JohnH4260

According to the Business Week article above, Mercedes-Benz USA does not release AMG sales figures for the U.S. Not sure why, you would think MBUSA would be proud to release AMG sales figures for the USA.

tanktube67

I'm curios how many people fully owns an "S" class (paid in full)

Yacht Master

On the W211 AMG board a reliable source quoted sales numbers for the E class 55K AMG at approx. 3500 per year from 2003-2006

Any time I go to a dealer I peruse the AMG inventory I have never seen that represent 10% of the total units in inventory more like 3-4% at best.

JohnH4260

ForbesAutos.com Ten Most Expensive Vehicles to Own

1. Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Coupe
Starting MSRP: $99,900
Five-year cost of ownership: $174,264
Four models in this list have starting prices higher than the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class. But after five years of ownership, the CL-Class swallows more dollars than any mass-produced vehicle you can buy. That's because pricier models — the BMW Alpina B7, M6 Convertible and the Porsche 911 GT3 and Turbo — all hold resale value far better, thereby depreciating less than the CL-Class.
Starting MSRP: $99,900
Five-year cost of ownership: $174,264
Depreciation: $83,703
Interest and opportunity cost: $36,076
Fuel: $16,370
Maintenance and repairs: $5,359
Insurance: $20,940
Taxes and fees: $11,816

2. Mercedes-Benz S-Class Sedan
Starting MSRP: $85,750
Five-year cost of ownership: $171,130
Like the two Mercedes models that fall before it on this list, the S-Class expenses run high because its ultra-high performing AMG version elevates the average cost of ownership for the entire car line. Considered alone, the S65 AMG Sedan duns its owners for an astonishing $243,491 over five years. If you took it out of the mix, the other three S-Class versions sold by Mercedes — the S550, S550 with 4Matic all-wheel drive and S600 — would cost owners an average of $147,010 after five years.
Depreciation: $82,368
Interest and opportunity cost: $36,661
Fuel: $15,807
Maintenance and repairs: $5,130
Insurance: $21,161
Taxes and fees: $10,003

3. Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Convertible
Starting MSRP: $94,800
Five-year cost of ownership: $168,203
The top-shelf AMG versions of Mercedes’ SL-Class boost average cost of ownership for all SL version, particularly the priciest and fastest SL65 AMG. With that variant out of the equation, the ownership costs for the remaining three SL models — the SL550, SL55 AMG and SL600 — average out to $150,895. But even with five-year costs totaling a lofty $220,128, the SL65 AMG receives a “good” value rating from Vincentric when compared to other brutally expensive cars in its category.
Depreciation: $75,060
Interest and opportunity cost: $37,639
Fuel: $16,461
Maintenance and repairs: $5,874
Insurance: $22,535
Taxes and fees: $10,634

4. BMW M6 Convertible
5. BMW Alpina B7
6. Porsche 911 Turbo
7. BMW M6 Coupe
8. Mercedes-Benz G-Class
9. Audi S8
10. Porsche 911 GT3

ZedStyle

AMG's were super rare, if they release the figures of how many they make and sell now, maybe people who buy them will realize how common they've actually become... the 'hand built' engine loses its mystique if they're building tens of thousands of them a year

cjf_moraga

If AMG really are building 20,000+ a year as stated in some sources, it certainly dilutes the whole "hand built engine by a master craftsman" thing... These are really assembly line engines with a bit of manual intervention and name badge - AMG's are mass-produced cars now... (I recall Top Gear pointed this out some time back as well)

Chris

JohnH4260

Ten Features that Redefine Automotive Luxury
All available on the W221, BTW
ForbesAutos.com

1. Human-Machine Interface (HMI)
Motorists are suffering from technology overload. "The trend for the future is to seamlessly integrate all of the mobile devices. It redefines the definition of luxury," says Johnson Controls VP Mike Warsaw. Navigation, Bluetooth mobile phones, portable audio and video devices will all get synched into one interface along with the rest of the vehicles' increasingly complex electronic systems.
Perfecting the human-machine interface in vehicles is challenging as automakers struggle to keep pace with the latest technology and make controls intuitive. Luxury manufacturers have learned from foibles in recent years — like Audi with its MMI and BMW with its iDrive system — and are improving their once-perplexing interfaces.

2. Adaptive Headlights
Adaptive headlights change the way light hits the road. Lenses and reflectors in the headlights move in conjunction with the steering wheel to throw beams of light in the direction of a turn. Like the now-pervasive airbag and skid-control systems, adaptive headlights are an example of advanced safety technology being pioneered on luxury automobiles.
Most accidents on the road occur at night, so adaptive headlights are a welcome safety advancement offering increased visibility. They have the added effect of being visually impressive and heightening the sense of luxury. "There's much more precise lighting that's more of a jewelry effect," says Johnson Controls' Mike Warsaw. Adaptive headlights are currently expensive — a $1,020 option on the Land Rover LR2, for instance.

3. Adaptive Cruise Control
The ability to cruise without worrying about the traffic pace is not only a luxury, it enhances safety. Adaptive cruise control uses sensors in the front bumper to gauge the distance and speed of traffic ahead. The driver can set a predetermined distance from a vehicle that the system then automatically maintains, no matter the speed.
This feature is offered as an option on most of the top and some midsize and compact luxury sedans; it's becoming standard on the most expensive models. "Adaptive cruise control is almost saturating the luxury market," says J.D. Power's Mike Marshall. It's pricey: $2,400 on the BMW 5 Series and $2,850 on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, for example.

4. Live Traffic Reports
Navigation systems with live traffic reports can help when streets and highways are gridlocked or unexpectedly closed. "People can immediately look and see what's in their path," says Lexus' Greg Thome. Acura says its 2005 RL sedan was the first vehicle sold in the U.S. to offer this feature.
Users must subscribe to satellite radio service to take advantage of live traffic reporting. Lexus' system uses a database that gets pulled down through XM's satellite radio system. "It's a real-time traffic system, and then our system does with it what it wants," says Lexus' Greg Thome. "Cadillac and Acura have the same type of system; the car manufacturer decides what they want to do with the look and feel."

5. Super-High-Fidelity Audio Systems
"For some people, the sound system they listen to in their car is more important than the sound system in their home," says Lexus' Greg Thome. That has lead luxury carmakers to partner with ultra-high-end audio experts, such as Mark Levinson in the case of Lexus.
Bose was among the first high-end audio firms to partner with car manufacturers. Now others are getting on board to create surround-sound systems whose fidelity can be optimized at the touch of a button for a car full of people or for just the driver. The $6,300 Bang and Olufsen system available on Audi's A8 and S8 features speakers that rise out of the top of the dash.

6. Hard Drives Carrying around a portable audio device can be cumbersome, not to mention the complicated wires and contraptions often needed to synch it to the vehicles' audio system. Head units with integrated hard drives are emerging as a solution for audiophiles bent on listening to their own playlists.
Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Mitsubishi already offer vehicles with head units that incorporate hard drives for storing audio files. "All of the next generation of drivers will have the flexibility to carry music around with them as the digital music wave carries on," says Lexus' Greg Thome.

7. Keyless Entry/Start
With keyless entry/start systems, the key fob never has to leave the purse or pocket. These systems automatically unlock doors via radio frequency transmission and only require the push of a button to start and stop the engine. It's becoming standard on mid- to upper-range luxury models and optional on lower-end vehicles.
The latest trend is creating functionality so that the driver's key fob not only unlocks doors and primes the engine for a push-button start, but triggers memory settings for the seat, steering-wheel and mirror positions. "Once you get into personalization, there's not much more you can do," says J.D. Power's Mike Marshall.

8. Heated and Cooled Seats, Front and Rear
Now that heated front seats are available on many non-luxury models, a new genre of seat-based temperature control is emerging. Cooling functions of two varieties are offered on luxury vehicles: one involves simply piping the chilled A/C fluid through the seat to make it physically colder; the other involves thousands of tiny holes through which cold air is blown.
Rear seats are now getting temperature control on some luxury vehicles, including a few from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Infiniti and others. "We're seeing a lot more offerings of heating and cooling seats," says J.D. Power's Mike Marshall. "It's not a new technology. It's been around for a long time in commercial trucks."

