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I got used to the comfort of my 2005 Acura RL but looking to spice up my life with a new car
What should I buy?
Lexus ES 300H - $40k-50k
- Surprisingly comfortable
- Less trips to the gasoline station
Tesla 70D - $70-80k
- Not quite the same kind of car, but it's like a new iPhone on the market
- Will have auto-pilot!
- car is not as comfortable as my RL and rode noise isn't the best.
- hurts my wallet.. a lot more
Used Lexus LS460 - $30-40k
- Like a very slight upgrade to my RL
- A bit more comfortable, but it's like driving a boat
Also considering a
- Nissan Leaf which is the most friendliest to my wallet.
- Lexus NX or RX for more space
I can swear the rode noise is more than the Acura RL on a freeway.
It is a electric sports car.
Also plenty of members on their forums is complaining about how uncomfortable the seats get after driving a hour.
Tesla seems to have acknowledged this and recently put out an option for more comfortable seats.
Yes, Leaf is mentioned in my list, just no photos.
I got used to the comfort of my 2005 Acura RL but looking to spice up my life with a new car
What should I buy?
Lexus ES 300H - $40k-50k
- Surprisingly comfortable - Less trips to the gasoline station
Tesla 70D - $70-80k
- Not quite the same kind of car, but it's like a new iPhone on the market
- Will have auto-pilot!
- car is not as comfortable as my RL and rode noise isn't the best.
- hurts my wallet.. a lot more
- Less trips to the gasoline station
This should be a BIG ++++ for the Tesla yet you failed to put that as a bullet point ...
I didn't suspect any malice, but you can only have one. Which would you like to keep?
And no, I haven't driven a Tesla. I was going off of user accounts here which claimed the ride to be "eerily quiet".
I think part of the resistance you are getting here has to do with your multi-class options. Many of the cars you have pointed out aren't really cross shopped, and only the ES is in the same class (not price range) as the RL. We could go on for pages about cars we want to or could own, but comparing them to the RL would be moot.
If you have an RL (although it is the bug-prone '05), you're probably spoiled for pretty good long-term reliability.
That being the case, I'd keep it Japanese lest you end up disappointed with your ownership experience. Since I agree with you that the RLX is a non-starter, that basically leaves Lexus (I don't count Infiniti -- it's no longer either Japanese-owned nor as reliable as before).
If you find the LS too much of a boat, that leaves the ES -- which you said appeals to you -- or the GS, which is a fundamentally higher-quality machine than the disguised-Camry ES and a much closer comparo to what you're used to. So, you might want to check out the GS, which is available in regular, sporty and hybrid versions.
One last note: I wouldn't get too worked up about gas mileage in a $50,000 car. You'd spend less if you got a $40,000 car that gets 9 miles a gallon. (Which reminds me: Considered the Charger Hellcat?)
Not sure about your Infinity reliability statement. Quite a few of their models score very high in reliability rankings.
Some do. On the other hand, their Mississippi trucks (like the Nissan-branded ones) have been unmitigated disasters, and C/D reported that the latest M sedan's electronic nannies in their long-term tester were ill-executed and functioned so poorly, they wished they hadn't ordered them. That doesn't count statistically as a "defect," but it speaks to sloppy engineering and lax preparation for market.
Well, I wouldn't call the RLX or TLX well executed engineering launches to be fair. I personally don't like Nissan except for their sports cars. I was just trying to keep a level thinking for the discussion. FWIW, the SUV models of Infinity, those based on the trucks, were the highest rated. Generalizations and blanket statements really have no value in car buying today. Two models from the same make can be on opposite ends of the spectrum.
Genesis. Very good car and a very good value. They held the cost down within reason partly by skimping on expensive weight-saving materials, so it handles well enough but weighs like a tank, which kills gas mileage.
Equus: Better for the rear passenger than for the driver, so it's a better buy if you live in Asia.
Genesis. Very good car and a very good value. They held the cost down within reason partly by skimping on expensive weight-saving materials, so it handles well enough but weighs like a tank, which kills gas mileage.
