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Forbes Most Affordable Luxury Cars

Agent009 submitted on 07/06/2007 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 2:32 PM
from: www.forbes.com

[46] user comments | category: Misc News

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Forbes Most Affordable Luxury Cars

Preparing to plunk down $61,715 on a brand-new Lexus LS460? Save your money. Instead, buy a $30,000 IS 250. Toss in another $5,000 worth of options, and you get the prestige of the Lexus plus many of the same bells and whistles, including heated and ventilated front seats, bi-xenon headlights and an optional sound system that includes DVD-player.

Call it the trickle-down theory of economics for cars. For a fraction of the price of their more expensive counterparts, entry-level models are getting top-of-the-line features.

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Monk - 7/6/2007 2:46:09 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Well, if I was going for sportiness, I would get the IS, and say yay, I have another 25K left!!! If I was going for luxury, I would get the LS and say yay, Lexus status! Depends on what I would want to use it for. LS would definitely not be on the track lol.

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iown1 - 7/6/2007 4:45:30 PM

+3 Boost

LOL. I see you posting alot. Usually refrain from responding to teens but the RS4 is more expensive than the new M3, at least in England. And I know you'll be like blah blah blah...whatever dude. Face it. Audi is in the same league as your beloved bimmer. I'm actually glad they make BMWs. It keeps a$$es like you away from AUDIs. Rock on in your 97 M3 on your way to work at Best Buy. Those of us who can REALLY afford new models know exactlly what we're buying. Pleeaazze don't respond with the rebadged VW horseshi# because if that's true, in comparison tests BMW is either tying or finishing behind a VW. That doesn't make you look real smart then does it? Try thinking out of the box. Like: "I realize AUDI makes a fine car however, I prefer BMWs." There now, that wasn't difficult, was it?

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daytonaviolet - 7/6/2007 5:35:26 PM

0 Boost

Well said iown1.

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bmwdrvr - 7/8/2007 8:22:00 PM

-1 Boost

im confused as to how he criticized audi, but to the guy that takes audis as if they are someone in his family to be personally offended, you sound a little psycho you might want to get that checked out because for one audi does have entry level cars like any luxury brand....2. one of audis most expensive models has nothing to do with this posts, and 3. audis are based on vw's so that is fact not fiction....now how 4 words deserved such a post i have no idea...

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benzdabest - 7/6/2007 3:06:58 PM

+1 Boost

Why get a Lexus IS when you can get a Toyota Corolla with leather seats and still be cramped in for less? Why waste your money on a Lexus LS when you can get a Avalon for half the price? They all use the same cheapass parts and materials.

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LexusKindaGuy12 - 7/6/2007 3:11:42 PM

-2 Boost

i dont think you can get leather seats in the corolla, nor navigation for that matter

JRobUSC - 7/6/2007 3:51:13 PM

+5 Boost

Really? You can get leather and navigation in a Mazda3...

benzdabest - 7/6/2007 3:07:59 PM

+3 Boost

You are just paying extra for the L emblem.

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LexusKindaGuy12 - 7/6/2007 3:12:20 PM

+3 Boost

yeah....and benz charges an arm and a leg for that peace symbol

Bill - 7/7/2007 12:46:50 PM

+3 Boost

And what is wrong with cloth seats?

Ever been to Europe? Cloth seats in luxury cars is no big deal. Here's a more important question. Have you ever been to Japan? Cloth seats in Japan are more highly regarded than leather, don't ask me why. The Toyota Crown taxi I rode in had clean white cloth seats. The Toyota Century, practically the most respected and prestigeous Japanese luxury car, has CLOTH SEATS. Cloth seats are no big deal in global markets. The only people who seem to take offense are ignorant and wasteful Americans who don't stop and think why. I drive a Mercedes S550, which has leather seats, but I wouldn't need them. In fact, if cloth seats were offered on this car, I might have actually selected those instead.

Htay7500 - 7/7/2007 8:03:17 PM

+2 Boost

same here, cloth seats are easier to clean than leather for one. we own cars w/ cloth seats and theyre no hassle. yes here in the US, ppl take leather here way to seriously and u'll be such a "reject" for having cloth seats. w/e, leather doesnt make ends meet if my option for owning a normal car.

Agent63 - 7/10/2007 4:57:03 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

About that comment on the C-class. The problem with North American buyers is once they see leather in a car they automatically think it's luxury. If a Camry had leather seats it's luxury? if it had some plastic wood grain pieces it's luxury? Give me a break here.

If leather seats made a car luxurious then why bother paying that extra for a Lexus when you can buy an Avalon or Solara that offers leather?

Enough said.

Monk - 7/6/2007 3:11:10 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

I KNOW ALL THAT!!!!
MB is my favorite brand of cars - sometimes BMW is better. Earlier, I was only talking about Lexus selections, but I would take an MB over Lexus anyday benzdabest.

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LexusKindaGuy12 - 7/6/2007 3:14:16 PM

+1 Boost

there are a few things wrong with this concept. You need to take all things into consideration, like size of the car, quality of materials, and prestige.

