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Comments
Infiniti (with the exception of the Nissan based QX) has matched or surpassed Lexus in reliability, so that's one. The rest are much closer than they used to be. I wouldn't hold your breath for a super sporty Lexus SUV. It's a niche market, and I don't think they have any interest in it. The FX50 though should be more than capable of holding its own against the Cayenne and X6.
What's so bad about this in a XK-R? Remind me!
Regards,
OW
Looks like wacky electrical currents or bad parts!
Regards,
OW
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
You are joking, right? All the brand ratings are based on the entire brand. You can't just conveniently drop one product from the mix. Even if you did, Infiniti has a long way to go to match Lexus in reliability.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
2- Smooth, refined, comfortable, reliable vehicles
The MB S Class can be considered the top of the heap in terms of the HELC sedan segment
Chromed wheels and blacked out windows is not the fault of the MB S Class itself but the fault of the customers with pimping up tendecies.
Regards,
OW
Europeans and foreigners espeically taxi drivers know the longetivity of cars far better than us North American folks who tend to dispose of our things far too fast. Taxi drivers are forced by economics to pick German cars that will still exist after hundreds of thousands of miles of driving. Simple economics prevails in their decision.
Has anybody here noticed how many old VWs there are out there on our roads?Where ever I look I see old BMWs and Benzes here in Canada and overseas. There's a very good reason for that and it is because durability is one attribute that German auto makers excel in.
Who on earth would want to keep an unreliable VW for over 10 years? I myself would like to know why since longetivity and unreliability should be highly correlated but apparently that is not the case. :confuse:
I am more humble by nature and I will settle for a BMW M3 e90 Taxi .
Many people buy 3-series with stick and cloth seats in Europe. MB is certainly more luxurious but the C- comes in a variety of more humble versions.
It is only here that we are so thoroughly being sold the image of these brands.
Ron
Regards,
OW
I can only speak from the point of view prevailing in Central/Western Europe, where the image of lux MB or BMW has not disappeared because of their being used as taxis for many years now. Or as Police cars.
As Bristol2 said, that use only add an image of durability and strength to the brands. RR prestige was also built upon both, luxury and mechanical strength: you may recall RR's were the military "small" vehicles for the British Arny until the WWII. We recently commented in this Forum that M-B (and the Swedish division of Volvo, for instance) makes trucks, buses, vans and small hatched passenger vehicles with no damage to the brand prestige.
Over here M-B and BMW can be more expansive and desired but never exotic. Moreover, most of the times an M-B or BMW used as a taxi is cleaner and better entertained than the remaining taxis. Thus, passengers are willing to get into M-B or BMW taxis. In other words, M-B and BMW still are the cream of the taxi (not the limo) category.
May be in other parts of the planet an M-B or BMW used a taxi is battled, but then all taxis are battled as well. I am thinking in places battled themselves by war or poverty.
Regards,
Jose
In the US, the limo companies purcjase "stretch" versions of everything from Lincolns to Hummers. Yes, all sorts of MB and BMW combinations have been elongated for the "party hearty" sect and ornate wedding (over 50% failure rate!!). Here's an example of my B7 LONGO.
In other words, thinking from a pure business aspect, the owner/drivers want the best not just a cheap ride for their fare...like a lowly Prius-mantis!
Taxi!!!!!!!!
Regards,
OW
Please don't say that Lexus is not reliable enough to be taxi cabs :P
Regards,
OW
Yeah, "yet" is the key word, I think. Lexus has not taken full speed in Europe. But Lexus is growing over here too; it is only a matter of time to see Lexus Taxi Cabs. (Sure there are Lexus Cabs in some European cities though I have still not seen any; I'll keep an eye wide open to spot them.
Regards,
Jose
Regards,
Jose
We started out talking about luxury and prestige and how being used as taxis didn't help a brands image. Certainly BMW and Mercedes build fine cars and even though they may be cost effective when used as taxis, the original thought was yes, but it sure doesn't help their image as exclusive luxury vehicles.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
It did not help too that M-B put diesel engines in its passenger cars intended for being sold to farmers and other rural inhabitants back in the 20th-Century Fifties (or it was in the Forties?). Yet M-B is in the lux market anywhere and diesel now is in these lux cars almost everywhere ( :P ). Solid as an M-B—a comfort car for everyday work, it was said back then.
On the other hand, I agree that M-B prestige is more damaged nowadays by the proliferation of so many models with a somewhat vulgar look (I am paraphrasing LG by heart; I am sorry if I have forgotten some hint of his real statement.)
