luxury brands

[thich]

I just wanna hear everyone's take on where most luxury car manufacturers sit on the luxury/hi-end status spectrum.
some luxury brands have more status than others etc etc.

the big ones i can think of are as follows in no particular order: (please add to the list - i'm not too keen on the euro brands)

BMW
Mercedes Benz
Lexus
Infiniti
Jaguar
Saab
Volvo
Acura
Cadillac
...
...[please add]

-----

which brand stands on top in terms of image and status?
which brand stands on top in terms of $$$?
which brand stands on top in terms of quality?
which brand stands on top in terms of customer service?

we had a discussion in our marketing class about the status image of MB after it introduced the C-class into the market as an 'affordable' mercedes and how it would detract from MB's image as a hi-end luxury car brand.
we also talked about how BMWs are normally affiliated with young professionals as well and how BMW had to work hard to scrap that image.

so what do you guys and gals think?

[rc2002]

Image and Status: Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar

$$$: Depends. High end models are all comparable. M5, E55, Jaguar XJ, Q45, LS430...

Quality: Porsche, Infiniti, Lexus, Acura (See JD Power's quality ranking)

Customer Service: Lexus (they pick up your car from your house and give you a courtesy lexus). I hear MB and BMW gouge you for service.

[sputnik]

maybach, rolls royce, bugatti, bentley...

[googe]

aston martin

[T5_X]

Audi, Lincoln

which brand stands on top in terms of image and status?
Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Bentley, Maybach, Rolls Royce, Lexus

which brand stands on top in terms of $$$?
You mean lowest cost, value-wise? I'd say Infiniti, Volvo and Acura

which brand stands on top in terms of quality?
Acura, Lexus, no disputing that

which brand stands on top in terms of customer service?
Lexus

[powerslave]

This is somewhat off topic, but speaking of luxury brands, there's something I was wondering about.

Okay, Honda has Acura, Toyota has Lexus, Nissan has Infinity, but what about Mazda?

[szw]

Kia has Daewoo, or is it the other way around?

[MK3HKS]

Originally posted by powerslave
This is somewhat off topic, but speaking of luxury brands, there's something I was wondering about.

Okay, Honda has Acura, Toyota has Lexus, Nissan has Infinity, but what about Mazda?

nothing

[ShOwOfF]

Isn't Mazda owned by Ford?

[davidI]

Originally posted by ShOwOfF
Isn't Mazda owned by Ford?

I know they have shared a lot of parts in the past but I'm not sure whether Ford owns them or not.

[civic_stylez]

Originally posted by szw
Kia has Daewoo, or is it the other way around?

hyundai owns kia.. as for daewoo i think theyre owned by monkeys?

[C4S]

Originally posted by powerslave
This is somewhat off topic, but speaking of luxury brands, there's something I was wondering about.

Okay, Honda has Acura, Toyota has Lexus, Nissan has Infinity, but what about Mazda?

Mazda has "Eunos"
but now they are Ford anyway .. sigh .. I used to like mazda .. but .. now ..

[04blackMAX]

NISSSSSSSSSSSAN MAXXXXXXXXXXXXXIMA

hahahah......poor mans luxury

[403Gemini]

Originally posted by 04blackMAX
NISSSSSSSSSSSAN MAXXXXXXXXXXXXXIMA

hahahah......poor mans luxury

still a slick ride. i to much of a fan of the 00-03's tho... i like the 04's tho heh (is that when they changed em? i like the new design)

[link785]

Originally posted by ShOwOfF
Isn't Mazda owned by Ford?

Ford has 35% controlling interest in Mazda... that might not be the exact % number, but it's something around that.

[ShOwOfF]

Originally posted by 04blackMAX
NISSSSSSSSSSSAN MAXXXXXXXXXXXXXIMA

hahahah......poor mans luxury

Is the length of the sunroof longer from the front end of the car to the rear end of the car rather than longer from one side of the car to the other? Im not sure but i think i saw a sunroof like this on the new maxima.

[girlRACER]

In terms of image and status...BMW and Mercedes.
Personally I don't consider Acura a luxury brand with cars like the 1.6 EL and RSX (not to say that they're not nice). Acura, to me, is border-line luxury.

In terms of quality...Lexus and Infiniti.

Customer Service...Lexus.

And I agree on the whole Mercedes thing. Not necessarily the C-class because the C-class has been around for awhile but the C-Coupe definitely (even though I love that car )

[max_boost]

Cadillac is reinventing themselves and will be a force to be reckon with. Not sure how accurate JD Power is but Cadillac is number 1 in service.

As for the comment on RSX not being a luxury car, I agree! Although it is very well equipped for its price, Acura just doesn't carry enough to warrant in the mind's of consumers in being a luxury brand. Maybe because the manufacturer does not produce enough high end vehicles to compete against the Infiniti's/Lexus/BMW/Benz

[max_boost]

One thing is certain, the BMW 3 Series owns everyone in the same class haha It's been the bench mark for how long?

[C4S]

Originally posted by max_boost
One thing is certain, the BMW 3 Series owns everyone in the same class haha It's been the bench mark for how long?

Yes Turth ....