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21337 messages,  Last post on Nov 22, 2009 at 8:24 PM

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

What is this discussion about? BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Volvo, Porsche, Jaguar, Audi, Maserati, Maybach, Car Comparisons, Coupe, Convertible, Sedan


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#17028 of 21337
Re: Car News and the my BMW [dewey] by clembo
Jan 10, 2009 (4:12 am)
Reply

Replying to: dewey (Jan 09, 2009 6:27 pm)

Apparently the worst hit part of the luxury segment will be entry level luxury cars (BMW 3, Lexus ES, MB C Class).
 
I believe that this has more to do with the economic and demographic changes over the past 15 years than anything else. Car enthusiasts like us will always make certain sacrifices to drive what we want if things are tight but most of the expansion of the premium market has been with people who were badge buyers in my opinion.
 
Look around your neighboorhoods or comunities, how many soccer mom's are driving X3's or RX's because of the badge? Most of these folks are not premium car enthusiasts but they have played a big role in this market expansion. Even younger people right out of college have been able to lease a 3-series for $300/mo due to BMW's residual funding, many years ago the same type of kids coming out of colleges were happy to get a Camaro or an Accord.
 
The sudden shrinking of this previously available market may cause the top players (MB, BMW, Audi, Lexus, Jag) to really work hard on their product and keep purchase transaction prices in line to fight for share of a smaller market. This may be a benefit to guys like us who are always going to buy cars in this class.
 
My theory may not hold 100% but it will be interesting to watch how this economic downturn affects this market, we may really see more competition for our dollar.
#17029 of 21337
by m4d_cow
Jan 10, 2009 (7:11 am)
Reply
Yes that's true only the drop-top. But knowing Tagman that may matter since he prefers drop tops.
 
Ah, how do I envy all you *&^%&$%$s who enjoy sunshine 365 days a year.
#17030 of 21337
Re: One thing driving me crazy [ljflx] by circlew
Jan 10, 2009 (7:36 am)
Reply

Replying to: ljflx (Jan 09, 2009 5:20 pm)

The brake dust was bad on my 330xi. Need to clean it often until you get the pads changed. There are low-dust pads you can swap out which greatly reduces the problem.
 
I'll research the web site for you (from the BMW forum) with the recommended info for you. It was a while back.
 
Regards,
OW
#17031 of 21337
Re: One thing driving me crazy [circlew] by ljflx
Jan 10, 2009 (8:21 am)
Reply

Replying to: circlew (Jan 10, 2009 7:36 am)

Thanks, much appreciated. It's the only thing I don't like about the GL right now.
#17032 of 21337
Re: One thing driving me crazy [ljflx] by jimbres
Jan 10, 2009 (9:24 am)
Reply

Replying to: ljflx (Jan 10, 2009 8:21 am)

Based on personal experience, I can strongly recommend Axxis Deluxe brake pads. I paid $82 (plus tax & shipping) for a set of 4 for my BMW 330i in 2007. (Bought them from Import Replacement Parts - www.importrp.com.)
 
They perform every bit as well as the factory pads but they shed next to no dust. Before installing these, I'd clean my wheels once or twice a week. Now I get down on my knees & clean my wheels once a year - even though they aren't as dirty as they used to be after just a week with the old pads.
 
My only regret is that I didn't buy them years earlier.
#17033 of 21337
Re: enjoying the posts [hpowders] by dhamilton
Jan 10, 2009 (10:14 am)
Reply

Replying to: hpowders (Jan 08, 2009 7:13 pm)

Thanks Mr Powders
 
I'm a brand new owner of a Scott addict R4. $3,899.99 retail, for the 08 closeout price of $2700.00.
 
sub 17" lbs
#17034 of 21337
Re: One thing driving me crazy [jimbres] by circlew
Jan 10, 2009 (10:22 am)
Reply

Replying to: jimbres (Jan 10, 2009 9:24 am)

That's the name I was referring to. The link below is for Ljflx's GL.
 
Mercedes-Benz SUV
 
Here is the main link so you can compare different brands.
 
Brands
 
Sounds like the ticket to clean wheels year round!
 
Regards,
OW
#17035 of 21337
Re: Car News and the my BMW [clembo] by dewey
Jan 10, 2009 (12:15 pm)
Reply

Replying to: clembo (Jan 10, 2009 4:12 am)

The sudden shrinking of this previously available market may cause the top players (MB, BMW, Audi, Lexus, Jag) to really work hard on their product and keep purchase transaction prices in line to fight for share of a smaller market.
 
I agree with everything with what you had posted. Except I dont think we will see great price competition in the future as we did in the past. The following may sound like a contradiction ....During hard times it's best to focus on selling higher priced goods to fewer people. Despite the contradiction that is what the luxury business is all about--EXCLUSIVITY.
 
Cheap credit made affordable leasing progammes possible for luxury auto marques . Unlike the past exclusive luxury marques started catering to the mainstream middle classes. But now that the credit tap has been turned off this low priced INCLUSIVITY will be replaced by high priced EXCLUSIVITY.
 
Thanks to this new period of Economic De-Leveraging the BMW 3 Series and the MB C Class will continue to be sold but at a far lower volumes and at far higher prices /lease rates than what had existed in the past.
 
#17036 of 21337
Jag XF-R by circlew
Jan 10, 2009 (12:36 pm)
Reply
I really like this car...blown even better!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
I hope Jag doesn't go away...
 
Regards,
OW
#17037 of 21337
Re: One thing driving me crazy [ljflx] by lexusguy
Jan 10, 2009 (5:02 pm)
Reply

Replying to: ljflx (Jan 09, 2009 5:20 pm)

It's electronic so push a button and you are in park, tug up and you reverse and tug down and you go to drive.
 
I've never been able to get past the "Chevy Caprice" stigma of the column shifter in the old 7 and a few MB products. They can fancy it up all they want, but a column shifter is a column shifter, and has no place in anything trying to be a luxury car. I'm glad BMW abandoned that idea.
 
As for brake dust, a bit of P21S wheel cleaner takes care of it right away.

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