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Dude, where did all the dealerships go?

654 messages,  Last post on Nov 23, 2009 at 7:56 PM

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#50 of 654 That didn't take long... by andre1969 Nov 29, 2008 (4:08 pm)
Yesterday I was out in the area where Saturn of Bowie used to be. Their lot is now full of Toyotas, and across the front of the showroom building is a banner that reads "The NEW Toyota of Bowie"!   Damn. I wonder if they ended up getting the Chevy dealer, too?
#51 of 654 Saturn of Fairfield by nippononly Nov 29, 2008 (8:37 pm)
is right by the freeway, so it's easy to see how busy they are as you drive by. And the answer is, they aren't. They are deserted. But they can't take up a Toyota franchise, there's already one in Fairfield!   Saturn dealers might have a brighter future if GM manages the sale of the brand as the new turnaround plan envisions. Apparently there are about 500 of them across the country, not a whole lot when you think about it..... Replies to this message: gagrice (Nov 30, 2008 5:37 am)
#52 of 654 Re: Saturn of Fairfield [nippononly] by gagrice Nov 30, 2008 (5:37 am)
Replying to: nippononly (Nov 29, 2008 8:37 pm) Look at the bright side. With dealers going out of business there will be turn key facilities for companies like Tata and Chery to set up dealerships. Or any one of the EV dealerships that will be starting up in the next couple years.
#53 of 654 NPR had an interview by nippononly Dec 01, 2008 (8:30 am)
this morning with the San Francisco GM dealer that recently went out of business after more than 60 years of operation.   I was intrigued to note the owner report that 86% of the San Francisco regional market belongs to the imports, with only 14% market share for all three domestics combined. No wonder he was having a tough time making a go of it.   I expect there will be a few more failures of domestic dealers in my area before it is all over.   gagrice: I wouldn't be surprised to see something some have already speculated might happen: SAIC begin to sell its own vehicles through former (and/or current) GM dealers in the U.S. I would think that would be less than five years out. Replies to this message: gagrice (Dec 01, 2008 8:37 am) nippononly (Dec 01, 2008 9:18 am)
#54 of 654 Re: NPR had an interview [nippononly] by gagrice Dec 01, 2008 (8:37 am)
Replying to: nippononly (Dec 01, 2008 8:30 am) If GM were to pull the plug on US operations, it would be less than 5 years. On a side note. My friend that had many years at a big Ford agency, lost his mechanic job. He thought he had another shop lined up and they closed this weekend. I got it from his wife. Not sure which dealership it was. Replies to this message: nippononly (Dec 01, 2008 9:18 am)
#55 of 654 Re: NPR had an interview [gagrice] by nippononly Dec 01, 2008 (9:18 am)
Replying to: gagrice (Dec 01, 2008 8:37 am) I was kinda wondering if there wouldn't be a way in which GM could somehow distribute SAIC cars through its network and profit from the arrangement....
#56 of 654 Re: A bit off topic [boaz47] by lemko Dec 01, 2008 (9:25 am)
Replying to: boaz47 (Nov 24, 2008 3:57 pm) Good idea on an individual basis. However, if people kept hoarding their money and keeping their old hoopties, the recovery will never happen. Replies to this message: boaz47 (Dec 01, 2008 1:53 pm)
#57 of 654 Re: A bit off topic [lemko] by boaz47 Dec 01, 2008 (1:53 pm)
Replying to: lemko (Dec 01, 2008 9:25 am) You could be right. But maybe someone will come along and make a practical entry level car at realistic prices. There is simply no excuse for a 15K Smart car. Not in R&D and not it cost to manufacture. At best it should be a 8K car. It isn't as technically as advanced as a motorcycle. Take the Auto industry down a peg and find other ways to get from point A to point B and maybe we would get the cars we deserve rather that the cars they feel like making. All auto dealers should be like Saturn or Lexus not like VW. When you walk in you are the customer and shouldn't be treated like a patsy. So if the auto dealers are suffering maybe they should think about treating customers like they matter rather than a cow to milk. But that is just how I feel. I will not be interested in any "new" car produced right now because they are not "new" but only redone from what they already had. Even the new small diesels they are talking about sending are only cars they already produce some place else. So I will drive what I have till the wheels fall off unless they come up with something that that is truly new and worth looking at.
#58 of 654 kind of ironic by explorerx4 Dec 01, 2008 (2:47 pm)
i drove by a closed ford dealer a few days ago, and there were 2 model t's in the showroom. Replies to this message: fintail (Dec 01, 2008 4:10 pm)
#59 of 654 Re: kind of ironic [explorerx4] by fintail Dec 01, 2008 (4:10 pm)
Replying to: explorerx4 (Dec 01, 2008 2:47 pm) I wonder if they were leftover '27s

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