What's The Point Of Owning A 'Luxury' Car Anymore?
#62
Lexus Fanatic
One of the last remaining features of luxury/upscale vehicles is generally longer drivetrain and bumper-to-bumper warranties....unless, of course, you have a Hyundai or Kia.
#63
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (2)
1) I will never consume automotive news from Jalopnik
2) There will always be a market that appreciates the details and comforts provided by luxury cars that non-luxury can provide. Of course, there is a large segment of people that are more practical and don't need those extra comforts. I would make the argument that with the advent of the internet, quality and features will overall make improvements.
2) There will always be a market that appreciates the details and comforts provided by luxury cars that non-luxury can provide. Of course, there is a large segment of people that are more practical and don't need those extra comforts. I would make the argument that with the advent of the internet, quality and features will overall make improvements.
#65
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
haven't read all this thread, but luxury vehicles are driven along multiple vectors:
1. interior/exterior design/trim/materials
2. performance, refinement, suspension sophistication, and in particular 'effortless performance' and handling
3. 'image' of the brand
rarely do vehicles cover all 3 but here's a look at what the permutations are:
so the answer to the original question is it depends on what you consider important as 'luxury'.
i personally don't really care about brand image, but i know it's HUGELY important to some people.
i care greatly about item 1 and slightly less so item 2, so it brings a huge array of vehicles into my definition of luxury.
1. interior/exterior design/trim/materials
2. performance, refinement, suspension sophistication, and in particular 'effortless performance' and handling
3. 'image' of the brand
rarely do vehicles cover all 3 but here's a look at what the permutations are:
so the answer to the original question is it depends on what you consider important as 'luxury'.
i personally don't really care about brand image, but i know it's HUGELY important to some people.
i care greatly about item 1 and slightly less so item 2, so it brings a huge array of vehicles into my definition of luxury.
#66
Lexus Fanatic
3. 'image' of the brand
Last edited by mmarshall; 08-25-16 at 07:12 AM.
#67
Longer standard factory warranties on upscale/luxury-class vehicles are also a significant selling point, except for maybe Hyundai and Kia.
"Image", IMO, is probably the most oversold idea in the auto industry today. Look at all of the Mercedes buyers, for example, who got stuck with expensive lemons from the late 1990s through the late 2000s. And Land Rovers, the classic country-club SUV, after decades, still rank well below average in reliability by today's standards.
"Image", IMO, is probably the most oversold idea in the auto industry today. Look at all of the Mercedes buyers, for example, who got stuck with expensive lemons from the late 1990s through the late 2000s. And Land Rovers, the classic country-club SUV, after decades, still rank well below average in reliability by today's standards.
#68
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
"Image", IMO, is probably the most oversold idea in the auto industry today. Look at all of the Mercedes buyers, for example, who got stuck with expensive lemons from the late 1990s through the late 2000s. And Land Rovers, the classic country-club SUV, after decades, still rank well below average in reliability by today's standards.
Last edited by bitkahuna; 08-25-16 at 02:50 PM.
#69
"Image", IMO, is probably the most oversold idea in the auto industry today. Look at all of the Mercedes buyers, for example, who got stuck with expensive lemons from the late 1990s through the late 2000s. And Land Rovers, the classic country-club SUV, after decades, still rank well below average in reliability by today's standards.
#70
Lexus Fanatic
meanwhile, millions have owned and loved mercedes and land rovers, AND loved the image, despite the problems which CR over blows. everyone would like perfect reliability, but not everyone has reliability as their top priority. again my grid was what i consider main factors for luxury vehicles, and image is hugely important to a huge percentage of luxury vehicle buyers regardless of what you and i think about it.
Oh, sure, lots of owners are satisfied with their purchases, even with poor reliability (Charger/Challenger jocks prove that). But, IMO, one should not have to put up with lower-than-average reliability when triple-digit (or close to triple-digit) sums are being spent. I wouldn't.....though I haven't (yet) actually owned something that expensive.
Last edited by mmarshall; 08-25-16 at 07:59 AM.
#71
I'm considering a used 2013 GS 350, but I'm not concerned about brand image. What non-luxury branded car can compete with it in terms of reliability, interior, features, and cabin noise? If none, then that's what I would say is the point of owning a luxury car.
#72
Lexus Fanatic
"Image", IMO, is probably the most oversold idea in the auto industry today. Look at all of the Mercedes buyers, for example, who got stuck with expensive lemons from the late 1990s through the late 2000s. And Land Rovers, the classic country-club SUV, after decades, still rank well below average in reliability by today's standards.
It's the most important and valuable part of any motor company. Anyone can build a factory and build good quality cars these days, there's nothing hi tech about it. The true value is in the brand - that's why it's carefully nurtured, protected and grown. Any auto maker that doesn't understand that is doomed to failure, in fact history is littered with them.
#73
Lexus Fanatic
Look at the mess VW has gotten into with image. For years, they have touted themselves as one of the world's largest companies (which they are, outside of the U.S.)....and now we find out that their diesel-emissions system was designed by crooks.
Last edited by mmarshall; 08-25-16 at 01:52 PM.
#74
Lexus Fanatic
#75
Lexus Champion
I have to disagree. Many buyers have spent their hard-earned $$$$$$ on image and have gotten burned. A corporate reputation has to be earned.....it can't be bought by corporate PR people and their ad-dollars.
Look at the mess VW has gotten into with image. For years, they have touted themselves as one of the world's largest companies (which they are, outside of the U.S.)....and now we find out that their diesel-emissions system was designed by crooks.
Look at the mess VW has gotten into with image. For years, they have touted themselves as one of the world's largest companies (which they are, outside of the U.S.)....and now we find out that their diesel-emissions system was designed by crooks.