Myth about former luxury car brands
Discussion
Having a chat with my parents about cars and they’re very much of the view that BMW and Mercedes are expensive luxury cars that cost a fortune to run. We’re talking about 3-4 year old entry level cars here like a 420i or C200. I don’t think they’d cost any more to run than a Focus or a Golf going to a good local non franchises dealer for work.
Modern cars are ridiculously good on fuel. I’m not talking older 6 series or SL55s here just the mass market stuff.
They seem unaware that BMW and Mercedes etc moved significantly mass market about 20+ years ago and do several ranges of cars that compete with Fords and Vauxhall’s.
In some cases you can buy a C Class for less than a similarly specified golf.
That’s my view, What do people think, who is right?
Modern cars are ridiculously good on fuel. I’m not talking older 6 series or SL55s here just the mass market stuff.
They seem unaware that BMW and Mercedes etc moved significantly mass market about 20+ years ago and do several ranges of cars that compete with Fords and Vauxhall’s.
In some cases you can buy a C Class for less than a similarly specified golf.
That’s my view, What do people think, who is right?
I suppose their age won’t be helping with their assessment of brands as they will have been around when these marques were properly prestigious.
In the last few decades, these brands truly have had their cake and ate it. They have chased the mainstream yet have retained a lot of their quality image.
I don’t think this can last. There are already interesting new brands on the rise and I suspect people are frankly fed up with the old school makes and their dull output.
In the last few decades, these brands truly have had their cake and ate it. They have chased the mainstream yet have retained a lot of their quality image.
I don’t think this can last. There are already interesting new brands on the rise and I suspect people are frankly fed up with the old school makes and their dull output.
swisstoni said:
In the last few decades, these brands truly have had their cake and ate it. They have chased the mainstream yet have retained a lot of their quality image.
I don’t think this can last. There are already interesting new brands on the rise and I suspect people are frankly fed up with the old school makes and their dull output.
Agreed, it is quite incredible that Porsche and now Lamborghini in the news today, sell far more family cars than sports cars but are somehow perceived as a sports car company; likewise BMW 3 series for many years has been more common than a Mondeo, cheaper than a Mondeo, whilst having significantly more reliability issues, yet somehow is STILL seen as exclusive or luxury...I don’t think this can last. There are already interesting new brands on the rise and I suspect people are frankly fed up with the old school makes and their dull output.
Venturist said:
Agreed, it is quite incredible that Porsche and now Lamborghini in the news today, sell far more family cars than sports cars but are somehow perceived as a sports car company; likewise BMW 3 series for many years has been more common than a Mondeo, cheaper than a Mondeo, whilst having significantly more reliability issues, yet somehow is STILL seen as exclusive or luxury...
I'd agree with all of that, except a 3 Series has never been cheaper than a Mondeo in my experience - although I've only had 4 (no Mondeos though).I’d agree, although I do think it helps when models age well.
BMW (in my opinion) do this very well, the model styles evolve gently rather than radical upheavals. Stick a private plate on a well cared for E46 3 series and lots of non car people would have no idea it’s shed territory.
Likewise it wouldn’t be that hard to confuse an early 1 series with something just a year or 2 old.
BMW (in my opinion) do this very well, the model styles evolve gently rather than radical upheavals. Stick a private plate on a well cared for E46 3 series and lots of non car people would have no idea it’s shed territory.
Likewise it wouldn’t be that hard to confuse an early 1 series with something just a year or 2 old.
Funny because the once cheap and cheerful brands now have to sell a premium product otherwise they will lose market share but the luxury brands are now making more affordable products as they are losing market share.
Question is what’s the better deal, buy a cheap luxury branded product or buy an expensive common brand product?
I think it’s easier to make something cheap a better product, lots more scope for improvement. Much harder to make a premium product cheap as that means corner cutting needs to be done.
Question is what’s the better deal, buy a cheap luxury branded product or buy an expensive common brand product?
I think it’s easier to make something cheap a better product, lots more scope for improvement. Much harder to make a premium product cheap as that means corner cutting needs to be done.
RobXjcoupe said:
Funny because the once cheap and cheerful brands now have to sell a premium product otherwise they will lose market share but the luxury brands are now making more affordable products as they are losing market share.
Question is what’s the better deal, buy a cheap luxury branded product or buy an expensive common brand product?
I think it’s easier to make something cheap a better product, lots more scope for improvement. Much harder to make a premium product cheap as that means corner cutting needs to be done.
Perhaps it is easier to make the product, but marketing it is a whole different ball game.Question is what’s the better deal, buy a cheap luxury branded product or buy an expensive common brand product?
I think it’s easier to make something cheap a better product, lots more scope for improvement. Much harder to make a premium product cheap as that means corner cutting needs to be done.
Look at how many base spec 1 series or a-class mercs there are around. They’ve done a pretty good job of cheapening a product and selling it to the masses.
