Is baby RR too expensive?

Hi Autospies;

I just thought you would like to hear about the result of a meeting we have just had within the company, which included our RR & Ferrari spies on conference calls.

I work for a large finance house in the UK that specialises in prestige cars amongst other things. The result of the meeting just held by us is that we will NOT be preparing finance packages for the new baby Rolls Royce – not because of the economic down turn, or the credit crunch, but because inside information from the Goodwood plant suggests that these cars will retail at some $350K-$375K!!!

A number of customers (100+) had expressed an interest in the car, expecting it to rival the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, some $250K – only to discover its true projected cost. My point is this; we all thought the Roller was being designed to meet the 4-door Bentley head-on for performance and price, only to discover that the RR is fighting another battle, that against the forthcoming baby Maybach, which will also be $350K!

To this end we are currently advising customers in the market for a $250K luxury saloon to look at a Bentley or AMG S-Class. I personally am not sure where Rolls Royce thinks their customer base is going to come from because when we ask our customers, we have had two very succinct answers, “I’ll pay the extra and buy a Phantom, then” or “Sod it, I’ll buy a Bentley”. I am sure the marketing people at Rolls Royce have looked in to this, but I find it very worrying indeed.

I’ll email the other part of this message if you are interested.

cdoke - 2/15/2008 1:19:00 PM

+1 Boost

"...inside information from the Goodwood plant suggests that these cars will retail at some $350K-$375K"

I am assuming that this is not the U.S. pricing since the Phantom's MSRP is ~335K U.S..

cdoke - 2/15/2008 1:24:49 PM

+1 Boost

Do I think a vehicle such as a baby RR at oh...225K to 275K US is too expensive? If it is based upon platform of another (cheaper) vehicle (and from what I have read it will be)- then my answer is yes.

GruntyDieselsRock - 2/15/2008 1:41:49 PM

0 Boost

A Rolls Royce too expensive. Thats an oxymoron. They are not Bentleys or Mercedes Benzes, and are thus not meant to be cheap. They are supposed to be reassuringly expensive. You seem to miss the point I am afraid.

cdoke - 2/15/2008 1:47:08 PM

+2 Boost

For the most part I agree, with one exception:

The Spirit of Ecstasy does not a Rolls Royce make.

Heyhuub - 2/17/2008 12:44:44 PM

+2 Boost

Are you saying the Bentley name is worth less then Rolls Royce?

GruntyDieselsRock - 2/19/2008 3:44:32 PM

+1 Boost

Of course I am.

VISO - 2/15/2008 5:33:58 PM

+2 Boost

Isn't the Flying Spur more around $175,000? If the baby RR is at $350,000 then it is too expensive (depends how define expensive at this level) if it is a competitor to the Flying Spur that is. Plus, RR has lost it timeless look. They look to "loud" and "pimpish" for such a car at this leve. Bentley has don a nice job in keeping the design subdued.

mini22 - 2/15/2008 6:19:03 PM

+1 Boost

I thought the point of the Baby Rolls was to compete more with Bentley. If it's up there with a Silver Shadow then what's the point.

Rupert - 2/15/2008 7:56:43 PM

+1 Boost

UK pricing converted to dollars just for you guys.
335000 dollars (150-170k pounds) is too much.

xphilter - 2/17/2008 12:08:20 PM

+1 Boost

RR will have no problem selling these. Bentley's are everywhere these days, if you can afford 250k to spend on a car would want to have something that is somewhat common? Or a car only 500 other people have, but costs 100k more?

1BadMan - 2/17/2008 1:52:38 PM

-1 Boost

No it is not. It just means if you have to ask that question, you cannot afford it! If you have to ask...