Re: Catering to used-car buyers?

[Paul_Royal@idx.com]

Fringe was saying:

>>Not so much for the Audi lease - they guaranteed a certain residual value
>>that is certainly above their historical residual, although it does look
>>like the car will out-perform it handily.  If it hadn't, Audi would have
Again, no argument here ...but that is not the point...the point I was
after is the "what if"
factor, not that Audi is wrong.
>>>reinforces my opinion that this is not something that car manufacturers
I must disagree with you partially.  The manufacturers' consideration of
resale value is inherent
in the design and marketing of the new product itself.  No, I am not so
naive as to think that any manufacturer sits down conciously and asks
itself "Will Paul Royal want this in 10 years?"

>>>I guess it all boils down to there being at least three distinct types
of
>>>auto consumers:
>>>>- Those like you who place a premium on value, and will buy used to
acheive
>>>>it.  (Or would consider other trade-offs to get the extra value, such
as a
>>>>low-feature model.)
Finally, something I actually know something about...ME!
I drive about 45,000 miles a year...at that rate, a new car becomes a used
car pretty damn quick.
I buy used to achieve the following:
I let people like you pay the first 1/2 to 2/3 of the new cost and then put
on about 3/4 of the
total mileage (granted, I get some parts expenses you don't and I expect
it).
Frankly, I gotta tell you, I don't think I sacrifice safety or performance
either.  I think that
new cars are an absurd luxury for people that drive like me...wouldn't you
agree?

>>>- Those like my spouse and most of the wives of my friends, who want an
>>>emotional bond with a car in a given price range (which does NOT factor
in
>>>resale value), and don't pay attention to value beyond certain broad
>>>>parameters such as "Can I get a nice stereo and AC for $18000?".
That's a problem...but as a friend recently pointed out to me.  I can't
possibly understand because I am a bachelor....and growing fonder of the
lifestyle everyday.  :-)

>>>Of those three, the biggest profits per sale are the bottom two, and
>>>neither of those pays much attention to resale value.  It's mostly
>>>acquisition cost and other issues.
You may be right...but the big picture still says that the market MUST play
to this factor.
It does play to this factor...your opinion or mine doesn't change this.

>>>> my financial condition improved.  I got my '97.....

Uh oh, when mine improved I bought a boat and a motorcycle and kept the
show car.
Did I mess up?  Oh come on...I'm fooling with you!

My first car of of school was a 1982 VW Rabbit Diesel...what a car...$4,000
at 50K miles and
never had a repair over $100 until it hit 170,000 miles..I let her go at a
quarter million.

Regards,

Paul "I can't do anymore here" Royal