Acura RLX weight 3933-3997 lbs (FWD), hyundai genesis 3,748–4,057 lbs. (wikipedia). Seems like acura with all these expensive weight-saving materials managed to save whooping 60lbs .
thomask, what's your point? I don't think Tony is all too fond of the RLX, so your comparison is likely moot. As for your S-class statement, the car is an engineering marvel. It has everything you could ask for in a car and more unless you like to DRIVE your car. The same can be said about the 750Li, Eqqus, K900, and LS460, the big body lux cruisers. Straight line acceleration is wonderful, and you'll never feel the road. Well, some of us like to know when we are planted in a corner, and the RLX-SHAWD is the leader of those 5 in that department. Less car, but more fun. The 2G RL was similar, but body roll wasn't as good as it could have been.
Cars models these days have much less distance between them. As such, you are going to find some who like each of them for their own reasons. While I would be tempted as hell to take an S-class, I would likely choose the RLX-SHAWD of the 5 listed above. (Assuming somehow I could afford to get any of them in my garage.)
Tony, your point is contradictory. No heavy sound materials means it's light, but it weighs like a tank killing MPG?
thomask, what's your point? I don't think Tony is all too fond of the RLX, so your comparison is likely moot. As for your S-class statement, the car is an engineering marvel. It has everything you could ask for in a car and more unless you like to DRIVE your car. The same can be said about the 750Li, Eqqus, K900, and LS460, the big body lux cruisers. Straight line acceleration is wonderful, and you'll never feel the road. Well, some of us like to know when we are planted in a corner, and the RLX-SHAWD is the leader of those 5 in that department. Less car, but more fun. The 2G RL was similar, but body roll wasn't as good as it could have been.
Cars models these days have much less distance between them. As such, you are going to find some who like each of them for their own reasons. While I would be tempted as hell to take an S-class, I would likely choose the RLX-SHAWD of the 5 listed above. (Assuming somehow I could afford to get any of them in my garage.)
Tony, your point is contradictory. No heavy sound materials means it's light, but it weighs like a tank killing MPG?
My point is that you get the most luxury for the price out of hyundai nowadays. I can live with a little bit less fun if I can save 10k$+. Difference is not going to be huge anyway. They're not sport's cars after all . If I could afford S-Class, I would buy equus and proper sport's car, to get both, luxury and proper fun .
Acura RLX weight 3933-3997 lbs (FWD), hyundai genesis 3,748–4,057 lbs. (wikipedia). Seems like acura with all these expensive weight-saving materials managed to save whooping 60lbs .
Interesting that the writer at Wikipedia said that. The writer at Car and Driver says this:
I don't know what weight-saving materials the RLX has. 007 is correct that I, personally, care more about the RL. My comment about "Asians" was in reference to the widely reported fact that luxury sedans sold in Asia (including the Buick LaCrosse) place a higher priority on rear seat room, luxury and amenities than on driving fun, because the owners of the costliest cars there don't drive the cars themselves -- they hire drivers to do it for them. Specifically with the Equus and K900, the top versions of each car have consciously emulated the super-luxury right-rear-seat packages of the top luxury brands, with recliners, footrest, trays and rear controls, yet neither car is generally regarded as particularly rewarding to drive. This was not an oversight on the maker's part.
Tony, your point is contradictory. No heavy sound materials means it's light, but it weighs like a tank killing MPG?
007, don't know if I was clear on this point. I didn't mean to say they left out soundproofing materials. I meant to say they held down the cost by refraining from the replacement of heavier steel with lightweight but costly aluminum, magnesium or carbon fiber. Stealing again from C/D:
"Although its preponderance of ultra-high-strength steel is high for any car in the industry, the Genesis doesn't use aluminum for a single body panel or structural component. Consequently, the Genesis bucks the trend of slimmer Hyundais and swells by roughly 130 pounds compared with its predecessor."
I didn't mean to suggest the Genesis lacked soundproofing materials. To the contrary, every report I've seen suggests the car is commendably quiet. On the whole, I'm impressed enough that I'd be tempted to shop one -- used, of course. ;.)
