High End Luxury Cars

24702 messages, Last post on Dec 17, 2009 at 11:48 AM

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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#22288 of 24702 Re: Mercedes-Benz [blkhemi] by tagman Dec 14, 2006 (9:51 pm)
Replying to: blkhemi (Dec 14, 2006 6:54 pm) If Porsche is serious about weight distribution, then the REAL option is not front-engine, as you predict, but rather mid-engine, IMO. The next 911 might drop the rear seats, move the engine mid-ship, like the Cayman, but all the bells and whistles, high horse power, and super good looks would go to the 911, to maintain model distinction. TagMan Replies to this message: blkhemi (Dec 17, 2006 8:59 am)
#22289 of 24702 Re: Mercedes-Benz [dewey] by merc1 Dec 14, 2006 (10:25 pm)
Replying to: dewey (Dec 14, 2006 4:49 pm) Old article Dewey, we'll see what happens. Not offical pic either. M
#22290 of 24702 How dare by dhamilton Dec 15, 2006 (4:06 pm)
How dare esf post something negative about Audi's I think I won't come to this Audi hating forum anymore .
#22291 of 24702 The Battle for Britain by dewey Dec 15, 2006 (4:42 pm)
What a coincidence? Shortly after BMW officially acquires Britain's John Cooper Works, MB will likely soon be acqiring the British outfit McLaren. McLaren
#22292 of 24702 Re: OK - Now here this. [dewey] by brightness04 Dec 15, 2006 (10:55 pm)
Replying to: dewey (Dec 14, 2006 8:19 am) Please enlighten us with what you do know about Lexus? What you are missing is that Toyota is a full-line brand in its home market just like Mercedes, perhaps even more so at the HELC end. MB sells little tin cans like A class as well as S class. Toyota sells little tin cans like Yaris as well as the Century, which is above even the S class and competes with Rolls-Royce, which is the target of Maybach brand in the MB universe. So, there is no need to apologize for sharing platform with Toyota.
#22293 of 24702 Re: Mercedes-Benz [blkhemi] by brightness04 Dec 15, 2006 (11:02 pm)
Replying to: blkhemi (Dec 14, 2006 6:10 pm) What Porsche wants in this marriage is VW's production volume. A la the V8 used in Cayenne; developing a new V8 on Porsche's own lonesome self would simply be uneconomical. Niche player simply can not survive the next down turn in the industry, due to the high cost of R&D nowadays. Economy of scale is the key. In that sense, VW is just as important as Audi in this equation; besdies, the two are so interwined nowadays as far as parts bins and platforms are concerned. Replies to this message: blkhemi (Dec 17, 2006 9:13 am)
#22294 of 24702 Re: Mercedes-Benz [dewey] by brightness04 Dec 15, 2006 (11:18 pm)
Replying to: dewey (Dec 14, 2006 8:14 am) Did the Economist mention how VWAG is being run into the ground under the tutelage of Dr. Ferdinand P? It looks like Porsche will buy out VW, following a pattern of bad bad purchases by German niche brands: BMW acquisition of Rover, blowing billions out the door; MB acquisition of Chrysler, only worse now that it is clear no synergy is to be found if the company decides not to share platform at all. I wonder when the captains of the industry are going to wake up and realize that by the time a mass marketeer is weak enough to be acquired by a niche marketeer, in a sort of reserve buy-out, the volume car maker must be so weakened that it's nearly hopeless. Perhaps they are just too enamored with their own empire building. Replies to this message: dewey (Dec 16, 2006 2:29 pm) brightness04 (Dec 16, 2006 4:07 pm)
#22295 of 24702 I would by dhamilton Dec 16, 2006 (7:13 am)
be careful about quoting empire building in relation to european marquees, and leaving Toyota out. We've seen first hand this year how their desire to be #1 has driven quality down significantly. 3 million cars recalled, numerous tranny headaches. Oh the pain in the arse that comes with trying to be #1, and turning out poor product. If Toyotas aren't reliable, what are they? Toyota=Walmart Have they ever been seen in the same place? Replies to this message: houdini1 (Dec 16, 2006 8:04 am) brightness04 (Dec 16, 2006 8:17 am) tagman (Dec 16, 2006 4:10 pm) brightness04 (Dec 16, 2006 4:16 pm) and 1 more...
#22296 of 24702 Re: I would [dhamilton] by houdini1 Dec 16, 2006 (8:04 am)
Replying to: dhamilton (Dec 16, 2006 7:13 am) Well, Walmart is not only the biggest retail store chain in the world, they are also the biggest company. Period. They must be doing a lot of things right. If you want to compare Toyota to Walmart, go right ahead.
#22297 of 24702 Re: I would [dhamilton] by brightness04 Dec 16, 2006 (8:17 am)
Replying to: dhamilton (Dec 16, 2006 7:13 am) Where did you get the idea that Toyota wants to be #1 in volume at all? The company execs went on record not wanting to be #1, due to obvious potential political ramifications. Toyota is increasing volume due to, try this on for size: customer demand! Not to diminish the reliability issue, but the so-called reliability issue with Toyota nowadays still makes Toyota far more reliable than the supposedly less-troublesome-now MB and BMW. Interesting attempt at trying to tie Toyota with Walmart. For what it's worth, Walmart parking lots seem to over-represent domestics and old Euro cars. Go figure. Also, BMW, MB and especially Audi are far ahead of Toyota in setting up production lines in China. So there. Not that outsourcing to orgin of lowest production cost like Walmart does is intrinsicly wrong, but if you term that "Walmart" as a derogatory adjective, the Euro's are second to none in "Walmarting." What makes Walmart such a huge success is its advanced inventory management system, a data base system supposedly second only to NSA! That's why Walmart was able to deliver goods more efficient than its competitors when Sam was alive and touting "made in America"; and again deliver goods more efficiently than its competitors when everyone is outsourcing to China. It's the just-in-time delivery system for retailers, if you will. Sound familiar? That's what Toyota Production System is in the manufacturing world. The Euro's seem to have copied the cheapness of Walmart in outsourcing to China without copying the real strong point of Walmart as the world's top distributor. Replies to this message: tagman (Dec 16, 2006 4:10 pm) brightness04 (Dec 16, 2006 4:16 pm) tagman (Dec 16, 2006 4:46 pm)