9. Rear Sun Shades
Midsize and full-size luxury sedans now offer power, retractable sunshades that use a transparent mesh screen to cover the rear window. They can be useful for shading infants, VIPs and anyone seeking to minimize the effects of UV rays.
Some of the larger luxury sedans, like the Audi A8 L and Jaguar XJ8 L, which tend to be bought by owners with chauffeurs, offer manually operated sunshades for the rear side windows to complement the power, retractable rear sunshade.

10. Massaging Seats
Massaging seats are the ultimate auto indulgence. First seen on super-premium models like the Bentley Continental GT and Maybach 57 and 62, they've started to move down market — but not very far.
Full-size luxury sedans are the next platform for this decadent feature. Massaging rear seats are part of the LS 460 L's Executive Package. "It's for people who get driven around versus who drive their vehicles themselves," says Lexus' Greg Thome.

JohnH4260

Top 10 Best Luxury Car Dealerships

1. Jaguar
Sales Satisfaction Index: 912 (1st)
Customer Service Index: 908 (4th)
Total (CSI+SSI): 1,820

2. Cadillac
Sales Satisfaction Index: 891 (2nd)
Customer Service Index: 909 (3rd)
Total (CSI+SSI): 1,800

3. Lexus
Sales Satisfaction Index: 887 (5th)
Customer Service Index: 912 (1st)
Total (CSI+SSI): 1,799

4. Lincoln
Sales Satisfaction Index: 889 (3rd)
Customer Service Index: 906 (5th)
Total (CSI+SSI): 1,795

5. Porsche
Sales Satisfaction Index: 889 (4th)
Customer Service Index: 887 (15th)
Total (CSI+SSI): 1,776

6. Volvo
Sales Satisfaction Index: 883 (8th)
Customer Service Index: 890 (11th)
Total (CSI+SSI): 1,773

7. BMW
Sales Satisfaction Index: 873 (12th)
Customer Service Index: 884 (16th)
Total (CSI+SSI): 1,757

8. Infiniti
Sales Satisfaction Index: 868 (15th)
Customer Service Index: 887 (14th)
Total (CSI+SSI): 1,755

9. Mercedes-Benz
Sales Satisfaction Index: 876 (10th)
Customer Service Index: 872 (21st)
Total (CSI+SSI): 1,748

10. Acura
Sales Satisfaction Index: 854 (19th)
Customer Service Index: 889 (12th)
Total (CSI+SSI): 1,743

AustinGuy

Ouch!!

MB - the company itself and dealerships in general have a long standing reputation for being snobby and rude..... The one here is Austin gives credence to that

MB needs to do a lot of work in the PR department. Starting with the people who buy it's cars

JohnH4260

Top 10 Cars Driven by Men

1. 2007 Maybach 57 and 62; Primary driver: 95% male
Number of respondents: 139 men/7 women**
The Maybach, both in its ultra-long 57 and even-longer 62 versions, goes from $335,000 to around $425,000 and is a car to be driven in rather than drive. Regardless, our study finds that those behind the wheel of this ultra-exclusive behemoth are almost exclusively men. Both are powered by huge 12-cylinder engines and controlled with features like a pneumatic suspension, so that even when the ride gets fast and rough, your (and your chauffeur's) backside doesn't feel it. The interior is all luxury excess, with features like a huge electro-transparent glass roof (which can be switched from transparent to opaque), wood coffering and fully reclining rear seats (optional on the 62).

2. 2006 Hummer H1; Primary driver: 93.81% male
Number of respondents: 342 men/23 women**
As far as Hummers go, this is the biggest, beastliest one out there. This intriguing, utterly macho vehicle finally ceased production of its civilian version (based on the military HUMVEE) in June 2006. (Hummer will continue to produce the military versions.) Only around 400 of them were sold in model years 2004 and 2005. "The thing's a monster — big and awkward," Molnar says. Call this vehicle what you want — the cause of climate crisis, or a boldly individualistic statement without peer — the H1's era is gone, leading present-day buyers toward slightly more manageable Hummers.

3. 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class; Primary driver: 92.35% male
Number of respondents: 17,340 men/1,436 women**
The big GL-Class is the more civilized sibling of the rough-and-ready G-Class also on this list. It debuted last year with streamlined styling (for an SUV) that manages to be both burly and luxurious. The GL320 CDI's efficient turbo-diesel makes just 215 hp, but a huge 398 pound-feet of torque. The GL450's V8 makes 335 hp and 339 pound-feet of torque and can haul the vehicle from 0-60 mph in 7.4 seconds. Not bad considering it weighs more than 5,200 pounds and can seat seven. The car's placement here shows that some guys aren't just into flashy looks and performance, but are also hauling the kids to baseball practice — which you can't do in a Lamborghini.

4. 2007 Rolls-Royce Phantom; Primary driver: 90% male
Number of respondents: 302 men/34 women**
Just because this is a huge, ultra-luxurious sedan does not make it a sensible choice compared to the sports cars on this list. Rolls-Royces have always proudly, eccentrically eschewed practicality. "Cabin space is not particularly well-used and you can find smaller cars that are as roomy," says Imre Molnar, dean of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. The Rolls-Royce Phantom sedan weighs more than 5,600 pounds and starts at $340,000. The rear-hinged "suicide doors," almost otherworldly height and boxy lines fly in the face of what's trendy or practical — and so does the guy who drives it (or is driven in it).

5. 2007 Ferrari F430; Primary driver: 89.92% male
Number of respondents: 1,252 men/140 women**
Ferraris are a statement of power and exclusivity. The "value leader" in their street-car department for 2006 was the F430, with a 490-hp V8, which runs about $175,000-$200,000 depending on trim level (coupe or convertible). The 612 Scaglietti is the more gentlemanly (but still blindingly fast, with a 540-hp V12) four-seater, at around $260,000. A third model introduced late last year, the 620-hp 599 GTB Fiorano, is already gathering accolades. As far as performance, Ferraris are legendarily brilliant, which earns them a loyal core of male drivers.

6. 2007 Lamborghini Gallardo; Primary driver: 89.91% male
Number of respondents: 633 men/71 women**
The two Lambo choices for 2006 were the Gallardo (coupe or convertible) and the even more expensive Murcielago (also available in coupe or drop-top form). These are flashy race cars for street use — a bit harsh around town but truly fast and rewarding on a racetrack or winding back roads. Extroverted styling, hey-look-at-me scissor-action doors (Murcielago only), garish colors and a noisy exhaust are the essence of dream-car impracticality — at least for men.

7. 2007 Hummer H2; Primary driver: 89.46% male
Number of respondents: 15,304 men/1,803 women**
Not as brutish as the discontinued H1, the H2 is still more rough-riding truck than genteel SUV, and it's more macho than nearly anything else you'll find on the road. In both regular and SUT versions (with a rear cargo bed), the H2 offers quite a few comforts (a Bose sound system, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and a leather interior). But the focus here is still a run-you-over personality and robust off-road capabilities, both qualities which have earned the H2 a core group of primarily male drivers.

8. 2007 Mercedes Benz G-Class; Primary driver: 89.26% male
Number of respondents: 524 men/63 women**
Despite a recent styling refresh and a super-luxurious wood-and-leather interior, the G-Class is still the manliest Mercedes-Benz of all. It was created for serious off-road use (military outfits use it around the globe) and the vehicle still exhibits the blocky lines of the durable, bulky model that debuted for civilian service in 1979. The top-level G55 AMG is the most luxurious and the fastest version, with a supercharged AMG V8 engine making 493 hp and 516 pound-feet of torque. Time-tested rather than trendy, the G-Class is about as attention-commanding a vehicle as you can get.

9. 2006 Pontiac GTO; Primary driver: 89.24% male
Number of respondents: 10,056 men/1,212 women**
Based on GM of Australia's Holden Monaro, the GTO (reintroduced in the U.S. in late 2003) doesn't have cutting-edge styling or even old-school burly good looks — but it does have a neck-snapping 400-hp V8 that propels it to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. Guys responded. Extroverted exterior colors like Brazen Orange Metallic, Pulse Red and Yellowjacket jazzed up the car's rather conservative lines and also drew dudes — just not enough to keep it in production.

