"Lexus...Toyota...Same thing, Japanese, right? Let's not forget Pearl Harbor".

[Kowalski]

It definitely worth a watch!



Only three bodies?! It sucks!

 

[Yperion]

Lol, very nice.

Robert de Niro ...

 

[audi_rudy]

haha, enough room for two bodies in the trunk

 

[cawimmer430]

Seen this before.

From what movie is this?

 

[rev]

Seen this before.

From what movie is this?

It's from the movie Analyze That. IMO, that part where he tries to sell that Audi, is the best of the movie. By the way, De Niro has the same opinion with me. He also thinks that Lexus is just Toyota.

 

[klier]

It's from the movie Analyze That. IMO, that part where he tries to sell that Audi, is the best of the movie. By the way, De Niro has the same opinion with me. He also thinks that Lexus is just Toyota.

But if Lexus is just Toyota, Audi is just VW, right?

 

[rev]

But if Lexus is just Toyota, Audi is just VW, right?

Toyota puts a Lexus badge on their expensive cars so people don't think their buying a cheap every day car. No matter how much it costs, it wouldn't sell the same with a Toyota badge on it. About Audi, NO, it's not just VW. Even if Audi is a part of the VW Group, its still a totaly different carmaker. It has its own history and its not just a luxury division of VW.

 

[Kowalski]

I think De Niro has a thing for Audi. This is the second time he is in a film with an Audi S8 in it. Anyone remember Ronin?

 

[Yperion]

But if Lexus is just Toyota, Audi is just VW, right?

I knew that Audi's success hurts a lot of people but i don't know why some BMW fans are afraid of Audi so much.

 

[EnI]

I knew that Audi's success hurts a lot of people but i don't know why some BMW fans are afraid of Audi so much.

My problem is not with Audi but with media. They pay to much attention to Audi expansion & plans lately, and portraying it as something really exceptional.

Audi is definitely not the only luxury car maker that is growing. So are BMW, MB, Lexus etc. Audi is definitely not the only premium car maker releasing new models: so are others.

Eg.
MB: B-class, R-class, GL-class, CLS, upcoming GLK-class, etc
BMW: 1er hatch, X3, 6er coupe & cabrio, 1er coupe & cabrio, X6 SAC, F5 etc

I had the same problem with media reporting about Lexus & their +300% growth of IS and GS. And Lexus global plans.

Media are overreacting with claims like: "Audi overtaking BMW" etc

Also I found Audi claims about "becoming a luxury car maker leader by 2015" very pretentious. It's very pretentious to predict what will happen in 8 years. And making your prediction from your point of view only (not knowing the competitors' plans) is even more pretentious. Such claims are made just for attracting attention - and Audi is very successful here.

Audi is a nice brand, just like BMW & MB (and even Lexus) are - a successful company making superb cars. But there is very thin line between being ambitious & pretentious. And I found media reports about Audi (and some claims by Audi officials) very pretentious.

 

[Bruce]

But if Lexus is just Toyota, Audi is just VW, right?

Lol! Nice one Klier

Toyota puts a Lexus badge on their expensive cars so people don't think their buying a cheap every day car. No matter how much it costs, it wouldn't sell the same with a Toyota badge on it. About Audi, NO, it's not just VW. Even if Audi is a part of the VW Group, its still a totaly different carmaker. It has its own history and its not just a luxury division of VW.

Regarding the last statement: Perhaps that's true, but I would please ask you not to downplay Lexus. Because as someone who has much experience with Toyota and Lexus', I can tell you Lexus' are anything but rebadged Toyota's.

You have a right to your own opinion .. I'm just telling you what I think

 

[Yperion]

And I found media reports about Audi (and some claims by Audi officials) very pretentious.

You really think so? That is not something negative IMO , i always found BMW executives to be arrogant. I guess when you are up there among the best in the world it's certain that you will have some kind of bad attitude.

 

[EnI]

You really think so? That is not something negative IMO , i always found BMW executives to be arrogant. I guess when you are up there among the best in the world it's certain that you will have some kind of bad attitude.

