Topic: Northern Exposure: Luxury and Performance Bang for the Buck

[Autos_Editor]

Justin picks three favourite sedans that deliver an affordable top-notch luxury performance experience.
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[aquadorhj]

No BMW 228?

[JohnnyMac]

No BMW 228?

They were focusing on sedans.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

No BMW 228?

They were focusing on sedans.

The ATS in the article definitely looks like a coupe.

[rrocket]

No BMW 228?

They were focusing on sedans.

The ATS in the article definitely looks like a coupe.

+1

[erich]

Nothing made in Japan? IS, Q50, TLX?

[DriverJeff]

Nothing made in Japan? IS, Q50, TLX?

Yeah, I'd go for an IS over the ATS.  Last time I did a "build" online, the IS350 F-sport came in just under $50k.  That's a very good value in that category.

[Jaeger]

I read the title and wondered if the Genesis would be included.  I did not have to wonder for long.  Good article.

[Kris78]

Nothing made in Japan? IS, Q50, TLX?

Yeah, I'd go for an IS over the ATS.  Last time I did a "build" online, the IS350 F-sport came in just under $50k.  That's a very good value in that category.

But with the IS, you lose one of the benefits of the ATS, which is and I quote:

"Plus, you can get it with a manual gearbox, which you will, because you’re awesome."

The Lexus site had a RWD IS350 F-Sport at $51,700 but there is a $1500 discount right now. While a full loaded ATS turbo with 6-speed can be priced north of $50k, it starts at a hair less than $40k. A base model with CUE, and a sunroof sets you back $43k (with no credits though).

[erich]

As a side note, "Genesis" sounds so much better than ATS, CLA or WTF

[SKYMTL]

I know this may not be a popular choice but I would have added a bit of utility and go for the Volvo V60 R-Design with the Climate Package.  Call it a sedan with a proper trunk. 

Not only does it have (IMO) better looks than all of these cars but it offers a ton of winter-beating goodness and with current offers it goes for quite a bit less than $50K. 

[Northernridge]

Does the CLA really offer 'top-notch' performance for the buck? It certainly doesn't offer top-notch luxury.

In fact, I don't think many Mercedes models can compete in "______ for the buck." contests.

[DriverJeff]

Nothing made in Japan? IS, Q50, TLX?

Yeah, I'd go for an IS over the ATS.  Last time I did a "build" online, the IS350 F-sport came in just under $50k.  That's a very good value in that category.

But with the IS, you lose one of the benefits of the ATS, which is and I quote:

"Plus, you can get it with a manual gearbox, which you will, because you’re awesome."

The Lexus site had a RWD IS350 F-Sport at $51,700 but there is a $1500 discount right now. While a full loaded ATS turbo with 6-speed can be priced north of $50k, it starts at a hair less than $40k. A base model with CUE, and a sunroof sets you back $43k (with no credits though).

The stick shift can only be had with the flatulent little 4-cylinder though.  The lovely 3.6 is auto-only.

[DriverJeff]

No manual with the 3.6 is a huge issue IMO. That's exactly the car I would go for in the ATS lineup!!!!!

Agreed... though it is a very good auto.  At the launch event a few years back at Mosport, I was blown away by how intuitively it would downshift during braking before turns.  Still... not as engaging.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Nothing made in Japan? IS, Q50, TLX?

Yeah, I'd go for an IS over the ATS.  Last time I did a "build" online, the IS350 F-sport came in just under $50k.  That's a very good value in that category.

But with the IS, you lose one of the benefits of the ATS, which is and I quote:

"Plus, you can get it with a manual gearbox, which you will, because you’re awesome."

The Lexus site had a RWD IS350 F-Sport at $51,700 but there is a $1500 discount right now. While a full loaded ATS turbo with 6-speed can be priced north of $50k, it starts at a hair less than $40k. A base model with CUE, and a sunroof sets you back $43k (with no credits though).

The stick shift can only be had with the flatulent little 4-cylinder though.  The lovely 3.6 is auto-only.

Flatulent?

If you need more, you can get more:

Pfadt has just released their two very potent upgrade kits for the turbo 4-banger baby Caddy known as the P/350 and P/450. And yup, you guessed it, 350hp and 450hp with prices coming in at $1200 and $4999

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/do-you-have-a-cadillac-ats-2-0t-and-want-to-go-fast-819756537

Trifecta has been working on GMs for a while. They have a similar tune for the 2.0L with 330hp and 330lb-ft.

[DriverJeff]

Nothing made in Japan? IS, Q50, TLX?

Yeah, I'd go for an IS over the ATS.  Last time I did a "build" online, the IS350 F-sport came in just under $50k.  That's a very good value in that category.

But with the IS, you lose one of the benefits of the ATS, which is and I quote:

"Plus, you can get it with a manual gearbox, which you will, because you’re awesome."

The Lexus site had a RWD IS350 F-Sport at $51,700 but there is a $1500 discount right now. While a full loaded ATS turbo with 6-speed can be priced north of $50k, it starts at a hair less than $40k. A base model with CUE, and a sunroof sets you back $43k (with no credits though).

The stick shift can only be had with the flatulent little 4-cylinder though.  The lovely 3.6 is auto-only.

Flatulent?

If you need more, you can get more:

Pfadt has just released their two very potent upgrade kits for the turbo 4-banger baby Caddy known as the P/350 and P/450. And yup, you guessed it, 350hp and 450hp with prices coming in at $1200 and $4999

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/do-you-have-a-cadillac-ats-2-0t-and-want-to-go-fast-819756537

Trifecta has been working on GMs for a while. They have a similar tune for the 2.0L with 330hp and 330lb-ft.

Having more power out of the turbo 4 would also be nice.. but it sounds very ... well, un-musical compared to the V6.

[rrocket]

Having more power out of the turbo 4 would also be nice.. but it sounds very ... well, un-musical compared to the V6.

This.  x100.  As much as I enjoy the idea of a fire breathing 4 cylinder....the sound really kills it for me.  Very, very few 4 cylinders sound good IMO.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

Having more power out of the turbo 4 would also be nice.. but it sounds very ... well, un-musical compared to the V6.

This.  x100.  As much as I enjoy the idea of a fire breathing 4 cylinder....the sound really kills it for me.  Very, very few 4 cylinders sound good IMO.

K20Z4 is one of those that sounds A-Mazing.  But being naturally aspirated it has rather limp-wristed output numbers, by comparison.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Sounds from all modern cars are fabricated anyway, either with extensive mechanical tuning or outright recording pumped into the cabine. Slap on a fart can if you guys want more noise.

The best sounding engines are inline 6s, flat plane V8s, 120° V12s. Pretty much everything else is a compromise.

[rrocket]

Sounds from all modern cars are fabricated anyway, either with extensive mechanical tuning

You can extensively tune a 4 banger all you want....they still (mostly) sounds like crap-o-la.