Lexus surpasses Benz in O.C. sales for the first time...
06-02-07 | 09:33 PM
#1
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From: CA
Lexus surpasses Benz in O.C. sales for the first time...
http://www.ocbj.com/industry_article...59&aID2=114066
Interesting result, as Orange County, CA has been a remaining Benz stronghold; Lexus is #1 in most other counties nationwide. When Newport Lexus opened there was talk of them taking the lead from Mercedes, and this month they have actually done it. 
In April, Toyota Motor Corp.’s luxury brand rose 0.5% from a year earlier to 813 new registrations, a barometer of sales. Mercedes came in at 798, down 12% from a year earlier. BMW, the No. 3 player in the luxury auto market here, came in at 700, down 16%.
The subtle gain for Lexus marks the first time the brand has surpassed Mercedes here amid a running battle. Lexus earlier surpassed Mercedes nationally. The dominance of Fletcher Jones Motorcars in Newport Beach has been a big challenge for Lexus here.
And the battle is far from decided: Lexus held a slim 15-auto lead over Mercedes here in April.
Newport Lexus, across the street from Fletcher Jones, has been a factor. So have rising sales at the county’s other Lexus dealerships.
Mercedes has its own firepower. Fletcher Jones’ sales were up 7% in April, though down 3% for the four months through April. Newly expanded Mercedes-Benz of Anaheim seems to be making its mark, with sales up 11% in April and 9% so far this year, according to the dealer.
The county’s two other Mercedes dealers aren’t faring as well. House of Imports in Buena Park was down 26% for April and is off 12% for the year. Mercedes-Benz of Laguna Niguel was down 21% for the month and down 2% through April.
The subtle gain for Lexus marks the first time the brand has surpassed Mercedes here amid a running battle. Lexus earlier surpassed Mercedes nationally. The dominance of Fletcher Jones Motorcars in Newport Beach has been a big challenge for Lexus here.
And the battle is far from decided: Lexus held a slim 15-auto lead over Mercedes here in April.
Newport Lexus, across the street from Fletcher Jones, has been a factor. So have rising sales at the county’s other Lexus dealerships.
Mercedes has its own firepower. Fletcher Jones’ sales were up 7% in April, though down 3% for the four months through April. Newly expanded Mercedes-Benz of Anaheim seems to be making its mark, with sales up 11% in April and 9% so far this year, according to the dealer.
The county’s two other Mercedes dealers aren’t faring as well. House of Imports in Buena Park was down 26% for April and is off 12% for the year. Mercedes-Benz of Laguna Niguel was down 21% for the month and down 2% through April.
06-03-07 | 03:32 AM
#2
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Those are phenomenal numbers considering Fletcher Jones MBZ - Newport Beach is the #2 dealership in the country behind Longo Toyota according to Ward's 500 for 2006.
1 Longo Toyota Penske Automotive Group Inc. El Monte CA $661,321,700
2 Fletcher Jones Motorcars Fletcher Jones Automotive Group Newport Beach CA $529,308,296
3 Braman Motorcars Braman Automotive Group West Palm Beach FL $385,917,903
4 JM Lexus Patricia G. Moran Margate FL $385,479,904
5 Galpin Ford Galpin Motors, Inc. North Hills CA $381,796,306
6 Dave Smith Motors Dave Smith Auto Group Kellogg ID $379,651,050
7 Longo Lexus Penske Automotive Group Inc. El Monte CA $355,598,200
8 #1 Cochran #1 Cochran Automotive Group Monroeville PA $353,103,430
9 Crevier BMW Donald Crevier Santa Ana CA $301,996,026
10 Mercedes-Benz South Bay AutoNation Inc. Torrance $283,167,511
Newport Lexus (David Wilson Automotive Group) recently opened last year so they did not qualify for the 2006 report. It will be interesting to see how they rank for the year and the years to come.
http://wardsdealer.com/reports/2006/..._wards_dealer/
http://wardsdealer.com/reports/2006/...er500Chart.pdf
Ward's 2007 report should be coming up this month.
