Re: Niche marques

[Gary Stark <redbakstark@domain.elided>]

Tony ...

>> Scott Fisher wrote:

>> I guess the moral here is that while there are 
>> strong business reasons for companies to treat 
>> their cars as a commodity product like a
>> coffeemaker or a fast switching router or a 
>> commercial refrigeration unit (or to sell to 
>> buyers who do, which may be more to the point),

> Which brings us back to the cars as applicance 
> syndrome. How many people test drive a coffeemaker
> or a fridge? (Most router manufacturers will

> A couple of years ago, just after we bought the 90, 
> my mother bought a low-milage, used Holden Nova 
> (rebadged Toyota Seca). I simply could not
> believe it when she purchased the car based on 
> "it's a Toyota, it'll be a good car", and a 
> mechanical inspection report. SHE DID NOT TEST DRIVE
> THE CAR.


Amazing indeed, but not perhaps as much as you think. 

My experience in the US found numerous instances of
this sort of thing. One person with whom I worked
plonked down something like US$25K on his brand new
Honda Accord, sight unseen and like model not even
test driven. 

On the other hand, how many people on this list have
already stated that they'd be pretty much prepared to
do exactly that with respect to the brand new 156
Selespeed that's not available in the USA?

And for the doubters out there, I believe that the 156
is probably one of the prettiest looking sedans to
come along in a very long time. I believe is will go
down as a modern classic. 

Along with the new Jags and the Ferrari 550 Maranello.

Oh yes, one final point, for those who suggest that
the enthusiasts are not buyers of new Alfas: I have
over the years been a purchaser of FOUR brand new
shiny Alfas. So perhaps that suggestion is too much of
a generalisation.


g.                      79 Alfetta Sedan
Gary Stark              69 1750 GTV (resting)
gstark@domain.elided  99 Holden Barina (POS)
http://redbacksWeb.com  
Back down under in Sydney, Oz.


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