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Who Will Be The Biggest Loser In The Luxury Car Market For 2008?

Agent009 submitted on 08/22/2008 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 2:49 PM
from: www.autospies.com

[128] user comments | category: Misc News

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Who Will Be The Biggest Loser In The Luxury Car Market For 2008?

Most manufactures have already chalked 2008 as the year they would rather forget than remember. We all like to rally behind our favorite luxury Marque and marvel at the new offerings and impressive sales gains they typically post year in and year out. However with five full months of dismal reporting remaining, and precious few new models on the horizon, we all now realize this is a tough year to post any gains at all. The market place has forever changed I am afraid.

Over the years leasing has become ever increasingly popular in the luxury market. With outstanding residuals and low interest rates, luxury Marques found it easy to appeal to the entry level of the market with excellent lease rates. So well in fact, I penned an article last year showing it was actually cheaper to have a BMW 3 series over a Toyota Camry over a typical lease. Needless to say I wasn’t the only person to notice as luxury car sales continued to skyrocket.

However with rising fuel prices and a deteriorating credit market we have seen changes. Most notably the stepping away from leasing by the American Big 3, and several manufacturers setting aside billions of dollars in funds to cover artificially high residuals. Leasing it turns out is a risky proposition to say the least. While it seems no one will be left unaffected to a degree on the current leasing debacle, the question remains just how many buyers were simply capitalizing on low payments for different motives. Whether customers were snapping up luxury cars that were previously unaffordable, or because they always were going to purchase one anyway remains to be seen.

In Texas we call some of these opportunists, “$30,000 millionaires”. You know the type, that cute single secretary down the hall making about $32K while driving a $80k Escalade. Typically one would associate a modicum of income in relation to ownership of such an expensive car. In this case the formula simply doesn’t fit, the low lease rates had changed the landscape of ownership into a boon of subsidized vehicle sales. After all we all want to look and feel successful, it is a natural progression. So in essence have we created a class of wannabes with no real avenue in to the luxury market other than a subsidized lease?

Now with tighter credit and leasing dramatically curtailed will those Marques that benefited the most from this new class now falter even further? A scary proposition to say the least.

It’s all up to demographics. Does the current 60% leasing rate of new BMWs leave their customers vulnerable to the higher costs of financing, or will they simply pay cash? Are the 43% of those leasing Lexus vehicles simply Toyota owners attempting one up their neighbors with no addition funds to support this perceived wealth?

Who will survive and who will falter the most when their customers simply have to go some place else to stay afloat? To be honest only time will tell, but we want to give you the opportunity to tell us who may end up on the bottom, when and if their customer base makes them the “Biggest Loser”.

Take your vote, and make it count, then tell us why you believe who will suffer worse.

Comments:

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BimmerGuyFL78 - 8/22/2008 2:57:44 PM

+9 Boost

So far from a sales point Acura seems to be the worst as far as the biggest loser. They truly need to switch in the near future to all Rear Wheel drive based cars and SUV's.

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audirevolution - 8/22/2008 3:02:06 PM

+3 Boost

Acura needs better designs before they should even consider doing those.

Agent009 - 8/22/2008 3:02:42 PMView My AgentSpace

+9 Boost

The fact remains they can't do that. Their very life blood is tied to Honda and their products. Very few of these are RWD.

GreenPlease - 8/23/2008 4:15:43 PM

+1 Boost

Acura will be the biggest loser, IMO.

Acura doesn't need RWD. They can do just fine with AWD. They need to differentiate themselves with more compelling drivetrains.

No reason for them to go for power. That game is too crowded. IMO, they need to put their turbo 4 in every single product they sell. They could differentiate the engines by varying the tune slightly and by offering a larger IC and a higher output on larger vehicles.

They also need better transmissions. Too few gears and too slow.

theoptimisticpessimist - 8/22/2008 3:01:41 PM

+10 Boost

Acura, controversial designs and lack luster performance an ebbing nameplate.

