why arent there beautiful exotic LOOKING cars in the 20k range??

[MauriSSio]

Originally Posted by Stew

Actually for some unknown reason those stupid things are selling as quick as they can build them, WTF?!?! And aren't they like 70k for a freaking tarted up 16k IQ????

Anyways, on to the ops question, which i think has been covered here.

1: price, it is not only the price of new panels, but what it would cost to make a profit off of what would certainly be a low volume car. The lower the volume, the more you have to charge to cover cost and profit.

2. ease of use, the more exotic it looks, the less user friendly it is going to be. If someone is lookingfor a 20k car, they are not looking for a garage queen, but more something that is going to be driven everyday. Hense it must be user friendly, roomy, have a back seat, easy to use controld, and still maintain the price point.

3. Another point of an entry level car is to get into one of the manufacturers more expensive offerings, hence everything on the next step, must be a step up.

4. The target market for such a car would be way to small to make it something exotic looking, with all the exotic faults. Miatas sell in ver small numbers as mentioned and even those tiny 2 seaters start around 26k I believe

You won't see exotic, but small cars are getting better looking. Hyundai is even going to be offering a coupe version of the Elantra later this year. Of course they do this by keeping all of the sedans hard points, interior, etc in tact, which dictaes he body deminsions. hence why they can even offer a coupe and why it could not have an exotic look.

hope maybe this helps some.

it does help some. This thread is solely for discussion. I understand the market would be small for said car, but the market DOES exist. It would be for the miata, s2000, RX7- RX8, the new Subie/Toyota BRZ - type market. maybe the price range would go up a few thousand, shoot maybe even 10,000 but there are still no cars in that segment that look even remotely close to as beautiful as some ferraris (or lambos or whatever italian or european exotic) even though they have roughly similar dimensions. Maybe it WOULD be a flop, but as far as i can remember the last to try was a fiero. You would think it would be attempted more often.

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

The only thing I don't like about the new Fusion is the close similarities to Aston Martin's grille.

Other than that, it is very beautiful!

That's funny. This is the very reason that I love the new Fusion.

[The Stig]

Originally Posted by MauriSSio

it does help some. This thread is solely for discussion. I understand the market would be small for said car, but the market DOES exist. It would be for the miata, s2000, RX7- RX8, the new Subie/Toyota BRZ - type market. maybe the price range would go up a few thousand, shoot maybe even 10,000 but there are still no cars in that segment that look even remotely close to as beautiful as some ferraris (or lambos or whatever italian or european exotic) even though they have roughly similar dimensions. Maybe it WOULD be a flop, but as far as i can remember the last to try was a fiero. You would think it would be attempted more often.

I'm sure it has been attempted, and it failed. If this whole "make exotic affordable cars with good MPGs" thing actually worked - don't you think every car manufacturer would be doing that? There is just no money in it.

[MauriSSio]

Originally Posted by stieger

I'm sure it has been attempted, and it failed. If this whole "make exotic affordable cars with good MPGs" thing actually worked - don't you think every car manufacturer would be doing that? There is just no money in it.

understandable. But manufacturers dont always know what will be succesful either. Look at the Asstec.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by MauriSSio

it does help some. This thread is solely for discussion. I understand the market would be small for said car, but the market DOES exist. It would be for the miata, s2000, RX7- RX8, the new Subie/Toyota BRZ - type market. maybe the price range would go up a few thousand, shoot maybe even 10,000 but there are still no cars in that segment that look even remotely close to as beautiful as some ferraris (or lambos or whatever italian or european exotic) even though they have roughly similar dimensions. Maybe it WOULD be a flop, but as far as i can remember the last to try was a fiero. You would think it would be attempted more often.

Just because a market exists doesn't mean it's going to be a good idea. I mean, there's a market for massive V8-powered FWD land barges like the DTS, but not only is it a dying market (literally and figuratively), it doesn't fit in with current demand and trend of the full size luxury market.

You're answering your own question. If there's even a possibility that the car will flop, no automaker in their right mind is going to attempt it, especially in this current market.

Originally Posted by MauriSSio

understandable. But manufacturers dont always know what will be succesful either. Look at the Asstec.

True, but GM saw a viable business case behind building the Aztek. Furthermore, it helped spawn what is arguably among GM's most successful product markets, the crossover utility vehicle.

[rez333]

Originally Posted by MauriSSio

it does help some. This thread is solely for discussion. I understand the market would be small for said car, but the market DOES exist. It would be for the miata, s2000, RX7- RX8, the new Subie/Toyota BRZ - type market. maybe the price range would go up a few thousand, shoot maybe even 10,000 but there are still no cars in that segment that look even remotely close to as beautiful as some ferraris (or lambos or whatever italian or european exotic) even though they have roughly similar dimensions. Maybe it WOULD be a flop, but as far as i can remember the last to try was a fiero. You would think it would be attempted more often.

the target market segment prizes function above form. That's why actual production cars often differ from the concept versions in which they are based. The concept looks cooler, but when it comes to actually making it, the engineers have to consider regulations and features that car-buyers (in that segment) want. Eg. Chevy Volt (concept vs actual). Looks are a lesser priority, that's why looks are compromised and ultimately why cheap cars don't look like Ferraris.

[midnighter]

An '87 Yugo w/ reverse light option is exotic.

[Stew]

Originally Posted by MauriSSio

understandable. But manufacturers dont always know what will be succesful either. Look at the Asstec.

The Aztec is the perfect example of why they will not and should not.

[toesuf94]

Everyone here is forgetting the last mast market Exotic that failled:



SMART in Europe offered one that lasted 3 years...it was exotic and cheap...and failed.

[MauriSSio]

Originally Posted by toesuf94

Everyone here is forgetting the last mast market Exotic that failled:



SMART in Europe offered one that lasted 3 years...it was exotic and cheap...and failed.

LOL those things are UGLY though! Im talking about beautiful styling!

[cab2g]

OH YEAH, saturn sky!!! that thing looked exotic...

[SleepWarz]

Love the sky.

[MauriSSio]

Originally Posted by cab2g

OH YEAH, saturn sky!!! that thing looked exotic...

nah, yuck that thing is too bubbly and way too much chunk.

[rez333]

Originally Posted by toesuf94

Everyone here is forgetting the last mast market Exotic that failled:



SMART in Europe offered one that lasted 3 years...it was exotic and cheap...and failed.

geez. I wrote an extensive analytical piece, and used the Solstice as an example of people wanting function over form (exotic form + no function = fake), and there's half a dozen posts implying that no-ones even read it.


(see my earlier post with a portion in blue text, which explains the psychology of the common undesirability of a conspicuous car (especially one with no performance) in that target market segment: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showpo...0&postcount=82 )