10. 2006 Volkswagen Phaeton; Primary driver: 89.19% Male
Number of respondents: 210 men/25 women**
Perhaps largely due to the fact that American buyers weren't quite ready for a $100,000 Volkswagen, the Phaeton was yanked from North America after the 2006 model year. What's interesting about it being on this list is that, unlike every other vehicle here, this sedan is utterly un-flashy. No one can argue the exclusivity factor, though, and the fact that the Phaeton is basically an Audi A8 with different styling lends it a certain clout to those in the know.

my06clk

This is true. Anyone who lives in California particularly SoCAL knows that there are more AMGs of every type on the road than thing. it's like 3 of 5 S, SL, and E class cars are AMG. Out there if you arent driving and AMG, you don;t have a "real" mercedes...so they think. But now a days there is nothing mysterious about that car anymore and it hasn't been since about 2000.

The truth be told it all goes back to that old Status symbol issue and the fact that People just Want to been seen at some higher level than the rest of us...

Since fancy banking programs, leases, and pitiful depreciation have made Mercedes cars affordable to many people who wouldn't have dreamed of driving these car in the past, The "Out of reach" element of all of these cars has long been dissolved.

Buying an AMG vehicle particularly a new AMG vehicle kinda artificially places folks "somewhere else" and keeps them slightly ahead of the Joneses for a brief moment because they are willing to shell out the extra $$ versus a standard model. You can't tell me that it about performance when most of the drivers of AMG cars are nearly retired or already retired and never really take advantage of all that power and they have no interest at all and upsetting their settled adrenaline.( no poking fun at the elderly..or anything). But the whole idea behind that concept is a joke!!!

And to touch on the overall earlier subject of this post... Truth be told,, IF you have to get up and go to work every day like 96% of us, Owning a W221 doesn't make you anything but a bigger spender than the next guy who is two paychecks to two two months income away from living under a bridge...

So,, 150K, 250K, 300K or whatever... It's all about how you handle yor own finances and what responsibilities you currently have.. Anything can be purchased and just about Any car can be driven in my mind.. Its just a matter of what you want to give up to be able to drive it.

There is a huge difference between the wealthy and the rich. And those of us on a slightly lower scale who "just have money do do things like live in fancy houses and drive luxury cars"

Companies like Mercedes and others businesses Love to play on our burning desires to live and feel like we are 7 levels above where we really are. If they didn't sell us this dream, then they would never sell any cars, or expensive handbags or luxury homes.. AND I might add there would be a lot more wealthy people in our society than just the 4% to 6%. The rest of us are just spinning our wheels trying to identify...We are called consumers but I think a more fitting term would be "the consumed". Because that's what happens to most of our resources....

I think the Anthropologists call this a modern example of "natural selection"

WSH

Actually, would prefer that AMG make (and profitably sell) 50K+ cars/yr....

AMGs (like any car) are consumer tech devices, w/important safety elements that a smartphone/flat-panel TV will never have....need scale to amortize costs of developing latest/greatest perf/safety/daily-useable tech....and to quickly gain real-world feedback (and crash) data to debug/advance tech....

Prob live/work in a fairly non-affluent/aspirational place if AMG (or any car) helps one feel like one has "status".....just visit Manhattan: many financial billionaires (who often fly via G550s) are driven around in "mere" S550s....

Tech devices tend to have deflationary pricing (and rather poor trade-in value, even on ebay)...and rapid obsolescence and disposability....after all, truly latest-tech cars are more akin to smartphones than bottles of fine Bordeaux/Burgundy....who wants a >2yo cell phone/Blackberry????

Dealer svc prob depends upon one's specific dealer and one's relationship w/salesman/GM, etc....it's a two-way dynamic: no doubt ?90%+ of dealers/salesguys are incompetent...but suspect ?90%+ of customers are annoying/unreasonable and minimally profitable...many businesses have 20/80 rules, right???.....have had exemplary expces w/my current MB dealer on SF Peninsula...and w/my dealer when I lived in Manhattan earlier this decade....and my colleagues who live/work (or have wkend houses) in BeverlyHills seem very pleased w/their sales/svc expces at BH MB....those are arguably world's 3 most powerful mkts for $100K+ cars....should MB (or Daimler shareholders) really care if some minor mkt MB dealers offer weak svc to one-off, price-shopping customers????

JohnH4260

Top 10 Luxury Cars Driven by Women

1. BMW Z4; Primary driver: 61.18% female; Total respondents: 12,284*
Like a model athlete, the winner of our list is a stellar yet civil performer. Either of the available six-cylinder engines make this two-seater exceedingly fast while returning 30 mpg on the highway. The bold styling tempers chiseled aggressive shapes with softer forms. A coupe joins the roadster for 2007.

2. Audi A3; Primary driver: 53.41% female; Total respondents: 8,040*
This entry-level Audi nails the practicality/luxury combo: Four doors and a rear hatch make it practical, while the slick, organic form and well-crafted interior keep it sophisticated. It's small and nimble with a gutsy turbocharged, four-cylinder or potent V6 to keep the adrenaline up.

3. Volvo S60; Primary driver: 52.72% female; Total respondents: 25,753*
Volvo’s midsize S60 demonstrates that a sport sedan can be obsessively safety-conscious; it boasts smart, accident-preventative features without tainting the driving experience. For those with a flashy bent, the S60 R has a 300-hp engine, taut suspension and spiced-up styling.

4. Volvo V70 and C70; Primary driver: 50.61% female; Total respondents: 22,681*
Although the Volvo C70 convertible and V70 wagon are built on different platforms, CNW Marketing Research collects ownership data for the two models as one combined entry. The V70 is exceedingly sleek, safe and a little sporty. It has been completely redesigned for 2008. The recently released C70 is a coupe and convertible in one, thanks to an ingenious, if overly complex, folding hardtop.

5. Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ; Primary driver: 50.32% female; Total respondents: 33,114*
Lincoln’s newest compact sedan, renamed the MKZ for 2007, is designed to draw younger buyers to the brand. The interior is a mix of retro and modern, with wood surfaces contrasting against satin-metal accents. An AWD option was recently added and the engine made more powerful.

6. Volvo S40; Primary driver: 50.27% female; Total respondents: 24,566*
Volvo’s small, entry-level S40 sedan doesn’t skimp on the big stuff: It has a full list of safety features, like standard stability and traction control and multiple airbags. Unlike older Volvos, the S40 feels young and fun. Its dash has a unique free-floating center console.

7. Audi A6; Primary driver: 50.16% female; Total respondents: 16,216*
Audi’s midsize A6 comes as a sedan or wagon with a choice of V6 or V8 engines, several transmissions and front- or all-wheel drive. “This is the essence of organic, curving, nature-inspired design. It’s luxurious, but functional and sensible,” says Imre Molnar, dean of Detroit's College for Creative Studies. Driving dynamics are superbly fluid and balanced, just like the styling.

8. Land Rover Range Rover Sport; Primary driver: 50.071% female; Total respondents: 18,757*
Slightly smaller and sportier than the traditional Range Rover, this SUV has lots of curb appeal and isn't as cumbersome to drive as some midsize SUVs. The standard HSE version has a 300-hp V8; the supercharged version produces 390 hp. The leather-lined interior is understated, showing typical British reserve.

9. Cadillac SRX; Primary driver: 50.070% female; Total respondents: 22,043*
Not nearly as conspicuous as the behemoth Cadillac Escalade, the midsize SRX offers robust performance, sporty handling and room for six. The 2007 SRX gets a classier, higher-quality interior, which should boost its appeal among women, whom experts say focus on the details.

10. Lexus IS; Primary driver: 50.069% female; Total respondents: 54,267*
Sleek exterior styling and a wide array of features, including a Pre-Collision safety system, are attributes of Lexus' smallest sedan that women likely respond to. The IS 250 is powered by a 204-hp 2.5-liter V6 and the IS 350, a 300-hp 3.6-liter V6. All-wheel drive is optional.

