Can anyone guess who is #1 and # 2 in true luxury (over $42k) sales?

A dirty little secret about Lexus, we shall see if the LS can truly put them on the same footing with Mercedes and Cadillac. People truly do vote with there dollars and those that have the dollars to spend voted Mercedes #1 and Cadillac #2. With Cadillac only having one car that starts in the $30k price range and Lexus having 3 is the true sales disparity that great? Most don't know that Cadillac has owned the true luxury crown now for the last 3 or 4 years. So it pretty much sums up the Luxury heirarchy. Lexus, Cadillac, BMW, Mercedes

— germeezy2 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2007 11:02:20 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

wait, didn't you just contradict yourself

— henbmw (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2007 4:24:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

did you just say that lexus isn't a "luxury" cocomany then go back an say that they're at the top of your "luxury hierarchy"?

or did you mean Lexus is at the bottom, and then Mercedes is at the top?

— Sedulous (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2007 4:35:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

No way.
I was thinking "Oh sure, we can all guess, Lexus".

yay M-B!

— Rupert (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2007 5:05:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

considering a nice 3-series or X3 is over $42k I wouldn't consider that the "true luxury threshold". Here's a better benchmark for "luxury sales": who sold more $100k vehicles last year than any other manufacturer? Mercedes Benz. And it's not even close. Before anyone says "that's not fair, Audi and BMW and Lexus hardly even HAVE any cars over $100k", you're right, they don't. Now ask yourselves why they don't, and Mercedes has so many.

— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2007 5:23:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Ridiculous article. What makes $42,000 the magic threshhold. Is an R Class or M Class is more luxurious than an RX because it costs more? It was obviously arbitrarily chosen to give MBZ a huge number, and everyone else a number below 40,000 units.

Forget the dollar amount. Take out every (Lexus) RX, IS and ES; every (BMW) 3 series, Z4 and X3-not sure about the X5 thats a fence sitter); every (MBZ) C, M, CLK, SLK and R; every (Caddy) CTS and SRX. Count up what's left.

LS
GS
LX
GX
SC

7
6
5
X5

SL
S
E
GL

Escalade
STS

(did I miss any?)

Somebody must have more time than I have to do this, come on Lexus and domestic haters you know you want to.... I presume MBZ would still win, but at least you would be comparing legitimate vehicles, not ones based on an arbitrary price point.

— 1970toyotamarc (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2007 6:07:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -18   

I didn't write the article. Nor did I make up the definition of true luxury. But it does prove that you MB and Cadillac haters don't have a leg to stand on. And I think those that vote with there wallets opinions matter more than the 18 YO Lexus FANBOYS on this website!

— germeezy2 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2007 6:44:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Here's the real question: Is this based on base prices or actual prices? Within the aforementioned car lines, there are several vehicles that have base prices of under $42k, but the out-the-door price is well above that. Example: You can barely find a Lexus RX for less than $45-50k anywhere despite a "base price" of $38k.

— senorgato (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2007 7:16:35 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

I'm sort of surprised that Cadillac took it away from MB to begin with.

What constitues a $42000 and over car? Are SUVs included, or just sedans?

Toyotamarc,
Actually, I think the X5 would beat everyone else by itself.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2007 8:06:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -15   

$42k and over sale price. And Cadillac had it for a number of years. And it means vehicles period it does not matter wether car or truck. Have you guys driven a Cadillac lately?

— germeezy2 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2007 9:05:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Makes sense to me. Here's how many $42K+ cars are in each lineup:

Acura-

RL

Audi-

A6/S6
A8/S8
S4
RS4
Q7 4.2

BMW-

5 Series
6 Series
7 Series
X5
All M models

Cadillac-

STS
DTS
Escalade
SRX (?)
All V models

Infiniti-

M45
FX45
QX56

Jaguar-

S-Type
XJ
XK
All R models

Lexus-

GS
LS
GX
LX
SC
Hybrids

Mercedes-Benz-

E
CLS
S
SLK
CLK
SL
R
M
G
GL
CL
All AMG models

I believe that's it for, high-prestige brands.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 3/12/2007 11:12:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

With all of the expensive Mercedes models it really says something that Cadillac had the crown for a # of years. And with great interiors like the next STS and the new CTS....they are the luxury brand to watch.

— germeezy2 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/13/2007 12:48:12 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

As i stated before owning a MBZ is like living in the best zip code. When you have money or you win a lotterey most people head on over to the Benz dealer walk on the showroom floor look at all those nice cars and say when and where do i sign up.
When price isn't a issue you want the status and MBZ has it pure and simple.

— chuck717 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/13/2007 6:36:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Notice Audi is not on the list

— Larry (View Profile)

Posted on 3/13/2007 7:12:27 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Audi cars are typically cheaper than comparable makes. Mercedes usually leads the pricing followed by BMW. Even Cadillac are priced higer than Audi's.

— germeezy2 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/14/2007 1:22:20 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Lexus really is doing great in this market because they have horrible leases. So alot of people are paying more a month to own a Lexus than a BMW or MB.

— germeezy2 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/14/2007 9:02:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

The base prices Audi vs Cadillac is as follows
CTS $30,570
A4 $28,240

STS $42,995
A6 $41,950

Q7 $39,900
SRX $37,855

CTSV $53,370
S4 $47,500

— germeezy2 (View Profile)

Posted on 3/14/2007 9:16:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1