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High End Luxury Cars

24693 messages,  Last post on Nov 21, 2009 at 12:13 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.



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#23191 of 24693
Credit where it's due by tagman
Jan 24, 2007 (9:38 pm)
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I think all this attention to Audi (somewhat in response to Doc's jabbing) is deserved. Audi is truly in the earliest stages of a large ascention in this U.S. market, as I posted to the Doc. There will be some newer and even better things to come from Audi in the future. We can bank on it. Audi sales will grow significantly for years to come. And deservedly, as their vehicles are quality built. Their interiors are darned near as good as anyone's and better than most. They represent genuine value, IMO... not hype value.
 
So all this attention to Audi?... Richly deserved.
 
TagMan
#23192 of 24693
Re: Well, [dewey] by brightness04
Jan 24, 2007 (10:52 pm)
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Replying to: dewey (Jan 24, 2007 7:00 pm)

Where on earth did you get Mainland China Audi A8 sales stats from? Or is this A8 figure of yours just a pie in the sky guess?
 
Ignorance often breeds arrogance. I happen to have a decent working knowledge in this field. What a proof? Here's a link from Audi's own website:
 
http://www.audi.ie/audi/ie/en2/about_audi_ag/news/press_releases/Audi_continues_- - to_thrive_in_China.html
 
As you can see, in 2005, total Audi A8 import into Mainland China and Hongkong combined was 2108 units.
 
Many executives here in North America do not view their company cars as bribes. Instead they view them as being earned.
 
The difference is that many of the people receiving the bribe of A8 there are not company executives at factories making Audi's, but government officials or managers of government-owned enterprises who are either in a position of licensing and authorizing factory openings or in a position of buying a fleet of A6's for taxi services. That's called a bribe, regardless which country we are talking about. Granted, Audi is not a pioneer in this field. MB was known for giving S class as bribes to third world countries' officials (including those of China) for buying their buses and trucks with public funds.
#23193 of 24693
Re: Doc [blkhemi] by brightness04
Jan 24, 2007 (10:59 pm)
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Replying to: blkhemi (Jan 24, 2007 7:27 pm)

What in the world are you talking about? A3, A4, Yaris and Corolla are not big money makers, but they do boost unit sales volume. The rest of the world do not dislike large cars; they just can't afford big cars. When they can, they will. Worldwide, Audi happens to cater to a market that is far removed from HELC. Even A6, which BTW is the best seller from Audi in China, competes against Toyota Crown and Honda Accord V6 over there. So it's quite ludicrous to hang onto the worldwide sales volume of relatively plebian cars as some kind of bragging right in a HELC forum.
 
Here's the crux of the issue: worldwide A8 sales is less than LS sales in the US alone! despite the fact that the majority of A8's sold worldwide are the lowly V6 variants that wouldn't even qualify for HELC. Think about that the next time anyone wants to brag about Audi worldwide sales volume.
#23194 of 24693
Re: great post [dhamilton] by brightness04
Jan 24, 2007 (11:06 pm)
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Replying to: dhamilton (Jan 24, 2007 7:32 pm)

Brightness, if your going to say that the majority of A8 sales in Europe are V6 and 50k, it would be a good idea to allow for the exchange rate.
 
Roughly $50k US, after exchange rate.
  
Who would be stupid enough to try to bribe someone with something that nobody wants? That is the lamest story I've ever heard in my life.
 
Ever heard "something is better than nothing"? Even the A8 is better than some old Chinese branded jallopies that the bureacrats otherwise would have to ride.
 
Did the insane asylums throw an in house tent sale on gate keys?
 
Looks like it. As far as HELC models are concerned, A8 has a long way to go before getting past 7 and S, and then LS sales. In the most recent month, A8 sold an order of magnitude less than LS! What planet are these wankers living on?
#23195 of 24693
Re: great post [blkhemi] by brightness04
Jan 24, 2007 (11:07 pm)
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Replying to: blkhemi (Jan 24, 2007 7:49 pm)

That's why I said, if we want to stick with HELC, we'd better stick with the US market. If we are to talk about Europe, then S, 7 and A8 may not even qualify for HELC, with their predominant sales in V6 forms at much lower price points.
#23196 of 24693
Re: I'll go a round with you, Hemi. [merc1] by lexusguy
Jan 25, 2007 (12:54 am)
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Replying to: merc1 (Jan 24, 2007 9:13 pm)

I've been saying this for years about the GS. It has once again fallen down in the segment it was supposed to dominate.
 
I don't really think they were expecting to dominate the segment. Lexus usually doesn't release internal sales targets (smart move, IMO) but all things considered, the GS is doing "OK". Its beating the bloody pulp out of the RL, and holding its own against the M, A6, and STS. The GS400 was always the last place finisher against the A6 4.2, E430, and 540i. This time its managed to climb up to middle of the pack, so it's at least an improvement over last time.
 
The GS certainly isn't the worst car Lexus sells *cough* SC430 *cough*
#23197 of 24693
Re: I'll go a round with you, Hemi. [lexusguy] by merc1
Jan 25, 2007 (3:07 am)
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Replying to: lexusguy (Jan 25, 2007 12:54 am)

I was talking more about the hype given here, not Lexus' own sales hopes...but no arguments from me there.
 
The RL is a lost cause, IMO.
 
Actually the GS400 used to beat all those cars except the 540i in most comparos back then.
 
M
#23198 of 24693
Re: Well, [brightness04] by dewey
Jan 25, 2007 (3:57 am)
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Replying to: brightness04 (Jan 24, 2007 10:52 pm)

Ignorance often breeds arrogance. I happen to have a decent working knowledge in this field. What a proof? Here's a link from Audi's own website:
 
I was inquiring where you got that Audi info? Is that arrogance? You have working knowledge? You just googled this info and you call that working knowledge? Or is your working knowlege restricted to the field of giving A8s as bribes?
 
And 75.1 percent growth for Mainland China A8 sales is not impressive? If that is not impressive then I dont know what is? So that must mean bribes are growing at a 75.1 percent rate?
 
The Audi A8 like most other HELCs are mainly driven by hard working affluent individuals in the private sector. Most HELC drivers consider their cars as earned just like they do in USA. Your proof based on a single observation of a parked and unused Audi owned by a bureaucrat is kind of silly, dont you think?
#23199 of 24693
Re: Dude [tagman] by hpowders
Jan 25, 2007 (5:35 am)
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Replying to: tagman (Jan 24, 2007 8:23 pm)

Sounds good. Thanks!
#23200 of 24693
Re: Well, [dewey] by hpowders
Jan 25, 2007 (5:40 am)
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Replying to: dewey (Jan 25, 2007 3:57 am)

"The Audi A8....mainly driven by hard working affluent individuals in the private sector."
 
Yeah. Sure wish someone would bribe me with an A8 !

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