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Sales, Torque vectoring, engines, etc.
Written by: markcincinnati on Jan 4, 2007 5:33:49 AM
Sales (US): "AUBURN HILLS, MI – Audi of America, Inc. set sales records during December 2006 and for the calendar year 2006, eclipsing the previous annual sales high set three years ago. Audi sold 11,897 vehicles in December, bringing the brand’s annual total sales to 90,116. Audi’s December 2006 record sales were 34.6% ahead of year-ago sales. The calendar year sales represented an 8.5% increase over 2005." Followed by: "Audi A6 ... Read More
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Re: Narrowing the field [voxboy]
Written by: markcincinnati on Dec 18, 2006 2:00:39 PM
Are you looking for maximum or optimum? Are you looking at #1 as a "deal breaker" and #2 as less of a deal breaker? What does the ranking of "performance on slippery roads" have to do with the [broader] "safety" trait? I would assume if #1 was safety that your current #4 would have been your #2, that is. Again, "general performance," [I would argue] is a significant contributing factor to ... Read More
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Re: . [lexusguy] "That's a fact" [domenickamarc]
Written by: lexusguy on Dec 9, 2006 4:35:12 PM
I have not been able to find reliability data that compares repair records of cars between, say, 50K and 100K. Have you? "Using data from the 2001-2005 surveys, we compared how the vehicle lines from the major manufacturers fared as their vehicles age. We combined manufacturers' problem rates for one-year-old vehicles from each of the five surveys and did the same for two year old vehicles, and so on. Some key ... Read More
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S80
Written by: markcincinnati on Nov 28, 2006 1:54:10 PM
The Volvo S80 is Volvo's LPS entry as far as I can tell. It may not rise to the L or the P of the LPS sedans chewed about on this forum. At worst it is a "near"-LPS car. The newest version with a V8, AWD and most of the features and creature comforts afforded LPS owners probably is a "contender." But, despite its V8, et al, it probably would not ... Read More
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German versus Japanese/BMW 530xi versus M35x
Written by: domenickamarc on Nov 5, 2006 9:33:17 AM
Lexusguy, OK...I understand what you're drawing attention to: German versus Japanese engines. A few thoughts (very subjective): German "premium" brands don't specifically build for U.S. the way Infiniti, Lexus, and Acura do. In U.S. auto media comparison tests, there is much weight given to which car accelerates fastest in any similarly priced group. Japanese manufacturers, I believe, build to win those contests in the U.S. press -- and it works, here. ... Read More
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Luxury Brands - Sales in U.S. through October
Written by: sfcharlie on Nov 3, 2006 11:25:56 PM
SALES OF LUXURY CAR BRANDS IN U.S. (in order of total sales) through October Lexus Sales in US 2005 = 242,060 2006 = 258,480 Change = +6.8% -------------------------------------- BMW BMW brand sales were up 2.2 percent year-to-date, to 220,885 vehicles compared to 216,063 vehicles sold in the same period in 2005. ----------------------------------------- Acura 2005 = 177,107 2006 = 164,967 Change = down - 6.9% ------------------------- Mercedes 2005 = 174,593 2006 = ... Read More
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What's up with the Germans and 255 (ish) HP?
