Real Luxury Automakers and their new STUDS or DUDS

To me, if you asked me what luxury car makers there are around these days, I would say the following:
BMW
Mercedes-Benz
Audi
Porsche
Land Rover
Aston Martin
And maybe Jaguar, Rover, Lexus and Volkswagen

Porsche and Aston Martin manage to balance out Sport and Luxury evenly.

BMW sometimes overpower the Sport or the Luxury, and Mercedes normally seem to care about Luxury only, but they evenly balance out Sport and Luxury secretly.

Audi is like BMW. They change their minds.

Land Rover is basically luxury and the only things that come from England and bear the world Land Rover are the supercharged models.

Jaguar, Rover and Volkswagen don't really scream sport to me at all.

Lexus is a try-hard brand from Toyota, I'm sorry to say.

They are luxury vehicles, but they are Toyota's.

I'd drive any Lexus vehicle, however it doesn't really feel like you are driving a Lexus. It feels like you are driving a Toyota with a supercharger.

I must say that I've always loved BMW's, and I still do.

But if you want to get a luxury car, I still think Mercedes-Benz is what you really call good cars. No offence, but the GLK is a complete stuff up and looks like a car that has been sent to the crusher to make it look more boxier.

Recent vehicles with new designs coming from these automakers have been the following:
Audi A4
Audi A5
Audi Q7
Lexus LS
Lexus LX
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
(I would not say Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class because it isn't showing any new design apart from stuff you find in car dumps, give it a few years time and it will be revamped and look like the ML-Class, hopefully)
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
BMW X3 & 3-Series did, but their style has sunk in already.
BMW X5
BMW X6
BMW 3-Series Coupe & Convertible
BMW 3-Series M Coupe, Saloon & Convertible
Land Rover Freelander
Porsche did with the restyling of their coupes & convertibles, but that like the BMW X3 & 3, has sunk in
New Porsche Cayenne (I don't really now why it deserves to be called an all-new car, its practically the same as the previous one)
Volkswagens new designs have sunk in

I want everybody who wants to - to maybe choose some or think of their own new luxury vehicles that have changed the overall design of their brand and sort them into studs or duds.

nine - 1/3/2008 6:29:47 PM

-2 Boost

STUDS:
BMW M3
BMW X5
Mercedes-Benz C & S-Class
Audi A5
Lexus LS
Porsche Cayenne

DUDS:
BMW X3
Audi A4 (the rear and a few other things)
BMW X6

BMW tend to create many new designs, some of them fail and some of them suceed.

dlin - 1/4/2008 10:02:15 PM

+2 Boost

You are just cheap and biased. (Unfortunately) I also (can afford to) own a E46 BMW 3, and honestly speaking I find the wood trim really fake and plastic. 5 is no better. 7?.... better, but still not feeling it. BMW is not about luxury and I don't want it to be about luxury in the future either, OK?

I find it difficult to call BMW and AUDI luxury cars. For me they and the other three Jap brands are all near luxury cars. Just because you have leather, wood, or metal doesn't mean anything. It's about detail.

Merc? Maybe some of it. Porsche is no luxury and to call them luxury is humiliating (me as a very likely future owner) in a way.

Don't call anything under 100K luxury cars. That should be the first threshold.

Aston Martin? Now we are talking.

qweasdzxc - 1/4/2008 10:52:49 PM

+2 Boost

Exactly. There's one 335, one 330 performance package, and one 325 in my modest apartment garage.

BMW is Armani Jeans, not Giorgio Armani, let alone haute couture.

stash84 - 1/4/2008 9:42:03 AM

+5 Boost

the new g coupe crushes any 3 series in the "luxury" department..except maybe the price tag

JRobUSC - 1/4/2008 9:51:54 PM

-2 Boost

somebody call an ambulance quick, Stash must have fallen and hit his head!

Every comparison test the G loses they mention lack of refinement. Hell, even the few it wins talk about it. So while it's a great bargain priced facsimile of a 3-Series, that's all it is. A bargain priced facsimile of a 3-Series for people who either can't afford or don't want to spend the extra money for an actual 3-Series.

dlin - 1/9/2008 3:19:41 AM

+3 Boost

BS.

The first generation G coupe definitely needs improvement in refinement, but the second generation shows BMW what refinement is, interior and exterior. BMW for sure has a fine engine, yet it doesn't rev and is in a way almost boring.

