So, I feel like I've said this 1,000 times at this point, but I think it bears repeating. Although 2014 was a fairly rich year for automotive recalls, I still think that autos these days are better than ever. In fact, vehicles have gotten almost too good.
What do I mean by that?
Well, if you look at the landscape of products available, you'll note that a lot of them have become quite similar, particularly in the luxury space. The key differentiators that made car "X" a better buy over car "Y" doesn't really exist anymore. Most vehicles feature the same motors and drive very similar with some exceptions.
THINK: how many cars are on the market and feature a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine?
The answer is simple. A lot. And they all compete against each other.
These days, the things that differentiate automobiles are the more subjective things — e.g., styling, how the technology is operated (iDrive, COMAND, MMI) etc. What I am getting at is it's come down to how an in-market consumer connects with a vehicle.
What will make someone buy an all-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class over, say, a BMW 3-Series is how much they like its looks, how simple COMAND is to use for them and if they appreciate the quality of its interior.
For example, without giving away too many of the Agent's secrets, when Agent 001 isn't driving he prefers a glass of Inglenook's Rubicon and is a lover of Bell & Ross' as well as Rolex timepieces. I, on the other hand, prefer a glass of Woodford Reserve neat and while I am a lover of my Bell & Ross BR02-92 Blue, I adore IWC's reference number 3714-46.
Now applying that thinking to autos, I wanted to ask: what is your PERSONAL favorite brand and what is your FAVORITE vehicle being built right NOW?
What brand do YOU connect with? What car is YOUR favorite?