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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 2067 of 2473

#20654 of 24723 Re: Car mags... [designman] by merc1

Nov 01, 2006 (10:41 pm)

Replying to: designman (Nov 01, 2006 6:54 am)
If you want to see cars get old quick wait until the next round of BMWs come out which will bid good riddance to this current fleet.
 
True, especially if BMW does something radical to "fix" idrive in the press' eyes. They'll harp endlessly (as they do now) about how terrible idrive was. If BMW smoothes out their new look and makes the next 7-Series (the next major redesign) a looker again, they'll do the harping endlessly (again) about how ugly the current car was.
 
BTW, I can see the attraction to this new Camry because it looks sportier and loses the frumpiness of its last three predecessors.
 
The new one is easily the best looking one ever, IMO. Not a hard thing to do considering. The last Camry that even looked decent was the 1992-1996 model and it was a melted shape from somewhere else, the LS400.
 
M

#20655 of 24723 Re: Diesels, Hybrids, EPA... [houdini1] by merc1

Nov 01, 2006 (10:43 pm)

Replying to: houdini1 (Nov 01, 2006 7:07 am)
Well if Mercedes can get the 08' models certified in those 5 remaining states I think we're going to see a mini-diesel revolution. Early sales indicate the newly introduced models are being well received. The real numbers will be next month, which will be the first full month of sales for the E320 Bluey, R320/ML320 CDI models. A GL320 comes in Jan 07'.
 
Maybe Honda will place a diesel Accord in the spot where they should have placed the hybrid model, the low end. Prospective Accord hybrid buyers apparently did't want more power, they want better MPG over the regular Accord models.
 
M

#20656 of 24723 Re: Diesels, Hybrids, EPA... [lexusguy] by merc1

Nov 01, 2006 (10:50 pm)

Replying to: lexusguy (Nov 01, 2006 9:14 am)
If there is enough demand for it, M-B will probably do it. I can't imagine the penalty for the bigger wheels and suspension changes would be more than what, 2mpg? 3? Im sure there are plenty that would be willing to make that sacrifice, especially considering you'd still be well ahead of the gasoline E350 even with the drop.
 
They just might. That package sure does make the E look a whole lot better too.
 
M

#20657 of 24723 Re: Car mags... [tagman] by brightness04

Nov 01, 2006 (11:00 pm)

Replying to: tagman (Nov 01, 2006 10:38 pm)
And where would you imagine those IS sales would have otherwise gone?
 
I doubt many expected IS sales to nearly match 3 series this quickly in the product cycle. I wonder if BMW is experiencing some kind of product transition issue in the market place. The perenniel sales leader in the entry level sport-luxury sedan market is certainly expected to hold on to its lead by more than the skin of teeth, so to speak. Perhaps consumers are waiting for the 328i/335i to fill the supply chain?

#20658 of 24723 Re: Car mags... [brightness04] by syswei

Nov 02, 2006 (4:36 am)

Replying to: brightness04 (Nov 01, 2006 11:00 pm)
BMW is transitioning to new engines in the 3 series, which is causing the dip in sales. Lexus can't celebrate yet.

#20659 of 24723 Re: Car mags... [brightness04] by lexusguy

Nov 02, 2006 (6:44 am)

Replying to: brightness04 (Nov 01, 2006 11:00 pm)
I doubt many expected IS sales to nearly match 3 series this quickly in the product cycle. I wonder if BMW is experiencing some kind of product transition issue in the market place. The perenniel sales leader in the entry level sport-luxury sedan market is certainly expected to hold on to its lead by more than the skin of teeth, so to speak. Perhaps consumers are waiting for the 328i/335i to fill the supply chain?
 
3400 sales from both companies isn't nearly enough to make either Acura or Infiniti sweat. The 3 series is not the perenniel entry-sport sales leader. Not even close, at least in this country. The 2006 G35 sedan and coupe, literally minutes away from death, racked up 4200 sales for October, down more than 20% from last october. BMW's "engine transition" will not get them within a mile of the '07 G's sales, and Infiniti will be much stronger for '08 when the new coupe arrives.
 
The TL's October '06 sales were 5800, down 4% from last year.

#20660 of 24723 Re: Car mags... [lexusguy] by

Nov 02, 2006 (12:02 pm)

Replying to: lexusguy (Nov 02, 2006 6:44 am)
Also bear in mind that the BMW 3 models are up about 4k units compared to last year.
 
   The ES has also passed the TL in YTD sales.
 
   I would consider less than 4k sales for the month a slow month for the 3. The IS has been consistent around 4-4500 a month.
 
   DrFill

#20661 of 24723 Re: Car mags... [] by lexusguy

Nov 02, 2006 (12:49 pm)

Replying to: unknown (Nov 02, 2006 12:02 pm)
The ES has also passed the TL in YTD sales.
 
Perhaps, but the ES is pretty far from an entry-sport car. Lexus should be pleased with the numbers though, there were a few months when it even beat the RX to be their #1 seller.

#20662 of 24723 Re: Car mags... [lexusguy] by jzalkin

Nov 02, 2006 (1:59 pm)

Replying to: lexusguy (Nov 02, 2006 12:49 pm)
I agree that the ES is far from a enty-sports model, but considering that Lexus attacks the entry-Luxury market with two cars it should be viewed a little differently.
 
IS sales most likely would be higher if there were no ES (not all of the buyers, but some would). That would make the IS sales most likely over 5,000 per month.
 
It is hard to isolate the ES and IS because there is a certain amount of effect one has on the other in the marketplace. The problem is that there is no way to tell what that effect is.
 
It is clear that Lexus has hit a home run in the entry level and they are content to reduce a single model's sales in order to increase the overall pie (IS sales would be higher without ES , but IS and ES gain more total sales by being in the marketplace).
 
Interesting strategy that is working and is unique. Will any other car maker follow?

#20663 of 24723 Re: Car mags... [jzalkin] by lexusguy

Nov 02, 2006 (3:18 pm)

Replying to: jzalkin (Nov 02, 2006 1:59 pm)
Interesting strategy that is working and is unique. Will any other car maker follow?
 
I doubt it. The ES smashed the I30\I35 to bits, Infinti certainly will not be trying that again. They've never had the skill to take the Maxima upmarket like Lexus does with the Camry.
 
The Acura TL used to compete more directly with the ES in the '90s, but either pressure from the ES, or Acura's desire to reinvent itself as a performance company, or both, has shifted the TL away from the ES market and into the entry-sport category.
 
If Acura decides to give the TSX SH-AWD and either their turbo 4 or a V6, that would make it more of an IS competitor. The TL still wouldn't really be competing with the ES, but it would give them two entry level cars.
 
BMW and Audi will never make ES competitors. The M-B C class kind of straddles the entry-lux\sport category depending on options. I think M-B would rather just give their customers choice as to how sporty they want their C class to be, rather than trying to offer two different cars.

Messages Page 2067 of 2473

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