BMW X3 is Afraid of Mercedes GLK but not Audi Q5

From BMW Spokesman
by Brian Potter
June 9, 2008 11:00 PM
Filed Under: Audi, BMW, German, Industry, Mercedes-Benz

Just when it seems American SUVs and pickup trucks are in full retreat, the Germans are slugging it out in the premium segment. Since 2003 BMW took control of the segment, which is 7 percent at 395,458 units last year, selling 66,435 X3s and 52,466 X5s in Europe, and now the Mercedes GLK and Audi Q5 are set to hit the market this autumn.

According to Automotive News, a BMW spokesman said the company feels more threatened by Mercedes' GLK class than Audi's Q5.

"A typical BMW customer is not going to move down to a Q5. There is more chance that they would go for something like a GLK. Just because Audi will price the car in the premium segment does not make it a premium vehicle," the spokesman said.

An Audi spokesman said: "Audi makes premium cars so the Q5 is a premium SUV. We will see what the customers have to say."

Set to debut before the end of the year are two special edition X3 models containing new technologies. Then in 2010 the second generation X3 would make its debut.

Source: Automotive News (sub. req.)
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Comments

Wow, did Audi just get betch (I thought we had freedom of speach in the states...) slapped? Lol, but I must agree, I would drive the GLK over the X3, but I would drive the Q5 over the X3 too.

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by wjaprep | June 9, 2008 11:17 PM
i can understand it, i would also move to the mercs, the Q5 being so dull, boring design like most audis. they might be good cars, but that is not enough nowadays, audis have a reputation here in spain of a car for the new rich ones who have no taste and want to disguise it by buying a good car that nobody dislikes, but nobody really likes either. sorry to put it like that, but we have so many audis here in spain driven by crappy looking people in cheap or expensive but disgusting outfit.... you all know that spanish economy has madly grown in the last 10 years on the fast brick and cheap tourism business... so there you go. my apologies to the ones that cannot be put together with the spanish drivers i just described and still bought an audi. they are not bad cars, just aimed to the wannabe market. i apologize again in advance, i know many of you will hate me for this.

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by racsozelev | June 9, 2008 11:36 PM
Its typically (and still is) BMWs who attract the "wannabes". I get the feeling you don't really know what you are talking about, but thats ok, most common people don't understand the finer things in life. I mean what you have said about Audi's being dull etc could not be more wrong. Who was it that won world design car of the year for the past 2 years in a row? Who was it that won world performance car of the year for the past 2 years in a row? Who was it that won world car ot the year.....etc, etc, etc. I think the point here is that the industry and people have accepted Audi as being one of the best car manufacturers in the world while you havn't. Its fine to have your own opinion, as long as it doesn't make you look like an imbecile.

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by xenomorph | June 10, 2008 9:27 AM
I'd take Audi over BMW any day. To me BMW is throwing its brand image down a shithole with cars like the 1 series and the upcoming X1, and no longer having cars like the Z8. No other 'premium' brand that I know has gone that low, and this shows just how much BMW is all about profits. BTW the Q5 in terms of interior and exterior aesthetics kicks both GLK and X3 ass. I've been in and driven an X3 and honestly that BMW spokesman whoever he was had no right to say what he did.

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by RS5 | June 9, 2008 11:43 PM
we didn't see the X1, but why you are talking about the 1 Series like that? I've been in 130i hatchback and I tested 135i coupe, both are great!

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by Pentium | June 10, 2008 6:53 AM
I never said the 1 series as a car itself was a bad car. I just don't agree with the idea of having such a cheap car for a luxury manufacturer like BMW. Isn't that what Mini's for?

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by RS5 | June 10, 2008 11:05 PM
Can't really say that the 135 is a cheap car. It is rather expensive. But there is a niche for small expensive cars that perform well. Not everyone wants to drive or have a need for a big car...

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by schizo0223 | June 11, 2008 10:10 PM
idk... i would buy and audi over GLK any day!! just not a fan of Mercedes its more for snobs and people who dont know how to drive... i guess i like cars the can hold their own in a corner... and as far as bmw and audi goes... i am a bit bias towards Bmws so i guess ill still take the x3 even thou its not as good a car as the other two... my feeling is if you love bmws and dont like the x3(like me) you will get the Q5 before the GLK!

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by desiathate | June 9, 2008 11:50 PM
by the way, i have not driven an x3, and obviously not a Q5 either, but i have driven a 3 series and an A4, and the 3 series is in another galaxy as for feelings. i add this comment as i only wrote about subjective facts before....

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by racsozelev | June 9, 2008 11:51 PM
You drove a B8 A4? With the same engine as the 3 series? All reviews I have seen say the A4 is the new leader, I don't think you have even driven the new A4. You sound like a wannabe BMW fanboy in my opinion. The BMWs suit your personality in any case, arrogent, tasteless, dim-witted.

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by xenomorph | June 10, 2008 9:37 AM
RS5, i agree with you on what bmw is doing with its name and reputation. just a pity.

