Comparison - V8 "Sport" Sedans

  • Thread starter 1X83Z
  • 63 comments
  • 3,158 views

Which?

  • INFINITI M45

    Votes: 2 8.3%

  • AUDI A6 4.2

    Votes: 6 25.0%

  • BMW 540i

    Votes: 13 54.2%

  • JAGUAR S-TYPE 4.0

    Votes: 3 12.5%
  • Total voters
    24
americans dont get those wacky cars.

the lincoln LS might have fitted well in the comparison though. it is one of the few domestics i would consider buying.
 
If the S-Type R came in manual, theres plenty of reason to believe it might be the fastest sedan in the world. The same goes for the XJR. They both do 0-60 in 5.0 seconds with an Auto. What does the M5 do it with a 6 spd? 4.7?
 
road & track claims the m5 has a 0-60 in 5 seconds.

btw, i plan on doing some car comparison threads in the future. one will be m5 vs s8 vs any other super sports sedan. another would be 760Li vs s600 vs vw phaeton vs any other cars........

maybe i will also do one of the bentleys, rolls royces and the maybachs.
 
At first glance I'll pick the Bimmer. But considering all other factors, the Infiniti is most "sport" in engne terms but surely can't beat the Bmw in handling and the Audi's performance in terms of accelaration isn't "sport" at all, I'll pick the Jaguar because its more of an all rounder and I can slap on a supercharger and become a Type-R.

Why no Lexus or MB E-Class?
 
the is300 would fit in this comparo well i think.

i think before we post a car comparison, the poster should make a thread saying, "which cars for ******* comparo?" once things are generally settled, and all cars are considered that should be, the comparison could be posted.
 
The Audi was tempting, but in the end I voted for the Jag, due to it being slightly cheaper. The BMW looks just like any other - dated - and is rediculously overpriced. :rolleyes:
 
Styling and handling are those subjective things that appeal to different people in different ways. There are people (presumably the designers at least) who think that the M45 is good-looking. I think it's one of the least attractive cars in its sector that I've ever seen.

Likewise, everyone likes their car's handling to be slightly different to the next person, so if you're going to make a real judgement in real life, you have to list what you consider to be important and then buy the car which best fits this profile.

An internet survey of this nature is by definition not real life, so people can use whatever parameters they like in making their decision.
 
Originally posted by 12sec. Civic
To very roughly quote Top Gear: "The BMW 5 Series is quite possibly the finest automobile in the world."

The M45 doesnt come in manual.

The A6 doesnt come in manual.

The S-Type doesnt come in manual.

'Nuff said.
Click to expand...

A point that totally escaped me, but does go to prove the BMW's sporting aspirations (and ability). And as has also been stated earlier, a car can be all sorts of practical and economical, but if it doesn't appeal to someone's more primitive side (especially in the sport-whatever segments) it really doesn't cut it. One only needs to look at the Aztek for a total failure of practicality over beauty....
 
Originally posted by advanR
the is300 would fit in this comparo well i think.
Click to expand...

Heh. The IS300 is small, much cheaper, and doesn't have a V-8. If a Lexus were to be added to the comparison, it should be a GS430.
 
TVRKing just made me see the BMW in a completely different light.

BMW's have always been kind of the default choice for cars in the last 10 years.

You cant really go wrong with one. And they almost always win any comparison test they're in.


But, the BMW sedans are starting to look very mundane. They are starting to remind me of a Crown Vic or something.

Just the standard rich guy car. He has read Consumer Reports and thats his choice.


I've already voted for the BMW. But if I could change my vote. I'd choose the Jaguar.

The M45 still needs to be refined and tweaked in the next few years. Infiniti can throw whatever engine they want to at it. But I am pretty sure it needs some wrinkles smoothed out before it will be on par with the other, well established, cars in this segment.


The Audi also has the same feeling I just described for the 5 Series.


