High End Luxury Cars

24700 messages, Last post on Dec 01, 2009 at 12:24 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

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.

Outline

Messages Page 1354 of 2471: 1; ...; 1351; 1352; 1353; 1354; 1355; 1356; 1357; ...; 2471; Prev; Next; Last

#13525 of 24700 Re: merc1 [merc1] by jrock65 Jan 20, 2006 (2:11 pm)
Replying to: merc1 (Jan 20, 2006 2:07 pm) According to Forbes: "The first of the new models to go on sale in the U.S. will be the S550, expected in February, followed by the S450 and S600 in April 2006." Replies to this message: merc1 (Jan 20, 2006 2:16 pm) syswei (Jan 20, 2006 2:21 pm)
#13526 of 24700 Re: S-Class [garyh1] by merc1 Jan 20, 2006 (2:14 pm)
Replying to: garyh1 (Jan 20, 2006 10:40 am) A few things. Mercedes' stability control can be throttled back/turned down, but not off. Lexus doesn't offer a switch of any kind on the models the press complains about. Secondly the S-Class isn't a sports sedan like the GS or IS. They need an on/off switch more than the S-Class does IMO. Mercedes offering wooden steering wheels is nothing new. They've offered this option on certain models since the 1992 600SEL. M Replies to this message: michael_mattox (Jan 21, 2006 10:42 am)
#13527 of 24700 Re: merc1 [jrock65] by merc1 Jan 20, 2006 (2:16 pm)
Replying to: jrock65 (Jan 20, 2006 2:11 pm) Yeah that is what everyone has said, but the S450 has yet to be shown at either L.A. or Detroit like the S600 has been. Maybe it will just show up at the dealers in April, but something tells me not. M
#13528 of 24700 Re: LS460 pricing [jrock65] by syswei Jan 20, 2006 (2:19 pm)
Replying to: jrock65 (Jan 20, 2006 1:59 pm) I think you're right, the dealer was talking out of his ass. Lexus does like to keep the number of variants down, but only 4 trims total between the 3 cars? My guess is more like 6. Plus the prices seem too high, I think a loaded 600hL will be under 100k.
#13529 of 24700 Re: merc1 [jrock65] by syswei Jan 20, 2006 (2:21 pm)
Replying to: jrock65 (Jan 20, 2006 2:11 pm) Check the autospies article here. Looks to me like it came from a press or analyst briefing, so my guess is it is accurate for cy2006.
#13530 of 24700 Lexus vs Merc by rayng Jan 20, 2006 (3:37 pm)
Which car will emerge as the winner in this battle between the flagships? As the LS approaches S territory in both size, price, and features, will the LS prevail? Or will the safety-features and panache of the S sink the LS? I can't help but think this is a watershed year for the LS and the Lexus brand. I think respectable sales performance and media reviews will be crucial to the Lexus brand's future. But if the LS tanks due to higher prices and media pans, the Lexus brand (and residual values) will suffer. Will Lexus be the the next Infiniti if the LS fails? For 100 large, what would you buy? S, LS, or ? Replies to this message: tagman (Jan 20, 2006 6:19 pm) blckislandguy (Jan 20, 2006 7:17 pm) lexusguy (Jan 20, 2006 7:48 pm) and 18 more... oac (Jan 20, 2006 9:05 pm) ljflx (Jan 20, 2006 9:07 pm) garyh1 (Jan 20, 2006 10:06 pm) bdr127 (Jan 21, 2006 6:38 am) and 2 more... ljflx (Jan 21, 2006 6:52 am) and 3 more... tagman (Jan 21, 2006 7:09 am) ron_m (Jan 21, 2006 9:52 am) ljflx (Jan 21, 2006 10:05 am) merc1 (Jan 21, 2006 10:25 am) and 29 more... tagman (Jan 21, 2006 11:01 am) and 7 more...
#13531 of 24700 Re: merc1 [merc1] by tagman Jan 20, 2006 (6:04 pm)
Replying to: merc1 (Jan 20, 2006 2:07 pm) A little more supportive information . . . my local dealer had also told me that the S450 will indeed follow the S550 later in the Spring, and that a diesel version likely will be offered in the next model year, and that it (the diesel) MIGHT be cleaned up enough for California and other currently restricted markets.
#13532 of 24700 S by syswei Jan 20, 2006 (6:11 pm)
Well if they don't introduce the S450 this calendar year, it would mean the car rags would have to test the LS460 against the S550, not the S450, in any comparo.
#13533 of 24700 Re: Lexus vs Merc [rayng] by tagman Jan 20, 2006 (6:19 pm)
Replying to: rayng (Jan 20, 2006 3:37 pm) For 100 large, what would you buy? S, LS, or ? Well . . . earlier in the month I predicted success for the new S-Class, and expressed only one reservation . . . the price, after adding all options. So . . . to answer your question, I would without hesitation choose the Mercedes S-Class over the Lexus, unless there was a MAJOR price difference. By major, I mean all features as close to equal as possible and the retail price being 25 percent cheaper for the Lexus. At that level, I might consider it. MAYBE. At similar price levels for comparable vehicles, I would personally NEVER choose a Lexus over a Mercedes. But that's just my personal and honest preference. I know some will disgree. Heck, I also believe that history and hindsight will show that the current gorgeous (and more reliable) Jaguar XJ Vanden Plas can be purchased at a bargain price right at this very moment (due to obvious issues at Jaguar). TagMan Replies to this message: blckislandguy (Jan 20, 2006 7:17 pm) lexusguy (Jan 20, 2006 7:48 pm) tagman (Jan 20, 2006 11:34 pm) and 17 more...
#13534 of 24700 Re: Lexus vs Merc [tagman] by blckislandguy Jan 20, 2006 (7:17 pm)
Replying to: tagman (Jan 20, 2006 6:19 pm) Yes, the XJ is priced right. A used one is even a better deal. Less than 40K for a gently used '04 is a steal. But the pricing I don't think is due to any issues at Jaguar because it has been consistently lower than the competition. Clearly sales are off because of the hangover effect of the old reliability issues, no AWD, lingering vestiges of the feeling that it is not uber enough of a sedan for a Fortune 500 CEO (Accordingly, all CEO wannabes who run say the local lumberyard chain in Peoria are going to lust over only an S Class), and some bad marketing by Jag. Replies to this message: lexusguy (Jan 20, 2006 7:48 pm) tagman (Jan 20, 2006 11:34 pm) lexusguy (Jan 21, 2006 7:03 am) and 1 more... michael_mattox (Jan 21, 2006 11:48 am) and 14 more...