BMW vs Mercedes-who is winning the sales race?

BMW tried to lead but failed, visually. MB (overpriced and under built) is losing appeal, all the while Audi is quietly (and deservingly) becoming a force. BTW, I saw the new M-Class on the road the other day and thought it was a Toyota RAV-4 until I got closer...

Few words about the way BMWs look: why are all the new, supposedly fresh designs nowadays looking more and more like the E60 BMW? Example, the new GS 430 is dang near a design enfringment; the Acura looks like it was designed in Dingolfing! The one car that has not copied the BMW 5 series design theme seems to be the Audi A6 and I thank God for that since the Audi if really a goofy looking car@ with fretful performance for a 330 horsepower V8! With regards to reliability and BMW, I've owned nine (9) BMWs and the 2004 545i that I now drive is by far the best and just as reliable (I traded a 2002 540i 6 speed). But here's the real kicker, while all pundits are busy knocking BMWs for the way they look or for being to complicated for a magazine writer to drive (why do think these folks write for automobile magazines rather than Newsweek or Time?), nobody is complaining about their handling or performance (my 545i is far superior in all performance criteria than the 2002 540i 6 speed). In closing, Mercedes still makes a good car, as does Audi, as does Lexus, as does Ford, as does Chrysler, etc; my point, what you purchase is based upon a personal preference, not adle ruminations of car critic.

The shock for March was the turn around at BMW and MB; with BMW declining (presumably as word gets out about the imminent new 3 series) and MB stemming loses due to its new ML and CLS.

April and May will be fascinating to watch - (i.) will the biggest recall in MB's history hurt its sales
(ii.) will BMW offer incredible lease deals on its final current generation 3 series models - BMW actually increased sales of the previous generation 5 series as it was being phased out by offering amazing deals
(iii.) what actions will MB take to stem the declines in E Class and S Class sales? Already you can find BRAND NEW S-Class vehicles at $10,000 - $14,000 off MSRP on the web.

If you want a new BMW or MB now is an excellent time to go bargain hunting. Don't pay MSRP! Remember to contact AutoSpies to get you a great deal.

Look Ladies,
This whole thing is just so subjective. Thank God all of us have different tastes, requirements, and preconceptions. These are the things that keep all of the various car companies in business. Good heavans, if we all were attracted to the same cars, people, women, men, jobs, food, and on and on what a boring little place this would be. What I see here is well meaning people each certain that they are in possession of "the truth", ie, their car is the best car there is and all others are lacking somehow. Hell ladies, I know people who will lay right down and die for a Buick. I am profoundly grateful for them. I would have had one heck of a time getting my new M45 if everyone wanted one. Mercedes, BMW, Audi, for the Germans, Lexus, Infiniti, Acura for the Japanese, oh yes and lets not forget Chrysler, Ford and poor old abused GM, who knows, poor old abused GM might go back to making cars one day then Buick lovers will really have something to lay down and die for. They all make cars that people buy, we might not understand why sometimes but they do. Best of all, it gives us a good reason to come here and argue about it.

confused why this web site makes such a big deal out of BMW and Mercedes Benz as if these 2 were the only cars left on the planet. Give me a break here...best selling luxury car are lexus. Top rated car on Car and Driver magazine for priced around 55 thousand out of 9 cars were all Japanes models. Top 3 as in Infinity, Acura and Lexus. Even in Germans in their own country picked Lexus as the car of the year and same in Britain. We want less articles on BMW and Mercedes Benz. Its also unbelivable that Autospies has absolutely no articles on a new Nissan skyline. Skyline is now the fastest production car made in the world. Why isn't that article on this site? If it was BMW who broke speed record for a production car in the world..this website would be all over it! We like Germany cars okay but please get real and put more Japanese and American cars on this web site.

confused why this web site makes such a big deal out of BMW and Mercedes Benz as if these 2 were the only cars left on the planet. Give me a break here...best selling luxury car are lexus. Top rated car on Car and Driver magazine for priced around 55 thousand out of 9 cars were all Japanes models. Top 3 as in Infinity, Acura and Lexus. Even in Germans in their own country picked Lexus as the car of the year and same in Britain. We want less articles on BMW and Mercedes Benz. Its also unbelivable that Autospies has absolutely no articles on a new Nissan skyline. Skyline is now the fastest production car made in the world. Why isn't that article on this site? If it was BMW who broke speed record for a production car in the world..this website would be all over it! We like Germany cars okay but please get real and put more Japanese and American cars on this web site.

