Base MSRP: $85,750

Mercedes-Benz launched the all-new 2007 S-Class late last year. The S550 has a 5.5-liter V8 engine that generates 382 hp as well as a seven-speed automatic transmission. It offers loads of technology, such as bi-Xenon headlights that direct the beam of light around curves.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class' COMAND-Plus system has a single knob that controls many of the cabin features. It is complicated but an improvement over BMW's iDrive.

Base MSRP: $85,750

Mercedes-Benz launched the all-new 2007 S-Class late last year. The S550 has a 5.5-liter V8 engine that generates 382 hp as well as a seven-speed automatic transmission. It offers loads of technology, such as bi-Xenon headlights that direct the beam of light around curves.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class' COMAND-Plus system has a single knob that controls many of the cabin features. It is complicated but an improvement over BMW's iDrive.

Base MSRP: $44,300

The 528i sedan has the same 230-hp 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine as the smaller 328i. Unlike with the entry-level 3 Series, 5 Series buyers can order a V8-powered variant, the 550i sedan.

The 550i has a 360-hp 4.8-liter V8 engine. Exterior styling for the 5 Series is polarizing: Some people love it, but a lot of people hate it. The 5 Series sees minor updates for 2008.

Base MSRP: $44,300

The 528i sedan has the same 230-hp 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine as the smaller 328i. Unlike with the entry-level 3 Series, 5 Series buyers can order a V8-powered variant, the 550i sedan.

The 550i has a 360-hp 4.8-liter V8 engine. Exterior styling for the 5 Series is polarizing: Some people love it, but a lot of people hate it. The 5 Series sees minor updates for 2008.

Base MSRP: $75,800

The 7 Series is a logical rival for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (No.1 on this list), so if there is heightened interest for one, there is probably cross-shopping for the other.

The 750i sedan shares its 4.8-liter V8 with the mid-range 550i. Top of the line is the 760Li, a long-wheelbase version of the sedan, with a 438-hp V12 engine.

Base MSRP: $75,800

The 7 Series is a logical rival for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (No.1 on this list), so if there is heightened interest for one, there is probably cross-shopping for the other.

The 750i sedan shares its 4.8-liter V8 with the mid-range 550i. Top of the line is the 760Li, a long-wheelbase version of the sedan, with a 438-hp V12 engine.

The fact that the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class fall in succession on this list speaks to the fact that they are heavily cross-shopped.

The 2008 C350 Sport has a 268-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine. Rear-wheel drive is standard on every model; all-wheel drive will be offered as an option a couple of months after the vehicle goes on sale.

The fact that the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class fall in succession on this list speaks to the fact that they are heavily cross-shopped.

The 2008 C350 Sport has a 268-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine. Rear-wheel drive is standard on every model; all-wheel drive will be offered as an option a couple of months after the vehicle goes on sale.

Base MSRP: $32,400

The base 3 Series model is the 328i Sedan, with a 230-hp 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine. Its No. 1 rival is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which is getting a redesign for the 2008 model year.

The fact that the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class fall in succession on this list speaks to the fact that they are heavily cross-shopped.

Base MSRP: $32,400

The base 3 Series model is the 328i Sedan, with a 230-hp 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine. Its No. 1 rival is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which is getting a redesign for the 2008 model year.

The fact that the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class fall in succession on this list speaks to the fact that they are heavily cross-shopped.

Base MSRP: $43,350

The tiny SLK-Class roadster has a folding hardtop that makes it a good choice for sun seekers living in colder climates. The SLK 280 has a 228-hp V6 engine, with a six-speed manual transmission. A seven-speed automatic transmission is optional.

Through September 4, Mercedes-Benz is offering special lease and finance deals. At the top of the line is the V8-powered SLK55 AMG, which includes a stiffer suspension and larger wheels/tires.

Base MSRP: $43,350

The tiny SLK-Class roadster has a folding hardtop that makes it a good choice for sun seekers living in colder climates. The SLK 280 has a 228-hp V6 engine, with a six-speed manual transmission. A seven-speed automatic transmission is optional.

Through September 4, Mercedes-Benz is offering special lease and finance deals. At the top of the line is the V8-powered SLK55 AMG, which includes a stiffer suspension and larger wheels/tires.

Base MSRP: $49,400

The Porsche Cayman, a coupe version of the Boxster convertible, has a 245-hp six-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission as standard equipment. Porsche's Tiptronic automatic transmission, which can also be shifted manually, is optional.

