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High End Luxury Cars

24723 messages,  Last post on Jan 28, 2013 at 6:55 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

What is this discussion about? Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Jaguar XJ-Series, Lexus LS 460, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Volkswagen Phaeton, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-Benz CL-Class, Sedan



Let's try to define this forum as being limited to luxury performance vehicles where the mainstream version in a typical configuration has an MSRP of at least $60k.

A luxury vehicle with a base price of $59k qualifies because it would typically be bought with some additional equipment, bringing the MSRP over $60k.

Vehicles like the E, 5, A6, M, or GS, even if available in certain versions over $60k, don't qualify because they are cars from companies that have higher end cars in their lineups.

Messages Page 1329 of 2473

#13277 of 24723 Re: MB, BMW?? what else you have? [designman] by oac

Jan 15, 2006 (1:02 pm)

Replying to: designman (Jan 15, 2006 12:36 pm)
Lexus went from 0 sales in 1989 to 300K+ sales by end of 2005. Sure the market expanded, new markets created, some died, but these sales are outstanding by any measure. So much that Lexus became #1 luxury nameplate 6 years running. Someone is losing market to Lexus. And as MY2007 rolls in later this year, the IS will win more sales, the GS is holding its own, and the new LS will definitely win some. I seriously don't see the new S winning sales, more like retaining its market share and holding off the LS460L. And that will be a tough order.

#13278 of 24723 Re: Quick LS interior analysis [lexusguy] by designman

Jan 15, 2006 (1:09 pm)

Replying to: lexusguy (Jan 15, 2006 12:57 pm)
The center stack is bulky and imposing but I think it is integrated better into the dash. It’s not a separate entity as on the LS460. The lines also have the horizontal character that I prefer. I’m not exactly crazy about it either but like it better than the LS 460. The Lexus touch screen is the hands-down winner over iDrive IMO. But that’s a different subject.

#13279 of 24723 Re: Quick LS interior analysis [lexusguy] by oac

Jan 15, 2006 (1:11 pm)

Replying to: lexusguy (Jan 15, 2006 12:57 pm)
Even more so in the new S550... This interior, especially the dash and center stack is certainly NOT a strong suite, imo. Clean look, no doubt, but I don't think it looks $85K+ car to me.
 

#13280 of 24723 Re: MB, BMW?? what else you have? [oac] by designman

Jan 15, 2006 (1:17 pm)

Replying to: oac (Jan 15, 2006 1:02 pm)
Well, as you mentioned, the overall market has grown since 1989 and everyone has benefited. We went from one to two to three car families. Can someone analyze who has taken the biggest pieces of the pie since then? I’m sure they can and would like to hear about it. But the simple fact remains that Lexus ain’t conquering the world like Alexander the Great, Hannibal and the Roman Empire.

#13281 of 24723 Hey, It's Great... by hpowders

Jan 15, 2006 (1:28 pm)

for all of us if Lexus continues to improve the LS.
BMW and MB won't be standing still.
We consumers continue to benefit as the cutting edge of HELM's continues to be re-defined through healthy competition.
No losers in this game among BMW, MB, Toyota-Lexus, IMO.

#13282 of 24723 Re: MB, BMW?? what else you have? [designman] by oac

Jan 15, 2006 (1:29 pm)

Replying to: designman (Jan 15, 2006 1:17 pm)
Well, as you mentioned, the overall market has grown since 1989 and everyone has benefited. We went from one to two to three car families. Can someone analyze who has taken the biggest pieces of the pie since then? I’m sure they can and would like to hear about it.
 
I would love to see the analysis too. My neighbor has 5 cars, for a 2-person family. We sure live in excess of our needs sometimes. The new LS460/460L/600h would peel off even more S and 7-series buyers, and expand the market and sales growth even more.
 
But the simple fact remains that Lexus ain’t conquering the world like Alexander the Great, Hannibal and the Roman Empire.
 
I have to disagree somewhat. Where did all 300K sales come from ? Cadillac, Lincoln, MB, mostly. The new car-based SUV market for the RX, and the obliteration of the mid-size lux market by the ES. Of course, the LS did its share peeling off a large chunk of would-be and ex MB owners.

#13283 of 24723 Re: MB, BMW?? what else you have? [oac] by dewey

Jan 15, 2006 (2:15 pm)

Replying to: oac (Jan 15, 2006 12:07 pm)
A smooth I6 engine is not unique to BMW,
 
The smooth BMW i6 is not unique? Please tell me another manufacturer that offers such a smooth I6?

#13284 of 24723 Re: MB, BMW?? what else you have? [oac] by dewey

Jan 15, 2006 (2:17 pm)

Replying to: oac (Jan 15, 2006 1:29 pm)
Where did all 300K sales come from ? Cadillac, Lincoln, MB, mostly.
 
MB, who are you kidding? MB sales have grown tremendously since the introduction of Lexus.

#13285 of 24723 Re: MB, BMW?? what else you have? [dewey] by oac

Jan 15, 2006 (2:21 pm)

Replying to: dewey (Jan 15, 2006 2:17 pm)
MB sales have grown tremendously since the introduction of Lexus.
 
Care to back this up with facts ? How much %-wise has MB sales grown since 1990 ? This is also a period when MB was dominating the HELM market, but now is #4 in sales...

#13286 of 24723 Re: MB, BMW?? what else you have? [oac] by dewey

Jan 15, 2006 (2:28 pm)

Replying to: oac (Jan 15, 2006 2:21 pm)
Care to back this up with facts ?
 
As far as I know Lexus was introduced before 5 years ago! Lexus started in 1989 or 1990 and MB sales grew quite substantially since those years!
 
Also MB sales at the tail end of 05 grew quite nicely indicating the beginning of a turnaround.
 
And the Lexus LS remains a lower priced alternative to a MB S. There are more Tissot watches sold than Omegas due to price. Despite higher sales volumes, Tissots are not considered superior to Omegas. I dont why that is so hard for many forum members to understand?
 
Syswei pointed out you got to consider how prestige and price offset each others to find out if the Lexus LS or MB S is superior. Such a task is not quantifiable and a waste of time. The fact remains MB S is the Luxury BEnchmark since they are most valued by the market. In fact the MB S is more valued than an equivalent BMW 7 series.

Messages Page 1329 of 2473

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