The league table of brands

[Thankyou4calling]

With all the threads on here as to whether a brand is premium or otherwise I thought I'd do a league table.

I can give my reasons for each position but would love to know what others think.

Obviously I've not covered all makes so feel free to add them.

1. Rolls
2. Aston
3. Ferrari
4. Bentley
5. Porsche
6. Mercedes
7. Audi
8. BMW
9. Jaguar
10. Lexus
11. Volvo
12. VW
13. Toyota
14. Subaru
15. Honda
16. Ford
17. Vauxhall
18. Skoda
19. Nissan
20. Kia
21. Hyundai

The factor I used mostly was their image, perception with people and how perhaps non car enthusiasts look at someone who has a particular brand.

Edited by Thankyou4calling on Tuesday 28th January 11:25

[g3org3y]

I'd put BMW and Jag above Audi.

I'd also put Skoda above Vauxhall.

[RicksAlfas]

I think the lines are much more blurred these days. It's hard to put them in order like you have.
I think it's more levels of similarity. Merc/BMW/Audi/Jaguar are really much of a muchness don't you think?

It's more like
Rolls - Bentley - Aston
BMW - Merc - Audi - Jag
Honda - VW - Lexus
Skoda - Toyota - Kia -Hyundai - Ford - Vauxhall
Citroen - Renault - Fiat - Peugeot
etc.

[Nors]

RicksAlfas said:

I think the lines are much more blurred these days. It's hard to put them in order like you have.
I think it's more levels of similarity. Merc/BMW/Audi/Jaguar are really much of a muchness don't you think?

It's more like
Rolls - Bentley - Aston
BMW - Merc - Audi - Jag
Honda - VW - Lexus
Skoda - Toyota - Kia -Hyundai - Ford - Vauxhall
Citroen - Renault - Fiat - Peugeot
etc.

I'd go with this approach personally. One man's BMW is anothers Merc etc etc.

This is more of a who's in the same league as opposed to who's best in the league. (That's when it all becomes subjective and based on personal preferences)

[Thankyou4calling]

RicksAlfas said:

I think the lines are much more blurred these days. It's hard to put them in order like you have.
I think it's more levels of similarity. Merc/BMW/Audi/Jaguar are really much of a muchness don't you think?

It's more like
Rolls - Bentley - Aston
BMW - Merc - Audi - Jag
Honda - VW - Lexus
Skoda - Toyota - Kia -Hyundai - Ford - Vauxhall
Citroen - Renault - Fiat - Peugeot
etc.

I to actually agree with you. I only wanted to classify them.

I guess what your saying is you have premier league, then championship, premium economy, mainstream, and budget. There will always be a blurring of the Lines though. To my mind, despite many highlighting their quality issues and finance deals if you pull up in a Mercedes, you've arrived. More so than in a BMW although Jaguar is moving ahead.

[kambites]

I'd put them all joint first. Couldn't care less what badge is on the nose of a car.

In terms of general perception, though, I'd probably agree with the grouping posted above (although I'd put Lexus in the same group as BMW/Audi/whatever; and possibly Toyota in the same group as VW and Honda).

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 28th January 11:46

[trashbat]

You missed out Electrolux and Morphy Richards.

[RicksAlfas]

Thankyou4calling said:

I to actually agree with you. I only wanted to classify them.

I guess what your saying is you have premier league, then championship, premium economy, mainstream, and budget. There will always be a blurring of the Lines though. To my mind, despite many highlighting their quality issues and finance deals if you pull up in a Mercedes, you've arrived. More so than in a BMW although Jaguar is moving ahead.

But it's hard to be so specific isn't it? The ranges are so huge now. What if someone turned up in an A-Class and the two people behind were in a 6 Series Gran Coupe and an F-Type? I'd be must more interested in looking at those than the A-Class.

Maybe it's these massive ranges which have devalued the image of some brands? Mercs, Audis, BMWs are everywhere now. So too Range Rover with the success of their Sports and Evoques. If they had just carried on with "The Range Rover" they would appear to be more premium than they are now, but from a business point of view they would be much less successful.

[forzaminardi]

Surely it's a matter of personal perception? Quantitatively ranking brands is notoriously difficult, especially when regarded from the consumer's perspective. If we ask the alleged experts, Interbrand, the 'best' car brand is Toyota, followed by Mercedes, BMW, Honda, VW, Ford, Hyundai, Audi, Porsche, Nissan, Kia, Chevrolet and finally Ferrari. This is measured from a particular perspective, but it makes the point that basically our personal lists don't have any significance beyond what we personally believe - one man's Toyota is indeed another man's Ferrari.

[MBZ 6]

You have missed out
Landrover and Range Rover

[LuS1fer]

You would need a separate list for sports/supercars IMHO

Pagani
Lamborghini/Ferrari
McLaren
Lexus (LFA)
Porsche
Audi (R8)
Lotus

[wemorgan]

Who's going to define what brand actually is?

[Thankyou4calling]

wemorgan said:

Who's going to define what brand actually is?

Oy! Don't start that.

I'd put landrover ahead of BMW, and Citroen, Peugeot and Renault in with Nissan. Perhaps Citroen a little ahead.

Edited by Thankyou4calling on Tuesday 28th January 12:30

[tannedstamina]

Woah, where's Dacia!?

[motorhole]

kambites said:

I'd put them all joint first. Couldn't care less what badge is on the nose of a car.

In terms of general perception, though, I'd probably agree with the grouping posted above (although I'd put Lexus in the same group as BMW/Audi/whatever; and possibly Toyota in the same group as VW and Honda).

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 28th January 11:46

Agreed, as long as a car fulfils my specific requirements, appeals to my own criteria with respect to looks, noise, comfort etc, at minimum expenditure, that's just perfect What particular badge is on the bonnet of said car means nothing to me.

[rohrl]

How do you subdivide VW Group cars? Take my car, a Seat Leon. It's basically the same car as the VW Golf, the Audi A3 and the Skoda Octavia but with different body panels and dashboard.

[r11co]

KIA and Hyundai above Vauxhall fer sure...

[Thankyou4calling]

r11co said:

KIA and Hyundai above Vauxhall fer sure...

Interesting. That's quite a statement. Are they perceived to be above? I'd certainly agree that Kia are a better car, but as a brand?

[torres del paine]

Aston is too high.

Stuck-in-a-rut pretty russian doll cars and not enough innovation and edge to be in second place. The only Aston I really covet is the V12 Vantage.

I'd put Ferrari above Aston; flash and brash but in another league entirely with most people I'd say.

And what were thinking about when put Vauxhall there? Cars for proles.

[J4CKO]

Brands only really matter absolutely to social climbers, poseurs, ponces and non enthusiasts, enthusiasts buy a car not a lifestyle, image, status symbol or Kudos. It just happens that the best/most interesting cars are usually made by expensive brands.

It is a consideration for us all to a degree but it makes me cringe like hearing some saying how they wouldnt be seen dead in certain cars because of the badge, oh do fk off, paying 250 a month for a leased boggo German diesel thing doesnt make you a high rolling arbiter of taste, it just means you are a label we.