BMW Gives Pope Benedict a New X5.

Yannis · 10-06-2005, 09:29 AM

BMW Gives Pope Benedict XVI a New X5 Sport-Utility Vehicle

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the world's largest maker of luxury cars, said it's given Pope Benedict XVI, a German, an X5 sport-utility vehicle.

BMW, based in the German state of Bavaria where the pope grew up, presented the SUV at a ceremony at the Vatican yesterday, the carmaker said in a faxed statement today.

``We are proud to be able to provide Pope Benedict XVI with a BMW car,'' Michael Ganal, BMW's sales and marketing chief, said in the statement.

The pope, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, used to own a Golf car, produced by German carmaker Volkswagen AG, which EBay Germany auctioned off on line in May. GoldenPalace.com, an online casino, agreed in May to pay 188,939 euros ($227,889) for the 1999 gray metallic hatchback..

The German seller of the Golf, Benjamin Halbe, 21, bought the car from a dealer for 9,500 euros in January, not realizing it had belonged to the cardinal until he got the car's registration documents.

Source: - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Alx · 10-06-2005, 11:50 AM

Just what he needed.... to pick up the chicks...

Yannis · 10-06-2005, 11:54 AM

Last time pope had a M class:

SDNR · 10-06-2005, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yannis

Last time pope had a M class:

Maybe it kept breaking down

Alx · 10-06-2005, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I am rnds

Maybe it kept breaking down

Funny...

I thought VW was going to get the popemobile accout.

Regardless, the X5 4.8is with 20" wheels is surely the way to go! Especially with the adaptive Podium seating option.

Yannis · 10-09-2005, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlxAmg

I thought VW was going to get the popemobile accout.

Me too! I heard they were making a modified Touareg for him.

SDNR · 10-09-2005, 03:30 AM

It's strange how the German companies seem to be competing with each other to build the "Popemobile" - why? - is it to attract the Catholic market?

It does seem sad though that yet another long historic association with Mercedes-Benz has been broken - Mercedes-Benz has really lost a lot of its perceived prestige (in Europe at least) over the past few years. However, the long association Mercedes-Benz has with Third-world dictators still seems to be strong - demand remains high among the corrupt rulers of many of the poorest countries in the world - thank goodness DCX can still rely on their loyalty

Snake Vargas · 10-09-2005, 11:43 AM

LOL

When I first read the story, I also wondered what happened. I thought the Pope wasn't really that bent on getting a new car. That said, maybe BMW just sort of offloaded it on to him as publicity of sorts. And it doesn't say it's a Popemobile, right? They might have given it to "Pope Benedict XVI", but more than likely it will end up as a Vatican car pool vehicle for everyone else.

vabboud · 10-10-2005, 01:44 AM

quandt family are catholic, don't expect the pope to rid in protestant mercedes anymore,

Mr. M · 10-10-2005, 06:27 AM

VW needs the publicity. That said, the Phaeton was used to ferry the Pope when he visited Germany a few months (or weeks, can't remember) ago. The A8 was used as well.

10-06-2005, 09:29 AM	#1
Yannis Trendsetter Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Greece Posts: 8,281 Thanks: 1,886 Thanked 1,800 Times in 1,025 Posts	BMW Gives Pope Benedict a New X5. BMW Gives Pope Benedict XVI a New X5 Sport-Utility Vehicle Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, the world's largest maker of luxury cars, said it's given Pope Benedict XVI, a German, an X5 sport-utility vehicle. BMW, based in the German state of Bavaria where the pope grew up, presented the SUV at a ceremony at the Vatican yesterday, the carmaker said in a faxed statement today. ``We are proud to be able to provide Pope Benedict XVI with a BMW car,'' Michael Ganal, BMW's sales and marketing chief, said in the statement. The pope, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, used to own a Golf car, produced by German carmaker Volkswagen AG, which EBay Germany auctioned off on line in May. GoldenPalace.com, an online casino, agreed in May to pay 188,939 euros ($227,889) for the 1999 gray metallic hatchback.. The German seller of the Golf, Benjamin Halbe, 21, bought the car from a dealer for 9,500 euros in January, not realizing it had belonged to the cardinal until he got the car's registration documents. Source: - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

10-06-2005, 11:50 AM	#2
Alx Connoisseur Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: --Poconos, PA.-- 2005 Aston Martin DB9 Posts: 6,012 Thanks: 1,243 Thanked 662 Times in 316 Posts	Re: BMW Gives Pope Benedict a New X5. Just what he needed.... to pick up the chicks...

10-06-2005, 11:54 AM	#3
Yannis Trendsetter Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Greece Posts: 8,281 Thanks: 1,886 Thanked 1,800 Times in 1,025 Posts	Re: BMW Gives Pope Benedict a New X5. Last time pope had a M class:

10-09-2005, 03:30 AM	#7
SDNR Connoisseur Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 5,985 Thanks: 1,319 Thanked 870 Times in 534 Posts	Re: BMW Gives Pope Benedict a New X5. It's strange how the German companies seem to be competing with each other to build the "Popemobile" - why? - is it to attract the Catholic market? It does seem sad though that yet another long historic association with Mercedes-Benz has been broken - Mercedes-Benz has really lost a lot of its perceived prestige (in Europe at least) over the past few years. However, the long association Mercedes-Benz has with Third-world dictators still seems to be strong - demand remains high among the corrupt rulers of many of the poorest countries in the world - thank goodness DCX can still rely on their loyalty

10-09-2005, 11:43 AM	#8
Snake Vargas Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 1,201 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: BMW Gives Pope Benedict a New X5. LOL When I first read the story, I also wondered what happened. I thought the Pope wasn't really that bent on getting a new car. That said, maybe BMW just sort of offloaded it on to him as publicity of sorts. And it doesn't say it's a Popemobile, right? They might have given it to "Pope Benedict XVI", but more than likely it will end up as a Vatican car pool vehicle for everyone else.

10-10-2005, 01:44 AM	#9
vabboud Advocate Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 576 Thanks: 43 Thanked 78 Times in 51 Posts	Re: BMW Gives Pope Benedict a New X5. quandt family are catholic, don't expect the pope to rid in protestant mercedes anymore,

10-10-2005, 06:27 AM	#10
Mr. M Connoisseur Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 6,103 Thanks: 2,036 Thanked 1,722 Times in 925 Posts	Re: BMW Gives Pope Benedict a New X5. VW needs the publicity. That said, the Phaeton was used to ferry the Pope when he visited Germany a few months (or weeks, can't remember) ago. The A8 was used as well.

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