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So what's your point? Brand idenity is a good thing for me how? Marketers benefit regular people by telling them what they should buy and that their life is somehow deminished if they don't value what the rest of the sheep covet.
I think the point you're making is why this thread was started in the first place! That we as consumers should want and expect more!



This is what consumers want!

For the same exact reasons you listed under BMW and Mercedes -- Engineering, Quality, and Prestige.

Most people buy a car that they like. That they're proud of. Americans are intensely proud of their vehicles, it doesn't matter if they're driving a Porsche or a Kia. But most people can't afford to get a BMW. So they show off by buying that new Nissan Altima. It might not be that distinguished, but people can instantly recognize it as a Nissan -- and to those who bought the Altima, that's as good as buying a BMW or Mercedes is to those that can afford to buy those.

Other people don't like hacing a car that looks like everyone elses (though you did buy a Contour). They are generally 'enthusiasts', like you or myself, and it's for those people that cars like the Mustang, the 350Z, SRTs, the entire SVT lineup, MazdaSpeed, Redlines, etc, are create for. They want to stand out a bit.

That's why SVT owners bought the SVT, why you mod your SE, or even why I bought my Mazda6. Granted, with the production of the Mazda3 it's not quite as unique, and if you look at the MPV and Tribute there are definite design cues that yell "Mazda", but production-wise it's still a relatively rare car that gets a lot of attention, and that's what I wanted.

But we are a vast minority. Most people just want a car that gets them from Point A to Point B; and one they can be proud to drive. It might not be a BMW -- but it is to them. And they want people to recognize it for what it is, because they are just as proud of it as a BMW owner is of their car.

2003 Mazda6s 3.0L MTX Webpage 2004 Mazda3s 2.3L ATX