Most vehicles on the market today use the same manufacturer
parts as their competitors. For example
the batteries in the Ford and Honda Hybrids are the same. They are both made by Sanyo.
The Office of Transportation and Machinery,
U.S. Department of Commerce reported in 2011 that “By 2017, more than 13 million
vehicles will be sold globally with connected-vehicle platforms.”
The connected-vehicle platform includes the
manufacturing of parts that can be used interchangeably in similar
vehicles. The parts are made, and will
be made in the future, in many different manufacturing plants around the world
to the same manufacturing standards.
They are required to be the same quality, use the same materials and
meet the same engineering specifications.
So
hypothetically if two vehicles in the market use 80 percent common parts
and 75 percent of the same
supply base why would a consumer pay ten thousand dollars more for one over
another? The short answer is status and
reputation. Sadly, uneducated consumers
tend to pay more for the hood ornament.
Compared to some of the other luxury lines Buick offers more
luxury amenities for less money. For
example, the BMW cost thousands more but has a lower liter engine, less
horsepower and inferior gas mileage.
Cadillac had, on average, lower horsepower and higher fuel costs than
Buick luxury sedans. Mercedes also boasts higher prices, lesser fuel economy,
smaller engines, and lower horsepower than comparable Buicks.
When it comes to luxury sedans, Buick, BMW, Mercedes, and
Cadillac usually come to mind but they are not equal when it comes to
value. They share 80% of the same parts
but BMW, Mercedes and Cadillac cost significantly more than Buick. Of the top four, Buick is the only one with
an affordable price tag in 2013.
Proven Buick luxury vehicles like the LaCrosse, Verano, and
Regal are made with high quality engineering and higher standards for design
and construction. The luxury label for Buick means that these Buick models are
vehicles of the highest quality and caliber.
The new kid on the block is the 2013 Buick Encore and it is proving to
be is this year’s bang-for-the-buck value winner.
Buick represents some of the most luxurious sedans on the
market today. In the end, those “high-end” luxury brand name makes are only
selling a fancy hood ornament with their price mark-ups.
