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 2379 of 2471: 1; ...; 2376; 2377; 2378; 2379; 2380; 2381; 2382; ...; 2471; Prev; Next; Last

#23772 of 24700: Re: A SOON-TO-BE OBITUARY FOR MERCEDES BENZ [reality2] by brightness04; Feb 06, 2007 (9:46 pm)

Replying to: reality2 (Feb 06, 2007 3:12 pm)

Less than 10% of Mercedes sold in Europe are S-class. The overwhelming majority of Mercedes sold in Europe are A,B and C classes. The majority of E class sold in Europe are essentially taxicab varieties that have are more lowly equipped than the lowest E class sold here in the US, with 1.8L, 2L, 2.2L, and 2.8L engines.

2006 witnessed Lexus sales in Europe increase by 76%! Lexus is just getting started there.

The LS sales in Europe are something less than 0.0000000000000000000000000000000001% of the S-Class

Considering that only about 100k S class were sold worldwide last year. 0.0000000000000000000000000000000001% of 100k cars would be like, hmm, a license bracket? a screw or some paint chip? Are you sure that Lexus dealers in Europe did not even manage to sell a license bracket or a few screws for an LS? Lack of math skills really does not contribute to the strength of anyone's argument.

#23773 of 24700: Re: I'm [dewey] by brightness04; Feb 06, 2007 (9:50 pm)

Replying to: dewey (Feb 06, 2007 11:02 am)

The difference between S320 pricing in 2005 and 300D in 1983 is 22 years, the same two decades in which MB did a thorough hash job of trashing its reliability reputation. History is the only guidance we have for anticipating future. Unless you believe the marque prestige of S class is only 10 months old, history certainly matters . . . a bit ironic if MB advocates need to be reminded of that.

dewey (Feb 07, 2007 11:22 am)
- brightness04 (Feb 07, 2007 1:00 pm)
  - tagman (Feb 07, 2007 1:26 pm) and 19 more...

#23774 of 24700: Re: The LS460L Test Drive [tagman] by syswei; Feb 07, 2007 (5:11 am)

Replying to: tagman (Feb 06, 2007 6:12 pm)

Thanks for your thoughts, tagman. In my brief drives at TOL I too felt the steering was too light.

It sounds like you didn't have a car with the air suspension....that would have had a switch with a "sport" setting for the suspension (as distinguished from the "power/normal/snow" switch, which all cars including air suspension cars have, that governs the drivetrain, primarily keeping the car in lower gears longer when in power mode). Don't know how much of a difference the "sport" switch makes to handling characteristics, as I drove both times in "sport"....and I didn't drive the 7 or S at that event because the lines were overly long.

The hesitation issue is something that there was a TSB for on the old LS....dealers could fix it at no cost. I'm surprised the problem is still there on the new LS...that's a failure on Lexus' part.

I am more and more attracted to the A8, exterior-styling-wise, and at this point view it as prettier than the S. Haven't driven either, but from what I understand, I am probably going to prefer the ride of the S over the A8. Anyway, those 2 and the LS are on my shopping list for next winter, once the LS460 AWD is hopefully available.

#23775 of 24700: Re: Thanks for the post, Tag [tagman] by houdini1; Feb 07, 2007 (5:30 am)

Replying to: tagman (Feb 06, 2007 7:39 pm)

Well here you go, grandstanding again! Crawling out of a Porsche and climbing into any luxury sedan is going to leave the luxury sedan somewhat wanting in the "feel" dept, don't you think?

It would be sort of like jumping on a trampoline and then just jumping up and down on the floor. Big difference in perception.

Of course we all know how unreliable first hand experience and eye witness accounts can be. So what are you going to believe, your own faulty and imperfect impressions or what your ol' buddy Houdini tells you?

Okay, I'm kidding. Good post and I enjoyed it. You are to be commended for actually going out and driving one of the autos that we endlessly discuss here. Good job.

#23776 of 24700: Then again.. uh-oh Mercedes... by lexusguy; Feb 07, 2007 (8:52 am)

"DaimlerChrysler executives are working on a secret restructuring plan dubbed "Project X", to be unveiled on Feb. 14, which calls for unprecedented sharing of vehicle architectures and parts between Chrysler and Mercedes, including developing small cars and SUVs together, the report added.

The newspaper also reported that the plan outlines deep cost cuts, plant closings, a reduction of factory shifts and employee buyouts aimed at slashing more than 10,000 blue-collar jobs. The likely closures will include an assembly plant in Newark, Del., and an engine plant in Detroit.

The newspaper, citing people familiar with the situation, said Chrysler and Mercedes will collaborate on their next generation of small cars built in the U.S. and Germany. Also, work is under way on a common SUV architecture for the Mercedes M-class and Chrysler's Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango.

Besides developing vehicles together, Project X calls for Chrysler and Mercedes to expand purchasing of common parts like steering columns, and to source more components from low-wage nations in Asia, the newspaper said." -C&D

Not good. I would hope that the 2015 C-class isn't a rebadged Chrysler Sebring.