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by racsozelev | June 9, 2008 11:56 PM
"Just because Audi will price the car in a premium segment does not make it a premium vehicle" Damn, thems fightin words!

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by benz_man | June 10, 2008 12:06 AM
Everyday I read the comments posted here and everyday I hear comments that are solely based on opinions and rarely based on facts. Frequently the following is written about Porsches, BMWs, MB, even Ferrari... "omg...please don't build this car it is destroying your company's image...it will destroy your company's reputation." Even Rolls Royce, Bentley, and Ferrari have made or are in the process of producing a down-market vehicle. This has nothing to do with your opinion of these car companies. It has everything to do with bottom line profit margins, growing market share, and the economies of scale provide by a certain level of volume production. It also has to do with the obsessive compulsion of the buying public to lust after premium products whether they are clothes or cars. The car companies are serving the market...supply and demand the pillar of capitalism. You cannot fault the car companies for delivering down-market cars or for entering previously neglected niche sectors. These companies have to generate profits for the shareholders and it is smart of them to increase volume and produce niche vehicles like Porsche's Cayenne & Panamerica, BMWs 1 series, MB's c-class derivatives and GLK...as well as Rolls Royce, Bentley & Ferrari producing a lower priced entry level car to name a few... If you want to hurl insults then aim them at the correct target - the buying public...the ones that can't afford MB's S class, Porsche's 911s, and top tier Rolls Royces, Bentleys, & Ferraris... The label-status seeking poseurs have clamored for more affordable models from the premium and super premium car manufacturers...and I dare say...unlike most of the posters here...at least they are buying the vehicles...not merely typing venomous comments that are out-of-touch with reality and the facts.

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by Benzian | June 10, 2008 12:22 AM
Very well put.

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by benz_man | June 10, 2008 4:32 AM
With your logic, why doesn't Rolls Royce, Porsche or any luxury company for that matter just abandon its image and start producing 17,000 dollar cars to compete with the Toyota Camry? Why doesn't Ferrari just start producing 50,000 dollar sports cars? They'd all certainly reap more profits that way. Sure, every brand might have a 'cheap' car but they should all know limits to how low they can go. With your logic, shouldn't Maybach, which is having trouble selling its ultra luxury sedans produce luxury sedans half the price? Profit margins and whatever are just nonsense. Cheaper cars will most likely sell better and BMW is utilizing this idea while throwing its image down the drain. At least for me and a couple others on this forum.

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by RS5 | June 10, 2008 9:53 PM
well , Benzian , there actually is a thing called FREEDOM OF SPEECH in in which any individual could liberally express one's thinking in whatever channel he chooses to do so . now , as for the matter whether people actually make an automobile purchase or not , you can bet that the main underlying reason behind people changing their minds is that they were not completely impressed at all.

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by THERENAISSANCEMAN | June 20, 2008 6:37 PM
Well said BMW! I really don't like Audi! So of course I understand that their customers wont go down to a car on Audi level

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by SD-AMG | June 10, 2008 12:38 AM
I guess some people really are born stupid. Seeing as Mercedes has one of the lowest positions for quality, reliability and consumer satisfaction I'm sure people will want to downgrade, you obviously want to.

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by xenomorph | June 10, 2008 9:45 AM
1st:GLK 2nd:X3 3rd:Q5 This may change when the new X3 comes out.

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by Moderator | June 10, 2008 12:43 AM
BTW, Q5 is just a dressed up Tiguan anyway.

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by Moderator | June 10, 2008 12:47 AM
They do share a platform, but after what VW and Porsche did with the Touareg/Cayenne I trust that they can pull off sharing engineering costs without going all GM on everyone and selling "Tahoes for Yukons".

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by benz_man | June 10, 2008 4:41 AM
For all of you audi haters!!! say what you will but audi can hold its own!

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=126666?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..1.*

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by desiathate | June 10, 2008 4:43 AM
that's the A4 and the C350, not the GLK and the Q5. yes, i would take the A4 rather than the C350 for daily use, but in this case i'll take the GLK, the Q5 isn't that attractive, although better than the fat Q7

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by boyke69 | June 10, 2008 8:51 AM
Very Incorrect Mr Moderator and for those that think the Q5 is based on the Tiguran. The fact is, it is based on the MLB architecture/platform from the A5/S5, just as the new 2009 A4/S4 is. It does NOT share the platform with the VW.

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by Alan | June 20, 2008 10:40 PM
wjaprep: "(I thought we had freedom of speach in the states...)"

You do in the US, but... 1) This is an international site, and... 2) By using this comment board, you agree to the site's terms of use. Which basically means you voluntarily gave-up an absolute right to free speech.

Dang it.... LOL!

But that aside, the styling of the GLK is the most appealing to me. Next is the Q5, and I don't anticipate that the new-gen X3 will change that if Huckfeldt's most recent efforts are anything to go by.