The S-Type is cheaper than the 540i. But (pricewise) how does the S-Type-R compare to the 540i?


PS, How much hp does the GS430 have now? The GS400 (One of the most beautiful cars out there) had 300hp right?
 
Originally posted by 12sec. Civic
TVRKing just made me see the BMW in a completely different light.

BMW's have always been kind of the default choice for cars in the last 10 years.

You cant really go wrong with one. And they almost always win any comparison test they're in.


But, the BMW sedans are starting to look very mundane. They are starting to remind me of a Crown Vic or something.
Click to expand...


Yeah - the 5 and 3 are beginning to get dated. The 5's getting a radical new re-design for '04, but the 3 will continue kicking on for longer - BMW insists that it's up-to-date.


PS, How much hp does the GS430 have now? The GS400 (One of the most beautiful cars out there) had 300hp right?
Click to expand...

The GS430's got 300 horsepower - it's a winning engine. Light car too. Starts at $47,000 US ($71,500 CDN) so it's a bit expensive. I'd call it overstyled, but classy.
 
Originally posted by M5Power


Yeah - the 5 and 3 are beginning to get dated. The 5's getting a radical new re-design for '04, but the 3 will continue kicking on for longer - BMW insists that it's up-to-date.



The GS430's got 300 horsepower - it's a winning engine. Light car too. Starts at $47,000 US ($71,500 CDN) so it's a bit expensive. I'd call it overstyled, but classy. [/B]
Click to expand...



So the 4.3L V8 has just as much hp as the 4.0L V8?

I guess it must have more torque.
 
Originally posted by 12sec. Civic
If the S-Type R came in manual, theres plenty of reason to believe it might be the fastest sedan in the world. The same goes for the XJR. They both do 0-60 in 5.0 seconds with an Auto. What does the M5 do it with a 6 spd? 4.7?
Click to expand...

It may be fast but they compared the M5 to the S-Type R on either driven or pulling power (I cant remember the show) they got a touring car driver (Alain menu I think, god this was like uh, 3 months ago) and tested the two around a track. The S-type R was beat hands down by the M5 handling wise, although that was probably due to the S-types auto transmision. Although the S-type didn't look as fast through the corners either.

I think the only S-type that is a manual is the V6 model, which is a shame to not have a manual S-type R.

Mind you out of that selection of cars, well I wouldn't buy any of them.

Although I wouldn't mind seeing pics and stats of the Lexus GS430 and the E-class anyway.
 
Originally posted by M5Power
Heh. The IS300 is small, much cheaper, and doesn't have a V-8. If a Lexus were to be added to the comparison, it should be a GS430.
Click to expand...

oops, my bad. forgot about v8s, and besides, the is300 is really in the 3-series range.

possibly another comparison in the future could include this class of cars.

also, i think current BMWs look great. I really hate it when car companies introduce new controversial styling to a car that looks fine to begin with. I think the new 7 looks great. The 3 and 5-series could use a face-lift, but i think they look fine. When bmw finally does redesign them, i hope they will do it right.
 
Originally posted by advanR

also, i think current BMWs look great. I really hate it when car companies introduce new controversial styling to a car that looks fine to begin with. I think the new 7 looks great. The 3 and 5-series could use a face-lift, but i think they look fine. When bmw finally does redesign them, i hope they will do it right.
Click to expand...
Yeah, but if they aren't controversial, what 12sec. Civic said is going to come true - they'll be dated and boring.

And for those of you who don't like the new 7-series, BMW is having the last laugh because of their huge jump in sales since re-designing it.
 
well, there is a spectrum here as well. you can make a new design, or updated one, that is attractive, but not revolutionary. i just hate it that all of these companies are coming up with **** for designs. i dont want my car to *look* futuristic, i want it to have actually improved features because it is made in current day.

i think most futuristic looking cars look like crap. and the car companies look like they certainly try too hard.

i think the new 7 looks great. i am trying to talk my father into a 745 or 760 for his next lease, rather than a mercedes. the look of the car is only one of the reasons.
 