I don't know what weight-saving materials the RLX has. 007 is correct that I, personally, care more about the RL. My comment about "Asians" was in reference to the widely reported fact that luxury sedans sold in Asia (including the Buick LaCrosse) place a higher priority on rear seat room, luxury and amenities than on driving fun, because the owners of the costliest cars there don't drive the cars themselves -- they hire drivers to do it for them. Specifically with the Equus and K900, the top versions of each car have consciously emulated the super-luxury right-rear-seat packages of the top luxury brands, with recliners, footrest, trays and rear controls, yet neither car is generally regarded as particularly rewarding to drive. This was not an oversight on the maker's part.
K900 would be more like Genesis than Equus I think. I guess I would buy genesis even though it's a little bit less rewarding to drive. I don't think the difference is huge.
The K900 is so similar to the Eqqus that many wonder why it even exists given Hyundia's large stake in Kia. I would consider the Cadenza the Genesis equivalent for Kia.
I also agree that if I could afford an S-class, I wouldn't buy one now. My statement wasn't quite what I intended. I meant if those 5 cars were available to me free of cost and I had to own one to keep long term...
I'm done being a young gun in a lux cruiser and saving my old man car days for when I'm an old man. Next car will (hopefully) be a V6 6MT coupe.
i went from an 06 RL with aspec suspension to a 2011 RL, way smoother and balanced stock suspension. MPG's still suck. Besides mpg, its a good in between of sport and comfort. Wont be easy to find though.
C/D recently gave a little explanation about its posted curb weights in a recent issue as part of a larger feature about its own testing procedures. They said they often found the published curb weights were inaccurate, so now they take the vehicles to a truck scale and actualy weigh the vehicles themselves. I don't blindly trust C/D in all matters -- for example, I question their blind allegiance to all things BMW -- but in this case, I'm inclined to believe them.
The K900 is so similar to the Eqqus that many wonder why it even exists given Hyundia's large stake in Kia. I would consider the Cadenza the Genesis equivalent for Kia.
I also agree that if I could afford an S-class, I wouldn't buy one now. My statement wasn't quite what I intended. I meant if those 5 cars were available to me free of cost and I had to own one to keep long term...
I'm done being a young gun in a lux cruiser and saving my old man car days for when I'm an old man. Next car will (hopefully) be a V6 6MT coupe.
Like the new Genesis, the Cadenza has been well received and commands good prices. Mechanically it's actually a close relative of the Hyundai Azera, both built on the FWD platform derived from the Sonata and Optima.
The relationship between Hyundai and Kia is an interesting one. From what I can gather, Hyundai bought Kia, then gave them extensive access to the Hyundai parts bin and yet a great deal of independence to develop the cars differently. To me it's the better way to do platform sharing than the GM "identical triplets" approach, and it's seemed to work well for both despite the obvious problems of blurred brand identities (not just versus each other, but for each brand relative to the market).
As for the young gun stuff, I'm drifting the opposite way myself. I'm done posing as a young gun and am looking for a comfy place to land my increasingly delicate tush. But then, I'm getting kinda old. :.)
The K900 is so similar to the Eqqus that many wonder why it even exists given Hyundia's large stake in Kia. I would consider the Cadenza the Genesis equivalent for Kia.
Yeah, my bad, center console looks similar in all of them! That's why I got confused (we don't have these kia's in Europe)
As for the young gun stuff, I'm drifting the opposite way myself. I'm done posing as a young gun and am looking for a comfy place to land my increasingly delicate tush. But then, I'm getting kinda old. :.)
No, but I test drove a Tesla Model S before I bought what I'm driving now.
I wouldn't list noise as the Model S's biggest problem but it is not as quiet as a lot of other cars, and it has many more problems to boot, as far as long term livability goes.
If you're 6'2" you're not going to fit in the back, for one thing, and the integrated headrests on the (cheaply made) front seats are going to help make you uncomfortable up there, too.
I hear that the latest models alleviate most of my concerns, but the cheap manufacture and bad design of the seats is still there.
Tesla is representative of the Way Ahead, I'd agree.
But you sort of need for Tesla to hook up with Apple or something. The basic idea of it is great...but they don't know how to put cars together to suit this particular old man, just yet.
06-02-2015, 02:44 AM
and rode noise isn't the best.
...
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