| 14 January |
Cars and websites |
I was browsing some of the luxury car sites to see what is happening on them and it is amazing what you find. The competition is seriously heating up in the luxury market while the compact market seems to be doing good for imports but domestic guys are kinda just wandering around. I’m seriously disappointed with Chryslers’ lineup. Although they are ‘launching 16 new vehicles’ this year (or some such surprisingly large number of models), we’re still waiting. Oh wait…they just announced the 300 S8 and 300 S6. I mean, what the hell is the big deal? Here’s what AutoBlog has to say:
“The big difference between the new cars (both are badged with “300 S” instead of the more Audi-infringing S6 and S8 monikers) and the regular 300 is the grille. Gone are the full chromed snouts of the normal 300s, in are blacked-out grilles with chrome surrounds and body-colored accents. The doors are “shaved,” the mirrors are body-colored and the headlight bezels are darkened. And, of course, the 20-inch wheels are highly polished.”
Ah yes, can’t be infringing on trademarks, unless you like law suits. So you get a fancy grill. You mean like this one and this one or maybe even this one? Geeze. This is ‘new’? All Chrysler did was simply use some popular grills that have been seen on tons of modded cars. Way to go Chrysler for killing the aftermarket segment! Seriously though, can you tell the difference between the 300C and 300S?
Don’t get me wrong, I think the 300C itself is a great car. For example, this is what you can do with a Rental car:
Not that I would have anything to do with this picture of course :P Still, nice car, nice ride, would buy one in a heartbeat given the right circumstances a few years ago. Now it would only be for the right price because GM has stepped up their game with the CTS and style.
2005: 2008:
The pics don’t show it but the fenders are a little more flared giving it a much more muscular stance. Oh, and how can we forget about this:
2010 CTS-V:
A damn fine car that’ll run circles around the 300C….err…S.
So moving on to imports. I check out the Lexus IS-F. Blown away by their site and presentation of the car! You don’t even have to like the car to enjoy the presentation method!
What is cool is that as far as I know, Audi’s R8 site was the first one I saw that went into such details as to make it a mini-movie! Gave me a freaking woody and Lexus got it. They understood the online marketing mentality and the more people talk, the more they get free advertising.
Hyundai’s Genesis Coupe is a newcomer that is giving everyone second thoughts.
People used to say “It’s a Hyundai…..” with such condescending tones you knew that the owner couldn’t afford any ‘real’ car. Now they say “It’s a Hyundai!” and marvel at the 300+ HP the V6 has! That’s right…300 in a V6. 306 to be exact. Even the 2.0 Turbo 4 cyl has a respectable 210 HP. Not overly exciting but given some of the after market mods are getting 360+ HP, you really are into some fun then!
I eventually make my way over to Mercedes website to see what my friend was raving about the C-63. Boy, after viewing the above sites I was pretty seriously disappointed. First, the cite seems rather clunky…..or perhaps ’stodgy’ would better suit the Germans? Eventually I get to check out the C-Class page and there is some life to the site but wait…what is that? The Alll New 2008 C-Class. 2008?! Umm, hello…..2010 calling.
I see this all the times. A websites gets updated but never updated later because it is ‘low priority’ or something goofy like that. This just kinda looks bad. It’s like it hasn’t been updated in 3 years. A simple edit to say “restyled in 2008″ would suffice. Probably take all of 5 mins for their graphics guy to do and upload to the site but they let it slide and believe that noone notices.
I think I may do a little research project and record a buyer’s experience and post it up to compare all the dealers in the area….
