Expensive Super-saloons

[Raza]

Quattroporte is available now with a regular 6 speed automatic.

Yes, it is.  But I'm not sure how well it will fit the character of the car.

[Raghavan]

Apparently it's a lot better around town.

[Tave]

Track-times wouldn't be a make-it-or-break-it deal deciding between these cars. In fact, I'd never consider them in the first place.

[goldenlover1101]

BMW M5 That thing looks awesome and I love the power button!

[Raza]

Track-times wouldn't be a make-it-or-break-it deal deciding between these cars. In fact, I'd never consider them in the first place.

Well, I'd be a little embarassing driving around in a "Super" saloon that can be beat around a track by a Cayenne Turbo.

[Tave]

Why? I don't care what times a Cayenne Turbo can make around Laguana Seca. All these cars are fast. If they feel right to drive, then what does matter what their lowest times are? Cars like these wouldn't be much fun to drive like that anyway. I want to cruise in a Quattroporte or XJ, sometimes fastly, but never hectically. I'm certainly not going to take a honey like that to the track. It'd be like taking your girl to a seedy brothel to have sex.

And these saloons aren't "super" because you can fling them around the Nurburgring, they're "super" because you can eat up long distances on the highway in style.

[Raza]

Why? I don't care what times a Cayenne Turbo can make around Laguana Seca. All these cars are fast. If they feel right to drive, then what does matter what their lowest times are? Cars like these wouldn't be much fun to drive like that anyway. I want to cruise in a Quattroporte or XJ, sometimes fastly, but never hectically. I'm certainly not going to take a honey like that to the track. It'd be like taking your girl to a seedy brothel to have sex.

And these saloons aren't "super" because you can fling them around the Nurburgring, they're "super" because you can eat up long distances on the highway in style.

These cars will never be as fun to drive as a real sports car.  Most of it is about bragging rights.  Whether or not you use the power (and I bet that 90% of M5s will never have the M button pressed) has nothing to do with it.

[Tave]

Exactly, I'm going to choose the right car for me, not the one that has "bragging rights."



"My E63 is .0653 seconds faster on a lap than your S6!"

"Yeah? Well I don't give a f*ck."

[SVT666]

M5

[280Z Turbo]

I voted for the Mercedes.

[Raza]

Exactly, I'm going to choose the right car for me, not the one that has "bragging rights."



"My E63 is .0653 seconds faster on a lap than your S6!"

"Yeah? Well I don't give a f*ck."

That works too.  But for the majority, a car that sells on reputation should really have to back it up.

[The Pirate]

I'll take the Jag please.

[JYODER240]

Looking at the pictures of these cars the Germans look cold, clinical, and machine-like. The Jag and the Maser look more like pieces of art.

[LonghornTX]

That works too.  But for the majority, a car that sells on reputation should really have to back it up.

And what about the M5s reputation lets it down  ?  One instance in which it is beaten around a track by the Maseratti?  Please, of all people, you should know how little that tells you.  Plus, IIRC, they weren't even tested on the same day, so that comparison pretty much means jack sh*t to me.  Of course, if I am remembering incorrectly, please chime in.  But really, who buys a 4000lb 4 door for track service?  Wouldn't statistics like acceleration and braking be more important given the usage of practically all of the cars in this comparison?


M5 SMG for me  .

[LonghornTX]

  Contrary to many beliefs, they offer no more involvement than a manumatic transmission

I would disagree.

[LonghornTX]

E55/E63 AMG Touring is the best weekend dad car ever.  Not only does it show your ex that you're successful, but it makes it look like you're family minded as well.  Then, as soon as she can't see you anymore, you light up the rear tires and swear the kids to secrecy. 

The car to fool the wife while still married, however, is the WRX Wagon.

Give me the B5 RS4 for that duty 

[Raza]

I would disagree.

You'd be wrong, brother.  Sorry, but either way you press a button and a computer shifts. 

[850CSi]

Looking at the pictures of these cars the Germans look cold, clinical, and machine-like.

If I'm buying something that fast, I want it to look fucking mean. 

[LonghornTX]

You'd be wrong, brother.  Sorry, but either way you press a button and a computer shifts. 

I disagree  .  For one, most (if not all) manumatics will shift at redline, while SMG does not.  Also, SMG requires throttle modulation (like a manual) to be smooth, while a manumatic can bang away a shift with the pedal floored.  I use to work at a BMW dealer and have driven every generation of SMG made and have driven pretty much every major manumatic system on the market, so this is coming from experience, not magazines. 

There is a VAST difference in the amount of interaction required between the two systems.  You want to be smooth with SMG?  You gotta think and learn the system.  You wanna be smooth with a manumatic?  Simply do as you say and "press a button".

Now, this does not necessarily make it a better system.  But to say that SMG is not more interactive than a manumatic only shows that you have little or no experience with these cars.

[MidnightDave]

Can I write in a Bentley, any Bentley? For practical use the M5s of all generations are the bargain, IMO...

[SVT_Power]

take one of these

[ro51092]

take one of these

[SVT_Power]

[LonghornTX]

take one of these

Bah...E39s look fat  .

I would take one of these:


Or if I really got lucky, one of these:

[Rich]

Lotus Carlton for me, please

[Lebowski]

I voted M5, but in reality I'd wait for the RS6 to come out.