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Come to think of it, all current cars are ridiculously overpriced, when you consider in the 1960's you could buy two sports cars for the price you'd pay with today's inflation on a new Aveo.
Ridiculously Overpriced Cars
- Thread starter MedigoFlame
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AOS-
Yeah, but all absurdly expensive items do that.
An average house cost 10,000-15,000 in the 1960s, so cars haven't increased as much as that...maybe when automakers are willing to finance over 10 years, then prices will go nuts.
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Infiniti offers the same (Sometimes even more) Tech in their high trim cars than Mercedes, yet they cost significantly less. I think the whole German market is grossly overpriced and they should be exposed.
Wiegert
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From what I've heard, if an existing Aston Martin owner wanted to buy a Cygnet, then they would get priority over someone who doesn't already own an Aston. This is purely because the company is expecting greater demand for the Cygnet to come from current Aston Martin owners.
Apparently, anyone who has enough money will be able to buy the Cygnet eventually.
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Pupik
Ok, so the average price of cars overall in 1961 was about £1000. Now the average price is nearer £30k.
Never heard of an e-type being compared to a motorhome though. One of the most loved and best cars of all time, even the 3.8 (which produced the 265bhp SAE as the 4.2, but less torque).
Even in the 70's, a series 3 would set you back less than £4k.
A Muria cost £10k in the 70's, a current Aventador today costs £242k.
An original mini could be had new for £500 in the sixties, now a small car would cost around £10k new.
So prices have gone up by between 20 and 30 times at least. Not much different to houses then.
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TheCracker
Exactly my point. Cars have become a lot more expensive yes, but so has everything else and we earn a lot more. So relatively speaking, they haven't. This is inflation, same as houses.
In fact I would say that it is much easier to but a car now than it was in 1960. Forget fuel and tax, they have gone up above inflation, but you an get so many finance options now that most people can buy a car.
Back to the original argument then, I would disagree that relatively speaking all cars are over priced and expensive.
Maybe I should have just said that in the first place!
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Getting back to the point of the Rolls Royce's and Bentley's being too expensive, I wouldn't disagree that they are expensive, but I don't think they are overpriced (thinking specifically of the Phantom - a car I really do like quite alot).
I believe they are priced at a point that their niche market can stand, but also at a point that is sensible for low volume production. Sure they could sell more if it were cheaper, and that might make sense from an economies of scale point of view, but then it ceases to be as exclusive - and for those that want to buy into Rolls-Royce brand values, becomes less desireable. In short why charge less for something people will buy, just to increase sales, if you can make even more money buy creating an intermedeate model -- in Rolls Royces case, the Ghost -- that you can manufacture cheaper and sell in higher numbers.
To disregard this as people just wanting to show off their money is incorrect in my opinion.
I believe they are priced at a point that their niche market can stand, but also at a point that is sensible for low volume production. Sure they could sell more if it were cheaper, and that might make sense from an economies of scale point of view, but then it ceases to be as exclusive - and for those that want to buy into Rolls-Royce brand values, becomes less desireable. In short why charge less for something people will buy, just to increase sales, if you can make even more money buy creating an intermedeate model -- in Rolls Royces case, the Ghost -- that you can manufacture cheaper and sell in higher numbers.
To disregard this as people just wanting to show off their money is incorrect in my opinion.
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But then no car is overpriced, since no automaker admits their car is just like any other. All of them can boast uniqueness and being in a category of it own...at least from an advertisers' standpoint, and therefore justify rarity and claiming to be special. And some people have a lot of dough, and assume the best is probably the most expensive, and vice versa. It may not be the case with any product, but an assumption goes with that price.
I just think that those two, while having prestige and all, aren't sufficiently much different than many other luxury-performance automobiles, to justify the expense, in my opinion. You're paying for rarity, but 500-1000 copies isn't really rare for that type of dough. Okay, so you can't get wooden fold-down tables for the rear-seat passengers of your Ferrari, or carpeting deep enough to lose your shoes in. Big deal. But yes, somebody who wants to be dragged around in total opulence probably has no problem with the expense.
To me, I just don't see enough in the product to turn my head and be wowed. I would rather have several interesting cars, but of course, your interesting may vary.
I just think that those two, while having prestige and all, aren't sufficiently much different than many other luxury-performance automobiles, to justify the expense, in my opinion. You're paying for rarity, but 500-1000 copies isn't really rare for that type of dough. Okay, so you can't get wooden fold-down tables for the rear-seat passengers of your Ferrari, or carpeting deep enough to lose your shoes in. Big deal. But yes, somebody who wants to be dragged around in total opulence probably has no problem with the expense.
To me, I just don't see enough in the product to turn my head and be wowed. I would rather have several interesting cars, but of course, your interesting may vary.
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No, I think you are just considering the top end of the price scale, if you tried to apply exclusive pricing to a Toyota camry, then it wouldn't work, because there are lots of other cars like the camry, and it offers virtually nothing that isn't available from many other models and manufacturers. Exclusivity, and brand values are as tangible as mpg, 0-60 or lateral G's when it comes to purchasing cars.
The fact is, most of us will have cars that we don't like very much and assume that whatever the asking price is, is too much (for instance: for £1000 and above I can find a car I'd rather buy than an Audi R8..)... but in truth, manufacturers do a lot of work to ensure that the price they ask is not only a fair one in relation to the target market, but also one that is sold at enough of a profit to keep shareholders happy... a truly overpriced car is a rare thing... people here will just be listing cars they don't like enough to spend that kind of money on.
A Camry for £100,000 would be overpriced, and the reason why nobody is in here complaining the Camry costs £100,000 is because Toyota aren't stupid enough to price a car out of it's target market.