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finishline - 7/6/2007 4:52:19 PM

+1 Boost

No Acuras? I think if you're gonna include the IS250 on the list and the C30, it's ridiculous to leave off the TL, which is a screaming bargain by comparison. It is affordable luxury they are talking about. OK, OK, so the TL is a bit light on the luxury part, but have you driven the IS? Meh.

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daytonaviolet - 7/6/2007 5:37:50 PM

-2 Boost

The TL is a screaming bargain, I agree. I think it wasn't included because Acura doesn't have a flagship model that competes with the high end.

Caddyman07 - 7/6/2007 6:05:58 PM

0 Boost

How is the TL a "screaming" bargin? Its and glorified Accord. NOT AT ALL A BAD VEHICLE (I must add before you guys get on me) Its not a performance vehicle (to me). You are just paying for the name and some of the features that arent offered on the Accord... (my friend has a 05 Accord and her Mom has a 06 TL)

daytonaviolet - 7/6/2007 9:42:06 PM

-4 Boost

I based my comments on the fact that when I drove the TL, I was impressed with what it offered for the money.

Caddyman07, have you ever driven a TL, or is your comment based solely on what you've read and your pre-concieved opinion?

Agent63 - 7/7/2007 8:21:09 AMView My AgentSpace

-4 Boost

that is true. Acura TL is a great bargain and it has very good luxury features for a lesser ammount. It's the underdog and understated car in its segment.

mikeydred20 - 7/6/2007 6:29:11 PM

0 Boost

I'm not getting in this war but question. When last was the TL light on luxury? Last I check it had every option that all these cars on the list have and it's 4 years old. Had Bluetooth and DVD Audio before any of these cars knew what it was. (NO IT'S NOT A GLORIFIED ACCORD EITHER)

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07mcs - 7/6/2007 6:59:16 PM

+2 Boost

Forbes Magazine, the affluent lifestyle magazine, talking about affordable luxury, now that is odd, they include this type of article in their magazine.

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benzdabest - 7/6/2007 7:55:34 PM

+1 Boost

LexusAdmirer do you have a Lexus Yet? You probly have a Toyota Corolla since you know so much about them. When you go to sleep tonight dont forget to have that wet dream of that Lexus IS you been whishing for, Goodnight.

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enthusiastx11 - 7/6/2007 9:49:54 PM

+4 Boost

brilliant article! all they did was pick the least expensive model of every luxury brand. a 5 year old could have done this.

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benzdabest - 7/6/2007 10:55:26 PM

+5 Boost

Did I piss you off "LexusAdmirer" Just face it, Benz is the best. And retard? You have been brainwashed by the japanese into thinking they make good automobiles. Now do us Mercedes fans a favor and stick your hands down the garbage disposal and shread them.

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mikeydred20 - 7/7/2007 10:23:05 AM

0 Boost

Yeh Benz is the best at losing value 50k today 30k tommorow. They are also fighting for the champ of being in the shop the most. You know your in trouble when you decide to hook up with Crystler (who actually did bail from that relationship?)

Willis - 7/7/2007 11:18:53 AM

+4 Boost

"Yeh Benz is the best at losing value 50k today 30k tommorow..."

Huh? What garbage are you spewing out? Mercedes is one of those brands that generally retains their value quite well, even today.

Last time I checked, Acura ain't doing so good...

Monk - 7/7/2007 2:59:46 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

If you knew anyhing mikeydred20 about MB, then you wouldn't have spelled Chrysler "Crystler"!!!!!!
Fools...yes Benz has good rentention rates - not the best, but good

Bill - 7/8/2007 4:00:27 AM

+1 Boost

MB's are overpriced for a reason: prestige pricing. Many companies with history, heritage and age do that, not only in the car industry.

Lexus can't do that because they have ZERO heritage and have nothing to brag about. And Lexus is raising prices these days...

mikeydred20 - 7/7/2007 4:33:48 PM

-1 Boost

Spelled it wrong because I didn't bother looking up trash. Last you check Acura wasn't doing so good ,did you see the recent articles on this site about retainage. Most MB's are stricking from outside but the plain interiors come on, I think they are scared to mess with buttons because they know they don't have the realiability thing down yet.
I know they had a good year in terms of realiabilty but in the past 5 years or so they have been in the back of JD Power ratings for realiability and that's a fact.
There depreciation percentage is right there with Jaguar, companies like this is what give people a bad image about buying new cars. Compare any Acura, Lexus or Infiniti and you will see they have the Germans beat.

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xj13 - 7/8/2007 6:53:59 AM

+1 Boost

Mercedes Benz is King, Long Live the King.

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mikeydred20 - 7/8/2007 11:28:55 AM

+2 Boost

Mercedes is fooling the public too just because they were around during the WWII error, when the rest of the world was making planes and missles, they use that as there driving force. Look at the last 20 years or so, atleast here in America the Japanesse brands have kicked there butts.
So I really don't know whose fooling who for example car and driver says " The new ML series is a fine blend of car and suv, but will potential buyers get over the past generations realiability issues".

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