[Germanauto]

Something definitely triggered OP but I agree with his premise. Status symbol customers are the reason why car brands, retailers, movie franchises, restaurants, etc. become diluted for the masses. Look at Mercedes now compared to the 1980s, or BMW compared to the late 90s and 00s.

Catering to the lowest common denominator is oftentimes a good business decision, but the core OG fans/customers get left behind in the process.

[Bmwlover x]

For status bmw? Lol.

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Something definitely triggered OP but I agree with his premise. Status symbol customers are the reason why car brands, retailers, movie franchises, restaurants, etc. become diluted for the masses. Look at Mercedes now compared to the 1980s, or BMW compared to the late 90s and 00s.

Catering to the lowest common denominator is oftentimes a good business decision, but the core OG fans/customers get left behind in the process.

I don’t know what you mean. Both Mercedes and BMW make way better cars today than they did 20 or 25 years ago. It’s not even close. They look better, they are faster and have remarkably better technology in them. They are much safer also. This is an all about that grille is it?

Maybe the OP, or anyone else can explain to me what “status symbol” means. I mean I know what I think it means. I’d like to know what the OP or some of you guys think it means.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Something definitely triggered OP but I agree with his premise. Status symbol customers are the reason why car brands, retailers, movie franchises, restaurants, etc. become diluted for the masses. Look at Mercedes now compared to the 1980s, or BMW compared to the late 90s and 00s.

Catering to the lowest common denominator is oftentimes a good business decision, but the core OG fans/customers get left behind in the process.

It's also what keeps them in business, so were have to be thankful for the "common" buyer.

[Piper1]

Originally Posted by Patton250

Maybe the OP, or anyone else can explain to me what “status symbol” means. I mean I know what I think it means. I’d like to know what the OP or some of you guys think it means.

Someone who buys a Rolex because it’s a Rolex but can’t tell time.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by Patton250

I don’t know what you mean. Both Mercedes and BMW make way better cars today than they did 20 or 25 years ago. It’s not even close. They look better, they are faster and have remarkably better technology in them. They are much safer also. This is an all about that grille is it?

Maybe the OP, or anyone else can explain to me what “status symbol” means. I mean I know what I think it means. I’d like to know what the OP or some of you guys think it means.

They are objectively better cars now sure, but Mercedes quality and reputation was heralded back in the day. Everybody speaks of that era as the company's golden age for a reason. The product and quality control has been varying degrees of inconsistent ever since.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

It's also what keeps them in business, so were have to be thankful for the "common" buyer.

In the case of say Porsche I am thankful, because the company did not compromise its core values in the process. All their vehicles are drivers' cars and best in segment in that metric. BMW on the other hand...

[DavesZupra4]

Originally Posted by Patton250

I don’t know what you mean. Both Mercedes and BMW make way better cars today than they did 20 or 25 years ago. It’s not even close. They look better, they are faster and have remarkably better technology in them. They are much safer also. This is an all about that grille is it?

Maybe the OP, or anyone else can explain to me what “status symbol” means. I mean I know what I think it means. I’d like to know what the OP or some of you guys think it means.

You know what. I just had to rant because most people are terrible drivers that's all. Imagine a world where everyone could only get their license by mastering at least one track and racing others at top speed learning how to be right behind another car going 100+ etc, breaking with them, learning to overtake.. These skills would do away with traffic forever and stupid driving like 4 cars side by side on the highway blocking any passing, left lane hogging, braking too often due to being scared causing a chain of braking and traffic. My point is if people had 1/10th the skills of Schumacher or Hamilton we would never have traffic, accidents, road rage again

Originally Posted by Piper1

Someone who buys a Rolex because it’s a Rolex but can’t tell time.

Correct. I mean that people buying Porsche, bmw, Ferrari (most Ferrari drivers actually drive so this applies to the next one most), Lamborghini, and so on, but are awful drivers and STILL cause traffic or accidents or drive side by side to other cars blocking passing, or are too slow in the passing lane and won't move over, or generallu just cause accidents+traffic and embarrass the company who makes their car

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

In the case of say Porsche I am thankful, because the company did not compromise its core values in the process. All their vehicles are drivers' cars and best in segment in that metric. BMW on the other hand...

Porsche didn't have to develop their best sellers or common vehicles alone though. They had the platform given to them by VAG or the money to develop and implement what they wanted. BMW did it all on their own, and it's obviously paid off for them in global sales.

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by DavesZupra4

You know what. I just had to rant because most people are terrible drivers that's all. Imagine a world where everyone could only get their license by mastering at least one track and racing others at top speed learning how to be right behind another car going 100+ etc, breaking with them, learning to overtake.. These skills would do away with traffic forever and stupid driving like 4 cars side by side on the highway blocking any passing, left lane hogging, braking too often due to being scared causing a chain of braking and traffic. My point is if people had 1/10th the skills of Schumacher or Hamilton we would never have traffic, accidents, road rage again



Correct. I mean that people buying Porsche, bmw, Ferrari (most Ferrari drivers actually drive so this applies to the next one most), Lamborghini, and so on, but are awful drivers and STILL cause traffic or accidents or drive side by side to other cars blocking passing, or are too slow in the passing lane and won't move over, or generallu just cause accidents+traffic and embarrass the company who makes their car

Nobody would have a car or license. Everyone would be on welfare because they couldn’t get a job.

