Debating the feasibility of owning a convenient or luxury car

JAKARTA (JP): Over the past few years, members of the public have debated what the correct definition is for "ordinary" cars and "exclusive" cars.

For many, it is not easy to differentiate the two, but it is easy to feel and see the difference. The crystal clear distinction is that the latter category is usually owned by the "haves" due to its dear price tag, which now exceeds Rp 1 billion. With that amount of cash, one could purchase 10 ordinary cars.

The presence of both vehicle types on the streets here also reveals that the country has two distinctive classes of consumers: the ultra rich and the middle class.

Do not underestimate the number of people who are able to buy luxury cars. Last year, at least 212 vehicles of 3,000 cc class engines were sold.

Buyers from the ordinary car category, which carries a price tag of between Rp 80 million and just over Rp 100 million per vehicle, are, of course, still the highest.

In terms of numbers, individuals who have not yet been able to own a car are higher in this country.

Besides the price, what comprises an ordinary car?

A Toyota Kijang equipped with a mobile TV, Global Positioning System (GPS), the best quality leather seats and a high class sound system could probably be classified as an exclusive automobile.

That is why some automotive observers define exclusive cars as vehicles with high-priced accessories that drive the car's price upwards but are more comfortable to drive.

The low price of an ordinary car is usually due to its engine power, which is sometimes about 1,000 cc.

Even Mercedes Benz, widely known for its high-quality products, has launched an ordinary car called the Smart Car, in cooperation with Swiss watch manufacturer Swatch. With an engine capacity of "only" 599 cc, three cylinders, six valves and a turbochanger, the Smart Car can accelerate to 135 kilometers per hour.

In Indonesia, ordinary cars, whether they are locally assembled or not, come in a wide range of models and colors. Some come in a miniature size and in funky colors. The Atoz from Hyundai, the Karimun from Suzuki, the Matiz from Daewoo and the Visto from KIA are just a few of the models that have hit the streets here.

On weekends, the streets are more colorful with the presence of both funky ordinary cars and the glittering exclusive ones.

The list is much longer overseas, which include vehicles like the Chatenet Media, the Fiat Seicento, the Ligier Nova, the Microcar Virgo and the Vauxhall Agila.

In Europe, this kind of car has sold well for several clear reasons: heavy traffic, narrow streets and limited parking. To meet the market demand in European countries, many manufacturers designed a car with only two seats.

Another important reason many Europeans prefer to drive an ordinary car, also called city car, is the quality of the roads, which are mostly free of potholes.

Inside the car, European vehicles are equipped with numerous gadgets, such as air-conditioning, a CD player, air bag and an antilock brake system, similar to those installed in exclusive cars.

The Japanese also buy city cars for the same reasons. So far, the most popular vehicle in this class is the Suzuki Karimun, which is called the Suzuki Wagon R.

Interestingly, the Japanese treat their Karimun like a beloved toy. They decorate it in many ways that would astound foreign visitors. As a result, there is a wide range of accessories for the Karimun available in Japan.

In Indonesia, the story is different. Many think the Karimun is only for women even though advertisements have repeatedly said that it has an ample interior.

But many car manufacturers here firmly believe that these type of cars will lead the market soon, but not because of heavy traffic and limited parking. It is simply because of the affordable price as there are so many Indonesians who have yet to own a car.