Written by: markcincinnati on Nov 3, 2006 1:08:06 PM
Well we have the 2007 A6's and 5's -- and here they come with 255 horsepower. I believe making these two Germans the weaklings on the beach where everyone else can just kick sand in their faces. But wait -- BMW has a 300HP 3 liter 6 and it sure makes that 5 series sweeeeet. Oh wait, it is available only in a 3 series sedan and coupe. And what's up ... Read More
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Re: Since we moved from prices to performance... [lexusguy]
Written by: sfcharlie on Oct 25, 2006 4:03:27 PM
"The GS and M still get hammered by the 5 and E though." Infiniti car sales in the U.S. were down 12.4% through Sept, compared to first nine months of 2005. The only model with sales higher in 2006 is the M. However, third quarter (July+August+September) 2006 sales of the M ( 2,293+ 2120+1933=6346) were down 22% from third quarter 2005 ( 2,755+2623+2351=7729). Lexus passenger car sales in the U.S. were ... Read More
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Re: Since we moved from prices to performance... [610looper]
Written by: markcincinnati on Oct 22, 2006 5:14:48 PM
Speaking as a German car fan, if not outright bigot, I would think the phrase, "never say never" springs to mind. And saying Japanese cars all drive the same, while apparently your observation, is really not the case. Drive a Lexus GS and an Infiniti M back to back -- insert an A6 SLine (6 or 8) or a 5 series or E class even in the test. Drive the exact ... Read More
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VW and Audi
Written by: sfcharlie on Oct 21, 2006 3:33:20 PM
"VW had the cars, but they went on a buying spree, decided they wanted a piece of the S class, and left them on the market for a decade." Lexusguy, I agree. Former CEO Ferdinand Piech steered Volkswagen off course in the 1990s by trying to take the VW brand upmarket to challenge Mercedes. At the same time, as Business Week put it, "he took his eye off the company's core ... Read More
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Re: The homogenized car [lexusguy]
Written by: sfcharlie on Oct 9, 2006 2:58:41 PM
FRANKFURT, May 20, 2005; Christiaan Hetzner writinfg for Reuters reported that Frank Winter probably has one of the most thankless jobs in the German car industry. Faced with the fiercest of competition, the head of Lexus Germany is not kidding himself that Toyota Motor Corp.'s (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research) premium brand is poised to enjoy the same phenomenal success here that it has had in the United States. Lexus came out ... Read More
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Re: Car People [pat]
Written by: markcincinnati on Oct 7, 2006 9:56:37 AM
Selling England by the Pound -- Genesis. You win the cupie doll, Pat! Here in Cincinnati, the new generation of BMW's with that spanky new "35" twin turbo engine are rolling out -- at this point, the 335 sedan and coupes are RWD, but already the 328 is offered with AWD and next year the X drive option will be added for about $1900. It promises to be a brisk seller. ... Read More
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Re: MMI [pete_l_p]
Written by: markcincinnati on Oct 1, 2006 8:31:20 AM
The Audi system works well, in fact it works very well. But, it is woefully inadequate. You can say "navigation" and then "navigate to _____________ (name tag.)" You can also tell it to show you "everywhere" you have ever been and anything you have stored in the address book. You cannot tell it to find Cincinnati, Ohio, Main Street and Walnut -- unless it is a previous desitnation. I had put ... Read More
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Re: C&D Comparo: M45 v. 550i v. E550 v. GS450h [pete_l_p]
Written by: domenickamarc on Sep 25, 2006 1:28:24 PM
"Reliability. Look at consumer reports reliability surveys where the M far outshines the BMW and M-B. Also look at the Consumer reports Owner Satisfaction Survey, where the M wins with 92% of owners who would buy again, as compared to about 70% of 5-Series owners, and 62% of E-Series owners. Seems to me these are very big issues when it comes to overall value, yet not even considered in the C&D ... Read More
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Re: Diesels [cstiles]
Written by: markcincinnati on Sep 1, 2006 8:22:04 AM
I'm for going first with a push (which will happen apparently with the tax credits for diesel continuing) for clean diesel cars: such BMW, Mercedes, Audi have demonstrated (powerful, not smelly, fuel efficient and in several other ways potentially easier on the pocketbook.) Then, ramp up NOT the production of ethanol (doh!) which has about 70% of the MPG capability as gasoline, ramp up the production of bio-diesel which these cars ... Read More
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The BMW "Brand"
Written by: sfcharlie on Aug 9, 2006 2:42:22 PM
Business Week (Aug 7) ran a cover story on "Best Global Brands". The main point is that a percentage of a company's revenue can be credited to "brand." Toyota is ranked #7 (among all corporations, not just car companies) in terms of "brand value". Mercedes is next (among car companies) with a rank of #10, followed by BMW at #15, but it had the largest brand value rating jump from 2005 ... Read More
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Re: Hope we get some good debate goin' on here. . . [markcincinnati]
Written by: sfcharlie on Jul 26, 2006 9:00:42 AM
Not sure how this intersects with nascent debate here, but, following some earlier comments would lead to expectation that German LPS buyers would convey a lot of excitement about their cars. Strategic Vision (SV) has been rating consumer enthusiasm about products in many markets for about a decade. They're method is not one of problem-counting. Rather they try to measure (as social psychologists have long done) qualities and attitudes: satisfaction with ... Read More
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BMW in the news
Written by: sfcharlie on Jul 13, 2006 6:46:18 AM
I agree that coverage of BMW in the auto mags is often silly. The often-quoted Car and Driver (May, 2005) "sports-luxury" comparison awarded the Infiniti M45 first place, but almost entirely on the basis of rapid acceleration, rather than styling or an anti-iDrive bias. The M45 was put up against the BMW 530i (which meant putting a 335 horse-power Infiniti M model in a drag-strip race against the 225 hp version ... Read More
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You may find this of note. . .
