Sports Saloons - Italians leaving the Germans dead.

Sports Saloons - Italians leaving the Germans dead.

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Ares

Original Poster:

11,000 posts

119 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
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EddyBee said:
Ares said:
EddyBee said:
It'd be a hard call between the Alfa and the Merc for me and I'm a huge BMW fan.

Nice situation to be in mind!
Not fancy seeing how a Jag compares?
Which Jag though? There aren't any decent saloons with a smoking engine.
XE S? Only heard good things about the engine.
Ok power wise you could only really compare it to the lower powered Ghibli but surely worth exploring?

I certainly would. Ok, on paper it's not quite up there with the others but cars aren't all about performance figures.
It's still range topping forced induction fast saloon like the others.

For all I know it could be pants but I'd want to see for myself how it compares.

Edited by EddyBee on Friday 21st April 16:35
I've driven one, although not in comparison with these. It's a world behind these cars! The XE S is a 340i competitor, and left wanting by the 340i IMO.

Ares

Original Poster:

11,000 posts

119 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
rayyan171 said:
Personally I'd be very happy with a used M5 as it performs much better than them all and will still be in warranty period at this price.
You can get a new M5 at this price at the moment....but it's an old car now, and loses the raw thrill of the smaller offerings.

Ares

Original Poster:

11,000 posts

119 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
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RikJonAtk said:
Surprised no XFR in your list?

Of those listed though, probably the Maser for the rarity factor.
Doesn't exist anymore!

Zod

35,295 posts

257 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
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stewy68 said:
Zod said:
If ever the term 'c**k s****t' was invented for an individual, Mr DeMuro is that person...
but the Ghibli interior is st, isn't it?

fivepointnine

708 posts

113 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
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Zod said:
but the Ghibli interior is st, isn't it?
Not sat in one YET, but from all the pictures, the interior looks like a nice place to be! I will also be looking at the Alfa (although in the Veloce guise), but am concerned it might be a bit small for my family.

Ares

Original Poster:

11,000 posts

119 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
Zod said:
stewy68 said:
Zod said:
If ever the term 'c**k s****t' was invented for an individual, Mr DeMuro is that person...
but the Ghibli interior is st, isn't it?
No - it's lovely. Especially with the leather interior/dash. Class above.

Ares

Original Poster:

11,000 posts

119 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
fivepointnine said:
Zod said:
but the Ghibli interior is st, isn't it?
Not sat in one YET, but from all the pictures, the interior looks like a nice place to be! I will also be looking at the Alfa (although in the Veloce guise), but am concerned it might be a bit small for my family.
Broadly same size as a 3-series/C-Class etc. Rear seats don't fold down though, minor issue.

Ghibli is bigger - I'd say half way between 3/C-class and 5/E-Class

Ali_T

3,379 posts

256 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
Ares said:
I've driven one, although not in comparison with these. It's a world behind these cars! The XE S is a 340i competitor, and left wanting by the 340i IMO.
The XES was recently bumped up to the F Type's tune with 380bhp so a bit more useful. However, they also raised it's price to £48k before options so it needs to be better! There are constant rumours over the XER and XFR but the most concrete one I've heard is that they're both a way off as JLR and BMW are working on a joint venture 4.0 twin turbo V8 for the Jag SVR models and the M5/M6 but it's nowhere near ready and not a priority.

Ali_T

3,379 posts

256 months

Tuesday 25th April 2017
quotequote all
Ares said:
Broadly same size as a 3-series/C-Class etc. Rear seats don't fold down though, minor issue.

Ghibli is bigger - I'd say half way between 3/C-class and 5/E-Class
And the Giulia Quadrifoglio only has 4 seats. No middle rear bench seat belt in the UK. Suits me but not for everyone.

warcalf

252 posts

86 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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I bet Porsche would have been better than them all in everyway...