I'm not saying arrogant - the claims are very polite & gallant, yet pretentious. I'm just saying it's pretentious to claim you will be a leader in 2015 - ie. in 8 years. A lot can happen in 8 years. More wishes than realistic plans. It like "we will win the war" claim by Bush few years ago. You can put every single resource & effort to achieve such plan, but some things are certainly out of your control and can easily ruin your plan.

I'm just saying making prediction 8 years in advance publicly is very unusual in serious business - and very pretentious. It's something you discuss behind closed doors with your supervisory board or your investors - with many "in the case" factors included, but making such claims publicly is often considered as immature, pretentious & even harmful (can produce to much expectations).

I was very surprised Audi is doing that. Having "Piech syndrom" perhaps? It's OK to be ambitious, yet sometimes its better to be quiet - also the case with BMW in pre-Rover era: they were so pretentious & full of great plans & having executives with enormous egos - and we all know how it ended.

 

[Yperion]

Well Piech still pulls the strings in Porsche and consequently VW. Needless to say that i admire him , that guy had vision and is one of the greatest personalities of the automotive industry despite some wrong decisions he made (eg. Phaeton , Veyron).

 

[YoUhimhER]

lexus = toyota because they were sold as toyota in their home country, only just recently they rebadged them as lexus. we can't say the same for audi and vw can we?

 

[EnI]

Well Piech still pulls the strings in Porsche and consequently VW. Needless to say that i admire him , that guy had vision and is one of the greatest personalities of the automotive industry despite some wrong decisions he made (eg. Phaeton , Veyron).

Yep. BMW also had a great vision in 90's ... but made "some" bad decisions ... eg. Rover ...

Mind the Piech's failure weren't Phaeton or Veyron, but the fact he neglected core VW models (Golf, Jetta, Passat) - not making their production more efficient & profitable. That was his fault! In this is what is trying to correct now with Porsche's help. He was dreaming his dreams, instead of dealing with cruel reality. But I hope his mistakes will be corrected soon & VW there where it belongs: on top.

 

[rev]

Regarding the last statement: Perhaps that's true, but I would please ask you not to downplay Lexus. Because as someone who has much experience with Toyota and Lexus', I can tell you Lexus' are anything but rebadged Toyota's.

You have a right to your own opinion .. I'm just telling you what I think

First of all, I respect your opinions and beliefs about Lexus, as you do with mine. Second of all, I, nor my parents, have ever owned a Lexus. Maybe that's a reason why I can't have a much better opinion about this car maker. However, it doesn't mean that I'm totally clueless and making things up about this company. I have read quite a lot about Lexus and I know, that Lexus is basically a luxury division of Toyota. Their cars may be really reliable and luxurious and at the same time being a serious competitor for Mercedes and BMW, but to me, Lexus' are just rebadged Toyotas. Lexus' are made by Toyota, they are made with Toyota parts, they are equipped with engines that are engineered and made by Toyota, the whole philosophy those cars have, are Toyotas philosophy. Many GCF members will disagree with what I say, but there are also those who will agree with me(even if there aren't many of them). Thats my opinion and unfortunately, there isn't much that can be done to change it.

 

[Bruce]

Thats my opinion and unfortunately, there isn't much that can be done to change it.

Which is fine I don't expect you to change your views, especially based soley on my post.

 

[Mr. M]

Robert seems to have an amazing confidence to his demeanure... I certainly admire him.

 

[far2000]

While the 3 big german brands are doing good sales, it is Toyota and lexus that are truly dominating sales, due 2 there Reliability and Cars for people attitude, that is truly why i would always love mercedes but never dare own 1, btw: currently driving a toyota ,,

trust me the amount of problems in Merc and Bmw are truly astounding, an quite a few ppl in my family own them.......

for eg, the new ML had 2 recalls i know about in the first 3 months, Mercedes South africa never had parts for Old c diesel for a good few months leaving motorists stranded......i hope before the german brands look 2 increase productivity they increase quality......