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High End Luxury Cars

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

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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.

#24678 of 24693 Re: THE REAL 50K CAR [bob204] by houdini1 Sep 13, 2009 (9:16 am)
Replying to: bob204 (Sep 13, 2009 7:18 am) I agree. I learned my lesson over the years with German cars and have been quite happy with Lexus for the past 10 or 12 years. Ironically, my second choice right now would be the Genesis. Replies to this message: blckislandguy (Sep 13, 2009 5:23 pm) houdini1 (Sep 13, 2009 6:14 pm)
#24679 of 24693 Re: THE REAL 50K CAR [houdini1] by blckislandguy Sep 13, 2009 (5:23 pm)
Replying to: houdini1 (Sep 13, 2009 9:16 am) Its sad that no one even mentions Jag. The money is right and the reliability is the best.   A comparably equipped XF is less money than a 5 Series and will be utterly trouble free. You will never even get to know the Service Writers first name. An XJ is perhaps 25K less than the S Class and has won numerous JD Power Awards for not only relibility but also the dealer experience, Replies to this message: houdini1 (Sep 13, 2009 6:14 pm)
#24680 of 24693 Re: THE REAL 50K CAR [blckislandguy] by houdini1 Sep 13, 2009 (6:14 pm)
Replying to: blckislandguy (Sep 13, 2009 5:23 pm) I have always liked the XJ but never owned one. We were behind a gorgeous XK this afternoon and my wife was quite taken by it, as was I.
#24681 of 24693 Re: THE REAL 50K CAR [bob204] by benznessman Sep 30, 2009 (10:12 am)
Replying to: bob204 (Sep 13, 2009 7:18 am) Honestly you must have a few loose screws if you really think that a Japanese clunker like the LS is better than any German car. second you are still like other before you attempting to compare 2 cars that are in separate classes. I am an OWNER of a "German ego car" and last time i checked my car is older than i am and has more than 200k miles on it and it still runs like new and i haven't done any mechanical work to it ever during the past 5 years that i have owned the vehicle. and for the record a toyota with a different badge and name is still a toyota and as it stands right now my roommate has a '01 toyota that he bought with only 12k miles on it and now its at 80k miles and it sounds as if its on its last leg. Please feel free to challenge his vehicle service history b/c i see him take it directly to the dealer each time to have it serviced and so far he's just got to go back AGAIN for the same reasons he went last time. Toyota/Lexus= Be smart buy the E-Class if you want a luxury car that costs around $50k to start and the S-Class if you want a car "in the same class" but far more superior to the LS
#24682 of 24693 A better value proposition? by blckislandguy Oct 31, 2009 (4:21 pm)
Earlier iterations of this board went thru the Lexus vs Mercedes War some time ago. Afterall a while it all got very tiring. So, at the risk of boring anyone, I'd like to give you my experience for what it is worth.   I had a couple of free hours last night and I stopped in at a central MA Lexus dealership. The sales guys were remarkably well informed and seemingly had all done tours of duty at other high end dealerships selling competing brands. In short, they had good product knowledge.   It looked like a new Lexus LS compares very favorably against an S Class. Not only is the list price of 74K with AWD a lot less than a comparable S Class, but apparently the Lexus dealer has a 12% profit margin and so can discount the car. Not so on an MB where the dealer has I think only a 6% profit margin and can't offer much of a discount. As a result the transaction price on the LS is significantly lower than list price. Moreover, not only would you pay less, the LS retains far more of its list price three years later. Mercedes engineering? Their AWD system apparently doesn't hold up when bolted to their 7 speed tranny, so an S Class with fourmatic doesn't have the 7 speed but I think a 5 speed. Lexus bolts its class leading 8 speed tranny to both 2WD and AWD. This makes you wonder a little about the long term reliability of the MB tranny. When you throw in the superior Lexus customer service and the better reliability a new LS seemss to be a much better value proposition than a new S Class.   But, as I walked around the LS, I couldn't help but think that somehow it wasn't the real thing. No tradition, no heritage. I thought of a polyester shirt vs. a 100 % cotton shirt. I think that for 70K you could either buy today a new left over 2009 LS (or wait a couple of months and buy a new 2010) or a used 2008 S Class. I think I'd rather have the S Class and have the heritage, tradition, etc.dumb as it may seem. Replies to this message: aeggroup (Nov 02, 2009 12:37 pm) blckislandguy (Nov 15, 2009 6:50 pm)
#24683 of 24693 used phaeton & other 12 cylinder fun by elias Oct 31, 2009 (5:18 pm)
I saw a phaeton on the highway this week and was reminded as a VW fan of its awesomeness while also its oddness and rarity . could it be a good value used car? some have 12 cylinders! Fun! C&D recently did a "best cars for under $20k, used or new" - and one was a ~1990s 12 cylinder Benz with high mileage. Also fun. Hopefully cars like the above are eligible for discussion here unless there is a model-year restriction ?! cheers. Replies to this message: stkntraffic (Nov 02, 2009 4:40 pm) blckislandguy (Nov 15, 2009 6:51 pm) stkntraffic (Nov 16, 2009 4:38 am) and 1 more... kirstie_h (Nov 16, 2009 7:21 am)
#24684 of 24693 Re: A better value proposition? [blckislandguy] by aeggroup Nov 02, 2009 (12:37 pm)
Replying to: blckislandguy (Oct 31, 2009 4:21 pm) FYI....MB 4Matic has the same 7 speed trasmission as RWD model. Replies to this message: blckislandguy (Nov 15, 2009 6:50 pm)
#24685 of 24693 Re: used phaeton & other 12 cylinder fun [elias] by stkntraffic Nov 02, 2009 (4:40 pm)
Replying to: elias (Oct 31, 2009 5:18 pm) C&D had a big caveat on the MB... you better have a lot of money to spend on repairs. The guy who bought the MB featured in the mag had spent almost as much on repairs as his original purchase price. I talked to a retired MB mechanic who advised to stay far away from the 12-cylinder models. Every repair is very expensive because they're so hard to work on. Replies to this message: blckislandguy (Nov 15, 2009 6:51 pm) stkntraffic (Nov 16, 2009 4:38 am) benznessman (Nov 16, 2009 7:12 am) kirstie_h (Nov 16, 2009 7:21 am)
#24686 of 24693 Re: A better value proposition? [aeggroup] by blckislandguy Nov 15, 2009 (6:50 pm)
Replying to: aeggroup (Nov 02, 2009 12:37 pm) Not according to the '09 S Class brochure that I have.
#24687 of 24693 Re: used phaeton & other 12 cylinder fun [stkntraffic] by blckislandguy Nov 15, 2009 (6:51 pm)
Replying to: stkntraffic (Nov 02, 2009 4:40 pm) Maybe the six most feared words in the English Language are, "Your Mercedes is out of warranty"? Replies to this message: stkntraffic (Nov 16, 2009 4:38 am) benznessman (Nov 16, 2009 7:12 am)

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