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I owned 2 Acuras and then an Audi and then 3 BMWs in a row. The Japanese luxury brands are nicer than base brands but they are missing something when compared to the German luxury brands.
I've owned 2 Audis (A4 and S4), Lexus IS, BMW 440 and X5. I loved every one of them in different ways.
My Audis were super fun to drive (both were modded and I did a lot of the work on them myself, so never had any major repair bills and drove them both to mileage over 100,000). Overall I loved Audi for the balance of class and performance, but also knew many people that had blown engines, etc.
Lexus hands down was most reliable. Still a little pricey to maintain, but you can use a lot of Toyota parts and shops which can keep costs down. Overall I felt like I could have driven it 200k+ miles with no big concerns.
The BMWs I've only had for the last 2-3 years. So far I love them both but man they're expensive to service. Basic maintenance is thousands of dollars every time I need something done. Super fun to drive (even the X5), nice interiors, and both have the best BMW engine in them. I'm scared to own them much longer though, since repairs are so damn expensive.
They are not the same, but ultimately the value prop can be better. You get 80% of your luxury car needs (ymmv based on what you value) for typically a 20% lower price (factoring in trade dollars both from OEMs and dealers).
I have a Genesis - I value comfort, aesthetics, and a baseline of performance. I do not value "look at me". I got a very competitive lease deal for 2 years. I also value not being "stuck" in a car.
TL;DR - is it the same? No. Can it meet your needs as a luxury car buyer? Yes, based on what factors you value.
Genesis interiors look and feel better than most of the Europeans under $100k. A black Audi, Mercedes, or BMW interior without a ton of options checked is boring
Eh.
There are thousands of components in a car. Not all of them need to be a high-end premium bit, and I’m fine with some part sharing. It’s pretty dope when you can swap in a VW branded part that is identical to the Porsche one (but 1/3 the price).
It’s when it goes too far with the part sharing that it’s a problem, then it just feels like a higher trim of the base brand.
Then on the flip side, it’s annoying when “premium brands” de-content and have lower base specs and force you into pricier packages. Heated steering wheels, 360 cameras, ventilated seats, etc. should never be options for premium brands when they come standard on domestics…
As someone who owns a BMW and a Genesis theyre very different in terms of luxury. The Genesis is way more luxurious and comfortable. The BMW is more sporty. The Genny also takes regular gas which is HUGE. Ultimately I think its the better value proposition
They’re stupid expensive to purchase and maintain. But when you shoot it, you know where that extra money went.
I have cycled through most of the luxury market in the last 20 years - BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Land Rover, Volvo, and more. The only vehicle I have ever bought 3 of was Volvo, which I have now. I also have a Genesis, which is perfectly fine, but I wouldn't get another one.
I get it. I had an engine replaced under warranty in a 1 year old Audi with 8k miles on it. It soured me on the brand entirely.
I think Toyota has consistently aimed at Germans with Lexus
But I don’t think that Honda and Nissan aimed to do the same with their upbrand marques. Acura’s focus often seemed to be on tech and Infiniti’s on sportiness (at least until recently)
Love that perspective for you
Isn't Audi just a VW? Do you think someone gets in a Rolls and says "this is just a basic ass bmw"?