NationStates Jolt Archive

What is your favorite European luxury/high-price car company?

Bentley, without a doubt.

rolls phantom

I'm a Mercedes guy myself...

and obviously i couldn't put every make on here... left out are brands like Aston Martin, Land/Range Rover, Maserati, Lamborghini to name a few

probably -- while i like the overall Mercedes brand -- if I could have just one car it would be an Aston Martin Virage (or its modern equivalent).

Rolls Royce and Bentley are two completely different companies

and Aston are my favourite. by a long way.

I know nothing of cars but my father's favorite is Porsche (Carrera GT).

Rolls Royce and Bentley arn't British anymore. What with the collapse of MG Rover, there arent any true British marques left, if you're talking cars that are vaguely practical.

There is no substitute-Porsche.

22,000 wins-wins in every type of racing it's ever been in. Championships in all but one. 17 wins at Le Mans, the next closest is Ferrari with 9. The first Porsche sold privately was raced the next weekend and won. It really is the best.

I'm presently looking at buying an 89 BMW 325i. I've heard that German automotive engineering is superlative, but I've also heard repair costs are monstrous on this make/model. Although I doubt that even new BMWs can match Bentleys or RRs in depth and refinement of luxury, I like the style of external style of the BMW more. (I confess I've only ever seen one real live Bentley on the street, and it was this wretched sea-foam green color, so that might be causing unfair bias).

I believe, shockingly enough, that Bentley is owned by Volkswagen. Is this true, or is it simply a rumour?

Quite probably yes, Rolls is owned by BMW

I believe, shockingly enough, that Bentley is owned by Volkswagen. Is this true, or is it simply a rumour?
this is true

and Rolls are owned by BMW

i'd thought Bentley was owned by Rolls...

but i digress

i had to consolidate... maximum of 10 options.

doubt that even new BMWs can match Bentleys or RRs in depth and refinement of luxury

You doubt it? I've been in them all, and it is no where near close. Dont forget though that the average Beemer costs about £30k, whereas the Rolls and Bentley are more in the £200k area

i'd thought Bentley was owned by Rolls...

but i digress

i had to consolidate... maximum of 10 options.
There was a hairy little bit of a bidding and promisary war in which the company was divided between VW and BMW. So now they are different companies that belong to different German companies. VW has done way more with Bentley then BMW has with RR.

But that was largely Ferry Porsche's nephew Ferdinand Piech being in charge of VW (the man who designed the 917-possibly the best race car ever) who left Porsche because he was 'too focused on racing.' Which is what he started to do towards the end of his run as head of VW with the W16 VW super car (still born), the Audi R8s and the Bentley Speed 12. He also started a high gas mileage project (the VW 1L) but that was more or less scrapped when he stepped down on schedule.

I know that they were bought by Ford a while ago, but they were European when they produced some of the best luxury sports cars ever. Aston Martin.

I know that they were bought by Ford a while ago, but they were European when they produced some of the best luxury sports cars ever. Aston Martin.
I think you could still consider them European. The head dude may be from Ford, and they are part of that Premium whatsit group that Ford has, but it's still headquartered in England and made there, not here. I'm not going to call Chryslers German just because they where bought by Mercedes...

I hate all capitalist companies.

lol. nice.

I hate all capitalist companies.
Then for you it's the Trabant (http://www.codeman.fi/photo/trabant.jpg)?

You forgot about Maybach: V12 500 HP, 10 airbags, interphone, 5 m 73 (version called "57") or 6 m 17 ("62"), 12-inch screen... and without options and taxes, $448,000 CDN for the 57 and $632,000 CND for the 62.

Ah..... my Honda Civic doesn't look great...

http://www.maybach-manufaktur.com/

I forgot the Maybach 57 S with V12 612 HP, 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph) in 5 sec..

My Civic sucks, now.

I think that TVR is a little too minimalist to be luxury... so I'll say Aston Martin (that DB9...), and since that isn't on the list... BMW...

...100 posts... yay!

Porsche. The 911 is a continuously evolving car for 40 some years. And is it self just an evolution of the 356. At the same time Porsche has produced some of the most awesome and most powerful racing cars to grace this planet.

Not to mention that in the 70s when everyone else was scaling back their monster cars Porsche came out with the Carrera Turbo (930 3.0) and then the Turbo (930 3.3) and pushed out 300 horsepower and even more torque coupled with the weight of a feather. Resulting in a sports car that can still sell upwards of 30k and compete ably with virtually any modern sports car, including the newest 911 Turbos...

Never mind that when modified 930s can easily get to the realm of 700+ horsepower and lay waste to even super cars.

I forgot the Maybach 57 S with V12 612 HP, 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph) in 5 sec..

My Civic sucks, now.
And a resale value that drops at a rate of 100k/yr it seems. The Maybach Zeppelin was, and is, a vehicle to behold. The Maybach 57 and 62 aren't. The 57 and 62 lack the visual appeal and the physical presence necessary for its class. Even the latest VW and BMW produced Rolls and Bentleys are vehicles that make you feel their presence. The Maybach is something you walk past without seeing it half the time.

Bentley, without a doubt.

Yes!

(Or a Bugatti)

*Chuckles* To think you buy a Bentley but actually drive a Volkswagen? Funny!

I prefer a nice Audi A8 or the VW Phaeton though.

I'm a bit glad that volvo is considered know a semi-luxury european car even if no one have voted for it. But I still mix the boxy volvo stationswagons that was for the common man.

Rolls Royce and Bentley arn't British anymore. What with the collapse of MG Rover, there arent any true British marques left, if you're talking cars that are vaguely practical.

even most of the small-run british sports marques and really british any more.

What is your favorite European luxury/high-price car company?

Mercedes-Benz does not exist as a company. It's Daimler-Chrysler, the vague multinational corporation.

You doubt it? I've been in them all, and it is no where near close. Dont forget though that the average Beemer costs about £30k, whereas the Rolls and Bentley are more in the £200k area

I'm sure you're right. For me, the difference between 30 grand (whether pounds or dollars) and 200 grand is like the difference between jumping 3 meters in the air and jumping 30 meters in the air. I could never do either.
The only way I'll see the inside of a Rolls is if I fall off a bridge and crash through the moonroof. Heavy sigh...