Crown

German Autobild, the number one car magazine in Germany has a nice article in the latest issue: Premium but without "showcar effect".

The well known consulting agency PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has come to the conclusion in a new study that big and heavy cars are loosing more and more acceptance in Europe as status symbols.

The perception in the premium buying segment has changed, even successful business people find it nowadays "shameful" to show up at the kids' school in a Panamera or X6.

According to this study, 15% of the german "upperclass" customers will buy a smaller car, among the SUV customers these are even 22%. The old principle higher, faster and wider doesn't work anymore, the customers want smaller, less polluting and "intelligent" cars.

So if somebody thought that my recent posts regarding social "acceptance" of cars like the Panamera and X6 were exaggerated, here were are...even PwC confirms it.

Btw: PwC used the Panamera and the X6 as examples, I just translated it.

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RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor 997 Turbo, BMW X5 M (03/2010), BMW M3 Cab DKG, Mini Cooper S JCW

Is there a diff in perception between X6 and X5?

Slow In, Fast Out

FFaust:

Is there a diff in perception between X6 and X5?

Yes. Over here in Bavaria, the X5 is practically the Volks-SUV, nobody really cares about this car anymore. The X6 is considered to be a luxury SUV...hence...different perception. Same as with the Cayenne.

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor 997 Turbo, BMW X5 M (03/2010), BMW M3 Cab DKG, Mini Cooper S JCW

 indeed

Slow In, Fast Out

A recent study in the U.S. also found that public opinion of luxury cars has dropped significantly over the past year (Porsche as a brand dropped 13%, Cadillac 14%, etc.).  But the study also noted that consumer moods shift significantly during economic disruptions, and the study was not to be taken as a long term trend. 

In the mid-1970s there was a gasoline "crisis" in the U.S.  There were midnight lines at gas stations, public fear about dependence on foreign oil, a hostage crisis in Iran, and a public outcry for smaller cars and higher fuel economy.  I was right in there with the small car crowd, drove a tiny Honda Civic, and held my nose up at larger cars and the arrogant buffoons that drove them.  But as the crisis ended and folks felt more secure, SUVs and gas guzzling performance cars returned with a vengeance.  And I was right in there with the gas guzzlers this time, driving Porsche Turbos and Cayennes. 

IMHO, that same cycle will return as soon as the world economic recession ends in developed countries, and the public perception of luxury cars will improve significantly. 

The problem is that luxury cars were always a problem in Germany, just not to the extent they seem to be now. I also don't worry too much about those "upperclass" customers who don't buy these cars anymore, I worry much more about those who never could and never will be able to afford buying one of these luxury cars.

Germans invented the de-badging of cars but what is happening now is that even de-badging won't help if the public perception of a certain car model is the perception of a gas guzzler or environmentally questionable car. Bigger cars became a problem also from a different point of view: they "threaten" the many small cars on the streets, many drivers of small cars feel intimidated by larger cars. This sound pretty ridiculous but underestimating the power of the many over the power of the few would be dumb.

I also hate the german media. One example valid for many: a car magazine tests a super sportscar or even a SUV. They love it, they write about how fast it is, how incredible the handling is, how amazing the engine is and so on. Then, in the last sentence, they kill the whole article by asking the question: "but do we need such a car ? A dirty, gas guzzling monster with no use at all ? Definetely not. This car is a dinosaur, a car for neanderthals."

By adding one single sentence to the end of the review, they destroy the whole reputation and public perception of this car.

I suppose this has to do with business: car magazines still want to keep their buyers happy by testing amazing cars, not only daily drivers but at the same time, they want to be politically correct and keep the environment safe and everybody happy. Potential buyers won't be affected by that last sentence in the review but those who hate or just can't afford such cars anyway, are happy. What the car magazines don't seem to realize is that they create a negative public perception which can't be easily undone. Most people couldn't care less about cars but when their daily non-cars related newspaper prints an article take from a car magazine where they tell people for example that the Cayenne Turbo is the "dirtiest" car on this planet, a completely new audience gets to learn about the Cayenne Turbo.