Comment: Brand Problems per 100 vehicles (2004 and up)

Subaru 8

Honda 9

Acura 10

Toyota 10

Hyundai 11

Infiniti 11

Lexus 11

Audi 12

Mini 13

Ford 15

Pontiac 15

Cadillac 16

Chevrolet 16

Chrysler 16

GMC 16

Jeep 16

Mazda 16

Saab 16

Dodge 17

Mercury 17

Volvo 17

Buick 18

Nissan 19

Saturn 19

BMW 21

Volkswagen 23

Mercedes-Benz 25

Lincoln 26

Most Reliable-----------Least reliable
---------------Small Cars---------------
Honda Civic----------------VW Golf
Toyota Corolla------------ VW Jetta (4-Cyl)
Toyota Echo-------------- VW New Beetle
---------------Midsized Cars------------
Acura RL ------------------ Audi A6 3.0
Buick Regal--------------- BMW 7-series
Infiniti I35------------------- Cadillac CTS
Infiniti Q45------------------ Jaguar S-Type
Lexus ES330 ---------------Jaguar X-Type
Lexus GS300/GS430---------Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Lexus IS300 ---------------Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Lexus LS430----------------Pontiac Bonneville
Mazda 6
Nissan Maxima
Toyota Camry
Toyota Avalon
--------------Sporty Cars-------------------
Acura RSX -------------------Chevrolet Corvette
Honda S2000---------------- Mercedes-Bens SLK
Mazda MX-Miata----------- Mini Cooper
---------------SUVS-------------------------
Acura MDX -------------------Cadillac Escalade
Honda CR-V -----------------Chevrolet Blazer
Honda Element--------------Chevrolet TrailBlazer
Infiniti FX ----------------------Ford Expedition
Lexus RX300-----------------GMC Envoy
Mitsubishi Montero---------Hummer H2
Mitsubishi Montero Sport--Jeep Grand Cherokee
Nissan Pathfinder-----------Land Rover Discovery
Totota 4Runner(V-8)--------Land Rover Freelander
Toyota Highlander-----------Lincoln Navigator
Toyota Land Cruiser-------- Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Toyota RAV 4----------------- Oldsmobile Bravada
----------------------------------- Saturn VUE
------------------------------------ Toyota 4Runner (V6)
------------------------------------ Volvo XC90
-----------------Minivans-----------------------
Toyota Sienna----------------Chevrolet Astro
------------------------------------GMC Safari
-----------------Pickups------------------------
Toyota Tundra-----------------Chevrolet S-10 (V6,4wd)
--------------------------------------GMC Sonoma(V-6,4wd)
---------------------------------------Subaru Baja

Comment: Brand Problems per 100 vehicles (2004 and up)

Subaru 8

Honda 9

Acura 10

Toyota 10

Hyundai 11

Infiniti 11

Lexus 11

Audi 12

Mini 13

Ford 15

Pontiac 15

Cadillac 16

Chevrolet 16

Chrysler 16

GMC 16

Jeep 16

Mazda 16

Saab 16

Dodge 17

Mercury 17

Volvo 17

Buick 18

Nissan 19

Saturn 19

BMW 21

Volkswagen 23

Mercedes-Benz 25

Lincoln 26

Most Reliable-----------Least reliable
---------------Small Cars---------------
Honda Civic----------------VW Golf
Toyota Corolla------------ VW Jetta (4-Cyl)
Toyota Echo-------------- VW New Beetle
---------------Midsized Cars------------
Acura RL ------------------ Audi A6 3.0
Buick Regal--------------- BMW 7-series
Infiniti I35------------------- Cadillac CTS
Infiniti Q45------------------ Jaguar S-Type
Lexus ES330 ---------------Jaguar X-Type
Lexus GS300/GS430---------Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Lexus IS300 ---------------Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Lexus LS430----------------Pontiac Bonneville
Mazda 6
Nissan Maxima
Toyota Camry
Toyota Avalon
--------------Sporty Cars-------------------
Acura RSX -------------------Chevrolet Corvette
Honda S2000---------------- Mercedes-Bens SLK
Mazda MX-Miata----------- Mini Cooper
---------------SUVS-------------------------
Acura MDX -------------------Cadillac Escalade
Honda CR-V -----------------Chevrolet Blazer
Honda Element--------------Chevrolet TrailBlazer
Infiniti FX ----------------------Ford Expedition
Lexus RX300-----------------GMC Envoy
Mitsubishi Montero---------Hummer H2
Mitsubishi Montero Sport--Jeep Grand Cherokee
Nissan Pathfinder-----------Land Rover Discovery
Totota 4Runner(V-8)--------Land Rover Freelander
Toyota Highlander-----------Lincoln Navigator
Toyota Land Cruiser-------- Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Toyota RAV 4----------------- Oldsmobile Bravada
----------------------------------- Saturn VUE
------------------------------------ Toyota 4Runner (V6)
------------------------------------ Volvo XC90
-----------------Minivans-----------------------
Toyota Sienna----------------Chevrolet Astro
------------------------------------GMC Safari
-----------------Pickups------------------------
Toyota Tundra-----------------Chevrolet S-10 (V6,4wd)
--------------------------------------GMC Sonoma(V-6,4wd)
---------------------------------------Subaru Baja