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Entry Level Luxury Performance Sedans

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

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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 919 of 1609

#9179 of 16087 Re: Question for Habitat and Blueguy [billyperks1] by habitat1

Mar 19, 2007 (3:26 pm)

Replying to: billyperks1 (Mar 19, 2007 11:58 am)
Billy,
 
Good to hear from you. Unfortunately, I can't offer much of an opinion since I have not driven the new GS. Friend of mine is seriously considering one (GS450h, I think), but he and his wife are far more interested in luxury than a sporty drive. He currently has a 1999 +/- GS300 that, although pretty slow and soft by current standards, has been absolutely bulletproof and still looks nice. For him, the new GS would be a big jump up in driving pleasure, without giving up the Lexus luxury they have become accustomed to.
 
Only thing I might suggest if you are jumping up to the GS price range and size, and are O.K. with RWD, would be to investigate the new 535i. I don't know if/when it will be available, but it would be the sporty alternative to the GS. Edmunds doesn't have much info, but I saw some pricing info posted in another forum. Buying or leasing a BMW through ED makes them a lot more price competitive than most people realize, if you are up for going through the process.
 
Good luck and keep in touch.

#9180 of 16087 Re: Euro Delivery [hauss] by blueguydotcom

Mar 19, 2007 (3:31 pm)

Replying to: hauss (Mar 19, 2007 3:11 pm)
Hey shipo and bgdc, I'm curious about the Euro Delivery program from BMW. How did you get the car across the pond (boat I assume) and, if you don't mind my asking, how much did it cost? Oh, and how long did it take to get the car from Germany to your house in the good ole US of A?
 
Shipping is handled by BMW. Your car's transportation cost is the same as if you picked up in the USA - $775 now, was $95. You pick up the car at the ED center, which is two blocks from a train stop so it's an easy walk. From there you can go directly to the re-delivery drop off a a few miles away or you can drive around Europe and drop off at a variety of locations. The car is shipped with the rest of the new BMWs heading to the USA. When your car arrives your dealer will PDI it as if it were new and call you to come get your new/old car.
 
Length of trip varies. If you're on the east coast it's pretty common to get the car in 3, 4 weeks tops. Mine took 6 weeks to get to San Diego.

#9181 of 16087 Re: Euro Delivery [blueguydotcom] by shipo

Mar 19, 2007 (3:48 pm)

Replying to: blueguydotcom (Mar 19, 2007 3:31 pm)
"Length of trip varies. If you're on the east coast it's pretty common to get the car in 3, 4 weeks tops. Mine took 6 weeks to get to San Diego."
 
Yup, got mine in something like one day less than four weeks.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#9182 of 16087 Re: Euro Delivery [shipo] by hauss

Mar 19, 2007 (3:59 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Mar 19, 2007 3:48 pm)
Well, if BMW still covers the shipping charges in their destination charge I'm confused as to what advantage there is for them to sell you the car over there? I guess it just cuts out the cost of the middle man (aka the dealership)? Do you actually sign all the paperwork over there as you take delivery? I wonder if it's possible to not even go over there to get the vehicle. If you could handle all the paperwork via email and scanned copies and then hire a proxy to get the car to you or give someone power of attorney over there to do it for you.

#9183 of 16087 Re: Euro Delivery [hauss] by shipo

Mar 19, 2007 (4:06 pm)

Replying to: hauss (Mar 19, 2007 3:59 pm)
A couple of points.
 
-The buyer still pays the destination charges regardless of whether the car is sourced via ED or domestically.
 
-You still need to involve your local dealership in the ordering process. That said, to them ED orders are like "Found Money" as ED cars don't come out of their allocation but do count toward gaining future allocations.
 
-All of the paperwork shy of a few bits that are signed at delivery are signed at your local dealership.
 
-As a general rule, you cannot use a proxy to fetch your car. Said another way, if you ain't one of the owners, you ain't gittin' the car. The only exception to this rule that I've ever heard about was for folks who couldn't or wouldn't travel shortly after the WTC attack.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#9184 of 16087 Re: Euro Delivery [hauss] by blueguydotcom

Mar 19, 2007 (4:07 pm)

Replying to: hauss (Mar 19, 2007 3:59 pm)
Well, if BMW still covers the shipping charges in their destination charge I'm confused as to what advantage there is for them to sell you the car over there? I guess it just cuts out the cost of the middle man (aka the dealership)?
 
Dealership is totally involved and they make about $1000-1200 profit simply for filing paperwork and PDI'ing your car. Plus any backend on the MF and/or loan. The order doesn't come out of allocations, so they make money but don't lose a sale.
 
Additionally, if you lease BMW pays the second month of the lease while the car is in shipment.
 
Do you actually sign all the paperwork over there as you take delivery?
 
Sign for just about everything in the US. When you take delivery they have you sign off a few more docs but I recall most of those were related to insurance and such over there.
 
I wonder if it's possible to not even go over there to get the vehicle. If you could handle all the paperwork via email and scanned copies and then hire a proxy to get the car to you or give someone power of attorney over there to do it for you.
 
No. You provide a copy of your passport when you order the car. They will release the car to the person with that passport.
 
This program has been around for decades.

#9185 of 16087 Re: Euro Delivery [blueguydotcom] by hauss

Mar 19, 2007 (4:50 pm)

Replying to: blueguydotcom (Mar 19, 2007 4:07 pm)
How much is the ED discount on average? Any ballpark idea on that?

#9186 of 16087 Re: Midsized ELLPS by allargon

Mar 19, 2007 (4:57 pm)

Replying to: blueguydotcom (Mar 19, 2007 9:31 am)
Weird. Compact and subcompact ruin it for me.
 
If I didn't need a back seat, I would buy a coupe or a roadster!
 
The Jaguar X-type is definitely an ELLPS. I wouldn't buy one. It's a rebadged Ford Mondeo. However, one can call the TL/TSX rebadged Accords and the A4 a reskinned Jetta as well. The X-type AFAIK even has RWD. Its top engine is lacking in HP compared to most cars in this segment. However, it's definitely an ELLPS. You can kick every Acura out of every luxury discussion before arguing that Jaguar isn't a luxury brand.
 
My main complaint about the X-type isn't the performance or the reliability, but that it lacks the "Ooooh. That's nice!" British styling that other English makes have (every other Jaguar, Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls, Lotus, Mini and even Land Rover).

#9187 of 16087 Re: Euro Delivery [hauss] by blueguydotcom

Mar 19, 2007 (5:04 pm)

Replying to: hauss (Mar 19, 2007 4:50 pm)
About $5500 from MSRP.

#9188 of 16087 Re: Midsized ELLPS [allargon] by blueguydotcom

Mar 19, 2007 (5:06 pm)

Replying to: allargon (Mar 19, 2007 4:57 pm)
The e46's backseat was big enough to fit two adults in my backseat. Good enough for me and my friends. kids are smaller, so they are not a problem either. I frequently had a 6-3 friend in my e46 and he said he was comfortable. I could fit behind myself easily. For a rarely used backseat, it was more than adequate. With kids, it'd be fine too; roadtrips are a thing of the past with airfare so cheap so it's not like the kids or anyone would ever be back there for more than an hour or two on a drive to LA.
 
A4 and a Jetta do not share a chassis, drivetrain or really much of anything beyond a 2.0T that's mounted differently (one is longitudinal, the other horizontal). Not sure where you got that the A4 is a Jetta. That's utter balderdash.

Messages Page 919 of 1609

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