IsraelRX

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1897569

1. Infiniti M45 Sport
2. Acura RL
3. Lexus GS430
4. Mercedes-Benz E350
5. Audi A6 4.2 Quattro
6. BMW 530i
7. Cadillac STS V8
8. Jaguar S-Type 4.2 VDP Edition

Talk about Japanese Domination
The GS430 (who btw managed a 5.7 sec 0-60!!! and scored like the 530i a 9 in handling):

Highs: Exquisitely smooth
mechanical interface, refined
operations, excellent
performance.
Lows: Too much sensory
deprivation for some.
The Verdict: Almost too
subtle for the talking primates
who buy cars.

LexFather

I moved here b/c we already had a thread in the 3GS forum
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=155939

Kudos to the M, we saw this coming. I do not agree at all with the RL being 2nd, C &D had to protect their usual Accord favorite 10 best winner.

It is clear for the money, you cannot beat the Japanese.

robloc93

I'm canceling my subscription to those bastards!!!! Why is there a 6 cylinder BMW and Benz in that comparo??C&D sucks Honda D%ck!!!!!!sorry guys for the vulgar statement but they lost there touch.

<VENOM>

I don't understand the reason behind the 6 cylinder german cars when the others are all V8, Im sure someone will write/email the magazine and they will have a half *** reason as to why they did that, they always do

I thought the RL was a LS, 7series, SClass competitor, or does it fit better with the above cars

SteVTEC

I was wondering the same thing, but they all would have dominated the RL and given it's C&D and they're smitten with Hondas, they woudln't have wanted to make it look "too" bad.

Gojirra99

The test has a price limit of $55k

<VENOM>

gotcha, figured it was that

rominl

iTrader: (4)

yeah exactly. tell the germans to somehow get their v8 cars to under 55k and we will talk again

LexFather

In the article, it looks like they wanted to test all the V-8 sedans. But since Acura only makes a V-6 RL, and as SteVTEC stated, they love their Hondas, they had to include it. So they changed the comparo to 55k luxury sport sedans. And we know at that price, the Germans except Audi are dead meat.

SteVTEC

$55k limit? That's lame. Chances are if you're willing to spend $55k on a luxury sedan, $60k or even $65k is not going to make one bit of difference. That's what you call intended segmentation to produce a desired outcome.

LexFather

Supplied by Jrock, the article.

http://secure.grubbs.com/cardriver.pdf

Yeah, its tough. At this point, the Germans will get crushed. Funny thing is, you can load the E and 5 to levels the Japanese cannot approach price-wise, only the Caddy STS can hit near 70k. The BMW does still offer 1 huge advantage, it offers a manual.

Hopefully, they will make a V-8 only test. Curious but, will they then include the RL in the V-6 only test, where it should probably win (since they love it so much now)?

IsraelRX

It wouldn't change the awful styling and i-drive, plus in the handling they scored the same a 9, with the M45 higher a 10, how a 545 can change that.

Iceman

Why not? Do you think it really should have been first?

LEXUS FAN!

why is the GS430 and the M45 against BMW, Acura, and MB V6's?

LexFather

B/C Car and Driver wanted to initally do a V-8 only comparo but their beloved RL would have been excluded, so they did it on price.
I'm looking through my old C&D and they usually almost always use equivilent engines. The last comparo with these type sedans, here was the outcome (all V-8s)
1. 540
2. A6
3. GS
4. Q45
5. DTS
6. S-type.

Before that test, they tested the comparable V-8s. Here was the outcome
1. 540
2. GS 400
3. E430
4. Q45
5. STS
(and they basically called the GS/540 a tie).

When they did do a comparison (it was for 6 cylinders only) last, the OLD M45 and the Lincoln LS included V-8s (M45 V-8 only, LS b/c of price).
1. E320
2. 530
3. A6
4. GS 300
5. M45
6. Lincoln LS
7. S-type