The cost of the Economy - High end automakers bailing on Detroit show.

[Blind_Io]

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/13/f...troit-auto-sh/

The global economic downturn is affecting other things than the availability of credit, the unemployment rate and the fate of the world's largest automaker. We had already heard that Suzuki was planning on skipping this year's 2009 Detroit Auto Show in January (Porsche passed on the 2008 show), but the small Japanese brand has now been joined by a few heavyweights that compete at the very high end of the automotive spectrum. It turns out that Ferrari, Rolls-Royce and Land Rover are all three not attending this year's Detroit show, presumably because they don't have anything exciting to announce and the money could be better spent elsewhere.

What's surprising about this trio of top shelf brands missing out on Detroit is that we always thought luxury goods were least vulnerable to a crappy economy. Sure the middle class and poor get poorer, but the super wealthy usually have a few million stuffed under their mattresses to see them through. Thus, if not less expensive Land Rovers, at least Ferraris and Rollers would still be bought in decent numbers. Apparently that's not the case, as even the most expensive of autos are seeing sales slow and if they don't have a new production vehicle or concept car to show, then a trip to Detroit is the vacation nobody wants to take.

[GRtak]

The Detroit autoshow has always been held at the wrong time of year. It shouold be held in May or June instead of January. Michigan is great in May and June and really cold in January. Who wants to visit Michigan in winter? Snowmobilers and ice fishers. The Big 3 simply wanted Detroit to have the first show of the year and it hasn't changed.

Porsche? I don't know the last time I seen a Porsche in Michigan. This is simply not a good market for them and I completely understand why they aren't coming to Detroit.

[janstett]

Ferrari skipped last year's NY Auto show (a Ferrari dealer did put a black F430 on a rotating pedestal however). Porsche was there, however.

From what I hear, Wall Street douschebags walk in and want to buy cars off the showroom floor.

[bartboy9891]

Originally Posted by GRtak

The Detroit autoshow has always been held at the wrong time of year. It shouold be held in May or June instead of January. Michigan is great in May and June and really cold in January. Who wants to visit Michigan in winter? Snowmobilers and ice fishers. The Big 3 simply wanted Detroit to have the first show of the year and it hasn't changed.

Porsche? I don't know the last time I seen a Porsche in Michigan. This is simply not a good market for them and I completely understand why they aren't coming to Detroit.

Porsche was always at the show until last year, they even had a one of the bigger displays and you could sit in most of the cars. I see Porsches pretty often, I'd be surprised if they weren't selling relatively in Michigan. I hope other auto makers don't follow Ferrari, Rolls Royce and Land Rover. I love going to the Detroit show and it would be lame if all the high end manufacturers just left.

[Spectre]

Many companies have been looking for an excuse to stop going to Detroit; now they have it.

The place is a shithole anyway...

[jayhawk]

What's surprising about this trio of top shelf brands missing out on Detroit is that we always thought luxury goods were least vulnerable to a crappy economy. Sure the middle class and poor get poorer, but the super wealthy usually have a few million stuffed under their mattresses to see them through. Thus, if not less expensive Land Rovers, at least Ferraris and Rollers would still be bought in decent numbers.

The super wealthy are so because they DON'T spend money. Only someone who came from the poor or middle classes would run out and buy an expensive object that depreciates in value so quickly.

That is why I own land and fools buy Ferrari's.

[The Chad]

Originally Posted by Spectre

Many companies have been looking for an excuse to stop going to Detroit; now they have it.

The place is a shithole anyway...

Indeed, it is. But it's the closest auto show for me, and I enjoy going, even in the shithole winter that they have. But I bet the automakers don't see a noticeable ROI in going to any auto show, especially one in Detroit.

[Dogbert]

Originally Posted by Spectre

Many companies have been looking for an excuse to stop going to Detroit; now they have it.

The place is a shithole anyway...

What's funny is that I'm reading some articles (mainly from Detroit itself) that say if the automakers based in Detroit "go under", then all the workers that spend their earnings there will be displaced, and it will become a shithole.

[GRtak]

Originally Posted by bartboy9891

Porsche was always at the show until last year, they even had a one of the bigger displays and you could sit in most of the cars. I see Porsches pretty often, I'd be surprised if they weren't selling relatively in Michigan. I hope other auto makers don't follow Ferrari, Rolls Royce and Land Rover. I love going to the Detroit show and it would be lame if all the high end manufacturers just left.

You are at the U of M, which is the most expensive college in the state, and gets people from all over the world. I travel quite a bit and that is the only area in the state that I regularly see them(I don't get down there much). On a rare occassion you will see a Porsche in the Metro-Detroit area. I also get over to the Lansing area quite often, and can't recall when I last seen a Porsche there. I see far more BMWs and Jaguars in this state than Porsches. It is unfortunate for the autoshow, but it is a victim of the economy.

[bartboy9891]

Originally Posted by GRtak

You are at the U of M, which is the most expensive college in the state, and gets people from all over the world. I travel quite a bit and that is the only area in the state that I regularly see them(I don't get down there much). On a rare occassion you will see a Porsche in the Metro-Detroit area. I also get over to the Lansing area quite often, and can't recall when I last seen a Porsche there. I see far more BMWs and Jaguars in this state than Porsches. It is unfortunate for the autoshow, but it is a victim of the economy.

I normally live in Oakland County and see Porsche's relatively often there too. Then again, there is a Porsche dealership a few miles away, so that might be why. There are most definitely more BMW's and Jaguars and other luxury cars. But that comes down to the fact that most BMW's and Jaguars can be driven all year while most Porsches (other than Cayennes) only come out in spring and summer.