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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 1858 of 2473

#18571 of 24723 Re: It's a no-brainer [lexusguy] by dewey

Sep 01, 2006 (2:41 pm)

Replying to: lexusguy (Aug 31, 2006 12:22 pm)
Sharing V6s is ok, many automakers do that. V8s however, should remain M-B exclusive.
 
Lexusguy,
 
there is no company on this earth that is as good in platform sharing between luxury and non luxury autos as Toyota. Unfortunately very few other companies share that success.
 
The disasterous details of Jaguar/Ford platform sharing has been recently discussed here. The details of the success of platform sharing between Honda and Acura is evident when you follow Acura's dismal sales results. Platform sharing among Nissan and Infiniti cars have been discontinued due to the non-success of the I35.
 
VW has discovered the limitations of platform sharing with Audi and new/future models with the exception of the A3 will non-VW independent platfoms. In the 1990s BMW was smart enough not to do any Rover/BMW platform sharing .
 
IMO putting a unique V8 drivetrain in a MB that has an identical platform with a Chrysler will be a disaster. In this case automotive history is on my side.

#18572 of 24723 Re:Camry/ES350-----CROSSFIRE/SLK by greasykid1

Sep 01, 2006 (2:54 pm)

Replying to: brightness04 (Aug 30, 2006 10:57 pm)
Don't agree with the comparisons. Just the opposite.
You can easily got your Lexus serviced at the local Toyota dealer but you cannot get your SLK serviced at your Chrysler dealer
 
Crossfire is old tech.SLK350 is a real sport car.

#18573 of 24723 Re:Camry/ES350-----CROSSFIRE/SLK [greasykid1] by dewey

Sep 01, 2006 (2:56 pm)

Replying to: greasykid1 (Sep 01, 2006 2:54 pm)
Crossfire is old tech.SLK350 is a real sport car
 
Absolutely correct. Despite my worries I think in the end DC will be smart enough to keep Benzes as unique at possible. In fact I dont think they have a choice.

#18574 of 24723 Re: It's a no-brainer [dewey] by tagman

Sep 01, 2006 (3:05 pm)

Replying to: dewey (Sep 01, 2006 2:41 pm)
GM, Ford, and Chrysler made huge $en$e out of platform sharing for years, within their respective divisions, basically rebadging the same cars.
 
Yes, there were mistakes at the old big three, but they were not as much about platform sharing as they were about poor business management and poor quality.
 
TagMan

#18575 of 24723 Re: It's a no-brainer [tagman] by dewey

Sep 01, 2006 (3:44 pm)

Replying to: tagman (Sep 01, 2006 3:05 pm)
GM, Ford, and Chrysler made huge $en$e out of platform sharing for years, within their respective divisions, basically rebadging the same cars
 
You are correct in saying that platform sharing among the Big 3 did make sense for many years. But the result of their past rebadged engineering is the current lack of seriousness among consumers for Big Three badges.

#18576 of 24723 Re: BMW Diesel [houdini1] by hpowders

Sep 01, 2006 (4:21 pm)

Replying to: houdini1 (Sep 01, 2006 2:23 pm)
Thank you Houdini1.
 
I posted last week that I am tired of reading all these ecstatic reviews in the British press of vehicles that we can't purchase here-namely, the diesels.
 
The 535d is 10% cheaper to purchase and 10% cheaper to maintain than its gasoline equivalent.
 
It does give up a bit of driving excitement to its "petrol" cousin, but the only people who would probably notice would be those who race the two.
 
Hopefully, some of these fine diesel vehicles will be available here soon.

#18577 of 24723 Re: Ford to sell off Aston, possibly Jag? [merc1] by nvbanker

Sep 01, 2006 (4:29 pm)

Replying to: merc1 (Aug 31, 2006 11:10 pm)
"Still got some Jaguar in your blood eh?"
 
I do, but my dealer waves me off from them every time I mention that I'd like one.... Still, just once, I'd like to own a Vanden Plas......maybe even for just a little while.

#18578 of 24723 Re: It's a no-brainer [dewey] by nvbanker

Sep 01, 2006 (5:20 pm)

Replying to: dewey (Sep 01, 2006 2:26 pm)
"Now unfortunately Mitsubushi is out of the picture so the next best step for DC to do is to increase the sharing between drivetrains and platforms between Benzes and Chryslers."
 
Are you sure about that? The new Dodge Caliber and the Jeep Compass are actually Mitsubishis under the skin....from front to back.

#18579 of 24723 Re: It's a no-brainer [dewey] by lexusguy

Sep 01, 2006 (5:36 pm)

Replying to: dewey (Sep 01, 2006 2:41 pm)
The disasterous details of Jaguar/Ford platform sharing has been recently discussed here. The details of the success of platform sharing between Honda and Acura is evident when you follow Acura's dismal sales results. Platform sharing among Nissan and Infiniti cars have been discontinued due to the non-success of the I35.
 
Actually, with the exception of the RL, Acura does very well. The TSX, TL, and MDX are generally good sellers, and they are all based on mainstream Honda platforms. The RDX will probably also sell well, and its basically a CR-V with a turbo.
 
With the RL, I think Honda misjudged how far the Accord platform could be pushed up market. Its good enough for a $35K car, but not a $50K car.
 
Infiniti still has one old fashioned rebadged Nissan, the QX56. I'm not positive, but I dont think it has been a success. I've never seen one on the road.

#18580 of 24723 QX-56 by nvbanker

Sep 01, 2006 (5:42 pm)

Oh, they sell pretty well, at least around here. Problem is they are dismally unreliable. The brake systems are woefully inadequate for a vehicle of that size, and they have other little glitches routinely as well. It is a shabby attempt at rebadging an Armada, inside and out. LIke a Tahoe Escalade in the past.

Messages Page 1858 of 2473

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