Whereas something like the Kia Stinger, no idea how many they’ve sold but they surely have an uphill battle getting people to pay 40K(?) + for something with the wrong badge.
jakesmith said:
Having a chat with my parents about cars and they’re very much of the view that BMW and Mercedes are expensive luxury cars that cost a fortune to run. We’re talking about 3-4 year old entry level cars here like a 420i or C200. I don’t think they’d cost any more to run than a Focus or a Golf going to a good local non franchises dealer for work.
Modern cars are ridiculously good on fuel. I’m not talking older 6 series or SL55s here just the mass market stuff.
They seem unaware that BMW and Mercedes etc moved significantly mass market about 20+ years ago and do several ranges of cars that compete with Fords and Vauxhall’s.
In some cases you can buy a C Class for less than a similarly specified golf.
That’s my view, What do people think, who is right?
Decades of marketing and advertising have pushed on this prestige value despite the cars being no better or reliable than others, just more expensive. All three 'Prestige' German brands have shifted down market in a desire for sales and many still see them as Prestige vehicles when to many, including myself, when I see someone in an A-Class A180 that costs more than a good, top end Ford, Hyundai or Kia with more standard equipment than the Merc has options I shake my head at the foolishness of the buyer and how they got sucked into the prestige lie.Modern cars are ridiculously good on fuel. I’m not talking older 6 series or SL55s here just the mass market stuff.
They seem unaware that BMW and Mercedes etc moved significantly mass market about 20+ years ago and do several ranges of cars that compete with Fords and Vauxhall’s.
In some cases you can buy a C Class for less than a similarly specified golf.
That’s my view, What do people think, who is right?
Kenny Powers said:
Volvo is the current sweet spot for style/equipment/value.
By and large I don’t know anyone who who doesn’t like Volvo’s current range of cars. The thinking man’s luxury marque in 2020.
They’ve gone full on german in looks though. They also don’t drive or even ride as well as they should.By and large I don’t know anyone who who doesn’t like Volvo’s current range of cars. The thinking man’s luxury marque in 2020.
Kawasicki said:
They’ve gone full on german in looks though. They also don’t drive or even ride as well as they should.
He’s got a point though, the Germans have abandoned their original classy, chiseled, handsome looks and gone chasing weird melted aggressiveness (possible exception Seat). The Volvos are almost universally attractive and seem to drive and ride well enough for most. I loved the new S90 I ran last year. Post Brexit we can look forward to the return of lower numbers of German cars on our streets and the return of German cars being premium cars for wealthy buyers.
Any tariffs or currency exposure will make German cars more expensive, like they were when they were being sold in the powerful Deutschmark.
I predict the return of UK manufactured Ford, Vauxhall to our streets and of course non-EU cars imported on the much promised preferential trade deals.
Any tariffs or currency exposure will make German cars more expensive, like they were when they were being sold in the powerful Deutschmark.
I predict the return of UK manufactured Ford, Vauxhall to our streets and of course non-EU cars imported on the much promised preferential trade deals.
sasha320 said:
Post Brexit we can look forward to the return of lower numbers of German cars on our streets and the return of German cars being premium cars for wealthy buyers....
Lots of 'German' cars sold in the UK are (or have been) made outside the EU seemingly unhampered by existing tariffs eg. the USA (BMW X-series), Mexico (Golf estates), South Africa (3-series saloons, Golfs)RobXjcoupe said:
Question is what’s the better deal, buy a cheap luxury branded product or buy an expensive common brand product?
This dilemma goes back way further than posters may imagine.I'm 54 and can remember back to the 1970s when my dad would be choosing between incredibly spartan BMW 316s and Mercedes 200s or go for far more plush Granada 2.3 Ghias, Rover 2600 VPs or Carlton 2.2 CDs.
Mr Tidy said:
Venturist said:
To PCP/lease which is how the vast majority of cars are purchased these days?
I could be wrong of course.
Fair point - I just don't think of those options as "buying", more like acquiring/renting! (I'm old school, have only ever "bought").I could be wrong of course.
Tannedbaldhead said:
I'm 54 and can remember back to the 1970s when my dad would be choosing between incredibly spartan BMW 316s and Mercedes 200s or go for far more plush Granada 2.3 Ghias, Rover 2600 VPs or Carlton 2.2 CDs.
That reminds me of my sister having the choice of her very first company car back in the early 1990s and my brother-in-law and i 'helping her' to choose.My brother-in-law chose a Vectra as she could have had CDX spec and it was stuffed full of toys, and my vote went to a Mondeo as it was the only one she could have had with a V6 engine.
My sister ignored us both and went for a poverty spec BMW 318 that had no aircon and I think even had wind-up rear windows because "it's a BMW"!
To be fair, it did drive nicely, though...
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