MotorExpo - Premium cars v Mainstream

[Gucci]

Had a great day today at Motor Expo with the family. E63 being revved hard by staff was a crowd draw! Having sat in a range of cars there, I did start to wonder just how different the cars were from each other (or not as the case may be).

Sure the materials and finish in the £190,000 Bentley were impressive, but worth £100,000 more than the S-Class? I think not.

I also sat in a Nissan Cube for a laugh - tell you what - not badly made either!

 

[pamrit]

Going tomorrow, will try and get some pics!

 

[bpsorrel]

I went there today also and was mightily impressed with the Jaguar XF-S! The interior was superb and the 3 litre diesel engine possibly the most refined and smooth diesel I've ever come across! This car is a winner for sure! The SLS looked superb too! For £166K seems like reasonable value in it's class!

Also, was impressed with the new Saab 9-5 and I hope people buy it and make it and Saab a success!

All round good day! (by the way, wasn't aware Bristol were still making cars!!)

Tomorrow is the classic car show at Stockwood Park - my poor wife....

 

[vincenz]

Had a great day today at Motor Expo with the family. E63 being revved hard by staff was a crowd draw! Having sat in a range of cars there, I did start to wonder just how different the cars were from each other (or not as the case may be).

Sure the materials and finish in the £190,000 Bentley were impressive, but worth £100,000 more than the S-Class? I think not.

I also sat in a Nissan Cube for a laugh - tell you what - not badly made either!

The reason for this is that theres no margin in cars anymore.

Manufacturers know that to make a profit you have you shift volume and to do this is to offer derivatives and although you may only make £5 (profit) on a B class, MB know customer may stay with the brand and one day buy a deigno S-class making £5k profit.

When you begin to source components for a B-class a supplier can offer something more 'premium' i.e. more stitching, custom colour etc but its made on the same production line from same materials so you get to the point that your S-class is more premium from a derivatives point of view, but still has the same leather (for instance) as a B-class.

Couple this with the fact that most mainstream manufacturers have cars in every sector and even buy other brands to increase (MB Chrysler tie up then reverse to Maybach and Smart, BMW to Mini RR, Jag Land Rover etc.) its not hard to see how companies end up with switch gear from an entry level car in a much more premium model and a B class suppliers leather ends up in a Maybach.

However it all boils down to how well marketing sell it and if they do well then its $$$$

I believe Bentley are now offering a £15k paint job on their Mulsanne (sp?) model.

The type of paint used is nowhere near £15k, maybe £150 tops but if someone will pay it then its another derivative to cash in on.