1 Longo Toyota Penske Automotive Group Inc. El Monte CA $661,321,700
2 Fletcher Jones Motorcars Fletcher Jones Automotive Group Newport Beach CA $529,308,296
3 Braman Motorcars Braman Automotive Group West Palm Beach FL $385,917,903
4 JM Lexus Patricia G. Moran Margate FL $385,479,904
5 Galpin Ford Galpin Motors, Inc. North Hills CA $381,796,306
6 Dave Smith Motors Dave Smith Auto Group Kellogg ID $379,651,050
7 Longo Lexus Penske Automotive Group Inc. El Monte CA $355,598,200
8 #1 Cochran #1 Cochran Automotive Group Monroeville PA $353,103,430
9 Crevier BMW Donald Crevier Santa Ana CA $301,996,026
10 Mercedes-Benz South Bay AutoNation Inc. Torrance $283,167,511
Newport Lexus (David Wilson Automotive Group) recently opened last year so they did not qualify for the 2006 report. It will be interesting to see how they rank for the year and the years to come.
http://wardsdealer.com/reports/2006/..._wards_dealer/
http://wardsdealer.com/reports/2006/...er500Chart.pdf
Ward's 2007 report should be coming up this month.
Last edited by flipside909; 06-03-07 at 03:37 AM.
06-03-07 | 03:33 AM
#3
One thing i've noticed is that Lexus are somewhat cheaper out of the dealer, making them much more of a bargain than a comparable Mercedes. You can probably get an ES or and IS for about mid-$30k out the door, where as you have to bend over at the mercedes dealer just to save $10
06-03-07 | 07:32 AM
#6
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From: so. cal
One thing i've noticed is that Lexus are somewhat cheaper out of the dealer, making them much more of a bargain than a comparable Mercedes. You can probably get an ES or and IS for about mid-$30k out the door, where as you have to bend over at the mercedes dealer just to save $10
Although the lease deal is absolutely terrible
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06-03-07 | 11:54 AM
#8
I dont know the full details. All I know is that many people in my family that has bought a benz usually end up paying a lot more than the "sales" price. I've seen people ending up spending $60-70k on an E350 where as you can get a GS350 for at least $10k less!!
06-03-07 | 03:06 PM
#9
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Hot Dayem (to borrow a phrase from 1SICK). So the reputation of new Mercedes-Benz products for unreliability is FINALLY starting to affect sales. Took long enough. They have been unreliable for years.....the slide actually started in the mid 90's and gradually got worse.
Bend over is EXACTLY what you will do at the Mercedes shop when you have a breakdown and it is not warranty or recall-covered. While Lexus service is not cheap, M-B, like Porsche, socks it to you BIG-time.
you have to bend over at the mercedes dealer
06-03-07 | 03:23 PM
#11
One thing i've noticed is that Lexus are somewhat cheaper out of the dealer, making them much more of a bargain than a comparable Mercedes. You can probably get an ES or and IS for about mid-$30k out the door, where as you have to bend over at the mercedes dealer just to save $10
Bingo! Lexus is indeed the bargain leader compared to Mercedes, BMW, Audi thus the high sales numbers.. Gotta pay to play with the German automakers... In addition, Lexus cars ride softer than the aforementioned, thus gives the American consumer a viable alternative to the harsh riding German vehicles.. Those retiring babyboomers are not looking for early kidney failure by driving Mercs and Bimmers
06-03-07 | 04:26 PM
#12
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=DASHOCKER;2666838In addition, Lexus cars ride softer than the aforementioned, thus gives the American consumer a viable alternative to the harsh riding German vehicles.. Those retiring babyboomers are not looking for early kidney failure by driving Mercs and Bimmers
It is no secret that the Germans can't make good electronics or hardware for their cars anymore, but it cannot be denied that they DO know how to design suspensions.
06-03-07 | 10:40 PM
#13
very nice! i have been to both newport lexus and fletcher jones mb, i think lexus is at a better location on the intersaction, newer, more class, etc... maybe that's why a little shift?
but either way, i work in irvine / newport beach and i do see tons more mb. i see a lot lexus and bmw as well, but the number of mb just shoots up. it's crazy to know that lexus surpasses mb this time
but either way, i work in irvine / newport beach and i do see tons more mb. i see a lot lexus and bmw as well, but the number of mb just shoots up. it's crazy to know that lexus surpasses mb this time
06-04-07 | 07:39 AM
#14
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06-04-07 | 08:12 AM
#15
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
And, as for Hyundai's "dismal" sales record, in 10 years they have gone from being the butt of jokes and near-bankrupcy in the U.S. to the 6th largest automaker in the world.