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Comments
But it will lose a track fight to the GT-R.
I have not driven it, but every Corvette I ever owned was fun in a poor quality package.
TM
A 911 Turbo and R8 will also lose a track fight to the GT-R as well, what's your point? :confuse:
However, the Z06 will be much "purer" than the GT-R and dare I say, the R8, with its RWD, manual tranny and no nonsense design philosophy.
Yes I did, but it was back when I was in college, with my buddy's C5 Z06.
The interior quality of the C5 was really poor that I have to agree but based on my observations throughout several autoshows the C6 has improved dramatically on that department.
Was the car fun to drive? Heck yes! Especially the ability of having its tail hanging out at will. The massive torque from the small block V8 is stunning and IMO even though it has an older technology (push-rod) but it is still one of the best engines in the world. Will I be able to live with it as my daily driver? Probably not. That's why when I am getting one it'll be my sunny-weekend-canyon-backroad-and-dedicated-track-driver.
Quite honestly, I'd buy a Corvette convertible before a GT-R, just on looks alone.
If I just needed to win everything, I'd get the GT-R, but I don't need that.
TM
Throwing a bunch of parts and gadgets at a car does not make it "better engineered." Acura RL, anyone?
Yes, you have been delinquent... And marked absent too many times!!
Good to see you posting! Good luck with the car search.
Thanks Tagman. I'll hang around some and watch you yentas go at it, as you do daily :shades: Haven't seen D-Man around here, nor Howard... Anyone know what happened to these guys?
Spain looks good too Jose! David Villa had some exquisite timing in their 2nd game!
I`v been missing your insightful self, and wondering how the car search has been going on?" Tony
Thank you.
The search is still on.
Regards,
H
That it is, despite the leaf springs and push rods, you cannot deny the performance per dollar. It just isn't my kind of car though. Even with the rather pricey interior upgrade option they recently added, it's still not good enough. I quite like the 911 now that Porsche has finally dumped their awful automatic, though Edmunds is right in that it deserves real paddles, rather than lame tip-tronic buttons on the steering wheel.
If it was RS5 vs. Z06, give me the RS5.
TM
That's just the kind of person I am. My mother has a Camry. I wouldn't feel like myself if I had one. I like sporty cars just too much.
I'll probably still end up with some sort of Bimmer, Jag, Merc or Audi...
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
They will all be pretty similar... I would have to go out on a limb and say that Porsche and Audi have better long-term build quality than Nissan, though. Build quality, not reliability.
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
I would never buy a Vette, because the image of a mid-life crisis still lingers. Well, actually it doesn't linger--it persists. Yes, I'm biased, and I know the Corvette is a wonderful car to drive, but simply I can think of better ways to spend my money. I would feel as stupid driving a Corvette as I would driving a Prius.
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
Forgive me if I sound like a bigot. I just have a bit of a vendetta against the Corvette. America can do so much better.
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
Regards,
OW
Regards,
OW
Indeed, Infiniti has done much to fix most of the issues with the original G. The new one has matured, at the expense of some of the playfulness of the old car. That's the way it is with the whole industry now though, the new one is bigger, faster, heavier, and a bit softer, no matter who makes it.
The upcoming S4 would be my pick in the entry lux field, with the G35 second place.
I understand how you feel. There's just too much about the Corvette that says "glorified Camaro" to me. That, and the last good looking Corvette was the 1967.
As far as the gold chain crowd, that's really not much of a "look" here. Sounds mostly East coast, perhaps. ??? :confuse:
But, I maintain that the latest Corvette is a lot of car for the money. (And, I don't want to buy one... LOL)
TM
If the "ancient technology" can get me the best performance for the buck then I say bring it on GM boys!!
Yeah, put an Audi or BMW emblem in front of the RL then I'll bet that all of the sudden that "charisma" appears...
That's just it though. An Audi or BMW wouldn't look like that. Their cars all have instantly recognizable "family DNA". If it were an Audi it would have a single frame grill, LEDs under the lights, and the usual Audi Bauhaus curves. If it were a BMW it would have the double kidney grill, the halo style headlights, Bangle creases and slashes, and the BMW Hofmeister kink.
The RL doesn't even look like other Acuras, which are themselves not exactly known as paragons of styling excellence. Acura started to develop a theme with the TSX and TL, and then, inexplicably, just sort of went somewhere else. The RL just looks like "some car". It's incredibly dull looking compared to the GS or M, let alone the Germans, which is one of the reasons why its been such a dud.
I can live with that you know...
The Honda Odyssey "mini" van, in fact. From the front, that is.
I understand. It can get like that sometimes after a car has handed you your lunch a few too many times! :P
Come on now. Be fair. What's the ratio of young, hip guys versus chrome-domed, golf-shirt-and-loafers/sandles-wearing, middle-aged guys driving Porsches?? :surprise: If it weren't for those middle-aged guys, there would be no "sports cars." The insurance is too dang high for the younger set!
