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Sedans 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
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.
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Replying to: houdini1 (Oct 16, 2006 5:06 pm) That leads me to another point. Some talk about the sales disparity between the european products from Benz, etc. in Europe vs. Lexus. Let's get to the reality. A Benz in Europe covers the ground that a Camry and Lexus cover in the US. You can get a C-class with a 1.8L or so 4-banger, hubcaps, and cloth seats. In the not to distant past you could even get a 190 or C-class with roll up windows in Europe. In Europe these cars cover as taxi cabs, livery service, as well as police vehicles. As is the case with cars like the Ford Taurus' sales being inflated by fleet sales, the same is soo for especially Audi and Benz in Europe. Not to mention the earlier fact that one can buy a stripper C-class for a lot less than anyone can buy a IS for in Europe. This is one of the major factors why Lexus gets slaughtered in Europe. The other big factor is the European market demands loads of variations such as probably a half dozen plus different engines in the C-class, Toyota hasn't learned this yet. For Lexus to succeed they need broad engine varieties as well as broad price variations in Europe and a Diesel for every car line is a must. Something they seem to refuse to do as Hybrids just aren't going to cut it in Europe. But the other fact is who cares if they don't cut it in Europe? Europeans are the total opposite of Americans. We'll buy anything from any country. Europeans are alot more protectionist and prefer to buy only cars from their own Country. A Chinese car will probably take a long time to gain traction in Europe, but it will take less than a decade for one to gain sales traction in the US.
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Replying to: maxhonda99 (Oct 16, 2006 5:16 pm) Imagine that! Europeans appreciate diesel engines. Tell us more we don't know.  TagMan |
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Replying to: maxhonda99 (Oct 16, 2006 5:16 pm) I think they are working on it, but that kind of thing is going to take at least 10 years to implement. 10 years ago, the only Lexus that offered any kind of variety was the SC coupe, which had two engine choices and offered a 5-speed manual for a few years. Today there is a lot more choice (especially if you include the '07 LS), but they still have a long way to go to match the kind of variety that BMW, Mercedes and Audi have. |
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Replying to: maxhonda99 (Oct 16, 2006 4:54 pm) Guess that makes me a stupid genius in-training! What I did say is there is a little too much resemblance among the rears of the Camry, Avalon, ES and LS. Lexus should make its designs more distinctive from Toyotas. Whether you happen to like it or not, it is a valid complaint, and it puzzles me that anyone would disagree with that.
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Replying to: brightness04 (Oct 16, 2006 5:03 pm) But now when I visit many family members they live in the outskirts, shop in far away big box stores and have to travel on the highways to get to work. In otherwords their European lifestyle is beginning to resemble the lifestyle of many North Americans. Ironically my European relatives view my lifestyle in midtown/downtown Toronto with nostalgia since I walk both to work and to nearby shops, theatres and restaurants. Regarding your Audi views I beg to differ. Today's Audi is not like yesterday's Audi. Today there is only the A3 that shares a platform with VW. All other Audis are distinct and unique in their chassises and in most cases their drivetrains.
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Replying to: hpowders (Oct 17, 2006 5:12 am) Guess that makes me a stupid genius in-training! What I did say is there is a little too much resemblance among the rears of the Camry, Avalon, ES and LS. Lexus should make its designs more distinctive from Toyotas. Whether you happen to like it or not, it is a valid complaint, and it puzzles me that anyone would disagree with that. Well, it's a good morning. The first thing I see is that you and I are on the same page with this. Good post. And it's good to see you stick to your guns. TagMan
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Replying to: tagman (Oct 17, 2006 7:31 am) overall the resemblance of the ES and LS to the Camry is undeniable. It is not a question of being an Einstein or being a village idiot to figure that one out. I agree one hundred percent with your observations. |
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Replying to: dewey (Oct 17, 2006 7:31 am) I think you are right about this, but the recent "Audi" grill being used by VW seems to have caused a perception that there is more in common between Audi and VW than there actually is. BTW, interesting stuff about your lifestyle.  TagMan |
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Replying to: reality2 (Oct 16, 2006 11:42 am) Personally I wish I could not see the luxury in BMW myself. I would prefer BMW just to focus on performance cars without entertainment electronic gizmos and without an interior that resembles my grandfather's library.
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Replying to: dewey (Oct 17, 2006 7:39 am) TagMan
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