ThomasM
[PuristS]
14331
Is it just me, or...
Is it just me, or are exotics and ultra-high line models now more readily accessible?
Exotics racing (where you can rent exotics by the 5 laps at various tracks in the west); Ferraris, Porsches, even Lambos, available at national car rental firms like Hertz (Las Vegas, NYC, etc) and not just independents like Black and White and certain independent franchises of Budget.
Is this "accessibility" a good thing or a bad thing?
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Is it just me, or are luxury and performance brands all getting into the "luxury lifestyles" game?
Porsche travel program is the most formal and developed, but all have their "in-house" perforamance driving schools which include an element of luxury travel - Lamborghini, Ferrari, AMG, M-School, Porsche Sport Driving School (PSDS), all have a formal division with a formal performance driving school program, held at contracted tracks around the world, some even with "home" tracks.
Even Aston Martin, traditionally a very conservative marque, though they have always had a very accommodating bespoke program, have gotten into the game with their Aston Martin Concierge service; same with Bentley, Jaguar, et al.
Is this a smart move - get your owner drivers driving, reinforce the sense of brand community - or is this better left to independent owners clubs? Two nice side benefits, of course, is that as you raise the level of driving skill and experience of your owners, the better they are to appreciate the performance envelope of the high performance vehicles you produce; and by getting your owners out and on the road, it "primes the pump" and cycles the cars - older cars wear out, newer cars are needed.
Are there any downsides?
TM