Written by: markcincinnati on Jul 12, 2006 5:15:50 AM
"JULY 10, 2006 BUSINESSWEEK: AUTOS By Gail Edmondson Audi: Revving to New Gains Toyota is seeking to remake the European car map. But Audi's recent success shows a commitment to change that is paying off against rivals Audi boss Martin Winterkorn loves to push the accelerator up to 180 mph in Audi's high-performance models whenever the German autobahn is empty. But along with building fast, eye-catching, premium cars that rival those ... Read More
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Re: german [lexusguy]
Written by: calhon on Jul 4, 2006 9:23:39 PM
Using a single number or rank though for an entire brand is not very useful. "Volvo is ranked X, Mercedes is ranked Y" is largely useless information, as is CR's "predicted" score. I agree with you on brand rankings, and the absolute differences behind them are fairly small in any case. Despite the "average" predicted rating, owners of '05 S40s reported many more problems in specific areas than owners of '05 ... Read More
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Performance and Reliability
Written by: sfcharlie on Jul 2, 2006 7:16:56 AM
For me, there have been two different car worlds. When I'm surfing here or reading CR and JD Powers, the only car I can see owning is the M35/M45 or a Lexus. I cannot buy German because other U.S. owners complain about their reliability to CR and JD Powers. And I'm going to drive the car for six years and 100K. In this world, when asked about their car, everyone answers ... Read More
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Re: test sits [lexusguy]
Written by: markcincinnati on Jun 30, 2006 5:53:39 AM
I have driven the Audi, BMW Mercedes, Infinity and Cadillac models that are considered to be in the LPS class. These cars have many similarities, indeed depending upon their equipment levels even the Cadillac STS can be made to "feel" more competent than the BMW. The pecking order can be altered that is. Price is an important factor when the cars are as close as these cars are to each other, ... Read More
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Re: Buying without test driving [erfan]
Written by: markcincinnati on Jun 13, 2006 4:57:05 AM
The 5x's and A6q's have better back seats -- especially of the two the A6. The M35X, too has a real back seat. The new Gx from Infiniti if it follows the trend, will be either bigger or better packaged -- or both. Knowing Infiniti it will have AT LEAST the 280HP engine, which I can attest is quite potent. Mercedes upcoming turbo diesel 4Matics (if you indeed can wait) still ... Read More
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Re: a6 s line [gregisgod13]
Written by: markcincinnati on Mar 2, 2006 2:49:31 PM
Much as I want to reply 100% in the affirmative -- I think the best and most appropriate answer is "it all depends." The SLine package is a true sports suspension, performance wheel and tire upgrade PLUS some shiny and pretty bits and perhaps some possibly usable air dam kinda do hickeys. But, if you do not see the need for AWD, certainly the BMW also can be had with a ... Read More
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Re: Ponder this [tayl0rd]
Written by: markcincinnati on Mar 1, 2006 9:54:46 AM
For the 10th year in a row, Audi (and specifically AoA) has had "its best year ever." What I think is being suggested, when you factor in that every 2005 A6 in the US was AWD and EVERY Acura RL was AWD and (here in Cincinnati) 40%+ of the 2006 BMW 5 series are X-drive (so says the purchasing agent at Ohio's largest BMW store which is here in Cincinnati); and ... Read More
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Re: They Ain't Gonna Sell [gohorns1]
Written by: markcincinnati on Feb 8, 2006 8:43:06 PM
I have had only minor [Audi, BMW, VW] problems since my first Audi in 1977. I gather some folks are not satisfied with the level of reliability that have been associated with Audis, BMW's and Mercedes over some not too distant past time frame. I had two Audi A6 4.2's that had between them 9 sets of brake rotors. The MY's were 2000 and 2001. I had an On*star problem with ... Read More