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Agent00J - 8/22/2008 3:04:41 PMView My AgentSpace

-10 Boost

I clicked Acura but I meant to click Lexus.

Can I have a redo?

-00J

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Agent009 - 8/22/2008 3:29:24 PMView My AgentSpace

+5 Boost

No redos for you bubba!

silver1 - 8/22/2008 6:01:25 PM

+5 Boost

lol

hao420 - 8/22/2008 9:06:32 PM

0 Boost

Great,i clicked Audi......

QuantumMatrix - 8/22/2008 3:10:24 PM

+13 Boost

Acura : Ugly new designs and no RWD or V8

followed by:

Lexus: Toyota's hurting and Lexus has uninspired designs and lackluster performance.

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350zdon17 - 8/22/2008 3:26:26 PM

+18 Boost

MichaelTaylor wins biggest loser for Autospies 2008
followed by Lexus and Acura

Congrats to you MT...

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steve27t - 8/22/2008 3:28:43 PM

+8 Boost

The check is in the mail, good promo work, well actually MT you might fool yourself but you will not fool anybody else. Everybody is going to suffer, Lexus are already suffering more than most, this is unlikely to change.

Pebble Beach !! Ha Ha.

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350zdon17 - 8/22/2008 3:42:53 PM

+7 Boost

Please stop you already took first place, I don't think we can give you second and third also...The SC is going to boost Lexus sales when it is dropped from their lineup and have less models to calculate their loss..The LS is a nice car but noone is buying that car right now...I think your going for the DEBOOST record 2008

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Tuscani27 - 8/22/2008 3:48:23 PM

+15 Boost

'truly value design' and 'SC430' should NEVER be used in the same sentence.

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FitzLA - 8/22/2008 3:51:27 PM

+17 Boost

Oh Michael. Lexus IS discontinuing the SC430.

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Agent63 - 8/22/2008 3:51:48 PMView My AgentSpace

+10 Boost

MT,

Some German fans are Lexus fans as well but you just make the overall image of a Lexus fan boy look like a troll (which you are).

Toyota dropped what 99% the last time I read. If they didn't gain any profit before and they have the same models out right now what makes you think it'll go back to 0? Toyota companies have boring designs, face it.

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350zdon17 - 8/22/2008 3:55:00 PM

+9 Boost

well I am Definitely not a German car fanboy...the reason why you get deboosted is because your comments are all bogus, every word shows that you are brainwashed by Lexus and you show no knowledge to the subjects being talked about...All you say is Lexus this and Lexus that...If the post is about a Dog, you would say "that dog would be cute if his head was hangin out a Pebble Beach edition LS600h" this is why you are the DEBOOST KING...

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Wimmer - 8/22/2008 3:56:19 PM

+8 Boost

@ MichaelMORON,

First of all, Megan Fox is a SLUT in my opinion. Zero acting skills, too thin a body and way too many nasty tattoos.

Second, whatever you and Huu76 and all those other Lexus fanatics are smoking, reading, or inhaling, PLEASE, STOP, STOP, STOP, STOP! You guys are INSANE. All of you.

The SC430 is a FAILURE. FAIL. F = FAIL. F A I L. FAIL. <--- Get it? FAILURE. It's time that Lexus removes this uncompetitive product from the market and either brings a new one or just abandons it altogether.

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Wimmer - 8/22/2008 4:13:20 PM

+9 Boost

We get it, Michael, we get it.

Michael MORON = FAILURE

Just like an SC430. ;-)

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AgentOrange - 8/22/2008 4:13:46 PMView My AgentSpace

+9 Boost

MT;
ROFL. Yes, I'm sure the 135i is hurting BMW's image - a small, powerful coupe and Cabrio, which has great performance and handling and beats EVERYTHING in it's price category.
Ummm, yah, I'm sure THAT will tarnish BMW's image...

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350zdon17 - 8/22/2008 4:29:54 PM

+2 Boost

LOL "shakes head" you are so funny....

