How BMW and Mercedes are hurting their image ....................

[westcoastGT]

Why BMW and Mercedes made cheap cars that failed and why they keep trying

 

[Luc343]

Why BMW and Mercedes made cheap cars that failed and why they keep trying

The German brands are living off their past reputations and the cars are simply over priced for what you get. Even some of the Japanese brands are going to disappear soon. Nissan for example. The best petrol cars on the market today are the north Korean cars.

With 23 straight months of declining sales in Australia, there are going to be more cars manufactures disappear...its only a mater of time.

 

[westcoastGT]

The German brands are living off their past reputations and the cars are simply over priced for what you get. Even some of the Japanese brands are going to disappear soon. Nissan for example. The best petrol cars on the market today are the north Korean cars.

With 23 straight months of declining sales in Australia, there are going to be more cars manufactures disappear...its only a mater of time.

........er , I think you mean SOUTH Korean .........................

 

[MerlintheMad]

"North Korean"?

The best petrol cars on the market today are the north Korean cars.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Great, bored minds.

 

[Luc343]

........er , I think you mean SOUTH Korean .........................

Oops...

 

[NS_Stinger]

I agree some of the lower end models are hurting their overall image, but they still make some of the best products in luxury and performance when money isn't a consideration.

 

[Revvdmedia]

I will say that Audi and BMW do have some pretty great looking interiors, and the materials seem to be pretty on point. The Mercedes A Class for example has a very nice interior. Where you start to lose value is when you add options. A 32,000 CAD base price isn't too bad for the base car you get in terms of how it looks and the materials, but that car easily exceeds 55K loaded up, and there aren't any real stand out options that I recall, and that's with a pretty meager 220hp engine.

My BMW was also another example of being expensive for what it is. Mine carried a sticker of about 65K CAD. I did not pay that much. I think it should have been no more than 55K considering what it is and what options it has. It is for all intents a sports car, which sports cars will always be more expensive than non-sports cars, but yes it was still not a value proposition. It is a great little sports car, though.

All that innovation and true luxury only seems to really stand out on the highest models from Germans, 7 Series, A/S8, S class, etc. I agree that lower models really don't offer anything different from the competition, while being more expensive at the same time. Unless you're wanting something niche (like I wanted), it is pretty easy to see other manufacturers as competition, and better value.

 

[MisterMac]

I tend to agree. Over the years, I had looked at both of these brands, but never at the high end such as the 7 Series or the S Class. I was so underwhelmed even by the 5 Series and the E Class that I figured I would never own a MB or BMW.

 

[YEH]

Eh, this has long been an argument, but now more than ever, Mercedes owns the flagship sedan segment w/ the S Class.

Doesn't matter how many lower-end buyers end up the CLA (which, btw, had a chinzy interior), the A Class or a pretty basic C Class - to an S Class owner/lessee, he drives an S Class.

If anything, the Germans have more of a strangle-hold on the higher end of the lux segment than before as Lexus sales of the LS and GS have tanked.

The Japanese are basically players no longer in the mid and flagship sedan segments.

Would say that the Japanese increasingly relying on cheaper FWD crossovers (such as the RX, MDX and QX60). along w/ the ES, for sales has hurt the Japanese lux brands more.

BMW was late to the flagship CUV party w/ the X7, but it has been a huge profit driver for them.

Also, let's remember that despite their higher MSRPs, MB and BMW can get pretty aggressive when it comes to leasing (at least here in the States).

 

[MisterMac]

Eh, this has long been an argument, but now more than ever, Mercedes owns the flagship sedan segment w/ the S Class.

Doesn't matter how many lower-end buyers end up the CLA (which, btw, had a chinzy interior), the A Class or a pretty basic C Class - to an S Class owner/lessee, he drives an S Class.

If anything, the Germans have more of a strangle-hold on the higher end of the lux segment than before as Lexus sales of the LS and GS have tanked.

The Japanese are basically players no longer in the mid and flagship sedan segments.

Would say that the Japanese increasingly relying on cheaper FWD crossovers (such as the RX, MDX and QX60). along w/ the ES, for sales has hurt the Japanese lux brands more.