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Re: January 2006 Sales – Midsize Luxury Sedans [jrock65]
Written by: markcincinnati on Feb 1, 2006 2:16:01 PM
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Continuing the trend of sales increases from 2005, Audi of America, Inc. posted a 19.8% increase in sales for January 2006. Audi sold a total of 6,084 vehicles versus 5,077 vehicle sales in January 2005. Leading the sales gain for the month was the A6 with a total of 1,617, a 33.4% increase over last year. The A8 also had impressive gains with sales of 516 vehicles, ... Read More
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Re: Quality [hpowders]
Written by: markcincinnati on Jan 29, 2006 7:26:51 PM
The “volumes spoken” are probably more from a certain perspective than from anything else. The 321 vs. 69 posters in “Problems & Solutions” (P&S) may be due to the number of cars sold in a given period, or time available in the market. Acura’s LPS (example, “in the spirit” of numbers) may have sold 18,000 cars in 2005, Mercedes LPS perhaps sold 50,000, BMW’s even more. I would not be shocked ... Read More
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The Price of Entry? Part One
Written by: markcincinnati on Jan 24, 2006 12:40:34 PM
Very few of us who participate here, I’d wager, actually spend any significant track time behind the wheel of our very own $50,000 cars. It is probably also reasonable to assume that we rarely spend any time driving anyone’s car “at the track.” My wife and I have been members of the “quattro club” and have been to gatherings (in the US) but never driven any car on a closed track ... Read More
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Re: Audi A6 4.2 and other matters. . .[marleybarr]
Written by: markcincinnati on Jan 10, 2006 6:01:53 PM
I don't know. I didn't want the older tech, thirsty engine. I have had three Audi 4.2 engines -- they were very enjoyable and quite thirsty. An FSI version at the time was not available. I love the sound of the 4.2 when it is angry. I drove both. Under urban conditions the differences were certainly noticable but not compelling even though my preference would be for the V8 all other ... Read More
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5 Series Sales
Written by: bw45sport on Jan 4, 2006 11:41:59 PM
Just continues to prove: The BMW 5 series is the USC of LPS'. Thank you Chris Bangle for one heck of a great coaching job. BMW gives dealers big incentive to sell 5 series Henning Krogh Felix E. Bauer Automotive News / December 19, 2005 - 6:00 am Munich. BMW dealers will get bonuses of up to 3,000 euros, or about $3,600 at current exchange rates, if they can find customers ... Read More
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Re: AWD - Not all created equal - (BMW 0, Zamboni 1) [aflc]
Written by: markcincinnati on Jan 4, 2006 5:30:58 AM
Given all I know now, what I could get then and what has been happening to this group of cars here is what I would do today. This may completely change in the next 24 months when once again I begin cycle. The following assumes similar "deals" and content. If there are no manual transmissions: Audi A6, BMW 530xi, Infiniti M35X (or whatever they may call them then.) If there are ... Read More
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Re: see a lot of 525's [lexusguy]
Written by: markcincinnati on Dec 11, 2005 7:47:41 AM
Although they all charge more for the higher HP versions, HP is not exactly the price of entry into this league. And, while you may be correct "objectively" about the G35 being able to be considered competition for the 5, typically the M is relegated to that duty and is so perceived both by the buying public and the automotive editors and writers. The thing that kindof rubs me the wrong ... Read More
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This talk of numbers. . .
