[e85sbm]

Originally Posted by Kayani_1

A front wheel drive Camry based E350 does not compete against Rear wheel drive 535i. It is the RWD GS350 that competes against the 535i. Two totally different cars built for two different purposes.

The price difference between ES350 vs GS 350 is appx. $10K with ES starting at $36K and GS starting at 46K.

I had no idea Toyota started contributing to the Mercedes lineup??

I guess there is some crazy German-Japanese collaboration happening..........wait a minute, was there not something memorable that happened in the 40's with Germany and Japan?

[Beyu]

Originally Posted by Kayani_1

A front wheel drive Camry based E350 does not compete against Rear wheel drive 535i. It is the RWD GS350 that competes against the 535i. Two totally different cars built for two different purposes.

The price difference between ES350 vs GS 350 is appx. $10K with ES starting at $36K and GS starting at 46K.

I believe you're confusing the Mercedes E350 with the ES350 from Lexus. Either way you're right though, the GS350, 535i, and E350 are all direct competitor.

However the gap between the three cars are actually quite wide starting with the Lexus at $46,900 to $52,500 with the BMW. The Mercedes is in the middle but in my experience Mercedes dealerships are the most willing out of the three to give steep discounts and incentives. I'm not sure if they still have this promotion but in the past they had a "conquest program" where they give you a minimum of $1k off on top of what you've already negotiated just by showing proof that you owned a car from one of their competitor.

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by Arben72

You do know the s4 competes with the 335i don't you?

Im sorry but I respectfully disagree with you and very strongly at that. The s4 and 335i are not direct competitors. The 335i came first and the s4 was the response. Just based on paper the s4 is the clear winner but of course because it is a more sporty car than the 335i. Don't forget the 335i is still a luxury sedan and as it still has a very powerful engine I believe it's luxury first and then performance whereas the Audi is the other way around. The best comparison is 335is vs. s4 which I yet not seen a real test on. Once again I think there will be a clear winner in that battle. Side note my friend was quoted for a $9xx monthly lease payment on the s4...WOW

[m balla]

I think Audis are overpriced VWs. If you set in a used one you will notice the plastic peeling and all the ricket noises and the cracked leather. P cars are great but they don't have the roominess of our bimmers. MB amg and black series are beasts but can carry a hefty price tag. Lexus is
Crap.

FWIW just save up for the F80/F82 or the new M5/M6. I have a feeling the new M3 with its low end torque, reduced weight and 7 speed manual will make one helluva car as long as the EPAS is dialed in correctly.

[Bluelady]

I got AU$10,000 off my feb 2012 build 135 m sport stage 2 chip upgrade. Was very happy with that deal.

[richb811]

Get all the discounts!!!

[LemonOne]

Originally Posted by Arben72

You do know the s4 competes with the 335i don't you?

You didn't get my point there.
I'm talking about the price.

[GOLFFRR]

[Beyu]

Originally Posted by rjd598

Side note my friend was quoted for a $9xx monthly lease payment on the s4...WOW

I'm not surprised, this is exactly what I mean when I say they don't want to be competitive. A year ago when I was car shopping I was interested in a either a current MY TT-S or S4 but the Audi dealership just didn't want to play ball and instead were marking up both cars.

PS: I've gotten a C63 AMG lease quote for around $9xx/month before, $9xx for an S4 is just insane.

[BigKutta]

Now is the best time to buy a BMW

[Curt2000]

Originally Posted by Kayani_1

A front wheel drive Camry based E350 does not compete against Rear wheel drive 535i. It is the RWD GS350 that competes against the 535i. Two totally different cars built for two different purposes.

The price difference between ES350 vs GS 350 is appx. $10K with ES starting at $36K and GS starting at 46K.

I was talking about the Benz...MSRP was off by about $200 from the 535, HP=Same...But the E350 feels like a chrysler with Mercedes badges on it...the interior finishing is rubbish.

Im working on a 535i lease right now...negotiated invoice pricing minus $4k in incentives (loyalty, option, USAA) So net cap is 4k below invoice plus 59% residual plus .00145 incentive MF and the Mercedes E350 which is within about $200 MSRP is almost $100/m cheaper on lease. BMW needs to drop the MF another percent and offer $1500 conquest to match MB in July and I will be a proud 535i owner.

[Kayani_1]

My bad

Originally Posted by Curt2000

I was talking about the Benz...MSRP was off by about $200 from the 535, HP=Same...But the E350 feels like a chrysler with Mercedes badges on it...the interior finishing is rubbish.

Im working on a 535i lease right now...negotiated invoice pricing minus $4k in incentives (loyalty, option, USAA) So net cap is 4k below invoice plus 59% residual plus .00145 incentive MF and the Mercedes E350 which is within about $200 MSRP is almost $100/m cheaper on lease. BMW needs to drop the MF another percent and offer $1500 conquest to match MB in July and I will be a proud 535i owner.

[Exzackt]

i would get excited by this but all a company has to do is rase the msrp to make the buyer believe the discount is giving them a great deal

[Alan l.]

Originally Posted by Beyu

I'm not surprised, this is exactly what I mean when I say they don't want to be competitive. A year ago when I was car shopping I was interested in a either a current MY TT-S or S4 but the Audi dealership just didn't want to play ball and instead were marking up both cars.

PS: I've gotten a C63 AMG lease quote for around $9xx/month before, $9xx for an S4 is just insane.

This was exactly my experience with Audi. You walk into their dealership and they act like you need to beg them for service. When it comes to pricing they flat out said they don't discount from msrp I was speechless when i heard that. For a lease you will always pay more for an Audi even if the car cost the same as Bmw or MB since they don't hold their value as well and the customer has to pay for that in the monthly payment.

Alan

[sr5959]

Originally Posted by Alan l.

This was exactly my experience with Audi. You walk into their dealership and they act like you need to beg them for service. When it comes to pricing they flat out said they don't discount from msrp I was speechless when i heard that. For a lease you will always pay more for an Audi even if the car cost the same as Bmw or MB since they don't hold their value as well and the customer has to pay for that in the monthly payment.

Alan

+1 This was my recent experience.

[Cdnrockies]

2 pages of responses and no one has mentioned that the only reason BMW surpassed Lexus last year was due to the tsunami and the bogus recall hype.

Deep discounts and aggressive financing is the only way they'll keep the title.

Nothing wrong with that.

Initially, you could have argued that BMW was targeting a more "driver focused" demographic which would somewhat limit there sales potential and that is why they lagged for 12(?) straight years (and suspect reliability). Whether you agree with it or not, Lexus' price point and driving dynamic appeals to the masses more than BMW's.

However, with their current direction being all things to everybody and there one shape, different shape, same engine approach....they are clearly willing to sacrifice some of what got them to the front in an effort to stay there.

[Bimmernerd]

Originally Posted by eatrach73

well why don't you sit in one. Audi interior is a win vs BMW and Mercedes.

No it is not.

[Cl0ud7]

Originally Posted by e85sbm

I had no idea Toyota started contributing to the Mercedes lineup??

I guess there is some crazy German-Japanese collaboration happening..........wait a minute, was there not something memorable that happened in the 40's with Germany and Japan?

I LoL'eddddddd

[Raja Ventureshield]

Originally Posted by Cl0ud7

I LoL'eddddddd

lol. + 2