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by Mike_B. | June 10, 2008 1:29 AM
It really isn't anything like a Tiguan, it's not some platform-sharing badge swap, I'm quite serious about buying an Audi Q5 come Autumn, that or a Freelander 2. Here in England, X3s are bought by people who can't afford X5s, they are cheap-looking, cheap and nasty inside and very un-BMW. As for the GLK, it's just plain ugly, thank god there is no right hand drive so it won't have to grace the UK with it's presence.

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by wills2007 | June 10, 2008 1:32 AM
The X3 looks awful and the looks of GLK work better on the GL. THe Q5 looks ok but I guess neither Audi nor MB will outsell the BMW.

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by Eizo | June 10, 2008 1:43 AM
I would just like to say that i am with you all the way Moderator. Audis are overpriced VWs, and they think just by giving them i higher price makes them more premium. I am not a beemer fan but would take the x3 over the Q5. The X3 looks awful, but has looks. The Q5 is just plain bland. To save myself time, i will drive the Tiguan and i will know what to expect from the Q5.

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by lemzq | June 10, 2008 1:46 AM
LOL someone please call the imbecile police. Havn't heard someone say something as stupid as you for a long time. There really are some seriously dumb people out there. You've just got to laugh at their stupidity in the end.

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by xenomorph | June 10, 2008 9:50 AM
personally i have always compared BMW nd merc with eachother but i have never really asosiated audi with thos 2... it could b coz BMW nd merc have both been the best selling luxury car companies... and there is kinda abit more status in driving a BMW or merc insted of an audi

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by BabyMilo | June 10, 2008 1:54 AM
true bmw has no need to be worried abt the 'q'iguan. never been a fan of the x3 when it came out altho the facelifted version looks decent. the glk is a bit too boxy but both are certainly better than the audi.

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by michelin901 | June 10, 2008 2:06 AM
Either you have test driven and compared each 3 models in person or you are an idiot. I know which of those options you most likely are.

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by xenomorph | June 10, 2008 2:45 PM
wcf readers listen up. audi has the right to be the best and no one else. no others can win comparisons. as said by mr 'audiot' here ^^. clearly the biggest imbecile. read my comment man, im talkin abt looks. i dont have to test drive em for tat. jeeez

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by michelin901 | June 10, 2008 7:21 PM
The X3 looks like a hog and the GLK looks like a tissue box on wheels, I guess thats hot for you and means they are "better". At least the Audi has some curves and character. Not that you could pick up on any of that though, probably just another wannabe BMW fanboy.

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by xenomorph | June 10, 2008 7:48 PM
hmm i wonder who the wannabe audi fan boy is

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by michelin901 | June 10, 2008 8:16 PM
Better than a BMW fanboy. BMWs are generally associated with arrogent tasteless people, like yourself I would assume.

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by xenomorph | June 10, 2008 9:03 PM
arrogent? new word u just learnt today at school? u seem to be the one enjoying insulting bmw fans. one of the most baseless comments ever heard - bmws bein associated with arrogance. wat a loser

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by michelin901 | June 10, 2008 9:16 PM
x3 looks a little awkward, but then ALL bmw's have had their critics since bangle came along. think; first people hate the e90 3 series, then the e60 5 series, the x3, the z4 and even the 6! fact is bmws have character, whether or not you hate that character is your own opinion. similarly, the glk has presence, because it manages to look big without actually being big. the q5? just looks boring. smoother than the x3 and not as ostentatious as the glk, but it doesnt have character. it just looks like an audi a4 offroad on steroids.

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by Lucifa | June 12, 2008 3:57 PM
I would take the GLK. It looks great and if it follows the Merc tradition would drive great too.

BMW x3 looks like the poorer cousin of the x5. Its like saying "i could not afford an x5 so I bought an x3" whereas the GLK looks smart...

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by si1982 | June 10, 2008 3:41 AM
surely, based upon sheer fun in driving, bmws top every single class theyre in? so you would take a GLK over an X3 because the GLK drives well? erm, surely the X3 would still driver better? and as for the X3 looking like a cheap X5, yeah i gotta agree with you there. but, by the same token, realistically the GLK just looks like a cheap GL... theyre both wannabes...

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by Lucifa | June 10, 2008 6:40 AM
The GLK looks like a purposed design. Particularly the interplay of the steep windshield, canted D-pillar and aggressive, rising bodyside lines opposing the falling rear roofline. I think it actually looks quite grand. The X3, on the other hand, appears as just a baby X5. And pre 05 models ride like Mini Coopers, without the go-kart handling to match. To be fair, it did have the best steering feel of any SUV I've ever driven, still.

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by benz_man | June 10, 2008 9:47 AM
yeah youre right about the X3 being the mini X5, but ive just had a close look at both the GL and GLK... the GLK just looks like a cheap version of a facelifted GL - hardened lines and a better roofline, and smaller. take a look at the GL when its next facelifted. my bet is itl just look like a richer version of the glk. though, for all im a bmw fan, ill give it that the glk does look good..