The Cayman is one of the least-expensive Porsches and therefore more likely to get interest from more car shoppers. It's also a relatively new model, which could have piqued interest as well.

Base MSRP: $49,400

The Porsche Cayman, a coupe version of the Boxster convertible, has a 245-hp six-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission as standard equipment. Porsche's Tiptronic automatic transmission, which can also be shifted manually, is optional.

The Cayman is one of the least-expensive Porsches and therefore more likely to get interest from more car shoppers. It's also a relatively new model, which could have piqued interest as well.

Base MSRP: $35,300

The BMW 3 Series Coupe underwent a complete redesign for 2007, following the sedan and wagon by about a year, as is typical of BMW's strategy. The 328i Coupe costs $2,900 more than the equivalent four-door version.

The top-line 335i Coupe gets BMW's new twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine and offers sports-car-like performance in a more comfortable and practical coupe. Rival Mercedes-Benz doesn't offer a coupe in its entry-level model, the C-Class.

Base MSRP: $35,300

The BMW 3 Series Coupe underwent a complete redesign for 2007, following the sedan and wagon by about a year, as is typical of BMW's strategy. The 328i Coupe costs $2,900 more than the equivalent four-door version.

The top-line 335i Coupe gets BMW's new twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine and offers sports-car-like performance in a more comfortable and practical coupe. Rival Mercedes-Benz doesn't offer a coupe in its entry-level model, the C-Class.

Base MSRP: $33,625

The Acura TL is the only non-German model on this top 10 list. It is based on the Honda Accord, but it has exclusive powertrain choices and a high level of standard equipment.

Compared to the BMW 3 Series Sedan and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Acura TL offers comparable performance and amenities at a lower price. It also has a better track record for reliability, according to Consumer Reports.

Base MSRP: $33,625

The Acura TL is the only non-German model on this top 10 list. It is based on the Honda Accord, but it has exclusive powertrain choices and a high level of standard equipment.

Compared to the BMW 3 Series Sedan and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Acura TL offers comparable performance and amenities at a lower price. It also has a better track record for reliability, according to Consumer Reports.

Base MSRP: $45,900

The BMW X5 is the only SUV, classified as a "light truck" by the U.S. government, on this top 10 list. "If I were Mercedes, that would give me some concern," said George Magliano, director, North American auto industry research for Global Insight, New York.

In June, U.S. light-truck sales (i.e. SUV sales) were down for Mercedes-Benz and also Lexus, but they were up for BMW, especially the X5. The fact that the X5 was completely redesigned for 2007 was probably a factor.

Base MSRP: $45,900

The BMW X5 is the only SUV, classified as a "light truck" by the U.S. government, on this top 10 list. "If I were Mercedes, that would give me some concern," said George Magliano, director, North American auto industry research for Global Insight, New York.

In June, U.S. light-truck sales (i.e. SUV sales) were down for Mercedes-Benz and also Lexus, but they were up for BMW, especially the X5. The fact that the X5 was completely redesigned for 2007 was probably a factor.

ForbesAutos Top 10 Lists

Luxury Car Hot List: Second Quarter 2007
BMW and Mercedes-Benz models are the most sought after, according to ForbesAutos second-quarter data.
by Jim Henry















Despite steady improvements by American automakers and increasingly competitive Japanese models, German cars still dominate luxury-car shopper’s lists. BMW and Mercedes-Benz account for eight of the top 10 luxury and high-interest models that ForbesAutos.com users researched on the site during the second quarter.

“This is the cream of the luxury crop,” said George Magliano, director, North American auto industry research for Global Insight, New York. “It’s a German-oriented list, but that’s the nature of the beast, at this end of the market.”

No. 1 on the second-quarter list was the flagship Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which was redesigned last year. Its chief rival, the BMW 7 Series, was No. 3. In between was the slightly smaller and sportier BMW 5 Series.

“Properly bought, these cars are not necessarily all that expensive to own,” said Jim Hall, the Southfield, Mich.-based VP of industry analysis for AutoPacific in Tustin, Calif. “The concept is, you get value out of an $80,000 to $90,000 car that holds its value, you get the mileage out of it, and if it fits in with your ownership cycle, it can be a pretty sensible way to buy a car.".

At the entry-level end of the luxury spectrum, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the BMW 3 Series and the Acura TL popped up in the top 10.

