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

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#15993 of 24700 Interesting reading............ by merc1 Jun 04, 2006 (9:28 pm)
Been on a long Memorial Day vaction. What did I miss? hpowders - BMW should drop the 7-Series? I had to do a doubletake at the user ID when I read that post. No, they can't drop the 7-Series. As others have stated BMW's overall image would suffer relative to Mercedes' without the 7-Series. The 7 is really BMW's only car that competes in the high-end space with Mercedes on a regular basis. The Z8 and 850Ci before it didn't do much for BMW, but the 7-Series is sought out by BMW buyers who want that type of experience in a larger car, IMO. A 750i Sport has nearly the same ride (read: firm) as lesser BMWs, but of course they can't make it ride/handle like a 330i or 550i, the ride would suffer too much considering it is at heart a "luxury" car. OAC - Thanks for the award. I've been here since 1999, but strangely my start date is April 13, 2001, the same date as Lenn's???? Pat??? I also would like to state that for the record that I maintain nearly the same level of knowledge about all German cars (and cars period for that matter) as I do Mercedes-Benz. Designman & ljflx - Touching stories. I haven't had to deal with anything like that, at least not yet. M Replies to this message: pat (Jun 05, 2006 7:42 am) merc1 (Jun 05, 2006 8:32 pm)
#15994 of 24700 Re: 2 Regrets [hpowders] by garyh1 Jun 04, 2006 (9:42 pm)
Replying to: hpowders (Jun 04, 2006 7:37 pm) The 750 is not my kind of car-I don't need a big bloated Bimmer. It took me quite a long time to get used to the increase in mass of the 545 coming from 12 years of 3-series vehicles See, this is where you lose me. If the 750 feels "bloated" to you, how is an LS460 going to feel acceptable? I have to believe the LS is always going to feel bigger and higher off the ground than a 5 series, let alone a 3 series - because it is! If the LS460 handles as well as a 750, I think even TagMan would say Lexus has accomplished its goals. Replies to this message: hpowders (Jun 05, 2006 3:23 am)
#15995 of 24700 Misc ramblings...... by merc1 Jun 04, 2006 (9:49 pm)
As ljflx pointed out Lexus has switched their emphasis over to their cars right in the nick of time because without the new ES and IS they'd be looking an YTD sales loss for the first time in many years. Their long-running SUV sales juggernaught is dying fast. That said, you can't stick Toyota at either end. While Ford, GM and now even Chrysler all post sales losses, Toyota posts huge gains based in part on their new smaller more efficient cars having found traction in the market. How brilliant this company is to be able to adapt so fast to changing preferences. If GM in particular can't keep the new full-size SUVs selling at a good clip until the end of the year they're in even more serious trouble, IMO. That was the gamble, bread and butter SUVs before the next generation of RWD cars. Is it me or is the Hyundai Sonata blatantly "similar" to the previous generation A6 in its overall shape and lines? It and the new Camry SE are some surprise lookers from the Asian corner in their respective segments. Mercedes-Benz is also having a sales party of their own. Sales up 21 percent in May 2006 compared to May 2006. The new GL is a hit if early sales are anything to go by. The E,SLK, and SL are also pulling their weight. They're giving away 06' E's ahead of the 07's landing at the end of the month. The only fly in the buttermilk is the R-Class, the only one not living up to projections. M Replies to this message: hpowders (Jun 05, 2006 3:33 am) merc1 (Jun 05, 2006 3:38 am) ljflx (Jun 05, 2006 5:23 am) blckislandguy (Jun 05, 2006 5:31 pm) ljflx (Jun 05, 2006 6:10 pm) merc1 (Jun 05, 2006 8:18 pm) ljflx (Jun 06, 2006 5:02 am) and 21 more... blkhemi (Jun 05, 2006 1:52 pm) merc1 (Jun 05, 2006 8:41 pm) lexusguy (Jun 06, 2006 8:24 am) blkhemi (Jun 06, 2006 1:56 pm)
#15996 of 24700 Re: 2 Regrets [garyh1] by hpowders Jun 05, 2006 (3:23 am)
Replying to: garyh1 (Jun 04, 2006 9:42 pm) I was implying that if I wanted a big vehicle, It wouldn't be a BMW. I like the 7 but for that size and price, I would prefer more luxury. BMW's interiors and seats are pretty much the same across the line. I would be spending more money, stare around me in the driver's seat and would be thinking, haven't I been down this road already? There are better choices in the HELM realm, IMO. For that size and price of vehicle, I would rather give up a bit of performance and go with a more comfortable vehicle, perhaps the new LS. After 13 years and 3 BMW's later, I may be due for a change. But then again, I have had these thoughts before and the competition couldn't convince me to change. I will drive the LS in the Fall and I'll see.
