How times have changed
Trilogy
on 28 April 2014
A couple of weks ago I was looking out of a pub window at the two rows of cars in the car park. On the left were four Audis and one Skoda. On the right were three BMWs, one Yaris and one Focus. At least not an MPV nor SUV in sight. Not so many years ago the majority would have been Vauxhall, Ford, Austin, Morris and Rover.
Comments
A3 A4 on 28 April 2014
Definitely! I often wondered what would have happened if VW had bought Rover instead of BMW and done a 'Skoda' on them.
Would we today see British built Rover, Austin or Morris variants of VAG products, an MG version of the Golf GTi maybe, or a VW Mini?
Edited by A3 A4 on 28/04/2014 at 22:42
drd63 on 28 April 2014
Possibly a better fit given that VW are equally guilty of the cynical badge engineering which helped give BL such a bad name.
davecooper on 29 April 2014
And this is the primary reason why I would not buy a BMW, Merc or VAG car! I think the old Mr average who was known as Mondeo man should now be 3 Series or A4 man!
Sofa Spud on 29 April 2014
QUOTE:...""Definitely! I often wondered what would have happened if VW had bought Rover instead of BMW and done a 'Skoda' on them.""
Or what would have happened if Morris Motors hadn't turned down the offer to buy Volkswagen after World War 2 !
QUOTE:...""Possibly a better fit given that VW are equally guilty of the cynical badge engineering which helped give BL such a bad name.""
VW do 'platform sharing' rather than badge engineering, with one or two exceptions. They share the mechanical bits and floorpans, so that Skoda and Seat are basically bodybuilders, who design alternative styles for cars based on VW components. British Leyland, particularly the former BMC part, took badge engineering to extremes, with the 1100/1300 saloon made in 6 different brands, with all that differed being the badges, grilles and in some cases the bonnet shape.
For years Rolls-Royce and Bentley were totally badge engineered, with the only differences being the badges, the radiator grilles and slightly different bonnets to match the outline of the grille. Oh, I nearly forgot - Bentley speedometers read up to 140 mph, while RR ones only went up to 120 mph, although the cars were identical mechanically.
Edited by Sofa Spud on 29/04/2014 at 15:23
Ed V on 29 April 2014
I wonder if the cars in a company car park now in fact simply reflect a wealthier population? So many more now can afford the better quality cars whether it is because their employer pays for it or the employee.
My first company car was an XR3; I'd guess today my successor 35 years on would be in an M-Sport.
Robin Reliant on 29 April 2014
Or what would have happened if Morris Motors hadn't turned down the offer to buy Volkswagen after World War 2 !
It would have gone bust in the eighties after bleeding the taxpayer dry.
birjesh on 2 August 2020
I wonder if the vehicles in an organization vehicle leave now in truth basically mirror a wealthier populace? Such a large number of all the more presently can manage the cost of the better quality vehicles whether it is on the grounds that their manager pays for it or the representative.
groaver on 29 April 2014
At least not an MPV nor SUV in sight.
No MPVs or SUVs??!!
Where in timewarp are you?
Trilogy on 29 April 2014
At least not an MPV nor SUV in sight.
No MPVs or SUVs??!!
Where in timewarp are you?
April 2014. ;)
siljathomas on 13 July 2020
Now I wonder if parking with a business parking lot means a wealthy population. Now many vehicles can achieve high efficiency, either because the owner pays it or because the employee pays it.Add a comment
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