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by Lucifa | June 10, 2008 10:21 AM
what about people who dont want a car as big as the x5? what a dumb comment

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by gtrs09 | June 10, 2008 9:23 PM
PLease this must be a joke ? Bmw thinks that they can put out some stupid rhetoric press release and everyone will believe they don't consider Audi a formidable competitor. Its a very old trick to make yourself look bigger and badder than you really are! Have you noticed that Audi is leading the segment in actual luxury appointments .BMw cant even make a comfortable cabin at any price point! Any auto web site you would go to for months if you typed in Audi a BMW ad would pop up? The MI sports car wasn't even in development until bmw learned of the r8 and saw how it whooped a@@. And it looks better than any BMW to date! Within a few years bmw will be looking for all the customers they lost because of their butt ugly cars and toyota interiors.Hey but you get a $10000 motor with every purchase.Not buying you crap BMW your glory days are over.

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by metatron | June 10, 2008 4:43 AM
dont get wat u mean by sayin audi leads luxury appointments? order of the most cars seen on the road :-

sclass } 7ser } a8 5series } eclass } a6 3series } cclass } a4 mclass } x5 ] q7

am i wrong? let everyone be the judge here

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by michelin901 | June 10, 2008 5:59 AM
damn tat came out all wrong when inserted wat i meant was the sclass leads the race followed by the 7 series.. i hardly see a8s on the road

the next class is lead by the 5 series (its a known fact) followed by the eclass( more in no.) and the a6

the next class is ofcourse the 3series followed by the c and the a4. the 3 is sefinitley the best drivers car here.

am not sure abt the suvs but the x5 and the ml are clear favs more than the q7

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by michelin901 | June 10, 2008 6:05 AM
So the representation of the whole world?s car distributions are represented by the area you live in? Different countries have different distributions of cars just so you know. And going by what you have said, better cars are determined by the number of cars sold. I guess that means Toyotas are the best cars in the world then according to your logic. Also, you might want to go back to school to learn to spell before typing your diarrhoea quality comments here.

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by xenomorph | June 10, 2008 8:01 PM
clearly your brain level cant get it tat im talking abt just the 3 brands.

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by michelin901 | June 10, 2008 8:13 PM
To Moderator and Benz_man..if you are going to trash a brand at least have your facts straight. No, the Q5 is not a dressed up Tiguan. They DO NOT share the same platform at all. The Tiguan is on the Passat and the Q5 on the new MLP platform found on the new A4 and A5. The Tiguan has the engine transverse mounted and the Q5 longitudinal mounted. Completely different AWD systems and all the electronics are different. NO Audi share body panels with any VW. The Q5 offers technology that Beemer and Benz do not even offer on the X3 and or the GLK. It has a brand new MMI 3D nav system with a hard drive, Audi Side assist and lane departure system... The Q5 will offer so much more for the same money. To michelin: the new A4 is coming out and so far it has beaten the new C and is that much closer to the 3 series.. A6 destroys the 5 and the E in Europe and the A8 is one of the best seller right behing the S class and outsells both the 7 and the S in Diesel form. Q7 competes more against the GL than the X5 due to size.

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by AlexTx | June 10, 2008 7:37 AM
I'm sure Q5 and Tiguan's driving dynamics are very similar, whichever it's based on. I, too, don't really expect Q5 to be supremely better than Tiguan. As for the platforms, Tiguan doesn't use Q5's platform, because of the cost; MLP is only used among Audi lines. But Tiguan made a best of its Passat platform and matched a driving dynamics of Q5, which isn't to say a lot compared to the BMW. And honestly Audi isn't up to Benz's prestige when it comes to brand perception.

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by autoque | June 10, 2008 8:35 AM
Hey Alex, read my previous post closely. I hated not on your beloved Audi brand. I'm an Audi fan too! I did however mistake the Q5 for the Q3.

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by benz_man | June 10, 2008 10:08 AM
autoque, I hate to let you know, but mercedes was ranked 9th from the bottom of recent tests done on quality and consumer satisfaction. The days of mercedes being one of the best car makers are gone forever because of their cost cutting etc. They have slightly improved recently but none the less its pretty bad they were ranked as 9th worst car brand out of all car brands out there. And yet you still post opinion based garbage up without a clue of whats really going on, pathetic.

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by xenomorph | June 10, 2008 8:10 PM
Read what I said. Whoever said quality or consumer satisfaction? Who? Get your eyes checked. What a moron. I said 'brand percetion'. And in terms of consumer satisfaction, Audi isn't one of the tops either, more like from the bottom. Consumer satisfaction and reliability are areas where Japanese vehicles excel. Read, and think before you post, hopefully then you'll be able to come up with something more intelligent.

