Re:Tesla Nabs 8% of the U.S. Luxury Car Market
by eitally on Monday August 05, 2013 @05:53AM
(#6159225)
The difference is that in the US, neither BMW nor M-B market stripper versions of their cars. In order to buy a 5 series or E Class you will end up with at least a 528 (with significant number of interior luxury features) or an E350. Both of them start at about US$50k, and to me that is squarely luxury. Interestingly, well over half of all of them are leased, not purchased.
Re:Tesla Nabs 8% of the U.S. Luxury Car Market
by lazyjones on Monday August 05, 2013 @06:43AM
(#6159367)
The cheapest BMW 5 series model here in Austria sells for EUR 41900 (USD 55620) including taxes (MSRP).
BMW is an expensive brand, but the 5 series is mid-range.
Re:Tesla Nabs 8% of the U.S. Luxury Car Market
by justin66 on Monday August 05, 2013 @08:15AM
(#6159638)
The way things are defined in the US, the BMW 5 series is a luxury car. It represents close to the maximum amount of amenities for a given size class and, well, the car magazines call it a luxury car. There's not much else to it...
It's certainly possible they're equipped differently here, as so many cars are. If that's not the case and Austrians simply have a different sense of "luxury car" I wonder what you guys have that trumps the 5 series in that size category, as far as "luxury" is concerned.
BMW 5 series are the most-purchased company cars here in Austria, they certainly aren't luxury cars anywhere outside the 3rd world, although they might enjoy a certain brand image in the US ...