Vs Poll: BMW 1er vs. Audi A3 vs. MB A-Class

[lukeswiss]

What has been the case, is that M-B has been for WEALTHIER people, because they've always been seen as more upmarket, classy, and expensive. This is also why M-B is far more a Pop Culture "Dream Car" than any of its German competitors, Porsche included. Every Rap song, Movie, young rich Star has a Benz, talks about a Benz, etc.

It appeals to people who are insecure about their social status. It's actually a massive turn off about the brand. Same as other luxury brands like Louis Vuitton.

 

[K-A]

It appeals to people who are insecure about their social status. It's actually a massive turn off about the brand. Same as other luxury brands like Louis Vuitton.

I don't buy in to any Luxury brands (waste of money, negative social status), but I buy M-B's because I appreciate the art and engineering.

And to imply that M-B suffer from that stigma, and other Luxury Cars don't, is rather tunnel-visioned. All manufacturers have their negative stereotype sides.... BMW's are known to have a side of snobby, braggart demographic (they defined the 80's "Yuppie"), and let's not get into Porsche 911 guys! Lol. Of course, this is talking about those "stereotypes", of which exist in all Luxury Brands (just a natural side effect). However, to think that other Luxury Car manufacturers are exempt.... well, would be like implying that M-B is the only Luxury Car Manufacturer, if you get my drift.

 

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

It appeals to people who are insecure about their social status. It's actually a massive turn off about the brand. Same as other luxury brands like Louis Vuitton.

This has to be the the worst generalization I've seen in awhile. Audi owners are known to be Snobs. BMW owners are known to be 'tools' or 'pricks', which in my mind are huge turn-offs about those brands.

All this ragging on MB really gets old.

 

[Deckhook]

The people that use a car as a status symbol are the ones which scrap every penny they can to buy the bottom run model and then debadge it...... usually followed by either an AMG, M or RS badge.

I don't know what it's like else where in the world but here that's how I see true snobbery at work.

 

[lukeswiss]

This has to be the the worst generalization I've seen in awhile. Audi owners are known to be Snobs. BMW owners are known to be 'tools' or 'pricks', which in my mind are huge turn-offs about those brands.

All this ragging on MB really gets old.

It's not a turn on for me that rap stars drive Mercs... sorry. Saying that, I am guilty of the same.... the E 63 isn't exactly subtle.

 

[Human]

This has to be the the worst generalization I've seen in awhile. Audi owners are known to be Snobs. BMW owners are known to be 'tools' or 'pricks', which in my mind are huge turn-offs about those brands.

All this ragging on MB really gets old.

I don't buy in to any Luxury brands (waste of money, negative social status), but I buy M-B's because I appreciate the art and engineering.

And to imply that M-B suffer from that stigma, and other Luxury Cars don't, is rather tunnel-visioned. All manufacturers have their negative stereotype sides.... BMW's are known to have a side of snobby, braggart demographic (they defined the 80's "Yuppie"), and let's not get into Porsche 911 guys! Lol. Of course, this is talking about those "stereotypes", of which exist in all Luxury Brands (just a natural side effect). However, to think that other Luxury Car manufacturers are exempt.... well, would be like implying that M-B is the only Luxury Car Manufacturer, if you get my drift.

It appeals to people who are insecure about their social status. It's actually a massive turn off about the brand. Same as other luxury brands like Louis Vuitton.

I'l say it's rather difficult to categorize and a easily generalized human condition "branding"

I love your comments and well spoken car enthusiast we are I will take myself as an example. Since the E53 X5's I was into the SAV's drive-ability handling and driver enjoyment, also bowled over by the looks and big wheels. The car appealed to me and that is where it all started. Although I never lost my true love for coupes, thus I was never completely satisfied. Along came the SAV coupe in the form of the X6, so I was spoiled for choice and got the 50i. BMW ///M got involved, that put the cherry on my cake hence my X6 M. Never was I into the social status of the brand, BMW delivered on what I thought was everything I needed in a car. Since I have had experience behind the wheel of an M3, selling on the X6 M and downsizing into the next F30 M is what I am longing for. I want to get into a car that involves me more into the actual driving experience, simple as that. The X6 M is a car that astonishes me with the tech from the DPC diff to the M-engine tech yet it's only me and the wife so no need for the huge car that is not as involving to drive as an M3.

Fact is, here we are on GCF, enthusiast, people who enjoy the tech, people who wants to preserve the car in it's purer form and who fiercely defend what we believe in about the car and our beloved brands. As I so many times said, we are a different species. We are the type of people that actually preach the 'brand bibles'(as a figure of speech) to the board rooms. I can go on and on...

Problem is, we are just a few. Social status is a disease and the world is capitalizing on it. Most people does buy into status and knows sh!t about THE badges they drive. They give a rats ass about tech we here on GCF drool over...sad yes but true. For example: At a BBQ a new guy with his Ferrari FF will join the conversation and say me being interested will ask him about the FF's 4RM AWD system and he will give me that stare of "dude sorry but wtf!?


That is also why we here on GCF should keep improving this forum's standards



So, I will start by apologizing for the swear words I have used in my post



Regards,

Naas

 

[lukeswiss]

The people that use a car as a status symbol are the ones which scrap every penny they can to buy the bottom run model and then debadge it...... usually followed by either an AMG, M or RS badge.

I don't know what it's like else where in the world but here that's how I see true snobbery at work.

I think this is really location based. In Australia peope did it... In Switzerland people buy the AMG, R, or RS and dedabge that so the neighbours don't know how much they've spent.

