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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: dewey (Dec 14, 2006 7:14 am) 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.
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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?
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Replying to: dhamilton (Dec 16, 2006 6:13 am) |
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Replying to: dhamilton (Dec 16, 2006 6:13 am) 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.
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So Toyota is like Walmart in the positive's but in the negatives it's nothing like it. Gotcha. I believe any Toyota/Lexus executive when they say they don't want to be #1. I believe them when they say the IS 350/250 is a 3 series fighter. I believe consumer reports, and the Bush administration. I believe Clinton didn't have "relations'" with that woman. If Toyota's aren't reliable, what are they? If Walmart sells a crappy product, that makes it Walmart.
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Replying to: dewey (Dec 13, 2006 7:57 pm)  Lets face it, the majority of HELC cars sold outside the US/North America are chauffer-driven, for two very simple reasons: 1. The same cars are usually sold at prices higher than US prices, and the local wages are lower than US wages. When the car costs $150k, and it costs only $10k a year or less to hire a chauffer, heck why not hire a chaufffer? It would be senseless to expose oneself to accident lawsuits when the first item of evidence, the car itself, would severely prejudice the case against the owner-driver. The chauffer provides a cheap liability insurance. 2. Public roads are much narrower outside North America, and gas prices are a lot higher. So it would make no sense whatsoever to have a LWD HELC if the intention is to be driving it yourself. S-class were/are the quitessential chauffer/livery cars the world over. That's why S280 used to be so popular, with some well known celebrities dying in them. |
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Replying to: dhamilton (Dec 16, 2006 7:43 am) If Toyota wanted to be #1 in volume per se, there are plenty easy things that they could do to achieve that goal. For one thing, they would not be raising prices. They'd also consider underwriting more favorable lease or finance terms. Obviously they are not doing that because they are out to maximize long-term profit not some short-term ranking. If Toyota's aren't reliable, what are they? They are just far more reliable than MB, BMW and VW/Audi. If Walmart sells a crappy product, that makes it Walmart. Then MB, BMW and VW/Audi have been playing Walmart for years. |
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Replying to: brightness04 (Dec 15, 2006 10:18 pm) BMW's acquisiton of Rover was a disaster. Who doesn't know that? MB's acquisiton of Chrysler was a disaster. Who doesn't know that? The Oman Times is not a credible automotive source. Who doesn't know that? Except maybe you? Do you honestly believe that Oman will be selling spanking new LS430s when Toyota has already discontinued manufaturing them? Also do you honestly believe that almost every luxury vehicle in Japan is Chauffeur driven? Bunk! Chauffeur-driven luxury vehicles are just as rare in Japan as they are here in North America. I was merely spoofing that ridiculous Oman Times story--but it appears you did not know that  Yes Lexus shares platforms with Toyota. Again who doesn't know that? Thanks for confirming what we already know. And there is no need to apologize unless you insist.
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