Strategic Vision's "Total Value" Turkey List
What do you say about a purported “Total Value Index” that includes such notable turkeys as Honda’s Insight, Mercedes’ R-Class, and Chrysler Aspen? No seriously, what do you say? Did nobody at Strategic Vision notice that the Aspen has been discontinued or that the Insight is actually less compelling than a Civic Hybrid? Besides, can we be done with surveys that find different ask people how much they love the car they just dropped a load of money on? If you’re dumb enough to spend money on an Aspen, you’re dumb enough to say it has more “total value” than any other mid-size ute. But why does SV have to give your dumb, self-justifying opinion even the thinnest veneer of credibility? Here’s what Strategic Vision’s President has to say about the list:
Durability alone and simply satisfying customers is not enough for buyers who demand both immediate and long term Value. Customers no longer feel constrained to consider only the ‘usual suspects.’ Because of increased quality, competitive prices and manufacturers fighting for their lives to provide Loveworthy℠ vehicles, this is truly an exciting time for car buyers, today and in the near future. Manufacturers are listening and reacting quickly to stay competitive.
By discontinuing models that appear on the list? Sigh. Match these vehicles against their sales numbers, and you’ll see that the only consumer opinions that count (i.e. the ones backed by purchases) are very different than this list.
More by Edward Niedermeyer
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Hyundai = "near luxury" Saab 93 = "premium convertible" An infestation of VW and not a BMW on the list? What are they smoking? Twotone
As exemplified by anyone buying an Alfa Romeo or VW, sometimes the heart overrides the brain. I'll bet that most buyers of these cars are aware of the reliability vs. character tradeoff. The "perception gap" happens when a car does neither exceptionally well. IMHO, this is Detroit's biggest problem (trucks & Corvette excluded).
Hmmmm A few things on this list.. really make no damn kind of sense. One.. Honda Accord = Mid Speciality?! This is a midsized (bordering on large) sedan's coupe. Two. Small Multi Function = Focus Coupe And MID sized Multi Function Jetta WAGON? The two are virtually in competition with for compact sedan business, but only one has the wagon. SO how is a Focus coupe multifuncton, when the same coupe designation is used for Accord and THATS a speciality?! Three. Mini Cooper is a speciality car... But Strategic Vision says an Accord is also. Four The Aspen/ Durango.. is / was in DIRECT competition against Tahoe / GMT900 frame.. and they arent midsized.. yet its other compeition is the Expedition.. and thats a "Large Utility"! Five The X3 is being called Near Luxury Utility while the VW Tiguan is being called Small Entry Utility. When in fact ya could compare then both as being compact, then slap the Q3 err Q1 badge with the Audi prices on it.. and it would sell in competitive prices. On top of.. since when is BMW "near" anything? Six. Ridgeline = Standard pickup?! They can dessimnate the difference between speciality, and crossover, and near, or entry level vehicles.. but they cant figure out that Ridgeline isnt a standard pickup. Seven.. They they virtually put the Genesis coupe and or sedan in the same catgory as the S Class.. because they dont deliniate the difference in size or price class. And I havent even gotten into the difference in prices and which ones are total snoozers (R class, Avalanche, (9-3)!