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GM News, New Models and Market Share

8244 messages,  Last post on Nov 22, 2009 at 9:18 PM

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#3110 of 8244
Re: 20101 SRX [torque_r] by circlew
Jan 06, 2009 (4:00 am)
Reply

Replying to: torque_r (Jan 05, 2009 8:53 pm)

Buyers in this class are less concerned with a difference of 10% power rating as the desirability and brand loyalty. The SRX looks better than the last one but since 2004, it doesn't have the image of the category leader. Pricing will be key to grow sales as you have mentioned.
 
Regards,
OW
#3111 of 8244
Re: 20101 SRX [circlew] by 62vetteefp
Jan 06, 2009 (4:33 am)
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Replying to: circlew (Jan 06, 2009 4:00 am)

Current SRX starts at $42k with the V8 at $48k. Pricing the new one at ~$35k will drop it into a much higher part of the buyer volume curve. I think it probably peaks at around $26k ATP today. Could not find any public data.
 
RX starts at 39K, MDX/X3 at $40k so the $35k rumor above may be low.
 
One thing that has sorta been dropped on these forums. It is all about gas mileage right now. There are questions on why they dropped a little 2.8 turbo into it instead of the 303 hp 3.6L which would also drop in. CAFE is here to stay.
#3112 of 8244
2008 sales truck vs car by 62vetteefp
Jan 06, 2009 (5:23 am)
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Sure wish they would post the charts on line that they put in the paper but:
 
The year the automotive industry would like to forget is memorable for slumping sales, spikes in gas prices and a shift in consumer tastes to cars and smaller vehicles with growing interest in hybrids and electric vehicles.
 
Toyota was the year's best-selling brand for the first time, ending the traditional race between Ford and Chevrolet.
 
And 2008 saw wild fluctuations between car and truck sales. The year began and ended with trucks cornering around 52 percent of the U.S. market; in between, that share dipped as low as 43.1 percent, but cars prevailed overall.
 
It took trucks almost a century to outsell cars, with pickups, minivans and SUVs finally achieving that feat in 2000, said George Pipas, U.S. sales analysis manager for Ford Motor Co. "Now seven years later, passenger cars have outsold light trucks."
 
Pipas doesn't think it's a trend that will reverse itself again anytime soon.
 
Some things stayed the same. The Ford F-Series remains the best-selling truck for the 32nd year and the best-selling vehicle for the 27th consecutive year, with 515,513 units sold.

 
Chart shows trucks slightly outselling cars slightly Jan/Feb
and then cars really outselling trucks April May June
and then even March, Aug, Sep, Oct
and then cars slightly outselling trucks Nov, Dec.
 
Looks like we will not be getting $1 gas this year:(
#3113 of 8244
Re: 20101 SRX [torque_r] by m4d_cow
Jan 06, 2009 (5:52 am)
Reply

Replying to: torque_r (Jan 05, 2009 8:53 pm)

I think to rate how powerful the SRX is compared to the competitors depends on how GM will price it. If the 300-hp SRX is priced similar to the 300-hp Acura, MDX, 275-hp Lexus RX350, or the 303-hp Infiniti FX35, while the 260hp-SRX undercut all those in price, then we have a winner here.
 
True, it's something that's missing in the current SRX: value. It seemed like a decent value at first, then you realize that to get what most competitors offer as standard you's have to settle for thousands of $$$ worth of options. Add them up, and the price soars to the point it reaches the German's territory.
 
And of course, the outgoing SRX doesn't have what it takes to challenge the Germans (true luxury) and the Japanese (value). May the next gen fare better...
#3114 of 8244
Re: 20101 SRX [circlew] by m4d_cow
Jan 06, 2009 (6:04 am)
Reply

Replying to: circlew (Jan 06, 2009 4:00 am)

Buyers in this class are less concerned with a difference of 10% power rating as the desirability and brand loyalty.
 
So true. Power is one thing, but image and luxury appointments are to be seriously considered as well. There's no point making a luxury SUV that has more power than competitors but fail at everything else. Fuel economy? Yes some will consider, but not that many. Remember that the buyers in this class will most likely be the ones surviving the economic turmoil.
In the end SRX needs the right balance of all the above to actually sell. The current SRX tanks so deeply IMO because it has performance and decent mileage, but loses out in comfort, luxury, image, value, and brand's customer service.
#3115 of 8244
Re: 20101 SRX [62vetteefp] by m4d_cow
Jan 06, 2009 (6:37 am)
Reply

Replying to: 62vetteefp (Jan 05, 2009 11:41 am)

I did only list the vehicles that I found that the media compared with the new SRX. I think they did not count the X5 since it starts at almost $50k (with a 260hp powertrain) while the SRX will start around $36K.
I think the EX35 3.5L/297hp at $35k would be a closer competitor rather than the FX35 at $43k.

