Caterham Harrods
Discussion
^^^ I get your point but that, unfortunately, is capitalism for you. The alternative is communism and that doesn't work very well...
I too hate the fact that this is a marketing exercise, but the car isn't built for people like me. If they can sell this stuff to lots of punters who end up being happy customers and can use the profits to drive development of the stuff I want to buy, then I'm all for it. All they are doing is following a well proven path that Ferrari, lambo, McLaren, Porsche, Aston, Morgan and numerous others have plundering very successfully for a few years. People will pay handsomely for a bit of customisation. There's margin in them there hills...
I too hate the fact that this is a marketing exercise, but the car isn't built for people like me. If they can sell this stuff to lots of punters who end up being happy customers and can use the profits to drive development of the stuff I want to buy, then I'm all for it. All they are doing is following a well proven path that Ferrari, lambo, McLaren, Porsche, Aston, Morgan and numerous others have plundering very successfully for a few years. People will pay handsomely for a bit of customisation. There's margin in them there hills...
subirg said:
^^^ I get your point but that, unfortunately, is capitalism for you. The alternative is communism and that doesn't work very well...
I too hate the fact that this is a marketing exercise, but the car isn't built for people like me. If they can sell this stuff to lots of punters who end up being happy customers and can use the profits to drive development of the stuff I want to buy, then I'm all for it. All they are doing is following a well proven path that Ferrari, lambo, McLaren, Porsche, Aston, Morgan and numerous others have plundering very successfully for a few years. People will pay handsomely for a bit of customisation. There's margin in them there hills...
You may be correct, and I certainly hope they make money on it, but the Harrods clientele they are targeting aren't going to be affected by some comments on here.I too hate the fact that this is a marketing exercise, but the car isn't built for people like me. If they can sell this stuff to lots of punters who end up being happy customers and can use the profits to drive development of the stuff I want to buy, then I'm all for it. All they are doing is following a well proven path that Ferrari, lambo, McLaren, Porsche, Aston, Morgan and numerous others have plundering very successfully for a few years. People will pay handsomely for a bit of customisation. There's margin in them there hills...
Hopefully the negative comments here mean that their marketing department (as long as they do research), realise that a huge part of their current client base are not interested in these things.
The bigger worry for me is that if they are becoming more driven by a marketing agenda which is clearly not targeting people like us, then the cars are going to move further away from the type of thing we want to see.
hufggfg said:
Hopefully the negative comments here mean that their marketing department (as long as they do research), realise that a huge part of their current client base are not interested in these things.
You don't think the blighters are maybe looking for 'new' clients are they? What kind of madness is this?sfaulds said:
You don't think the blighters are maybe looking for 'new' clients are they? What kind of madness is this?
Of course they are, and of course that's sensible, but there's a huge range of things they could have done to try and reach new clients, that would also have been of interest to the existing client base. Here, they seem to be trying to target a customer which is about as far away from wanting a "back to basics lightweight sports car" that its possible to get.hufggfg said:
sfaulds said:
You don't think the blighters are maybe looking for 'new' clients are they? What kind of madness is this?
Of course they are, and of course that's sensible, but there's a huge range of things they could have done to try and reach new clients, that would also have been of interest to the existing client base. Here, they seem to be trying to target a customer which is about as far away from wanting a "back to basics lightweight sports car" that its possible to get.Is there an electric hood option? And where's the HK sound system....yer know, like a Range Rover.
If it does sell to people who are attracted primarily to the Harrods branding, it'll be as a gimmicky trinket and they'll soon be disappointed and/or bored with it and will probably tell their friends so. Is that really good marketing?
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 8th October 20:39
Calm down everybody, the sky won't fall in because of this 
As the article says "The intention of the car is to show the range and scope of personalisation options open to Seven buyers under the new Signature scheme. " In other words, as has been said earlier, a way of grabbing publicity, column inches and "social media engagement" - which seems to be working 
It's not as if Caterham haven't done this before either
There was the "Super 7 A", in 1982, produced at the request of Avon Coachworks. This featured a host of luxury appointments, including two-tone paintwork, pepperpot alloy wheels, extensive soundproofing, fully-trimmed interior and was the first outing for the Vegantune VTA engine. Only two of this model were produced, at a price of £1,250 more than the standard car.
Then there was the "Silver Jubilee" model in 1983 that featured silver paintwork, contrasting stripes on wings and bonnet, nickel-plated suspension and a few other "luxury" bits and bobs to produce a premium product at a premium price tag of £1,400, taking the price in component-form to $7,250 at launch. A grand total of 8 were produced, according to Chris Rees' book.
The "Autosport" 50th Anniversary Caterham" (1999-2001) had, among other refinements, a special red and gold paint scheme, commemorative decals and dash plaque, leather seats and - bizarrely - an Alpine CD stereo system! This high-spec, comfort-orientated edition retailed at a costly £21,995 at a time when the basic model was about £11,000, and nine were sold
As the article says "The intention of the car is to show the range and scope of personalisation options open to Seven buyers under the new Signature scheme. " In other words, as has been said earlier, a way of grabbing publicity, column inches and "social media engagement" - which seems to be working It's not as if Caterham haven't done this before either
There was the "Super 7 A", in 1982, produced at the request of Avon Coachworks. This featured a host of luxury appointments, including two-tone paintwork, pepperpot alloy wheels, extensive soundproofing, fully-trimmed interior and was the first outing for the Vegantune VTA engine. Only two of this model were produced, at a price of £1,250 more than the standard car.
Then there was the "Silver Jubilee" model in 1983 that featured silver paintwork, contrasting stripes on wings and bonnet, nickel-plated suspension and a few other "luxury" bits and bobs to produce a premium product at a premium price tag of £1,400, taking the price in component-form to $7,250 at launch. A grand total of 8 were produced, according to Chris Rees' book.
The "Autosport" 50th Anniversary Caterham" (1999-2001) had, among other refinements, a special red and gold paint scheme, commemorative decals and dash plaque, leather seats and - bizarrely - an Alpine CD stereo system! This high-spec, comfort-orientated edition retailed at a costly £21,995 at a time when the basic model was about £11,000, and nine were sold
Caterhamfan said:
The "Autosport" 50th Anniversary Caterham" (1999-2001) had, among other refinements, a special red and gold paint scheme, commemorative decals and dash plaque, leather seats and - bizarrely - an Alpine CD stereo system! This high-spec, comfort-orientated edition retailed at a costly £21,995 at a time when the basic model was about £11,000, and nine were sold
.. and now look at it 
nigelpugh7 said:
Are the gauges in the hole where the stereo was fitted?
Also I don't recall the 50th editions having carbon/Kevlar tillets either, I though they were all with leather seats?
Yes they are and no they didn't. And I think this chap is just pointing out how he's modified his anniversary. Also I don't recall the 50th editions having carbon/Kevlar tillets either, I though they were all with leather seats?
I don't think that they did, but as the options list on a 7 is longer than most novels, it doesn't really matter. It's the only car where nobody ever bothers to ask "have you modified it from standard" because no bugger knows what's standard. The only thing that's relevant is "How many BHP?".
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