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theoptimisticpessimist - 8/22/2008 4:47:17 PM

+5 Boost

"models like the Pebble Beach edition SC430 and LS600h are going to create buzz"

Ahahhahaha, MT you always bring the best comedy, I mean you should do stand up.

The buzz you're hearing is the sound the SC being discontinued and the LS600h needing market support to sell it. Ahahaha.

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steve27t - 8/22/2008 4:49:19 PM

+3 Boost

Michael, I have to repost this link. This is what Top Gear think of the Lexus SC430, I remember you refereing to Jeremy Clarkson praising Lexus recently, so please check this out, everybody...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuLRzVHN6ik

Its a good un...

How about an award for MT. I think he deserves a medal for his unequivocal support of Lexus, so who votes for Olympic Gold, Silver and Bronze for the best Lexus bullshit in the world ???

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enthusiastx11 - 8/22/2008 7:08:04 PM

+5 Boost

and michael taylor wins!

he's the most off-base/clueless/blind person on autospies.

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Audiphile - 8/23/2008 1:41:42 AM

+4 Boost

Micheal,

Joseph Goebbels couldn't have done a better brainwashing job on you than has Lexus! Seek help, kid!

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DogLb - 8/24/2008 3:29:34 PM

+4 Boost

MT...save your key strokes. I wish I could find the little troll in your brain to disect him and figure out how he worked. You're making this too easy by lobbing up softballs for everyone to just hammer out of the park.

and oh...the SC430 will be out of production. SC430 and performance...that's a good one

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DogLb - 8/24/2008 3:37:36 PM

+2 Boost

You calim the biggest loser is BMW beacuse it doesn't "seem" to cut it? Wow, you must have been the go to guy at the Harvard debate team. I'm impressed by you intelligent well thought out argument.

On that note...Joseph Goebbels, btw, check your world war 2 history. dip sh-t

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TauronB2G - 8/22/2008 3:23:21 PM

+1 Boost

I think that BMW will have an issue because of falling residuals on the most popular 3 series and 5 series cars.
T

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Agent009 - 8/22/2008 3:30:54 PMView My AgentSpace

-4 Boost

The cars for BMW really aren't the issue here. I really haven't seen those change very much.

steve27t - 8/22/2008 3:40:03 PM

0 Boost

Interesting article, well put. I have enjoyed and reaped the benefits of our low interest leases for many years, always amazed at how on this side of the Atlantic we could enjoy this while in Europe/UK they paid much higher interest rates and hardly had personal leasing.

In 1997 I leased a Mercedes C280 and then went through 3 Audi A6's each time getting a better and more expensive spec. for the same or little more than the previous one. The residuals in the US are far higher than in Europe, especially the UK.

The US has been living a lie for most of this decade, Greenspan created a fake economy based on low interest rates and the housing boom. Now we are paying the price and it looks like the Auto industry is going to have a very hard time too. We still have artificially low interest rates in a desperate attempt to shore things up. Let us just hope it does not get too much worse than this.

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cdoke - 8/22/2008 7:43:09 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

"Greenspan created a fake economy based on low interest rates and the housing boom"

You really cannot blame Greenspan for what is the central tendency of the thing of which he was in control. I have mentioned F.A. Hayek on here before, but I never mentioned the nature of the works that were primarily responsible for his Noble prize in 1974. In "Prices and Production" and "Monetary Theory and the Trade Cycle", Hayek analyzes the effect of central bank manipulations of interest rates and how they, by their nature, distort the market and create bubbles, which must then bust. I must say that Hayek was really a genius in many ways, as his contributions were manifold, including his work on knowledge and so-called "spontaneous order", which is related in modern thought to emergent behaviors.

