What's The Point Of Owning A 'Luxury' Car Anymore?
#91
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
oldcajun - nice analysis and separating luxury vehicles from luxury brands.
my jeep grand cherokee summit is very luxurious but jeep is not a luxury brand.
my jeep grand cherokee summit is very luxurious but jeep is not a luxury brand.
#92
Lexus Fanatic
I think part of the question is what is considered "Luxury" anymore as the lines get blurred. Mercedes is certainly a "Luxury Brand" but is the CLA250 a Luxury car? It is tiny inside, has a very stiff ride, is noisy, and the transmission shifting at low speeds is rough. The newest Ford Fusion includes a Platinum series which has a plush interior with real leather seats, good room, a smooth quiet ride, etc. Given that Ford is not a "Luxury Brand", the Platinum level Fusion is certainly more luxurious than a CLA. For about the same price, I'll take the Ford!
#93
Lexus Champion
I'll give you a personal example. There's a young guy in his mid-20's from my blended family who went to school and does IT engineering. He worked hard and got himself a great paying job. He's been driving a mid-2000's Honda Accord 4 cylinder for about the last four or five years. He likes it but doesn't think it has enough power.
A while back he figured he'd earned an upgrade. And the first car brand he went after was... Mercedes Benz and yes, it was the CLA. He even went as far as heading right to the dealership, pricing one out and test drive all that. He really, really liked it. He would have paid cash for all in. There's no way he's looking at Ford Fusions, or even another Accord. See, that's the power of brand marketing.
Fortunately for him, cooler heads prevailed and told him to wait and not blow his money right now. But I know he's determined to buy a Benz at some point.
A while back he figured he'd earned an upgrade. And the first car brand he went after was... Mercedes Benz and yes, it was the CLA. He even went as far as heading right to the dealership, pricing one out and test drive all that. He really, really liked it. He would have paid cash for all in. There's no way he's looking at Ford Fusions, or even another Accord. See, that's the power of brand marketing.
Fortunately for him, cooler heads prevailed and told him to wait and not blow his money right now. But I know he's determined to buy a Benz at some point.
#94
Lexus Fanatic
#95
Lexus Fanatic
#96
Lexus Fanatic
I think part of the question is what is considered "Luxury" anymore as the lines get blurred. Mercedes is certainly a "Luxury Brand" but is the CLA250 a Luxury car? It is tiny inside, has a very stiff ride, is noisy, and the transmission shifting at low speeds is rough. The newest Ford Fusion includes a Platinum series which has a plush interior with real leather seats, good room, a smooth quiet ride, etc. Given that Ford is not a "Luxury Brand", the Platinum level Fusion is certainly more luxurious than a CLA. For about the same price, I'll take the Ford!
#97
Lexus Champion
Originally Posted by LexsCTJill
Tough call, the Mercedes CLA250 will grab more attention, will mean more to other people and will create more emotional reactions than a Ford Fusion. That IMO is the number differentiator when it comes to a luxury brand.
Originally Posted by mmarshall
He just might (?) like the Fusion if he actually takes the time to go look at one. I think, in some ways, it was better-done (and better-driving) than the last Lincoln MKZ, its upmarket brother....though I haven't checked out the latest 2017 MKZ with the new facelift this year.
Now I haven't heard what he's done on this front lately but when he was telling me about his thinking, he was really all like smiles and talking like a Merc salesman. He's under 25, you have to remember. I was thinking about that enthusiasm. We've all been there haven't we? Bought the emotional choice vs the better value or the more practical car.
#98
Lexus Fanatic
I think a more appropriate comparison for the buyer would something like a loaded Chrysler 200 vs the CLA. I think people do not factor in how much of branding factors into decisions.
Mercedes-Benz can charge whatever the premium is for the CLA vs the competition not because buyers are buying a better car, but because the buyers are purchasing a "perceived" better brand. Whether the CLA is worth the premium compared to a loaded Fusion is really up to that individual buyer. If it were me, I would get the CLA over a Fusion, it just so happens that i think the Mercedes-Benz brand is worth the premium that they often change.
#99
Lexus Fanatic
It's not irrational. It's his money, he should get what makes him happy. If he's after that brand image he'd never be happy with a Fusion.
#100
Lexus Champion
I would still argue that it may not be irrational for the buyer to buy his CLA. If what he is after is prestige and a vehicle that has a good brand image, then go for it.
