Family Car Reviews: 50k

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Audi Releases 2015 S5 Configurator on their Website

This morning for the first time Audi revealed specific details and pricing of the 2015 S5 on their website for the U.S. (audiusa.com). You can build your own S5 with the new pricing, colors, and black optics option here http://www.audiusa.com/models/audi-s5-coupe

The 2015 S5 received a minor bump of $200 in it's base price to reach $52,500 in the United States. With this update in price also comes many new color options that weren't previously available to the S5 including the bold 'Sepang Blue Pearl' that can be added for no extra price. The 'Phantom Black Pearl' option has also been replaced with a new black called 'Mythos Black Metallic' which in our opinion looks much better. The black optics package is also back for $1300 and now called the "high gloss black package".

As we expected, there are no updates to the engine or any major changes to the physical appearance of the 2015 S5, but that is not necessarily something we are complaining about.

2014 Jaguar F-Type Roadster

The F-Type Jaguar is the successor to the E-Type which was last produced in 1974. It was announced in April and was recently revealed at the Paris Motor Show. This sports car will feature supercharged V-6 or V-8 power depending on the trim and will first debut as a roadster, but a coupe version will follow soon.

The F-Type will come with three different engine specs: The base F-Type has 340 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque; the F-Type S will come with 380 hp and 339 lb-torque. The top model is the V-8 S, which is able to produce an astonishing 495 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. With all of that power and a body made almost entirely of aluminum to reduce the weight to 3,521 lbs, this Jag is more than likely able to beat the estimated 0 – 60 time of 4.2 seconds. The base model has an estimated 0 – 60 of 5.1 seconds while the upgraded V-6 is expected to do the deed 0.3 seconds quicker.

All three engines send their power to the rear wheels but they'll only do it through an 8-speed automatic transmission. Later down the road there will be an R version which will come will a proper manual gearbox, but until then you'll have to live with downshifts from the orange paddle shifters mounted on the steering column.

Superior handling will also be a huge part of the equation. The F-Type has an all-aluminum double-wishbone suspension at each corner and the quickest steering rack Jaguar has ever used in a production car. The S model of the Jag will also get adaptive dampers that can be adjusted by the driver who can also adjust throttle response, shift speed, and steering weight.

18-inch wheels will come standard on the base F-Type, while the upgrade V-6 will get 19-inch wheels, and the top of the line model will receive the premium 20-inch wheels. The interior design of the F-Type is very driver focused; Jaguar refers to it as a “1+1”. Jaguar uses their signature all-digital screen based gauge clusters, but also included physical dials in the F-Type because they feel it seemed right for this sports car. The interior also includes orange paddle shifters and another orange button that puts the car in a more aggressive "Dynamic" mode. According to the designers, they really wanted to highlight the controls that bring this Jag to life. As for the rest of the interior the color, trim, and materials for the cabin are very refined and what one might expect from a 2014 Jaguar.

Jaguar plans to price the F-Type between the Porsche Boxster and Porsche 911 at around a base price of $65,000. This will put the F-Type right in line with its competitors in price. With the F-Type, Jaguar has given consumers a very desirable alternative to an area of the market that has been dominated by Porsche for many years.

2009 BMW M3 - Review & Test Drive

We were recently lucky enough to get our hands on a 2009 BMW M3 thanks to AM PM Motorcars located in San Diego, California. It was immediately apparent that this car was built to impress both inside and out. Its extreme performance, aggressive stance, high intensity discharge lights, 19-inch alloys wheels, hood bulge and quad exhausts are just a few of the characteristics that set this BMW apart from the standard 3-series.

Getting into the driver’s seat you instantly feel the refined presence of the German interior. Mounted on the dashboard were the usual controls as well a screen used for navigation, radio, and a few other features. The electrically adjustable leather bucket seats seemed plenty comfortable for daily driving or long highway trips.

This particular M3 also came with the iconic lightning fast 7-speed dual clutch transmission. Mounted on the steering column were the unique F1-Style DCT paddle shifters for quick and easy shifting. There is also an “M” button located on the steering wheel that when pressed, puts the cars in “sport mode” which stiffens the suspension and activates a more aggressive throttle response – the first thing I pressed once the car was in motion.

