Year-to-date sales figures:

1. MB: 30,028
2. Lexus: 29,304
3. BMW: 28,163

Lexus is a close second despite the massive Toyota recall fiasco (By the way, you can show your support to Toyota by signing the “I Support Toyota” petition). MB had a fabulous month which enabled them to take the lead, BMW remains at 3rd but still well within the striking distance. Seems like the Toyota recall is hurting Lexus but definitely not lethal, people are still buying Lexus products for their reliability, luxury and the legendary customer service.

Few interesting facts worth to point out…

1. Another bad month for the HS, a hybrid ES looks better than ever now?

2. The 7-series really took a charge in February, maybe the LS and S-class are showing their ages?

3. The Acura TL sales remain pathetic month after month, this might be the most epic fail in Honda’s history.

4. Audi’s sales number is steady but still isn’t where they want it to be with the big boys.

Following is the complete sales number break down for all luxury brands:

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1. Lexus: 15,517
2. MB: 15,158
3. BMW: 13,163

Lexus remained strong among the luxury brands even under the massive Toyota recall that’s currently going on and MB is a very close second. As for BMW… after the “supposed-to-take-over-as-number-one” year in 2009, the question now is where is it headed with all the niche products like the X6M, X5M and the 5-series GT.

Few interesting facts worth to point out…

1. The HS sales still isn’t as well as Lexus had predicted, maybe some “spice” is missing for this car?

2. The LS sales went up compare to last year… facelift and the addition of the sports model are working?

3. BMW sold 5,418 3-series in january… this thing usually goes for 8,000 – 9,000 units per month just not that long ago. BMW losing its magic or people are getting smarter?

4. Acura sold 1,986 TLs, considering that the previous generation was challenging the 3-series for the top entry luxury sedan spot this is just plain PATHETIC. Still think the beak and ugliness isn’t hurting Acura?

Following is the complete sales number break down for all luxury brands:

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1. Lexus: 187,410
2. BMW: 176,374
3. MB: 170,403

One month to go and BMW is down by more than 11,000 units… The race has turned into let’s see who is going to capture the second spot, can MB pull out a miracle and steal it away from BMW?

Few interesting facts worth to point out…

1. Looks like Lexus will have no trouble to sell 200,000 units again this year in a down market despite all the naysayers have been predicted earlier this year.

2. TL is fading fast, once sold for 7,000 units a month now can barely pass 2,000. For those of you still think that Acura doesn’t have a problem? Wake up…

3. What’s up with Infiniti? They in deeper doo-doo than Acura and if you are doing worse than Acura that means you really suck a**.

4. RX is going strong as usual and outsold the entire Infiniti and Audi brand in the month of November.

5. Audi A4’s sales are lackluster, I am sure this is not what they had in mind with the new and improved (or the lack of in terms of interior) A4. Still think Audi doesn’t have a problem with their pricing strategy here in the US? Stop drinking the kool-aids…

Following is the complete sales number break down for all luxury brands:

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1. Lexus: 168,910
2. BMW: 160,666
3. MB: 153,606

BMW is fading fast, by leading over 8,000 units with two more months go Lexus appears to have the 2009 luxury crown in the bag… MB had a solid month but is probably a little too late to challenge BMW for the number two spot.

Few interesting facts worth to point out…

1. Lexus again sold more than 8,000 RX (8,316 to be exact), which makes it best selling luxury vehicle second month in a roll. The RX also single handily outsold the entire Audi, Infiniti line and the BMW 3-series.

2. Acura only send 2,512 TLs out the lots in the month of October, which is over 40% drop from last year… Still thinking the new TL isn’t a flop? Think again…

Following is the complete sales number break down for all luxury brands:

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1. Lexus: 149,408
2. BMW: 144,223
3. MB: 135,413

The lead that Lexus had over BMW has more than doubled from 2,000 in August to over 5,000 in September, seems to me that BMW’s chance to overtake Lexus in 2009 is all about to be over… With trailing Lexus by over 10,000 units MB is edging closer and closer to be eliminated from the battle.

Few interesting facts worth to point out…

1. Lexus sold 8,228 RX, which makes it the best selling luxury vehicle in September. The RX also single handily outsold the entire Acura, Audi or Infiniti brand.

2. Cadillac’s sales jumped over 4,000 units from August, impressive!

3. BMW 3-series dropped about 3,000 units from last month, don’t exactly know what is going on there but that is not a good sign for BMW.

