WSJ Article - BMW 1 Series will damage BMW image?
- Thread starter Kirby
- Start date
I can see what you are saying. But MB is very diversified, BMW is not. BMW rides entirely on premium brand management of few produced models compared to others. It is all they have. Also, I think the lower price 20's does not fit with the premium brand management philosophy they state and will likely cause problems.
Well let me give a "european" viewpoint on the whole "1" series deal.
First let me state that they still sell the E46 hatchback in Europe(you can even get it with a "M" sport package-reference to another thread I started..hehe-which includes interior touches, rims and the like. It sells relatively well and you can get one for around 25-30k in I think 3 diff eng. sizes(318ti,320ti,and 325ti). I think within the next year or so BMW will stop making the "ti's" and put them in their own category hence the "1" series of BMW's. So BMW hasn't really change anything. They are just trying that part of the market in America again-the market has always been there in Europe. Just my .02!!!
First let me state that they still sell the E46 hatchback in Europe(you can even get it with a "M" sport package-reference to another thread I started..hehe-which includes interior touches, rims and the like. It sells relatively well and you can get one for around 25-30k in I think 3 diff eng. sizes(318ti,320ti,and 325ti). I think within the next year or so BMW will stop making the "ti's" and put them in their own category hence the "1" series of BMW's. So BMW hasn't really change anything. They are just trying that part of the market in America again-the market has always been there in Europe. Just my .02!!!
I think the new 1 series will fit well into the "premium brand" strategy that BMW has. The 1 series will likely be of extremely high quality, and when compared to similarly priced vehicles, (the honda accord ex, or the acura rsx for example), it should be leaps and bounds ahead of the competition in terms of technology. Don't forget that BMW has access to tons of high quality systems and parts from the 3 series and Z4 lines, that will undoubtedly make their way into the 1 series. Also, when you add the cost of necessary upgrades, (premium and sport packages, leather, etc.) I think that the actual price will land somewhere in the mid to high $20,000 range. This is consistent with the premium brand strategy in that it will produce not just another 1.5 liter compact, but the best 1.5 liter compact that money can buy. A natural side effect of this will be high sale volume, (a fact that BMW execs. are no doubt aware of).
just a quick follow-up to what I said earlier about the Ti compact.
I just read an article in the Autoweek Archives about the state of the compact(namely BMW)
in the states and in europe. So take a look at this link(cut and paste if hyperlink doesnt work)
and pay SPECIAL attention to the last paragraph.
http://www.autoweek.com/search/sear...5&Search_Type=STD&Search_ID=1628507&record=10
I just read an article in the Autoweek Archives about the state of the compact(namely BMW)
in the states and in europe. So take a look at this link(cut and paste if hyperlink doesnt work)
and pay SPECIAL attention to the last paragraph.
http://www.autoweek.com/search/sear...5&Search_Type=STD&Search_ID=1628507&record=10
Last edited:
I am a big believer in EVA (economic value added) that is created from capital and intangibles (premium brand and so on) that results in a higher profit margin and thus MVA (market value added). The concern for me is will the lower priced vehicles draw from resources sufficient enough to compromise the EVA BMW has been known for. Are there truly enough resources available to maintain both ventures without sacrificing something (line of production) along the way? Any drop in quality whatsoever on the higher lines combined with the downward move in the market could cause definite problems I would think. Lets just hope there has been a great deal of planning up front for how resources will be utilized; it is surprised how many big companies out there can really screw up a good thing, but I didnt mention any names. ![[;)]](/images/smilies/wink.png "Wink [;)]")
personally i kinda like the 1 series. i also think it would be very wrong for someone to look down at another person for driving a "baby" bimmer. did Hummer lose it's prestige when the H2 came out?
my only question (maybe i missed this throughout the post) is.....when will they be released in the US?
my only question (maybe i missed this throughout the post) is.....when will they be released in the US?
What do you mean by MB being very diversified? That they have a lot of models? BMW may not have exactly as many models, but they generally have models that can compete with MB pricewise from top to bottom. The high end SL is what, $125K or so? BMW has the Z8 in that range. For the S class, you have the 7 series. For the E, you have the 5. The C has the 3. The CLK is facing the new 6. The SLK has the Z4. ML vs. X5. If anything, I would think MB has more of a premium philosophy and they don't seem too harmed by the C coupe.
