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Comments
http://www.autoweek.com/files/specials/2005_tokyo/gallerys/nissan_gtr/pages/01.htm
To my delight, this is the same car I have: non-sport, steptronic.
"Nothing pours performance like a Bimmer. A sublime machine."
Just goes to show. Even without the sport package, the 545i is a great car.
Nice job Motor Trend!
The minimalist user interface design of the BMW cockpit is very German to me. So are the cupholders - a definite afterthought in the driving experience BMW touts. To me, and probably not to others, luxury is measured by excellent engineering and the overall performance balance in this superb car. It became the benchmark for a reason in much the same way Japanese cars became benchmarks in the compact/economy class.
Now that Germany, Japan and a still-struggling US auto sector vie for a broader cross-section of buyers, they will each venture into untested waters for a while until they learn what works and what doesn't. Question is, who will learn the best??
Yeah and thank the Lord, NOT THE DESIGNS!!
How refreshing to read a comparo about the performance of the vehicles!
The thing they really didn't like was the Beemer's active steering. Thankfully, I didn't order mine with this option. A milder objection was the 3-blinking lane changing stalk. I went deep into the bowels of iDrive (wearing my decontamination suit, of course) and changed the 3-blinker to a normal lane changer. Glad iDrive gives one the flexibility to customize the car to one's preferences.
For anyone interested, two of the usual suspects brought up the rear: 2005 MB E500 and 2005
Cadillac STS V8.
(GLIMMER ...meaning to appear faintly.) a cursory, fleeting, quickly fading likeness comparison that basically falls short of the GT-R.)
To bring us back to LPS cars I'm predicting that the remaining new 2005 RL's on the dealer lots are going to be gone in a very short period of time. Any predictions on how close to MSRP the 2006's will bring?
DOH!!!!
Did you remove the decontamination suit .....ah nevermind... Enjoy your weekend!
I can visualize Mr Spock holding the controller knob with both hands, concentrating on the Vulcan Mind Meld as the iDrive system communicates through his voice: "PAIN! SO MUCH PAIN!....."
That definitely shows how much power M-B image still has, at least for the E class anyway. Its (comparitively) old for the class, and I have not seen it win any recent comparo, in fact its usually not even in the top 3. Yet it continually fights the 5 for most sales every month.
M
It's a good thing for MB that most of its customer base probably doesn't read the magazine comparos.
I haven't read a MB sedan rave in quite a long time.
Does anybody recall a MB sedan coming in at least second in any comparo over the last 5 years?
Yet I wouldn't hesitate for even one second if someone offered me a test drive in an E or an S.
yes, i love my volvo, but its 8 years old. I wouldn't want to find it on a new car I'm thinking of buying.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
On another note, rich545, which seats do your wife have, the sport or the regular. Do you guys notice the side of the seat cushion pokes you in the rear/thigh on entry/exit? It's like a really hard edge where the seat controls are. That's been my experience with the normal seats. I haven't had the opportunity to try the sport seats yet.
Let's take the GS as an example of a compare-
GS steering wheel- real birds eye maple wood and leather wrapped
A6 steering wheel- all plastic, like a Cavalier I would dare say
GS radio/nav- radio knobs are chrome ringed, entire radio/button set up looks very rich
A6 radio/nav- just looks cheap, i'm sorry, but for a 50 thousand dollar car what they put in is a travesty
GS gauges- beautiful steel bezel, numbers illuminate in any light
A6 gauges- ok, will do, but for 50 grand man, I dont know.
Again, i'm just speaking my mind- had this been a 24K car, i'd have said nothing but if Audi is looking to gain ground on the GS's RL's, 530's, E's, M's of this world, then i'm absolutely unimpressed. Am I the only one??
Or not.
http://lexus.com/assets/models/gallery/photos/main_assets/interior/GS-493.jpg
http://www.audiusa.com/model_gallery/0,3525,bodyStyleId-4_area-1_subarea-2_mediaId-7000401- 5683,00.html?bodystyle=a6sedan
Where is Mark Cincinnati when needed to keep us spellbound with a few dozen paragraphs on the history of Audi interiors?
"Mares eat oats and does eat oats, and little lambs eat ivy"
speaking of top interiors check out what Edmunds feature for 2005
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/103266/article.html
I would love to wax poetic on this subject, for it is the interiors of Audis that are time and time again said to be "jewel like" and as far as the switchgear is concerned, the switches and knobs seem like high end audio equipment in terms of their tactile feel and appearance.
But I will not spend another 1,500 words trying to convince someone, anyone, who hasn't seen them in person but has seen the pictures posted here and has concluded the Audi interiors are cheap. Why not?
Because, unless I miss my guess, those of us who think Audi interiors have few peers but many "rivals" (who repeatedly miss the mark) -- no matter what their credentials as auto journalists might be -- are expressing opinions and are basing their remarks on emotion.
The LPS cars have been written about time and again and I would have thought that "nobody doesn't love Audi interiors." Obviously, this isn't the case -- some folks just like their choices, their faves more. It is a free country.
Quantity may count -- maybe it doesn't -- but, the quantity of glowing reviews about Audi interiors dominates the reviews and comments about LPS interiors overall.
Audi interiors are the benchmark -- other aspects pertaining to Audis (and the LPS cars generally) are way wide open for debate. Audi interiors, however, are what the other guys aspire to.
This "fact" doesn't make it a universal truth. If you are looking for truth -- you've come to the right place. Let the debate continue.