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32000 messages,  Last post on Feb 14, 2013 at 7:24 PM

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#30838 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [tlong] by bpizzuti

Jan 17, 2013 (7:09 pm)

Replying to: tlong (Jan 17, 2013 6:35 pm)
Way I see it there are three or four very basic bread-and-butter models that everyone needs.
 
1. Compact/commuter. Chevy's entry is the Cruze, and while not a bad car, it's not class-leading in any area metric except possibly weight.
 
2. Midsize/family car. Let's ignore the Impala for now, because most others do also. The previous Malibu was an excellent entry, and very class-competitive. The current one...again, not a BAD car per-se (unless you have to sit in the back seat) but really not class-leading anywhere. The Eco model doesn't even lead in fuel economy.
 
3. Compact SUV. Everyone's got one, sort of the compact car, grown up some. Oh, sorry, I should say everyone's got one except Chevrolet.
 
4. Midsize SUV. This is what used to be the minivan, unless you're Dodge. Chevy actually has two pretty good entries here, the Equinox and the Traverse. Both are class-leading in some way, in fact. But there's one slight problem: Chevy has two entries here. Why are they cutting their own noses off again? Theoretically the Equinox is supposed to be a "compact" SUV, but it's too big for that. The Traverse is on the large end of midsize. Both are good cars. But they have to compete with each other as well as the competition!
 
Funny thing, I went to compare SUV sizes in the Edmunds tool, and selected the Equinox first. Lo and behold, what popped up in the "sponsored" column? The Traverse! So it's not just me thinking they'll be cross-shopped.
 
GM really needs to stop aiming the Bushmaster with the high capacity magazine at their own feet. Drop Equinox or Traverse already, bring in an actual compact SUV that's Forester/CR-V/CX-5/Escape sized, and move on with life. This whole too many models overkill thing has LONG been a part of GM's corporate culture, and at the very least it contributed to them needing a bailout. Problem is, even after a bailout and a bankruptcy, they're still doing it.

#30839 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [xrunner2] by bpizzuti

Jan 17, 2013 (7:13 pm)

Replying to: xrunner2 (Jan 17, 2013 7:03 pm)
GM gave up on the flat engine also, which I find sad. Then again, when you get right down to it, only two companies have been successful with flat engines. Subaru, probably because their parent company makes similar engines for aircraft and it helps defray the costs. And Porsche, because they can get away with charging a gazillion dollars for each car.

#30840 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [bpizzuti] by uplanderguy

Jan 17, 2013 (7:16 pm)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 17, 2013 7:09 pm)
Drop the Equinox? Surely you jest. It's one of their better sellers (although I'm not fond at all of the styling).

#30841 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [bpizzuti] by steve_ HOST

Jan 17, 2013 (7:23 pm)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 17, 2013 7:09 pm)
This is what used to be the minivan, unless you're Dodge.
 
And now Dodge is dropping sliding doors on one of their two minivan lines. I'm in shock.
 
GM should put sliders on the Traverse or just build a new minivan; love to see the sales numbers on a rig like a Traverse with sliders compared to the regular doored 'Nox. Well, maybe that's not such a good idea.

#30842 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [steve_] by bpizzuti

Jan 17, 2013 (7:31 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Jan 17, 2013 7:23 pm)
Actually, I think that's an excellent idea. They've got too many SUVs, turning the Traverse into a minivan solves the problem pretty neatly. Then they just need a compact SUV.

#30843 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [uplanderguy] by bpizzuti

Jan 17, 2013 (7:34 pm)

Replying to: uplanderguy (Jan 17, 2013 7:16 pm)
Drop either the Equinox or the Traverse is what I actually said. Look, they've got a large-midsize SUV, and a small-midsize SUV. They have NO compact SUV. They also have both a large SUV (Tahoe) and an extra-large SUV (Suburban). That's just way too many. Obviously the Traverse is not filling a large SUV role.
 
Steve's right, the Traverse should really be a minivan. Heck, it's actually filling the minivan role at Chevy, just with swing-out doors instead of sliding ones.
 
I notice there's no mention of the M.I.A. compact SUV entry at Chevrolet.

#30844 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [bpizzuti] by robr2

Jan 17, 2013 (7:36 pm)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 17, 2013 7:09 pm)
In reality, the Equinox matches up with the Edge and Journey size wise while the Traverse matches up with the Explorer, Highlander, Pilot, et al.
 
What they really need to do is offer the Chevy Trax to compete in the compact segment against the RAV, CRV, Tucson.

#30845 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [bpizzuti] by robr2

Jan 17, 2013 (7:38 pm)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 17, 2013 7:34 pm)
Steve's right, the Traverse should really be a minivan. Heck, it's actually filling the minivan role at Chevy, just with swing-out doors instead of sliding ones.
 
That's right it fills the minivan role but put sliding doors on it and it'll languish on the lots. The minivan market is down to 500K units annually. Chrysler, Honda and Toyota have that segment filled.

#30846 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [robr2] by bpizzuti

Jan 17, 2013 (7:57 pm)

Replying to: robr2 (Jan 17, 2013 7:38 pm)
Ok, tell you what, let's just consider it a minivan anyway, at least that leaves Chevy with a single midsize SUV, which is a little more sane. And who cares what everyone else thinks, we have officially dubbed it Chevy's Sortaminivan.
 
Now we just need the Trax. Which of course Chevy will refuse to bring us because Americans Don't Buy (whatever excuse)

#30847 of 32000 Re: Question about Corvair influence [bpizzuti] by dieselone

Jan 17, 2013 (7:50 pm)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 17, 2013 7:57 pm)
I think the Buick Encore should be a Chevy instead.

Messages Page 3085 of 3201

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