#15997 of 24700 Re: Misc ramblings...... [merc1] by hpowders Jun 05, 2006 (3:33 am)
Replying to: merc1 (Jun 04, 2006 9:49 pm) CR will be publishing a comparo involving the new Camry next month. Which is the only trim they didn't test? You guessed it-the only interesting one, the SE! Replies to this message: merc1 (Jun 05, 2006 3:38 am)
#15998 of 24700 Re: Misc ramblings...... [hpowders] by merc1 Jun 05, 2006 (3:38 am)
Replying to: hpowders (Jun 05, 2006 3:33 am) Figures. M
#15999 of 24700 Re: 2 Regrets [cyclone4] by oac Jun 05, 2006 (5:10 am)
Replying to: cyclone4 (Jun 04, 2006 7:18 pm) Arrived in Tokyo late Monday (Tokyo-time) and should be here for the rest of this week. I'll try to dig up as much info as I could out here on anything Lexus. If I hear or find out anything about timeline changes for the 600h I'd sure pass it on. Welcome back, Merc1. LG/DrFill: Who makes the Crown Athlete again ? That car is stunningly beautiful. Its what the new GS should have looked like. Drove alongside one all the way from Narita Airport to downtown Tokyo (1+hr ride) and what a beautiful car it was. Shocked that I stared and stared at a Bangle-5 today on the streets of Tokyo (lots of Bimmers here of course) and couldn't help but admire it somewhat. It was dusk and the rings around the headlights were lighted low giving the car a lithe and menacing look.... I haven't paid that much attention to it until now... I'd say the best looking of the new Bimmer designs... Did I just say that ??? Seems like I have this love-hate thing for the Bangle-5. Some days I am all over it, some days I just can't bear to look at it... What gives ! Am I the only one, or am I just paranoid about this car !!! And yes, Blkhemi, I like your diagnosis of the new IS v e90. The latter is just kinda subdued-looking. Cannot believe it. What saved it is the legendary drive... To that, BMW owes its success, certainly not the new look. New Accord is just plain ugly. The new Sonata is a blatant copy of the previous Accord. Of course, the worst rip-off copy of all is the new Jetta which is a total rip-off of the current Corolla - from the front all the way to the rear... New Camry is not bad-looking, especially if you dress it in the SE gab, with all that body-molding and dual exhaust ... very sporty look, for sure. New ES is equally good. Lexus should sell boat loads of it. The new S remains a stunner ! Me likey the new S more and more... Looking forward to learning more about Lexus' plans and more importantly timelines and prices, if possible... Fat chance on prices, but maybe I'd learn a thing or two about release timelines and any testing of the 460, if any... Replies to this message: lexusguy (Jun 05, 2006 7:12 am)
#16000 of 24700 Re: Misc ramblings...... [merc1] by ljflx Jun 05, 2006 (5:23 am)
Replying to: merc1 (Jun 04, 2006 9:49 pm) When you look a bit deeper at MB the sales jump is not as impressive as one would think. The year over year gain is 14k units and 11K come from the R and the GL, two models that weren't there a year ago. The rest of the brand is up 3K in vehicles sold and that is entirely because of the S-class which accounts for a 7K unit sales jump. In Wall Street terms it's like a same store sales analysis. Take out the new stores, in this case new cars (which carry a much higher cost burden) to see how the core is really going is the key tool used. In this case if you do that MB is virtually flat to 2005. In the case of Lexus and the S-class the jump is a re-generation of cars and is a standard cyclical jump albeit overstated in Lexus' case because they had left the IS dead for years. http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/06/01/009345.html Replies to this message: blckislandguy (Jun 05, 2006 5:31 pm) ljflx (Jun 05, 2006 6:10 pm) merc1 (Jun 05, 2006 8:18 pm) ljflx (Jun 06, 2006 5:02 am) merc1 (Jun 06, 2006 2:28 pm) and 20 more...
#16001 of 24700 Re: 2 Regrets [oac] by lexusguy Jun 05, 2006 (7:12 am)
Replying to: oac (Jun 05, 2006 5:10 am) LG/DrFill: Who makes the Crown Athlete again ? That car is stunningly beautiful. Its what the new GS should have looked like. Drove alongside one all the way from Narita Airport to downtown Tokyo (1+hr ride) and what a beautiful car it was. In Japan, Toyota sells the Crown and the Aristo (Lexus GS). I think the Crown is intended for people who want a mid-sized version of the Celsior (Lexus LS). It's more conservative looking than the GS, and the interior is much more luxurious. You can buy the top version, the Majesta, with a V8 and AWD. I wish Lexus offered that in the states.
#16002 of 24700 Re: Interesting reading............ [merc1] by pat HOST Jun 05, 2006 (7:42 am)
Replying to: merc1 (Jun 04, 2006 9:28 pm) I've been here since 1999, but strangely my start date is April 13, 2001, the same date as Lenn's???? Pat??? I've been here since the early part of 1999 also. The best I can figure, that 2001 date is the date we switched to this platform, Web Crossing, from WELL Engaged. It's funny that it's a Friday the 13th. Replies to this message: merc1 (Jun 05, 2006 8:32 pm)