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by autoque | June 10, 2008 10:27 PM
So, going on what you have said, what the average person thinks (brand perception) defines how good a car is. The average person is a moron so really thats not a good way to judge whether a car is good or not. Maybe to you think it is, another average person perhaps. And if you read the latest reports (JD Powel or something) Audi is ranked number 10, ahead of both BMW and Mercedes which is still trailing behind as usual. So really, I hope you can practice what you preach and hopefully "come up with something more intelligent" the next time you decide to put up some garbage about two completely different cars driving in the same way, that was seriously a pathetic first comment, I mean, what were you thinking? We are all as stupid as you; to make assumptions like that?

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by xenomorph | June 12, 2008 6:51 PM
xenomorph you dimwitted brainless dumb sh!t, heed my advice and actually think before you post. I'm sure you, yourself, don't even understand half the sh!t you made up while masturbating to Audi Tities. I said "Audi isn't up to Benz's prestige when it comes to brand perception", which is a fact, and you're saying I practice and preach what? Two completely different cars? X3 and Q5 compete each other you tub of sh!t. Are your parents brother and sister? Listen, if you don't have anything intellgent to write back, just don't do anything. Anything you do further proves you have no idea what the hell you're talking about. And you don't even own a f*king Audi and defending it in the first place. I'm sure you haven't even test driven any of the three brand German brands, or do you even have a proper driver's license. Come back when you're more mature kid... This place clearly ain't for you...replying to everyone who's not an Audi fan, just proves you're simply a loser and immature. You gotta be able to respect other people's comment if you wanna be taken seriously. Otherwise, you'll be labeled a troll in a place like this.

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by autoque | June 13, 2008 6:55 AM
You must stop before it gets out of hand. xenomorph, you have to stop bashing people for having different opinion from your own. You can't insist your own opinion on others either. Refrain from further writing useless comments in this thread.

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by Moderator | June 13, 2008 11:24 AM
Im sorry to offend you so much autoque, but I can't help pointing out when someone is wrong and/or an imbecile. I honestly don't mind it when people have an intelligent opinion even if its negative, but the majority of comments posted on here really are at a retards standard at best. And honestly, I'd say your nothing short of white trash to be making comments like that last one, its only when your on the edge of losing control you see what a persons really like, and you are quite the character, in a most pathetic way. I've been in a multitude of cars, Lamborghinis, Maseratis, Aston Martins, Bentleys, etc, not that you will believe anything I say, but for what its worth, I can say that the Audis can match up to these elite cars in many ways, so can the Mercedes and BMWs in certain aspects, but overall I'm convinced from first hand experience of what is the truth, unlike the overwhelming majority of people posting rubbish on these forums. I'd ask you if you had been in any of those cars, but I already know the correct answer. A pathetic maggot of society like yourself will only ever be able to get as close to them as the fences at a motor show. Continue on scurrying around making your excrement quality posts, I do find it amusing watching you float in your own ignorance.

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by xenomorph | June 13, 2008 2:04 PM
Unlike you, basing your opinions on nothing but speculation, I've actaully got something to link to. Audi let you down...but you'd still hug Audi neverthelsss. Listen kid, there are people who know a lot more than you. You're so dumb for making comments based on pure speculation. But then again, you're proving you're nothing but a rotten garbage by posting all over the place without any evidence for it. Plus, if you do some research on Q7, it's an engineering nightmare. Oh, and I own RR and SLR McLaren. What a fvcking joke you are. http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2007-10-16-toyota-cr_N.htm

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by autoque | June 13, 2008 3:54 PM
Good on you with the RR its a great car. You are the one who based everything on speculation in the first place however. How can you say what a car is going to drive like when its not even out (read your first post)? And generalising about brand perception like that isn't correct, in the US maybe but in countries such as China Audi is percieved as the top luxury car selling more than both Mercedes and BMW put together. I don't love Audi's, but I do really find it stupid when someone says something thats rediculous or obviously a totally wrong opinion. If someone was saying this kind of junk about Mercedes or BMW I would take it to them just as much. Really just read what some of the people have posted, its absurd to say the least. Anyway, I need to just ignore things like this in the future.

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by xenomorph | June 13, 2008 7:12 PM
People who like Audi tend to like it for the interior and exterior designs. For the dynamics of Audi, it's been lagging behind because their cars are very nose heavy. So it's not really a choice at all for enthusiasts. In any case, you shouldn't take people's comments personally. I wouldn't care whatever brainless comments you make, but to attack people for having different views than you, it's not very smart. Plus, you can't judge people's comments by your standard, because, when someone else sees your comment, they may also think you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. It's all relative, so the stupidest thing any one can do on-line is arguing who's right and wrong on something that's not absolute.

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by autoque | June 14, 2008 8:55 AM
Yes I agree with you, people have their minds set one way or another and really even if they are right/wrong, others won't believe them. I've learnt from this incident to ignore things like this in the future, it goes nowhere in the end and really means nothing. I'd say almost everyone on these forums hasn't actually even driven/been in/or owns any of these cars so again it really means nothing. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

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by xenomorph | June 14, 2008 9:25 AM
"The Q5 will offer so much more for the same money" Of course Audi should, or else it won't be competitive. Just as Lexus offers so much more for the same money compared to the Benz and the BMW.

