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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: hpowders (Mar 09, 2007 7:00 am)
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I'm just not as worried about BMW as some of you suggest. While Lexus and even Audi and Mercedes will take a little bite out of BMW, BMW will bite back hard with newer models, performance enhancements, and innovative technology. The BMW interiors haven't stopped buyers, and the X5 is an example of the direction BMW interiors can take. People like the focus on performance and handling, regardless of what some have posted recently, and BMW delivers in spades. They are leaders in design as well. Just look how BMW shook the world with their recent designs, and nearly everyone paid attention and many followed, even Lexus. BMW's engines are some of the best on the planet. Dramatic styling coupled with invigorating performance makes a great formula. I'd sure love to have their upcoming 335i twin-turbo retractible hardtop convertible. Throw in the towel regarding BMW? No way. Not me! TagMan
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Replying to: blkhemi (Mar 08, 2007 5:52 pm) The 96-03 turbodiesel simply had an old design. The first modern production MB V6 was put into 1998 C280 gasoline car about a decade ago. The decision to switch from I6 to V6 for packaging was made in the early 90's; it took years to work out an entirely new engine design. While I'm willing and eager to learn something new every day, considering the relative knowledge base involved between the two of us, I don't think gratuitous personal insults helps your argument. Sorry to hear that, but you must adhere to the strict mainatenance guidelines set forth by BMW in order to acheive maximum longevity out of the engine. I changed oil every 3000 miles at the dealership. There was no free maintenance program back then. Mabye that's why the Toyota 3.0L V6 never has this problem, oh wait, I think it does in SOME cases, not all. Regardless whether Toyota did or did not, how does that help with your argument regarding BMW easily lasting 200k miles? For what it's worth, one of my two 5 series also had a complete transmission breakdown shortly after 100k miles. |
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Replying to: lexusguy (Mar 09, 2007 7:26 am) Yet Audi has taken 30 years to overtake MB and blow into BMW ear. I remember when at the end of the Seventies of the last Century Audi was seen as a mere third thought well behind MB and BMW. Audi has been perseverant all that time, no doubt. Audi success here has also taken advantage of its smart management of its racing division, IMO. Audi has not only built winning cars for Le Mans but also for national and intra-european Series. To the latter, with cars based on modified street models. This gives Audi a label of appealing sportiness and glamour which is much like that of BMW but blended with more glowing interiors. I wonder whether Audi is preparing a better selling strategy in the USA or it is patiently waiting to some opportunity in the future. Regards, Jose |
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Replying to: tagman (Mar 09, 2007 8:11 am)  BMW can afford to be an "also-run" in the 7 series market segment. Heavy discounting on brand new X5 is also marginally okay since it's not their core competence. Some of the mistakes with regarding the 3 series however are very problematic because that's BMW's core competence. Take for example, the run-flats, it's a clear case of making packaging a higher priority than handling; run-flats simply do not make for good handling. That compromise would have been fine with 7 series HELC, and X5 SUV/SAV, but 3 series?? If the platform is that desperate for packaging requirement, the company should have considered plunking down more money and work on a shorter engine instead of adopting those poor-handling run-flats . . . while they still have the money. |
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Yeh, I know it isn't the most elegant piece of econometric analysis, but just for chuckles I compared asking prices on Cars.com for the 7 Series vs. the S Class. I set the parameters at a max spending level of 45K and the vehicle must be within 500 miles of Block Island. When the dust had settled the pricing seems to be the same between brands. Options didn't seem to count for much, although colors did. For just under 45K you could pick up a well whipped 05 S Class with 50,000 miles from a variety of NY metro area leasing companies. Some AWD and some RWD. It didn't affect the price. For the same price you could get an '04 with only 30-35,000 miles from a legit new car dealer and for, again the same price, you could get a Starmarked '03 S Class from a MB dealer. Naturally, the white and gold colored S Classes were cheaper. The 7 Series came out to be priced the same as the above, maybe a $1000 or so less. They seemed to have less mileage though and fewer were for sale by leasing companies. (Maybe more are privately owned or more reliability problems kept them from racking up the miles?). Curiously, there wasn't much room between a used S Class and a used optioned out E Class such as an E500 AWD of the same model year. If you were willing to spend a couple of thousand dollars more and "forgive" maybe 10,000 additional miles you could buy an S Class for the same price as an E Class. As a side note (I think the economists call it a "lema"), buying a new E Class seems foolish with lots of used '06 E Classes out there at 45K asking when MSRP is roughly 57K with leather and a roof. The vast number of E Classes sold in the East and the narrow array of colors and options turn them into a commodity item when used. YMMV |
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Is it true? Ford sold a stake of Aston Martin to some private investors this week? This could the start of the big deluge. |
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Replying to: blkhemi (Mar 13, 2007 3:54 pm)
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Replying to: lexusguy (Mar 13, 2007 5:32 pm) TagMan Edit: Well, I guess not... this says otherwise: link title |
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Replying to: blkhemi (Mar 13, 2007 3:54 pm) Regards, Jose
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