The funny thing about Alan Greenspan is that his views as a younger person are irreconcilable with much of what he stated as a younger individual. For goodness sakes he was a confidant of Ayn Rand and wrote for the Objectivist Newsletter. Among the things that he wrote there, one was an essay on how he viewed the only responsible monetary system is one based upon metals as opposed to fiat.

cdoke - 8/22/2008 7:59:38 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

"The funny thing about Alan Greenspan is that his views as a younger person are irreconcilable with much of what he stated as a younger individual."

Change one of those "younger"s to older.

abcd - 8/22/2008 3:42:08 PM

-2 Boost

These aren`t luxury brands , these are PREMIUM brands . Acura tsx or bmw 1 series , audi a3 ... definitely aren`t luxury cars . Luxury brands are rolls , bentley ...

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350zdon17 - 8/22/2008 3:45:36 PM

+3 Boost

Audi,BMW,Infiniti,Benz,Lexus,Jaguar are luxuary brands...Rolls and Bentley are I am richer then you brands

IVANURI97 - 8/22/2008 3:52:41 PM

+6 Boost

Sorry MT, a tarted up Camry does not may a super luxury car. It may be nice, but no where near Rolls, Bentley territory.

Agent63 - 8/22/2008 3:56:45 PMView My AgentSpace

+5 Boost

Luxury brands are MERCEDES first and foremost (get it right), Then there's Audi, BMW, Jaguar, and Lexus , however you want to mix and match that.

Ultra luxury is Rolls Royce, Bentley, & Maybach (NOT LEXUS) like MT said.

When you think of a luxury brand you think Mercedes before Lexus. It's funny that you are in love with Toyota's but sometimes I wonder why. You can't be an exciting person because most of the Toyota's are boring. So does that mean you're a boring person?

On a positive note, you won the TURD OF THE YEAR AWARD!

Tuscani27 - 8/22/2008 3:57:33 PM

+9 Boost

MichaelTaylor, you really need to get into the comic book business or write some fairy tales for children. "connoisseurs choice" ...haha.

Wimmer - 8/22/2008 4:06:36 PM

+9 Boost

Girlfriend? You have a girlfriend? Oh wait, sorry, inflatable sex dolls don't count, Michael. ;-)

Wimmer - 8/22/2008 4:11:19 PM

+8 Boost

Yeah, really? Please prove it. Get a needle, pop it under her skin and tell us if air comes out.

abcd - 8/22/2008 4:21:04 PM

-3 Boost

Maybe you`re right . That`s very subjective what car or brand is luxury but for me mercedes A class , acura tsx , bmw 1 series ... aren`t luxury cars . While vw phaeton or touareg are luxury cars I don`t say that vw is luxury brand only becouse of these models . That`s why I prefer to use for them word PREMIUM .

enthusiastx11 - 8/22/2008 7:10:42 PM

+3 Boost

dear clueless michael taylor:

most bentley, rolls--or even S-class--owners wouldn't recognize a lexus if it ran them over. it's a car that most of them would never consider buying.

FitzLA - 8/22/2008 3:49:59 PM

0 Boost

OMG People! Can't you read? It say's DUE TO THE ECONOMY!!! Ugly Acura's have nothing to do with the economy. Price, gas mileage, etc. are the factors here. Duh!

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mp2dtw - 8/22/2008 3:52:01 PM

+1 Boost

As someone who, proportionately, knows many more "cute little secretaries" earning $32k/yr who can think their way through a paper bag than 6-figure "important people", yet none driving a car whose cost better than doubles their salary, I don't think any of the Japanese, Germans or Americans listed will be particularly troubled in the short-run, though I am concerned about Lincoln and Ford's lack of imagination & sensibility where Lincoln and Volvo are concerned.

I think that the next of the walking wounded or fatalities are likely to be from Britain and Sweden. In fact, I wouldn't be very surprised, in this world where glitz/cache are more important than substance/value, to see Trollhattan, Gothenburg, Coventry and Gaydon completely shut within five years.

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Agent63 - 8/22/2008 3:57:21 PMView My AgentSpace

+10 Boost

Please support me in casting votes for Michael "Troll" Taylor as the "TROLL OF THE YEAR!"