I'm impressed w/ Mazda's 1.3 revving to 9000 rpm, Honda's 2.2 revving to 8200 rpm, but Infiniti's 3.7 revving to 7500 rpm is the most satisfying experience. Beside, judging from the sound, you know it can surely revs to 8000. NISSAN is just holding back.

For now.

stash84 - 1/4/2008 9:39:21 AM

+4 Boost

what is so luxurious about bmw???? the exterior styling is boring and the INTERIOR ???? has NOTHING luxurious about it..i think it has more sport characteristics than luxury..the 5 series is nice though imo

"maybe lexus and rover"????????

lmao

MunichRob - 1/4/2008 5:00:01 PM

+3 Boost

What is so luxurious about a BMW? Stupid question.

r15mohd - 1/4/2008 10:02:09 AM

+2 Boost

STUDS:
Audi S5
Lexus LS
M3/IS-F/C-AMG/RS4 (in that order as well)
MB C-Class
Audi TT
Cadillac CTS
BMW X5
Jaguar XJ
Infiniti G37 (considered luxury IMO)
Infiniti EX35
Maserati GranTurismo
MB CLK Black-Series
Porsche 911 GT2
AM DBS
Audi R8

DUDS:
BMW X3
MB GLK
BMW X6
Cadillac STS
Lexus LX570 (looks-wise its a dud, but interior and feature make it vey nice...still a dud to me though)

r15mohd - 1/4/2008 10:06:48 AM

+4 Boost

i do agree with others that your article is biased...

Lexus is definitely a luxury automotive brand, whether you agree or not.

Infiniti is definitely on its way their as well, if nto already.

Cadillac? the new CTS ring a bell...

and the VW? lol, you can't be serious...i posted my views up top, look at all make and models...hell i even forgot to add how luxurious the new Buick Enclave is.

SixxFive - 1/4/2008 10:05:52 AM

+5 Boost

I think you need to go back and study the automotive scene before you post an article like this. Volkswagen is definitely not a "luxury brand."

ThierryHenry14 - 1/4/2008 10:24:22 AM

+3 Boost

What is this garbage? I don't even understand what is going on...

I love BMW, MB, Audi, Porsche, and lots of other makes, but mainly German, but to say some of the things you say is just too much.

RealitySmack - 1/4/2008 10:37:57 AM

+5 Boost

LOL. What does this mean?

"I'd drive any Lexus vehicle, however it doesn't really feel like you are driving a Lexus."

It's like saying: You'd drive a BMW, however it really doesn't feel like you're driving a BMW.

1970toyotamarc - 1/4/2008 11:21:38 AM

+7 Boost

What a bunch of b.s. "article." How did the Spies approve this trash?

M35MT - 1/4/2008 11:59:55 AM

+4 Boost

Wow, dont know where to start. Not worth commenting, this is pure trash.

cdoke - 1/4/2008 12:24:05 PM

+1 Boost

I grew up in a small town, despite this I was exposed to a certain sort-of niche society in which my family is relatively well known. To this day every once in a while someone will recognize my last name when I introduce myself. Now, in this group the perception existed that were you without an English car you were ancillary- they were always more exclusive. Granted, this society is beholden to the English ion a way by virtue of what it is- it is a very English thing to do.

Now, at the time – this would be the late eighties- I liked Mercedes. At the time the Germans had perceived reliability. I told my father this and he told me, “The only reason that someone would ever own a German car is because they lack the funds to maintain an English one.”

…Wait a moment! This is the excuse that some German car fans use against Lexus.

Mwhah ha ha ha ha…

(By the way, I do have a Disney villain sort of laugh. I scares my cousins newborn baby to death.)

This list is ludicrous- laughable. If your list of luxury begins with cars like Mercedes or BMW, then it just tells us the situation you grew up in.

Rupert - 1/4/2008 2:22:46 PM

+1 Boost

cdoke, do you sit in front of roaring fires smoking a pipe??
You sound like a very funny eccentric. With a Disney villain laugh...

And English car driving niche of society...this sounds like the freemasons but weirder. And you have a well known surname?? You should live in England!!

S4cabriofoxone - 1/5/2008 4:50:48 PM

0 Boost

Just to be sure--I hope you know that Jaguar isn't of any higher caliber any more. They're not "exclusive;" they just can't sell.

cdoke - 1/6/2008 11:04:03 PM

+1 Boost

S4 they are quite exclusive- because they don't sell. ;) Of course the same argument could be made for Isuzu. I understand what you are saying and I would say that you are correct- they are longer the "sportier cousin of Rolls-Royce" their imagine has been tarnished too much.

