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Dennis, I think merc1 was talking about the CL not the CLK. He can correct me if I'm wrong
xjs5,
Yes in my opinion the new CL (not the CLK) is the best looking Mercedes of my short lifetime. It is simply gorgeous, and looks nothing like a Mustang. A Mustang has scoupes and such, the CL has nice clean lines, with a roofline to die for. To me the really good looking Mercedes in the recent past were the old 300CE/E320 Coupe, the still current SL and going back further the W126 S-Class, the old 420/560SELs of the time, of course the W124 E-Class from 1986-1995. Timeless. These cars still look great today. You can't say that about too many other companys early 90's and 1980's cars.
denniswade,
Yes Dennis I was talking about the top-of-the-line coupe the CL. The CLK looks good to, but it should have been pillarless like the CL. Now I hear that the next CLK (2004) is supposed to mimic the CL like the new C did the new S, we'll see. The CL's roof and pillarless design is what makes it oh-so good looking. (On the blackmail, duely noted).
M
Anyway just keep your purchase commitments particularly as they relate to luxury items like these cars based on disposable income and you can weather anything. Good luck!
Re the CL vs CLK -- I like the CL, it's certainly pleasant and MUCH better looking than its predecessor -- but the CLK is so slick it hurts me to look at it. Love that Italian styling, I do (even though it's not Italian).
Thank you.
Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
PatHost - sorry that Pablo & I got off the subject at hand.
On another Note the Detroit show is so much better than the Chicago show. Everyone is there...Ferrari, Aston-Martin, Lamborghini. In Chicago these 3 don't have company sponsored stands. A local dealer has a few Ferraris and maybe a Lotus on hand but thats it. I have never seen an Aston-Martin outside of a magazine until January of this year. The Ferrari Barchetta Pinifarina...WOW!!!
M
Do you think Audi is the Infiniti of this group? You don't speak much about the A-8. It is a great car but loses value so quickly. When we looked at it my wife felt it was too much of a "man's" car and didn't like the noise emanating from the Quattro. After you get used to the quietness of a Lexus LS it is hard to put up with any noise.
But talking about utter non-appearance - has cadillac ever been mentioned in this group? A guy I know leased their 4 door (is it the Seville?), and I must say it is quirkily nice. I'm not sure why they aren't more popular in the US, given how pathetic roads are (at least in CA).
M
which is an arcane phenonmenon that I don't understand . The comparison to infiniti per resalemakes sense. We're talking about volume in the 2,000 range. In comparison to sales however, Audi the company sets records every month for two years. As for the S8, quattro, high speed stability, flat corning, straight line tracking
I'm just guessing it would wipe the floor with the Lexus. merc1's third place evaulation is the convential thinking on the subject and has been for decades but the truth is Audi enthusiasts don't consider Mercedes to be true competition (BMW, that's antoher story...)
eight cyl. sedans.
By the way when I looked at the A-8 (long version) it had a $72k sticker but was only $30 per month over an LS430 with a $61k sticker. Audi must have been heavily discounting. The buyout was only $2,500 more and leases were equivalent terms.
The LS400 at low 50's was a bargain. LS430 sticker 61k seems right. I know they have "European Suspension" upgrade- I hope it is not $9,000
xjs5,
Definitely not Mitsu. I just meant that people don't consider Audi as much as they do Mercedes or BMW. Audi is still afterall feeling its way in this country in the 50K+ market. Of course I would have no problem with 70K for a an Audi because I know I can get that sticker way down compared to a BMW or Mercedes of the same price.
M
Thanks!
Mark
flint350 - did I make these points well. You are super elegant at making them and have done so several times in the past.
Merc1 - never say never. But I do realize you would be committing heresy. Maybe flint350, myself and wbwynn are going to kidnap you sometime and force you to drive an LS430.
xjs5,
That probably as good as it's going to get for an S8. The Audi dealer here can't keep them, but the regular short wheelbase A8 is being heavily discounted.
M
So this is what you get for that extra $18k! I knew there had to be something. (sorry Benz fans, I just couldn't resist - after all it's on your own board.)
When I tested the LS430 and IS300, though, I was actually more impressed with the LS than I was the iS, simply because I expected less of it. The thing handled great, and the interior just made me drool. The styling is another story -- I still think it's ugly, especially the upright grille and goofy headlights. But if I wanted a large luxury car, it would definitely be on my short list.
of Mercedes quality- maybe it will work.
merc1,
the days of 10,000 $ discounts on Audi are gone from what I can tell. ...anyone who has not bought an Audi recently might not be aware of
how expensive they have become.
Edmunds TMV for A8 is $59,249 (with no option).
It is not MSRP but it is $4,268. over invoice.
A6 2.8 are getting $2,000 and it goes up from there. The deals on Audis are when they
sit on dealer lots and become two model years old- there are a few you might find in a national search but the picture you're painting of "heavy discounts" is from two years ago- trust Edmunds TMV, unfortunately it's right.
I want to see the expose!
xjs5,
I know. Do you think they'll get to the status of Mercedes of at least trying to charge sticker price without blinking?
M
The link sounds very interesting but it won't work for me.
M
dennis - youv'e got guts - If I make that type of comment and my wife reads it I'm sleeping in the car for the next month or so.
merc1 - I was appparently getting great discount on an A-8L here in NJ and the car was not on the lot. In December Audi was certainly still discounting heavily. They were even throwing in the ivory white color, 18" wheels and alcantra interior at a price barely above an LS430 that was over $10K cheaper in msrp and that was before I even started to negotiate price. What do you make of the article on MB? In all honesty the LS430 interior blows away the S-Class. I think the german auto mags are upset about that and the fact that the A-8L interior is also beautiful and of very high quality - certainly well above an S as well.
M
http://mbspy.bacosys.be/mbquality.htm