Personally, I doubt that the end of the financial crisis will improve public perception of luxury cars, it doesn't work that way in Europe. It may improve the sales of these cars, no doubt about it but not public perception. People usually stick to their opinions and once they have an opinion about a certain product, they stick with it forever. Another problem is also that at the end of the world financial crisis, those who can't afford such cars anyway will be in an even worse financial situation than before.

It varies of course from country to country but I haven't much hope for Europe.

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor 997 Turbo, BMW X5 M (03/2010), BMW M3 Cab DKG, Mini Cooper S JCW

 I remember "de-badging" taking off as a trend in Europe (late 70s and early 80s)...but it wasn't for the reasons you suggest.

The de-badgeing was a way for "poseurs" to pretend that their "520" was  possibly more than it really was (at least to the great "unwashed" masses!) etc.  It is funny how it is now being twisted in the reverse.

It is sad to see a "people" so emasculated that they have to make decisions based upon their neighbors prejudices and ignorance, and the Government's attempts to socialize everyone and everything.  Talk about mind control.

The "political correctness" of it all will soon begin to wane...now that climate change has been exposed as a potential fraud.

cnc:

 I remember "de-badging" taking off as a trend in Europe (late 70s and early 80s)...but it wasn't for the reasons you suggest.

The de-badgeing was a way for "poseurs" to pretend that their "520" was  possibly more than it really was (at least to the great "unwashed" masses!) etc.  It is funny how it is now being twisted in the reverse.

It is sad to see a "people" so emasculated that they have to make decisions based upon their neighbors prejudices and ignorance, and the Government's attempts to socialize everyone and everything.  Talk about mind control.

The "political correctness" of it all will soon begin to wane...now that climate change has been exposed as a potential fraud.

I remember it differently, sorry. If someone takes off the badge...

There are some people nowadays who do what you said but in the past, I don't remember it. All my neighbors, family, friends, etc. removed the badge completely, usually from their BMW 5/7 series or Mercedes E/S class.

It isn't actually the government causing the problems here, it is the media which tries to "implant" what is politicially and socially correct and what isn't. We have a 24 year old press journalist over here in our town who is well known for his hate tirades against luxury cars and sports cars. He drives no car btw., he has a bicycle.

Climate change has been exposed as a potential fraud ? What planet are you living on ? I know there have been some incorrect statements but the general media in Germany and worldwide didn't pick them up as fraud, just certain media in certain countries. Which bringst Fox News back to my mind...

Even if the pope would declare on worldwide TV that there is no climate change or a climate change caused by humans, people would still believe what they want because it is what they want to believe. They want to believe that all "rich" people are evil and that economic growth is evil. This is they way it works I'm afraid.

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor 997 Turbo, BMW X5 M (03/2010), BMW M3 Cab DKG, Mini Cooper S JCW

 Here I am contemplating whether I will be able to afford a used 996 in 2 years time and you guys talk about the social demise of everything that is fun in this world... . 

I'm so appalled by all this political correctness bullshit. I'm definitely pro-environment, but actions should be based on facts and not propaganda. Furthermore they should be both efficient and effective!

What's even worse about this recent trend, it's not really about actually doing something good, but more about looking good.

I mean honestly what's the difference between a 7 series and 5 series nowadays? The badge. Price, engine, size, interior have become so similar, that it's really only about the social statement you want to make- I'm downsizing! What a joke. 

The fanatic green movement in Germany is disturbing. As we know it has already caused destruction of property and vehicles. Germans should do some introspection and refuse that radical stance.

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A. Dias --- 997.2S (ordered). Previous cars: Corvette C6,  996 C4.

 

 

......Climate change has been exposed as a potential fraud ? What planet are you living on ? I know there have been some incorrect statements but the general media in Germany and worldwide didn't pick them up as fraud, just certain media in certain countries. Which bringst Fox News back to my mind...

 

Not Fox News.... but the Times....

And this comes after last weeks exposure about the "dubious" science on the melting Himalayan Mountains which was presented as Gospel (you did mention the Pope) by the UN.

See the link:-

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7000063.ece

It was on many newspapers but most of them picked this "news" up like something non-significant. It wouldn't "fit" the recent global warming/natural disasters discussions.

