Wise thoughts

"Victorious Secret" (victorioussecret)
02/11/2014 at 16:22 • Filed to: None

BMW, Mercedes, Audi; They're all so worried about what the competition is doing that they all basically end up making the same car.

DISCUSSION (30)

Textured Soy Protein > Victorious Secret
02/11/2014 at 16:25

Because there are so many rwd Audis.

Victorious Secret > Textured Soy Protein
02/11/2014 at 16:26

Point ======>

Your head ======>

Party-vi > Victorious Secret
02/11/2014 at 16:29

Hey now...rule #1

Victorious Secret > Party-vi
02/11/2014 at 16:30

Yea, that was a little needlessly rough.

Mea culpa

Dunnik > Textured Soy Protein
02/11/2014 at 16:30

You're looking at it from the wrong end of the telescope, perhaps: AWD used to be Audi-only among German cars, (other than the Porche Carrera 4) but now both Merc and BMW have it.

And rather than just name it "AWD" and call it a day, both Merc and BMW felt obligated to come up with some fancy name to match Quattro. Hence, 4MATIC (which sounds like some experimental GM 4-speed automatic transmission circa 1968) and xDrive.

Party-vi > Victorious Secret
02/11/2014 at 16:30

Isn't everyone else making the same car though? Shit, even Maserati wants to do it with the new Ghibli (also, are we calling in the Ghibli III or what?).

Party-vi > Victorious Secret
02/11/2014 at 16:31

Eh, not rough at all just be courteous or hit that little "X" button :)

Leadbull > Victorious Secret
02/11/2014 at 16:31

Kinja'd!!!

Manuél Ferrari > Textured Soy Protein
02/11/2014 at 16:31

True.

BUT - Audi might have the last laugh as BMW and Mercedes keep drifting more and more towards AWD.

One day BMW and Mercedes might offer some of their performance cars in AWD only. Then Audi would be on par with them.

Victorious Secret > Party-vi
02/11/2014 at 16:32

I felt that if I included all the brands, it would get boring.

But yea, you're right. Everyone is making the same mix. Not even the same basic recipe. Its the same recipe period, with a few additions if they are up for it.

Turbo V8s? Check. AWD? Check. 8 speed ZF? Check.

Its like this era of cars, while better than ever, is not doing anything to take any risks.

Victorious Secret > Party-vi
02/11/2014 at 16:33

Remember the last time I used that X button?

Yea...

Victorious Secret > Leadbull
02/11/2014 at 16:34

How.

How did he do that.

Wat.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Victorious Secret
02/11/2014 at 16:34

I saw that episode of Top Gear too.

Party-vi > Victorious Secret
02/11/2014 at 16:35

Ah but this is our world! Oppositelock!

Alternatively, you can just thank them for contributing to the topic without actually offering up anything useful.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Dunnik
02/11/2014 at 16:36

For a while I honestly thought 4Matic was in reference to the transmission. I always wondered how the hell Mercedes got away with selling them in this era.

PS9 > Textured Soy Protein
02/11/2014 at 16:36

Because the proliferation of specific powertrain components like V8s, Turbos, and AWD (using the same tranny from the same manufacturer even) was the point of the jab.

Party-vi > Victorious Secret
02/11/2014 at 16:40

Because it's risky to take risks haha.

Honestly I think it's because these automakers have found the recipe that works best for them. The flagships of Ze Germans used to be big V12 engines. These were eschewed for more advanced and economical forced induction V8 engines. Until one of the luxury car giants can make a reliable forced induction V6 with +450hp and better gas mileage we're going to be stuck with turbo V8 engines for a while.

Also, because the marketing of AWD to consumers convinced them it's a requirement "OMG WE'LL ALL DIE IF OUR CARS AREN'T AWD!!!) it's a no-brainer for companies to offer it as an option on their vehicles. In a few years it'll just be a choice of badge on your luxury car because all the other options and dynamics will be the same.

Victorious Secret > Party-vi
02/11/2014 at 16:40

The Germans are moving towards their own version of beige, and I don't know how to feel about that.

Dunnik > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos
02/11/2014 at 16:40

It's a common misconception, I think.

Feel bad then for those rare people who buy Mercs with a 4MATIC and a manual.

BeaterGT > Victorious Secret
02/11/2014 at 16:42

They all look like trash too. Except Mercedes puts funny lines on their trash.

Jagvar > Victorious Secret
02/11/2014 at 16:44

Jaguar does a pretty good job of setting itself apart, I'd say.

Textured Soy Protein > PS9
02/11/2014 at 16:45

I feel like this is not a new phenomenon.

Yes, Ze Germans keep coming up with new niches of vehicles, and they do tend to have remarkably similar engine choices.

But.

They've essentially been doing this since BMW went upmarket with the 7-series to compete with the S-class, and Mercedes went downmarket with the 190 to compete with the 3-series.

The 7-series came out in 1977 and the 190 came out in 1982.

Victorious Secret > Jagvar
02/11/2014 at 16:46

For now.

Sooner they'll go to the same formula.

Its German beige. I dont know if thats bad, but its all becoming the similar flavour of vanilla.

Party-vi > Victorious Secret
02/11/2014 at 16:47

Feel good about it, or at least feel good about what it means for the used car market.

Victorious Secret > Party-vi
02/11/2014 at 16:47

Cheap TT V8 F10 5 series in 3 years.

Actually, whenever the lease returns start coming back so you can grab one under CPO.

Party-vi > Victorious Secret
02/11/2014 at 17:00

Yep. Assuming residual is 38% off initial purchase price you should find a nice 550i for around $45k.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Dunnik
02/11/2014 at 17:07

Easy to do when the AMG cars still had 5 speeds- you think, if that's the best Mercedes can offer it stands to reason the normal cars get a 4 speed.

How many Mercedes are even offered with a manual?

PS9 > Textured Soy Protein
02/11/2014 at 17:14

Yes, Ze Germans keep coming up with new niches of vehicles, and they do tend to have remarkably similar engine choices.

You are still missing the point. Betweeen the E550 4MATIC, The 550ix, The A6, and now the Ghibli, there's not much difference there between vehicles. All AWD, All twin turbo'd, all putting out about ~400HP, all V8 Powered, save for the Ghibli. They are all tending toward the same sort of car. That's the point of the jab.

Textured Soy Protein > PS9
02/11/2014 at 17:27

I get the point of the jab. I guess what I mean is that it doesn't seem so shocking that cars in the same market segment will end up with similar mechanical configurations. It would be like saying in 1965 "hey why is it that every American car is 18 feet long with body-on-frame construction, a big V8, and a live rear axle?"

Dunnik > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos
02/11/2014 at 18:14

Yea, not many, now that I think about it/check.

The SLK seems to be one of the last holdouts (but it's only on with the four banger).