What attracts people to buy Lexus's and BMWs and Mercedes's...

[nathanaf8388]

my neighbor just bought a mint 85 MB and i know for a fact he bought it as a status symbol cars are a big part of first impressions sometimes for people id be more impressed if somone pulled up to driving a yenko camaro or any other real nice f-bods than someone in a top dollar beemer or jag listening to bach and wearing a three peice suite but thats just my opinion o the matter but you guys are correct the ride in that benz and the one he had before it were really nice felt liek i was on air... take care all happy pre-thanksgiving incase i dotn get to sign on tomorrow....

[Ryan98MechamT/A]

I would say mostly as a status symbol, but there are many other reasons a person might buy one of the vehicles mentioned.

BMW-Unsurpassed handling and performance in a stock vehicle(M-Cars mostly) but their whole line up is well built and well engineered. The engines are all top notch from what I have seen.

Mercedes-AMG cars cannot be f*#!ed with. They are bad@$$. The rest is OK, not the best reliability in the world, but overall a very nice car.

Lexus-I like one Lexus model, the IS300 because it has a lot of potential with the right parts to make gobs of power. The rest of the line seems to be higher quality parts compared to a Camry. So basically its a Honda Accord.


If you got the money, you roll one of these manufacturers. I know if I had the cash flow, I would be in an M5 with my TA as a weekend cruiser.

[N20LT4Bird]

I am gonna go ahead and agree with Joe and Ryan and say they are bought as a symbol of wealth. Alot of people would live in a cramped 1 bedroom apt. just to own a BMW. Its sad. Does the BMW handle nice? Yes, but thats their claim to fame. Pontiac has always been GM's sporty division and thats their claim to fame.

Are euro (and Jap) cars worth the extra $$, I dont think so. As an auto tech, I cringe when I see one come in. The parts bill is outrageous! Are their brake calipers any better than GM''s? If they are, its certainly not worth 10 times the cost. That goes for just about any part on the car! Its insane. I have a friend who drives mercedes benz's. He loves them. Why? I cant figure it out. Its certainly not reliability - they are broken more than they are fixed. When they do break - he pays out the nose.

Volkswagon! Dont even get me started! - Junk I.M.O.P. Not only junk, but you cant work on the damn things. Most "car guys" usually buy American. That should tell you something. There's a reason!

[TODD 2000 V6 CAMARO]

I have heard a theory about the reason for the build quality of German cars as opposed to american cars: The best and the brightest of universtiy graduates with engineering degrees in the states tend to end up working for the defense industry designing weopons of warefare that keep this country as the only mega-power in the world. However, after the two world wars, sanctions put on Germany prevented them from building any weopons through at leaast the next few deacdes. Therefore, the best and the brightest coming out of their schools go straight into the automotive industry. We are known for having a military that is not to be messed with, and they are known for having exceptionally built automobiles. I think I prefer the military thing, but we can always import their cars, they can't import our military. Especially when they side with the french against us....dirty little......

[mbigd73]

dang

dont know maybe compensating or some thing .just a joke my mom has a bmw. its alright she likes the comfort of the car .me i like my z or impala ss but the bmw is a real cool car to drive handles good rides a little ruff but its a Z3 so its open air

[Black97]

My wife drives a 1990 Jaguar. She had one a couple years back when the started modelling. Since I met her she always wanted one again and eventually a found her one in excellent condition with only 45k miles on it. I paid about 8 grand for it. Everybody thinks we must have money since we are driving a Jag. But most of the cars that are on the street cost 2 - 4 times more than the Jag. Expensive is the upkeep and insurance.

I've liked Jaguars myself since I was a little kid. They look nice and a friend of mine who's a car mechanic said they ride nice too. But I never had a chance to drive one until we bought ours.

I must say driving it for long distances is very nice. The leather seats with heat feel very confortable on the rearend. It's very quiet and in my opinion displays some class.

I never liked BMW or MB. Before I moved over here from Europe I got very close to buy a Porsche 928S4. But since I'm married now I can forget that one.

