I'm not giving any handicap points, I'm talking elapsed time around a given track.

JD Power lists Audi and MB as average.

Your arguments are getting tiresome, begone. I'm done here.

 

I guess you didn't read meteoro's statement "I run it in auto-x events all the time, came in second place in DS. The car holds its own against more nimble and faster cars such as the WRX, RSX-type S, 330i and the Audi S4."

Take a look at http://www.sfrscca.org/solo2/Results/2002/PAX.html and
http://www.moutons.org/sccasolo/Lists/2003/stockc.html for some more info about Auto-X. Auto-X doesn't reward speed as much as you think.

As for JD Power, take a look at the 2003 Vehicle Dependibility Index at http://cp.yahoo.net/search/cache?p=j...=749%26CatID=1 (their site is down, this is a cached copy) and the graph at http://www.jdpa.com/presspass/pr/ima...3050bfull.gif. Notice that Audi and MB had 318 probs per 100 vehicles vs. the average of 273. Take a look at the latest CR buying guide issue or the April auto issue. You'll see many Mercedes (most of them) and Audis have below average reliability across many model years compare that to Japanese makes like Toyota/Lexus, Honda/Acura, and Nissan/Infiniti.

Here's another thing that helps support what I'm saying:
http://www.autoweek.com/search/searc...77888&record=1

 

Is Infiniti the japanese version of nissan?

 

Jah.

 

Actually no. Infiniti is to Nissan as Lexus is to Toyota, and Acura is to Honda. Infiniti is the upscale division of Nissan.

 

Huh? But isn't the Japanese Toyota = USA Lexus and Japanese Honda = USA Acura? Or is just happen to be that way (upscale/downscale, etc)?



Thanks.

 

Hmm, your question is a bit confusing. Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti are upscale luxury brands of Honda, Toyota and Nissan respectively. Those upscale brands don't exist in Japan. If memory serves, Acura was the 1st Japanese luxury nameplate, the other two companies then followed. There are no Lexuses in Japan (although they did showcase them at Tokyo Motor Show and at a Toyota Showroom I went to and sort of explained what they were).

Examples: The Acura Integra (and now RSX here) is just the Honda Integra in Japan. The Acura NSX is the Honda NSX in Japan. The Lexus SC430 is the Toyota Soarer in Japan. The Lexus IS300 is the Toyota Altezza in Japan. The Infiniti G35 is the Nissan Skyline 350GT in Japan.

 

YOU SHOULD DRIVE A FULLY LOADED MAZDA 6, I THINK YOU WILL REALLY LIKE IT

 

Alright, I'll try it.

 

Elmelloc, you are right to insist that the car for you is the one that feels best to you, no matter what anyone else says.
BUT, for what it's worth, experts (Road & Track editors) think the 3 series has been softened up a bit from earlier versions, and thought the IS300's ride was stiffer in comparison tests. In evaluating ride, consider what kind of driving you do most -- quality of road surface, your speed (in general or on curves). At slow speed on chopped-up roads, the 8 is bouncy. At high speed, curves and all, on good roads the 8 is very comfortable, with just a bit more roll than kidney-busters like the later model RX7s.
Your reaction to the Accord -- too big, therefore clumsy -- means you might especially enjoy the 8's agility. Because of its unusual weight distribution, with not only front/rear balance but also most of the weight towards the center rather than the ends, it feels as if it is swivelling around the center on sharp curves. One thing that impresses people who try my 8 is doing 180s -- or 360s.