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Entry Level Luxury Performance Sedans

16087 messages,  Last post on May 09, 2013 at 9:32 AM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G37, Acura TL, Lexus IS 350, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Cadillac CTS, Volvo S60, Audi A4, Acura TSX, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 1564 of 1609

#15629 of 16087 Re: Another ELLPS enters the ring.... [dino001] by flightnurse

Feb 07, 2013 (10:41 pm)

Replying to: dino001 (Feb 07, 2013 9:38 am)
I also assumed it was the "internet" price too which it wasn't it is a base care with an aftermarket Nav system that was designed for C230 and other MB for 2013.

#15630 of 16087 Re: Another ELLPS enters the ring.... [flightnurse] by dino001

Feb 08, 2013 (6:02 am)

Replying to: flightnurse (Feb 07, 2013 10:39 pm)
Understood. If anything, I see the similar trend in stock of my local dealership. Vast majority of C250s they have there are low-option level between 37 and 40 grand MSRP. Moreover, there is very little stock of C300 or C350 lines. If you are an options fool (like I am), you would actually have a hard time to find C250 with the goodies. Very few cars with leather (MBTex seems to rule there), sports pack, some have premium pack, but unlike BMW, Benz charges for leather on top of premium pack.
 
I woulnd't buy one anyway, but it is interesting to see what dealers think sells. It appears to me that BMW dealers tend to have better variety of options (from strippers to fully optioned), perhaps not at all times, but it is easier to find content level (and price) closer to anyone's preference (except for manual transmissions - those were non-existent in Tampa Bay last time I checked), which means they anticipate customers for every level of content, whereas Benz dealers seem to think people want the the star on the hood, but don't really care for the extras. But as I wrote in the past, there are some particular practices on both lots that are beyond me (like those fold-down seats on 3-series sedans, available as stand alone or part of cold weather pack and since Florida cars don't need cold pack, almost none of the ordered sedans get fold-down seats ).

#15631 of 16087 Re: Another ELLPS enters the ring.... [flightnurse] by dino001

Feb 08, 2013 (6:06 am)

Replying to: flightnurse (Feb 07, 2013 10:41 pm)
No, I'm almost sure those are all MSRPs. The math and pictures seem to support it (standard wheels, standard seats, standard interior). You get to 37-39K levels when you take bare bones and add couple of small options (metallic paint, some accessories, etc.), or one package (like premium for 2500).

#15632 of 16087 Lots of talk about the C250 by sweendogy

Feb 08, 2013 (7:19 am)

Talking about pricing and packaging - most chatter I've ever seen about this rig on these channels- no one is talking about what you really get with this 37k MB- a weak engine and sub group performance - I guess you do get the keys with the star on it - you get to walk into a dealership with 100k cars around. I still can't wrap my head around German premium car companies charging for leather on any car.

#15633 of 16087 Re: Lots of talk about the C250 [sweendogy] by dino001

Feb 08, 2013 (7:38 am)

Replying to: sweendogy (Feb 08, 2013 7:19 am)
I feel your pain, brother
 
They charge because they can. If they couldn't, they wouldn't. BMW had no charge for leather in last couple of years of E9x sedans and wagons - not because they were so nice, but because they couldn't charge and still get target sales. F30 came and extra charge for leather is back.

#15634 of 16087 Re: Another ELLPS enters the ring.... [dino001] by graphicguy

Feb 08, 2013 (7:44 am)

Replying to: dino001 (Feb 08, 2013 6:02 am)
dino....I always seem to look at Benzes when I'm in the market. That's about as far as I get given they really aren't all that sporty of a drive (until you get into the really high buck AMG versions). And, I try to understand the allure of them.
 
Perhaps I'm only looking at the "run of the mill" MBs like the Cs and Es. I just can't make that leap. They aren't built any better than a comparable Audi or BMW. They certainly don't perform better than either of those. And, these days, not even the Japanese can claim tech or reliability superiority over Audi or BMW.
 
For the same, usually less money, you can get something that's better, in most ways, from BMW or Audi.
 
I'll have to assume that pushing the Mercedes marque down the ladder with the CLA is taking a page out of GM's marketing book. "Hook them on a low priced Chevy (in Mercedes' case, a CLA), and move them up the model ladder".
 
That Mercedes Star, at that price point, is going to open up their market to perhaps one that they wouldn't necessarily want.
 
Hope to see the CLA at the auto shows. At least on my computer monitor, it looks pretty slick. But, so does a BMW 1 series or an A3, its competition.

#15635 of 16087 Re: Another ELLPS enters the ring.... [graphicguy] by flightnurse

Feb 08, 2013 (9:36 am)

Replying to: graphicguy (Feb 08, 2013 7:44 am)
I'll have to assume that pushing the Mercedes marque down the ladder with the CLA is taking a page out of GM's marketing book. "Hook them on a low priced Chevy (in Mercedes' case, a CLA), and move them up the model ladder".
 
Aren't BMW and Audi doing the same thing with the 1 series and A3 ? Acura is doing it with the ILX too.

#15636 of 16087 Re: Another ELLPS enters the ring.... [flightnurse] by graphicguy

Feb 08, 2013 (11:55 am)

Replying to: flightnurse (Feb 08, 2013 9:36 am)
FN.....good point. I guess the lux marks see gold to be mined where Accords and Camry sometimes play.

#15637 of 16087 Re: Another ELLPS enters the ring.... [graphicguy] by sweendogy

Feb 08, 2013 (12:20 pm)

Replying to: graphicguy (Feb 08, 2013 11:55 am)
Camry and accord comment - true pricing might be the same- but again how can we call these cars Elpps- they don't offer much lux in standard form and performance is less then the mentioned accord.

#15638 of 16087 Re: Another ELLPS enters the ring.... [graphicguy] by flightnurse

Feb 12, 2013 (12:29 am)

Replying to: graphicguy (Feb 08, 2013 11:55 am)
This is a great question, so would you buy a Acura ILX or a fully loaded Camry?

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