Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] The value of brand names

[Mark Rages <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On 2/4/06, Jonathan King <EMAIL:PROTECTED> wrote:
> On 2/4/06, Mark Rages <EMAIL:PROTECTED> wrote:
> > My brother pointed this out to me:
> >
> > Edmunds value for a private party 1996 Toyota Corolla, 100k miles, in
> > "clean" condition:  $2958
> >
> > Edmunds value for a private party 1996 Geo Prism (Prizm), 100k miles,
> > in "clean" condition:  $1665
> >
> > (They are the same car, built on the same assembly line.)
>
> They were different prices when new, as well.  For that matter,
> history repeats itself; the Toyota Matrix and the Pontiac Vibe are
> also identical twins (plus or minus a few optional items one has over
> the other).  A year and a half ago when we were looking for cars,
> Matrices were as much as $2-3K more than Vibes.  At one level, this
> makes no sense; in both cases, it is the very same car.  At another
> level, it tells you a lot about the respect that Toyota has earned
> over the years compared to GM, and therefore why Toyota is going to
> become the largest auto company on the planet this year while GM is
> preparing to file for bankruptcy.  To be blunt about it, if somebody
> offered you your pick of the Vibe or Matrix tomorrow, with identical
> equipment, you would be silly to pick the Vibe, since even if you know
> they are the same car, that might really not be clear at time of
> resale, and you'd have left money on the table.  Chevy is facing the
> same problem withe the Malibu line; they are way better cars than the
> average GM model produced recently, but nobody can believe it, since
> they are produced by GM.

After Toyota buys GM, they can rename the Malibu and sell millions of 'em.

>
> > I wonder how many used-car dealers have changed the nameplate on Geos?
> > For $1300, it would be worth the trouble.
>
> I think it would be a lot more trouble than you'd think, and it would
> be fraud, of course, since everybody knows the Corolla is worth $1300
> more than the Prizm. :-)

Heh.  I was just suprised that the premium was so high.  You could
(almost) buy two Prizms for the price of the Corolla.

Regards,
Mark
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