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Post by PG on May 29, 2018 14:19:48 GMT
www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/ds-4-and-5-production-ends-part-drastic-line-changesDS (well PSA) has ceased production of the DS4 and DS5. Sales figures from the article are tiny. I can't remember the last time I saw one on UK roads. They've launched the DS7 and have reiterated their intention to sell DS as a separate brand from 30 high end dealerships. I can't see that helping - you might be willing to go out of your way for after sales service on a truly "want this" car. But on a tarted up Citroen? And I'm sorry but that is still what I see them as, so I'm amongst those not buying the hype. I thought the DS3 was a good car and I used to see loads of them around. They seemed quite fashionable as well as good - like a latter day 205 really. But since then it's all gone pear shaped for DS as they got ideas way, way above their station in life. Forum view? Like Cadillac, they just don't get it and won't give up, until they finally have to? Or will they be prepared to take the long term Lexus view - and the long term cost that implies too?. And even that does not guarantee success in the ultra brand conscious European market. Or are they doomed to ignominious failure? Perhaps the French market - still highly nationalistic - might be enough to keep the dream alive. But if you have DS, whither Opel or Vauxhall?
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on May 29, 2018 14:37:43 GMT
The DS3 was quite a good looking car (still is), the DS4 was visually pretty identical to the C4 (despite what some would try and convince you otherwise) and just came across is a top spec model, not a stand alone brand, and the DS5, while visually interesting, was a bit small for the class.
It all came across as a bit short-termism, create this new brand and tell everyone it's premium, without putting in all the hard years like Audi and Lexus. 20 years ago someone at PSA should have made the decision to move the entire Citroen brand upmarket and consistently work towards that, keeping Peugeot as the mainstream brand. Citroen could have showcased all PSA's design and technological flair and presented a real alternative to zee Germans.
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Post by michael on May 29, 2018 15:22:46 GMT
The whole DS thing never made any sense and it makes even less so now Opel is part of the portfolio. Creating DS as the premium brand confirmed what everybody already thought that Citroen was a budget brand. The DS3 was a good looking car until they dropped the chevrons off the front, with them it had some visual flair, without it could have been from any Eastern manufacturer.
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Post by Big Blue on May 29, 2018 17:53:26 GMT
My mother has one but principally because she lives in France and it’s more sensible to look after than the BMW and Merc that preceded it. I agree, they’re not premium but they don’t feel like a Citroen white-goods-car either. I wouldn’t rush for one but I’d have one over a Vauxhall or an Opel anytime.
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Post by PetrolEd on May 30, 2018 11:03:08 GMT
Didn't the chap with the A2 who is no longer on the forum go to buy a DS5 but couldn't for some serious packaging issue. When a Citroen fan like that can't buy the product then what chance of convincing someone out of their 3 series.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on May 30, 2018 11:56:41 GMT
Didn't the chap with the A2 who is no longer on the forum go to buy a DS5 but couldn't for some serious packaging issue. When a Citroen fan like that can't buy the product then what chance of convincing someone out of their 3 series. He had a DS4 but said that as the DS5 was based on the same platform there were no real space benefits to him in buying one. |
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2018 17:18:14 GMT
If he hadn't have flounced off already I think this thread might've done the job.
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Post by Alex on May 31, 2018 7:36:55 GMT
Didn't the chap with the A2 who is no longer on the forum go to buy a DS5 but couldn't for some serious packaging issue. When a Citroen fan like that can't buy the product then what chance of convincing someone out of their 3 series. He had a DS4 but said that as the DS5 was based on the same platform there were no real space benefits to him in buying one. Which represents a serious oversight imho. A car designed for the market it was targeting needed a longer wheelbase which PSA didn’t really have. I also felt it was a car that didn’t know what it wanted to be. It had a hatch, I think, but also had pretences of being a saloon/coupe or an SUV Coupe without fitting either mould. You could argue that they could have another stab at it now they have access to the Insignia platform but being different only works if it’s what people want. Its a shame people see Citroen as a budget brand because that’s not how they price themselves and not what they were in the heyday of the original DS and SM. |
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Post by PG on May 31, 2018 11:01:52 GMT
He had a DS4 but said that as the DS5 was based on the same platform there were no real space benefits to him in buying one. You could argue that they could have another stab at it now they have access to the Insignia platform but being different only works if it’s what people want. Comment in the press was that the GM platforms would all get the chop to avoid royalties to GM. So the next Insignia (if there is one) will be built on the nearest relevant PSA platform. I've no idea which one - the one that underpins the 508 / 5008? |
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Post by Martin on May 31, 2018 11:28:39 GMT
He had a DS4 but said that as the DS5 was based on the same platform there were no real space benefits to him in buying one. Which represents a serious oversight imho. A car designed for the market it was targeting needed a longer wheelbase which PSA didn’t really have. I also felt it was a car that didn’t know what it wanted to be. It had a hatch, I think, but also had pretences of being a saloon/coupe or an SUV Coupe without fitting either mould. You could argue that they could have another stab at it now they have access to the Insignia platform but being different only works if it’s what people want. Its a shame people see Citroen as a budget brand because that’s not how they price themselves and not what they were in the heyday of the original DS and SM. Shouldn’t that (right sort of car for the market) have been solved by the DS7? I’ve not read much detail on it, but I gather it’s a bit of a duffer. |
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Post by PG on Jun 1, 2018 12:18:36 GMT
Talking about the DS7 shows what a great job they are doing marketing the brand. I assumed that as it had "7" in the title (DS3 - 5- 7 etc), it was a big car targeted at, say the F Pace, Q5, X3 market. But instead, now I've looked it up, it is built on the 3008 platform (not an auspicious start then) and is targeted at the E-Pace, X1, Q3 market. And the Autocar review of the DS7 was lukewarm, if I'm generous.
Success will clearly follow...... ;-)
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