BMW was late to the flagship CUV party w/ the X7, but it has been a huge profit driver for them.

Also, let's remember that despite their higher MSRPs, MB and BMW can get pretty aggressive when it comes to leasing (at least here in the States).

Yes, and this is precisely how they are hurting their image. What a person thinks of, imagines of a MB, is an experience like the S-Class; Special Class. Yet, when they sit in a lower end model such as the A Class, CLA, C Class for the first time they come to think of Mercedes Benz as less impressive.

BTW, I love my S Class sedan and it is the Flagship of all personal automobiles.

 

[Revvdmedia]

Also, let's remember that despite their higher MSRPs, MB and BMW can get pretty aggressive when it comes to leasing (at least here in the States).

This is true. I found it not uncommon to hear stories of people getting a car priced at over 10% less than MSRP when leasing, even combined with "good" sublet lease rates.

 

[Metalmania82]

Working at a BMW dealer for a couple years I can assure everyone you don't get what you pay for.

 

[YEH]

Yes, and this is precisely how they are hurting their image. What a person thinks of, imagines of a MB, is an experience like the S-Class; Special Class. Yet, when they sit in a lower end model such as the A Class, CLA, C Class for the first time they come to think of Mercedes Benz as less impressive.

BTW, I love my S Class sedan and it is the Flagship of all personal automobiles.

Doubt most S Class owner even think of something like the CLA, much less SMART or the various MB commercial vans.

Over in Europe, there's a fuller line of sub-entry models, in addition to the taxi fleet spec E Class and commercial trucks, buses and vans adorned w/ the tri-star (including sanitation trucks).

Like I had stated, the S Class more so than before is dominating the flagship segment.

On top of that, AMG and M sales have never been better (yeah, some of that growth includes AMG variants of the CLA, etc.).

Also, as vehicles have gotten larger each generation, there was a need to something to slot underneath the entry/compact segment even outside of Europe.

The 2 Series is pretty much what the 3 Series coupe used to be.

For the longest time, Jaguar didn't have an model in the entry/compact segment (until the X-Type and later the XE), but that didn't make Jaguar look like a more premium brand than Benz.

 

[GenesisG70]

You know that Germans are overpriced and not premium when you can see a f*cking BMW Audi and Mercedes parked in every corner...No more turning heads, while my Stinger turns heads every day.

 

[westcoastGT]

You know that Germans are overpriced and not premium when you can see a f*cking BMW Audi and Mercedes parked in every corner...No more turning heads, while my Stinger turns heads every day.

I get the German guys staring too .................and none want to race ...............they know now !

 

[MisterMac]

You know that Germans are overpriced and not premium when you can see a f*cking BMW Audi and Mercedes parked in every corner...No more turning heads, while my Stinger turns heads every day.

Wow! You're rather full of yourself, lol.

Now, the Stinger GT is a lot of car for the money, and a good looking car at that. However, it lacks in the areas that matter most which are elite performance, ride quality, and handling compared to Audi, BMW, and MB.

Those with a taste for the best won't be choosing a Kia Stinger over the Mercedes S Class in my lifetime.

 

[MisterMac]

I get the German guys staring too .................and none want to race ...............they know now !

I'll race you.

 

[westcoastGT]

Wow! You're rather full of yourself, lol.

Now, the Stinger GT is a lot of car for the money, and a good looking car at that. However, it lacks in the areas that matter most which are elite performance, ride quality, and handling compared to Audi, BMW, and MB.

Those with a taste for the best won't be choosing a Kia Stinger over the Mercedes S Class in my lifetime.

I think the S Class is a stretch for comparison sake ..................you've spent too much time in lock down and getting grumpy ..............like the rest of us !

 

[GenesisG70]

Wow! You're rather full of yourself, lol.

Now, the Stinger GT is a lot of car for the money, and a good looking car at that. However, it lacks in the areas that matter most which are elite performance, ride quality, and handling compared to Audi, BMW, and MB.

Those with a taste for the best won't be choosing a Kia Stinger over the Mercedes S Class in my lifetime.

LOL stupid to compare an S class which is starts at 111.735 USD to a car that is about 46,000 USD.