65 Votes

Which Of These Luxury Brands May Be The First to Fail?

Agent009 submitted on 2/20/2009 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 11:12:22 AM

120 user comments | Category: Misc News | Source: | SOURCE: www.detnews.com

Daimler AG executives may have thought they had escaped the brutal economics of the mainstream auto market when they got rid of Chrysler in the summer of 2007.

But a little over a year later, Daimler and other luxury carmakers are struggling in a downturn that has buffeted the fanciest nameplates as severely as the rest of the industry.

Daimler reported this week that its Mercedes-Benz Cars division lost $460 million in the fourth quarter of 2008 and it forecast lower Mercedes sales for this year. Moody's Investors Service lowered its outlook for Daimler and said it may cut its credit rating for BMW, citing concerns about the companies' profitability.

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Which Of These Luxury Brands May Be The First to Fail?

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"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."
— Agent009 (View Profile)

User Comments

Easy...Acura

they were the worst off before the economy went to hell
— Gambit (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 11:26:04 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6

I don't believe any of them will fail.
— david999 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 11:28:34 AM | | Votes: 11

Actually, Acura outsells Infiniti and Audi in the US by a good margin, especially Audi. I don’t think any of them will fail (in the US) but if I had to pick one it would be Audi as their sells are terrible here in the US.
— 06TLDude (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 7:46:09 PM | | Votes: 1

STFU, u do not know what you are talking about, Infiniti is in worst of an econimic time than Acura they have the V8's and the RWD's that u people want problem is no one buys them, and every complaint about their vechicles is either their passanger volume or the cheap interiors. Inspired Performance what a weak slogan.....................
— mikeydred20 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/21/2009 12:03:35 PM | | Votes: 1

Acura can't fall since it is on Honda shoulders.

BMW has nothing to backup on, and a long crisis will make them fall.

Nisan almost bankrupt, but then Infinity is ok now.
— DoctorC (View Profile)

Posted on 2/22/2009 3:45:09 AM | | Votes: 1

Jaguar volvo and range rover are the weakest right now.
— truthpursuit (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 11:30:14 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 9

Firstly, we have to see what they are backed by and what market they operate in. Audi: basically a VW, backed by VW Group and VW is in the "cheap" car market, so demand for VW's should not be affected as much as the "premium" market,so even if Audi is in trouble, they will be fine. Infinity and Lexus - same story for Nissan and Toyota. As for BMW - it is in the premium market - The BMW Group only consists of preium products like Mini and Rolls Royce, it also hasa very active financial service, which could very well be in trouble. Merc still have some ties with Daimler, Chrysler - so no problem as yet. So I am worried about BMW because thy areso premium with such a big branch of financial services.... just cannot imagine the world without BMW. I'm sure that the gov in Germany will bail them out if they are in trouble. But then again, BMW issuch a well managed and big company (unlike those American companies) that I don't think they should have any trouble.
— Freude (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 11:37:33 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

Freude - you're a joke. mini is in the premium market? really? Audi is in the cheap car market (i bet you can't afford an R8)? wow! if Audi owns Lamborghini then i guess Lamborghini is in the cheap car market as well. jerk.
— 1dott8 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 2:14:59 PM | | Votes: -6

Chrysler is not helping MB at all. Mercedes Benz only has a 20% remaining stake left in Chrysler, yet this lost them 1.5 billion dollars last quarter.
— chewy (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 8:23:57 PM | | Votes: 0

its hard to say right now because all the brands listed above have been dominating brands worldwide......I hope none of them fail they are all great brands in their own way
— B7FAN (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 11:38:39 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 11

ACURA
— NISSANINFINITI (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 11:42:19 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Very harsh words cappy I know you are a bigger man than to say that

— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 12:11:17 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

Remember Crappy, we're laughing at you, not with you...

1UAW, he's not a bigger man, you must realize that by now.
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 1:15:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 18

"all the jap brands. They all suck. I wish their whole country would just sink into the ocean"

And without them, the US automakers could see that similar fate.

