Auto Trends

Well, another Christmas has come and gone and it is time to prepare for what will hopefully be a great New Year. But before we close the curtain on 2008, we would like to go over some of the highlights and low points of this past years vehicle selection. This year has been a tough year for all manufacturers, but a few of them managed to rise to the top, while others were scrapping the barrel just hoping to find a few customer scraps thrown their way. We will continue our review with the best and worst of the luxury cruisers.

BEST: Lexus LS 460L

originally uploaded by Jashil

Consumer Reports gave the Lexus LS 460L a score of 99 out of 100 in their road test, which pretty much tags it as their highest-rated vehicle for 2008. Not that the sun rises and falls over the Consumer Reports research panel, but they usually know what they are talking about for the most part. The LS obviously does not take any shortcuts when it comes to providing their consumer with the most luxurious and accommodating surroundings. For one, the comfort and ease of operation makes every moment behind the wheel of this Lexus as enjoyable as relaxing in your favorite chair on a Sunday. As Consumer Reports says:

“It provides a no-compromise environment of comfort and roominess, coupled with an isolating quietness—this car is brimming with electronic amenities, but the controls are easy to use.”

While the ride may be on top of the list for most of its consumers, the performance enthusiasts have not been left out of the mix. With a 380 horsepower 4.6-liter V-8 churning its rear wheels, a 0-60 sprint of under 6 seconds is an easy task using its manual shift controls. New for 2008 was an 8-speed automatic, which was as impressive in performance as it is in smoothness and elegance. Speaking of elegance, we do have to say something about the decadent interior which is rich in wood trim and leather upholstery. One of the most obvious features once you slide into the drivers seat will be the touch sensitive navigation system which is one of the most self guided systems for those who hate electronic gadgets as we have seen. Thumbs up!

Vehicle: LS 460L

Base Price: $62,000 up to $77,000

Available Engines:

4.6 liter V8, 380 horsepower, 367 lb-ft torque

Transmission: 8-speed automatic w/ manual shift control

Dimensions:

Wheelbase: 117 inches

Length: 198 inches

Height: 58 inches

Curb Weight: 4,244 pounds

EPA Fuel Economy: 16 MPG City

WORST: Mercury Grand Marquis

originally uploaded by the falafel

While we were partially leaning towards the 2008 BMW 1-series as the worst luxury car for 2008, due to its awkward nature, worst luxury car side impact score (IIHS), and relatively poor consumer opinion, such as this anonymous ranting we found:

“The 1-Series isn’t a bad car, but it’s way over priced. It’s not much cheaper than a 3-Series and it doesn’t offer a performance advantage over a 3-Series. IMHO, you’d have to be an idiot to buy a 1-Series.“

While the BMW may have had its faults, we opted out and decided to follow the Consumer Reports recommendation and designate the Mercury Grand Marquis as the 2008 worst luxury cruiser instead. What’s exactly wrong with the Mercury you ask? Well, let us tell you…

For one, the body design is old. Not just Hugh Hefner old, but rather ‘dig an ancient, extinct dinosaur out of the ground’ old. The Marquis is still based on a design which was introduced some 30 years ago. But probably its most noteworthy shame for 2008 was its rough-cut engine. We don’t know what you would have to do to a 4.6 liter V-8 in order to achieve only 224 horsepower, but Mercury found a way. Quite frankly, in just about every aspect, including design, performance, handling, comfort, style, class, practicality, fuel efficiency, and dignity, the Marquis was inferior to every vehicle in its class. It’s most noteworthy feature was probably the number of folks it could sneak into a drive-in movie theater through its trunk. But once you let them out, they would most certainly find better surroundings from which to enjoy the movie!

Vehicle: Grand Marquis

Base Price: starting at $25,000 to $28,000

Available Engines:

4.6 liter V-8, 224 horsepower, 275 lb-ft torque

Transmission: 4-speed automatic

Dimensions:

Wheelbase: 114 inches

Length: 212 inches

Height: 56 inches

Curb Weight: Couple elephants short of a supertanker

EPA Fuel Economy: 15 MPG city