Why are most high-end German cars so expensive, and are they worth it?
Well-heeled consumers have long been attracted to the top Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Porsche models, but recently their prices have been climbing into the stratosphere.
Over the summer, I tested a number of luxury Germany newcomers, including two outstanding examples, a 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S and a 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL. Two quite different vehicles, one a refined sports car with a long, rich heritage and the other a full-size sport utility that's relatively new to the market but which has swiftly dominated its segment.
What unites these Porsche and Mercedes models is that, as tested (or sold), they follow the classic German pricing strategy; that is, starting with a relatively reasonable base price but quickly jumping to an actual price that can be as much as 50 percent higher.
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