+++ BOOST!

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350zdon17 - 8/22/2008 4:07:05 PM

+6 Boost

Sorry to all the people who post on this website who really just want to read car news...I am not trying to make this a comedy article but it is so easy to say stuff about MT after reading his posts...He is the star of the Thread lol

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E36er - 8/22/2008 4:30:27 PM

+5 Boost

^^^ I agree, let's stop this "my GI-Joe is better than your's" banter. It's not constructive and it's getting very old. I've noticed the majority of the banter is coming from the German car fans. As a German car fan myself I would like to say; stop giving us a bad name on this blog.

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Agent001 - 8/22/2008 4:34:18 PMView My AgentSpace

-2 Boost

You mean 'social network'.

AutoBlogs are soooooo 2002 ;)

001

350zdon17 - 8/22/2008 4:41:12 PM

0 Boost

lol 001...It is a mixture of everyone E36er...Most threads are fine until one person says something which makes no sense what so ever and shows complete stupidity to the market, which then starts the "banter"... I agree we need to stay on the subjects but a good laugh every now and then doesn't hurt

E36er - 8/22/2008 4:41:06 PM

+3 Boost

Voted for Land Rover as the marque that will suffer the most. They simply do not have a diverse enough product range. This might change though now that TATA owns them. Acura is actually posting an increase in profits because of the price of oil. Merc is also posting profits, at least for this quarter. Although MINI is doing very well, BMW's sales are softening up.

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truthpursuit - 8/22/2008 4:52:21 PM

-1 Boost

biggest loser Jag.

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350zdon17 - 8/22/2008 5:03:13 PM

+1 Boost

Jags on the move up with new XF and Tata ownership

222max - 8/22/2008 4:54:18 PM

+5 Boost

No disrespect to Lexus. But haven't their plunging sales all year long already made them the biggest loser in this group?

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0to60 - 8/22/2008 8:53:41 PM

+5 Boost

Homer007, Im shocked at how many G's have sold. If that did offer a G25 it would probably match or overtake the 3 series in total units sold. Interesting.

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0to60 - 8/22/2008 9:01:19 PM

+4 Boost

Thanks for the data!

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Teknik - 8/22/2008 5:22:36 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

Acura - Poor, ugly looking designs, and no RWD platform. They claim to be "Advanced", but everyone else has the same technology or more. After they got rid of the Legend name, it was all downhill from there. The next NSX, does anyone care?

Audi - Sorry, if people want a German car, they will buy a Benz or BMW. Audi mainstream designs are too bland and uninspired, exception R8. Have you looked at the new A4 prices? They are now overpriced, and people will buy a Benz or Bimmer instead. Sorry, but you need more than fancy LED's to sell cars.

BMW - Failing residuals, less leasing, and higher prices. Cheerleaders will have to ask mommy and daddy for a higher allowance. Secretaries will have to ask for a pay raise. If BMW goes back to bland styling, post-Bangle, they will be overshadowed in the market place. They have nothing to compete with the R8 and GT-R, sad. Bring back the M1, Tii, and CSL, better do it BMW.

Cadillac - People are going to get tired of "Art & Science Design". The new SRX looks ugly. Something needs to be done with the STS and DTS. Make them one car. The CTS still is not up to par with the 3-Series & G35. Caddy still has work to do. The new CTS-V better not be subpar like the last one, or they will hear it.

Infiniti - On the right track, the next G and M must be a smash hit if you are to continue your momentum. We don't want anymore damn SUV's from you. You must have a flagship or you will never be Tier-1, period. You failed 3 times at this, the next one has to be a home run. We need the "performance" hybrids soon and a GT-R based 4-door flagship will do nicely. The 1-Series fighter is very promising.

Jaguar - On the right track with the XF. Make sure the next XJ and next coupe have radical and dramatic styling. Make sure you keep up the good work, otherwise you will fall back in the same ditch you were before. You have a lot of work to do, don't screw-it-up.

