4 ms·

And the whole switch to FWD before going electeric. They're already killing the brand.

gambiting 8y ago
Are they? Their FWD cars sell like hotcakes, and I honestly doubt 99% of their customers notice or care what kind of drivetrain runs the car. I'd like to think I'm a petrolhead and I'm constantly shocked by how little people know about the cars they buy. It's a miracle they manage to remember if the car takes petrol or diesel, honestly. Most of my friends bought their cars without doing any sort of research - it was a matter of picking one that looked most interesting + the config was within their price range, engine type/drive train be damned. The pinacle of this is a guy I know who has a GLE63S, so I thought it would be super cool to talk to him about the hand-built V8 in his car - his reaction was literally "custom built....what?". He bought it because he likes the look and the sound(and he's rich enough to afford it), but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't know that his car is 4 wheel drive for instance. People generally don't care.
- idiot900 8y ago
  They're riding on the brand equity they built up in the past, and on the halo effect of their high-end cars. But there is a well established precedent of luxury goods makers enjoying a large price premium for products of minimally higher physical utility. They are selling socially valuable tokens of prestige more than they are transportation machines, and will be OK in the end.
- Tsubasachan 8y ago
  The reason why people don't care is because they never actually put their car even anywhere near the limit. In the Netherlands for example you are either driving on a perfectly immaculate and smooth highway at 130 kph max or driving in a busy city. There is nothing to differentiate a €20000 car from a €80000 BMW in these conditions except for the leather seats.
- rad_gruchalski 8y ago
  People generally don’t care. Indeed. But for those who valued the brand (not the badge), they are devaluing the brand.
justtopost 8y ago
I saw the black flag over the horizon when they switched to mcphearson struts over double wishbone suspension.
prolepunk 8y ago
Anecdotally I heard a few people grumbling about mini-coopers because they wanted basically an FWD BMW but had to settle on something ugly. Maybe BMW has finally heard from them.

Are they? Their FWD cars sell like hotcakes, and I honestly doubt 99% of their customers notice or care what kind of drivetrain runs the car. I'd like to think I'm a petrolhead and I'm constantly shocked by how little people know about the cars they buy. It's a miracle they manage to remember if the car takes petrol or diesel, honestly. Most of my friends bought their cars without doing any sort of research - it was a matter of picking one that looked most interesting + the config was within their price range, engine type/drive train be damned. The pinacle of this is a guy I know who has a GLE63S, so I thought it would be super cool to talk to him about the hand-built V8 in his car - his reaction was literally "custom built....what?". He bought it because he likes the look and the sound(and he's rich enough to afford it), but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't know that his car is 4 wheel drive for instance. People generally don't care.

idiot900 8y ago
They're riding on the brand equity they built up in the past, and on the halo effect of their high-end cars. But there is a well established precedent of luxury goods makers enjoying a large price premium for products of minimally higher physical utility. They are selling socially valuable tokens of prestige more than they are transportation machines, and will be OK in the end.
Tsubasachan 8y ago
The reason why people don't care is because they never actually put their car even anywhere near the limit. In the Netherlands for example you are either driving on a perfectly immaculate and smooth highway at 130 kph max or driving in a busy city. There is nothing to differentiate a €20000 car from a €80000 BMW in these conditions except for the leather seats.
rad_gruchalski 8y ago
People generally don’t care. Indeed. But for those who valued the brand (not the badge), they are devaluing the brand.

justtopost 8y ago

I saw the black flag over the horizon when they switched to mcphearson struts over double wishbone suspension.

prolepunk 8y ago

Anecdotally I heard a few people grumbling about mini-coopers because they wanted basically an FWD BMW but had to settle on something ugly. Maybe BMW has finally heard from them.