 
Like I said, don't push the "value" card too much. Buyers in this class wants more than that. Also please remember that the SRX was created with the FX, X5 and other midsizers as the target.
Also, again, like I said, it's not fair to compare upcoming models with outgoing models that have been around for years now.
 
Still, I'm beginning to see some potential blunders here:
1) I'm a bit confused as in how a midsize SRX is possible being built on a compact crossover platform. Unless that's what the term "Theta Premium" is mainly about, extending.
2) The choice to go the FWD route is an extreme gamble. Most buyers expect RWD from what I see, even the class' bottom-feeder GrandCherokee knows this.
3) Based on the platform I expect the upcoming SRX to be smaller than the outgoing model. Whether downsizing is a good idea or not I dont know, but this will definitely pose a challenge for adding a 3rd row, which in current gen's car has barely enough room.
4)GM has yet to release any pics on the interior, I guess it'll have to wait until the car shows up at auto expos.
5) GM hasn't done much in the customer service department, another crucial part in the luxury class.
 
People can check the rankings all they want, but when in reality GM neglect to manage customer service in all it's dealerships, I consider that as failure (and yes that includes BMW's crap for service). BMW ranks good in service, but in reality most the customers know they suck at it. No rankings can beat reality.
 
Current SRX's huge mistake is overpricing, the $35k base price sounds nice, but match up the equipment and options with competitors and price soars. I hope the upcoming model gets more reasonable.
 
I seriously hope GM will do something about the crappy interior. I'm sick of hearing GM's excuse, remember " We have addressed complaints about materials that are actually of premium quality but don't look and feel like one..." from GM's press release on the '08 CTS? Wow sure, we're all so dumb we can't tell the difference between Tupperware plastic and Nappa leather. GM actually expected us to believe that the previous gen CTS had premium materials all over, LMAO
 
Whatever happened to the BRX program? That sounds more appropriate for a Theta platform.
#3116 of 8244
Interior pics are out there. by anythngbutgm
Jan 06, 2009 (7:20 am)
Reply
Check GMI or C&G.
 
link title
#3117 of 8244
Re: 2008 Sales (Final Figures) [torque_r] by circlew
Jan 06, 2009 (9:20 am)
Reply

Replying to: torque_r (Jan 06, 2009 2:50 am)

At what cost was Market Share in December?
 

 
The D3 can not go on like this for much longer....oh, wait a minute...yes, we gave them the cash for this purpose. Never mind!
 
Regards,
OW
#3118 of 8244
Re: [m4d_cow] by dtownfb
Jan 06, 2009 (9:44 am)
Reply

Replying to: m4d_cow (Jan 05, 2009 11:47 am)

The propaganda is they fail to mention that GM had a 30 percent market share just a few years ago. And at one time had a 50% market share.
 
So 22 percent market share looks good if you have no knowledge of the recent history of GM but in reality demonstrates how far GM has fallen in the US car industry.
 
BTW, recent Motor Trend mentioned (alluded) that Rick Wagoner is on his way out. He was not included on their most influential list after being number one two years ago. Any one hear anything on his pending departure???
#3119 of 8244
Re: 2008 Sales (Final Figures) [circlew] by dtownfb
Jan 06, 2009 (10:00 am)
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Replying to: circlew (Jan 06, 2009 9:20 am)

They may not have a choice but to continue. If they didn't car sales would be worst. It's also at the heart of the problem they are having. They have de-valued their cars so much that people will not buy a car without some sort of discount, whether it's a rebate or cheap financing. Since cheap financing is very limited now, it's rebates or discounted pricing. That eats into the profits.
 
It also feeds the perception that the foreign makes are better. We (Americans) have been trained to believe that if something is cheaper, it's probably not as good as the more expensive product (I know this is debatable but allow me some latitude here to make my point). So people are now willing to pay more for a comparable Accord, Civic, Camry, etc. over a Fusion, Malibu, Impala, etc. It took years for this to develop and it will take years for the perception to change. Unfortunately GM and Chrylser only have months not years to survive.
 
The sad part is all indication of this dynamic was in place back in the mid-90s. The year the Accord surpassed the Taurus as the most popular car marked the beginning of the end. Unfortunately Wagoner and his gang were too blinded by the profits they wer making on pickups and SUVs to notice. The 2008 Malibu and CTS are very nice vehicles but it's about a decade too late.

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