Regards,
Jose
Lexus cabs are not prevalent because Lexuses are mainly sold in a continent where BMW and MB taxis are hardly ever seen.
This whole North American notion of prestige, luxury and exclusivity I find kind of funny.
It is quite humourous when someone considers themselves as an excluisve car owner when everywhere you look in middle class neighborhoods there are several of these highly exlusive and prestigious marque automobiles parked on very non-exclusive and non-prestigous driveways. In otherwords exclusive and inclusive have similar meanings in North America. And horror of horrors if a cab driver is driving a MB car? Now that according to a North Americans is truly shocking and wrecks the exclusivity of a MB :surprise:
My wealthiest client whose networth is in the dozens of millions owns a single 98 Accord while my poorest client whose networth is in the hundreds of thousands and whose income is not that high has a spanking new 08 MB E350 (leased ofcourse). One client feels a need to be exclusive while the other one doesn't.
Here is an example of a builder and the cars the customize.
http://www.empirecoach.cc/livery_vehicles.htm
Regards,
OW
Yes, and it was true back then because they were built like tanks. Today, not so much. They just can't seem to master the electronics, etc.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Today, not so much. They just can't seem to master the electronics, etc.
Agreed.
Regards,
Jose
One of the interesting quirks of Americans is that the top-25% of earners believe themselves to be in the top 1% while the top 50% believe themselves to be in the top 25%.
Basically we are all convinced of our own value!
I know from experience that the display of wealth is viewed completely differently between Europe and the US.
I was specifically referring to the assertion made above by a forum member here. I was referring to luxury marques in general and not specifically with respect to a model like a BMW 550i.
Turns out that such disclosure increased CEO pay from 131 times to 398 times of an average workers' salary.
Why?
Because when every CEO knew what the top CEOs were earning the majority of CEOs felt that they too were just as worthy as those top CEOs. So the majority of average CEOs began to earn top CEO salaries while the superstar CEOs earned even higher stratospheric salaries.
It's so true most people do over-rate themeselves. The majority dont like being average while in fact statistically the majority are just average.
How true; here, there and everywhere.
Regards,
Jose
Regards,
OW
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
link title
link title
Bristol2 posted days ago notice relative to Bristol cars. Those above are links to some Bristol classics. Fine cars. Enjoy!
Regards,
Jose
Volvo makes the brake lamps brighter, and BMW is experimenting with brake lamps that "grow larger" under hard braking.
High wattage?
If you ask me the C class and 3 Series are "poser vehicles." You can almost guarantee that a person driving one of those is some cock in a suit with a Bluetooth headset on their ear.
If you want to actually "look cool" first, spend the extra grand to ACTUALLY get a handsfree device with the car.
Second by a higher model, such as the S Class, SL, CLS or CLK (6/7 Series or M Model).
I am not sure about you but I know a lot of people who bought an entry level luxury performance sedan (like the C and 3er just in case you don't know...) for its good balance between luxury and performance.
I am 26, single, like to do "spirited driving" every now and then and 99% of the time, I am the only occupant in the car. Please tell me why should I get anything that's larger than a 3er/C/IS/G?
By the way, being in a S/7/SL/6 won't make you look "cool", it'll make you look "old". :P
I have seen unlimited MBs with 1burned tail light
As i can remember seen very few bmws burned tail light
but can't remember if i ever saw a range porsche lexus infiniti
anyway MBs takes 1st place most burned tail lights
\with a lexus badge
Agreed.
matched or surpassed Lexus in reliability, so that's one. The rest are much closer than they used to be
Surpassed lexus in reliability :surprise:
LOL I heard that a lot... but a S/CL/CLS/5/6/7 will be much more comfortable than a 3 or C class. especially for long drives. in the end its personal choice.
I think you could make a valid arguement that anyone spending more than $30k on a vehicle has money to throw away.
I enjoy your sharp` tongue`, and thought of you the other day as I was driving over one of those large congested bridges...Where my turn off was, there in the split was a car parked, and running down the bridge was a young man just about your age, probably a couple of years younger...although a bit dangerous, I pulled over and offered him a ride, which he gratefully accepted..When he had caught his breath he explained the car had been giving him all sorts of problems, and he was getting a new one---once I dropped him off at the gas station...When I was younger I also ran out of gas... He asked how i liked the Audi, and I said if I were him I would get a small sporty car, and that the most fun one we had had in the last fifteen years was a Miata...Now there is a light, hardly no frills, car for the youth, and us young at heart `old` guys...If by chance you were to run out of gas--in a freightning spot---maybe it will be one of us `old ` dudes that pick you up