 

[Centurion]

Smart move to post pictures of the 1er in M/sport trim

That seems to be the norm these days i.e if a Merc or BMW is unattractive, then post a photo of it with M/AMG-kit. It's mostly due to Mercedes' new found tendency to highly promote AMG-kitted cars in their official images, even the SL in standard trim is rather AMG-esque.


It's not design, it's decoration. Great design is achieved when nothing needs to be subtracted or added.


Audi currently has the strongest focus on design out of the three brands. In fact the new A3 looks brilliant and well proportioned without S-Line trim.

 

[south]

Audi currently has the strongest focus on design out of the three brands.

LOL!


Best regards,
south

 

[Deckhook]

That seems to be the norm these days i.e if a Merc or BMW is unattractive, then post a photo of it with M/AMG-kit. It's mostly due to Mercedes' new found tendency to highly promote AMG-kitted cars in their official images, even the SL in standard trim is rather AMG-esque.


It's not design, it's decoration. Great design is achieved when nothing needs to be subtracted to added.


Audi currently has the strongest focus on design out of the three brands. In fact the new A3 looks brilliant and well proportioned without S-Line trim.

Agreed. Only those who hate Audi to the extreme will laugh at this statement.

 

[Centurion]

LOL!


Best regards,
south

I would add that BMW are doing a great job too but the new 1er is an absolute abomination.

 

[mini_cooper4]

All three are with sport package in the pictures I posted
It's how I like them and how I prefer them and I truly don't care if someone is not happy with that

PS: Decoration is a part of Design

With MB it's that stupid image that's pushing me away from them most of the time.
I'm not going to comment on Audi as I don't want to offend people.
With BMW I don't like that people driving E36, E39 and so on that are obsessed with their car yet they don't know a thing about cars and driving and owning an old BMW is a big goal in their life and makes them feel like great drivers when they finally achieve their dream...

 

[lukeswiss]

I'm on my way to check them out now ...

 

[Human]

Agreed. Only those who hate Audi to the extreme will laugh at this statement.

Another case of generalization!?

I do not hate Audi, in fact and it is a fact I like the A1, A5, A7 and R8 very much indeed And I laughed at the comment

Quoting Betty

IMHO, in real life the A3 interior and exterior didnt match my expectations compared to the photos, where as the A Class exceeded them.

As if he hates Audi? The man drives an R8!

Nobody hates German cars here and if they do why are they members on a GERMAN car forum.

 

[Deckhook]

Here's the point I believe Centurion is making.

Both designs are good but the AMG greatly enhances it's sporty nature.

The 1 series desperately needs the M/Sport treatment to make it less of an eye sore.

At a glance you would struggle to notice what has changed and even when you do it's so subtle as to not effect the basic design.

All the other have more noticeable changes which change the overall appearance of the car and on each occasion for the better where as the Audi's design is good to start with and doesn't need major work.

 

[Gianclaudio]

That seems to be the norm these days i.e if a Merc or BMW is unattractive, then post a photo of it with M/AMG-kit. It's mostly due to Mercedes' new found tendency to highly promote AMG-kitted cars in their official images, even the SL in standard trim is rather AMG-esque.


It's not design, it's decoration. Great design is achieved when nothing needs to be subtracted or added.


Audi currently has the strongest focus on design out of the three brands. In fact the new A3 looks brilliant and well proportioned without S-Line trim.

I should say: Audi has the line up with less ugly cars, between the 3 big germans. Boring? Unpassionate? Safe? Maybe, but at the same time they don't feature "exotic beauty" cars like the 1er, X1, 5er GT, SLK, SL, B, CLS, M, A......

So while BMW and Merces are more like a rollercoaster on designs, with highs and lows; Audi seems to be much more constant.

Regards

 

[speed_kills]

Only now I noticed the A3 S-line. Jeezuz, even more boring than I thought. Absolutely no agressive look with S-line.
I actually think the Standard trim looks more agressive.

 

[Human]

Ok, I get the basics. Now forget my Avatar and whatever biased prick you may think I am which I am certainly not (read my posts and the one on this page @ you Deckhook). The point is clear, but yes there is a but, the Mercedes A-class is the extreme here, by far Actually as much as I still like the A-class and even more so the AMG body kit its as if some aftermarket tuner got their hands on it (AMG styling vs Normal A-class)

 

[Deckhook]

I am not so sure I agree that the AMG kit looks aftermarket as I'll need to see it in personal but knowing the attention to detail Mercedes general give their bodyshells I can't believe this A-class AMG will has anything other than a true factory feel about it, the same goes for the BMW and Audi but I hope you understand the point being made here because the its solely the A3 which looks as good is standard trim as its sportier version.

 

[Human]

I am not so sure I agree that the AMG kit looks aftermarket as I'll need to see it in personal but knowing the attention to detail Mercedes general give their bodyshells I can't believe this A-class AMG will has anything other than a true factory feel about it, the same goes for the BMW and Audi but I hope you understand the point being made here because the its solely the A3 which looks as good is standard trim as its sportier version.

Yes, It looks as good. And regarding the A-class, I don't think that what AMG has done to the car will by a long shot look sub-standard. What I meant is just what your point towards the A3 suggest - just the opposite. AMG's approach to differentiate is just more aggressive than Audi's S-Line approach to differentiate between normal and enhancements. As soon as the A3 hits the showrooms and say buyer x is not satisfied with the S-line's subdued body-kit's enhancements there will be a ABT and other tuners to cater for buyer x's needs towards more differentiation. Thus the relevance of the M, AMG and S-line package's look and enhancements at launch is IMO directly related to who signed-off on who's design at the different design centers @ BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi. For the board makes the final decision @ signing-off the production version. In this case regarding the new A3, Audi's board had a easy decision!