A lot of people won't give it a chance, since that price class demands brand cachet Equus will never have.
But...check one out next auto show you go to. From the suede headliner, down the soft leather seats seemingly off the hides of Sea Biscuit, the real wood, to the wool carpeting below, it's nice from head to toe.
Really nice.
I haven't looked lately but sales numbers absolutely dwarfed the VW Phaeton's.
Brand cachet and some styling cachet too, which in my eyes the Equus lacks. It still looks like a supersized few year old Azera to me, no matter how nice it is inside. Suede and soft leather would be expected at that price point, especially as it is likely a loss leader like the LS was.
Funny thing, the Phaeton has actually soldiered on in the EU market, selling at a trickle but still alive.
For 59k....I'm putting a down payment on that bay front condo in Ocean City, MD.
It's funny, when you get up there in price, you compete with non-automotive things. Ever notice how many yachts you see in luxury car commercials? Maybe they don't realize they are displaying alternatives. LOL
A while ago my wife chose a (not-on-the-water) beach condo over a BMW.
Actually, if I had 59K to just blow on something vehicle related, I wouldn't buy a new car either. I'd maybe have the fintail restored, buy a cool bike, and invest the rest so it funds many nice vacations. I'm happy enough with my modern car.
Any Genesis I would want would top 40K as I want the tech goodies too. If I am jumping in I am going headfirst.
I think the yacht/car thing makes sense in an aspirational sense. It's much easier to buy and keep a car than a yacht, and a nice yacht is more chic than any car, so the marketers hope it will wear off on the car. People link big luxoboat with other fancy toys, but of course the majority of car owners don't have said toys.
Wow, the Rapide? It's a good looking sedan IMO but even as an Aston superfan as myself, I don't like it's dachshund wheelbase.
Most beautiful large sedan in the world right now IMO is the latest E-class. Seriously, I would take an E550 4matic even if I could have the Aston for the same money.
the Rapide is one of the best looking four-doors ever made but the roofline is too low for a practical sedan. I sat in an A-M V8 and it was like looking out thru pillbox slits and I think the Rapide uses the same windshield.
Saw a new CLS and SLK at the dealer today. CLS had an impressive interior, especially with a few options as this car had. Sport steering wheel looked very good. Car is less ostentatious/ugly in person than in pics.
Spotted a Honda Crosstour travelling west on Levick Street near Oxford Avenue and then later an Acura ZDX a few blocks north in NE Philly. I guess somebody finds these beasts attractive.
Hopefully via sweetheart lease deals and/or heavy discounts.
I noticed the local Nissan dealer suddenly has a huge population of those big new cargo vans, maybe 15 of them, some high top some normal. They look odd somehow.
Saw a new X3 today - driver was the stereotypical demographic. Perfect vehicle, just right for shopping trips to Whole Foods, jaunts to the pilates studio, appointments with the life coach, visits to the poolboy's apartment :shades:
a few houses apart on my street, a new Chrysler 200 (rental) in light blue, and a Dodge Avenger (think it was an actual retail purchase) with a temp tag. In silver.
The 200 was actually pretty sharp looking. I liked it. the Dodge, however, looked kind of ungainly and cheap.
Three pretty rare new cars: Jaguar XK - TINY rear window, they try to conceal it with the 'blackout' treatment around the edges, and I didn't know it was a hatchback; Caddilac CTS Coupe - big rump on that one; and the rarest, a new 911 GT3 with the wing rear spoiler and loud with loud paint - don't know how satisfying it is driving a near race car in rush hour traffic :confuse: Something like this:
Looks like the next gen is coming out of the gate pretty well sales-wise. Seeing a bunch more of them on my morning commute.
Saw a few more new Volvo S60 models over the weekend, that one took a few months to see... Also, the Mini Countryman, those are pretty popular, I wanted one but can't get past the looks.
Also, noticing a lot of Mitsubushi Outlanders and Outlander sport models lately. That may be the best selling Mitsu out there right now.
Either someone showed up an hour early for a dentist appointment at the office across from where I live, or the dentist got a new car, as a fresh A5 Sportback pulled in this morning. So much better than the BMW and Hondacura hunchbacks. Dentist previously had a beige RL (two tone beige then, I guess), step up in my book.
It's a nice looking car, the A7 is pretty much just a larger version of course. I was in Germany shortly after they were released and actually saw a freshly delivered one at the Audi Forum
Stopped by a few dealers today for the hell of it. Saw an A7, usual equipment, 66K. Seems like a lot of money. A SWB A8 next to it stickered at 82K, which seems like a better deal.
MB dealer has a couple more new SLKs - looked at one up close, it is big. Maybe gaining on R129 SL size - not only mainstream cars are undergoing bloat.
I saw a 5GT recently parked next to a Sube Baja. Guess which was the ugly one?
Not just BMW. Acura too. out front of my house today, a prior generation Acura TL drove by, and passed my neighbors last gen TSX. Both extremely good looking, well designed cars. How that spawned the current generation, I do not know.
