The GM Repair Book

[PontiacGabe]

I know GM has made some 10 bad mistakes in the past:

1.Arrogance.

2.The Phase Out Of Oldsmobile.

3.The Addition of SAAB.

4.Pontiac,BUICK,GMC dealers(how about Pontiac,Chevrolet Dealers, GMC,Hummer and Buick,Cadillac Dealers?)

5.Bad styling.

6.The AZTEK.

7.GEO Prisim/Toyota Corolla/Pontiac Vibe.

8.Lack of investment in Saturn Products(post 1996).

9.Over Compensation.

10.Layoffs.

But can these be reversed? Some Maybye, others, no. I get a chuckle every time I hear Pontiac,Buick,GMC dealers. Maybye its that Pontiac is associated with Buick, and that could draw away customers from the Octogenarians choice, and Hummer with Cadillac? I mean, when I think of Hummer, I think of grit and ruggedness(well,in my case,yuppies:lol:), but when I think of Cadillac, or Buick(for me) I think of upscale refinement, and Saturn makes me think of dealer chains with no haggle policies and those commercials of the ninties. So why not break up the dealers into their target audiences. Eg, GMC and Hummer should share dealers as they specialise in Lux. Trucks, Pontiac and Chevrolet as the specialise on value and somtimes,but frequently, performance, Buick and Cadillac are the upscale luxury, and Saturn and SAAB should be in the same dealer(european imports/importesque). Also, expand the brands product lineups, I see no reason why Chevrolet cannot have their own version of the Lucerne with styling, engine, and minor interior differences(ie.Less wood trim) to create a sophisticated value leading chevrolet. Beat the Avalon at their own game, low priced near luxury sedan, based on a more expensive model. Then advertising needs to be more hard hitting at competitors. Here is my description of each brand:

Chevrolet:The brand is Toyotas arch rival, although it also competes with Ford,Dodge and the Lower end of Chrysler.

New Slogan:The American Tradition

Cars(Compact/Sub Compact):Malibu,Malibu MAXX,Aveo.

Cars(Mid Size):Impala,Monte Carlo(upscale coupe)

Cars(Full Sized):Caprice Sedan(Lucerne based, with less wood trim and no northstar, only a Monte V8)

Trucks(Mid Sized):Colorado,Trailblazer,Crossover(2009?)

Trucks(Full Sized):Suburban,Silverado,Tahoe.

Vans:Uplander,Uplander Crossover(2009?)

Performance:Camaro,Corvette.

Pontiac:The brand is youth oriented and is positioned at scion and the lowest point of Upscale youth brand Acura, and at Mercury! It is the younger version of Chevrolet, similar to how Scion is a younger Toyota.

New Slogan:Turn the Key and DRIVE!

Cars(Compact/Sub Compact):G6, G9(Sportier version of aveo with features similar to the Scoion xB)

Cars(Mid Size):G8(?),G5(?)

Cars (Performance):GTO(Firebird?), and Solstice.

Saturn:An american Opel! SAABs lower priced cousin, and more youth oriented(ie.late 20s early 30s not 40s or 50s), rival to the higher end of Acura and the lower end of Lincoln and some of Merc.

New Slogan:Its a new kind of Luxury...

Cars(Compact):Spectra(Ion Replacment, based on the Opel Spectra!)

Cars(Mid Sized):Aura

Crossovers:Outlook,VUE.

Cars(Performance):Sky Roadster

SAAB:Upscale Saturn, to compete with lower end of Lexus and the Middle of Lincoln.

New Slogan:SAAB:Jet Powered Automobiles.

Cars(Midsized):95, 95 Wagon,92X,93 Wagon,93 sedan.

Cars(Performance):The all new 9CX sports car, a true halo vehicle for SAAB, a Vette cousin with a lower price tag, and the Saturn Auras engine (and slightly more lux features, to lower the price tag by $10,000, and raise it by $5,000, to create an upscale vette, but a lower priced, less performance oriented, XLR)

Buick:Only one step down from Cadillac, this is one sweet car! It competes with Lexus, Lincoln and the highest end of Chrysler. No northstars allowed, thats a step too far! Chevy V6 and V8 engines with refinements are what Buick shall use!

New Slogan:Premium Luxury at its Finest.

Cars(Mid Sized):LaCrosse, Regal.

Cars(Full Sized):Lucerne

Crossovers:Enclave.

Cadillac:Even further above! This is the ULTIMATE GM Brand, with vehicles fit to lock bumpers with BMW,Mercedes,Audi, and Jaguar. Even more insulation than Buick or Lexus

New Slogan:Uncover The Legacy

Cars(Mid Sized):STS(Northstar V8)

Cars(Full Sized):DTS(Northstar V8, based off of the Lucerne and Caprice)

Trucks:Escalade,Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT.

Crossovers:SRX.

Truck Brands:

GMC:The lux truck brand. If you want a truck with leather and wood trim, go to GMC, leather and other options on Chevrolet trucks should be standard(minus DVD players and XM satellite radio). And SLE and Denali are the trim levels offered on all Trucks and Crossovers.

New Slogan(unchanged):We Are Professional Grade.

Trucks(Mid Sized):Canyon, Canyon Denali.

Trucks(Full Sized):Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL, Sierra Denali,Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali.

Crossovers:Acacia,Acacia Denali.

Vans(2009?):Sorrano,Sorrano Denali.

Hummer:Jeep and GMC combined, all the offroad worthiness of a Jeep, with the luxury of a GMC.

The X trim level is the Hummer version of a Denali.

New Slogan:In a Hummer, Excitement Comes Standard.

Trucks(Compact):H4,H4X

Trucks(Mid Sized):H3,H3T,H3X.

Trucks(Full Sized):H2,H2X,H2 SUT.

[PontiacGabe]

Oh! The Dealers!

Chevrolet Pontiac

Saturn SAAB

Buick Cadillac

GMC Hummer

[Mike The Canadian]

11. Crappy intake manifold gaskets

[PontiacGabe]

Denfinitely a good point! I just listed the top 10...

[staceface]

I think the Pontiac Buick GMC dealerships are a stroke of genius. Its incredibley easy to walk a customer through each vehicle brand for each stage of their life, and extremely convenient to have these three brands in the same store.

Am I misreading your thread in that you'd like Pontiac and Chevrolet paired up? That to me makes no sense.

Edited September 1, 2006 by staceface

[PontiacGabe]

I just think that Pontiac next to Buick would make younger customers think that Pontiac is an old peoples brand if it is in the same room as a Buick! Now I dont think that, but many people do.

You are right about the stages of life, but to give Buick a Premium image, make it next to Cadillac, and let people know that with Cadillac Buick dealers, and value and performance with Chevrolet Pontiac dealers. Trucks would be in GMC Hummer Dealers, and European/Importesque cars would be in Saturn SAAB dealers.