JohnH4260

The Automotive Top Dogs, Underdogs and The Back of the Pack

Rating: Top Dog
BMW; Total 2007 sales: 293,795; Percentage change from 2006: +6.7%; Total number of models: eight
The BMW brand had record U.S. sales in 2007, marking 16 consecutive years of growth. In particular, the BMW 3 Series increased 18.2% in 2007, to 142,488. Even with a big increase in 2007 for its archrival, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the 3 Series still outsold the C-Class by more than 2-to-1. A small part of that is because BMW offers more variants, like a 3 Series Convertible. Nevertheless, the 3 Series is all the more formidable, because the current generation 3 Series sedan had its U.S. debut in May, 2005, vs. August, 2007, for the C-Class.

Honda; Total 2007 sales: 1,371,438; Percentage change from 2006: +4.5%; Total number of models: nine
The Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry are the No. 2 and No. 1-selling cars in the U.S., respectively. An all-new Accord, which is bigger, more luxurious, and more distinctively styled than the car it replaced, debuted in the fall of 2007. Accord sales increased 10.3% for the year, to 392,231. The Honda Odyssey was also the No. 2-selling minivan in 2007, barely behind the redesigned Dodge Caravan, which was No. 1. Honda sales should increase again in 2008, based on a full year for the new Accord.

Lexus; Total 2007 sales: 329,177; Percentage change from 2006: +1.8%; Total number of models: eight
The Lexus brand adds prestige and kid-glove customer handling to the core values for the parent Toyota brand: quality, reliability, and value for the money. Styling and sporty handling have been the Lexus brand’s weaknesses vs. its European competitors. But Lexus is moving to fix that, with new models like the $56,765, V-8-powered, IS-F variant of the sporty IS sedan. Meanwhile, most of its mainstream models are holding their own. In 2007 sales increased 8.7%, to 82,867, for the entry-level ES sedan. However, Lexus light-truck sales fell 7.9%, to 128,843. The full-size LX sport-utility vehicle suffered the biggest drop.

Mercedes-Benz; Total 2007 sales: 253,492; Percentage change from 2006: +1.8%; Total number of models: 13
Mercedes-Benz posted record sales in 2007, the 14th consecutive year of growth. All European luxury brands bottomed out in the early 1990s because of a luxury tax on cars, the 1987 stock market crash, and new competition from Lexus and Infiniti. An all-new C-Class was the news for Mercedes-Benz in 2007. The C-Class sedan increased 26.6%, to 63,699, although that was still far short of the BMW 3 Series. In its first full calendar year of sales, the GL-Class SUV increased 40.1%, to 26,396. Those gains were offset by declines for the E-Class sedan and wagon and the R-Class crossover.

Mini; Total 2007 sales: 42,045; Percentage change from 2006: +7%; Total number of models: two
BMW’s Mini brand topped U.S. sales of 30,000 its first 12 months, starting in March, 2002, vs. an initial U.S. sales target of only 20,000. No doubt, Mini lowballed its target on purpose, but probably not by 50%. Since then, sales have grown to more than 40,000, based solely on the Mini Cooper, the sportier Mini Cooper S, and convertible variants. Sales should continue to climb in 2008, as Mini this month adds the larger Mini Cooper Clubman, with a bigger back seat, a third door on the passenger side, and a squared-off cargo area.

Porsche; Total 2007 sales: 34,693; Percentage change from 2006: +1%; Total number of models: four
Porsche shocked purists when it added the Cayenne SUV in 2003, and it will shock them again in 2009 with the Panamera, a fairly large, four-door sedan. Until then, Porsche will keep its sales momentum going with a face-lifted 911 in the fall of 2008. Besides revised exterior styling, the flagship 911 will get even more power from direct-injected engines, which were already successfully introduced for the Cayenne in the 2008 model year. The Cayenne accounted for most of Porsche’s sales increase in 2007, up 18.3%, to 12,547.

Toyota; Total 2007 sales: 2,291,648 (including Scion); Percentage change from 2006: +2.9%; Total number of models: 18
The all-hybrid Toyota Prius is the best illustration of Toyota’s carefully cultivated “green” image. That image resonated with consumers, with some help from rising gas prices. While the entire U.S. market sagged 2.8%, to 16.1 million light vehicles in 2007, Prius sales jumped an incredible 68.9%, to 181,221. On a larger scale, sales of the redesigned Camry increased 14.5%, to 418,757. The Camry was all new in September 2006. Camry sales in 2007 also included 54,492 hybrid models, a 73.3% increase.

Rating: Underdog
Audi; Total 2007 sales: 93,508; Percentage change from 2006: +3.4%; Total number of models: nine
To meet its U.S. sales goals, Audi must sell a lot more A4s. The A4, including several variants, is Audi’s best-selling model, accounting for almost half of U.S. sales. However, the present A4 is in its seventh and last year. Its replacement, the all-new 2009 Audi A4, is due in the fall of 2008. Besides being newer, it will be bigger and sportier than the model it replaces, so sales should rise. The 2009 model will be launched with a 265-hp V-6 engine, up from 255 hp for the current V-6.

Cadillac; Total 2007 sales: 214,727;Percentage change from 2006: -5.7%; Total number of models: six
Cadillac has a long way to go if it hopes to get back in the same league as Lexus, which had record U.S. sales of 329,177 in 2007. Cadillac last topped 300,000 units in 1986, before Lexus was introduced. The entry-level 2008 CTS, which debuted in September, 2007, is helping Cadillac gain sales. In January, CTS sales were nearly double the year-ago month.

Chevrolet; Total 2007 sales: 2,250,352; Percentage change from 2006: -6.4%; Total number of models: 21
Chevrolet is enjoying some success with the 2008 Malibu, which was voted North American Car of the Year by a panel of journalists at the Detroit auto show in January. Malibu sales rose 7% in 2007, to 331,128, and roughly doubled in January against the year-ago month. But Chevrolet’s U.S. sales are still about two-thirds trucks. Chevy’s best-selling model by far is the Silverado pickup. Sales of the big pickup slipped 3.1% in 2007, to 618,257. That wasn’t too bad, since the large pickup category fell 7%, AutoData said.

Hyundai; Total 2007 sales: 467,009; Percentage change from 2006: +2.2%; Total number of models: nine
Hyundai’s U.S. sales have quietly grown about 24% since 2002. Hyundai has stopped being quiet about it, starting with a recent Super Bowl ad to introduce its first luxury car, the 2009 Hyundai Genesis, which goes on sale this summer. The ad neatly sums up the new car’s positioning: “more spacious than a BMW 7 Series, but priced like a BMW 3 Series.” The V-8 Genesis will be priced starting around $30,000. That’s half the price of some competing models, but more than people are used to paying for a Hyundai.


Jeep; Total 2007 sales: 475,237; Percentage change from 2006: +3%; Total number of models: six
It’s logical to assume that the Jeep brand belongs at the “Back of the Pack,” since SUVs like the Jeep Grand Cherokee are out of fashion. Critics have also been tough on the Jeep Compass and its sibling, the Dodge Nitro, especially for cheap-looking interiors. However, the four-door Jeep Wrangler, first introduced in October, 2006, has been a certifiable sales success, and reinforces Jeep’s off-road brand image. Total Wrangler sales jumped about 48%, in 2007, to 119,243, including close to 60% four-doors. That rate of increase may slow in 2008, but Wrangler sales should continue to improve.

Lincoln; Total 2007 sales: 131,487; Percentage change from 2006: +8.8%; Total number of models: five
While the Lincoln brand is closely associated with the hulking Town Car, that’s starting to change. Lincoln’s newer models, the MKZ sedan and the MKX crossover, both outsold the Town Car for the first time in 2007. True, that’s partly because the Town Car, which is mostly sold to fleets, has been out of production for a few months. The big Lincoln Navigator SUV gained share in 2007 even though its sales were flat, since the luxury SUV segment was off 3.1%, AutoData said.

