whither the luxurious car?

[bathurst77]

Now that Fairlanes/ltd and caprice or calais are gone, what real luxury car is left outside $silly
Im an old bugger, I want a pillow soft suburban cruiser. Power Everything and silly trinkets.

I dont want a sports car i dont want a car that looks like its built for bathurst, I dont want to win traffic light gp or "carve canyon corners"
Nor do I want a car that will take me to cape york or birdsville. I dont want an suv. I want a CAR 4 doors hatch or wagon

I want seats you disappear in, suspension so compliant i wont notice the potholes and cracks in sydney roads, even if that means wallowing on corners. I want to be coddled and spoiled every time i get in.

The euro cars like bmw volvo and merc are mostly tuned for sport and hard suspension and you pay for the badge.. They can lack some of the bells whistles and trinkets on a hyundai!

Once upon a time I would have bought a fairmont ghia or ltd i6 auto or 302 or chrysler by chrysler.

[naddis01]

Hyundai Genesis?

[aussiblue]

Jaguar XJ https://www.jaguar.com.au/jaguar-range/xj/index.html ? Chrysler 300C https://www.chrysler.com.au/

[aussiblue]

and if price is no object there is always various Rolls Royce and Bentley models. OK they are silly $. So how about Lexus CT200H Luxury at around $41,000 (described by wheels Magazine as "Valium on Wheels" so should meet your specs).

[BENT_8]

You can still get the ZB in Calais guise.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

Now that Fairlanes/ltd and caprice or calais are gone, what real luxury car is left outside $silly
Im an old bugger, I want a pillow soft suburban cruiser. Power Everything and silly trinkets.

I dont want a sports car i dont want a car that looks like its built for bathurst, I dont want to win traffic light gp or "carve canyon corners"
Nor do I want a car that will take me to cape york or birdsville. I dont want an suv. I want a CAR 4 doors hatch or wagon

I want seats you disappear in, suspension so compliant i wont notice the potholes and cracks in sydney roads, even if that means wallowing on corners. I want to be coddled and spoiled every time i get in.

The euro cars like bmw volvo and merc are mostly tuned for sport and hard suspension and you pay for the badge.. They can lack some of the bells whistles and trinkets on a hyundai!

Once upon a time I would have bought a fairmont ghia or ltd i6 auto or 302 or chrysler by chrysler.

Lexus ES.

Available with a powerful V6 and has a focus on refinement and comfort as apposed to be a "sports sedan".

[NX74205]

Ford Mondeo Titanium.

Like you, I'm not interested in performance cars. I don't care how fast the car gets off the line or whether it has a V8, I want a comfortable cruiser with all the bells and whistles. To me, the Mondeo fits that bill better than any Falcon ever did. With the adaptive suspension set to 'Comfort' mode, it's the smoothest, most refined cruiser Ford currently offers.

[NTF6]

Bentley V12 would do it for me!

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by NTF6

imageimage

Bentley V12 would do it for me!

Arent they a w12? One of my mums neighbours traded his for a 4 door continental.

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

Arent they a w12? One of my mums neighbours traded his for a 4 door continental.

Yeah, they are W12. Fantastic car, I'd buy one if I could afford it. But I'd only buy new.

[g650]

2nd the Mondeo, old man had one for a hire, swore it was the best car he'd driven for speed bumps and QLD roads.

And if the current gen Chrysler 300 is anything like the last gen, any non-SRT model should compromise handling for a good ride. In a way they're like a Ghia, roomy, leather/woodgrain, analog clock...

[JG33]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

Once upon a time I would have bought a fairmont ghia or ltd i6 auto or 302 or chrysler by chrysler.

I could kill for a new V8 Fairmont Ghia, but I got the next best thing and that's a FGX G6E.
Not sure what I will get next when the plastic starts falling off on this one in a few years time.

[NTF6]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

Arent they a w12? One of my mums neighbours traded his for a 4 door continental.

Yep sorry W12, my mistake. A weird cylinder configuration.

[bathurst77]

Rolls royce and bentley definitely fit in the "$ Silly" range.. and those ultra low profile licorice strap tyres on the black bentley 2 door look like they could waft over potholes without a thud. Too boy racer... very rich boy racer.

