The top 10 cars for CEOs: Chief Executive and Edmunds.com choose the best wheels for work and play

Chief Executive, The, Oct, 2004 by Karl Brauer, William J. Holstein

For the second year in a row, we are pleased to present Chief Executive's Top 10 Cars for CEOs, in cooperation with Edmunds.com, the automotive data and ratings service.

We've made some changes this year, most notably a delineation between the cars you drive to work and the ones you drive for play. We also set three price thresholds, given the intense scrutiny that CEOs are under in the workplace.

For work cars, we concluded that $75,000 should be the top level, because at that price you can buy all the performance and luxury you need for driving to and from the office. If you drive anything more expensive, you risk negative attention for scant upside reward.

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But when it comes to cars for "life," the sky remains the limit. We decided to concentrate on fun, elegance and performance. We dropped the sport utility vehicle and the chauffeur-driven categories. Assisting with many of the appraisals that follow was Karl Brauer, Edmunds.com's editor in chief. Without further ado, here are our choices:

WORK

VITAL STATISTICS  Price        0-60 mph   Dimensions
                  (as tested)  (seconds)  (inches)      Comments

Audi A8 L         $74,670      6.3        204.0 X 74.6  Rivals other
4.2-liter V8                              height: 57.3  German luxury
330 hp                                                  marques;
                                                        ultrasmooth-
                                                        shifting
                                                        automatic
Cadillac STS      $51,220      6.0        198.9 X 74.6  Muscular remake
4.6-liter V8                              height: 56.6  of staid
320 hp                                                  Seville; throaty
                                                        engine; keyless
                                                        ignition
Chrysler 300C     $33,495      5.7        196.8 X 74.1  Retrostyled;
5.7-liter Hemi                            height: 58.4  Euro-inspired;
340 hp                                                  could herald a
                                                        Chrysler
                                                        comeback

Source: Manufacturers, Edmunds.com

AUDI A8 L

Smart

Under $75,000

Shareholders are restless and the directors are scrutinizing your every move. That's what makes this car so right. It's built to satisfy the need for speed and the craving for comfort. Yet aside from a few of the most avid car enthusiasts, no one will know how much fun you're having driving the A8 or the even finer A8 L. We recommend it for the second year running.

Of the "Big Three" German luxury makers, only Audi has consistently delivered in terms of both exterior design and interior quality over the past five years. When it comes to high-end sedans, the A8 is saddled with none of the BMW 7 Series' controversial styling cues or the Mercedes S-Class' questionable interior materials. The car's all-wheel-drive system, paired with its adaptive air suspension and powerful 4.2-liter V8, provides a decidedly sporty feel, without any sacrifice in ride quality. It's got a six-speed transmission that could be the smoothest shifting automatic we've ever driven.

Beyond the driving dynamics is an interior that maintains Audi's tradition of world-class refinement. The leather is sublime, the metallic surfaces are made up of high-quality aluminum and steel, and the MMI (Multi-Media Interface) is far more intuitive than BMW's iDrive or Mercedes's COMAND. With MMI, a driver can quickly adjust the suspension, alter the ride height, program the navigation system or adjust the audio settings.

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One of the A8's most remarkable features is its price. Even a base model, at just $66,590, includes a DVD navigation system, bi-xenon headlights and a Bose stereo system with a CD changer and 12 speakers for surround sound. Options like adaptive cruise control, 19-inch wheels, XM or Sirius satellite radio, massaging seats and power-assist door closing can transform this Audi into a truly opulent car. Step up to the A8 L, for $74,670, and you get NBA-caliber legroom, as well as small touches such as dual-zone climate controls and lighted mirrors. Your clients and business partners will be suitably impressed.

Perhaps the best thing about an Audi is the brand perception. If you drive a Mercedes, a BMW or even a Lexus, naysayers in the workplace might say you're trying to make a statement as a successful CEO, which could come across as arrogant or tacky. Better to be understated. With no one the wiser.

--Karl Brauer and William J. Holstein

CADILLAC STS

Reinvented

Under $60,000

This is a sensitive moment in Cadillac's reinvention effort. It was relatively easy to come out with the CTS entry-luxury sedan, the SRX sport utility and the XLR convertible because they didn't replace any existing vehicles.

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But now comes the all-new 2005 STS, replacing the Seville, a signature vehicle of long standing. The company doesn't want to alienate a loyal purchasing base, yet it wants to reach a younger crowd.