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Automotive News & Views GM News, New Models and Market Share
8236 messages, Last post on Nov 21, 2009 at 6:00 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: cooterbfd (Jul 05, 2009 4:37 am) I don't understand the move to have everything LOOK like a Camry. People don't buy Camrys because they look good. Certain generations of them have been nice looking and some at least not offensive (I don't include the current version in either camp) but people buy them no matter what for what they perceive it offers - long, reliable life. Now most here would agree that a Buick will provide you with a long, reliable life as well but you need to make it look American and be uniquely American to draw people in. It can be done. I look at what Ford is doing and they have the idea. NO reason GM can't do it other than the plug gets pulled before they accomplish it. |
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Replying to: cooterbfd (Jul 03, 2009 7:08 am) When it comes to design, I believe the problem is: American cars still haven't managed to find the right theme that can last in the long run. And no, not even the Japanese have found that, so far only Europeans managed to do so. The second problem is American consumers' love for chrome, which adds flash, but at the price of losing class. You don't see classy cars with chrome overkill, and yes, the same problem applies to Cadillac.
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Replying to: buyamerican2 (Jul 03, 2009 5:41 am) Remember Pontiac's old philosophy: "An old man will drive a young man's car, but a young man will not drive an old man's car" Positive, negative, no matter. Give them what the market wants and sales will rise, that simple. Like I said, Buick is pretty much dead. Now what's left is to salvage the best parts of it, namely fit-finish and reliability, and place them in the other divisions like Cadillac. |
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Replying to: m4d_cow (Jul 05, 2009 8:04 am) I believe that is because Americans are conditioned to "what have you done for me lately". And that is from a style and fashon sense. Think about it for a sec; EVERY SINGLE CHEVY IMPALA from 1958 thru 1972 had it's own separate and distinct look, even if they shared a body style or frame among the years. Can you tell the difference between an '09 or a '10 Impala? Camry? Accord? Malibu?? No. only by the vin #.
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Replying to: cooterbfd (Jul 05, 2009 8:23 am) Even now, while the new Rabbit is a bit of departure, does it really look all that different from the old Golf and the original Rabbit? |
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Replying to: m4d_cow (Jul 05, 2009 8:04 am) The problem with that styling is that it has become associated with inferior cars. If BMW and Audi had been blinging their cars and they were otherwise praised for reliability, refinement, handling, interior quality -- then those external aesthetics would become associated with desirability. Conversely, you have unrefined GM rental fodder with bling and after a while everybody associates those styling elements with crappy cars. So for the New GM to break with their old past, they should ditch the "American styling" -- not because it is inherently bad, but because it helps the consumer believe that this is different and these companies have changed. Same reason why they should dump the Buick name and even the GM name should change somewhat. The more people feel GM has not changed the less likely they are going to be successful. |
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Replying to: tlong (Jul 05, 2009 12:48 pm) The Toyota Camry is more American than the Ford F-150, at least according to Cars.com's annual American-Made Index. The findings further muddy the Buy American debate that rages across the country. Toyota Motor Corp. also is the most American car company, according to the rankings of the index in terms of U.S. content in its cars and trucks. AFAIC, GM needs to reinvent styling, quality, brand image and Buick ain't it. Luxury  Mid-Size Sedan  Sport Performance Sedan/Coupe  Compact  Regards, OW
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Replying to: circlew (Jul 05, 2009 1:17 pm) 1- Chrysler 300 2- Hyundai Genesis Sedan. Neither is made in USA as far as I know. |
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Replying to: bpizzuti (Jul 04, 2009 10:31 am) Impala really kinda sucks, but that's why it's perfect for fleet-fodder. Make the Chevy LaCrosse a Celebrity or Lumina, keep Impala and make it fleet-only. So here's a novel idea for the "new GM". Dump Buick except in China. Sell the fleet-fodder cars and commercial trucks through GMC! Sell cars for the public at Chevrolet. No fleet sales, just good vehicles. No overlap with GMC. So you would have only the Traverse at Chevy (no more Acadia/Enclave/etc.), and you could have a GMC Impala for fleets. You sell your commercial trucks at GMC as well. So then you don't even need GMC dealers as all sales are commerical (trucks, fleet cars). Chevy and Caddy are your two lines a la Lexus/Toyota or Honda/Acura.
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Replying to: tlong (Jul 05, 2009 9:39 pm) 1- Chevrolet: Mainstream 2- Buick: FWD luxury cars a la Acura/Volvo 3- Cadillac: RWD luxury cars like BMW/Mercedes All vehicles whether they are passenger cars, trucks, or crossovers can fall under these three depending on price and class. Therefore, no more GMC. |
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