We took to the streets and it became obvious why the M3’s dual clutch transmission has become so iconic over the last couple of years. It reduces each shift transition to a mere tenth of a second and shortens the 0 – 60 time by 0.2 seconds. Once I had the opportunity to put the pedal down the shifts were so quick and smooth that the only thing indicating the car had moved to the next gear was the menacing growl of the 4.0-liter V-8. From idle to its 8,300-rpm redline the M3 delivered its 414 horsepower in a linear and consistent manner, and the sound coming from that perfected German V-8 revolving 8,300 times per minute is one that is not often heard outside racetracks.

As I opened up the engine again on a straight and felt my entire body compress into the leather bucket seats the 0 – 60 of 4.4 seconds was finally put into perspective. The M3 lurched with almost instantaneous throttle response and within a few seconds I needed to let off the gas completely because I was already 10 mph over the posted speed limit of 60.

The harder I seemed to push the M3, the better it responded. It just seemed to offer so much control and responded in such a smooth manner to every instruction it was given. After driving around for quite a while, a simple conclusion was reached: The M3 offers an unparalleled mix of comfort, control and performance that absolutely lives up to its reputation as being one of the best drivers cars in the world.

Special Thanks to: AM PM Motorcars
(619)-962-0633 - 11631 Iberia Pl San Diego, CA 92128

2013 Audi S6 - A Giant Leap In Performance

The new 2013 S6 is dead in the middle of Audi’s performance S class line-up. It uses the same twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 found in its big brother the S7 which makes 420 horsepower at 6400 rpm. Maximum torque is an impressive 406 lb-ft, which is available from 1400 to 5200 rpm. To change gears the S6 uses a dual-clutch seven-speed transmission, which allows it to get much better fuel efficiency than the previous model. It also uses an upgraded version of the famous Audi Quattro (all-wheel-drive) system that is designed to send the majority of the power to the rear wheels. The exact pricing is not yet known but we can expect the base price to be around $70k.

The previous S6 packed a more powerful 435-hp naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V-10. The new V-8 engine does not sound as mean, but it is much more efficient, increasing MPG by approximately 25 percent. Despite the slight drop in power the new S6 happens to also be much faster. Car and Driver recently clocked the S6 running to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. To put that into perspective the last S6 need 5.4 seconds to get to 60. It is able to achieve this because of a very improved launch control system. Like most European sports cars, top speed is limited to 155 mph but the S6 would supposedly be able to reach speeds up to 190 miles per hour.

To improve the handling of this car Audi gave it a longer wheelbase, less front weight bias, and decreased the total weight. It was able to get 0.87 g on the skidpad, and stop from 70 – 0 in 157 feet. These numbers aren’t quite as impressive as its straight-line acceleration but it is still in line with similar performance sedans like the BMW M5.

Fuel efficiency has seen an increase to 17-mpg in the city and 26 on the highway. This can mostly be attributed to the S6’s cylinder deactivation system and low engine friction.

The new Audi S6 has seen extreme improvements with the 2013 model. Its 0 – 60 time is all the more impressive when you consider the relatively modest amount of horsepower under the hood. We definitely commend Audi, because this year the S6 went from being a peppy soccer dad sports sedan, to an aggressive performance machine.

Chrysler 300C SRT8 - 50,000 Dollar Bentley

For those of us who don’t have +100k to spend on an AMG there is another option to still gets us that raw power, yet refined classy look and it is the Chrysler 300c SRT8. The new SRT8 starts at $48,670 which gets you a giant 470 horsepower 6.4 Liter Hemi V-8. This power plant is capable of propelling the Chrysler up to 175 MPH. The SRT8 isn’t as composed as its German completion and doesn’t post quite as good of numbers, but it also costs about half as much. Where the C63 AMG hits 0 - 60 in around 4 seconds, the SRT gets there in 4.7 seconds.

One surprising area that this car excels in is handling. It would humiliate a $300k Bentley in the turns thanks to its perfectly programmed transmission. It holds its revs in turns extremely well never seeming to run out of stamina. The Chrysler 300 has also repeatedly been voted one of the best cruising highway cars on the market for its comfort and chassis which makes the car seem to float over the road.

This car has also been praised for having one of the most classy and unique looks around.

The interior in the previous generation 300 was definitely the weak area of this car. It was bland and looked like it didn't belong in a sub 5 second 0 - 60 car. Chrysler has without a doubt fixed this issue in the new model. As you can see the carbon fiber inlays as well as neon blue lighting add a very refined look to this interior. It is not too complicated, yet still gives you the feel of a $50k sports car.

In the end this car is extremely impressive in its refined interior, road feel, handling, and blistering acceleration; all things we are used to hearing from its German competition, but this time it is an SRT8.

