[RichReg]

Alfa Romeo has been talking about coming back to the States for almost a decade. I'll believe it when it happens.

[DTM]

We can trust our goverment to deem it unsafe, unethical, pollutting, terrorizing...

They'll find some reason that this car doesn't fit US requirements.

Just lowers the stock of the big 3...
Just brings down the value of the dollar...

They WILL find an excuse to keep that awesome car out.

[BMW0]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

Of course, attracting new customers(lexus, acura fans) is VERY important, but keeping current customers to come again is just as important in my opinion.

As lux.sh says, it’s both ways, attracting new customers and keeping current BMW customers is very vital to the success of BMW, it’s a very harsh automotive industry as it is.

You can see the automotive battle field in full swing in the US right today. GM used to be King of the hill till Japanese automakers came in out of no where, and now presence dominance on top of GM in the US, now GM hurts so much that they're actually selling a good share of they're cars at cost.

Of course this would not happen to a high end company like BMW, and we won’t allow it , but still BMW requires ongoing improvements so there is no future opponent (e.g. Audi, Lexus, Infiniti, ect...), and to maintain a hold on loyal Bimmer owners, like our selves.

[BMW0]

Originally Posted by RichReg

Alfa Romeo has been talking about coming back to the States for almost a decade. I'll believe it when it happens.

I doubt any of us are willing to pay top dollar for a front wheel drive Alfa.

[cntlaw]

I would guess 80% of people in the world buying a car do not surf on the Internet. A proper market survey is to sample from groups of properly selected consumers and some of them have a known car ownership background. A BMW fanatic who only buys BMW is just not good enough because his opinion is biased!

[stressdoc]

I car swapped with a friend for a weekend, my 2002tii for his Alfa GTV. The Alfa had way more sex appeal in those days. Too small for me though. I think Alfa has lost its soul, it is a posseur now.

[JamieA]

Originally Posted by cntlaw

I would guess 80% of people in the world buying a car do not surf on the Internet. A proper market survey is to sample from groups of properly selected consumers and some of them have a known car ownership background. A BMW fanatic who only buys BMW is just not good enough because his opinion is biased!

I still think the information is useful. Because we are enthusiasts, we have crawled over every inch of the car and subjected it to much scrutiny. We will find the stuff their normal customers may complain about first.

No one thinks this forum would be properly representative, that is why if you were to take a marketing idea from it, you would have to subject it to rigorous research to test it with a proper, professional process first.

[stressdoc]

Oh, and it sucks that Subaru snitched the Alfa inverted triangle grill to use on their Tribeca, of all things. Alfa is not happening in the USA, I am sorry to say.

[JamieA]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

I car swapped with a friend for a weekend, my 2002tii for his Alfa GTV. The Alfa had way more sex appeal in those days. Too small for me though. I think Alfa has lost its soul, it is a posseur now.

Alfa is a GM subsidiary. Their engines are built in Australia by the Holden Engine Company, a division of GM in Australia - Holden.

They do breath alfa magic on them they say, but I think GM has a track record of dictating to brands what they will do rather than letting them flourish. Ford has done better (though not by any means perfect mind you) by Volvo, Jaguar et al with their Premier Automotive Group structure (we just won't talk about them stealing BMW execs )

[JamieA]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

Oh, and it sucks that Subaru snitched the Alfa inverted triangle grill to use on their Tribeca, of all things. Alfa is not happening in the USA, I am sorry to say.

Subaru and Alfa are both GM subsiduaries... They are rebadging Subarus as Saabs it isn't pretty.

[stressdoc]

Globalization can get ugly...

[cntlaw]

Originally Posted by JamieA

I still think the information is useful. Because we are enthusiasts, we have crawled over every inch of the car and subjected it to much scrutiny. We will find the stuff their normal customers may complain about first.

No one thinks this forum would be properly representative, that is why if you were to take a marketing idea from it, you would have to subject it to rigorous research to test it with a proper, professional process first.

I would not understimate the BMW marketing 's knowledge about enthusiasts and their competitors. I bet they own more brands of cars than we ever know!

Most of the times, it was the engineers and designers did not compromise. What really the marketing people are interested to know, is why someone did not buy a IS, A4 , a C-class and wanted a E90. Or why the IS, C-class, A4 owners did not want a E90. The gathered reasons will be proving the design was right or wrong.

I have great doubt about the enthusiasts views as they have just been driving the same car for 3-4 years and the world and competitors change relatively much faster. And, it doesn' t take someone to be an enthusiasts to find out whether a cupholder design (an important element to US ppl) is good or bad!

