Is There Such A Thing As An "Affordable Luxury Car", Or Is It Just A Marketing Gimmick?

Ofcourse there is, however the perception of luxury is now changing. Where we once had everything luxury also being associated with "exclusivity", we now have everything from the fashion industry to electronic companies offering less expensive alternatives to traditionally expensive lines. Why? part survival, part greed. If you remain too exclusive, you can no longer afford to be an independent company i.e Rolls Royce(BMW) and Bentley(VW), bottom line Mercedes and BMW have to pay the bills with cars like A, B, C, 1, 3, and 3 series cars.

1,2,3*

The writer here loses me when he seems to not understand how car companies make profits. He states that he's not sure these entry level cars will be profitable and that a $75k car would be more profitable than a $35k car. Well, no sh*t. But, what he fails to mention (or possibly even understand) is the one key to the profitability of these entry level cars: volume.

Also, why does Audi always feel the need to take shots at their competition? This approach is very off-putting for a luxury brand, at least IMO.

" Audi has already begun in a little trash talking with regards to how the A3 stacks up to the CLA. “We have a screen that’s as thin as an iPhone, fully retractable coming out of the dash, made of magnesium — a stunning piece of engineering,” said Audi of America President Scott Keogh, according to Automotive News. “What they put on? You can debate it, but it’s basically just a rubber piece screwed on a screen, and the screen’s just sitting on the dash … People will see the difference.”

"People will see the difference.”

I wonder if the Audi client will realize just bought a tarted up Golf with the lowest power number in its class.

I love German luxury, but if I'm going to struggle to pay for a $30k car it's going to be on an Accord Coupe V6. Much more bang for the buck. For what it's worth I saw a CLA the other day on the way home from work and it's hideous looking. It looks like a kid's bad drawing of a car. All these images of the CLA we see on commericals and magazines are with the AMG trim. That trim will set you back $35k to start. The only cool feature is the LED tail lights. Save your pennies a few more years and get yourself a C-class.

The AMG appearance package is only an $2200 option. If you want the LED/BiXenon lights, that's an additional $850.

Only $2,850, cidflekken? These buyers aren't buying $100K flagship luxury sedans where $2,850 is a rounding error. These buyers are trying to get into an aspirational luxury brand at a competitive price and for them making a $35,000 purchase is a big deal and $3,000 is not an insignificant amount of money.

Just wait till that $500 Service B check on the CLA comes due.

Just how many of these "$30,000 millionaires" are going to choose service over paying rent?

There is a reason why premium cars command a premium. They are expensive.

Can't tell you how many cars get ruined due the owners cheaping out on bergain basement oil when the automaker specifies synthetic only. This will be no different. The owners won't be able to keep up with the basics.

I think Audi of America CEO, Scott Keough, is correct when he says buyers will see the quality difference between the Audi A3 sedan and Mercedes-Benz CLA.

Included in the $31,000 base price (when destination charge is factored in)for the Audi A3 sedan is the nifty, retractable, magnesium screen, real leather, sunroof and bi-xenon headlights.

If you want that in your Mercedes-Benz CLA be prepared to cough up $36,000 and you still get the cheap, plastic, aftermarket-looking, bolted on the top of the dash, infotainment screen.

Yes, but you're still buying a "tarted up Golf", Maybe that's why it so cheap.

I think Audi of America CEO, Scott Keough, is correct when he says buyers will see the quality difference between the Audi A3 sedan and Mercedes-Benz CLA.

Included in the $31,000 base price (when destination charge is factored in)for the Audi A3 sedan is the nifty, fully retractable, magnesium screen that comes out of the dash, real leather, sunroof and xenon headlights.

So far - everyone is comparing two cars of German Manufacture - -neither of which is well known for its reliability or affordable maintenance or repair.

There are LOTS of cars under $30,000 dollars that can fulfill the requisite luxury - and still offer reasonable reliability and repair costs.

However - before I would buy a cut rate new German luxury car - I would be more likely to look at 3 year old used cars - from those manufacturers and others like Lexus, BMW, Infinity, and Cadillac as well. In fact - in my area - it is not unusual to have a 1 year old Cadillac CTS available in than that price - leftover - new.

And if you are not caught up with the hype- I would suggest that even the new Chevy Impala probably compares favorably with the Audi and Mercedes - can actually carry more than two people - has room for their luggage - can be had with most of the luxury features - and can come in delivered for that price range as well. Remember - we are comparing LUXURY - not sport.

You make a really good point. Don't forget all the other vehicles at this price-point when shopping around. The new Impala is really nice. For $30k you're still kinda far away from a near-luxury-like trim, but you get a larger basic vehicle. Comparative vehicles from Kia, Hyundai, Honda, Ford, Chrysler are also available, but if just cost most money for luxury or at least the thought of it.

Tarted up Golf? Perhaps you missed the Audi rings on the front grille, the high-quality interior that puts the Mercedes-Benz to shame, the price advantage and the fact that Audi ranks highest in the Consumer Reports reliability index out of any European brand and well ahead of BMW and Mercedes-Benz and outsells Mercedes-Benz globally while being right on BMW's heels.

Next time try to think of a better argument, scenicbyway12.

":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Group_MQB_platform"

Next time do some research, Call it a tarted up, VW Golf, Seat Leon, or Skoda Octivia, it's still a badge engineer economy car. Hey Cadillac threw a grill on and leathered up a Cimmaron, it was still a Cavilier.

Using Wikipedia as your source shows a lack of credibility, scenicbyway12. You can call it badge engineered economy car, Audi will call it profit :)

1000% gimmick with the Germans as is "hybrid" to them. Spend the same money these things really cost on a Hyundai Genesis and get a car with infinitely better reliability. PS you'll also love the Genesis more and you will curse the Audi Golf as soon as you realize you could have had a Jetta GLI, Passat, or CC for the same money.