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GM News, New Models and Market Share

8466 messages,  Last post on Nov 27, 2009 at 6:59 AM

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What is this discussion about? Automotive News


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#5293 of 8466
Re: Brand strategy [cooterbfd] by xrunner2
Apr 25, 2009 (12:30 pm)
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Replying to: cooterbfd (Apr 25, 2009 8:12 am)

The Allante and Reatta were hand built, and low production models, meant to compete w/ the Mercedes coupe and convertible.
 
"Meant to compete with..." They did not even come close. These cars were failures in every regard. Nobody high up got fired for these bombs. The only acclaim for Allante that I recall is when Kelly Bundy was competing with other models to do an ad/promo for the car.
#5294 of 8466
Re: Brand strategy [xrunner2] by lilengineerboy
Apr 25, 2009 (12:58 pm)
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Replying to: xrunner2 (Apr 25, 2009 12:22 pm)

One of the largest problems was that folks that could both afford and appreciate the Phaeton's virtues would not be caught dead in a VW dealership. Much the same as if Toyota were to have made a mistake (not too likely) and develop and market a car equivalent in price and attributes to top Lexus sedan and name it a Toyota something that would be bought and serviced at Toyota dealers. Who in their right mind would spend $60-70K on it and then have to sit in ordinary waiting room next to Corolla owners while getting brief service. This would be beneath them.
 
I think you make a lot of assumptions about other people - "them" and what they would do and not do.
 
I can't think of a stand alone Audi dealer in Michigan that isn't paired with VW and or Porsche, sharing the same service facility and waiting room. Hyundai too seems to be having a pretty good go at a "premium" vehicle from a pedestrian brand.
 
Instead Toyota introduced the Lexus ES250, which didn't even differ in body components from the Camry of the time. Even the ES300 had very little real difference.
#5295 of 8466
Re: Brand strategy [steevo] by lilengineerboy
Apr 25, 2009 (1:00 pm)
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Replying to: steevo (Apr 25, 2009 10:29 am)

You compare the FJ Cruiser to the Aztec and expect your opinions to be taken seriously?
 
Yup, both ugly trucks the market didn't want and no one bought. At least you can get a piece of plywood in the Aztec.
#5296 of 8466
Re: Brand strategy [lilengineerboy] by bpizzuti
Apr 25, 2009 (2:39 pm)
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Replying to: lilengineerboy (Apr 25, 2009 1:00 pm)

You compare the FJ Cruiser to the Aztec and expect your opinions to be taken seriously?
  
Yup, both ugly trucks the market didn't want and no one bought. At least you can get a piece of plywood in the Aztec.

 
The only thing they have in common is that they're ugly. The Aztek was a crossover, the FJ an offroader truck. The Aztek was a midsize vehicle, the FJ a compact. Aztek - AWD. FJ - 4WD.
 
To even think that they might be similar is truly a sense of desperation as far as justifying GM's screwups.
#5297 of 8466
Re: Brand strategy [xrunner2] by cooterbfd
Apr 25, 2009 (3:03 pm)
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Replying to: xrunner2 (Apr 25, 2009 12:30 pm)

"......"Meant to compete with..." They did not even come close. These cars were failures in every regard."
 
How can you say that??? While not as acclaimed as their MB counterparts, the same clientele bought them. Look at their values today. they are as "worthless" and as much of a "bomb" as their MB counterparts from that era.
#5298 of 8466
Re: Brand strategy [bpizzuti] by steve_ HOST
Apr 25, 2009 (3:15 pm)
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Replying to: bpizzuti (Apr 25, 2009 2:39 pm)

I never really heard that many people say that the FJ was ugly. A guy on my street traded his MINI for one.
 
I never really understood why the Aztek took so much flak while the Rendezvous was pretty popular.
 
"There seemed little chance U.S. car makers could look any worse, but moves like General Motors' announcement Thursday that it will cut production this summer risk scaring off remaining potential customers and eroding decades of brand loyalty."
 
Brand loyalty at risk as GM makes new cuts (Lincoln Tribune)
#5299 of 8466
I read that...... by carnaught
Apr 25, 2009 (3:38 pm)
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......Rick Waggoner could get a $20 million exit package from GM. If that isn't the final "last straw" to the American taxpayers and shareholders .
 
What a crock this is
#5300 of 8466
Re: Brand strategy [cooterbfd] by fintail
Apr 25, 2009 (6:01 pm)
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Replying to: cooterbfd (Apr 25, 2009 3:03 pm)

I dunno, a mint in the wrapper say 2500 original mile 1989 560SL should bring a pretty penny more than a similar same year Allante. I've seen decent Allantes locally for around $7500...I wouldn't want the 560SL that you can buy for that money, I'd go broke at light speed. A similar decent 560SL is still going for 12-15K. Maybe not a huge difference in raw dollars, but in percentage terms.
 
The Allante, for all of its shortcomings, is probably the best Caddy product of that time.
#5301 of 8466
Re: Brand strategy [bpizzuti] by lilengineerboy
Apr 25, 2009 (7:26 pm)
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Replying to: bpizzuti (Apr 25, 2009 2:39 pm)

To even think that they might be similar is truly a sense of desperation as far as justifying GM's screwups.
 
It wasn't serving as justification of anything, just showing that other companies follow similar screw ups. I think where domestic manufacturers have fallen down in the past is proving out the concept and engineering before the customer gets it. This is where the reliability issues come in on vehicles like the Vega and the Fiero, or even the Citation (you could fit a full sized wheel chair in the hatch back area with the rear seats up).
 
Chrysler invents the minivan, GM can't figure it out (never did) and Ford just copied the Dodge as much as possible, and brings in Nissan then Mazda to help. This is what GM execs should've been spanked over. Now they just say people don't want minivans and bring in "cross overs" It took Toyota and Honda 3 tries each to nail the minivan. Now they are getting brought back to earth by Kia since their minivan is an Sienna clone. And actually thats not really fair because there is nothing mini about the Siena and Odyssey except their payloads; they are larger than short wheelbase full size vans.
 
If you really like the FJ I didn't mean to offend you.
#5302 of 8466
Delphi bankruptcy judge couldn't do it by dave8697
Apr 25, 2009 (7:44 pm)
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He wouldn't throw out the UAW contract. he stepped aside and told delphi and the UAW to negotiate with each other. Now all of a sudden, the GM BK judge will tear up the UAW contract?

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