Yes cars are a status symbol and like already mentioned, many people just live for their cars and what they display. We just like some nice car to drive. My wife likes it nice, quiet and smooth while I rather make some noise and drive hard. As a compromise in between we drive the Jeep Liberty which is also used as the winter beater.

[N20LT4Bird]

I have to agree, the Jag does ride and handle nice.

[MaraSport]

Thanks yal...

Thanks yal...

Yal help to clarify somethings that seem to be in-complete in my research paper...

Oh boy... Now though I got to type it up so...

Later...
Rob...

[Kevin - Blown 95 TA]

Originally posted by Joe 1320
Long winded, eh?

Damn Joe, i don't care what any of these pudnockers say, you're a trip. Heck, I'd be ready to have a few bourbons and listen to any of your crap, and not even doubt that any of it was true. BTW I always thought you were a misplaced 60's musician.

[Joe 1320]

Originally posted by Kevin - Blown 95 TA
Damn Joe, i don't care what any of these pudnockers say, you're a trip. Heck, I'd be ready to have a few bourbons and listen to any of your crap, and not even doubt that any of it was true. BTW I always thought you were a misplaced 60's musician.

Peace, Bro! LOL!

[Mirroredshades]

Pudnockers?

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

It appears I may be a little to late for MaraSPort's paper... but I am going to post anyway, because I read a lot of stuff I disagree with. The reason the Germans are so popular is NOT quality - or if it is - it is only because of uneducated buyers... take a look...

Brand Problems/100 vehicles:

Lexus 76
Cadillac 103
Infiniti 110
Acura 111
Buick 112
Mercury 113
Porsche 117
BMW 118
Toyota 121
Jaguar 122
Honda 128
Volvo 128
Chevrolet 130
Audi 132
Mercedes-Benz 132
INDUSTRY AVERAGE 133
Oldsmobile 134
Chrysler 136
Ford 136
Dodge 137
Lincoln 139
Nissan 139
Pontiac 142
Hyundai 143
Volkswagen 143
GMC 144
Suzuki 144
Jeep 146
Subaru 146
Mazda 148
Mitsubishi 148
Saturn 158
Saab 160
Mini 166
Kia 168
Land Rover 190
Hummer 225
Note: Rankings exclude Isuzu because an of insufficient sample.
Source: J.D. Power and Associates.

That was from JD Power. The next picture is from the New York Times:



Ask those who own a MB or BMW how often they are in for repairs... Jaguar used to be total crap until Ford picked up the slack... now things are improving.

In the end, it becomes a status symbol. The wealthy population runs into the same steretype of domestic cars that cause the teenageers to rice out their Civics... domestics just aren't "cool." They don't exude the exclusivity, prestge, or wealth that those other brands do. I don't know why this is... but take a look at the CTS-V. Here we have a Caddy - #2 in qaulity - with the LS6 engine (which is bulletproof) matching up with an M5. It outperforms it in every category... yet... I think more people will still rather have the M5 just because it is "European."

I ran into this at the drag strip a couple months ago when I was talking to an M5 owner. He said he was in the market for a new car, and I suggest the CTS-V to him. He turned his nose up, a disapproving squint came to his face, and he said, "It's a Cadillac! Never. I'll take another M5 thank you." *rollseyes* ... in many, MANY cases, it is nothing other than people's egos, and their own vanity clouding their visions as to what the better car truly is. It's their own stupidity, their own arrogance... and it just makes it that much more fun to know you have a better car.

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

Notice Buick ahead of Porsche, and Chevrolet in front of Audi and BMW...

[Mirroredshades]

I agree that status and perception are very important, but refinement is also important.

A Lexus is a well refined car. Compare the Leather of any American car to a Lexus and you will see the difference, The fit and finish is very tight

Fear is another very real driving factor. People are terrified of being stranded. How many people do you know who do their own brake jobs? People think that the more they spend, the better the car is. That is why bmw, mb, and gateway do so well.....fear.

Perception of Quality sells cars as much as anything.

[Black97]

Originally posted by Jay 02 TA ws6
Jaguar used to be total crap until Ford picked up the slack... now things are improving.

That's why I do not consider the new Jags Jaguars anymore. It's a Ford in a Jaguar skin.