I can't see where the Times actually says that they believe it.

There is no green movement in Germany, unless you'r referring to green as some sort of symbol for envy. Germany is an envy driven society and it got worse over the past few years due to the media. Yes, I blame the german media because instead of fighting envy, the actually feeded it over and over again. It reached a really disturbing level when the financial crisis started, when almost every german newspaper, even the so called conservative ones, were on the "hunt" for bank managers and CEOs/CFOs of certain companies. I won't forget the comments about Wendelin Wiedeking, they were very inappropriate and insulting. Without him, Porsche would not have survived as an independent company that long. He made his share of mistakes but so did others, this is what happens in a market driven economy. The media asked for heads to roll and they picked some examples which then were generalized by the public.

Take a look at France: workers were actually taking CEOs HOSTAGE and did something happen to them ? They had all the sympathy from the public, not realizing that this is actually the best way to anarchy.

What worries me most is that local businesses and large companies are thrown into the same bucket. I run a small business, I can't move to another country, I pay my taxes in Germany and I pay a lot. Still...people don't care about details, they see a nice car and a nice house and you're the enemy.

Another problem is self-esteem: many people are intelligent and they work hard but they don't understand why others are making so much more money than they do. Instead of understanding the principles of a free market economy, they blame the state and of course those who have more for their own financial disaster. The media does a great job of showing off rich people who lead the easy life, making it even worse. Most business people I know work hard and much more than most workers/employees but nobody really seems to see that.

Envy is a real bitch but nobody really seems to want to fight it.

Why do you guys think that I want to move to the US ? I know that not everything is perfect over there either but at least I don't have to worry about what car I drive.

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RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor 997 Turbo, BMW X5 M (03/2010), BMW M3 Cab DKG, Mini Cooper S JCW

By green movement I meant a blind acceptance stance by the public re all things environmental. It is driven by left wing political elites who ultimately want to dominate the seat of power and control masses. It happens everywhere and it just happened in the US, perhaps now it will turn back.

You have mentioned envy and I believe that and it is quite unfortunate. Unfortunate because people should not be envy, they should admire others' success and work towards their own success. But beyond envy I have a sense that in today's Germany there's a people's blind environmental religion against growth and all its accoutrements. I know Germans who tell me they cannot accept people driving large cars and sports cars because it does not make sense to the world today... they have accepted the 'religion'. You are correct the media propagates the religion, but it is up to the people to accept it or refuse it.

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A. Dias --- 997.2S (ordered). Previous cars: Corvette C6,  996 C4.

RC:

There is no green movement in Germany, unless you'r referring to green as some sort of symbol for envy. Germany is an envy driven society and it got worse over the past few years due to the media. Yes, I blame the german media because instead of fighting envy, the actually feeded it over and over again. It reached a really disturbing level when the financial crisis started, when almost every german newspaper, even the so called conservative ones, were on the "hunt" for bank managers and CEOs/CFOs of certain companies. 

......

Envy is a real bitch but nobody really seems to want to fight it.  

Envy is the animating emotion of Marxism, no matter how much pretzel-logic is argued to the contrary.  

I think Germany (and plenty of other places, too) is suffering from almost one century of subversion from the former USSR and from the lingering opinions of those who don't think Communism-Socialism-Fascism was really all that bad, or wasn't tried with enough effort or correct outlook.  True believers never give up, even now after Communism-Sociaism-Fascim has been completely objectively discredited by its own myriad examples.

I agree that the leftist media (USA, too) is part of the fight and is working overtime to continue to uphold the nostrums of the Socialist International.  Everybody thought that the West had crushed the USSR's ideology when the wall came down.  But, I think it only changed how the left would approach the fight.  They don't give up their dreams of world domination so easily as might be hoped.

The de-construction movement in literary criticism and revisionist history that so pollutes universities all over the world today was a major victory for the radical left (actually KGB) in its attempts to tear down the West's cultural self confidence.  I think that the left is salivating over the cultural confusion and self-doubt caused by Islamic immigration into most of Europe today.  The mixing clash of cultures allows the left to argue for the suppression of traditional culture in order to seem "fair" to the new people in their midst.  Don't be fooled about the left, the enemy of their enemy is their new friend.