— Htay7500 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 5:00:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Jaguar and Range Rover cannot fail with the backing of Tata. I heard they are one of the largest growing company in the world.
— Lamborghini_vs_Ferrari_Racer (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 11:53:44 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

I mean Land Rover/Range Rover
— Lamborghini_vs_Ferrari_Racer (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 11:54:03 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3

Jaguar are on a role these days, if it were not for the credit crunch, they would be booming!
— ubercool (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 12:16:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

I don't know man. Other than that Lexus GS copy what do they have? Plus I heard even the new XF already having problems with electronics. Brits have to be the worst at electronics on the planet. Even Russian Lada is more reliable.
— DinamoR (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 2:04:20 PM | | Votes: 1

Remember Crappy, at you not with you...
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 1:16:38 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 11

who really CARES what you find appealing? given your hateful and small mind, whatever you diss would be taken as AN ENDORSEMENT by any half smart person.
— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 2/22/2009 4:58:08 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Remember Crappy, at you not with you...
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 1:16:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 12

"Infiniti is an abortion."

That is exactly what your mother should have gotten when you were just an embryo.
— Willis (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 12:32:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 22

Remember Crappy, at you not with you...
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 1:16:59 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 10

"Teknik , we don't have the same mother"

That much is obvious.
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 3:13:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

Acura will continue to struggle the most amonst the Luxury brands. But I can see a "european brand" will have a deep struggle in the horizon. Don't have a specific, but one of them will surface in failure. Just my thoughts, no bias to any brands. Since I own best of both worlds and enjoy what they have to offer.
— BigShow50 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 12:50:42 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

Acura has backing of Honda, but I do agree Acura looks like the most troubled Japanese luxury brand.
— 2001W210 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 1:08:06 PM | | Votes: 4

I think top 3 will struggle Mercedes, BMW, Audi and all the Japanese Luxury brands will struggle as well but I don't think they will fail. But some how, I think many European Luxury brand like Jaguar, Land Rover, Austin Martin will be in trouble.
— 2001W210 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 1:05:34 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

I would say Infiniti.

Just take a look at the ugly crap they're building?
— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 1:06:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -11

And the BMW hatchback and X6 look any better?
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 1:17:43 PM | | Votes: 13

Cappy, thanks for making such intelligent comments...really gives some class to autospies.com
— BJS470 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 2:50:53 PM | | Votes: 1

Uh Crappy? If you were smart enough you would have read my comment just above. How is that not a comment about cars? Funny, any remaining credibility on this site you had just got flushed down the toilet when you showed your true colors today. At you, not with you...
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 3:11:27 PM | | Votes: 3

"Remember Teknik , at you not with you"
— 528i (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 5:45:42 PM | | Votes: 1

If any of them fail, which I doubt, I am pretty sure it would be Acura.
— PerformanceGuy (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 1:11:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Why the heck do we still have Agent009 writing "articles" (aka flamebaits)?
— Monk (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 1:12:54 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7

009 is just as biased as germanut or viso, and the dozens of other immature fanboys.
— car750i (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 3:35:19 PM | | Votes: 11

it would be hilarious if one day we found out that agent009 has actually been creating MichaelTaylor, LexusBeautyQueen (009's sister or something), David999, Germannut, Toyotamarc etc...too many to name!
— Monk (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 6:52:22 PM | | Votes: 5

Monk, you are not the only person to have thought that...
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 8:41:28 PM | | Votes: 2

haha that was a completely random thought
i guess i was thinking on the same lines as other people
— Monk (View Profile)

Posted on 2/21/2009 3:41:39 AM | | Votes: 1

I don't think Acura will fall, since they are backed by Honda. Plus with the old saying, the bigger you are the harder you fall. So, with that, Honda can support the "small" Acura... I would think Lexus fall faster/sooner since they are backed by Toyota,.... Now for the Europeans....Land Rover is doomed because of the green movement, not just the economy.
— Doukas (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 1:16:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 10

LOL +1
— BJS470 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 2:53:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

"Remember Teknit , at you not with you"
— 528i (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 5:48:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

who's teknit?
— BJS470 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 5:49:42 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

I believe that your pimp...LOL jk jk.
— 528i (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 6:08:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4

I do not see BMW AUDI or MB down, but yes they have problems, But FORD, GMC and CHRYSLER ....no more than 2 years, and the first to fall will be CHRYSLER...
— Yonder7 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 1:36:58 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

Except Cadillac, I don't see any brands that belong to Ford, GM and Chrysler as a luxury brand. But, I do agree Chrysler is in so deep, I fear nothing will save them now. Even Mercedes Benz have failed trying. What makes those monkeys in government think, they will be OK if we keep throwing billions of dollars at them?
— 2001W210 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 2:13:47 PM | | Votes: 3

Hyundai's competitor... Mercedes-Benz
— 100tnega (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 1:55:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Funny..
Hyundai isn't a luxury brand. Even their flagship car Genesis isn't luxurious, it's just near luxury, which means not quite there yet.

