Mechanics of a Luxury Car verses Non Luxury (insurance, vehicle, 2009)

[bon514]

How can you find comparison charts of the mechanics of cars (luxury verses ecomonical).

For example,

Is inner workings (motor, etc) of a luxury car - that much better than a nonluxury car?

Is the luxury frame made of thicker or stronger metal?

Will the luxury car rust less?

Will the luxury car protect me better if hit?

Is the only thing I'm paying extra for - is image?

[Drover]

You're paying extra for image -- and typically, extra feature content too. And sometimes extra sound-deadening material, better state of suspension tune, bigger wheels/tires, etc. And it may in fact protect you better if hit -- you're more likely to find more airbags in a luxury car, though we are reaching the point where even mid-level family cars have multiple side-curtain airbags and the like.

As for the inner workings of the engine.... no, they're not any better, and that's because the quality of basic cars has come up. We now expect to get well over 100,000 miles even out of the cheapest car on the lot. Sometimes the engine in a luxury car is tuned for a higher state of performance than the same engine found in a non-luxury car.

Will it rust less? No. You have to wash/wax/care for it just the same as an econobox if you expect it to last, especially if you live in a region of the country where they salt the roads in winter. But on the used-car market, you'll typically find luxury cars have been better cared for in that regard, at least in low-mileage vehicles, because the owner is more likely to have the means for the upkeep.

[hsw]

I've driven new Mercedes CL65s for years, primarily for safety and precision/performance, not "luxury" or status....where I live/work (SF), $200K MBs are relatively "stealth wealth" cars which are not uncommon and hard to differentiate (by non-car nuts) from far more common, cheaper MBs

Safety is a complex topic...active safety is arguably more useful to avoid an accident....need to examine a car's braking, handling, stability in an emergent scenario...and consider tech systems which further help one avoid an accident (read about all the PreSafe tech in new, '10 MB S65 or CL65)

If unavoidable occurs, all seatbelts, airbag systems, seat structures/head restraints, crumple zones, roof strengths, etc etc are not created equal....no. of airbags or weight or crash test rating doesn't necessarily indicate or prove safety (most $100K+ cars never face gvt crash tests)

Safety is a priceless necessity, not a luxury; no insurance or lawsuit will ever reverse lost health or disabilities if collision entails surgeries/disabilities...any $200K Mercedes is relatively cheap, healthy stuff

[kentuckydad95]

Good example is Lincoln and Ford. Both have the SAME guts, Lincoln just has more
"flash" pieces such as extra fake chrome vs the Ford. You pay ALOT more for a vehicle with the exact same basics.

[The Boring OC]

I own two luxury SUVs, the 2007 Escalade and the 2007 Yukon XL Denali. Most engine parts are the same. The Escalade has a 6.2L V8 VVT with 403 HP @ 417 LBS. Ft. of Torque giving it a 0-to-60 in 6.4. The Denali also has a 6.2L V8 SFI heavy duty VVT with 380 HP @ 417 LBS. Ft. Of Torque also giving it 0-to-60 in 6.4. both have 6-speed transmissions Smooth rides but the Denali engine sounds more rugged like a truck. Both SUVs have a space for a second battery.

In safety features both offer the same number of airbags (8) and ABS. Now, in interior comfort level the Escalade is superior to the Denali., The seats on the Escalade are exclusive to it. The navigation screen is bigger and also exclusive, same with dashboard and center console.

Seat features are all the same now in 2009 on these two. However, back in 2007 the Denali did not feature cooled seats, only heated back and seat. GM redesigned it and added that feature along with 23 more HP to the 2009 versions. But still, the engine on the Escalade is more quiet.

The safety structures and frame are basically the same on all GMT900 platform SUVs but it doesn't have the same number of airbags the other SUVs have. The outer door panel shells in the Escalade are also exclusive to it and very strong. I was partially T-boned on Mother's Day by a new Camry going at 55 when she clipped the outer shell of the rear left door which withheld the impact very good not affecting the rear of the door or glass. The cheap plastic handle was another story

With the Escalade You get exclusive 22-inch Chrome wheels., Chrome details, Exclusive seats, exclusive design outdoor shell panels, exclusive dashboards, center console and magnetic ride control HID headlamps, autobeams, LED tail lights. Versus the Denali which has 20-inch Chrome wheels, some Chrome Details, halogen headlamps, same seats, navigation system and similar dashboard design as the Yukon SLT/Suburban or Tahoe LTZ package except, with the Denali, you get a leather covered wood trim steering wheel (just like the Escalade) and some fake wood details with brushed steel inside not found on the regular Yukon/Yukon XL SLE or SLT. Another thing is a "DENALI" badge on the steering wheel instead of the regular red "GMC" logo.

The Engine on the Yukon/YukonXL Denali is exclusive to it. The regular Yukon/Yukon XL use a variety of engines raging from 5.3 to 6.0 DURAMAX with a maximum of 353 HP. Also, it has only two airbags and different brakes.


The money you pay for an Escalade is the glory of having one with flashing Chrome and big wheels and rotating HID headlamps. The Denali is an Escalade (or ESV) with a bit less Chrome details and smaller wheels and a few less high-tech features but more upscale than the regular Yukon/Yukon XL and the affordable Tahoe and Suburban.

One thing for sure is with both (Escalade and Denali) you will be much safer than driving a regular Yukon/Yukon XL or Tahoe or Suburban.

[getmeoutofhere]

I hate to break it to you, Boring OC, but neither a Yukon nor an Escalade is a luxury vehicle.

They are just fancy trucks.

True luxury SUV's are the LX, the GL, that type of vehicle.