The most obvious difference comparing the economic success of Western culture and the abject failure of so many others is the "cultural software" that is the operating system of societies.  If the left can crash our operating system by inserting cultural viruses, like hyped-up envy, it hopes to overtake us and replace traditional Western culture with a new world zeitgeist.

I, for one, will do everything I can to fight back against the propagation of the world's most virulent prosperity killer - the false ideas of the Left, and their hand-picked agent "virtue-ized envy".

Mike

2005 Carrera GT - Signal Yellow + 2008 Tesla Roadster - Thunder Gray +1972 BMW 3.0 CSi - Nachtblau +2009 Bentley Arnage T - Black Saphire

Mike: A lucid and accurate description of the world we live in. My hat is off to you and I agree that those of us who love freedom and opportunity for prosperity must work to defend our children's futures. I hope the tide to stop the 'progressive movement' (another term for Marxist control of the people) is now rising.

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A. Dias --- 997.2S (ordered). Previous cars: Corvette C6,  996 C4.

W8MM:

RC:

There is no green movement in Germany, unless you'r referring to green as some sort of symbol for envy. Germany is an envy driven society and it got worse over the past few years due to the media. Yes, I blame the german media because instead of fighting envy, the actually feeded it over and over again. It reached a really disturbing level when the financial crisis started, when almost every german newspaper, even the so called conservative ones, were on the "hunt" for bank managers and CEOs/CFOs of certain companies. 

......

Envy is a real bitch but nobody really seems to want to fight it.  

 

Envy is the animating emotion of Marxism, no matter how much pretzel-logic is argued to the contrary.  

I think Germany (and plenty of other places, too) is suffering from almost one century of subversion from the former USSR and from the lingering opinions of those who don't think Communism-Socialism-Fascism was really all that bad, or wasn't tried with enough effort or correct outlook.  True believers never give up, even now after Communism-Sociaism-Fascim has been completely objectively discredited by its own myriad examples.

I agree that the leftist media (USA, too) is part of the fight and is working overtime to continue to uphold the nostrums of the Socialist International.  Everybody thought that the West had crushed the USSR's ideology when the wall came down.  But, I think it only changed how the left would approach the fight.  They don't give up their dreams of world domination so easily as might be hoped.

The de-construction movement in literary criticism and revisionist history that so pollutes universities all over the world today was a major victory for the radical left (actually KGB) in its attempts to tear down the West's cultural self confidence.  I think that the left is salivating over the cultural confusion and self-doubt caused by Islamic immigration into most of Europe today.  The mixing clash of cultures allows the left to argue for the suppression of traditional culture in order to seem "fair" to the new people in their midst.  Don't be fooled about the left, the enemy of their enemy is their new friend.

The most obvious difference comparing the economic success of Western culture and the abject failure of so many others is the "cultural software" that is the operating system of societies.  If the left can crash our operating system by inserting cultural viruses, like hyped-up envy, it hopes to overtake us and replace traditional Western culture with a new world zeitgeist.

I, for one, will do everything I can to fight back against the propagation of the world's most virulent prosperity killer - the false ideas of the Left, and their hand-picked agent "virtue-ized envy".

BTW: Funny but the more I see a car is less acceptable the ever so slightly more attractive it becomes. When the PC'ers that are killing us, killing the cars I love,  start paying for my cars, I'll take their thoughts of what I drive into consideration. Otherwise I care about how much other people care about my car about as much as I care about having HUGE "HYBRID" Sticker's on the side & BIG "electric" logo's on the back to show I CARE MORE than the next guy.  

RE: (PwC) "shameful" to show up at the kids' school in a Panamera or X6".? --- What a shame.

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08 PORSCHE Turbo Cabriolet, 06 Ferrari F430,  04 Durango HEMI,  04 Harley Davidson Screamin Eagle,  93 Harley Davidson Nostalgia

I'm actually pretty curious about the new Cayenne. I know how it looks and I know how it performs but since I haven't seen it on the streets yet, I wonder how the public perception of this car will be.