“The C-Class is brand-new, that’s got to account for some of the interest,” said Wes Brown, one of the principals for Iceology, a research and consulting firm in Los Angeles.

Mercedes-Benz fans have been aware for months that the company launches a redesigned C-Class starting in August.

The TL was the one non-German model on the Top 10 list. That’s good news for Acura, which has been laboring for years to position itself as true luxury brand, as opposed to a fancier Honda.
“That would make them extremely happy, to nose your way in between the Mercedeses and the BMWs,” Magliano said.


Hall pointed out that BMW has kept up a drumbeat of marketing and advertising to support the 3 Series. The sedan was last redesigned in 2005, but BMW’s usual practice is to add different body styles and engines to keep interest fresh.

“They do not ‘launch ’em and leave ’em’ — that’s been a strength of BMW. They launch it, and then they never stop launching it, by the time another re-freshening comes along,” Hall said.

For the 2007 model year, the 3 Series got BMW’s first turbocharged engines since the 1970s, and the convertible model received the company’s first folding hardtop.

Light trucks are conspicuous by their absence on the top 10 list. The luxury segment is not as truck-heavy as the rest of the market, but light trucks account for more than one-quarter of luxury-brand sales, so you would expect to see more trucks on the list besides the BMW X5, at No. 10.

Click here to see a slideshow of the second quarter 2007 Luxury Car Hot List.


Editor’s note: Due to changes in the way we gather data for our top 10 quarterly shopper favorites, comparisons with previous lists aren't possible. Starting with the next quarter, we will resume comparisons.

ForbesAutos Top 10 Lists

Luxury Car Hot List: Second Quarter 2007
BMW and Mercedes-Benz models are the most sought after, according to ForbesAutos second-quarter data.
by Jim Henry















Despite steady improvements by American automakers and increasingly competitive Japanese models, German cars still dominate luxury-car shopper’s lists. BMW and Mercedes-Benz account for eight of the top 10 luxury and high-interest models that ForbesAutos.com users researched on the site during the second quarter.

“This is the cream of the luxury crop,” said George Magliano, director, North American auto industry research for Global Insight, New York. “It’s a German-oriented list, but that’s the nature of the beast, at this end of the market.”

No. 1 on the second-quarter list was the flagship Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which was redesigned last year. Its chief rival, the BMW 7 Series, was No. 3. In between was the slightly smaller and sportier BMW 5 Series.

“Properly bought, these cars are not necessarily all that expensive to own,” said Jim Hall, the Southfield, Mich.-based VP of industry analysis for AutoPacific in Tustin, Calif. “The concept is, you get value out of an $80,000 to $90,000 car that holds its value, you get the mileage out of it, and if it fits in with your ownership cycle, it can be a pretty sensible way to buy a car.".

At the entry-level end of the luxury spectrum, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the BMW 3 Series and the Acura TL popped up in the top 10.

“The C-Class is brand-new, that’s got to account for some of the interest,” said Wes Brown, one of the principals for Iceology, a research and consulting firm in Los Angeles.

Mercedes-Benz fans have been aware for months that the company launches a redesigned C-Class starting in August.

The TL was the one non-German model on the Top 10 list. That’s good news for Acura, which has been laboring for years to position itself as true luxury brand, as opposed to a fancier Honda.
“That would make them extremely happy, to nose your way in between the Mercedeses and the BMWs,” Magliano said.


Hall pointed out that BMW has kept up a drumbeat of marketing and advertising to support the 3 Series. The sedan was last redesigned in 2005, but BMW’s usual practice is to add different body styles and engines to keep interest fresh.

“They do not ‘launch ’em and leave ’em’ — that’s been a strength of BMW. They launch it, and then they never stop launching it, by the time another re-freshening comes along,” Hall said.

For the 2007 model year, the 3 Series got BMW’s first turbocharged engines since the 1970s, and the convertible model received the company’s first folding hardtop.

Light trucks are conspicuous by their absence on the top 10 list. The luxury segment is not as truck-heavy as the rest of the market, but light trucks account for more than one-quarter of luxury-brand sales, so you would expect to see more trucks on the list besides the BMW X5, at No. 10.

Click here to see a slideshow of the second quarter 2007 Luxury Car Hot List.


Editor’s note: Due to changes in the way we gather data for our top 10 quarterly shopper favorites, comparisons with previous lists aren't possible. Starting with the next quarter, we will resume comparisons.