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Originally posted by MCGARRETT@Feb 27 2004, 04:35 PM
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But secondly, is the market even going to pay over $120K for a brand that also offers a $30K model?
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Just to clear the air....
BMW's base 325 has an MSRP of $28,100. The BMW 760iL has an MSRP of around $120,000 and with the few options that are available, you can get it up to $123,880. Also remember the now discontinued Z8 was more than $120,000 too.
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Right, see that's why I said $30K to $120K. Make it $140K if you wish. Without spelling it out, my point was that other premium brands have determined that if they want to play in the entry-luxury, $30K class, they cannot reach much beyond the low $100s. Whether it's $120K or $140K, no matter....we're not splitting hairs about a $150K Cadillac...we're talking about the appropriateness of a $300K model.
The Maybach was not called a Mercedes for a reason.. much the way GM needs Cadillac above Chevrolet. If you've attended any shows, you'd have noticed that the Maybach booth was separate from Mercedes' booth. They don't really want to draw a huge line between them. Is it OK for people to know the Maybach was created by folks that make the S600? Sure. But people shelling out $300K will be looking for exclusivity beyond the "Benz" that every wannbe Tom, **** and George is driving....more braggin rights than "I drive a Mercedes Z800." Rather, "I drive a Maybach"... or Bentley, Rolls, etc... Certainly not Cadillac. If Cadillac really wants to play way up there, they'll need to let other brands occupy the sub-$70K segment IMO. Is that Lutz's vision? If Pontiac is an affordable BMW, Buick is an American Lexus (and thus Mercedes to a point), then perhaps Cadillac is to trying to go head to head with the Maybachs? Hah. No offense to Cadillac, but that's quite aggressive and hard to visualize. The lower-end of Cadillac's line is doing too well for them to abandon it.