Great car though. I test drove one other day, and my perception of cheapo car have completely gone with a nice long drive.
— 2001W210 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 2:20:46 PM | | Votes: 1

I think it might be ACURA because they been coming out with ugly cars.
— wkc5354 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 2:24:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

What they always have.
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 3:14:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

BMW won't fail...they need taxis in Germany
— BJS470 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 2:50:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6

UMMM actually i see many more benz taxis........................
— 4x4rules (View Profile)

Posted on 2/27/2009 11:58:12 AM | | Votes: 1

None of these brands. But watch out for SAAB and Jag.
— supermoto (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 4:02:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

Saab, oh wait I to late.
— theoptimisticpessimist (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 4:08:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

Definitely BMW... they continue to build cars nobody asks for, needed, or wanted, i.e, bloated 1series, X1, X6, 5er hatch, now the Z2 etc, hoping the badgewhores will line up wallets open, "claiming" new innovations on flagship 7series by gluing a camera on the side of the car and fixing the broke iDrive system... taking long existing segments and renaming it and calling dibs on "we invented this"... SAC, PAS, SAV, SAW (sports activity wagon aka 5er hatch, you heard it hear first) giving away car at 0% financing and lease rates and still can't get the hairdressers, broke middle class and burger flippers to sign on... BMW = a troubled company.
— sector (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 4:41:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5

I think you ment the GM brands
— veyron1001 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 5:29:35 PM | | Votes: 2

Without a doubt AUDI, they all have the same lame design, and gay LED lights that look like afterthoughts. I would never buy one B/c they have ties with VW,and they are nose heavy overpriced junk. I swear every person I see driving an Audi now are women or gay men, b/c they love the styling and the awd, they think they are such clever shoppers getting a car that can do everything. But the fact is its not good at any one thing, and that makes them BORING. And you know Audi's going to come out with an x1,x6,pas competitor....Following as usual, But im sure when theirs come out you will love them, even thought they will just look like a big A3. Audi and the VW group also make the worst diesels in Germany, BMW's and Merc are far superior, and refined. Every VW group diesel is chattery and underpowered. Im sure they know they are behind on diesel tech that's why they gloat about there lemans cars, to hide the fact that there road car diesels are crap. Another thing that is lame about Audi is they are trying to be like BMW, while BMW is just BMW, and Merc is Merc, they are not trying to be like any other car manufacturer they set the trend and Audi follows. Oh yeah and BMW wont fail b/c they are building cars, like the PAS, and project i they are constantly exploring new markets and vehicle types, and moving the game long, that's what successful companies do, they innovate and lead the industry.
— racerf109 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/21/2009 12:16:36 PM | | Votes: 6

You mean, what is the first luxury brand to go AFTER Cadillac? That would be Lincoln, of course.
— thstone (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 4:54:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

BMW, because they make pointless cars like the X6 and POS mini van.
— 528i (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 5:47:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4

Acrua would be the first but to me they aren't a real luxury brand. They really fall in the middle. BWM, Mercedes, Audi, and Lexus aren't going anywhere. They will cut back or halt production to move what inventory they've alreayd made and are sitting at dealerships, but they will not go Chapter 7 or 11.
— Schwitz916 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 5:51:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

BMW, The Ultimate Ugly Machine.
— 528i (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 6:09:54 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6

Luxury car companies who rely heavily on leasing will be the most likely to fail.
BMW leases 65% of the cars that "sells" in USA.
America 10 most leased cars
1. BMW 7 series
2. Saab 9-7X
3. Audi 6
4. BMW Z4
5. MB E-Class
6. Land Rover Range Rover
7. BMW 6 Series
8. Audi A4/S4
9. BMW X3
10. Jaguar XJ Sedan
— topneuro (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 6:23:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

Acura will never fail. Honda would never let that happen. I don't think any of them will fail. All of these companies have always put a lot of work into these brands. It is interesting though to see who relies on leasing the most. Appears that many of these people that drive these cars can't even afford them. It's kind of funny that none of the Japanese car companies need to lease. Many of you will say "That's because they are crap and cheap." Or maybe perhaps they are smarter shoppers who don't try to "appear" wealthy? BTW who the hell would buy a Saab 9-7X?
— jkenna (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 7:06:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

If any of them were to fail (doubtful), it would certainly have to be Acura with their current unimpressive line up.
— hyundaifansdotcom (View Profile)

Posted on 2/20/2009 11:29:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

I would say Land Rover. Reason being is that working for the Service side of the Company, it seems that the vehicles spend their whole lifetime on the Techs rack....Jaguar also. Hopefully these two companies will someday revive itself. especially Land Rover (which needs some serious re-designing work).