Land Rover - The next Range Rover must be phenomenal, otherwise your company will go down the drain. The designs need more inspiration, they are too boring to look at. Don't screw up your prestige and world class rank.

Lexus - The majority of cars sold are FWD. Is this really a luxury brand? You are second to Acura in FWD products. Lexus product is old and boring, the SC is a failure. People are saving money and buying the just-as-good Toyota's instead. LF-A, sorry, no one in the right mind will buy a $200k Lexus. They have to be on crack. Lexus needs a major overhaul to get back into the groove. Hybrid exclusive will help.

Lincoln - You need an identity, ASAP. Take a look at Cadillac real closely, and do something about it.

Mercedes-Benz - Steady as she goes. Old money people will always buy a Benz, no matter what the economy is like. The new E-Class looks ugly as hell and the interior looks like a joke. Who cares? People will still buy thing because of the badge. The reinvention of the Gullwing will help th

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steve27t - 8/22/2008 5:23:56 PM

+3 Boost

Homer007.

I think you are wrong about Jaguar. With the new XF they will do well and this will offset the XJ, they have had poor sales last couple of years so their 2008 figures will not look that bad.

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enthusiastx11 - 8/22/2008 7:06:44 PM

-1 Boost

the market has already spoken...

lexus is by far down the most this year.

poor acura was already a second tier player, but things will probably get worse.

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EL34 - 8/22/2008 7:22:32 PM

0 Boost

It's quite obvious Lexus will be the big loser because all their cars are gettin' old and dumb lookin'.

:-\

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QuantumMatrix - 8/22/2008 7:59:07 PM

0 Boost

You have to ignore Homer Simpson, he is almost as bad as Huu, Staar and auto001.

0to60 - 8/23/2008 8:44:14 AM

-4 Boost

QuantumMatrix = Star new screen name.

FactsRule - 8/23/2008 9:02:58 AM

+5 Boost

WRONG!

AGAIN!

FactsRule - 8/23/2008 9:43:01 AM

+4 Boost

WRONG!

AGAIN!

It is not because Lexus' cars are old and dumb looking it is because they are boring and safe in the styling dept., no sense of style what so ever.

The average age of a Lexus driver is 65+.....

cyco - 8/22/2008 8:10:15 PM

+2 Boost

In 2007 ExxonMobil made $39.5b in profits. They paid $101b in taxes.

Tell me again who is evil?

I agree with you.. some Americans are stupid - they lap up whatever the media doles out to them without looking any further into it.

Open your eyes. More gov't isn't the solution here, it's actually the very root of the problem.

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cyco - 8/22/2008 8:30:37 PM

+2 Boost

LOL, reading comprehension strikes again.. Did I say smaller or did I say more of it is not the answer? Did I say the Republicans would shrink the gov't? Do you think either party cares about you?

Clinton let the Chinese into the Livermore labs compromising national security in the name of $$$. Where's the outrage over that?

BOTH sides are dumb, both sides have f'd this country up beyond belief.

Either McCain or Obama, it doesn't matter - they're both a mess. If you think either party is going to fix anything, you're sedated.

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enthusiastx11 - 8/22/2008 9:26:54 PM

+1 Boost

"speculator nonsense that has skyrocketed the prices"

are you for real? massive demand for all commodities from china, india and other emerging markets is driving the price of oil. in case you didn't know, the chinese government massively subsidizes oil--which drives demand even higher.

furthermore, political instability in major oil producing countries makes the price of oil even more volatile.

democrats, republicans, whatever...doesn't matter. neither the US government nor speculators have a notable affect on the price of oil.

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enthusiastx11 - 8/22/2008 9:31:59 PM

+1 Boost

and another FYI...

western oil companies are pretty much powerless. NOT ONE western oil company even ranks in the top 10 largest oil companies. (in fact, western oil companies control less than 13 percent of the world's oil supply as of this year--compared to nearly 70 percent in the 1960s). all the major players are government entities.

for example, saudi aramco is a 400 pound wrestler while exxon-mobile (the largest PUBLIC oil company) is a 80 pound weakling.

get back to us when you have some grasp of the oil market and who controls it.