2013 Ford Mustang GT500 - The Beast

The new 5.8 Liter aluminum block V-8 in the 2013 Mustang GT500 is officially the most powerful naturally aspirated V-8 in the world. It produces a whopping 662 horsepower as well 600 lb-ft of torque. Ford built the most powerful engine they could come up with. The only thing that can slightly compare to this car performance wise is the Camaro ZL1 but at a mere 580 horsepower it is still a ways away from the sheer power of the mustang.

As for performance numbers, this beast produces a 0 – 60 time of 3.5 seconds and Ford was able to get it up to 200 MPH. This is unheard of for a muscle car and shows you what modern technology has gotten us. The price tag could be considered just as astonishing at only $55,000 dollars. This would be the first time 55k has ever come close to getting somebody a 200 MPH car. Ford seems to go bigger and bigger each year, and this one is no exception.

German Sports Car Comparison - BMW M3, Audi RS 5, Mercedes C63 AMG

If you are in the market for a $60k European sports machine, you without a doubt have come across these three models. They are so similar yet so unique in every way. The Quattro all-wheel drive system of the Audi is so different that the brute force of the rear wheel drive C63 AMG, which is so different than the extreme handling and high revving BMW. Although even with all of these differences, each of these cars has the same simple purpose, to create the ultimate driving experience.

Performance

First up is the BMW M3. A very popular sports car amongst young audiences for its stylish looks and pure power. The M3 gets 414 Horsepower at the wheels from a 4.0 Liter V8 engine. This allows the M3 to get from 0 - 60 MPH in 4.3 seconds. As for top speed, sadly the M3 is limited to 155 MPH but we know it could easily excel far above that.

Having the least horsepower and torque of the group, the thing that allows the BMW to keep up with the performance of the other two is its high revving engine and light weight. It redlines at an ear shattering 8,400 RPM which is higher than most motorcycles. This allows the M3 to stay in a certain gear for much longer because of the high max engine speed. It is also notable that the M3 is much lighter than the other two at only 3552 lbs. That's a whopping 444 lbs lighter than the C63 AMG which gives this BMW a significant advantage in performance.

The Audi RS 5 has a direct-injected 4.2 Liter V8 engine that makes 450 horsepower which propels it to 60 MPH in the same time as the BMW, 4.3 seconds. The Audi uses its famous Quattro 4 wheel drive system to put down equal power to all four wheels, giving this car the best launch of the group. It also has the highest revving engine of the group which can achieve a crisp engine speed of 8,500 RPM.

The RS 5 drives like a heavier and larger car compared to the light BMW. Even though it feels heavy it is still extremely forgiving and easy to drive, thanks mostly to its four wheel drive system. With its Quattro system the Audi is much better at putting down power to the wheels when exiting a turn as well.

Next we have the rear wheel drive C63 AMG. Coming in with the most horsepower and torque, this car takes first place for straight line acceleration. It has an incredible 451 horses under the hood with an even more impressive 443 lb-ft of torque. This allows it to move from 0 - 60 in an astonishing 3.8 seconds, blowing away the competition in acceleration. With the extra weight comes a slight relative lack in handling compared to the other two but you will completely forget about that when you press the pedal to the floor. In short, this thing is a monster.

Interior

Each one of the interiors of the German made cars is just about flawless. It is more about personal taste in the interior rather than one standing out from the others. But there are still some fairly substantial differences to note between the three.

The M3 interior at first glance comes off somewhat vintage but with the short throw shifter, concave navigation screen, and high revving tachometer it becomes immediately apparent that this is no regular 3-series, but the performance oriented M3.

The Audi seemed to have the most sophisticated interior of the group. With red inlays and sleek leather bucket seats you feel like you are in a car of 2020 not 2013.

The interior of the C63 felt like it was the most performance oriented of the three cars. It has ultra lightweight carbon fiber spread throughout the cabin as well as performance oriented leather bucket seats.

Conclusion

In the end, any one of these three cars will put a smile on your face the instant you get into them. The are so similar yet so unique. We found that the BMW was most impressive in its high revving engine and ability to handle at the same level as most porsches; with a weight approximately 400 pounds lighter than the others, it has an extreme advantage. As for the Audi, it produced the best launch results of the three thanks to its signature Quattro all wheel drive system that allows it to put power down through all four wheels. Lastly, the AMG with the highest amount of horsepower and torque produced the best straight-line acceleration results despite being the heaviest of the group. In short, whatever you choose, you can't go wrong with a top of the line German sports car in your garage.

