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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 1376 of 2473

#13748 of 24723 Re: No Change... [tagman] by merc1

Feb 01, 2006 (7:59 pm)

Replying to: tagman (Feb 01, 2006 7:50 pm)
Seperately from the stats, don't you agree that the line-up needs some quicker freshening, and maybe even a little "housekeeping" in a couple of spots?
 
Sure. A new C-Class and a facelifted E-Class would help a lot. BMW and Lexus have the advantage of having newer sedans in each category, especially Lexus. As DrFill points out all of Lexus' 4-doors are new for either the 2006 or 2007 model year. That will likely translate into breathtaking sales numbers for Lexus in 2006 and 2007, but they'll also be under the gun to refresh and re-design all 4 of their sedans around the same time again in 5-6 years. BMW has a similar situation with their oldest sedan being around from "only" 2002, while the outgoing S-Class goes back to 1999. What other changes do you think they should make? This will be a big year for MB even without and all new E or C-Class. Everything else either gets a facelift or new engines that will account for a better than average (for the last few years) sales gain over 2005 IMO.
 
M

#13749 of 24723 Some perspective... [tagman] by scott1256

Feb 01, 2006 (8:01 pm)

Replying to: tagman (Feb 01, 2006 7:18 pm)
Mercedes sales were up 3% in January over a year ago. The new S along with the restyled SL and E should add volume later in the year. MB will IMO have a good year.
 
Luxury cars are selling! In January Lexus cars were up 36.9%, Cadillac cars up 33.4% and BMW cars up 23%.
 
Truck sales for Lexus, Cadillaac and BMW were weak in January.

#13750 of 24723 Re: to ljflx - good opinions and $$$ [merc1] by ljflx

Feb 01, 2006 (8:41 pm)

Replying to: merc1 (Feb 01, 2006 7:50 pm)
Where do you see me using the word ugly. I said I didn't like it but I also said I thought the car had a beautiful silhouette but was overdesigned and henced being overdesigned ruined its looks. The overdesign is in the wheel arches and the trunk. Too many parts calling for attention can ruin a cars design just like spoiled superstars can disrupt a team that is great on paper. The flow is lost. That's how I feel about this S - take out the arches and fix the trunk and the car would look great to me. I don't find the car to be ugly - I just don't find it to be good looking.

#13751 of 24723 Re: No Change... [merc1] by ljflx

Feb 01, 2006 (8:53 pm)

Replying to: merc1 (Feb 01, 2006 7:59 pm)
"As DrFill points out all of Lexus' 4-doors are new for either the 2006 or 2007 model year. That will likely translate into breathtaking sales numbers for Lexus in 2006 and 2007, but they'll also be under the gun to refresh and re-design all 4 of their sedans around the same time again in 5-6 years."
 
But technically there's a weakness in your argument as it that means Lexus just went through the period you're theorizing about in the future (correctly in all likelihood) with very healthy growth. In truth the real answer continues to be something that MB missed - the SUV phase. Lexus can much better balance out its line-up changes because of the the vehicles that many here so often want to exclude - SUV's. Stale cars - new suv's; stale SUV's - new cars; plus a strong wildcard - hybrids. In the US they have much better balance than MB right now and it shows clearly in the sales numbers and what happens when models go stale. My instinct also tells me that if Lexus rolls out a minivan it will do a lot better than the R-class. The issue for them though is the fear that it might cannibalize the RX.

#13752 of 24723 Re: No Change... by ljflx

Feb 01, 2006 (9:05 pm)

Replying to: ljflx (Feb 01, 2006 8:53 pm)
One other point and dare I say this but does anyone think MB is disappointed with its' SUV sales? A 1900 unit month is not that healthy of a run-rate - IMO - and I thought I read they were hoping for 30-35K unit sales per year.

#13753 of 24723 Re: No Change... [ljflx] by tagman

Feb 01, 2006 (9:06 pm)

Replying to: ljflx (Feb 01, 2006 8:53 pm)
New and improved SUV's from Lexus, if TRULY improved as they genuinely and sorely NEED to be, could be a windfall for Lexus. I remember someone posting that there were no new Lexus SUVs in sight for a while. Too bad.
 
The Mercedes diesels are still lurking, and could be big.
 
Regarding the R . . . it is a sitting duck. (And gives MB a bad look).

#13754 of 24723 Dag, LJ! by callmedrfill

Feb 01, 2006 (9:10 pm)

Why you have to take the food off my plate!
 
   The words out of my mouth!
 
   Lexus knows the market, a lot better than Mercedes does.
 
   Besides juicing up this forum, I also posted those numbers to show a general trend. At Lexus, cars were down in 2004, but SUVs were up big! New record.
 
   In 2005, cars were up big, SUVs stayed strong, but leveled off. New record.
 
   When everything but one vehicle is taking a dive, that says somethin'.
  
   Ford sold "only" 52k F-series! But Fusion AND Mustang AND 500 were up. You can be more optimistic.
 
   The facts, the numbers say more than I can about where a couple of companies are headed. Mercedes will ALWAYS be Mercedes, but I see someone movin' towards the Head of the table, and someone who is scouting out a Booster Chair.
 
   DrFill

#13755 of 24723 Re: Dag, LJ! [callmedrfill] by tagman

Feb 01, 2006 (9:14 pm)

Replying to: callmedrfill (Feb 01, 2006 9:10 pm)
You are tootin' a little loudly, Doc.
 
 
Lexus knows the market, a lot better than Mercedes does.
 
never chalk up experience . . . who has more?

#13756 of 24723 Thanks for remindin' me. by callmedrfill

Feb 01, 2006 (9:14 pm)

The R-Class needed to get 1000 units to show me this thing is going to make it. It came up well short. It's had plenty of press, plus the Auto Show season to stoke interest. Those are weak numbers, regardless of month, for a brand new Benz.
  
    I'm still holding out hope the Lexus HPX concept will get on in 2008. That would be HOT! Sore it in NY in 2004. Unreal!! Please make it!
 
    DrFill

#13757 of 24723 Re: No Change... [tagman] by ljflx

Feb 01, 2006 (9:15 pm)

Replying to: tagman (Feb 01, 2006 9:06 pm)
I think you are looking at model year 2008 for the new LX and 2009 for a new GX. The GX is selling very well and has exceeded their expectations completely. It's a very popular SUV in my town - you see them everywhere - and everyone I know that has one loves it. Lexus hit the mark with it even though I totally agree with you on the third row and as well, the stupidity of the back door swing out.

Messages Page 1376 of 2473

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