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enthusiastx11 - 8/23/2008 2:18:59 AM

+2 Boost

wow, you really buy into hype. i prefer to buy into economics and hard facts.

what, exactly, would whoever wins the election do to so dramatically affect the WORLD price of oil?

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enthusiastx11 - 8/23/2008 2:23:49 AM

+2 Boost

and while the german government gets some things right, it's also built a social welfare model that is financially unsustainable (you've already spent your grandchildrens' future with your entitlements) and suffers from incredibly high unemployment.

worse yet, the entire continent couldn't even handle controlling a genocide in their midst...america had to step in in bosnia and kosovo.

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stash84 - 8/23/2008 3:27:22 AM

+2 Boost

---Damn it feels good to be from a country where smart people and common sense rules!

Bimmerfanboy : You are a sad excuse for a human, you assume a lot of things and your jealousy is obvious. keep drinking your "cold one" if thats what really makes you happy..lol..alcohol..get a life

"I don't think USA deserves Obama. He's too good and too smart for america. Americans need someone dumb who will bankrupt their country, destroy their quality of life and standing in the world so all the STUPID fox news and rush limbaugh listeners can point and say "see we told you goverment doesn't work and they don't care about anyone. hey, let's vote for another sleezy republican!""

your hopes are so vivid !

btw..fu..learn how to spell !!

im not even american..i just dislike people like u

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cyco - 8/23/2008 7:26:01 AM

+2 Boost

bimmerfan, you should stick to rambling on about how great Germany is and leave it at that. When you step outside of this, all you do is regurgitate what the media tells you to think with regard to Republicans and Democrats and world opinion of the US.

You like to think you're intelligent by spouting off the talking points you've been given, but sadly, you're just another sheep.

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darzav - 8/22/2008 9:28:39 PM

+1 Boost

The article mentions that the only people who would buy a Lexus are the people who wants to 1 up their neighbours who have Toyota's. Now with rising fuel prices and the increasing cost of living. Your better off with a simple Toyota since Lexus is just a rebadged Toyota.

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enthusiastx11 - 8/23/2008 2:26:55 AM

+3 Boost

so much blather....not even worth responding to..

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Dr550 - 8/23/2008 4:04:50 AM

0 Boost

You have it wrong. Acuras lame designs and Lexus aging demographic for ES/RX (60% of sales) reflect decreasing U.S. sales. Hyundai and Kia should focus on lower end of luxury maket.

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FactsRule - 8/23/2008 9:07:24 AM

+11 Boost

You are so full of SH_T HondaJapan..

The BMW 3, 5, and 7 series were all recommended by Consumer Reports and it is #1 in Customer Satisfaction so take your LIES to another site that caters to trolls like yourself.

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kut17 - 8/23/2008 12:32:31 AMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

I don't think Acura will lose customers. Acuras are pretty fuel efficient for luxury cars and they're in the price range that people still care about buying gas. Jaguar might because none of their cars get great gas mileage and they only have one really good car to offer. Land Rover definitely will. And I think Lexus will stay about the same.

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huu76 - 8/23/2008 4:27:47 AM

-12 Boost

Aside from the Americans, I'd say BMW and not because I think their operations stink.

0% (or close to it) costs money unless they have a few billion dollars they're willing to tie up to subsidize sales. Toyota, Honda, Nissan, VW all have deep enough pockets to partially back low rates if they want to. MB can but its already significantly eating into their EBIT.

BMW doesn't have a backer unless the Quandts are in a generous mood. The irony is that the more units BMW moves, the more they actually hurt themselves. Is maintaining the #1 volume title that important? Then again, I'm thinking like a competent business person.

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JRobUSC - 8/23/2008 7:53:19 AM

+10 Boost