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Luxury Performance Sedans

10007 messages,  Last post on Dec 01, 2009 at 7:40 AM

You are in the Sedans Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? Lexus GS 430, Acura RL, BMW 5 Series, Volvo S80, Audi A6, Infiniti M35, Infiniti M45, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Cadillac STS, Sedan


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#4917 of 10007
Re: Death Knell to a Luxury Attempt [dewey] by docnukem
Nov 14, 2005 (11:24 am)
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Replying to: dewey (Nov 14, 2005 10:44 am)

Now the question becomes: Will the existing Phaetons increase in value as collectibles?
 
How many did they sell in North America?
#4918 of 10007
Re: Death Knell to a Luxury Attempt [dewey] by markcincinnati
Nov 14, 2005 (1:44 pm)
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Replying to: dewey (Nov 14, 2005 10:44 am)

No marketing, or hardly any -- what do they expect.
 
Of course without a dealer network at the proper level, well. . .
 
And, no need to put the Phaeton in Audi dealers, they already have one. . .
 
I still think the concept was sound, the execution sucked, tho. . .
#4919 of 10007
Good news for third pedal fans by dewey
Nov 14, 2005 (2:45 pm)
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Some good news for the few manual purists out there!
 
BMW Z4 M
 
The BMW Z4 M will not have SMG but will be sold only with a 6 speed manual!
 
IMO that is the way it should be!
#4920 of 10007
Re: Death Knell to a Luxury Attempt [docnukem] by lexusguy
Nov 14, 2005 (3:49 pm)
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Replying to: docnukem (Nov 14, 2005 11:24 am)

I seriously doubt it. They were not a limited production run, nor were there special factory options available that would make a car valuable. I cant imagine that resale on the car was any good from the beginning, and I dont see this helping matters any.
#4921 of 10007
Re: Death Knell to a Luxury Attempt [markcincinnati] by lexusguy
Nov 14, 2005 (3:53 pm)
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Nov 14, 2005 1:44 pm)

"I still think the concept was sound"
 
How so? You mentioned that VW doesnt have the type of dealer service expected at this price level, they dont even have the prestige level of an Acura, let alone M-B or BMW, the car competed with Audi... how is this still a good idea?
#4922 of 10007
. by wale_bate1
Nov 14, 2005 (4:05 pm)
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I'll just add this tidbit from sniffpetrol I lifted from a friend:
 
"VOLKSWAGEN'S W12 SHAME
There were red-faces in Wolfsburg last night following an embarrassing revelation about the origins of Volkswagen's innovative W12 engine. Although engineering experts initially believe that the W-pattern cylinder layout was a clever way of making a large capacity engine more compact it has now emerged that the unique format is simply the result of German people and their inability to say the letters 'v' and 'w'. 'I'm afraid this is true,' admitted one anonymous engineer. 'In Germany the letter 'w' is pronounced as a 'v' and this is where the confusion arose. We were ordered to create a new V12 engine for our flagship models but unfortunately someone wrote the 'v' down as a 'w', thus creating a needlessly complex engineering development programme.'"
#4923 of 10007
Re: Been some time. . . [docnukem] by jjacura
Nov 14, 2005 (4:59 pm)
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Replying to: docnukem (Nov 14, 2005 8:11 am)

Sounds like you are really enjoying the M and that's the bottom line for any LPS owner. One thing Doc....I was reading the only unpublished Bond novel from Ian Fleming called "From Infinity With Love" and he described those driver seat abarations. Just a little friendly word of precaution...Be prepared to Jetison out through the sunroof one of these days.(You do have a sunroof?)
#4924 of 10007
Re: Death Knell to a Luxury Attempt [lexusguy] by markcincinnati
Nov 14, 2005 (5:32 pm)
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Replying to: lexusguy (Nov 14, 2005 3:53 pm)

The concept I was meaning was the "idea" to move VW upmarket -- to create a brand that "could" compete with Mercedes but at 80% of the price.
 
The concept was let Audi go head to head with BMW and VW not try to be the sporty lux division, but the "classic" lux division.
 
Most of the write ups about the car (the Phaeton V8) were positive about the effort (but with a lot of content borrowed from the A8L, that is not too hard to imagine.)
 
It was not to be for many reasons, most of them I can identify and actually agree with.
 
I thought the concept "could" work -- the execution made it darn near impossible to succeed without an infusion of money that thankfully VW couldn't and didn't even try to muster.
 
I continue to be impressed with Audi's moves into the Premium class (but, they are RECENT entrants and they do not have the "been there all along" reputation [at least in the US] that the other Germans enjoy.)
 
The Passat, hopefully, will benefit from the Phaeton's influence -- time will tell.
 
So much can (and will) change over the next 24 months which is again when I will be back in the hunt.
 
BMW's 530xi, Cadillac's STS AWD and the Infiniti M35x (in addition to the A6, of course) would merit my attention.
 
Price too will be an important factor.
 
If a new 530xi with a 6spd manual remains, it certainly could ascend to the top if it is not outrageously priced.
 
Who knows, the whole landscape could change by then.
 
I wouldn't really ever have been in the market for the L wheelbase Phaeton.
 
If money was unlimted, or at least only slightly so, the Audi S8 looks like it would be the one to beat.
 
That car looks like it puts a capital P in lPs cars.
#4925 of 10007
Re: Death Knell to a Luxury Attempt [markcincinnati] by lexusguy
Nov 14, 2005 (6:33 pm)
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Nov 14, 2005 5:32 pm)

"The concept was let Audi go head to head with BMW and VW not try to be the sporty lux division, but the "classic" lux division."
 
Right, the only problem is VW is not, nor have they ever been, a luxury division, let alone a "classic" one. It would be like Subaru making an $80K super lux sedan. Could they do it? Sure. That doesnt make it a good idea. No one would buy one for the same reasons. Also, couldnt the luxury\sport thing be handled by something as simple as an optional sport package for the A8?
#4926 of 10007
Re: Death Knell to a Luxury Attempt [lexusguy] by jlbl
Nov 15, 2005 (2:33 am)
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Replying to: lexusguy (Nov 14, 2005 6:33 pm)

Right, IMO. I full agree with you.
 
Coincidentally, Phaeton has in some way had a similar death than that of the original Phaeton, the son of the Sun (the Old Greek God Helios). Phaeton robbed the 4-fire-horses-equipped car of its divine father only to loose control and fall down to the Earth, where the full set sat a horrendous fire. Then Phaeton and the fire were both put out by the Gods.
 
Regards,
José

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