Mazda; Total 2007 sales: 296,110; Percentage change from 2006: +9.8%; Total number of models: nine
The Mazda brand is a welcome sales success recently for Ford Motor, which owns a controlling interest in Mazda. Mazda’s best-selling model, the sporty Mazda3, climbed 27% in 2007, to 120,291, partly because of newer variants like the 250-hp Mazdaspeed3, which had its first full year of sales in 2007. In addition, sales nearly doubled in 2007 for the Mazda CX-7 crossover. Since 2005, Mazda sales are up about 15%. Meanwhile, journalists named the bigger Mazda CX-9 crossover North American Truck of the Year at the Detroit auto show in January, so Mazda’s sales success should continue.

Nissan; Total 2007 sales: 941,200; Percentage change from 2006: +4.5%; Total number of models: 13
Nissan Division is the perennial No. 3 import brand after Toyota and Honda, but Nissan gained on Dodge in 2007, a trend that could eventually put Nissan in the Top 5 U.S brands, after Chevrolet, Toyota, Ford, and Honda. Nissan’s best-seller, the Altima sedan, was redesigned in early 2007. Its sales rose a hefty 22.1% in 2007, to 284,762. A redesigned Murano SUV and the all-new 2008 Rogue crossover should keep the momentum going in 2008.

Saturn; Total 2007 sales: 240,091; Percentage change from 2006: +5.7%; Total number of models: six
Saturn was born in the late 1980s as “A Different Kind of Car Company,” with its own factory, no price haggling, and few visible ties to parent General Motors. The downside of independence was that Saturn eventually became starved for new and unique product. By 2004, sales dwindled to 212,017. Today’s Saturn is a lot less different, and moderately more successful. Saturn now shares factories and product platforms with other GM divisions, especially Germany’s Opel. Starting in January, Opel and Saturn both sell the compact Astra model. The Saturn Outlook, Buick Enclave, and GMC Acadia also share a platform.

Back of the Pack
Acura; Total 2007 sales: 180,104; Percentage change from 2006: - 10.8%; Total number of models: five
Honda’s Acura Division was the first upscale Japanese brand in 1986, but unlike Lexus, Acura hasn’t lived down its heritage as a “near-luxury” brand, rather than a head-to-head competitor for Europeans like Mercedes and BMW. That’s not likely to change any time soon. In the late 1990s, Acura also hurt itself by dropping model names like Integra and Legend, and replacing them with sound-alike names like CL, TL, and RL. In 2007, Acura’s trucks gained a combined 29.1% to 81,962, while every car model fell. The RDX was new for 2007, and the MDX was redesigned.

Buick; Total 2007 sales: 185,791; Percentage change from 2006: -23%; Total number of models: three
Buick on average has among the oldest buyers in the industry, which is bad news for the franchise long term. Oldsmobile was selling more vehicles than Buick when GM announced in 2000 that it was phasing out the Oldsmobile brand. GM strongly denies any plan to kill Buick or any other GM brand. For one thing, Buick is a strong brand in the exploding mainland China market. But the well-received, all-new 2008 Buick Enclave crossover was the lone positive note for U.S. sales for 2007. By itself, the Enclave replaces the Ranier, the Terraza, and the Rendezvous.

Chrysler; Total 2007 sales: 2,076,650; Percentage change from 2006: -3.4%; Total number of models: seven
The Chrysler brand had a hit with the aggressively styled Chrysler 300 model four years ago. Its next big introduction was the new-for-2008 Town & Country minivan, a big fish in a shrinking pond. Elsewhere in the lineup, “Hemi” engines are a positive for the Chrysler brand, but they are shared with Dodge and Jeep. Long term, Chrysler has to overcome a reputation for cars that look good but have inconsistent quality. In the last decade, Chrysler twice barely made the Top 10 in the J.D. Power & Associates Initial Quality Study, in 1999 and in 2006.

Dodge; Total 2007 sales: 1,058,402; Percentage change from 2006: -2.1%; Total number of models: 11
Dodge trucks outsell its cars by more than 2-to-1. That was a strength before gas prices took off, and America looked like Truck Nation. Today that means Dodge needs to roll out more small cars and crossovers. Dodge added the Caliber crossover for 2007, to decidedly mixed reviews--OK for utility, but demerits for the interior fit and finish, and for wimpy performance, considering the Caliber’s macho-man “Anything But Cute” introductory marketing campaign. Dodge revives the Challenger muscle car this year, which will help, image-wise.

Ford Division; Total 2007 sales: 2,087,048; Percentage change from 2006: -13.9%; Total number of models: 14
Ford attributes much of its 2007 sales decline to its decision to cut back on unprofitable sales to rental fleets and the discontinuation of its former workhorse, the Ford Taurus. However, sales of Ford’s best-seller, the F-150 pickup, also fell 13.5% in 2007, to 690,589. Even so, the F-150 maintained its streak as the nation’s best-selling vehicle, car or truck, for the 26th year in a row. Ford rolls out an all-new F-150 pickup this fall. The all-new replacement should easily outsell a lame duck, but by how much, and with how much market support, are to be determined.

GMC; Total 2007 sales: 484,932; Percentage change from 2006: +5.9%; Total number of models: six
The GMC brand is near the front of the “Back of the Pack,” thanks to the Acadia crossover, which shares underpinnings with the Buick Enclave and the Saturn Outlook. In a shrinking segment, GMC’s best-seller, the GMC Sierra pickup, also held its own, slipping only 1.5% in 2007, to 208,243. However, GMC remains an all-truck franchise in an environment that’s turning hostile to big, traditional trucks, and while GMC now has at least one crossover, unlike Chevrolet it lacks cars like the Malibu to spread the risk.

Hummer; Total 2007 sales: 55,986; Percentage change from 2006: -22%; Total number of models: two
Fairly or not, the Hummer brand epitomizes the “bigger is better” philosophy of the 1990s that inspired ever-larger SUVs and eventually created an anti-SUV backlash among environmentalists. Ironically, the original, military-inspired H1 model is long since retired in favor of the smaller H2 and the even smaller H3. In addition, Hummer showed a still smaller concept vehicle, the HX, at the recent Detroit auto show. The HX can run on 85% ethanol-15% gasoline. But Hummer’s gas-guzzling reputation will be hard to shake.

Infiniti; Total 2007 sales: 127,038; Percentage change from 2006: +4.5%; Total number of models: five
Image-wise, Infiniti positions itself as a luxury brand better than Acura, but not as well as Lexus. And unlike the Lexus LS, which is still going strong, sales of the former Infiniti flagship sedan, the Q45, petered out to next to nothing before it was quietly dropped for the 2007 model year. The Infiniti G35 sedan, which was updated for 2007, improved 33.4%, to 54,015, in 2007, enough to lift the whole brand. The redesigned QX56 luxury SUV also improved, but the other Infiniti models declined.

Jaguar; Total 2007 sales: 15,683; Percentage change from 2006: -24.4%; Total number of models: four
Jaguar’s U.S. sales in 2007 were barely more than one-fourth what they were five years earlier, when Jaguar was offering the X-Type, which was lampooned as the finest Ford Taurus money could buy. That falloff makes Jaguar an expensive hobby for its dealers, and for Ford. Therefore, Ford is selling Jaguar and also Land Rover, probably to India’s Tata Motors. The 2009 Jaguar XF, with a 300-hp V-8, is a hopeful sign for the brand’s future. It goes on sale in March at a starting price of $49,975.

Kia; Total 2007 sales: 305,473; Percentage change from 2006: +3.5%; Total number of models: eight
The Kia brand is dogged by a reputation for poor quality. That could start to change, since Kia was one of the most-improved brands in the 2007 J.D. Power & Associates Initial Quality Study, breaking into the “above industry average” category. The Kia Rio had the best IQS result in the subcompact car category, outscoring the Honda Fit. However, whether getting better or getting worse, quality image tends to lag reality, and some of Kia’s models have been among the worst in IQS.

Land Rover; Total 2007 sales: 49,550; Percentage change from 2006: +3.4%; Total number of models: four
Land Rover is a “Top Dog” in some ways, with record U.S. sales in 2007, despite high gas prices and tough times for SUVs. But parent Ford says Land Rover is expendable. Ford is selling Land Rover, probably to India’s Tata Motors. BMW sold Land Rover to Ford in 2000. For consumers, Land Rover has always been an illogical choice. Most people never drive off-road. Even fewer car owners drive their luxury vehicles off-road. Besides, Land Rover quality has always been terrible. It was dead last in the 2007 J.D. Power & Associates Initial Quality Study.

