SpicyMikey

"By definition, status decreases as the object/action creating the status becomes common, and in this area BMW has trouble brewing on the horizon. BMW sold just 37,000 cars in the U.S. in 1980 (by the way, Jaguar outsold BMW, Merc, and Volvo that year). Nearly 300,000 moved last year (and Jaguar dropped below 16,000). So BMWs are now as common as Honda Accords. In fact, in the college town where I lived in the States, I'd swear BMW outsells all of GM. Is this status, or groupthink?"

http://www.motivemag.com/pub/feature...fa_Romeo.shtml

static808

Nice quote SpicyMikey. BMW has done a great job of "marketing" its style to the commoner.

Their attractive leases on the "bare bones" BMW's make them very common.

SpicyMikey

Agree. That very practice of making BMW's "affordable" for the masses seems to be what is about to come back and bite them.

But the funny thing was (based on this articles conclusions) we are driving one hell of an exclusive "status" symbol with our RL's. 350 sold last month. Yea baby!

///M Roadster

BMW has "hands down" the best CPO program that there is. 6yrs 100k. And with additional a grand or two, you could get 6yrs 100k maintenance on top of it as well. With accelerated used car market in recent years, this attractive CPO program probably had a lot to do with seeing more BMWs on the road today.

My experience with CPO BMWs has been excellent. My other car, 330xi, last service cost me $0, with all maintenance (including brake pads, wiper blades, etc) done.

robarsan

BMW didn't even make the top 5 for the best luxury CPO program 2008.
-> http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...26/068733.html

///M Roadster

Interesting, it certainly differs from my personal opinion.

volvo, cadillac, jaguar, saab, lexus, hummer, audi?

i don't know about other people, i wouldn't consider owning used cadillac, jaguar, saab, even if they came with 200k warranty. i do not have personal experience with them, but horror stories i've heard in the past is sufficient for me.

lexus, 3 yrs 100k, better than 2rs 100k that most CPOs offer. last time i had lexus, i went in for a factory scheduled maintenance and they said they didn't give renter for maintenance work (i bought a new lexus). that was a few years ago, and it may have been changed. for whatever is worth, during maintenance work for my 330, i had another bmw to drive around with $0 coming out of my pocket when i was picking up my car.

hummer? it will need a LOT more than a fancy CPO program to lure in customers, desparate needs call for desparate measures, the way I look at it.

audi? well...from my experience with two audis that i had, i wouldn't own another one unless i can use it as a weekend driver. just not a dependable everyday transportation not to mention its god aweful maintenance fee. besides house prices falling the way they have been, audi has got to be one of few other things that can fall harder in its resale value.

i think that article talkes talks about buying CPO cars and the score was determined by attractive purchase options. buying it at the face value is one thing, but one should look into owning the car for the duration of CPO warranty, easy of upkeeping it, and possible selling it later, IMO.

Rob L

Lexus (at least the dealerships I have knowledge of) give you a Lexus model when you require service.

As for the orig comment/post/etc...I don't think BMWs will lose the "status" crap even if they sell a bundle. See, the fanboys and auto publication industry will simply flip their criteria for what defines status. When BMWs were a true "premium/rare" car to own it was their somewhat rare numbers that caused them to have status. Now that BMWs are quite common (and I can attest to that around where I live. Easily more BMWs than any other luxo brand) it will be something else that gives them the status. People will change the criteria to always justify BMW for that status junk. I'd love to see a super cheap BMW model released and that make up75% of their sales so we can hear the excuses of why the brand is still 1 or 2 in terms of prestige/status.

Rob L

Oh and FWIW, I have nothing against the BMW line of cars. They look to be pretty sweet. My beef is wit the BMW zealots and the car publication industry proclaiming the brand to be handed down from God. BMWs have shortcomings for MANY just like every brand does.