My personal opinion, yes! Especially if you have ever driven an H1 and seen what it can do off road. In my eyes the H2 is just some rediculous looking ugly, weight burdened piece of garbage. Just look at the ground clearance difference alone. What would be said if Ferrari or Lamborghini came out with a $40,000 car. Stick to what you do. As for the whole one series issue. The only thingthat I would be worried about is if they dropped some cheesy little four cylinder in it. I personally don't think that the price would be as high as is stated, but I don't like the idea of BMW making some sort of psuedo economy car.
The H2 is a good example of how a lower end vehicle can destroy the brand. I think H2 has done in Hummer to a great extent. Hummer now has the worst satisafaction ratings of any vehicle due to the H2. Just too hard to keep the H1 quality for a much lower price so they have now screwed up the brand name that once was good.
Actually GM is selling the hell out of the H2....being in the military I have driven real "Not civi luxo Hummers" the ones we drive are abused, have no AC or a key, just a start button and we use chains wrapped around the steering wheel to stop other military guys from taking them for test drives.
The look of the new Bimmers to me is great, it is about time for a change. Yes, it makes my E36 look real dated now....but look forward to one day getting a replacement for my E36. Hey, BMW put out the 318 hatch, Mercedes put out a hatch also. I never thought it cheapened the mark. Personally I like the new 5 series...the 7 series is UNGODLY EXPENSIVE.....the new 5 series is not cheap either. Make way though the new 3 series is coming, and I hear is will be called the 2 series. Funny thing how the numbers change. The new upcoming 1 series will be no cheap bargin though. Hey, takes time to adjust....I am still adjusting to the E46.....like the style over my E36. Sometimes....people fear change. BMW has some nice new rides....just keeping up with the times....even though they do it slow and with tradition.![[thumb]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_thumb.gif "Thumbs Up [thumb]")
Would still like an old 2002Tii.![[^]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_approve.gif "Approved [^]")
The look of the new Bimmers to me is great, it is about time for a change. Yes, it makes my E36 look real dated now....but look forward to one day getting a replacement for my E36. Hey, BMW put out the 318 hatch, Mercedes put out a hatch also. I never thought it cheapened the mark. Personally I like the new 5 series...the 7 series is UNGODLY EXPENSIVE.....the new 5 series is not cheap either. Make way though the new 3 series is coming, and I hear is will be called the 2 series. Funny thing how the numbers change. The new upcoming 1 series will be no cheap bargin though. Hey, takes time to adjust....I am still adjusting to the E46.....like the style over my E36. Sometimes....people fear change. BMW has some nice new rides....just keeping up with the times....even though they do it slow and with tradition.
Would still like an old 2002Tii.
M998's are a great deal of fun!!!!! I am still in awe that they let me "borrow" that one for damn near a whole week. Just because they are selling a lot of them means one of three things.
One. They decided that middle age men that are not so well equipped need a new falic symbol.
Two. There is a hidden reason as to why overprivlidged soccer kids that stand only five feet tall need all that head space.
Three. The suckers that buy them actually think that they are a real Hummer.
Since you are in the military much like me. You should know as well as I do that they are not even in the same catagory. It was, and is, a shame what they did to their name when they created the H2. For Pete's sake, the brakes are actually mounted by the wheels on the H2!!!! That my friend, is a complete travesty. Don't start feeling outdated. In my opinion, the E36 was and always will be the best looking 3 series ever produced. It comes in a close second to the E39 as far as the best looking non-exotic car ever.
One. They decided that middle age men that are not so well equipped need a new falic symbol.
Two. There is a hidden reason as to why overprivlidged soccer kids that stand only five feet tall need all that head space.
Three. The suckers that buy them actually think that they are a real Hummer.
Since you are in the military much like me. You should know as well as I do that they are not even in the same catagory. It was, and is, a shame what they did to their name when they created the H2. For Pete's sake, the brakes are actually mounted by the wheels on the H2!!!! That my friend, is a complete travesty. Don't start feeling outdated. In my opinion, the E36 was and always will be the best looking 3 series ever produced. It comes in a close second to the E39 as far as the best looking non-exotic car ever.
Last edited:
I agree with you on the Hummer.....LOL....those things are pigs to drive though. Everyone thinks they are so cool....well...in 135 degrees in the sand box....uou know what I mean junglestylz....they suck with no AC. Funny thing is the first thing trans or motorpool does is take the screw out from behind the gas pedal......you know what I mean.
The H2 is kinda cool for a Hummer look on a chevy platform though for the price...it is no H1....but the civilian H1 is no GOV hummer either with lux interior, AC, stereo....you know what I mean.
The H2 is kinda cool for a Hummer look on a chevy platform though for the price...it is no H1....but the civilian H1 is no GOV hummer either with lux interior, AC, stereo....you know what I mean.