Not even slightly. The RL is completely lacking in charisma, as well as a multitude of other things. It's too cramped, the interior has that "faux-luxury" feel typical of Acura, the center stack and secondary controls are horrible, Acura "8-way/4-way is enough for anybody" seats, that hack-job of a keyless ignition system, etc.
When you have superb cars like the XF, the A6, and the M, there's absolutely no reason to buy the RL, which is what just about everybody isn't doing.
If you really want best performance for your buck, just tune an EVO.
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
The RL is boring. Dull. Unexciting. It is certainly hard for a car in that class to really be "exciting," as I don't think the RL, GS, S80, A6 or even M35 fit the bill. However, Acura really found a new low with the RL. Nice, in theory, but very poorly executed. It would make you comfortable and satisfied day in and day out, but when I drop $50K on a car I want something more than that.
I'll ask one thing: Do you have any interest in owning one?
And by the way, are you actually defending the car because you like it, or because you just enjoy playing devil's advocate? I'm a big Honda supporter, and I hasten to remind you that I have owned several Acuras, but the luxury brand continues to disappoint. Not me, but everyone. Why do you think their sales are on such a decline?
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
There are only two Corvettes that are truly desirable, to me:
'08 BMW X5 4.8i • '06 Audi A3 2.0T DSG • '05 Audi S4 Cabriolet
Actually, the car with the best performance per dollar is the Ariel Atom. It smoked the Z06 (as well as the Carrera GT and Murcielago LP640) on the TG test track, and was only a half second slower than the Enzo. The fastest EVO they've done to date, the old FQ-400, only managed 23rd place.
The new V8 Atom would probably be able to take down the Ascari and K-segg, but I'm pretty sure its rather pricey.
Those late '50s Vettes are cool, but I like the original '53-55 the most. That's the only time the Vette was ever a truly elegant car. I assume the second photo is the split window 'Ray? Great car.
Nope. But I don't have any interest in owning a 5er (except M5), E, M, A6 and GS as well...
And by the way, are you actually defending the car because you like it, or because you just enjoy playing devil's advocate?
I don't like nor dislike the RL, I think it is too blend compare to the TL and Acura priced it too high initially. Also, not to mention the lacking of a V8. However, I just don't think the RL is that "worthless" as some of you have put it. Maybe you didn't mean it but that's the expression I received.
You would probably mark me as a Lexus/Toyota fanboy but deep inside I am a huge Honda/Acura supporter. My first car was a 1990 Acura Legend and I drove a '97 Honda Accord for 6 years before bought my current IS350. Like I said before, Acura had a great intention of making the RL to be a 5er fighter but unfortunately the product it presented came up short. Overall I think Acura still had itself in a good place strategically, they just need to step up on offering competitive products. They can begin with:
- Make sure the next RL will be a true 5er fighter and give it a V8
- Make sure the next TL will live up to the hype
- Make the SH-AWD RWD-biased
- Make a TL coupe
- Develop a flagship sedan by 2012 with the RWD-biased SH-AWD platform
Those above will not make Acura the number one luxury brand in US but will definitely enable it to pass Infiniti and Audi for a very solid number 4.
I do like the C6 style and the upgrade interior is acceptable now. It's nice to know choosing one today offers a tradition of very desirable and prominent blood lines.
You could still call it (C6) cheap but way cool to me.
Regards,
OW
Whole-heartedly agree.
The C6 interior isn't up there yet with the "supers" but is much improved and acceptable now.
That's the only one on your list that isn't supposed to happen. Acura has a RWD RL in the works with a new V8 engine, and it will offer a RWD based AWD system like the M. They are also working on a flagship sedan, though it isn't supposed to be ready until at least 2015.
I don't see the CL being resurrected. The entry-lux coupe market in the US isn't that big, and its already very well saturated.
Other than acknowledging the GT-R as an outstanding point and shoot appliance for the track, I was not very impressed with the feedback on the car overall, particularly as it related to the GT-R's most common use... driving OFF the track.
Bottom line, C & D indicates that driving the GT-R off the track is quite the unpleasant experience. Generally, that's where most of the cars spend their time anyway... off the track... and they are usually enjoyable and fun to drive within reason... not so with the GT-R.
I also got the clear impression that the transmission is too clunky, jerky, and rough.
In the review that comps the Porsche 911 Turbo and the GT-R, there is also an appearance by BMW's M3. At the end of the day, even though its power difference was significantly less, the M3 won the hearts of all the reviewers... hands down.
So far, I still must respect the GT-R for its capabilities on the track, but overall, the C & D article has deflated my opinion of the car. Obviously, I must read more reviews and try one for myself in the future.
TM
Still, I'd rather own & drive the M, my misgivings about its styling not withstanding. The interior, which matters more to me than the exterior, is top-drawer, & the car is simply a better drive. But it's not a terribly good-looking automobile.
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/-2010-bmw-7-series-will-look-like-this-ar5- 9336/pictures.html
2009 ACURA TL.
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/future_cars_2009_and_- beyond/2009_acura_tl_car_news
2010 NISSAN 370Z
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=2&article_id=6753
2010 AUDI A7/S7
http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080129.002/latest-audi-a7-renderings-emerge