Written by: markcincinnati on Dec 6, 2005 1:55:40 PM
. . .I had my curiosity aroused by some of the monthly US sales reporting that folks dutifully report here on-line each month. Not that sales figures listed from highest to lowest are all that revealing. . .because no context is (and maybe cannot be) given. For instance, if X sells more than Y by 100% but has 3 times the number of retail outlets, well, that says one thing. If ... Read More
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Re: The 2005 RL [nebraskaguy]
Written by: markcincinnati on Nov 23, 2005 8:32:15 PM
Now this is a post I can really appreciate. More than many, this post makes me want to test the RL. To underscore the theme, my 6 month old A6 has also been a joy and other than the pushbutton starter replacements, has been a dream to drive and own. Unlike nebraskabuy however, I could be persuaded to trade my A6 for perhaps the M35X or a 530xi (stick only), an ... Read More
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Re: There's always some way to rig the results. . . [dewey]
Written by: markcincinnati on Nov 11, 2005 10:44:25 AM
We need an "Emotorcon" that signifies sarcasm. While I am of the opinion that the BMW and the Cadillac were both stock, the differences seem to boil down to the fact that the STS we were offered had the optional (but I would imagine fully stock componentry) sport suspension, tires and wheels -- and as I conjectured, inflated to the max. The BMW although technically a 2005 was the OLD lower ... Read More
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Re: October 2005 Sales [merc1]
Written by: jjacura on Nov 7, 2005 3:57:37 PM
Chicago suburbs host beautiful cars all right...it was a great sunny day today and the wife and I drove down to the Ikea store in Shaumburg, had lunch at the Cheesecake factory in the Woodfield Mall. Couldn't believe all the ladies out driving the Jaguars, Mercedes, Porsches, BMWs, many Lexus including one SC430 convertible, candy apple red, top down, moving along briskly through the parking lot. A Pretty lady, shades, and ... Read More
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Re: October 2005 Sales [merc1]
Written by: rich545 on Nov 7, 2005 3:37:48 PM
I'll tell you what..I can't believe how much money people spend on cars here. I come from a suburb of NY which is really expensive to live in too, but you don't see cars like you do in Oak Brook anywhere that I've been other than Greenwich, CT. Maybe people in NY were just more house-poor (not that houses in Oak Brook are exactly cheap either!). I mean, I drive around ... Read More
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Re: October 2005 Sales [rich545]
Written by: merc1 on Nov 7, 2005 2:38:00 PM
Oh ok, I'm right on the Naperville/Aurora border off R59 so I know what you mean. Oakbrook huh? That is the Mercedes/BMW/Porsche/insert any other high-end Eurocar here, capital of the Western Suburbs of Chicago. There is no other suburban mall in the Chicagoland area in which you have to fight with Ferraris and Bentleys for a parking space, especially on the Eash side of the mall. Ridiculous amount of money in ... Read More
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Re: October 2005 Sales [merc1]
Written by: rich545 on Nov 7, 2005 10:41:07 AM
I live in Oak Brook. It's interesting because though the 4 dealers are right in a row you see a lot more BMW's, Lexus' and Mercedes than Audi's. With regards to the E vs. 5-Series, the majority of 5-Series buyers buy the 530, not the 525. I think that sales would be about equal for the E and 5 for YTD sales if the wagon and M5 had been out for ... Read More
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Politically, er, well, almost incorrect. . .
Written by: markcincinnati on Nov 4, 2005 11:09:55 AM
I can't figure out why anybody would buy one of these LPS cars with an automatic transmission or without AWD. -- signed: "Often Wrong, Never Uncertain" And here I sits, with an auto trans, but at least AWD. Few posters here, apparently, with BMW 5xi's and probably fewer too that have 5xi's with the row your own transmission. Buyer's remorse? Well. . .maybe just a little. But, truth be told, I ... Read More
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Re: October 2005 Sales [rich545]
Written by: merc1 on Nov 3, 2005 9:39:47 PM
Where I live is actually a good case study really because on one road (Ogden Ave.) we have Lexus, Audi, BMW and Mercedes all right next to each other. Naperville/Aurora or Downers Grove/Westmont area? I think the 5-Series is close to the E in sales because it is somewhat newer and with the 525i it starts out cheaper than the E-Class. Even with all those models (M5 included) the E still ... Read More
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Re: October 2005 Sales [drtravel]
Written by: rich545 on Nov 3, 2005 11:35:54 AM
One interesting thing to note about 5 Series sales is that it managed a close second to the despite the fact that the wagon and AWD sedan have only been available for a couple of months, and the M5 is still not released yet. So it most likely would have beaten or come very close to the E if they had been available the whole time. I realize that not many ... Read More
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Disappointed
Written by: hpowders on Oct 31, 2005 6:07:28 PM
One would think with all the electronic sophistication of my 2005 545, the clock would have been able to adjust for standard time but it didn't. Anyone out there with a recent Lexus, Acura, Mercedes Benz, Infiniti or Audi have a clock that did adjust. Just curious....
