Fully optioned non luxury vs luxury brand

[Delta0311]

And let's not forget the look. Virtually every economy car our there has ripped off the E90 and E92 in some way.

Behold the E92 like Civic

http://future-cars.honda.com/10th-gen-civic/

[M3ZING]

Why would you drive a ford if you can drive a range rover

[David70]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

And let's not forget the look. Virtually every economy car our there has ripped off the E90 and E92 in some way.

Behold the E92 like Civic

You mean because virtually every 2 door coupe has some similarities? Then if I can get a Civic that looks similar to an E90 it would be a bad idea to buy it because of it?

Not following the rip off.

[Chez]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

And let's not forget the look. Virtually every economy car our there has ripped off the E90 and E92 in some way.

Behold the E92 like Civic

http://future-cars.honda.com/10th-gen-civic/

Looks more like a Hynudai to me..

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by David70

You mean because virtually every 2 door coupe has some similarities? Then if I can get a Civic that looks similar to an E90 it would be a bad idea to buy it because of it?

Not following the rip off.

That's what I mean.. They virtually all took from BMWs design. Damn near EVERY car out there is using Chris Bangle's, BMW flame surfacing design.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by M3ZING

Why would you drive a ford if you can drive a range rover

You'd pick the Ford if you want to avoid having to visit the service bay once a month. Sure you may want to drive your Explorer into a tree in having to deal with the infotainment system, but that's all part of the package.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by M3ZING

Why would you drive a ford if you can drive a range rover

Because a 5,000 pound truck with an automatic sounds horrible while a Focus RS is actually on my short list.

[David70]

Originally Posted by M3ZING

Why would you drive a ford if you can drive a range rover

Because a Ford will do 95% of what the Range Rover will do at 60% of the price and probably be less likely to irritate/leave you stranded with component failures.

[David70]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

That's what I mean.. They virtually all took from BMWs design. Damn near EVERY car out there is using Chris Bangle's, BMW flame surfacing design.

Even if true, many of his designs came out over 12 years ago and he left 7 years ago, still not following why I should buy a BMW because of something a previous designer did many years ago.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by David70

Because a Ford will do 95% of what the Range Rover will do at 60% of the price and probably be less likely to irritate/leave you stranded with component failures.

Same could be said for getting an M235 vs an M6 for instance. Once you get past the basics of transportation you get diminishing returns on the additional money, at least for DD. Benz example, is the top end C63 really worth the premium over a C450 99% of the time you're driving it? Big jump in $ and possible repair costs.

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by David70

Even if true, many of his designs came out over 12 years ago and he left 7 years ago, still not following why I should buy a BMW because of something a previous designer did many years ago.

It's not about buying a BMW. Point I'm making is that every car out there now has copied BMW's body design styling.

[Kolyan2k]

Lets face it, brand is important to most, no matter how close others come to current luxury brands and no metter how many flaws they come with. I know that Hyundai makes some nice cars and they have my respect for that, but I wouldn't be caught dead driving one. (at least not right now,maybe when I am older)

Do other brands copy BMW, I dont think so, its just evolution and its been growing fast for other brands

[Em135eye]

Originally Posted by M3ZING

Why would you drive a ford if you can drive a range rover

Reliability?
Because Ford makes some great trucks, the RS and the GT40 thing?
Because RR drivers are the most aggressive, arrogant drivers on the road?

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by ThinkRevolutionx

I've been giving this some thought with what I view as kind of a revolution in the quality of vehicles. Ten years ago, almost every non luxury brand was a sort of econobox no frills transport vehicle.

Nowadays, the "boring" brands have really come out swinging and are only getting better. Fantastic vehicles can be had for killer prices, the new maxima, mazda 6, redesigned civic, etc etc.

I recall when pricing out my 435, how far I had to go in order to match up with the options available on a $23,000 toyota. This brought me to a fundamental thought..

Are we emotionally invested in branding, or are we really getting more vehicle for our money?

To make it more simple (I know specific examples can be cited that may not prove this true, i'm speaking broadly) you can take almost any "size" vehicle - compact, midsize, large, suv, truck from the non luxury brands, and get an optioned to the teeth version for around where the luxury brand would start with no options at all.

Is the experience really that different in the Lexus and Infiniti?
Why get the Range Rover over the Ford explorer platinum with every option known to man? The 335i over the Maxima with quadruple the options at the same price point, etc.

Genuinely curious about peoples opinions and experiences.

Edited for grammar.

As long as I'm satisfied with the basic features, driving dynamics mattered more for me...

[Em135eye]

Originally Posted by Polo08816

As long as I'm satisfied with the basic features, driving dynamics mattered more for me...

People have become obsessed with gimmicky options, all of which retain very little money.
They all weigh more and many are pointless.
We need lightness above all else.

[Never_Enough]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

And let's not forget the look. Virtually every economy car our there has ripped off the E90 and E92 in some way.

Behold the E92 like Civic

http://future-cars.honda.com/10th-gen-civic/

Just say no to drugs, kids.

[Never_Enough]

Originally Posted by Em135eye

Reliability?
Because Ford makes some great trucks, the RS and the GT40 thing?
Because RR drivers are the most aggressive, arrogant drivers on the road?

It's Ford GT, not GT40.

[Never_Enough]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

Lets face it, brand is important to most, no matter how close others come to current luxury brands and no metter how many flaws they come with. I know that Hyundai makes some nice cars and they have my respect for that, but I wouldn't be caught dead driving one. (at least not right now,maybe when I am older)

Do other brands copy BMW, I dont think so, its just evolution and its been growing fast for other brands

Then you're buying cars to keep up w/the Jones family or because you're worried about what people think of you.

So would you never own a turbo Supra because it's a Toyota?

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by OrangeZ06

Then you're buying cars to keep up w/the Jones family or because you're worried about what people think of you.

So would you never own a turbo Supra because it's a Toyota?

I own Honda right now. I try to buy cars that are somewhat special, and like anyone else, yes I prefer some luxury added to it. Thats one of the reasons I am looking at buying a Lexus

[Never_Enough]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

I own Honda right now. I try to buy cars that are somewhat special, and like anyone else, yes I prefer some luxury added to it. Thats one of the reasons I am looking at buying a Lexus

What's special & luxury about a Honda? Not being an ass, I'm being serious. Trying to understand this based on your post before because this contradicts that.

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by OrangeZ06

Wat's special & luxury about a Honda? Not being an ass, I'm being serious. Trying to understand this based on your post before because this contradicts that.

Well he has a S2K, which is not exactly a dime a dozen Civic. In fact it's way more rare than a 335.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by OrangeZ06

It's Ford GT, not GT40.

Only because some dillhole trademarked the 40 bit while Ford wasn't paying attention.

That and the fact that the last one was 44 inches tall and GT44 doesn't sound quite right.