Mercedes-Benz brand vibe diminishing among key influencers?

Range Rover Sport Debuts on LeaseCompare.com's Top 10 List, Mercedes Disappears

Automobile Consumer Services, Inc. (ACS), the leader in online direct-to-consumer auto leasing, released a list of the top 10 most requested vehicles from its popular auto leasing website www.LeaseCompare.com for the fourth quarter of 2005. For the first time ever Land Rover hit the top 10 with its hot Range Rover Sport model, and Mercedes makes a first by not having a single model represented on the New Car List.

The Top 10 Most Requested Models

New Car Rankings

4th Qtr 3rd Qtr
2005 2005 Make & Model
---- ---- ------------
1 2 BMW 330
2 4 BMW 5 Series
3 1 BMW 325
4 3 Chevrolet Corvette
5 nl(a) Audi A4
6 7 Honda Accord
7 5 Infiniti G35
8 6 Acura TL
9 nl(a) Land Rover Range Rover Sport
10 nl(a) Honda Civic

Used Car Rankings

4th Qtr 3rd Qtr
2005 2005 Make & Model
---- ---- ------------
1 nl(a) Porsche Cayenne
2 2 BMW 330
3 nl(a) Mercedes Benz SL Class
4 7 Mercedes Benz E Class
5 4 BMW 7 Series
6 8 Land Rover Range Rover
7 3 BMW 5 Series
8 1 Porsche 911 Carrera
9 6 Mercedes Benz CLK Class
10 nl(a) BMW 325

nl(a) = not previously listed

BMW continues to dominate both new and used listings while the red hot Range Rover Sport makes its debut on the New Car List. Also back on the top 10 New Car List is the Honda Civic. Thanks to its all new design and high fuel prices, the Civic is another hot seller. The biggest surprise is Mercedes. It has completely fallen off the New Car List and only three remain on the Used Car List. This is probably due to its recent reliability problems.

"With the volatility of gasoline prices, leasing a car makes sense," says Tarry Shebesta, President of ACS and a certified lease consultant. "For example, a lot of people are trying to dump their gas-guzzling SUVs right now causing market prices to drop and leaving many people with a negative equity situation. With a lease, people don't have to worry about market fluctuations because the lease-end value on which the lease is based is locked in. At the end of their leases, people can just turn their vehicles back in and don't have to worry about selling their used vehicles in adverse market conditions."

phantom330 - 2/28/2006 5:28:45 PM

+1 Boost

jl........you'd be surprised. I work for one of the captives (no names mentioned but I'm sure you can figure it out) and you have no idea how many celebrities we have on the books leasing a wide variety of vehicles. Most of the luxury car segment this day is leasing, regardless of income.

Agent63 - 2/28/2006 6:07:48 PM

+1 Boost

Just because they are leasing doesn't mean they can't afford to purchase it in full ammount. Sometimes car buyers get tired of 're-selling' their car and it's just too much of a hassle in their everyday lives. Regardless of their income sometimes it's just a smarter way. Especially if you have a business you can write it off and etc. So it doesn't mean they are less wealthy than someone who buys one. It is personal preference. :)

But let me guess you drive a car that you fully own so that's why you say all that?. or are you 'financing' haha

MBZFAN - 2/28/2006 9:50:58 PM

+1 Boost

Another example of creative headline writing ! So I guess all of the "movers & shakers" are now spending their lease dollars on the Honda Civic, rather than the 2007 S550 ? Gimme a break !

Steve - 3/3/2006 2:21:34 PM

+1 Boost

Now, jl, would your comments be coming from a fellow rich person, or from a poor man's assessment of what rich folks are like, versus poseurs?

Steve - 3/3/2006 2:21:34 PM

+1 Boost

Now, jl, would your comments be coming from a fellow rich person, or from a poor man's assessment of what rich folks are like, versus poseurs?