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by autoque | June 10, 2008 8:38 AM
Truth is , Audi will soon top the sales-charts. Currently, BMW leads with Audi close behind. Merc is far behind. That BMW spokesman does'nt know what he's talking about!!! The Q5 will surely sell more, espesially in the middle-east, where it has a high reputation.

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by GranTurismo | June 10, 2008 8:48 AM
mercedes benz and bmw have been around for so much longer in leading class luxury... audi is the new kid on the block. Audi is becoming a threat to both BMW and MB. The volume of BMWs and MBs is greater than the volume of Audis but they are still developing. They are looking to expand their model line by a large amount... Their new car sales have increased for the past 10 years and they've projected to reach the 1 million mark of new cars sold this year. Their CPO sales have sky rocketed over the past year also.

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by gtrs09 | June 10, 2008 9:08 AM
Its typically (and still is) BMWs who attract the "wannabes". I get the feeling you don't really know what you are talking about, but thats ok, most common people don't understand the finer things in life. I mean what you have said about Audi's being dull etc could not be more wrong. Who was it that won world design car of the year for the past 2 years in a row? Who was it that won world performance car of the year for the past 2 years in a row? Who was it that won world car ot the year......etc, etc, etc. I think the point here is that the industry and people have accepted Audi as being one of the best car manufacturers in the world while you havn't. Its fine to have your own opinion, as long as it doesn't make you look like an imbecile.

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by xenomorph | June 10, 2008 9:24 AM
This is @ racsozolev.

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by xenomorph | June 10, 2008 9:25 AM
thanks god i apologized in advance..... come to spain and you´ll see what i mean. maybe it is just a spanish phenomenon, but fairly noticeable indeed...

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by racsozelev | June 10, 2008 9:44 AM
xenomorph, sure you´ve got an audi. you took it so personally. and no, i admit that the 3-series and A4 driven were the previous to last series. hopefully this calms you down a bit.

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by racsozelev | June 10, 2008 9:49 AM
Fair enough, I appologise, I can't say that I have been to Spain, so the people who drive them their may be unsavory. I've nearly been run over by BMWs and Mercedes where I live (the light was red for them to stop and green for me) they did not slow down at all and I had to jump back. I guess that would be your general Audi driver in Spain from what you have said. Its interesting to see how different cars attract the crap people in different societies. I guess its Lexus in the US. And no I don't have an Audi, yet, but I would like to in the near future (S4 or S5 or TTS would be nice).

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by xenomorph | June 10, 2008 9:57 AM
Nobody has actually driven a Q5 here so stop insisting it's anything like a Tiguan! I get irritated when little teenage nerds on this site, get a life and actually drive one of these cars you go on about. Judging by what we've seen of the Q5 so far, it's so much nicer in everyway than the GLK and X3, if anything it seems bigger and maybe in a different segment of it's own. In the UK, BMWs are for tossers, Mercedes for old people and Audis for understated people. I'm an Advertising & Branding student, Audi has a strong brand image, some say it's boring, I think it's understated and elegant, it's one of the most successful premium brands. For me a Q7 is too big, i can't justify that but the Q5 is perfect, 5 seater, 2.0 diesel, it's just a mid-size SUV let's not go nuts. I will leave my final opinion until I've test driven the car in Autumn.

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by wills2007 | June 10, 2008 9:55 AM
If you buy a BMW or Merc it says your sucessfull in what you do. If you drive a Audi it says i,m still getting there i have not quiet made it yet. If you drive a Lexus it says i have more money than sense i drive a tarted up Toyota.

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by davethepetrolhead | June 10, 2008 11:49 AM
Could you post something more absurd? How does it say "I'm still getting there"? My God it seems like braincell counts are dropping at an exponential rate here. Or maybe you name says it right, petrol head as in petrol sniffer? Would account for my braincell theory.

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by xenomorph | June 10, 2008 8:18 PM
agreed. that was just about the stupidest generalization i've ever seen.

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by RS5 | June 10, 2008 11:10 PM
have you ever heard of a logical fallacy davethepetrolhead? wow

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by gtrs09 | June 11, 2008 4:48 AM
WOW!!!! What a dopey comment!!!!

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by GranTurismo | June 14, 2008 2:12 PM
Quelle arogance de la part de BMW...Pour qui se prennent-ils? Audi est une marque beaucoups plus premium qu'eux, qualité de fabrication, design, choix des matériaux, technologie, rien n'est comparable surtout que le X3 est TRES MOCHE.

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by cielo | June 10, 2008 1:28 PM
...dit la verite.

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by alessandro | June 16, 2008 10:06 PM
Benz_Man: ;) No problem. Yeah the Q3 will share a platform with VW but not sure which one. To Wills2007: THANK YOU for posting that....