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"There's no replacement for displacement. . .er, check that. . ."
Written by: markcincinnati on Oct 30, 2005 6:58:50 AM
For some time BMW (but not exclusive to BMW) notably has all but rejected (and some would say they HAVE rejected) "blown" (in this case supercharged) gasoline engines. Memo to BMW Dealers: "Ixnay on the uperchargedsay ommentcay." Uh, OK, there is no replacement for displacement EXCEPT an increase in volumetric efficiency afforded by more than "natural" breathing. Translation, superchargers are coming to BMW's sooner rather than later. Memo to BMW of ... Read More
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Consumer Reports latest Reliability ratings
Written by: msu79gt82 on Oct 28, 2005 9:53:52 AM
http://www.consumerreports.org/main/detailv4.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=754189&FOLDER%3C%3Efo- - lder_id=113261&bmUID=1130518303370 Most Reliable Sedans: Lexus GS300/GS430, Infiniti M35/M45, Lexus IS300 (2005), Honda Accord Hybrid, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord 4-cyl., Lexus LS430. Average Reliability: Acura RL, Toyota Avalon Least Reliable Sedans: Jaguar S-Type, Lincoln LS, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Saab 9-3, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 5 Series (V8), Audi A8, Chrysler 300 (V8), BMW 7 Series.
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Re: New M5 Specs [rich545]
Written by: merc1 on Aug 7, 2005 7:15:01 AM
I knew Mercedes was having some problems, but not this many. Well I've read all that before, its pretty much more of the same. I think the union will survive and prosper after 2005, just my opinion. Provided they get the right folks in place to run things. Mercedes for one has already stopped the quarterly losses by posting the thinnest of profits last quarter. The real problem on the Benz ... Read More
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Re: Segment busting out [merc1]
Written by: cstiles on Aug 3, 2005 7:23:32 AM
Not only have luxury vehicle sales been spiking in 2005, but there was also a jump from 2003 to 2004 for several brands. However, there were winners and losers last year... Acura + 16% Lexus + 12% Cadillac + 10% BMW + 7% Infiniti + 7% Volvo + 3% Mercedes Benz -1% Audi -10% Lincoln -13% Jaguar -16% Plus, Land Rover and Hummer were both down -20% each. Porsche was up ... Read More
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Re: No insecurity [janssen]
Written by: kdshapiro on Aug 2, 2005 6:51:40 PM
"Ferraris drive better, have better styling, are more distinctive, sound and feel better, and are certainly faster " And they are in the shop every other day and cost 10 times what a 545 cost. "And can you say without hesitation that you would rather drive to the limit with a BMW than a Porsche GT2, or Carrera 4S?" You are comparing cars in two different financial and market segments. If ... Read More
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Took the new 530xi out for a test drive. . . .
Written by: markcincinnati on Jul 31, 2005 6:12:50 PM
Every month someone posts the sales results for the LPS family here on edmunds. At the top of the list, often, is the BMW 5 (sometimes the Mercedes E), at the bottom of the list, often, is the Acura RL or the Audi A6. The 530xi (and the 255HP 5 series) haven’t been out long enough to determine what, if any, impact the new urge and AWD will have for the ... Read More
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Re: Took the new 530xi out for a test drive. . . . [rich545]
Written by: markcincinnati on Aug 1, 2005 1:10:44 PM
I drove the 2005 530i with the standard set up and standard tires; ditto the 2006 530xi also with "standard" everthing. Indeed there is, apparently, no sport option for the xi that lowers the ride and stiffens the springs and increases the damping. These BMW's were "tight" -- BUT, they also rode softly. I understand the point of view about the Audi and Mercedes (even without the sport set ups) riding ... Read More