Mitsubishi; Total 2007 sales: 128,993; Percentage change from 2006: +8.4%; Total number of models: six
Mitsubishi sales grew in 2007, but the brand is still a shadow of its former self. Propelled by big incentives, U.S. sales hit a peak of 345,111 in 2002. But the former DaimlerChrysler walked away from a controlling interest in Mitsubishi in 2004, and withdrew its financial support. Mitsubishi had to scramble for new financing and had to go back to the drawing board for future product. U.S. sales may have bottomed out last year, at only 118,558. The 291-hp 2008 Lancer Evolution should generate some enthusiasm this year, but the brand remains in rebuilding mode.

Mercury; Total 2007 sales: 168,422; Percentage change from 2006: -7.2%; Total number of models: six
In a world with too many brands, and with parent brand Ford struggling, there’s less and less need for a separate brand like Mercury to sell rebadged Fords with few exterior tweaks and a few extra features. Ford in 2007 killed the Mercury Sable/Montego, the alter-ego to the Ford 500/Taurus, and took Mercury’s best seller, the big Grand Marquis sedan, sister to the Lincoln Town Car, out of production for a few months, while moving production to a different factory.

Pontiac; Total 2007 sales: 358,022; Percentage change from 2006: -13%; Total number of models: six
Pontiac is about to introduce the all-new G8 sedan in March, which should build some needed excitement to the “We Build Excitement” brand. One of the most exciting things Pontiac did in recent memory was to give away G6 models to Oprah Winfrey’s studio audience, but that was back in 2004. The G8 is built by GM’s Holden subsidiary in Australia. So was the 2004-06 Pontiac GTO, which flopped because of bland styling, high prices, and impossible expectations raised by invoking the name of the original 1960s GTO.

Subaru; Total 2007 sales: 187,206; Percentage change from 2006: -7%; Total number of models: four
Subaru is a niche player. All of its vehicles have all-wheel drive, which sets it apart from more formidable import brands like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan, which can easily undercut Subaru on price, for their bread-and-butter, front-drive products. Subaru introduces an all-new Forester this spring. The Forester is a small, car-based SUV. Sales for the old model fell 13.4%, to 44,530, in 2007. The new model should do better, but relatively speaking, the Subaru brand will stay in the background.

Suzuki; Total 2007 sales: 101,884; Percentage change from 2006: +0.6%; Total number of models: four
Suzuki is raising its U.S. profile, after more than tripling its U.S. sales since 1997. Since 2006, Suzuki has run TV commercials that show both Suzuki motorcycles and SUVs (even though they are retailed by different dealers). In one, a man and a woman swap a two-wheeler for a four-wheeler and vice versa, and tease each other about which is more fun to drive. The XL7 SUV was Suzuki’s best-seller in 2007. But brand awareness is low. Suzuki was also near the bottom of the 2007 J.D. Power & Associates Initial Quality Study.

Volkswagen; Total 2007 sales: 230,571; Percentage change from 2006: -2.3%; Total number of models: six
Volkswagen’s U.S. sales were down 2.3% in 2007, including increases for the Volkswagen Eos hard-top convertible, and the new-generation Volkswagen Rabbit. Both were new for the 2007 model year. The original VW Rabbit was sold in the U.S. from 1974 to 1984. In 2008, VW plans to add a clean, quiet, powerful diesel version of its top seller, the Jetta. That should help sales, tempered by the fact that most American consumers have a dim view of diesels, remembering smoky, smelly, noisy, and underpowered diesels from the 1980s.


Volvo; Total 2007 sales: 106,363; Percentage change from 2006: -8.7%; Total number of models: eight
Unlike the other import brands in Ford’s former Premier Automotive Group--Aston Martin, Jaguar, and Land Rover--Ford Motor says it will keep Volvo Car (not to be confused with Volvo Heavy Truck). Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally said in November that the parent will reposition Volvo as a true premium brand, as opposed to near-premium. But Volvo has been moving downmarket. Its newest model in 2007 was the tiny, entry-level C30 hatchback, which accounted for 2,103 units, late in the year. Sales of the small S40 sedan and V50 wagon combined dropped 27.3% in 2007.

JohnH4260

NFL Players and Their Cars

Player: Marcus Stroud; Position: Defensive Tackle; Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Cars: Five of Stroud's cars are Chevrolets: He has a 1970 Chevelle, a 1974 Caprice Classic convertible, a 1995 Chevrolet Impala that has a 383 "stroker" engine with twin turbos; a 2007 Corvette, and a 2008 Impala. "I pretty much like Chevrolets," he says.
He also owns a 2007 Chrysler Aspen, a 2007 Ford F-250, and a 2007 Mercedes S550. And he traded in his 2006 Bentley Flying Spur for a 2008 Bentley Arnage.
On what he drives to the game: "On game days I drive the Bentley Arnage. When I go play, I look at it as taking care of business. When I get in my Bentley, I feel like I'm the CEO of my own company. But I'm a country boy at heart, and when I'm feeling country, I jump in the Ford F-250, with the lift kits and big tires. On different days I switch between them. No use having them if you can't drive them."

Player: Emmitt Smith; Position: Running Back (the NFL's all-time leading rusher)
Team: Retired; best known for his 13 years and three Super Bowl wins with the Dallas Cowboys
Cars: 2008 Cadillac Escalade ESV (above); 2005 Mercedes-Benz 600 ; Hummer H2, either 2003 or 2004 (he's not sure)
On the coolest car he's ever driven: "Probably my Lamborghini. I had a 2002 Lamborghini Murcielago. It was Cowboy blue, with blue suede inside. It was tricked out. But I got rid of it. I didn't drive it enough."

Player: Orpheus Roye; Position: Defensive Tackle; Team: Cleveland Browns
Cars: 1996 Buick Regal; 2004 Mercedes CL-Class; 2005 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged; 2006 Dodge Ram SRT10; 2006 Bentley Flying Spur; 2006 Mercedes CL-Class; 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550; 2007 Maybach 57 S
On how he keeps up with the auto industry: "I read up on the Internet or I go buy the books. Then I get more in-depth, like what kind of reactions will I get. You see videos. You read on certain reports."

Player: Carlos Rogers; Position: Cornerback; Team: Washington Redskins
Cars: 2006 BMW 750Li; 2007 Mercedes S550 ; 2008 Range Rover (which replaced a 2006 Cadillac Escalade)
On growing out of customization: "When I first got my Escalade, I got 26 inch rims and painted it candy red. I had four TVs and the roof was suede. When I got my BMW, my Mercedes, and my Range Rover, I just put rims on them. With my first car I wanted to do all those things and see what it was like. As a young man growing up, you see that and you want that. After a while, once you get it, you don't even use it. You realize all them TVs and things like that and changing paint — it doesn't do nothing. I probably used my TVs five or six times. I told myself that was the last time I would do that with any of my cars."

Player: Dion Grant; Position: Safety; Team: Seattle Seahawks
Cars: 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass; 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged; 2008 Mercedes CL63
On how he decides where to keep his cars: "I have a home in Atlanta. I ship the cars back and forth. I brought the CL and the old school to Seattle when it was nicer, and I drove both of them."

Player: Jamar Fletcher; Position: Cornerback; Team: Houston Texans
Cars: 2003 Mercedes-Benz S55 AMG; 2005 Bentley GT Continental
On his car-buying philosophy: "I'm not like some of these guys. I keep it fairly simple, but I am pretty fancy with what I have. If I am going to get a vehicle, it's because I plan on keeping it. I like to be unique."

Player: Rod Coleman; Position: Defensive Tackle; Team: Cleveland Browns
Cars: 1977 Chevy Caprice Classic convertible; 1977 Chevrolet Impala convertible; 1991 Acura Legend; 1996 Chevrolet Imapala SS; 2006 Chevrolet Tahoe; 2007 Dodge Ram (above); BMW 645i
On how he decides what to drive each day: "It's like my personality — sometimes I like to be low key and sometimes I like to show off and sometimes I like to be laid back."