Value is measured in different ways by different people... it's all a matter of perspective.
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Ok, but I think its ridiculous...besides, there are no 100,000 dollar Camrys, but there are 400,000 dollar cars that aren't four times faster, bigger, better handling, more fuel efficient, quieter, nor more reliable than a Camry. Quantitatively, a car that expensive is absurd, unless its something really rare or unique, for which then I'd make an exception.
That's all else I have to say.
That's all else I have to say.
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Jaguar XJ Supersport - $354,800AU. Having sat in one, I can vouch for it being a lovely car, at least on the inside, but not THAT good.
Smart ForTwo Cabriolet - $25,290AU.
Maybach 57 S - $1,050,000AU. I always try to root for the underdogs in the car world (and the car doesn't look bad in plain metallic black), but it is terrible value for money. Pop trivia: ZERO were sold here in Australia last year.
BMW 320i - $58,500AU.
BMW 530d GT - $144,200AU.
BMW 535i Touring - $138,901AU.
Smart ForTwo Cabriolet - $25,290AU.
Maybach 57 S - $1,050,000AU. I always try to root for the underdogs in the car world (and the car doesn't look bad in plain metallic black), but it is terrible value for money. Pop trivia: ZERO were sold here in Australia last year.
BMW 320i - $58,500AU.
BMW 530d GT - $144,200AU.
BMW 535i Touring - $138,901AU.
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Because obviously people are still earning the same as they were in the 1960s as well...
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There's only one Maybach I've seen sold in Australia and it was a 57 S at our Mercedes-Benz dealer...when I was about 11 years old lol.
The Maybach I reckon is definitely overpriced. I wouldn't pay upper-class house money for an overgrown S-Class unless it is essentially a house on wheels. Which I'm 99% sure it isn't.
The Maybach I reckon is definitely overpriced. I wouldn't pay upper-class house money for an overgrown S-Class unless it is essentially a house on wheels. Which I'm 99% sure it isn't.
MedigoFlame
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Here in Singapore a Lancer Evolution can cost upwards of $100k USD while in the US it's ~$40K USD.
A Mazda 3 also costs ~$50k USD here,for that you could have a Boss 302 in the US which costs less!
Cars in Singapore are so terribly priced.Actually terribly is a gross understatement.
A Mazda 3 also costs ~$50k USD here,for that you could have a Boss 302 in the US which costs less!
Cars in Singapore are so terribly priced.Actually terribly is a gross understatement.
911s have never had the most power. For the most part (besides the turboed models and supercar/halo models) Porsche has never been about selling cars with the most power.
You are right they don't use a lot of carbon fiber or fiberglass but that doesn't make the cars any worse. Porsche's design philosophy is to use the correct materials, which according to them are steel and aluminum.
I will not talk about Bentley since they are over priced in some ways. When you buy a Bentley you are buying it for the badge and the name since they aren't any nicer than an S-class Mercedes. (The S-Class is actually nicer, especially if you are the driver).
Rolls Royce is different. They are one of the last major car companies that actually advertises that they will customize the car in any way you want. With Rolls Royce you are paying for the quality and the craftsmanship of the car, in the same way you are paying for the technology when you buy an S-Class. Very few companies still display the quality that Rolls Royce does. The interior is hand stitched fine leather, the veneers are of the highest quality and are hand matched throughout the whole car, the bespoke options are nearly unlimited.
Bentley definitely lost some of their elegance after being purchased by VW but the same is not true for Rolls Royce. My point is Rolls Royce is still at the top, Maybach and others can try but you can't simply buy the grandeur that the Rolls Royce name has become to be associated with (and they still stand up to their reputation). Until Maybach distances itself from Mercedes Rolls Royce will not have to worry about losing its spot as the top luxury car manufacturer. (and I like the Maybach and Mercedes is one of my favorite car companies).
But it's all a matter of opinion and what someone thinks the value of something is.
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The Vanishing Boy
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-> Unlike the proven Mugen RR, this Mugen is even more pointless:
-Honda Civic Si Mugen- (USDM market)
^ For the same price as the much better '07 GD-body STi or even an S2000, why bother getting an overpriced bodykit?
-Honda Civic Si Mugen- (USDM market)
^ For the same price as the much better '07 GD-body STi or even an S2000, why bother getting an overpriced bodykit?
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Cars in the Netherlands, especially those who are a bit thirsty.
Coming back to the Audi R8 :
5.2 FSI quattro 10 cil. 5,2 l. 386 kW/525 pk R tronic
Price before taxes : € 134.967, after taxes : € 237.080.
Without any options btw.
Coming back to the Audi R8 :
5.2 FSI quattro 10 cil. 5,2 l. 386 kW/525 pk R tronic
Price before taxes : € 134.967, after taxes : € 237.080.
Without any options btw.
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I was hoping to have people discuss unnecessary special editions and cars that aren't that special like the Mini Goodwood and Aston Martin Cygnet. Not really Ferrari's and Lambo's being a lot...we know these.
Well, to some people (not necessarily myself), the fact that it is a special edition, makes it a little (or a lot) more special... and therefore something you are likely to spend more money on...
.. for instance.. I bought GT5 Signature edition... was it worth it, no - not at all in the slightest (given that I already owned GT5), but I paid the price, because it was something I wanted to own. Did I buy the Mr Blonde Deluxe Edition of Reservoir dogs 15 years ago (yup, on VHS) for £70 because I really like the film -- even though I already had the standard video, and Mr White special edition... -- yup... not everyone (infact hardly anyone) buys simply the bare minimum at the cheapest price...
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