But I wasn't really talking about Jaguar.

Rupert,

Nothing as odd as the freemasons. Well...I say that but at times people there can be exceptionally odd- it has to do with horses (not Polo). My surname isn't really "well known" in general. It is known to those who were around that society between te late 70's and around 1992- or if you have read Ambrose Bierce.

Jag_xfr - 1/4/2008 12:37:23 PM

0 Boost

Studs - Jaguar XF, XK & XJ. Aston Martin and Range Rover/ Land Rover aswell.

0to60 - 1/4/2008 1:10:21 PM

+2 Boost

I am glad to know that I am not the only one that thinks this post is garbage

DaHarder - 1/4/2008 1:54:00 PM

+2 Boost

Garbage... Hmmm?

Completely Unnecessary... Definitely!

DaHarder - 1/4/2008 1:51:45 PM

+2 Boost

Studs...

- Cadillac CTS (Redefining - Standard of the World)

- Jaguar XF-series (A Rolling Work Of Art - Stunning!)


Duds...

Mercedes GLK - (A design Disaster - Stem To Stern!)

Lexus LX570 - (Overwrought and Overpriced!)

Blakura - 1/4/2008 4:12:25 PM

+1 Boost

So Acura doesn't make luxury nor do they make sporty cars? That's biased, but VW makes the list? Until recently they had the best nav systems in the industry, innovative DVD-Audio sound systems, pioneered real-time traffic info. (RL and TL), class leading horsepower (TL) and class leading slalom numbers regardless of drivetrain (TL) the TL was also the 2nd best-selling luxury car sold in America behind the 3-Series, which doesn't have the luxury features of the TL although the 3 is sportier, just no where near the value of the Acura. I know, I know, no one likes Acura around here, but before you deboost, check out the facts and consider the opinionated stuff in this post. Enjoy your New Year!

S4cabriofoxone - 1/5/2008 5:43:59 PM

0 Boost

According to JD Power, Infiniti makes the best navigation system.

What class are you talking about? To me, the TL competes directly with the Lexus ES; however, it's still less powerful than the BMW 335i, Infiniti G35, Audi A4 3.2, Mercedes-Benz C350 and Lexus IS350.

The BMW 3 Series offers just about everything the TL does, and then some. It may not appear luxurious, but in this age, BMWs are very technologically advanced and it has a plethora of useful options. No, it's not a value proposition like the TL... but at the same time, the 335i is so good that I don't think I'd be able to put a price on it.

Blakura - 1/4/2008 4:14:11 PM

0 Boost

The stats for the TL being second best selling luxury car was for 2006, I'm sure it was up there for 2007 also and it's a 5 year old platform.

theoptimisticpessimist - 1/4/2008 7:10:21 PM

+2 Boost

According to Forbes The TL was 4th.

BMW 3 107,016
Lexus RX 95.569
Lexus ES 67,251
Acura TL 65,503

TL sells for 2007 54,545 not a banner year

mikeydred20 - 1/5/2008 4:32:34 PM

+1 Boost

For a while the TL was the #1 selling luxury car atleast 3 years in a row at one point!

S4cabriofoxone - 1/5/2008 5:45:21 PM

+2 Boost

Isn't this article about "Real Luxury" cars? Would you consider the TL a "Real Luxury" car? It isn't. Neither are the 3, A4, C, G, TL, IS, etc... it's a "near-luxury" car.

MunichRob - 1/4/2008 6:57:27 PM

+2 Boost

"bmwfan999" How can you say Porsche is a luxury company & Lexus & Jag are not when they both come standard with enough luxury gadgets to match a fully loaded 911?

While I do agree with you that it’s not so hard to tell a Toyota from a Lexus, your supercharged Toyota comment has me scratching my head.

mikeydred20 - 1/4/2008 9:28:07 PM

+1 Boost

I am trying to figure out why trash always gets posted and when I have good quality ads it never does?

S4cabriofoxone - 1/4/2008 10:41:54 PM

0 Boost

If driving a Lexus doesn't actually feel like driving a Lexus, what does driving a Lexus feel like? Driving a Mercedes?

vman1013 - 1/6/2008 4:35:23 AM

0 Boost

only stud to me is the 335 coupe. attainable and incredibly competitive for the money. its the e46M3 with new skin and manners!