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by AlexTx | June 10, 2008 7:09 PM
I don't think that BMW will be seriously affected by GLK. Cauze BMW is BMW:-))))

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by driver | June 10, 2008 8:07 PM
The insides of Audi's are sure premium, nothing beats theie interiors and as that is where we spend most of our time, it bears some thought. the X3 is one of the ugliest BMW's made as far as i am concerned. In the USA though Audi does not have premium service, but Merc and BMW sure do.

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by coopergt | June 10, 2008 9:33 PM
service as to customers? i think it has better service than BMW and Merc do.

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by gtrs09 | June 10, 2008 10:33 PM
Xenomorph you really need to get a life you can't handle ppl having a different opinion to your own can you?? What are you 16yrs old go back to youtube and inssult ppl

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by davethepetrolhead | June 11, 2008 9:28 AM
Wow! As someone that works in branding and marketing I love how passion/opinion to a brand ignites people. It means that the brand is doing something right and winning admirers and advocates.

But please keep the comments about people's personal level of astuteness to yourselves. Everyone in entitled to an opinion no matter how it may sound to you.

If you can't agree with what they say, then ask why they think that way rather than start an offensive about their opinion. Absurd generalizations cannot be defended when asked to.

Just because you are miles away from the other person and connected to them only through the internet does not mean that you can treat their opinions that way.

Act as if you would act if the person was sitting right in front of you.

Sites like this should be used to see what others around the world think about the same topic, not force one's own opinion to others.

Also comments about cars are only valid and deserved after you've actually driven it. There are more intrinsic and unmeasurable value to what makes a great car than what the spec sheet says. A car is like a woman...you don't really know it/her until you've lived with it/her.

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by schizo0223 | June 11, 2008 3:57 PM
One more thing...pertaining to this article: What a bold and arrogant thing to say from the BMW spokesman. Surely he cannot be serious when he says that BMW does not look at Audi's sales figures with great concern. No matter what he thinks people are still buying Audi's...those Audi sales could've been potential BMW sales as well.

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by schizo0223 | June 11, 2008 4:09 PM
I have nothing against BMWs, they make great cars, I just find it really stupid when people go around trumpeting that they are the one and only best car in the world, saying ridiculous things which are absolutely wrong and just plain stupid. From what you have said, this is what you have been implying. And read what the spokesperson said in the article, that is nothing less than pure arrogance and ignorance.

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by xenomorph | June 11, 2008 8:32 PM
This was meant to be at michelin901, it didn't put it in the right place.

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by xenomorph | June 11, 2008 8:34 PM
ha sadly, the thing about bmw is once youve had/driven one, you really wont settle for anything else except perhaps a ferrari, lambo or mclaren. bmws tend to just hook people. once theyve tried it once, nothing else appears good enough. audi make good cars; very good cars, in fact. but they are undeniably the new kid on the block, and when it comes to luxury prestige that's not what you want. you want the blue and white or the three pointed star, because people see that badge and immediately know you're doing well. same probably applies to lexus in the US, but down in australia thats how it is, and its going to be that way for many years.

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by Lucifa | June 12, 2008 3:46 PM
I don't think so, and Audi isn't really a new car, they were created in 1899 by August Horsch. They stopped production for a while though after WW2 and then started up again in the 60s I believe. I don't really care if people know what it is I'm driving either, I would prefer they didn't, that?s the beauty of an Audi, understatement; they don't need to show off to be good. Wealthy people appreciate those kind of things generally, the elite anyway who are at the absolute top, they don't need to be flashy. People who usually aren?t anything special tend to drive flash trash to buff themselves up and unfortunately BMW fits into that category a lot of the time. There is often a negative aspect associated with them because of those who drive them/support them, which is one of the main reasons I am put off by them (not all are bad, but the ones who are really stand out unfortunately). And as for the average person in Australia, well there?s not much to say that?s positive about them as far as I?m concerned, as I once heard quoted "the average Australian is long in the leg and short in the head". I think that?s an understatement to be honest.

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by xenomorph | June 12, 2008 6:30 PM
well yes audi's been around for a few years, but they just havent been in the prestige market for long enough - in twenty years or so then yes they'll be about even, but for now the stereotype of a rich car is a merc, followed by a bimmer. and yes mercs and bimmers are a bit flashy if you drive (say) an M3 or 7 series. but look at the M6 - unless you know what youre looking for, an M6 is so understated it looks like its worth half the price of the AMV8 rival, which is why its popular amongst old money. bmw drivers tend to only believe in bmw's, which is probably why youre put off. if someone wants to make themselves look flashy they buy a porsche, because there's so many bimmers around these days they dont look flashy. oh and as for australians? honestly, mate, don't think we're yanks. we may be laid back and johnny howard was bush's pet, but we're not stupid. we buy nearly as many prestige cars as you do per population, and they cost twice as much down here. if youre going to fork out $100 USD for a basic 3 series or A4, you go for the bmw. cos theyre just the more prestigious car than the audi.

