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High End Luxury Cars

24723 messages,  Last post on Jan 28, 2013 at 6:55 PM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

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.

Messages Page 888 of 2473

#8869 of 24723 Jaguar by xkss

Apr 04, 2005 (12:40 am)

is past their glory days, as is just about every other car maker (except for perhaps Aston Martin). The new 1995-1997 Jaguar XJ is a reliable luxury car. The new XJ has also been much more reliable than the previous XJ while having more quality. That article I posted about Jaguar and aluminum pointed out that the HUGE investment for aluminum Jaguars is continuingly being developed. The next XK will use the new XJ's aluminum chassis which will spread costs. The next S-Type would further spread costs if it used the new XJ's aluminum chassis.
 
I'm not to sure about the styling of new BMWs. They had record sales last year along with record recalls and service actions. Here is a 2004 BMW 5 series and a second generation M5 which was handbuilt (so was 1st generation) unlike the new V-8 and V-10-powered M5s. All second generation M5s had forged aluminum wheels.
 

 

 
(BMW also built an M5 Touring from 92-95)
 
Here is a BMW 850CSi (big, fast BMW coupe for the 90s)
 

 
Here is a new 6 series
 

 
Here is the revised 7 series
 

 
Here is the new M6
 

#8870 of 24723 Car & Driver's long-term XJR by xkss

Apr 04, 2005 (3:21 am)

read this article
 
Car & Driver picked up their long-term 2004 XJR in the summer of 2004, which was shorty after production of the new aluminum XJ began.
 
Car & Driver's long-term 2004 Jaguar XJR
 
Also, the 2005 Jaguar Super V8, the flagship XJ, gets better fuel economy than the BMW 760Li.

#8871 of 24723 Re: A look back at 1989 LUXURY car comparos [oac] by pat

Apr 04, 2005 (5:54 am)

Replying to: oac (Apr 03, 2005 10:15 pm)
Those links are not working - I think the ellipsis in the middle of them is the problem. I hope the software here didn't insert it. We've had some issues with links lately ...

#8872 of 24723 Re: syswei, ljflx [michael_mattox] by stroudman

Apr 04, 2005 (7:48 am)

Replying to: michael_mattox (Apr 03, 2005 11:01 am)
My service dept. and tech's are as good as they come. Our CSI rating stays consistently in the top 10 in our region, which is 6 states. So from that perspective, most folks are happy.
 
     ....but, membership has it's privileges.
 
     As I've said before, if you're shopping in this pricepoint, for any brand, that means somewhere, someone is paying you a significant profit, and life is VERY good. If you take up my time and expertise, then take your business elsewhere over the few dollars in net profit Benz places on their vehicle, then you get from me what you paid for. If you're putting more importance on the moment of glory at point of sale, than on the years ahead, then that is what you bought yourself. Again, why in the world would I stay late, provide free transportation, overnight a part or accessory, do anything for a person who put money in someone else's coffers?

#8873 of 24723 Re: syswei, ljflx [stroudman] by michael_mattox

Apr 04, 2005 (8:30 am)

Replying to: stroudman (Apr 04, 2005 7:48 am)
I would think the price of membership is simply buying the high priced car in the first place....
 
It is not the buyers privledge to use the service dept ..it is his right...Quality Service is critical in the high end market...as is Friendly, Accomodating, knowledgable staff from the receptionist to sales to service to management should be the norm and not a Privdledge handed out to a few "Special" customers...Those that can afford your product are all Special.
 
When those of us who own Lexus talk about the company and the Car ...the service is one of the big reasons we become repeat customers not just the outstanding quality and value of the machine itself.

#8874 of 24723 Re: syswei, ljflx [stroudman] by designman

Apr 04, 2005 (8:41 am)

Replying to: stroudman (Apr 04, 2005 7:48 am)
“If you take up my time and expertise, then take your business elsewhere over the few dollars in net profit Benz places on their vehicle, then you get from me what you paid for.”
 
I don’t understand. When I take my BMW in for service I deal with the service department not salesperson. Haven't had a problem. They also go out of their way to get me the type of loaner car I ask for. I attribute this to the good business practices of the specific dealer. Are you telling us that your service department sucks and clients have to come back to you for support? You expect customers to pay you for this arrangement? I am all for the salesperson making a living, but it sounds like there could be something rotten in Denmark at your dealership and among your competing dealerships. Your gripe should be with MB and the dealership, not the clients.

#8875 of 24723 Re: syswei, ljflx [michael_mattox] #8873 by garyh1

Apr 04, 2005 (8:57 am)

Replying to: michael_mattox (Apr 04, 2005 8:30 am)
Michael, I think you may be missing Stroudman's point. It's certainly true that anyone can use the service dept of any dealer and deserves to be treated courteously and fairly; I am sure Stroudman would agree on that. But if you want to have a personal advocate in the sales dept. on your side asking for your car to be moved up in the waiting line, or for a free loaner in circumstances in which it is not technically required under the manufacturer's warranty to be provided, etc., then you need to be a customer of the sales dept. That just makes sense. The sales dept. is not paid a salary by the manufacturer-- the salespeople feed their families based on the customers who do business with them; they (usually) are not stockholders of the manufacturer!
 
In my personal experience, I have had salespeople befriend me even though I hadn't bought a car from them (like when I moved to a new town, etc.), likely with the hope that I would buy my next car from them. But if you shop the car with a salesperson, then go buy it somewhere else, and then come back to the local salesperson and ask for some extra favors, human nature is such that you are likely to note at least a hint of displeasure from the salesperson.

#8876 of 24723 Re: syswei, ljflx [michael_mattox] #8873 [garyh1] by stroudman

Apr 04, 2005 (9:20 am)

Replying to: garyh1 (Apr 04, 2005 8:57 am)
Thank you, gary, that's all I was trying to say...

#8877 of 24723 Re: syswei, ljflx [michael_mattox] #8873 [garyh1] by michael_mattox

Apr 04, 2005 (10:38 am)

Replying to: garyh1 (Apr 04, 2005 8:57 am)
garyh:
 
I understand fully...If I shop with Several Sales people in my area...
 
1) I am likely to go back to the Dealer I bought from.
 
2) If I bought from out of the Area and am using the local dealer for service that is potentually considerable income to them...If I dealt with the Sales guy there but bought somewhere else...HE NEEDS to understand I will buy another car someday, My wife and my Daughter will need cars someday....The fact that he or his dealership could not be competitive and provide me the support I needed to get a good price from them the first time around SHOULD NOT MATTER...I will be a buyer again and they are getting another chance TO EARN MY BUSINESS.

#8878 of 24723 Topic by pat

Apr 04, 2005 (10:46 am)

Folks, let's talk about the cars and the manufacturers here, okay? We've got an entire board dedicated to best (and worst) sales practices at this link: Smart Shopper. Browse through the list of discussions there and continue in any one that seems appropriate.
 
Thanks!

Messages Page 888 of 2473

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