It is a close race, one that likely will not result
in deep price cutting to move models, but is certain nevertheless to be on the
minds of executives employed by two automakers until the clock strikes midnight
for the final time this year. What the race is all about is this: the perennial
sales battle between two German automakers, BMW and Mercedes, with BMW expected
to pass Mercedes in world sales totals for 2005. The ramifications are strong
for each automaker and will set the tone for the way each company produces and
markets vehicles from 2006 forward.
Mercedes finishing second to BMW is not a
comfortable taste for DaimlerChrysler, parent of Mercedes and now owner of The
Chrysler Group, maker of Jeeps, Dodges, and Chryslers. Only Volkswagen sells
more cars than either make, but when it comes to a predominately luxury line up
Mercedes and BMW battle alone amongst German makes with Audi a distant third.
Unlike American automakers, Mercedes is not likely
to engage in deep price cuts to attract customers and "steal" sales
that they would have made in 2006 for 2005 to stave off BMW. Still,
purchasers of Mercedes vehicles should find an even friendlier showroom in
which to shop when they negotiate the price on their "C",
"E", or "M" Classes of vehicles.
So, exactly what has caused the shift in sales?
Well, published reports indicate that Mercedes sales continue to rise, but
slowly. On the other hand, BMW sales increases are in the double digit category
which is what has pushed BMW ahead of Mercedes so far this year. Oddly, it
isn’t the luxury cars in each automakers' fold that is spelling the difference.
Unknown to many Americans, both BMW and Mercedes sell cars that are smaller and
less luxurious than the cars that appear in the states. Cars that compete squarely
against Volkswagen’s Golf and offerings from GM, Ford, several Japanese
automakers, and others.
Yes, it is true. Not all BMW or Mercedes models are
luxury cars. Unlike in the US where a Cadillac is exclusively a luxury car,
both German brands produce cars for the rank and file driver too. It is these
types of cars that have fueled both automakers growth and is likely behind BMW
jumping ahead of Mercedes.
To counter BMW’s surge, Mercedes does have an ace up
its sleeve: the introduction of one or two smaller lines of cars to the U.S.
market by 2007. If you haven’t figured it out yet, Mercedes has "A"
and "B" Class cars that are smaller and less expensive than the
current "baby" Mercedes, what we call the "C" Class.
Mercedes hopes that the US market is ready for less pricey cars sporting the
venerable Mercedes name and that these sales will propel Mercedes back into the
lead.
Of course, what is good for Mercedes is good for BMW
as the automaker explores bringing its "1" and "2" series
cars to the US to compete for sales. Both lines of cars are positioned against
Mercedes "A" and "B" class cars and are the same cars that
have bumped BMW’s sales figures up.
Now if only Mercedes would consider importing
it’s SMART car to the US market
Budget Conscious; What are the Benefits of Repowering a Utility
Golf Cart with a Kohler Engine
These days, maintaining a fleet of golf carts and
utility vehicles is more likely to be a matter of topping up battery cells than
checking spark plugs and mixing fuel and oil. The vast majority of golf carts
sold in the past decade or so has been electric. Electric golf carts, goes the
traditional wisdom, are cheaper to maintain, easier to manage and less trouble
in the long run than the models powered by small gas engines.
Despite the popularity of electric golf carts,
however, most pros agree that there are some jobs that require the power of a
good gas engine. It’s not unusual for most course fleets to include at least a
few gas golf carts that have been converted to utility vehicles for hauling and
other purposes. What do you do when the motor on one of those starts to go?
It used to be easy to replace those with a used
utility or golf cart when the engine started to go – but not anymore. Used and
rebuilt gas-powered golf carts are rare – and replacing them with a new
gas-powered cart could run you between $12,000 and $20,000.
The solution is simple. Don’t replace – repower. The
decision to repower a utility vehicle that you currently own rather than
replacing it with a new vehicle makes sound sense in a number of ways.
1. By repowering a vehicle that you own, you extend
the useful life of that vehicle or piece of equipment. There’s no need to scrap
a perfectly good piece of equipment that just needs a bit of a boost in the
engine department.
2. Repowering a vehicle with a new motor can
expand its usefulness. You can turn an old golf cart into an all-purpose hauler
or plow by fitting it with a more powerful engine.
3. You get a new warranty for your new upgraded
engine. Depending on the dealer, you may find a Kohler engine repower kit that
contains all you need to upgrade and includes a two-year warranty, or a Honda
small engine to replace one that’s on its last legs, with a warranty for parts
for up to two years.
4. A repower Kohler engine or other small engine
could save you money on fuel, especially if you upgrade to a cleaner burning
fuel. And it will certainly be kinder to the environment.
6. If your new repower engine does need repair, it
will be far easier to get parts for a current engine than for an older model.
Spare parts support is yet another reason to upgrade your engine with a
repower.
Repowering is also an excellent way to update your
greens-keeping equipment. Little has changed in the business end of mowers,
rakers and other turfcare equipment. Why replace a piece of equipment that’s in
virtually excellent condition when a repower kit will upgrade it and keep it
running in tiptop shape for years to come? Kohler makes repower kits for Toro,
Jacobsen, Club Car and Cushman turf care equipment. Each kit comes with
everything you need to drop a new engine into your trusted machine and update
it to perfect working order.
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