I think a more appropriate comparison for the buyer would something like a loaded Chrysler 200 vs the CLA. I think people do not factor in how much of branding factors into decisions.
Mercedes-Benz can charge whatever the premium is for the CLA vs the competition not because buyers are buying a better car, but because the buyers are purchasing a "perceived" better brand. Whether the CLA is worth the premium compared to a loaded Fusion is really up to that individual buyer. If it were me, I would get the CLA over a Fusion, it just so happens that i think the Mercedes-Benz brand is worth the premium that they often change.
I think a more appropriate comparison for the buyer would something like a loaded Chrysler 200 vs the CLA. I think people do not factor in how much of branding factors into decisions.
Mercedes-Benz can charge whatever the premium is for the CLA vs the competition not because buyers are buying a better car, but because the buyers are purchasing a "perceived" better brand. Whether the CLA is worth the premium compared to a loaded Fusion is really up to that individual buyer. If it were me, I would get the CLA over a Fusion, it just so happens that i think the Mercedes-Benz brand is worth the premium that they often change.
I'm not dissing the Fusion, because another friend of mine all the way in another country saw the previous versions of this car, rode in it and was so impressed, he still talks about buying one today. That's impressive branding right there for a mainstream brand. I told him. Buy it and you won't be disappointed. But he's a Ford guy and he's an older guy too.
When MB really brought out the CLA they had a target market in mind and they hit it dead-on. They won't sell them in my local market like hotcakes, but they will have an audience for them. The Fusion, Mazda 6, and the Sonata all have the same side profile and they all seem to blend together. The CLA easily stands out from all of these.
#101
Lexus Fanatic
Have you ever owned one that was out of warranty......or past the free-service period, if applicable? Of course, that will not be an issue with a brand-new CLA, but the point remains that as they age, many M-B products become true money-pits.
#102
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In addition, as an owner of a 2009 C class out of warranty for 3 years now, I have had no maintenance issues whatsoever with the car. Only now have 8 years has a rattle developed by the rear sunshade. Two months ago, I went into service and they said one of the "O" rings is failing for the engine coolant and so there was signs of leaking around the edge. Not really a big deal, didn't perform the fix at the time since I am planning to sell the vehicle. All things considered, this C class has been more reliable than my 2011 RX450h (granted the RX has been cheaper to maintain since it doesn't have much maintenance needs)
Last edited by RXSF; 08-28-16 at 08:02 AM.
#103
Lexus Fanatic
#104
Lexus Fanatic
After that, it is a 10K maintenance cycle. I have noticed that it actually comes out even or also cheaper, than say Lexus which even though has 10K oil change cycles, still insist that you go in every 5K miles. Those 5K they dont do much but rotate tires and check fluids, and people get charged a little more than $150.
Last edited by Toys4RJill; 08-28-16 at 08:28 AM.
#105
In the spirit of the NFL season, this reminds me a lot of the Joe Flacco debate we always hear. "Is he elite?" is always the question. Well, the guy puts up great numbers and has a great winning %, and is objectively more successful than Manning in the post-season; but why isn't he considered in the same class as Brady, Manning, Rodgers, etc.? On paper he's right there isn't he? Well it comes down to the intangibles. He's good but doesn't have the "it" factor that those other guys do.
Same goes for a say, Camry XLE with more features (including real leather) that your pricier run-of-the-mill Lexus IS does not have! When it comes to luxury, you are not only buying features but are buying into a brand and a lifestyle. If for you, having the same features as a car that's priced $10K higher is "luxury" then that's your choice, I'm not ******* you for it. In fact I'm jealous that you can be happy in life without chasing material items. However, for most people, luxury is more than just X Y and Z on a piece of paper. If that needs explaining to you then you aren't in the target demographic of brands like BMW, Lexus, Mercedes, Rolex, Louis Vuitton, Fairmont, etc. Nothing wrong with that!
Same goes for a say, Camry XLE with more features (including real leather) that your pricier run-of-the-mill Lexus IS does not have! When it comes to luxury, you are not only buying features but are buying into a brand and a lifestyle. If for you, having the same features as a car that's priced $10K higher is "luxury" then that's your choice, I'm not ******* you for it. In fact I'm jealous that you can be happy in life without chasing material items. However, for most people, luxury is more than just X Y and Z on a piece of paper. If that needs explaining to you then you aren't in the target demographic of brands like BMW, Lexus, Mercedes, Rolex, Louis Vuitton, Fairmont, etc. Nothing wrong with that!