Following is the complete sales number break down for all luxury brands:

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Recently I got into a debate with a friend about whether or not Honda/Acura has been a disappointment in the last several years, so it got me thinking… How far exactly did Honda/Acura fall compare to its status and reputation back in the late 80s and 90s, I mean Honda used to have the best value in terms of price and performance back in the 90s, they also didn’t look bad at all. When Acura and Lexus first started as the two first Japanese luxury brands they were head-to-head all the way till the mid-90s. The first and second generation Acura Legends were magnificent cars, the interior fit-n-finish can rival some high end cars today such as the LS460. However, Lexus has really pulled away in the last 10 years…

I know a lot of people are still in their 90s cave pretending that Honda was still the poor man’s BMW it used to be and that’s exactly what Honda wants you to do, they are riding on past reputation. However, the truth is that their cars all got bigger, interiors got cheaper and Acuras got a whole lot uglier. They used to have “fun” cars at relatively obtainable price like the CRX, Integra and S2000 but not anymore. They hung the NSX out dry for more than 10 years without any major update before killing it, when the NSX first debut it’s the first Japanese supercar that can rival the European exotics but by the time it goes out, many sports sedans can give it a serious run for its money…

Also, Honda has always said they will make Acura a first-tier luxury car company, however, everything that they are doing or did contradict to the goal. No V8 and RWD? Sure I agree that due to the fuel economy restriction it’ll be less likely for people to opt for high displacement V8s in the future. Personally I think supercharged/turbocharged V6 is the way to go, but that wouldn’t stop those people who is willing and able to pay for the V8 luxury car and there will ALWAYS be a group of people like that. In a way, here in America people associate V8 with luxury and there are still people who wouldn’t even sniff at a car if it doesn’t have 8 bangers under the hood. By the way, let’s take a step back drop the V8 discussion for a while, but how is Honda planning to make Acura first tier without a true flagship? Huh?

Ok, maybe Honda is doing better on the other fronts, such as the green technology like hybrid you say, after all they are one of the first companies to offer a mass produced hybrid, the Insight. The truth is that the new Insight is so terrible that it’s the first car Jeremy Clarkson has ever considered crashing into a tree, on purpose, so he didn’t have to drive it any more… The Honda Insight returns a worse fuel economy than the 2nd generation Prius but is only $2000 cheaper than the new Prius, the fit-n-finish and material use make the car felt like a tin can and the rough idle and transition between gasoline and electric make you feel you are riding a lawn mower. Don’t believe me? Read up the reviews for the new Honda Insight then you be a judge yourself.

So to summarize, Honda can’t do performance, can’t do luxury and can’t do green… It just amazes that there are still people yapping about how Toyota is “boring” and Honda makes “drives’ cars”. I got two words for those people…

WAKE UP

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I have to say that there is nothing awfully exciting right now or in the near future for me. If I absolutely must have to get a new car within the next 12 months here are some candidates:

Acura TL – SH-AWD + 300hp is inviting but the size a bit too big for my taste. 300hp would not be “enough” to offset the added weight by SH-AWD, something like 330hp is more desirable. Oh by the way, not to mention the ugly new front and rear styling, huge turn off…

BMW 335i – A very possible replacement candidate as long as I can overlook the interior styling. Oh and if I do get one I’ll make sure I lease it instead of purchase it.

BMW 335di – More expensive than the petrol 335i and not much (if any) performance gain.

BMW 135i – Kind of expensive for such a little car, the one in my liking would be around $43k… Also, it is 2 doors short for being ideal

Infiniti G37 – I’ll definitely consider this if something happens to my IS350…

Lexus IS250/350 C – Thanks but no thanks, weighs too much, not enough doors and performance isn’t as well as the sedans.

Pontiac G8 GT – I am really liking this car right now, a poor man’s 5-series at around $32k loaded. The only downsides are the gas-guzzling V8 and its GM heritage, not to mention that Pontiac is on its way and that doesn’t sit too well with me…

Based on the list looks like I’ll be driving my current ride for a long time to come.

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It is the common knowledge within the automotive industry as well as the auto enthusiast community that the 3-series is getting softer with each generation. Thus there are critics from the auto publications and the so-called “purists” claiming that it has lost the “soul” (whatever that is…).

Personally I don’t think the 3er is “falling” per se, it is just that the competitors are getting better so it really doesn’t stand out that much anymore compare to say, 10 years ago.

Let’s see who were 3er’s competitors back in 1999:

• Audi A4 (the closest one in my opinion)
• MB C-class (luxury yes, handling… didn’t stand a chance)
• Saab 9-3 (what’s that again?)

Now fast forward to year 2009:

• Acura TL/TL SH-AWD (arguably the best FWD car up to date, the SH-AWD version can give the 3-series a run for its money handling-wise. If one can get past the looks then this is a great value)
• Audi A4 (still a formidable and worthy challenger, although getting fatter with each iteration)
• Infiniti G37 (need I say more? It’s probably the best value in the whole automotive industry)
• Lexus IS350 (this car is one pedal and couple more inches for rear seat away from being perfect)
• MB C-class (getting better with each iteration)

Now this just makes you go… Wow, how the time has changed!

Source: http://autos.msn.com

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Image source: caraudiomag.com

Dear Acura,

Apparently it looks like you have developed a X6-fighter called the ZDX, if that’s the case then I have one question for you…

What the EFF are you thinking?!

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