A couple of years ago I drove an alfa between Ostia and rome.It was a wonderful car,very sporty(even with a front wheel drive) with a soundtrack that'll put BMW to shame.If alfa didn't do too well in the states,it had to do with poor marketing skills IMO.A lot of front wheel drive cars(Acura,VW) are big sellers in the states.I think this car is more of a threat to BMW than the Acura TL and others.

[Tine]

Originally Posted by JamieA

Alfa is a GM subsidiary. Their engines are built in Australia by the Holden Engine Company, a division of GM in Australia - Holden.

Wrong. Alfa Romeo is a part of a Fiat Group - just like Fiat, Lancia, Ferrari & Maserati are.

Fiat Group is still an independant compny, although they had planned to merge with GM, but the plan was canceled.

Originally Posted by cntlaw

I would guess 80% of people in the world buying a car do not surf on the Internet.

Then you would guess it wrong. In the case of BMW, of course.

BMW Group did a research and they found out globally a vast majority of BMW Group customers had searched for information about BMW Group automobiles & motocycles on internet before purchase.

Research also showed most of current and potential BMW buyers were very inclined towards IT and other hi-tech solutions.

[E90Fleet]

I wouldnt touch a Alfa Romeo here.
The amount of problems people I know have had with them is unbelievable, and not little software issues, but major "hardware" issues, including failed engines, failed gearboxes, failed driveshafts, and all these on top of the range models

[ben1364]

Originally Posted by JamieA

Subaru and Alfa are both GM subsiduaries... They are rebadging Subarus as Saabs it isn't pretty.

Jamie said in part that Subaru is a GM subsidiary. I seem to recall that GM sold it's stake in Fugi three or four months ago. Correct?

[stressdoc]

Reliability issues seem inherent to the Alfa breed. It was kind of endearing when it was fairly simple stuff that you could fix yourself in the old days. But I cannot imagine trouble shooting one now. Maybe if you retired to Tuscany and were good friends with the guys in the local garage...

[cntlaw]

Originally Posted by Tine

Then you would guess it wrong. In the case of BMW, of course.
BMW Group did a research and they found out globally a vast majority of BMW Group customers had searched for information about BMW Group automobiles & motocycles on internet before purchase.
Research also showed most of current and potential BMW buyers were very inclined towards IT and other hi-tech solutions.

Agreed if you were referring to people reading BMw official sites, online cars reviews instead of buying hardcopy magazines.
I was referring to people do not join a owners forum such as e90post to hear owners expereinces before a decision.

[cntlaw]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

I wouldnt touch a Alfa Romeo here.
The amount of problems people I know have had with them is unbelievable, and not little software issues, but major "hardware" issues, including failed engines, failed gearboxes, failed driveshafts, and all these on top of the range models

Correct. I been hearing a lot of rumors about AR reliability and until recently I met an old friend happened he owned one ; and his face is ' ' . So, it is a pretty luxury toy to bear with an AR.
Apart from that, ...they are great machines, great looking.

You guys are talking about alfas in the 80's,back then even american cars had a lot of problems ,Ferraris had a lot of electrical problems.Nowadays even Hyundais are pretty reliable.

[Tine]

Originally Posted by ben1364

Jamie said in part that Subaru is a GM subsidiary. I seem to recall that GM sold it's stake in Fugi three or four months ago. Correct?

On 10/20/2005 GM announced the sale of its 20.1 percent equity stake (about 157 million shares) in Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI). The alliance between GM and FHI ended (started in 1999) and GM will now refocus its efforts and resources in the Asia Pacific region’s high-growth markets with its other strategic partners.

Toyota purchased 68 million shares, or approximately 8.7 percent, of FHI shares from GM for about US$315 million in cash. Toyota limited its purchase to 8.7% to avoid running into difficulties with Japan's anti-monopoly regulators. With 8.7% stake Toyota became 2nd largest owner of FHI, GM still being largest one.

GM intends to divest its remaining 11.4 percent interest by offering for sale its shares (89 million shares) into FHI’s 90 million share open-market buyback program, and through market sales if necessary.

Originally Posted by cntlaw

Agreed if you were referring to people reading BMw official sites, online cars reviews instead of buying hardcopy magazines.
I was referring to people do not join a owners forum such as e90post to hear owners expereinces before a decision.

I do not know the exact details of research matter & results, but IMO "searching info about BMW products on internet" also includes some browsing the owner's forums. Maybe people do not join the forums, but just reading the posts as guests.

[scottz5]

Originally Posted by SCA

I seriously doubt it. I bet BMW NA surfs here. It is well known that they do surf Bimmerfest.

You are very wrong! BMWNA has posted on this forum and many others and I know first hand since they posted on my tread and also called me a few times about the shimmy problem.