Here goes..

• 5-series (best all-rounder, especially 535i)
• E-class (solid, everything from diesel to the 6.3)
• M (competitive numbers, lacking character, a bit "thin")
• A6 (lacking in numbers, but classy and sophisticated)
• STS (compelling with new V6, bold and brash)
• GS (compelling with V6, gutless V8, pointless V8h, refined, dull)
• S80 (nice)
• RL (Honda Legend)
• S-type (ritzy styling, dated)

I excluded midsized entry-lux or faux-lux sedans like ES350, G35, MKZ, TL, CTS, Passat 3.6, 9-5, etc.

There's no fun to such a short list.

This is what the people with real money say.

January-March 2007

5-series 11,127

DTS .......10,947 (has $5,000 rebate for 2006)

E-class ..10,447

M ............6,264

GS ..........5,217

STS ........4,434 (has $8,000 rebate for 2006, $2,500 for 2007)

S80 ........3,103

A6 ..........2,832

RL ..........1,547

S-Type ...1,065

My pick is the M, E-class, or the A6.

Do the Cadillacs go fleet, or are those real buyers?

Midsized "pseudo lux"

ES .....18,050

G35 ...15,323

TL ......13,704

CTS ....10,766

Passat .8,990

MKZ .....8,098

9-5 ......1,092

Edited May 1, 200718 yr by JT64

Of those listed, only the 5 appeals to me - though I'd rather have the previous model.

Once the G8 arrives all of that will likely change.

Only 550i with 6-speed manual transmission that is it (Assuming that M5 is stratospheric in price range) or the old M5, although I like up to a certain extent the 7speed SMG in your face M5. As Camino said if the G-8 comes there will be a different ball game.

you've made the criteria so tight that it limits the field too much.

nice topic.

reg style.

Looks like I think like you guys...were I to be in the market in this segment it would probably be a Bimmermobile.

Chris

Based on vehicles I have driven:

BMW 5-Series

Mercedes E-Class

Lexus GS

STS

In order of what piques my interest:

CTS-V

STS with V-8

Infiniti M (the only car that seems agreeable with either engine)

CLS

E55 AMG

M5

GS

RS6

Yeah, there really isn't much available. Don't care for the Jag. And Acura and Lincoln needs to get their bars up.

Give me a DTS Performance or a the 2008 CTS!

"DTS" and "Performance" in the same sentence=

How about the 2008 DTS Platinum Edition instead?

This is what the people with real money say.

DTS .......10,947 (has $5,000 rebate for 2006)

STS ........4,434 (has $8,000 rebate for 2006, $2,500 for 2007)

Do the Cadillacs go fleet, or are those real buyers?

Last numbers I saw showed DTS @ 24% rental fleet & STS only a little over 3% rental fleet. So, the DTS would take one step down and place under the E-Class but the STS would remain the same. The Infiniti M, Audi A6, and Volvo S80 appear to be fleeted more than the STS.

Just for fun, let's throw in the fleet % numbers as of mid last year. source. If you factor them in, the order would change quite a bit.

January-March 2007

5-series 11,127 1.0% fleet

DTS .......10,947 28.7% fleet

E-class ..10,447 1.1% fleet

M ............6,264 4.7% fleet

GS ..........5,217 1.2% fleet

STS ........4,434 5.2% fleet

S80 ........3,103 29.8% fleet

A6 ..........2,832 8.6% fleet

RL ..........1,547 1.0% fleet

S-Type ...1,065 11.8% fleet

ES .....18,050 1.5%

G35 ...15,323 12.8%

TL ......13,704 1.0%

CTS ....10,766 13.5%

Passat .8,990 1.7%

Zephyr .....8,098 10.1%

9-5 ......1,092 2.1%

G35 drops just barely under TL.

DTS drops under E-class.

S80 drops under A6.

Edited May 10, 200718 yr by siegen

Just for fun, let's throw in the fleet % numbers as of mid last year. source. If you factor them in, the order would change quite a bit.

January-March 2007

5-series 11,127 1.0% fleet

DTS .......10,947 28.7% fleet

E-class ..10,447 1.1% fleet

M ............6,264 4.7% fleet

GS ..........5,217 1.2% fleet

STS ........4,434 5.2% fleet

S80 ........3,103 29.8% fleet

A6 ..........2,832 8.6% fleet

RL ..........1,547 1.0% fleet

S-Type ...1,065 11.8% fleet

ES .....18,050 1.5%

G35 ...15,323 12.8%

TL ......13,704 1.0%

CTS ....10,766 13.5%

Passat .8,990 1.7%

Zephyr .....8,098 10.1%

9-5 ......1,092 2.1%

G35 drops just barely under TL.

DTS drops under E-class.

S80 drops under A6.

That was my source as well, but you should only look at rental fleet percentages compared to total. The chart breaks them out. Not all Fleet sales are rental fleet. Rental is the portion of fleet that negatively impacts vehicle perception/resale value. My percentages take that into account.