Also Acura shouldn't be considered Luxury...their so bad that Hyundai is kicking their ass.
— Type707 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/21/2009 12:34:46 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

NOTICE!!...Doukas is the only Rocket scientist on planet earth that says he does'nt think Acura will fail since they are backed by Honda but, believes Lexus will fail because they are backed by Toyota. Also notice the SRT-8 photo of a car who's maker is Bankrupt. Dude!@#$%*...and where have you been! Honda dropped out of Formula 1 because they cant afford to continue...They dropped the NSX because they don't have the cash reserve and resources to build an exotic car to compete with Toyota or the rest of the world for that matter. YOU THINK LEXUS WILL FAIL BECAUSE IT'S MADE BY TOYOTA.....AND I BET YOU THINK OBAMA AINT PRESIDENT YET!....Man! Whatever that is you're smokin I sure as hell don't want none!!!!!!!!!!!!
— lexworld (View Profile)

Posted on 2/21/2009 12:58:22 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

I know why this Country is in recession, because there is such an amazing amount of complete morons who think they know everything. Guys, do you even read back what you post. This is absolutely pathetic. And only a few of you got the idea that those "so called" journalist called Agents are actually doing anything else than posting subjects that will start a flame war. They are absolute ignorant and absolutely clueless, like most of you. I agree with freedom of speech and expressing one's opinion, but please, can you please express an intelligent opinion. Anyway, I don't know if I should laugh or cry.
— 1evlaudi (View Profile)

Posted on 2/21/2009 1:08:39 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

Acura will not fail, they are making changes to their lineup and I believe have seen the err of their new designs. Leaving Formula 1 and holding off on the NSX is just caution until the market gets better. They still sell more than some of the other luxury brands on this list. By the way, I noticed how the Acura logo is the smallest and is placed in the lower right hand corner of the title pic of this article. What's up with that subliminal message?
— BlakuraTLS (View Profile)

Posted on 2/21/2009 8:33:02 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Remember Crappy, at you not with you...
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/21/2009 9:55:21 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Remember Crappy, at you not with you
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/21/2009 9:55:30 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

Remember Crappy, at you not with you
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/21/2009 9:55:38 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

Remember Crappy, at you not with you
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/21/2009 11:18:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Remember Crappy, at you not with you
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/21/2009 12:56:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

Remember Crappy, at you not with you
— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 2/21/2009 12:56:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Remember Crappy, 43LE, and Teknik, at you not with you
— 528i (View Profile)

Posted on 2/21/2009 1:41:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

ACURA
— OBSERVER1984 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/21/2009 1:41:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

Nah, I dont think any will disappear. As a Matter of Fact: Benz, Audi, BMW will change their modes of production to become as exclusive as Porsche. Lexus, Acura, and Infinti will take their places. Lincoln, Hyundai, and Cadilac will duke it out on the Lower tier.
— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 2/21/2009 6:19:03 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

I would say Infiniti/lexus.
— xj13 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/22/2009 9:21:55 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Agent 001... While this forum is good for dialog, there are some characters here who evidently are only wanting to stir up the dust and create anger. Cappy is an example. Please read his xenophobic emails on this thread; you may wish to cancel his membership.
— 204E60 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/22/2009 3:32:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

Dont worry guys..Cappy is a ChuchyG37 replacement from the old Terminator era...he's unimportant.
— lexworld (View Profile)

Posted on 2/23/2009 1:40:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Oh! That's ChuckyG37...my bad. ChuckyG37 where are you? Talking bout a Toyota/Lexus hater...man that guy was bad news for bad news.
— lexworld (View Profile)

Posted on 2/23/2009 1:43:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Acura way in first, then Infinity..................but both will be propped up by parent companies, just their budgets will be shlashed and (like in the past with acura) their models will suffer
— 4x4rules (View Profile)

Posted on 2/27/2009 11:48:55 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

I think the whole idea of a luxury brand is open to debate today, but I was just going by the marques on the title. some could say that none of these marques are "strictly"luxury brands, and some of these are not considered luxury brands at all.
— 4x4rules (View Profile)

Posted on 2/27/2009 11:54:37 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

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Which Of These Luxury Brands May Be The First to Fail?

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