Had a mondeo MA (or was it MB) when they first came out.. didnt care for it much.
I like the call on the Genesis. OR maybe privately import a JDM car like a crown. OR go silly and get some 60s/70s yankie land yacht. A bordello on wheels.

[Raptor]

If Ford were smart

They would introduce the Lincoln brand to Australia as the luxury/premium alternative and stop trying to tell us (and price as if) the Ford brand is a premium product.

That blue oval FORD badge just doesn't have (and never will IMHO) that credibility in this country.

Example of a Lincoln that fits your description;
https://www.lincoln.com/luxury-cars/continental/



.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Raptor

If Ford were smart

They would introduce the Lincoln brand to Australia as the luxury/premium alternative and stop trying to tell us (and price as if) the Ford brand is a premium product.

That blue oval FORD badge just doesn't have (and never will IMHO) that credibility in this country.

Example of a Lincoln that fits your description;
https://www.lincoln.com/luxury-cars/continental/



.

You realise the Conti is just a LWB Mondeo don't you? Same extended wheelbase as the Chinese Taurus. But in saying that the Taurus would have been perfect for what the OP wants. The new one is ridiculously well equipped and set up for ride comfort above handling. Very long wheelbases provide a better ride, and the Taurus has a very long wheelbase.

How much does the OP want to spend. I'd suggest an E Class Merc if he wants ride and luxury equipment. The lower models in the range are like 80k ish? Equipment levels even on the base models is pretty good.

[Vesper Martini]

OP need to move to an SUV. plenty out there nicer & softer inside than any fairlane or statesman.
other than that that Genesis looks the goods

[Fairlane 500]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

Now that Fairlanes/ltd and caprice or calais are gone, what real luxury car is left outside $silly
Im an old bugger, I want a pillow soft suburban cruiser. Power Everything and silly trinkets.

I dont want a sports car i dont want a car that looks like its built for bathurst, I dont want to win traffic light gp or "carve canyon corners"
Nor do I want a car that will take me to cape york or birdsville. I dont want an suv. I want a CAR 4 doors hatch or wagon

I want seats you disappear in, suspension so compliant i wont notice the potholes and cracks in sydney roads, even if that means wallowing on corners. I want to be coddled and spoiled every time i get in.

The euro cars like bmw volvo and merc are mostly tuned for sport and hard suspension and you pay for the badge.. They can lack some of the bells whistles and trinkets on a hyundai!

Once upon a time I would have bought a fairmont ghia or ltd i6 auto or 302 or chrysler by chrysler.

Sadly there is no sedan on the market to replace our Aussie luxurious cars for anywhere near the price
especially if you want a V8 RWD with 2,300kg towing capacity.

I have a V8 BA Fairlane with injected LPG as a daily, cruiser, tow car & I am going to just keep on driving it as long as I can.

(It's not my only or best car but I just really enjoy driving it as a daily, I have 2 other cars.)

It's got everything I want in a car & I can't imagine it dropping in value if I look after it.

It's a lot like me, getting a bit old, bit overweight, still going strong, little bit thin on top & very old school Australian.

[johntolhurst]

Its amazing what high profile tires and low pressures do for the softness of the ride. The term 'waftability' has currency in the states. Would seem to capture the requirement.

[Itsme]

Kia GT Stinger will do me nicely.

[vbvbvb088]

A white 1980 WB Statesman Caprice with red interior will do nicely thankyou.

[ebv8]

maybe its time that older modern classics will become cool, like a VN caprice or DC LTD, lazy v8 with plush velour trim and squishy coils
they are simple enough to keep on the road with 400,000km's and you would be the coolest cat at the RSL and they had enough simple electric devices to be cool still

i have my eye on a white VN calais parked up in a backyard, i think that would make a nice cruiser one day

[xrystl]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

Rolls royce and bentley definitely fit in the "$ Silly" range.. and those ultra low profile licorice strap tyres on the black bentley 2 door look like they could waft over potholes without a thud. Too boy racer... very rich boy racer.

