Luxury Cars and Grand Tourers

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Tuesday, April 04, 2006

The best buys and the ones to avoid for the Luxury and Grand Tourer market in 2006....

The Best

OUR PICK

BMW 6-Series
Whether you like the look of BMW’s 6-Series or not, there’s no denying its immense presence.

The big coupe has a stately elegance about it that we just love and it’s a treat to drive, too, provided you avoid the SMG gearbox and active steering.

The new 4.8-litre V8 is fine for big roads and deep, deep pockets but the 3.0-litre straight-six is a better car all-round.

It can still devour long distances but when the roads gets twisty it handles so much better without all the extra weight over the front wheels.

The interior is beautifully appointed, too, but you will have to deal with a version of i-Drive to perform basic tasks.

The Coupe is tight in the back and is strictly for small kids and short distances.

The €96,550 630Ci Coupe is the best model, though it’s hard to argue against the €108,050 convertible version if you want crave even more attention than the Coupe affords you.

The €111,700 650Ci simply isn’t worth it and strangely, there’s still no diesel option.

Audi A8
The new Audi A8 boasts an aluminium chassis; glorious V6, V8, V10 and even W12 engines; 4WD; paddle-shift six-speed automatic transmissions and one of the most elegant interiors on the market today.

It’s a deeply impressive car to drive (fast) and on top of all that it looks absolutely fantastic, with a Saville-Row sharpness not even BMW and Mercedes can seem to bestow on their top luxury cars any more.

Its biggest flaw, however, is its ride, which is much firmer than you’d expect from such a luxurious car, so the A8’s not for the kind of people who want to be chauffeured.

It’s for those who enjoy the drive home, which you will do as long as you avoid the front-wheel-drive models.

The entry-level, 233 bhp 3.0-litre TDI V6 Tiptronic Quattro priced at €91,100 is easily the best all-round model with great performance and refinement… and some hope of respectable re-sale.

By luxury car standards, it’s a bargain.

Mercedes CLS-Class
The Mercedes CLS might be based on the E-Class saloon but the two cars are worlds apart.

The CLS is a four-door coupe with drop-dead gorgeous styling and a stylish, if a less-than-accommodating, 2+2 cockpit.

It’s not as sharp to drive a 6-Series but it’s considerably more practical and makes an even better long distance companion thanks to its AIRMATIC suspension and seven-speed automatic transmission.

Demand is high for the CLS but that bodes well for resale.

Entry-level CLS320 CDi starts at €83,515 and is powered by Mercedes’ excellent 231 bhp 3.2-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine.

The 272 bhp, 3.6-litre V6 CLS 350 is no less desirable at €85,115 though might not hold its value as well.

The €104,140 that Mercedes asks for the 304 bhp 5.0-litre V8 is simply not worth it, although the delectable CLS 55 AMG is a genuine M6 chaser for an eye-watering €146,175.

Bentley Continental GT
The most expensive car in the Luxury Car/GT segment but you can tell where every cent has gone.

The detailing is sublime, with leather roof lining, leather sun visors, chrome stalk accents, thick wool carpeting and seats that are more comfortable than your bed.

Power is from the 6.0-litre W12 engine that does service in top-of-the-line Audis and the VW Phaeton, but twin-turbo charged to produce 550 bhp and 650 NM of torque.

Despite weighing in at 2385 kg, the AWD Continental GT can dash to 60 in 4.7 seconds and it rides and handles considerably better than anything this size has a right to thanks to its active suspension.

It’s about the best long-distance cruiser there is, but it still manages to entertain on your favourite back road.

Sublime, but at a price: Between €225,000 and quarter of a million, depending on how you buy it.

Mercedes S-Class
All new S-Class is here and it doesn’t disappoint.

Gone are the nondescript looks of the old car, replaced with a more dynamic front end, a Maybach-inspired bottom and big bulging wheel-arches.

These cues are used to disguise the fact that the S has actually become 33 mm longer, 16 mm wider, 29 mm taller and 70 mm longer in the wheelbase.

It’s also loaded with innovative technology including active suspension and a radar-based active cruise control system that can operate at all speeds between 0 and 125 mph so you don’t even have to make any throttle or brake inputs in stop-and-go traffic.

The 231 bhp 3.2-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine in the S320 CDi will be the most popular in Ireland and is surprisingly ‘cheap’ at €105,100.

The 272 bhp 3.5-litre, V6 in the S350 offers decent performance and costs €110,490.

The S500 (388bhp, 5.0-litre, V8) and the S600 (517 bhp, 6.0-litre, twin-turbo V12) are complete overkill, and cost €139,590 and (deep breath) €214,335 respectively.

Long wheelbase versions add 13 cm of rear legroom (as if the S needs it) and cost about €11,000 extra (€8k for S500, S600 is only sold in LWB).

The Rest

Lexus LS460 – New Lexus is but months away and boasts a new V8, eight gears and all the latest gizmology. No word on a diesel yet, though.

BMW 7-Series – Better looking than before and still the driver’s choice, but the 6-Series bests it unless you absolutely have to have a back seat.

Mercedes CL-Class – There are few better ways to cross Europe, though it’s a little big for Irish back roads and not the prettiest either.

Mercedes SL-Class – One of the best GT cars there is, with amazing comfort roof up or down. Recent facelift is subtle but boosts performance.

Jaguar XJ – The only truly good-looking Jaguar is also the best. Lighter and more sprightly than it looks, it’s fun to drive and pleasant to sit in.

Bentley Flying Spur – Saloon version of the Continental GT is its equal in every respect, but the GT somehow feels more special. On, Jeeves.

Avoid

Jaguar XK – Too old to cut it anymore. New model is coming soon anyway.

Mercedes CLK-Class – We like the B-pillar-less styling and usual Mercedes refinement, but the CLK is a coupe too far for the Stuttgart brand.

Lexus SC430 – Mark Levinson stereo and folding metal roof can’t compensate for dumpy looks, lack of interior space and soggy handling.

VW Phaeton – Fine looking and well appointed but wallowy to drive with dubious used values.