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 - Alpine and Vapor Edition

Recently, Jeep has come out with two new special editions for its priciest trim of the Grand Cherokee, the SRT8. The SRT8 is well known for its sheer power and use of brute force to achieve blistering acceleration. It uses the newly updated 6.4 Liter SRT8 engine which produces 470 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque and runs from 0 – 60 in 4.8 seconds with a top speed of 160 MPH. This Jeep can also pull off 0.90 g on the skid pad so the handling definitely wasn’t forgotten about either. Keep in mind; this is a 5,256 lb Jeep that is posting numbers close to that of a corvette.

At a starting price of $61,600 it comes with all of the amenities one might expect from a 60K+ car; LED daytime running lamps, 20 inch forged aluminum wheels, brembo brakes, 7.3 surround sound system, and a refined SRT styled Nappa leather interior. For a price of only $2,495 more, you can opt for the Alpine or Vapor editions. Each edition comes with slick 5 spoke gloss black wheels, badges, grills and a rear light bar along with some other appealing components. The Alpine edition comes in Bright White and the Vapor edition comes in Brilliant Black.

Opt in for the additional luxury package and you will get premium leather on the door trim panels, center console and instrument panels as well as adaptive cruise control, Forward Collision Warning, and a Blind spot Monitoring system. Add in a few more packages and this Jeep starts to match up more with the luxury of a Mercedes or BMW than what one would usually expect from a Jeep.

Another unique feature of this Jeep is that drivers can choose between 5 different dynamic modes for different driving conditions: Auto, Sport, Tow, Track, and Snow. So whether you’re off-roading, want a comfortable luxurious ride, or want to smoke a mustang at a stoplight, with this Jeep you can do it all, and that is what makes this one of the most unique vehicles on the road.

Car Comparison – Audi S7, Mercedes CLS63 AMG

The new 2013 Audi A7 has been considered by some as the most beautiful car being built today. With sleek lines and a front fascia that is bound to intimidate, it strikes the perfect balance between beauty, and aggression. Throw in a newly developed 4.0 Liter Twin Turbo V8 engine that produces 420 Horsepower and you have yourself an extremely desirable car. For a starting price of $79,695 this is without doubt one of the best deals on the market right now.

For some people, very few, 420 HP and 406 lb-ft of torque isn't enough. That is where the CLS63 AMG comes in. With a similar body style to the S7, the AMG seems to have less beauty but comes off much more aggressive. And it should, because the looks match what's under the hood; a 5.5 Liter Twin Turbo V8 that produces 518 Horsepower at 5250 RMP and 516 lb-ft of torque. If that still isn't enough, for about $10,000 you can opt for the AMG Package which will bump the Horsepower to 550 and raise the top speed to 186 mph from and electronically limited speed of 155 mph. The AMG has a base price of $94,900, so that extra power does not come for free.

Performance

0 - 62 MPH:

Audi S7: 4.9 seconds

CLS63 AMG: 4.4 seconds (4.3 with AMG Package)

Top Speed:
Audi S7: 155 MPH
CLS63 AMG: 155 MPH (186 MPH with AMG Package)
Braking 60 - 0:
Audi S7: 102 feet
CLS63 AMG: 113 feet
Lateral G Force:
Audi S7: 0.96
CLS63 AMG: 0.92
Weight:
Audi S7: 4,140 lbs
CLS63 AMG: 4,300 lbs

As you can see from the numbers the lighter weight of the S7 helps it does better in many performance categories than the AMG. It also feels more nimble and drives like you might think a TT coupe would.

Interior

As expected, both interiors o these German cars are very refined. You can tell a lot of work was put into the interior by the amount of attention to detail throughout the car. The S7 comes with beautiful sport seating with quilted stitching. Standard in the AMG is the burl walnut trim with upgraded sports seats. Some of the notable differences between the two are Audi's exterior heads up display and Mercedes' interior heads up display, at this point it is all a matter of personal preference. The Mercedes also has a much shorter shifter than the Audis. Both cars have paddle shifters mounted on the steering column for extremely quicks shifts between gears. With these sophisticated interiors, "Don't touch anything" might be words you hear coming from the driver.

Conclusion

Both of these cars have not yet been tested to their full abilities. But when they do, they are sure to beat the conservative estimates given by their respective companies. They are similar, yet so different in many ways. All that matters is that in the end, both of these cars do exactly what they set out to acomplish: To be genuine animalistic sports cars while being luxurious and sophisticated at the same time.

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