Acura seems to have evolved worse than BMW. The ZDX is best kept hidden, and the current TL compared to the old one is as bad as the E60 vs E39 5er. The new TSX bloated and blanded up too. Designers just aren't able to do much other than be copycats or be different for the sake of different, with no actual grasp of aesthetics involved.
It's funny/sad that Acura's had to advertise the (pretty minor) attempt to 'fix' the TL, in effect saying "It's not as ugly now, see?" The 'improvement' is small, IMO :sick:
Went to a little car show yesterday, and a local Ford dealer had a display. A Mustang, a Raptor, some SUV I forget, and a new Focus. Loaded. 26K! Seems like a lot of money.
You can spend $26k on a Cruze, too, just check out IL's test car. Then their drivers complain about the price! But yes, I'd skip most of the options. More to break/wear out/add weight...
I do seem to remember some kind of "Sony edition" or something Focus several years back stickering in the low-mid 20s...I chuckled then too. I hope the new one gets some good mileage anyway.
I am seeing lots of those dull new Jettas lately, some good leases out there I'm sure.
Comments
Well, current production. :shades:
But...check one out next auto show you go to. From the suede headliner, down the soft leather seats seemingly off the hides of Sea Biscuit, the real wood, to the wool carpeting below, it's nice from head to toe.
Really nice.
I haven't looked lately but sales numbers absolutely dwarfed the VW Phaeton's.
I realize that's not saying much.
Funny thing, the Phaeton has actually soldiered on in the EU market, selling at a trickle but still alive.
They've updated it about as well as they could, but it's worthy of a clean sheet design.
Personally, I'd take a Genesis, nice enough, much cheaper, more modern design. 333hp is good. 29mpg is good. Both in the same car is great.
An Amanti is a Korean Town Car to me, as it looks like one :shades:
For 59K, I can likely find a 3 year old S-class with minimal mileage and have enough left over to buy a sturdy aftermarket warranty.
It's funny, when you get up there in price, you compete with non-automotive things. Ever notice how many yachts you see in luxury car commercials? Maybe they don't realize they are displaying alternatives. LOL
A while ago my wife chose a (not-on-the-water) beach condo over a BMW.
Just looked, $35,110 in stock at Fitzmall, and that's with the must-have premium package that slathers real cowhide all over your dash.
It may not be a full blown luxury car, but to me it's the tipping point where anything that costs more gives you diminishing returns.
I'd buy that over the $59k Equus and spend the $24k on...meh, I'm a wimp, I'd probably pre-pay my kids' college tuition or something.
Any Genesis I would want would top 40K as I want the tech goodies too. If I am jumping in I am going headfirst.
I think the yacht/car thing makes sense in an aspirational sense. It's much easier to buy and keep a car than a yacht, and a nice yacht is more chic than any car, so the marketers hope it will wear off on the car. People link big luxoboat with other fancy toys, but of course the majority of car owners don't have said toys.
Most beautiful large sedan in the world right now IMO is the latest E-class. Seriously, I would take an E550 4matic even if I could have the Aston for the same money.
I like the new E coupe better than the sedan. My next door neighbor has the outgoing model (sedan) and I liked that one better.
Passat CC
New Civic sedan
What do I know I actually like the Panamera.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I noticed the local Nissan dealer suddenly has a huge population of those big new cargo vans, maybe 15 of them, some high top some normal. They look odd somehow.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
5er GT and X6 are in an ugly death match.
The 200 was actually pretty sharp looking. I liked it. the Dodge, however, looked kind of ungainly and cheap.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
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Something like this:
Saw a few more new Volvo S60 models over the weekend, that one took a few months to see... Also, the Mini Countryman, those are pretty popular, I wanted one but can't get past the looks.
Also, noticing a lot of Mitsubushi Outlanders and Outlander sport models lately. That may be the best selling Mitsu out there right now.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
MB dealer has a couple more new SLKs - looked at one up close, it is big. Maybe gaining on R129 SL size - not only mainstream cars are undergoing bloat.
No new Passats at the VW dealer.
2 Fiat 500's - one with MA vanity plate ABARTH - I guess he wanted to secure the plate while waiting for one
3 Suzuki Kizashis - Maine is a wonderful place for oddball new cars - they have a penchant it seems for the offbeat, inexpensive models
1 AC/Shelby Cobra with VT plates GENUINE.
Not just BMW. Acura too. out front of my house today, a prior generation Acura TL drove by, and passed my neighbors last gen TSX. Both extremely good looking, well designed cars. How that spawned the current generation, I do not know.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
The segment ain't what it was 10 years ago.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I do seem to remember some kind of "Sony edition" or something Focus several years back stickering in the low-mid 20s...I chuckled then too. I hope the new one gets some good mileage anyway.
I am seeing lots of those dull new Jettas lately, some good leases out there I'm sure.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.