Had a mondeo MA (or was it MB) when they first came out.. didnt care for it much.
I like the call on the Genesis. OR maybe privately import a JDM car like a crown. OR go silly and get some 60s/70s yankie land yacht. A bordello on wheels.

or perhaps a late eighties Rolls Silver Spirit or equivalent Bentley , generally low mileage and little old man or lady owner , I looked at a 1990 Roller silver spur with only 55k km on the clock , one owner in immaculate condition with FSH and negotiable at $35k , my sister was interested but she bought a 1991 Merc 560SEL for $25k , was one family owned and chauffeur driven all its life . some good buys out there if prepared to buy a bit older..

[Fairlane 500]

Originally Posted by xrystl

or perhaps a late eighties Rolls Silver Spirit or equivalent Bentley , generally low mileage and little old man or lady owner , I looked at a 1990 Roller silver spur with only 55k km on the clock , one owner in immaculate condition with FSH and negotiable at $35k , my sister was interested but she bought a 1991 Merc 560SEL for $25k , was one family owned and chauffeur driven all its life . some good buys out there if prepared to buy a bit older..

Sadly the cost of maintenance & reliability kills off those, especially concerning the older Rolls Royce in my opinion for daily duties.

[xrystl]

Originally Posted by Fairlane 5OO

Sadly the cost of maintenance & reliability kills off those, especially concerning the older Rolls Royce in my opinion for daily duties.

Always thought that if someone with some mechanical knowledge bought a Roller , they would know if there was a problem developing rather than just driving it till it doesn't work anymore , so that way the vehicle would be more reliable in the right hands.
If I was looking for a sedan type vehicle I would probably go for the VW Arteon as it ticks all the boxes and comes in at a sensible price.

[Fairlane 500]

Originally Posted by xrystl

Always thought that if someone with some mechanical knowledge bought a Roller , they would know if there was a problem developing rather than just driving it till it doesn't work anymore , so that way the vehicle would be more reliable in the right hands.
If I was looking for a sedan type vehicle I would probably go for the VW Arteon as it ticks all the boxes and comes in at a sensible price.

I have been in the trade since 1975, owned a 1977 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow back in the late 1980's for a while,
I had quite a few things go wrong with it & I have never driven another standard car that uses so much petrol
including a Mercedes Benz 450SEL 6.9 litre that I owned a couple of years later.

Mercedes are more reliable & cheaper to buy parts.

I like Rolls Royce to drive but not to own & maintain.

[Peter B - CV8]

Originally Posted by Fiji

I saw an immaculate vn model statesman with the big 5.0 efi v8 badge on the side. It was white and looked mint, an old lady parked it and was walking to the rsl.

I was just about going to go make her an offer for it. Looked brand new

No such thing as a VN statesman. I think you might have meant a VQ ??? They were a nice car - very comfortable & not too bad on fuel. Were let down a bit by the poor plastics/styling around the rear wheel arches though IMHO...

[Fairlane 500]

Originally Posted by Peter B - CV8

No such thing as a VN statesman. I think you might have meant a VQ ??? They were a nice car - very comfortable & not too bad on fuel. Were let down a bit by the poor plastics/styling around the rear wheel arches though IMHO...

Yes the old VQ's (especially the series II) were a comfortable thing & as you say they were not at all bad on fuel.

The VQ was one of the first Australian cars to come out with IRS, the Fords still had solid rear axles.

[xrystl]

Originally Posted by Fairlane 5OO

I have been in the trade since 1975, owned a 1977 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow back in the late 1980's for a while,
I had quite a few things go wrong with it & I have never driven another standard car that uses so much petrol
including a Mercedes Benz 450SEL 6.9 litre that I owned a couple of years later.

Mercedes are more reliable & cheaper to buy parts.

I like Rolls Royce to drive but not to own & maintain.

Yes they were gas guzzlers , I had a 420 SE Merc back in the mid nineties and that used to use 20+ litres a 100km around the Gold Coast hinterland and it was half that on the freeway , reliability was quite good but parts were expensive if bought through a dealer , was nice to drive .

[Fairlane 500]

Originally Posted by xrystl

Yes they were gas guzzlers , I had a 420 SE Merc back in the mid nineties and that used to use 20+ litres a 100km around the Gold Coast hinterland and it was half that on the freeway , reliability was quite good but parts were expensive if bought through a dealer , was nice to drive .

Yeah, the W126's were a beautiful car to drive & very reliable,
if you have the time to wait the parts can be bought quite reasonably most of the time on the net these days.