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

Messages Page 2177 of 2471: 1; ...; 2174; 2175; 2176; 2177; 2178; 2179; 2180; ...; 2471; Prev; Next; Last

#21756 of 24700 Re: Surprised [lexusguy] by dewey Dec 03, 2006 (7:00 pm)
Replying to: lexusguy (Dec 03, 2006 3:33 pm) did find it interesting that no LPS made it this time though. The overall LPS segment is shrinking in terms of volume and importance just like the upper middle class population is shrinking in North America. With the higher degree of polarization of wealth in our two countries it is no surprise at all that both the econobox segment(Yaris, Fit, Versa) and the higher end luxury segment( S Class, LS LWB) are booming simultaneously. In fact the fastest demand growth are for ultra-exotic performance vehicles like Audi R8s, Lambos and Ferarris. A segment that caters to the exceptionally rich whose wealth happens to be growing the fastest among North Americans. Walmart/Gap sales are disappointing while Tiffany and Saks sales are booming. Evidently the polarization that is evident in the automotive industry is also evident in the retail industry. Replies to this message: dewey (Dec 04, 2006 4:26 am)
#21759 of 24700 Re: Colors [esf] by dewey Dec 03, 2006 (7:53 pm)
Replying to: esf (Dec 02, 2006 7:01 pm) Congratulations ESF for your A8 decision. You and your wife made the right decision about the car as you will make the right decision about the colour. My suggestion is dont care about resale values or what others think about what colour is best. You already know what is best. Picking a colour based on expected resale values makes no sense. Have you noticed in Tagman's post that the most popular colour silver is declining in popularity while blue/gray is growing in popularity. Who knows by the time you sell the A8 silver will be an eyesore while blue may be most popular in terms of resale values? Replies to this message: esf (Dec 07, 2006 7:16 pm)
#21760 of 24700 You no.... by drfill Dec 03, 2006 (8:52 pm)
You can easily make the case that a 2007 A8 would've won that C&D comparo, with the new 350HP engine. But you'd also have to make the case that the LS460 is not as good as the LS430, which beat these vehicles before, which doesn't make sense. I don't know anymore. DrFill
#21761 of 24700 Re: Surprised [dewey] by dewey Dec 04, 2006 (4:26 am)
Replying to: dewey (Dec 03, 2006 7:00 pm) OK I will admit #21756 is not one of my better posts. It is a lot of babble that cannot be substantiated. But the fact is the middle tier market for cars/autos is growing slowest while the lowest tier and higest tier are growing fastest. Mistakenly my prior post includes LPS as middle tier. That is not the case at all and I apologize for that.
#21763 of 24700 Re: So [blkhemi] by lexusguy Dec 04, 2006 (6:01 am)
Replying to: blkhemi (Dec 03, 2006 6:05 pm) But the SRX on the whole seems to be a pretty sturdy vehicle, judging from the solid satisfaction ratings. I dont think I would buy one after hearing about the shattering moonroof problem though. That kind of thing would make me leave a brand for good, Lexus included.
#21764 of 24700 Lexus to compete (or try to!) with AMG, M by syswei Dec 04, 2006 (7:52 am)
Lexus will launch a performance brand in late 2007 to compete with Mercedes' AMG and BMW's M divisions. Lexus will start with an IS sedan equipped with a 425-hp, 5.0-liter V-8. The engine is a retuned version of the LS 600h L hybrid's engine, dealer sources said. The sedan will be called the IS-F. It will debut at the Detroit auto show in January. Lexus likely will carry that nomenclature into other high-performance Lexus vehicles, a dealer said. He said a GS-F sedan and IS-F coupe likely will follow. The IS-F - "F" as in "fast" - will go on sale in December 2007 and sticker in the low $50,000 range, sources said. Lexus told dealers of the plans at a recent national meeting. Toyota Motor Co. filed for a trademark for "IS-F" on Nov. 8 with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. It also filed for a trademark for a stylized "F" logo on Oct. 9. A dealer source said Yamaha is tuning the IS-F engine's heads for more power. Brembo will be the brake supplier. source Automotive News Replies to this message: tagman (Dec 04, 2006 8:35 am) syswei (Dec 04, 2006 8:54 am) lexusguy (Dec 04, 2006 9:12 am) 2001gs430 (Dec 04, 2006 1:20 pm) designman (Dec 05, 2006 9:36 am) hpowders (Dec 05, 2006 7:18 pm) drfill (Dec 04, 2006 11:09 am)
#21765 of 24700 Re: Lexus to compete (or try to!) with AMG, M [syswei] by tagman Dec 04, 2006 (8:35 am)
Replying to: syswei (Dec 04, 2006 7:52 am) Lexus will launch a performance brand in late 2007 to compete with Mercedes' AMG and BMW's M divisions. Lexus will start with an IS sedan equipped with a 425-hp, 5.0-liter V-8. The engine is a retuned version of the LS 600h L hybrid's engine, dealer sources said. Consider that Toyota's "TRD" vehicles are mostly cosmetic features. With regards to the IS, just raising the HP won't be enough. Serious suspension modifications will be necessary, IMO, and I've yet to see TMC come through with BMW-matching suspension and handling. MY bet is tons of HP and a cosmetic appearance package to go with it. Unfortunately, many buyers will likely find it is terrific enough even without the handling of a BMW, and will still buy it over the 3-series, just due to the its HP rating and appearance package. TagMan Replies to this message: syswei (Dec 04, 2006 8:54 am) lexusguy (Dec 04, 2006 9:12 am) 2001gs430 (Dec 04, 2006 1:20 pm) designman (Dec 05, 2006 9:36 am) hpowders (Dec 05, 2006 7:18 pm)