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by Lucifa | June 15, 2008 12:18 PM
I agree, the longer they are around the better things will get. The 6 series is my favortite BMW as well, it really looks great in my opinion and I agree it looks a bit like an Aston Martin. It can go up to AU$300,000 though if its an M6 which is Aston money. I'm not American either, I live in Australia, Sydney, I've lived here my whole life and I'm the typical caucasian aryan person you would expect to see here (even though there are swarms of asians and indians... yuck!), I was just saying about some of my unfortunate experiences with people here, but honestly they aren't the type who buys these cars anyway. In Australia BMW, Audi and Mercedes are an upper class car. In the US more working class people can buy them (I think an M3 is only about AU$60,000, which is nothing seeing as that will only get you an entry level 3 series here). Thats why we are getting some really lower class style comments here though, I think, cause these cars are available to them in the US which is where a lot of these posts are comming from. I actually think the people who buy BMW, Audi or Mercedes in Australia really do appreciate them a lot more because its the upper class that buys them usually and I never here people say things like this. Still, I wish I could pay a measly AU$60,000 for an M3, its honestly a joke, why do we have to pay 3 times the price for the same car? Would it be cheaper to buy it in the US and import it here?

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by xenomorph | June 15, 2008 2:05 PM
Ah righto mate, I'm over in Perth, and here the Auto Classic mark up is 3-400% for the parts and about 250% for the cars compared the the US and Europe. Considering the sheer number of cars they sell here you'd think BMW could make a better profit by halving the price and sending half again as many cars here. and $60,000 AUD for an M3? wow... i went and had a look at the new M3 a few days ago... base price is $167,500 which doesnt include any on-roads, electric windows, sunroof or anything!

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by Lucifa | June 15, 2008 3:10 PM
For the M3 in the US it would be around that price in our currency. Its depressing to say the least and then we have the increase in luxury car tax soon as well. That is the dumbest tax I have ever seen implemented. Its fine to put it on alcohol etc but why cars, they are already rediculously priced without any tax. Apparently in 2010 the government is "suppost" to reduce tarrifs on imported cars from 10% to 5% so that may help a bit but its just a joke we have to pay so much. I think its because they produce some really crap cars here e.g. Holden, Ford and Toyota and if they didn't put the price of imported cars up no one would buy the crap cars made here and the people who work in those industries here would lose their jobs. All I can say is that if you can't make a competitive product, give up, Holden and Ford should just leave if they can't compete with other cars. Seriously they are pathetic that they need the government to baby them in order to survive.

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by xenomorph | June 15, 2008 7:45 PM
yeah well, holden and ford may not be around much longer, thinking of current GM and ford financial situations... and being a foreign company i doubt the government will do too much to cover toyota. and i agree its pathetic that we should be hit with a premium car tax at all, i mean alcohol is logical, along with smoking, but good cars? um?

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by Lucifa | June 18, 2008 5:38 PM
Thats right, the more expensive cars are usually safer than cheaper ones too. And/or they have more advanced safety systems in them like the S class with the night vision, or Audi's with the blind spot monitor etc. Standard cars didn't even have ESP on them up untill now. Also, many of the more expensive cars again, i.e. Mercedes, Audi, BMW are all much friendlier to the environment because they release less emissions and are more fuel efficient. Interestingly I read an article recently that says that the new tax may not cover all cars over the $57,000 mark. Hopefully the idiots will just drop it all together. Just double the cost of ciggarettes, people will still buy them. Also, why not tax junk food even, there are a million things to tax besides good cars that makes more sense.

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by xenomorph | June 23, 2008 4:44 PM
This article is vague and smacks of amateur journalism. Where are the facts? What are the names of these so-called BMW & Audi spokespersons? This article is complete rubbish as far as I'm concerned...

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by coder | June 12, 2008 11:07 AM
Audi & BMW both are cultivated their very own class of blandness onto state of art. It was done in order to preserve widely spreaded and so uncultivated imagination on corp. identity things I'm afraid.

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by alessandro | June 16, 2008 9:51 PM
this article is funny, because the BMW boss, the guys in germany have actually addressed audi has the biggest threat to them, and what they are planning on doing in the future to stay number one and ahead of audi.

I think BMW America are more worried about how audi is up and coming than mercedes.

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by poverty | June 30, 2008 8:42 PM
Typical condescending snooty response from BMW. Every time I've been in one of their showrooms, I've been insulted when I tried to compare Audi to BMW. The X3 is an overpriced sardine can which is actually blown away by the V6 Touareg for the same money. But some people just have to have that propeller on the hood of their car... Audi's impressive increase in units sold in the U.S. has mostly come at the expense of BMW.

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by vjbg8r | July 18, 2008 7:47 PM
BMW are for arrogant, narrow minded people.

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by The_woo_factor | July 20, 2008 3:15 PM
GLK is so bloody ugly. x3? That is the worse looking BMW ever!

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by The_woo_factor | July 20, 2008 3:16 PM

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