Gezzzz man.

Brother i drive 40,000+ miles a year so i see plenty but non of that has anything to do with a status car. I never do tracks because i get car sick but i manage to drive safely and only go in the passing lane when i pass.

[D22M2]

Odd post - settle down speedracer

[Paradocks]

Originally Posted by DavesZupra4

My point is if people had 1/10th the skills of Schumacher or Hamilton we would never have traffic, accidents, road rage again

You do realize that even race car drivers have accidents, and even road rage at their fellow competitors. It’s human nature. It’s a pipe dream to believe that all accidents can be avoided with proper driver training.

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by Piper1

Someone who buys a Rolex because it’s a Rolex but can’t tell time.

Nobody does that though

[No one]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

Porsche didn't have to develop their best sellers or common vehicles alone though. They had the platform given to them by VAG or the money to develop and implement what they wanted. BMW did it all on their own, and it's obviously paid off for them in global sales.

I read an article stating it was Porsche going to buy the VAG, but the 2008 crisis allowed the latter to turn it around. FWIW. BMW charges over mass brands and yet tends to become one. It must be from pure greed rather than lack of money, I believe. But their point should actually be demand for driver's cars is shrinking and what modern drivers want is self-driving cars, multimedia and all the crap.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by No one

I read an article stating it was Porsche going to buy the VAG, but the 2008 crisis allowed the latter to turn it around. FWIW. BMW charges over mass brands and yet tends to become one. It must be from pure greed rather than lack of money, I believe. But their point should actually be demand for driver's cars is shrinking and what modern drivers want is self-driving cars, multimedia and all the crap.

They weren't going to, they tried to and it almost bankrupt them. So VAG ended up purchased half of Porsche and then the other half two years later.

[TheMaxXHD]

Not to be stupid, but even if I agree that buying something for the status symbol is a bad idea….who cares?

It isn’t anyone’s business what people do with whatever money they have. They bear the consequences of that, not others.

Also who is to say that most people are buying something for simply the status symbol, you aren’t a mind reader, maybe they really like how it drives, or the features it has.

There will always be people that buy things for the status symbol only. That’s life. It occurs with many things, not just cars. But it doesn’t matter. Just worry about yourself. Worrying about what other people do is just a dead end.

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by TheMaxXHD

Not to be stupid, but even if I agree that buying something for the status symbol is a bad idea….who cares?

It isn’t anyone’s business what people do with whatever money they have. They bear the consequences of that, not others.

Also who is to say that most people are buying something for simply the status symbol, you aren’t a mind reader, maybe they really like how it drives, or the features it has.

There will always be people that buy things for the status symbol only. That’s life. It occurs with many things, not just cars. But it doesn’t matter. Just worry about yourself. Worrying about what other people do is just a dead end.

The only thing that makes sense is the OP must think that owning a BMW means you have status.

[10"]

flex culture is everywhere and frankly it’s quite sad—-replacing substance in our lives with branding and objects is not a solution—-there is no escape from the depths of living.

it’s also funny that people believe a BMW would be a “status symbol”—any 2 bit jabroni can walk off the street and lease an X1 or an X3 or 3-series. Doesn’t take money or taste anymore.

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by 10"

flex culture is everywhere and frankly it’s quite sad—-replacing substance in our lives with branding and objects is not a solution—-there is no escape from the depths of living.

it’s also funny that people believe a BMW would be a “status symbol”—any 2 bit jabroni can walk off the street and lease an X1 or an X3 or 3-series. Doesn’t take money or taste anymore.

Crazy. And here I always thought people bought these cars because they are luxurious and some of them are fast.

[Tyga11]

Originally Posted by Patton250

Crazy. And here I always thought people bought these cars because they are luxurious and some of them are fast.

An X1 or an X3 is still more expensive than a similarly priced Kia or Hyundai or Honda or whatever.

An X3M is $73K++++ - not exactly a cheap car. So why don't you tell me the argument?

[10"]

Originally Posted by Tyga11

An X1 or an X3 is still more expensive than a similarly priced Kia or Hyundai or Honda or whatever.

An X3M is $73K++++ - not exactly a cheap car. So why don't you tell me the argument?

These days a Toyota RAV4 starts at around $30k and an X1 around $38k. Honda CRV around $32k

The difference in prices is long gone..

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by Tyga11

An X1 or an X3 is still more expensive than a similarly priced Kia or Hyundai or Honda or whatever.

An X3M is $73K++++ - not exactly a cheap car. So why don't you tell me the argument?

I don’t understand your question. I apologize. What argument?