Currently, the Panamera seems to have a much better public perception in Germany than the Cayenne, I talked to many people and it surprises me because people are usually sensible to size and brand. Apparently Porsche started the right way, by portraying the Panamera in their ads as a modern and "green" car with a leading low fuel consumption and low pollution in it's class. Not sure how long this "charade" is going to work but as long as the media plays along, I don't see a problem.

Let's hope that the new Cayenne succeeds in removing the prejudice of a "dirtiest car on the planet", it can only help the other models in the Porsche model range.

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor 997 Turbo, BMW X5 M (03/2010), BMW M3 Cab DKG, Mini Cooper S JCW

RC:

... Currently, the Panamera seems to have a much better public perception in Germany than the Cayenne, I talked to many people and it surprises me because people are usually sensible to size and brand. Apparently Porsche started the right way, by portraying the Panamera in their ads as a modern and "green" car with a leading low fuel consumption and low pollution in it's class....

That is great and deserving. The Panamera is quite efficient and its auto stop/start is a good thing for city use.

_________________________________________________________ 

A. Dias --- 997.2S (ordered). Previous cars: Corvette C6,  996 C4.

RC:

Not sure how long this "charade" is going to work but as long as the media plays along, I don't see a problem.

Let's hope that the new Cayenne succeeds in removing the prejudice of a "dirtiest car on the planet", it can only help the other models in the Porsche model range.

Could it be that the VW Group have more influence on the media (and on politicians and workers unions perhaps) than the previous management team

 Bravo Mike!! The "greenies" are left wing-socialist-fascists. I live in South Florida where the bigger the car the better to survive the traffic and bad drivers. I drive 2 911's and a GX470  soon to be a LX460.  People love cars here and I have never experienced any negative comments on my cars. If they do I'll LOL.

nina:

 Bravo Mike!! The "greenies" are left wing-socialist-fascists. I live in South Florida where the bigger the car the better to survive the traffic and bad drivers. I drive 2 911's and a GX470  soon to be a LX460.  People love cars here and I have never experienced any negative comments on my cars. If they do I'll LOL.

Fort Lauderdale isn't exactly the place where expensive cars are a problem. 

This is why I love Florida, we spend most of our vacation time with the kids in Orlando and Sunny Isles Beach. 

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor 997 Turbo, BMW X5 M (03/2010), BMW M3 Cab DKG, Mini Cooper S JCW

Saw two Panamera in FL this weekend... They look so tiny next to the Bentleys

 Yes,Florida is a great place to live. In my street there is another TT ,a Ferrrari, some AMG mercedes, several regular Mercedes ,one Maseratti,a Bentley and one Rolls. I don't think there will be any problems with cars in my neighborhood.

I think it has to do with the weather. Right now is like perfection. Even in  the summer is great. You can always open your gate and go for a spin. No snow tires.

nina:

 Yes,Florida is a great place to live. In my street there is another TT ,a Ferrrari, some AMG mercedes, several regular Mercedes ,one Maseratti,a Bentley and one Rolls. I don't think there will be any problems with cars in my neighborhood.

I think it has to do with the weather. Right now is like perfection. Even in  the summer is great. You can always open your gate and go for a spin. No snow tires.

My next rental car in Florida is going to be a Mercedes GLK 350.  

Just can't wait for April...hello Miami Beach. 

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor 997 Turbo, BMW X5 M (03/2010), BMW M3 Cab DKG, Mini Cooper S JCW

Last time we went to Miami we only went once to Miami beach in two weeks... Wasn't beach weather though, and having a boat, you go everywhere but South Beach ;)

We love the beach, especially the kids are enjoying it.

RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor 997 Turbo, BMW X5 M (03/2010), BMW M3 Cab DKG, Mini Cooper S JCW

 Beach looks good in this pic. We spend new years on basically the same terrace... Was fun.

 It is beautiful. We call it the Gold Coast. Fort Lauderdale has a great beach. It  is called the 'Venice of America" because of the many canals that lead to the inlet. There are a lot of new hotels and also condominium rentals. It's also the boating capital of the USA. Now in winter you can see mega yacths parked along the marinas. The boat show is one or the biggest. A lot of Europeans for that show.