[Shotimes] (OT) Marauder

[Ron Porter]

Another comment on the marketing issue.........

Don commented in an earlier post about the Honda Element being as ugly as an
Aztek, but the critics call it "cute". Well, personally I don't care about
cars that are not on my radar screen (like the Aztek and Element) but I
notice when a semi-performance car like the CTS is also as ugly as an Aztek!

Anyway, in the local paper this past week, there was a test of the new
Toyota ScionA and ScionB. ScionA looks sorta like a Matrix, but ScionB is a
"box" like the Element. Anyway, predictions are that the "B" will sell well.
In a related story, the Honda Element is apparently also selling
well.....but to (average age)) 45 year-olds, rather than 27 year-olds as
they predicted. Apparently the Aztek just isn't funky enough, and doesn't
follow the "box" trend coming from Japan.

As a car enthusiast, I can't figure out why stuff like this sells
sometimes!!

Anyway, here's a link to the two articles. Scroll down to the "Dude, Buy
This Car" for the Element story, then to the Review of the Scion brand for
the "A" and "B" info.

http://www.freep.com/backindex/2003/04/17/homepage.htm

Ron Porter

-----Original Message-----
From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
[mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Ransom T Holbrook
Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2003 8:22 AM
To: Ron Porter; SHOtimes (Team.net)
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] (OT) Marauder


You are right, HOWEVER, marketing has something to do with it also.  If Ford
had a marketing blitz showing a teenager (or young adult) hauling around the
UCLA cheerleaders or blowing the doors off a late model Camaro at the drags,
the Marauder would have sold (to the 30-50 married male crowd).  The only
other way that type of car would have sold is if it was an option package
costing $1500 or less, and it kicked ass.  You never saw an ad for an
Integra Type R, however it only cost the same as a GSR and it performed
about 150% better, they lined-up to buy one paying as much as $5K above
sticker..