Too much choice?
Discussion
Once upon a time, choosing a German car was easy, you went down to your chosen purveyor of motor cars, ordered it in small, medium or big, and then set about deciding if you wanted it with more than just four seats, a steering wheel and the oxygen contained within.
Oh sure, if you wanted an estate, you could have one, and chances are they'd sell you a convertible too. Though they would be the same model as one of the saloons. Mercedes really pushed the boat out and could offer you a 4x4, the G-Wagen. It was certainly more comfortable than a Defender, but a Range Rover rival it certainly wasn't.
Recently however, I've lost track of the plethora of different models offered. Mercedes are by far the worst, but BMW also seem to have some spectacularly useless models. 5GT anyone? Where did they all come from? Why? Worst of all, they both seem to be trying to out-niche each other in terms of pointless cars.
I've been considering this thanks to a recent bout of Garlickitis, browsing the classifieds for whatever three-pointed star happens to appeal most to my rather limited wallet. I like the simplicity of choice - saloons in small, rusty and big, coupes in a similar variety of sizes, and occasionally a soft-top. But it has occurred to me that in ten years I'll be wading through a sea of sub-£2k B/BLS/CLC/FFS/ETC dross trying to find anything I actually want.
I'm also unsure of the quality these days - the E250 I drove a few weeks ago didn't feel like my S124 - i.e hewn from granite. Sure it was better to drive, but how will it look 25 years on?
So Mercedes (and you too BMW), how about this for an idea - stop making lots of different cars that are not bad, and put the same amount of time, effort and money into making a smaller range of really good cars.
Mind you, isn't doing that what your reputation was built on in the 70's and 80's?
Oh sure, if you wanted an estate, you could have one, and chances are they'd sell you a convertible too. Though they would be the same model as one of the saloons. Mercedes really pushed the boat out and could offer you a 4x4, the G-Wagen. It was certainly more comfortable than a Defender, but a Range Rover rival it certainly wasn't.
Recently however, I've lost track of the plethora of different models offered. Mercedes are by far the worst, but BMW also seem to have some spectacularly useless models. 5GT anyone? Where did they all come from? Why? Worst of all, they both seem to be trying to out-niche each other in terms of pointless cars.
I've been considering this thanks to a recent bout of Garlickitis, browsing the classifieds for whatever three-pointed star happens to appeal most to my rather limited wallet. I like the simplicity of choice - saloons in small, rusty and big, coupes in a similar variety of sizes, and occasionally a soft-top. But it has occurred to me that in ten years I'll be wading through a sea of sub-£2k B/BLS/CLC/FFS/ETC dross trying to find anything I actually want.
I'm also unsure of the quality these days - the E250 I drove a few weeks ago didn't feel like my S124 - i.e hewn from granite. Sure it was better to drive, but how will it look 25 years on?
So Mercedes (and you too BMW), how about this for an idea - stop making lots of different cars that are not bad, and put the same amount of time, effort and money into making a smaller range of really good cars.
Mind you, isn't doing that what your reputation was built on in the 70's and 80's?
Edited by SWTH on Friday 22 August 21:39
Going by that you could order your car and not know whether you're getting a CLS or an E-class until it turns up in the showroom.
Nor do I see the point of many current or recent models from several manufacturers - Volkswagen did the utterly pointless Golf+ for those who wanted a bit more headroom. Ford decided that a high-riding version of the Fiesta was a good idea - the Fusion.
It just all seems like a waste of the R&D budget.
Nor do I see the point of many current or recent models from several manufacturers - Volkswagen did the utterly pointless Golf+ for those who wanted a bit more headroom. Ford decided that a high-riding version of the Fiesta was a good idea - the Fusion.
It just all seems like a waste of the R&D budget.
I'm not saying they don't know how to make money, indeed my OP has been partly inspired by the amount of different models on the roads these days. They wouldn't be in production if there wasn't a perceived need for them.
The problem is, I can't for the life of me work out why there needs to be so many cars that outwardly appear to target very similar markets - surely competing against your own products defeats the object?
The problem is, I can't for the life of me work out why there needs to be so many cars that outwardly appear to target very similar markets - surely competing against your own products defeats the object?
SWTH said:
I'm not saying they don't know how to make money, indeed my OP has been partly inspired by the amount of different models on the roads these days. They wouldn't be in production if there wasn't a perceived need for them.
The problem is, I can't for the life of me work out why there needs to be so many cars that outwardly appear to target very similar markets - surely competing against your own products defeats the object?
Well clearly "those in the know", ie, BMW believe differently and it seems to be working for them.The problem is, I can't for the life of me work out why there needs to be so many cars that outwardly appear to target very similar markets - surely competing against your own products defeats the object?
SWTH said:
I'm not saying they don't know how to make money, indeed my OP has been partly inspired by the amount of different models on the roads these days. They wouldn't be in production if there wasn't a perceived need for them.
The problem is, I can't for the life of me work out why there needs to be so many cars that outwardly appear to target very similar markets - surely competing against your own products defeats the object?
But what you are saying is contradictory. If there is a perceived need for them which is backed up by sales figures, they are expanding/generating the markets for their products and appealing to a much wider customer base then previously.The problem is, I can't for the life of me work out why there needs to be so many cars that outwardly appear to target very similar markets - surely competing against your own products defeats the object?
They would soon cull a model if it wasn't selling and making them money.
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