DonkeyApple

54,923 posts

168 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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warcalf said:
I bet Porsche would have been better than them all in everyway...
Except one. The important one at that. wink

Quickmoose

4,482 posts

122 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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BMW - too common for me (as in the whole 3 series range added together)
Maserati...or is it an Infiniti?...sorry it's generically dreadful car design there... no class or stand out beauty for me
Mercedes...ermm..great engine...and probably my choice.

If it weren't for the Alfa, which may well prove to be less sensible, reliable(?) or accomplished in ALL areas than the others... but I simply wouldn't care.
Sure it has it's issues as far as interior plastics quality (don't care) and borrowed proportions and design details (don't care)...but it just looks and sounds superb AND it manages to not to stick an iPad on the dash. It would be very hard to not choose the default finish of dark gloss alloys with dark metallic red paint either...

Now Jaguar, hurry up with that uber XE will you....

DonkeyApple

54,923 posts

168 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
quotequote all
Ares said:
Zod said:
stewy68 said:
Zod said:
If ever the term 'c**k s****t' was invented for an individual, Mr DeMuro is that person...
but the Ghibli interior is st, isn't it?
No - it's lovely. Especially with the leather interior/dash. Class above.
It's the stylish touches like a central pod that resembles the opening of a giant clam with all the expectation of finding a valuable pearl but instead finding an early 80s Alba TV that Macro used to sell.



And then the binnacle which clearly pays homage to late 80s Hollywood star Robot Johnny 5. The mournful gaze into the driver's eyes being reminiscent of Grace Kelly.



Of course, it is well known that European royalty all have clocks that are shaped like vaginas.

And who could resist a gear knob that pays homage to the countless Uber drivers and their Prius chariots.

It does s very clearly a 'class above'. The only question that remains is: what? wink

Edited by DonkeyApple on Wednesday 26th April 12:58


Edited by DonkeyApple on Wednesday 26th April 12:59

Quickmoose

4,482 posts

122 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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Looking Japanese/far eastern outside AND in...
Not liking Maserati's design language one bit since the GT....

Zod

35,295 posts

257 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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It's hideous. It's like the sort of thing the Korean manufacturers used to produce.

mylesmcd

2,521 posts

218 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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BMW. Coming from a succession of 7 BMWs, this was the one I thought was the obvious choice….but it’s probably sitting in last place. Far better than the non-Competition M3 and very nicely put together, best gearbox no surprise. But almost too solid, too capable, a very heavy driving experience. Good feel but a world behind the Alfa. Punchy engine, but lacks character - just ‘noise’ until high revs. Crazy high limits of grip and traction, but leaves anything under 8/10th feeling very ordinary. Push on to 9/10th and it comes alive and is a very very fast and capable car - but 9/10ths is well beyond common sense on UK roads.

My problem with the M3 is that it is special, but not special enough for the money. The Alfa is. Although it is pop culture at the minute, it is the one I would buy!

Ali_T

3,379 posts

256 months

Wednesday 26th April 2017
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Quickmoose said:
It would be very hard to not choose the default finish of dark gloss alloys with dark metallic red paint either...

.
Red, yes, but I went with silver alloys. It's amazing how much larger they look and negate Clarkson's "sofa wheels" jibe...



Can't find a photo of one in red yet.

Quickmoose

4,482 posts

122 months

Friday 28th April 2017
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Its only a model, but silver wheels (as always) looks very classy


Leins

9,418 posts

147 months

Friday 28th April 2017
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As a card-carrying member of the quick German brigade, it'd be a very easy choice for me. Card would be handed in and I'd be driving off in the Alfa!

Joscal

2,072 posts

199 months

Friday 28th April 2017
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Leins said:
As a card-carrying member of the quick German brigade, it'd be a very easy choice for me. Card would be handed in and I'd be driving off in the Alfa!
Same as me, my M5 is going for one of these in the not too distant future. They Really are stunning cars in the flesh it's the first car I've lusted after in a very long time.