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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.
Although I enjoy Drfill`s opinions and writing skills, sometimes I just read them and move on...Of all the Lexus cars I have owned, they were (and I stress the word `were`) value. I never had any passion about them or pride of ownership...Just reliable transportation....Now the Audi is the value, and I have, even after a year, pride of ownership....When I am down here in s.Florida, just on the floor I park, there are three Bentleys, two RR two new S Mercedes, three Bentley Continentals (one new convertable), , three Porsche- and a variety of bmw s..Of course there is my Audi and two other smaller Audis....My parking place is the best one though  ...For some reason ther isn`t one Lexus -new or old--which I find sort of strange.I know Lexus is strong in most other areas, but not down here....I do agree with the good Dr. on Audi marketing...It is poor, but the car I own is a wonderful car...I think Audi is trying to get their act together, but they have a ways to go...Blk has certainly enjoyed his Audis, as you have enjoyed your bmw.....I sort of feel you enjoy your car more than any of us except maybe Tag and his new Porsche....I personally am sorry the USA manufacturers abandoned the high end, and hope they make another stab at it when they are finacially able to...There would be no worse financial situation than to own a high end car and the manufacturer go broke..I think Tag is right about the Lexus 600 and the risk...I also think just on a finacial side that Toyota would be a good investment, particularly thirty points ago....I also just can`t imagine you happy in a different brand of car...BMW all the way... Tony
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Replying to: tagman (Jan 25, 2007 6:45 pm) Very appreciative of you, LG, HP, Dewey, DH and others that backed me up on the Audi conundrum. We do really know what's going on.
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Replying to: blkhemi (Jan 25, 2007 6:04 pm) Well but you fail to mention that VW entered the Chinese market 10 year before anyone else. Their market share now is less than half of that in 10 years ago. Not unlike of what happen in the United States. 30~40 years ago, VW was more than 50% in the import market share. And they now sell as much as Subaru. Toyota is just being conservative. They officially entered China in 2005 (about 20 years later than VW) and will slowly, but steadily, kick VW's  ss.
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Replying to: anthonyp (Jan 25, 2007 7:30 pm) Sounds like you are doing the condo life in Florida, Tony. And a quite nice neighborhood at that! I agree about the poor marketing job Audi has done in the USA. One can argue that folks here don't buy Audis because of the scarcity of Audi dealerships where one sees BMW, Mercedes Benz, BMW and Porsche showrooms, but I see that as a reflection that the demand isn't there yet. Now is the time for Audi to make an all-out aggressive push in USA media advertising so folks here can learn what the rest of the world already knows-that Audi vehicles are on a par with those from Mercedes Benz and BMW. The time for Audi is now! Yes. I do get a thrill out of the 545. However, it is not a good local street driver. Its powerful engine occasionally wants to spurt the car forward in local driving which I find annoying and the brakes while excellent in stopping power cannot be modulated to a nice smooth stop. Your A8 is at least the equal of the S-Class, IMO and when I sat in both, I was more impressed with the A8's interior and seats. My short sale of Toyota is working out nicely Tony, as the stock price was down almost 3% today. 
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Replying to: blkhemi (Jan 25, 2007 7:30 pm) Well done my friend! You made the right choice Considering FoMoCo's horrible losses in '06, its hard to say where Jag will be 7 years from now when its time for the next XK, but this one is the best two-door Jag since the XKE. You won't regret it.
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Replying to: lexusguy (Jan 25, 2007 11:54 am) There was a C&D comparo in which it came in second to the 540i and they said that it was basically a coin toss. I'm sure DrFill will point this out. M |
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Replying to: tagman (Jan 25, 2007 7:27 pm) Generally I agree with what you post, but I disagree here. Part of Audi's problem in the U.S. is this image of being an "expensive" or "tarted-up" VW so VW adopting a similar look is very hurtful IMO. VW trying to sell luxury cars and suvs while adopting a similar look on cars like the Jetta and Passat did Audi no favors. An Audi and a VW shouldn't look anything alike. Audi had it right, but VW followed and kinda mucked it up with their Audish grilles on the Jetta, Passat, Rabbit and the facelifted Touareg. M
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Replying to: blkhemi (Jan 25, 2007 6:04 pm) Congratulations you made a great choice! |
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Replying to: merc1 (Jan 25, 2007 9:16 pm) But unfortunately what you are saying about VW/Audi is an industry trend . We already do know the similarity in looks between a Toyota Camry and a Lexus LS. But did you notice the similarity in looks between the upcoming Altima Coupe and the Infinti GS Coupe? This issue is a non-issue at BMW. That is why I like BMWs. |
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As both C&D and MT were enamored with the first generation. MT said it was the best in 1998, C&D gave it the Roy Jones Jr in Seoul treatment, and allowed the 540 to slither away, bloody and battered, with a close victory. I personally don't believe VW is necessarily Audi's problem. Most buyers don't see the VW/Audi connection, except for us "enthusiasts". Audi's problem is cultivation, resale, quality, and the unintended acceleration thing. It's always been just here, no real growth, weak advertising, no identity (Quattro is a feature, not an identity), and nothing has happened to make the US forget about 1985. It's quality has been nothing to write home about, and it's resale reflects it's lack of market penetration. The halo cars, if you will, Audi TT, R8, are an acquired taste. And the Q7 is too little,too late to make the SUV party. Audi is not a well-thought out concept. It's the eccentric artist of the luxury class. An acquired taste. And marketing is pretty important. Audi doesn't really have great word of mouth, so they have to sell the idea, and apparently they can't do that. And I'm far too busy to help them, so.....  DrFill
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