BMW & Mercedes - no longer a prestigious brand?
Discussion
A friend of mine recently bought a brand new CSL350 with AMG body kit for £41k (full list £58k). Are these cars still considered as a rich mans car or has the sheer number of them (all classes of Mercedes and BMWs)on the roads has made them "ordinary". When i see a brand new Merc, i just think its on Contract Hire for £399 per month....
If not them, then who? Because Audi and Lexus don't scream success as much.
IMO cars aren't as tied into your 'position in life' as much as they were - maybe they're too well made? My Mate has just bought an S4 for not much money really and it's only the bit of plastic on the front that would make you think it's 8 years old.
IMO cars aren't as tied into your 'position in life' as much as they were - maybe they're too well made? My Mate has just bought an S4 for not much money really and it's only the bit of plastic on the front that would make you think it's 8 years old.
When I was a yoof, these were quite posh cars. A guy at school, his dad had a 5 series and we all thought they must have been minted. You didn't see them every day.
Now they are the default motorway miler choice. So whilst it is a premium brand, I don't see it as prestigious personally. It might luxurious to drive on the motorway, but externally it is just another car, like a Focus. But with nice leather.
Presitious 'every man' would go to Jaguar for me. Beyond that, Rollers, Bentleys etc.
Now they are the default motorway miler choice. So whilst it is a premium brand, I don't see it as prestigious personally. It might luxurious to drive on the motorway, but externally it is just another car, like a Focus. But with nice leather.
Presitious 'every man' would go to Jaguar for me. Beyond that, Rollers, Bentleys etc.
They are not, anymore. Every sod has one. My perception is that there's no real barrier to owning one, just a question of how much of financial commitment you want to make. If I see (hear) a 13 plate, white, 4 pot diesel I automatically assume lease car. No shame in that either.
Personally I drive a BMW because I like them, so far choosing older ones with nice engines, that I can buy outright. But I've no delusions about status that it brings or does not bring.
-ETA: Whereas when my dad bought one in about 1995 that really did seem special in comparison to most of the traffic around us at the time.
Personally I drive a BMW because I like them, so far choosing older ones with nice engines, that I can buy outright. But I've no delusions about status that it brings or does not bring.
-ETA: Whereas when my dad bought one in about 1995 that really did seem special in comparison to most of the traffic around us at the time.
Like it or not all brands (except supercar brands) have to have watered down models in the range. It's all about making money. BMW has likely made more money from its lower end models rather than its luxury barges and proper M badged cars. I would make a good bet they make more money on the bottom end in a month than they do on the top end.
They all still make prestige cars, if you are lucky enough you buy one,they are still being made and in business because the bottom end props it up.
Anyone who knows anything about cars can spot the difference between the range.
They all still make prestige cars, if you are lucky enough you buy one,they are still being made and in business because the bottom end props it up.
Anyone who knows anything about cars can spot the difference between the range.
They were genuine premium brands 20 years ago but they've been trading on that with clever marketing ever since. Used to be engineers running the show but as soon as the bean-counters got hold of the reins, quality has slipped.
Apart from the top end stuff, they are built to a price and churned out by the million just like nearly every other mainstream brand.
Apart from the interiors they are just as likely to breakdown and suffer from niggly little annoying faults as a Ford or VW.
Apart from the top end stuff, they are built to a price and churned out by the million just like nearly every other mainstream brand.
Apart from the interiors they are just as likely to breakdown and suffer from niggly little annoying faults as a Ford or VW.
valiant said:
Apart from the top end stuff, they are built to a price and churned out by the million just like nearly every other mainstream brand.
I'd argue even the top end stuff. Used to be the 'M' cars were hand built specials. Now they're nothing more than a trim level, built on the same line as the other rep cars. Mercs used to be something really special, lots and lots of care and attention spent on each model with a (justified) reputation for being 'bullet proof', now they are just another maker churning umpteen models out with a relatively poor reputation for reliability. As aluded to before, they're still prestige compared to many less expensive cars but prestige isn't really as noticeable nowadays.
It's like the latest iPhone. They're good, relatively expensive phones (and still 'prestige') but there are so many now that they're not as remarkable as back in the day. Even some people who can barely afford to eat get an iPhone...
It's like the latest iPhone. They're good, relatively expensive phones (and still 'prestige') but there are so many now that they're not as remarkable as back in the day. Even some people who can barely afford to eat get an iPhone...
BMW have never been as a good as their reputation has suggested. Audi showed initial signs of luxury promise with the D2 A8, before promptly nosediving into the new Millenium. Sadly, Mercedes joined BMW and Audi on the 'race to the bottom'. Which is a shame - inspect a late 80's or 90's Mercedes design (a W140, a C140 or an R129 SL) and you'll see the depth of engineering ability and meticulous construction far outstrips the competition.
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