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Sales Flops of 2005

729 messages,  Last post on May 08, 2006 at 7:51 AM

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What is this discussion about? Car Buying


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#15 of 729
Nippon: by jrosasmc
Nov 20, 2005 (5:25 pm)
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Yes, the new Jeep is the Commander. And I think it will be a huge hit, especially with the Jeep faithful such as my dad, who thinks it is the most gorgeous SUV on the market.
#16 of 729
Re: Nippon: [jrosasmc] by 210delray
Nov 20, 2005 (5:39 pm)
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Replying to: jrosasmc (Nov 20, 2005 5:25 pm)

I really doubt the Commander will be successful. It's only 2 inches longer than the Grand Cherokee and 4 inches taller.
 
All reviewers have commented that the third seat is a joke for anyone larger than a small child.
 
So unless you really like the squared off styling or have small children that can fit in the rearmost seats, there's really no point in buying one in place of the Grand Cherokee.
#17 of 729
I think the only real selling point... by andre1969
Nov 20, 2005 (5:47 pm)
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of the Commander is that they can advertise that third row seating. But it's basically the same as advertising a Mustang, Camaro, etc as a 4-seat sports car. Yeah, so it has a back seat. Doesn't mean you want to put anybody in it!
 
FWIW though, I'm guessing that very few SUVs have a useable 3rd row seat. Even in my Mom & stepdad's Expedition, or even some Suburbans I've been in, it's not a very hospitable place to be.
 
How safe is the 3rd-row seat on your typical SUV, anyway? Most SUVs that I've seen that get rear-ended basically cease to exist behind the rear axle. I imagine it would be almost as bad as the 3rd row seat you used to get in station wagons back in the day.
#18 of 729
LaCrosse rare? by lemko
Nov 20, 2005 (7:44 pm)
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Geeze, they're as common as dirt around here, and no, they aren't all rentals. Seems my girlfriend started a trend. As soon as she got her car, LaCrosses have been popping up like mushrooms all over the neighborhood.
 
Shame about the Q45. I bet it's every bit as good a car as the Lexus LS430. Well, if you don't want to run into your car on every block, get a Q45!
 
Ooo! Ooo! I DID see a Tribeca today!
#19 of 729
I think the problem any more... by ghulet
Nov 20, 2005 (9:43 pm)
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....with the higher end Japanese sedans now is twofold: when they first debuted (particularly in the case of the Acura Legend and Lexus LS400), they were new and different to the market, and because of the inflated deutschmark at the time, the Japanese cars were great values compared to the Germans. For about $24k new in '86, the Legend had a V6 and a lot more room for at least a couple thousand dollars less than a 190E 2.3; the '90 LS400 was about $36k at a time when a 6-cylinder Mercedes 300E was about $45k. Now, they don't compare nearly as favorably. Second, particulary in the case of Acura and Infiniti, their lower end cars are so nice, why pay an extra $10-20k for an RL or Q? Diminishing returns, big time, especially if you factor in resale on Infiniti Ms and Qs. While something like the current Lexus LS is a very 'nice' car, they sure haven't changed much in fifteen years in terms of basic shape, power or size, and now their neck-and-neck in price with a Mercedes E430, if not more costly. Their kind of Japanese Cadillacs now, most drivers I see are seniors.
#20 of 729
Re: I think the problem any more... [ghulet] by jlawrence01
Oct 28, 2005 (9:43 pm)
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Replying to: ghulet (Nov 20, 2005 9:43 pm)

***While something like the current Lexus LS is a very 'nice' car, they sure haven't changed much in fifteen years in terms of basic shape, power or size, and now their neck-and-neck in price with a Mercedes E430, if not more costly.***
 
That is true. However, unlike the Mercedes, they come with outstanding customer service and great reliability.
 
I have been to both the Mercedes and the Lexus events this past year at Arlington Park and I hear two constant themes
 
1) They don't make Mercedes like they used to.
 
2) You get so much more from Lexus with fewer problems (and I heard that at the Mercedes event).
 
One of the local businessmen always reminds me that he paid "$20k for a used Lexus with 80k miles and he's driven it for ten years and it doesn't look or ride any different than the day he bought it."
#21 of 729
Lemko: by jrosasmc
Nov 21, 2005 (5:24 am)
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I didn't know your girlfriend had a LaCrosse- when did she purchase it?
#22 of 729
Re: Lemko: [jrosasmc] by lemko
Nov 21, 2005 (5:30 am)
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Replying to: jrosasmc (Nov 21, 2005 5:24 am)

She purchased it on March 18th of this year. She is extremely satisfied with the car. The Buick customer service so far has been excellent. I might go back there to check out a Lucerne.
#23 of 729
It's kinda funny... by andre1969
Nov 21, 2005 (5:39 am)
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how the Lexus LS and Infiniti Q-ship seem to have "grown up" and aged. IMO the old models, especially those first, grille-less Q's, seem down right youthful in comparison!
#24 of 729
Re: what about [nippononly] by prosa
Nov 21, 2005 (7:05 am)
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Replying to: nippononly (Nov 20, 2005 12:50 am)

Pricing is probably the B9 Tribeca's weak point. While the 5-passenger base models can be had for under $30,000, they're few and far between. Almost every model shipped to dealers is a 7-passenger model with leather and is priced in the mid-30s. Come to think of it, Volkswagen is doing basically the same with the new Jetta and Passat, loading up almost all of them with expensive packages. I know, this load-em-up strategy worked fine for Chrysler when it brought out the 300, even today it's hard to find V-6 base models, but the 300 was a big enough hit that Chrysler was able to get away with it. Not so with the Tribeca and Jetta/Passat.
As for the Lucerne, GM has excluded it from the Red Tag promotion, which might be a sign of strong sales.

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