Originally posted by advanR

i think the new 7 looks great. i am trying to talk my father into a 745 or 760 for his next lease, rather than a mercedes. the look of the car is only one of the reasons.
Click to expand...

I still wouldn't get a new 7. I'd rather have a new A8 and save the difference - plus I wouldn't have to master iDrive and get used to the certainly different styling.
 
I will certainly look at the main 3 german manufacturers when he approaches the end of his lease. But I am currently leaning towards the BMW. I think the styling looks great, rear is questionable. The interiors of both the 745 and 760 are much better than even the S500 he has now (this is probably one of the only things he would care about). BMW power. The last reason I want him to look at the 7s is because I would like to have the best car made by BMW in our garage. :) Im a whore, I know.

I will look at the A8 though, thanks for the suggestion. I just wasnt thinking it was in the same class as the MB or BMW, like we said before. Im sure you couldnt care less about "class", but he does.
 
Originally posted by advanR
I just wasnt thinking it was in the same class as the MB or BMW.
Click to expand...

It isn't - but don't tell Audi.

Actually, I haven't even seen a new one yet (I'm not sure that they're out) but judging on past A8s, I must say that the S-class and 7-series are both better overall.
 
Actually, I just read the recent Car and Driver comparo, The M45 squared off with a bunch of 3.0L luxo-cruisers: Jaguar S-type 3.0; Lincoln LS V-8; Lexus GS430; Audi A6 2.7T Quattro; BMW 530iA; and the latest Mercedes-Benz E320. Among all that I listed before, the M finished 5th out of seven. For a 4.5L car, I think thats embarassing. What if the M competes with the big dogs (E500; 540i; A6 4.2; S-Type 4.0), I think the M doesn't even stand a chance.

On my personal opinion, my vote goes to the M, coz it has the most value-per-toy. But if I really like the 'Driver's' car, I'll pick on the 540i. All-weather control, A6 is the best. (nothing personal, but the Jag is the worst in this group)
 
Originally posted by The Vanishing Boy
Actually, I just read the recent Car and Driver comparo, The M45 squared off with a bunch of 3.0L luxo-cruisers: Jaguar S-type 3.0; Lincoln LS V-8; Lexus GS430; Audi A6 2.7T Quattro; BMW 530iA; and the latest Mercedes-Benz E320. Among all that I listed before, the M finished 5th out of seven. For a 4.5L car, I think thats embarassing. What if the M competes with the big dogs (E500; 540i; A6 4.2; S-Type 4.0), I think the M doesn't even stand a chance.

On my personal opinion, my vote goes to the M, coz it has the most value-per-toy. But if I really like the 'Driver's' car, I'll pick on the 540i. All-weather control, A6 is the best. (nothing personal, but the Jag is the worst in this group)
Click to expand...

I also saw this issue and note that Car & Driver picked the E-class and 540i as first and second.
 
But the E55 featured in the comparo was the last generation E-Class. I think the closest comparo between the Euro super-sedans was in Automobile magazine two months ago: the BMW M5; Audi RS6; Jaguar S-type R; and the new M-B E55 AMG squared off in that issue.
 
On paper, the RS6 won, but every car had mixed results. Automobile magzine is not very good in comparison testing, besides the test was conducted somewhere in Europe because every one of them has Euro plates (the three german cars has Deutchland letter and the Jag has the England letter on their Euro plates).
 
I know the RS6 is a fricking monster. AWD, twin turbo, makes something like 450hp. I have a top gear review video clip of it. It is quick as hell, but they said it just understeered way too much. Wasnt really fun to drive in anything but a straight line.

Isnt it basically a porsche? haha
 
Problem is (in my opinion) it doesn't have manual transmission (only AT), which it sucks. M5 has a 6-speed manual
 

Latest Posts

Back