Player: Roderick "Rock" Cartwright; Position: Running Back; Team: Washington Redskins
Cars: 2007 Land Rover Range Rover
On why he does not own a lot of cars: "It's only me and I can only drive one car. I can't drive three cars. When you first get in the league, you see older guys with all the cars. But once you get older, you see that you can only drive one car at a time. Why spend all that money? You live and you learn as far as the car thing and playing football."

Player: Ronnie Brown; Position: Running Back; Team: Miami Dolphins
Cars: 1964 Chevy Impala SS; 2005 BMW 750Li; 2006 Land Rover Range Rover HSE; 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550
On how his collection was formed: "I don't plan on getting any more. I always wanted the Range Rover. It was the first car I purchased coming out of college. Then I got the BMW, because I like the way it drives. When the Mercedes came out I liked the way it looked it's roomy and of course it's elegant. I got the old school, because being in South Florida, you see a lot of them. I saw one I liked, and I ended up getting it."

F_Porsche

50k cars? I mean AMGs are common but not even as common as BMW Ms

What you guys seem to forget is that not every place is as crowded with AMGs as SoCal..although I have never been there.
I have been to places like Paris, Monaco and obvouisly the biggest cities in Germany but I rarely see more than 5 AMGs over one or two days.

JohnH4260

What Your Car Says To The Opposite Sex

Volvo S40; Base Price: $24,365
The woman who drives this car is often in her 30s, college-educated and likely isn't status-conscious. She is more concerned about the welfare of her family and friends than about image.

Audi RS4; Base Price: $66,910
The Audi RS4 driver is a well-rounded man who wants a functional, practical, stylish and high-performance car in one package. He is highly successful and confident, and is comfortable shopping on Rodeo Drive or doing business on Park Avenue.

Jaguar XF; Base Price: $49,975
The woman behind the wheel of the Jaguar XF is an educated and highly successful woman. She surrounds herself with the finer things in life and is equally as likely to be single or married.

Porsche 911; Base Price: $72,400
This man knows what he wants and sets out to get it. He won't settle. He is focused, determined and driven to succeed and likes to reward himself for achieving his goals.

Lexus RX 350; Base Price: $37,500
Behind the wheel of this car is a married mother who is a college-educated professional and takes great pride in herself and her accomplishments. She surrounds herself with luxurious things because she has the money to pamper herself. But she doesn't make frivolous purchases; she wants luxury that fulfills a purpose and performs a function.

Volkswagen R32; Base Price: $32,990
This guy is most likely in his 40s, successful and outgoing. He seeks a high-performance car and has the money to buy what he wants when he wants it, but prefers substance over fluff.

Acura TSX; Base Price: $27,785
The driver behind the wheel of the Acura TSX is a successful woman who is likely married with a median income of $87,000. She likes tasteful things but isn't into flash and status.

Mercedes Benz CL Class; Base Price: $103,875
This affluent man is a captain of industry or a very successful professional who wants it known that he has arrived. He surrounds himself in tasteful luxury and attacks life. He doesn't waste time on the mundane or frivolous.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class; Base Price: $31,975
This woman demands respect. She is a successful, independent thinker with discerning tastes. She is not shy about what she wants, likes to make bold statements and is driven to succeed.

Lincoln Mark LT; Base Price: $38,340
This well-to-do guy wants it all and is in a position to get it. He likes the best things in life and doesn't mind being noticed. He is driven to succeed and likes to make a statement wherever he goes.

JohnH4260

Fastest Zero-to-60 Cars

1. Bugatti Veyron: 2.5 seconds
The car maker says the quadruple-turbocharged, W-16 engine (think two V-8s) in its Veyron 16.4 produces 1,001 hp. In turn, that results in a blistering zero-to-60 mph time of around 2.5 seconds, according to reviews. Since production began in late 2005, cars have been built exclusively to order. Suggested retail in the U.S. is around $1.4 million, depending on the dollar-euro exchange rate.

2. SSC Ultimate Aero TT: 2.8 seconds (tie)
SSC Autos LLC says its Ultimate Aero TT model, which is unrelated to the Audi TT, has a zero-to-60 mph time of about 2.8 seconds (OK, 2.78 seconds). Suggested retail is $549,000. Junus Khan, SSC sales director, said only one dealer, Motorcars of Las Vegas, sells the car. It has a twin-turbocharged V-8 engine that generates 1,183 hp, Khan said.

3. Saleen S7: 2.8 seconds (tie)
The outrageously styled Saleen S7 is one of the few cars in the world with a claimed zero-to-60 mph sprint of less than three seconds, or 100 mph in 5.9 seconds, thanks to a twin-turbocharged, 750-hp V8 engine. The body is made of light but strong "honeycomb" composite panels. Suggested retail is $592,700. Saleen also builds cars strictly for the race track.

4. RUF CTR3: 3.2 seconds
The CTR3’s zero-to-60 mph figure is conservative, said Wayne Corley, who co-owns the brand’s sole U.S. dealership, RUF Auto Centre in Dallas. RUF (all-capitals), is named for founder Alois Ruf, Sr. The company modifies factory Porsches in Germany, to perform even better. RUF also builds its own cars, like the CTR 3, which still shares some parts with the Porsche 911 GT3. Suggested retail is about $520,000, depending on the exchange rate.

5. Porsche 911 Turbo 3.4 seconds
The 911 Turbo is one of the few cars where the factory’s official zero-to-60 time for the automatic transmission is faster than the manual (by 0.3 seconds). That is due to Porsche’s famously quick Tiptronic transmission, an automatic that can also be shifted manually, without a clutch. The 480-hp 911 Turbo has 3.6-liter, six-cylinder, twin-turbocharged engine. Suggested retail: $122,900.

6. Mercedes-Benz SLR 722 Edition: 3.5 seconds (estimate)
The SLR 722 Edition, named for a winner of the famous Mille Miglia race in Italy, is the fastest Mercedes-Benz to 60 mph. Like other European makers, Mercedes-Benz more often cites the zero-to-62 mph figure, 3.6 seconds in this case. That’s the equivalent of 100 kilometers per hour. Spokesman Rob Moran estimated 3.5 seconds to 60 mph. Suggested retail: $482,750

7. Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano: 3.6 seconds (estimate)
Like Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari is another maker that only records an "official" time for zero-to-62 mph--in this case, 3.7 seconds for the 599 GTB Fiorano, said spokesman Toscan Bennett. He added that Ferrari’s official times are probably conservative, since "buff book" magazines have achieved faster times in testing. The 599 GTB Fiorano has a 611-hp V12 engine. Suggested retail is $280,295.

8. Chevrolet Corvette Z06: 3.7 seconds
The Z06 is GM’s fastest production car ever. It has a 7.0-liter, V8 engine, boasting 505 hp, vs. "only" 6.0 liters of displacement and 400 hp for the standard Corvette. Extensive use of metals like titanium, aluminum and magnesium, plus carbon fiber and composites, make the Z06 strong but relatively light, considering the huge engine. Suggested retail is $70,000.

9. Lamborghini Lamborghini Gallardo Coupe: 3.9 seconds (estimate, tie)
The dramatically low-slung Lamborghini Gallardo Coupe has a 520-hp, mid-mounted V10 engine. The company says the Gallardo hits 62 mph in 3.95 seconds. The Gallardo is built on a lightweight aluminum frame, covered with glossy, plastic body panels. All-wheel drive is standard. Like other Lamborghinis, the Gallardo is named for a breed of fighting bull. Suggested retail is $178,550.

10. Dodge Viper SRT-10: 3.9 seconds (tie)
The 2008 Viper SRT10 goes on sale later this summer. It has a new, 8.4-liter V10 engine that produces 600 hp. Dodge officially states that a conservative estimate for its zero-to-60 mph time is "under four seconds," but won’t say exactly how much under, according to spokesman Todd Goyer. Pricing for the 2008 model has not been released yet but should be around $90,000.

AustinGuy

They still make the Dodge Viper?

