Maserati dealer coming soon?

[CompassNorth]

Originally Posted by ThatTNGuy

Maserati is definitely a niche brand, but they'll be expanding "downwards" a bit in the near future. They have a new (and slightly less expensive) model called the Ghibli that will compete with cars like the 5 Series, A6, E-Class and CTS, and I'm fairly certain they've got plans for an SUV in the works as well. How many Range Rovers, Escalades and GL-Class Mercedes Benzes do you see around Knoxville? Quite a few.

In the Harper family, Jaguar, Audi and Porsche all have more than a few models that easily crest the $100,000 barrier. I see expensive Porsches, BMWs, Mercedes, Audis and Land Rovers around here on a regular basis, and even a few Ferraris, Aston Martins, Lamborghinis and Corvette ZR1s, so a Maserati dealership could probably attract just enough business to be relevant.

I think this would be awesome.

The Maserati SUV is called the Levante. Scheduled release is late 2014. I spoke to the Nashville dealer about it earlier this month. They are expecting it to be a hit like the Cayenne was for Porsche.

The Ghibli will definitely attract a group of buyers that normally wouldn't be able to afford a Maserati.

I too think it would be awesome if a Maserati dealer opened in Knoxville.

[ThatTNGuy]

Originally Posted by Richard Cycholl

You can get BMWs less than 50,000 and Range Rovers less than 40,000. A cheap Maserati runs about 90 Grand or alittle less.

You need to check out Land Rover's website. A Land Rover Range Rover Sport or a Land Rover Range Rover (yes, those are the full names) will easily set you back anywhere from $65,000 to $120,000. I see these things around EVERYWHERE, especially in West Knoxville. The only Land Rover vehicle you'll touch for anything close to $40,000 is the LR2... and maybe the Evoque if you get a base model. Besides, the Range Rover Sport is Land Rover's best-selling model - not the LR2 or Evoque. Imagine that.

Also, just because BMW sells cars for less than $50,000 doesn't mean their more expensive models don't find homes as well. I see M5s, M3s, 6 Series Gran Coupes, 7 Series... it's not unusual. I can guarantee that none of those come in below $50K.

Many companies, a dealer not only has to meet certain criteria, but the area has to meet certain sales criteria also. I believe we do not know what the criteria is.

My post was simply describing my experience in the 8 years I've been in Knoxville. It's not as if every other car I see is an exotic, but it's really not unusual to see a handful of cars throughout the course of the day that I know retail for over $80,000. Tonight, for instance, I was going for a run and counted three Range Rovers and a Jaguar F-Type in the span of 25 minutes. The F-type is a brand new model that can easily reach $100K, and yet I've already seen one "in the wild" here. I do feel like there's a market for expensive cars like these.

If you are correct and they will be expanding downwards, will maybe they will work into this market or move in this area as they are sharing a dealership like Harper's.

I'm not guessing - the company WILL be expanding into different and/or less expensive market segments. That's a fact. Maserati wants to increase its sales volume.

[MetropolitanTN]

ThatTNGuy, you seem quite knowledgeable on this topic. I appreciate your input into this thread.

[Richard Cycholl]

Originally Posted by ETSUAccountingGuy

ThatTNGuy, you seem quite knowledgeable on this topic. I appreciate your input into this thread.

I think we all forgot the OP post if Maserati going to be added to Harper's car dealership. Sofar I think no one knows that answer. Maybe some business journal around here has the answer if the rumor has any fact to it. If the market permits I believe you will see a dealership and if it doesn't you won't. So far I have not seen anything and I am looking if Maserati is coming to this area.

[CompassNorth]

You cannot walk into the local Land Rover dealership and find a new full size Range Rover in stock to purchase. You have to put down a deposit and be willing to wait several months to receive your $100k vehicle. Knoxville is about a 3-4 month wait. Dealers in larger cities are completely sold out of their 2014 allocation.

Porsche and Mercedes both have models that are also very difficult to find in stock. They sell out of certain models of cars far in advance, even in Knoxville.

There is certainly a demand for high end vehicles in this area. The more I think about it, the more I feel a Maserati dealership would do just fine here.

[Richard Cycholl]

Originally Posted by CompassNorth

You cannot walk into the local Land Rover dealership and find a new full size Range Rover in stock to purchase. You have to put down a deposit and be willing to wait several months to receive your $100k vehicle. Knoxville is about a 3-4 month wait. Dealers in larger cities are completely sold out of their 2014 allocation.

Porsche and Mercedes both have models that are also very difficult to find in stock. They sell out of certain models of cars far in advance, even in Knoxville.

There is certainly a demand for high end vehicles in this area. The more I think about it, the more I feel a Maserati dealership would do just fine here.

Hope you are correct, but how many will they have to sale to show a profit. (pay the sales staff, commission, building utilities and other costs? If it combines with harper, maybe it will work. Also every car company has their time tested rules on where and what the standards are who and where the dealers goes. I believe there is a demand for high end cars here, just the question how much...?

[MetropolitanTN]

Looks like there was some truth to the rumors. Harper Auto is planning a Maserati dealership on Parkside Dr.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2014/fe...ti-dealership/

[ThatTNGuy]

Very cool - thanks for the update. I'd read the entire article if I subscribed to the KNS.

[hiknapster]

As soon as I saw the Super Bowl commercial, I knew it was coming.


Knoxville Maserati Dealership - YouTube