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Comments
the 7 is pretty new, 5 is almost totally new, and so is the Z, They are all tanking. BMW has to suffer with that kind of sales, and the Euro vs $ factor. If the sale of 3 is as terrible as the 5, I will not be surprise BMW will lose $ like VW in a near few years. Just a few years ago, when VW launching its Passat and Jetta, they were on fire. Since the Golf tanked, they are in real mess.
P.S. When BMW 3 launches, Lexus IS will sure be ready to crash their party!
The 7-series' styling has not gone over too well with potential customers, I would think. Ultimately that is why it's sales are dwindling and that is why it's getting somewhat of a major nip & tuck.
The Z plays in a pretty limited segment. The roadster market isn't huge and there aren't that many players in it. I think the new SLK350 is taking a huge chunk of Z4 sales.
You are right, relatively slow sales of the 5-series & 7-series do not bode well for the short term future. I wonder if it's the bangle styling and the I-drive which is turning customers off. I think Z4 sales will improve somewhat once the SLK350 has been on the market a few months.
While G35 and TL are racking up great sales, the rest of the entry luxury segment that slots below 5, E, and A6 are not new either. E, as always, is number one, but looking at those october\november figures that were just posted, it doesnt seem like the 5 is doing all that badly, though it did seem like it took much more of a hit from A6 and RL than E did. The entries of M and GS could do more damage to 5.
With the M and the GS coming in 2005, and the RL, STS, and A6 just introduced, one can expect 5 sales to suffer even more in 2005.
Not bad for a car you don't seem to think is worthy competition in that respective segment.
I can only guess you feel the V8 engined cars are worthy of your comparison/discussion even though sales figures will show the V6s (GS300, M35, 530, E320 etc) will get the majority of the sales for those companies.
I have Lexus blood pumping through my veins but I am unbiased enough to say the new GS interior looks pretty weak for a Lexus. NOt to keep beating the RL's dead horse but its interior looks way better to me than the GS and note that before I ever sat foot in the RL I thought its interior didn't look like it was all that luxurious but sure enough, it is.
I have no idea what of the new GS's interior you feel is elegant and luxurious. The chrome trim around the nav/stereo section looks so out of place.
AS for the rest of the car, dont get me wrong, I think its a great value. But its also heavy, and has Honda's typical lack of low end torque and bad brakes, meaning street starts of 7+ seconds and of course the 180ft 70-0. Most people may buy the six, but I get the V8. Also, the exterior styling is just a bland, boring Japanese box. And thats coming from a long time lover of Japanese cars.
Just from photos alone, I'll have to give the nod to the RL interior. Of course, I'll have to sit in a GS in person to really have an informed opinion.
Honestly, I think all the interiors in this class are pretty good. It's kinda like deciding between an A- and a B+.
I have to believe many BMW and E class buyers may be swayed by Acura. Prestige only goes so far.
Here's a way to settle this discussion. Go test drive the RL and then try the BMW. Then report back to this board. I would be very interested in hearing what you think.
Bob
GS300 RWD, GS300 AWD, and GS430 RWD.
So these probably will not change until the GS reaches it's midlife.
The article also says a hybrid will be introduced, although the launch date has not been set (reports say next spring). It will be called the GS 450h and will team a 4.5 V8 with and electric motor, which sources say will have V12 performance with V6 fuel economy.
Another thing, I finally got to sit in the new A6 today. Wasn't as big as I thought it would be. The rear seats lacked support. I'm going to have a look at the GS since I personally have quite high hopes for it.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3119672a30,00.html
Enjoy
"Lexus relies completely on the RX330 and they are not a premium range as we know it, They take a Toyota and put a Lexus badge on it and I believe it is cheating the customers."
What do you guys think?
Not that an Audi manager would have a biased opinion about a competitor or anything. I think he's probably just upset that the new A8 was soundly beaten by a mid cycle LS430 in C&D, that the new A6 has gotten reasonably good but not great reviews, that Audi's sales figures (at least in North America) STINK, and Lexus dominates them on service, reliability, and residual value. Audi's advantage has traditionally been AWD. Now everybody has that. What's poor Audi to do now?
Another note: IS will have 2.5L and 3.5L according to that same article and some other discussion. I think it is a MUST for toyota to share engine between IS and GS.
Interesting that Lexus is beginning to release the information.
Apparently many of these will be sent out between now and the official release, containing bits of information about the new GS. My camera isn't that good so you can't read the writing. It mainly goes on about AFS, EMV, and the rear view camera.