BMW & Mercedes - no longer a prestigious brand?

[Willy Nilly]

mph1977 said:

Captain Muppet said:

McWigglebum4th said:

k-ink said:

You can buy a Mercedes builders van, or a BMW scooter. So I think they sold out quite some time ago. It is all about halo products and marketing to keep the image appealing to those who find that sort of thing important.

Mercedes have always done commercial vechiles

BMW have always done bikes

I know a guy with Ferrari shoes. Hence Ferrari are less prestigeous than Dacia.

They were expensive shoes, but apparently when comparing apples and oranges it's doesn't matter whther they are good apple or oranges.

Lamborghini tractor anyone ?

He made tractors before cars.

[daveco]

mph1977 said:

Captain Muppet said:

McWigglebum4th said:

k-ink said:

You can buy a Mercedes builders van, or a BMW scooter. So I think they sold out quite some time ago. It is all about halo products and marketing to keep the image appealing to those who find that sort of thing important.

Mercedes have always done commercial vechiles

BMW have always done bikes

I know a guy with Ferrari shoes. Hence Ferrari are less prestigeous than Dacia.

They were expensive shoes, but apparently when comparing apples and oranges it's doesn't matter whther they are good apple or oranges.

Lamborghini tractor anyone ?

All this highlights the nature of business; expand into related fields if you can exploit your reputation and/or knowledge. However you can dilute and damage your brand if you decide to go 'downstream' for a quick buck. This is probably why Ferrari have decided to go high end on non-car Ferrari items again such as suits and luggage, and reduce the amount of cars they produce. Apple appear to be the only brand who can charge the earth for their items, even though they offer no absolute advantage over the competition with regards performance and taste.

[kam05]

Times have changed.

Example:

Growing up in the 80's, my dad (factory worker) went through the usual Ford/VX range (Escorts, Cavaliers etc). A decent BMW/Merc in the 80's wasn't cheap.

Me (who works in IT) wants to be seen as doing well for himself, so I will avoid the usual Fords/VX's and head for the German brands (BMW,Audi & Merc). And also, I guess finance is easier to come by (HP, loans, leasing etc).

A new Mondeo with decent spec would cost...say £20k? Might as well as get myself into a 2-3 year old BMW/Audi/Merc if I'm spending that sort of money.

The stuff that Ford/VX produce (Mondeo etc) has gotten expensive or the stuff produced by BMW/Audi/Merc has gotten cheaper (think 320d/A4/C Class not M3's and AMG's)?

Edited by kam05 on Thursday 30th January 15:09

[Ari]

Wills2 said:

Here we go again.

Quite. Sad that on a supposed car enthusiasts site the image seems to be so many people's primary (and often it seems only) concern.

[Ari]

yonex said:

Mercedes and BMW still make some high end cars but their repmobiles are just that.

I knew we'd have a "reps car" comment in here somewhere!

Go on, tell us how Bentleys are footballers cars and only hairdressers drive convertibles!

[deltashad]

Mercedes have been making vans as long as I can remember, BMW have been making bikes and bubblecars probably just as long ago.

Anyhow, I'm sure we've done this thread a few times already.


BMW and Mercedes both make some very nice desirable executive prestige cars. More so than most of the other marques.

BMW have always made cheap variants 1502 Touring,
Mercedes have always made taxi's.
Also the 190, which was not exactly a masterpiece. Before anyone goes on about how great the 190 was, my dad had a new one, I had one second hand.

They really haven't changed that much over the years. The models have become more varied to keep up with the change in consumer favour but fk me. They're out to make money. They do it very well.

[anonymous-user]

Ari said:

I knew we'd have a "reps car" comment in here somewhere!

Go on, tell us how Bentleys are footballers cars and only hairdressers drive convertibles!

What would you call a C180 exactly.... 'compact executive saloon' from £249 per month

[Digga]

yonex said:

Ari said:

I knew we'd have a "reps car" comment in here somewhere!

Go on, tell us how Bentleys are footballers cars and only hairdressers drive convertibles!

What would you call a C180 exactly.... 'compact executive saloon' from £249 per month

Taxi!

[anonymous-user]

Digga said:

Taxi!

Exactly.

[mwstewart]

No, they aren't, and haven't been for some time. I think the current style of Mercedes advertising tells all there is to know, though each brand mentioned still produces fine quality cars with a level of detail and complexity far disproportionate to its operational lifespan.

[VinceFox]

This is a circular argument. I bought an m3 because it had no equal in it's price comparison. This is what made it prestigious.

[GTIR]

I had a loan 63 plate B class today.
Noisy, uncomfortable and no gadgets, not even cruise - but it did have a reversing camera oddly and low profile tyres.

I've also had an A class, base model, and it to was rubbish.

So yes. Some lower spec Mercedes are just like any Ford or Vauxhall but the E class and S are super quite comfortable cars.

[Ari]

yonex said:

What would you call a C180 exactly.... 'compact executive saloon' from £249 per month

What's that got to do with 'reps cars'?

If you've got a business selling widgets are you really going to buy your sales team a Mercedes each rather than a Ford Focus or a Toyota Avensis?

[mph1977]

Ari said:

yonex said:

What would you call a C180 exactly.... 'compact executive saloon' from £249 per month

What's that got to do with 'reps cars'?

If you've got a business selling widgets are you really going to buy your sales team a Mercedes each rather than a Ford Focus or a Toyota Avensis?

In the 'old days' i.e. up until the 1990s companies used to buy their fleets, they generally don't now.

In the fickle world of generic sales reps offering fripperies can be a way of attracting staff - the leasing costs are similar for the arseperational brands as they are for the 'cooking' brands ...

[W124]

The only prestige cars these days are those bought with actual money by people outside the great Ponzi scheme - if it's biting you on the arse every month, it's not prestige. Wealth is not what you can finance. It's what you can buy.

[slipstream 1985]

poverty spec 316s and diesels are no longer prestigious as the brands have diluted their reputation. However this is why the rise of the 4x4 in these brands x5 q7 etc has come about. Expensive to buy expensive to run and differing from the "now common" 316, a4 etc

[Digga]

I reckon vans is where the discrete money's migrated to.

[Catatafish]

TLandCruiser said:

Easy access to finance is why

+1 and on average people are better off in general since... whenever previous perceptions were established.

We are also in an era where the manufacturers are still managing over supply.

Edited by Catatafish on Friday 31st January 10:45

[jdw1234]

In fairness, I do think my W164 ML is a great car. I just don't know if it is any better than a Ford or whatever.

I also have a strange attraction to an ECLass convertible.

I find Mercedes make fantasic bargains as they come off 3 or 4 year leases (due to the sheer numbers for sale I guess).

I think I paid something like £14.5k for a 3 year old ML on 60k miles.

[DH01]

mph1977 said:

Captain Muppet said:

McWigglebum4th said:

k-ink said:

You can buy a Mercedes builders van, or a BMW scooter. So I think they sold out quite some time ago. It is all about halo products and marketing to keep the image appealing to those who find that sort of thing important.

Mercedes have always done commercial vechiles

BMW have always done bikes

I know a guy with Ferrari shoes. Hence Ferrari are less prestigeous than Dacia.

They were expensive shoes, but apparently when comparing apples and oranges it's doesn't matter whther they are good apple or oranges.

Lamborghini tractor anyone ?

Porsche tractor ? Not the Cayenne !