JohnH4260

Top 10 Worst Cities for Speeding

1. Detroit, Mich. suburbs
2. Colorado Springs, Colo.
3. Houston, Texas
4. Orlando, Fla.
5. Nashville, Tenn.
6. Ann Arbor, Mich.
7. Albuquerque, N.M.
8. Washington, D.C.
9. Denver, Colo.
10. Virginia Beach, Va.

Source: Speed Trap Exchange

JohnH4260

Winners of the 12th annual JD Powers & Associates APEAL survey. Power's results are based on responses from 91,000 car purchasers, contacted between February and May of 2007.

Most Gratifying Vehicles of 2007

Compact Car: Volkswagen Jetta
Compact Sporty Car: Volkswagen GTI
Compact Premium Sporty Car: Porsche Cayman; Runner-up: Porsche Boxster; Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
Entry Premium Car: BMW 3 Series
Midsize Premium Car: Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Large Premium Car: Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Premium Sporty Car: BMW 6 Series
Midsize Sporty Car: Ford Mustang
Midsize Car: Nissan Altima Sedan
Large Car: Hyundai Azera
Compact Multi-Activity Vehicle: Honda CR-V
Midsize MAV: Ford Edge
Large MAV: Nissan Armada
Midsize Premium MAV: BMW X5; Runner-up (tie): Audi Q7; Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Large Premium MAV(tie): Cadillac Escalade EXT and Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
Large Pickup: GMC Sierra LD
Midsize Pickup: Honda Ridgeline
Van: Honda Odyssey

cjf_moraga

Wow - thats quite a haul for Mercedes... like Toyota or Lexus did not win anything? Obviously the respondents don't read Consumer Reports...

Chris

JohnH4260

Mercedes Benz Solves The Li-ion Puzzle For Automotive Use

Daimler AG has achieved a crucial breakthrough in battery technology. The Stuttgart-based automaker is the world's first manufacturer to have succeeded in adapting lithium-ion technology to the demanding requirements of automotive applications. Until now, the technology has been used primarily in consumer electronics. The new battery will be used in the series-production S 400 BlueHYBRID beginning next year. This important technology was possible thanks to 25 patents held by Daimler.

JohnH4260

10 Things Never To Say To A Dealer

Ready, Set, Go!
1. "I'm ready to buy now."
This is an admission of weakness and an invitation for the dealer to throw out a price that's slightly below the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) to see if you'll take the bait. It shows that you're too eager and willing to consider an offer, and it also gives salespeople the advantage by allowing them to talk you up as opposed to you talking them down. But by adding some very precise parameters, you'll sound confident and strong from the start.

"Don't let them know that you're ready to buy without being very particular. If you're ready, say that you'll buy, but only under these particular conditions," says Gentile.

There are two schools on negotiating. Going into the process, Gentile reminds consumers to be wary of the dealer cost. Consumer Reports has something called wholesale price, which is the normal dealer invoice price minus all relevant rebates and incentives. Similarly, most long-standing price-information services advise buyers to research the dealer invoice, along with any relevant incentives, then make a lowball offer that's maybe just a few hundred dollars above invoice. The dealer will follow your figure with a counteroffer that then allows you to go back and forth until there is a compromise.

Conversely, a second school believes that making the first offer puts the buyer in a weak position. "When you make an offer on a car, you're digging yourself into a hole," says James "Spike" Bragg, a consumer advocate and founder of Fighting Chance, an information service for new-car buyers. "That offer will be as good as it gets. There's so much today in 'under the radar' sales incentives to dealers, you don't want to limit yourself."

According to Bragg, many of the dealer incentives today are awarded on a dealer-by-dealer basis, often handed out for meeting sales targets. Because of this, you can't pin down these incentives on a particular vehicle, and you never know which dealership might be able to provide the better price at a given time.

Bragg's method involves faxing quote requests from several different dealerships and asking them for their best bottom-line price on a particular model. His clients sometimes manage to negotiate prices well below invoice, even considering all published incentives. In this day of increased under-the-radar incentives, this method doesn't limit you to a bottom line and certainly has its merits if you're willing to put in the effort.

Monthly Payment
2. "I can afford this much per month."
"Don't tell the dealer what you're willing to pay per month. This is the biggest mistake a shopper can make. Often the dealer will focus on a monthly payment scheme, insisting you are receiving a great deal, but at the end of the day you won't really know what you paid, advises Gentile.

If the dealer can get a number out of you, a common trick is to ask if you can squeeze out a slightly higher monthly payment, then raise the bottom-line price accordingly by hundreds or even thousands. Avoid this by insisting that you focus only on the purchase price. Walk away if the salesperson only wants to talk in monthly payments.


Trade-in
3. "Yes, I have a trade-in …"
Don't tell salespeople you have a trade-in until a final transaction price is set. If you do and the deal hasn't been made yet, they may try to distract you with the "great" deal they're giving you on your trade-in as they skimp on the real deal. And if you catch that, they may try writing your trade-up for less.

"You'll see games being played — they'll play one off on the other," Gentile says. Once you've decided on a sale price, then you can see what they'll give you for your old car.

Cash-Only Please
4. "I'm only buying the car with cash."
Car dealers make a significant chunk of added profit when they sell you financing. If you don't at least leave the dealer with the possibility that he or she might sell you financing, you simply won't be getting the best deal. Bragg recommends saying something like "I haven't really thought that through yet. Maybe we'll see what you have after we agree on a price."

But be truly noncommittal with financing, even though it's a good idea to line up tentative financing with your lender before you go car shopping.

Still Debating
5. "I'm not sure…which model do you think I need?"
If you're this undecided, you may end up driving away in a vehicle you neither wanted nor needed. Do the research in advance, and make your first shopping trip a short one. Use this opportunity to gather information and take your spec vehicle for a short test drive. If your uncertainty is apparent, you may end up buying the model with the most add-on equipment, the highest sticker price and, of course, the most profit for the dealer. Before you go shopping, narrow your choices down to three or four vehicles that fit your needs.

My Dream Car
6. "Oh, I've wanted one of these all my life."
As soon as you've lost yourself in the dreamy vision of that gleaming convertible, the salesperson has you hooked, and your chances of getting a great deal are over. "Don't get caught heavy breathing," says Bragg. "Certainly don't admit to your spouse — with the salesman listening in the backseat — that you're in love with the car." Here's where you need to have a communication plan. Try to sound objective and rational. Point out some pros and cons and be observant and calm. Just don't say that you have to have this car.

What Everyone Wants
7. "I'll take whatever the popular options are."
Don't ever ask for the "popular options" especially on a luxury model that already comes loaded. It's an open invitation for overpriced dealer add-ons such as interior protectant, window etching or undercoating. They're all things you can come back for later. Instead, go through the equipment list at home after your first visit to the dealership and then decide exactly what you need.

Lowest You Can Go
8. "What's the lowest price you can give me?"
Most likely, this question won't be taken seriously, and you will be met with a predictable performance. The salesperson will wince, maybe talk to the manager, fiddle with numbers and eventually come back with a price that probably isn't a very good deal for you. But there may be so much apparent effort in this performance that you'll be pressured into settling for that final number. Don't. To avoid this, make an informed and reasonable low offer, then wait for a counteroffer. Don't be afraid of silence. Conversely, don't be surprised if there's even a little drama.

Doing The Math
9. "Sure, I'll look at the numbers with you."
Perhaps quite early in your visit, the salesperson will most likely make an offer to "just go look at the numbers." Dealers do this when they sense you're undecided, but they want to be in the position of control. Getting you in the office makes it harder for you to back out. Wait until you can call the shots of what you want at what price.

The Haggle Factor
10. "I think you can do a lot better than that."
Never scold or accuse the salespeople. Be polite. Compliment them, and show respect. You'll never get the best price if you talk down to them. At least for the moment, you want them to be your friends. Let the scene play out, but leave when the deal's not good enough by quietly suggesting that the competition across town might be more willing to work with you.

JohnH4260

The 2008 World Performance Car Nominees. The winners will be announced at the New York International Auto Show on Thursday, March 20, 2008.


Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster
Audi R8
Audi S5 Coupe
BMW M3
Honda Civic R (Japanese & European spec)
Maserati GranTurismo
Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series
Mercedes-Benz CL 63 AMG
Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG
Renault Clio F1 Team R27