're coming from davis449. Although, Cadillac's before and current styles excluding the CTS, SRX, and Escalade had no match against the higher class European and Asian luxury cars, but now they're starting to hit it right on the nose IMO!


Dominic

MusFather

Wow very impressive, I was very impressed with that new Cadillac roadster. It look of quite high quality, and looked good aswell. Im impressed. This class is getting better and better. This was an excellent discussion id have to say. Cool. After all said and done I love the S-class. Personally if I had to choose between any of these cars I would first choose the S, than the 7 than the LS. But It would always be in the corner of my head that my car is not the best quality or the most reliable car in my class, and I spent the most money. But in essence you cannot beat the feel of the S-class. I hope Mercedes-Benz listen to us and fixes there cars to have the reputation thye used to have, that they are the best brand ever created by man,

-Musfather

Dominic

Well stated MusFather! I agree and I hope and wish MB Corporate does get our messages because then we'll get the cars we want and they'll make more money and can build better cars by the day! I hope we won't be let down when the next generation models come out along with some other new ones!


DOMINIC

MusFather

Thanks man, seriously I hope something does hapen.

So u guys lets see here if we were to compare the following vehicles how would u rate them. like 1st 2nd 3rd ext.

The Contendors

S500, LS430 ultra luxury, A8, 745li, XJ8

Here are the Categories:
which should be rated between 1 and 10
S500 LS430 A8 745li
Engine 10 9 7 9
Trans. 9 8 9 8
Brakes 9 7 7 9
Handling 9 6 9 10
Ride 9 10 8 8
Driver Comfort 8 9 9 10
Passenger comf. 9 9 8 10
Passenger room 10 7 9 10
Erogonomics 9 8 7 6
Featurs & Amenities 8 9 8 9
Fit and Finish 7 10 8 10
Value 9 10 8 7
Exterior Style 10 7 9 8
Interior Style 9 8 10 9
Fun to Drive 9 6 8 10
Grandeur 10 6 5 7
Feel 10 7 7 10
Totals: 154 136 136 150
Total+reliability 159 146 143 158
Placement: 1st 3rd 4rth 2nd


-Musfather

Dominic

Those scores look good to me! Except I think the BMW 745Li deserves a 10 for it's engine! I can't wait to see the luxo comparison list in 2006 for there will be many more contenders other than the BIG 5! Just my 2 cents!


DOMINIC

MusFather

yea no doubt, yea maybe the 7 does deeserve that 10

so that puts them in a tie

-Musfather

Dominic

WOW a tie!!! No wonder why everyone debates and argues that one is better than the other! I say they both deserve an A!


DOMINIC

vraa

OI! But than that takes the fun out of it! Debating within moderate amounts is healthy!

Dominic

100% TRUE

digital_b

I beleive that for all things considered in a luxury flagship the ls430 is the king now. derivative styling aside it defines what true luxury is about. and dont even try to argue that reliability isnt part of luxury. the friggin s class DOESNT EVEN HAVE DVD NAVIGATION OR AN IN DASH CD CHANGER. and by the way NEVER EVER USE THE NON PHRASE 'ONE OF THE ONLY'. only MEANS one.

apricotscrub

luxury depends on price more than anything else, s-class is highest priced, therefore most luxurious. people who can buy the new s-class would just not settle for anything cheaper, even if it is a more reliable and cost-efficient buy. Its all about the price. Noway does it cost DaimlerChrysler more than 4 times to make a S600 vs a C240 Sedan. Hell, anyone uneducated or standing 50 feet away cant tell the difference, the s600 is only 3 feet longer, so each feet costs 30,000$ to add onto the C-class? Why do you think the Maybach costs 2 1/2 S600's? It is the same engine, does all the wood and fancy gauges actually cost 2 1/2 times more? No, But people who have that kind of money need somewhere to put it, and apparently a s600 is too cheap for their likings. In this case, the c-class is too cheap for s-class owner's likings. Thats why we will choose to spend so much more for a car that is not that much more.

digital_b

get a dictionary and show us where price dictates luxury quotient. its just stupid to say so. luxury is about all the things that are NOT commonly found and which are also exceptional in quality and desireability. cost is nothing more than what the market will bear. thats why cost is manipulated by MARKETERS. if your car has problems with things not working and features that are not present then the cost of that car CANNOT compensate for its lack of LUXURY.

Dominic

You're right digital_b!!! I hope MB fixes those problems to make all of their cars, but especially the S more reliable for that is what luxury cars used to be about! Just my 2 cents!!!


DOMINIC

apricotscrub

btw, s-class 00-02 is on consumer reports as one of the worst reliable cars, its on the "watch out for" list.

MusFather

Soooo true

-Musfather