VenSeattle

A lot of the media must be extremely disappointed. They were "predicting" Toyota to have a 30% increase in sales... such as quoted in this article.

Oh... you mean right before it became the best selling large car in the US? :P

As empowah mentioned... I have a Thrifty Rental across the street from Bellevue Buick-Pontiac-GMC. They always have at least two 300s sitting out front waiting to be rented.

and if you STILL don't believe it and want to deny it... check out Thrifty's rental vehicle line-up on their website:

http://thriftyrentals.com/ourcars.aspx

Well, if GM wanted to charge $20k to $30k more for a DTS then Cadillac would offer more luxury/ultra luxury features but lets be realistic... a top-of-the-line & fully loaded DTS will still be less expensive than a base Lexus LS430. To get several of those luxury features on the LS430, you'll have to go up to and over $70k which the DTS doesn't even come close to in price.

Just to mention, I see LaCrosses all the time in the Seattle & on the Eastside... So they appear to be selling quite well up here.

That's good to know that the last LeSabre hasn't been made yet... It deserves a proper farewell considering how long it's been in production.

Its also helpful for Buick to be selling the Lacrosse with an employee discount whereas the 300 does not have any rebates.  That's probably a big reason why more Lacrosses are sold.

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It doesn't mean dealerships aren't offering the discount on 300s...

For example:

http://www.nalleychryslerjeep.com/Specials-New.aspx

Just filled up for $3.03 a gallon... that was for Premium Unleaded. Regular is still hovering around $2.90.

I think he was being sarcastic.

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Yeah... I think he was too... here is another site:

http://cadillacbicycles.com/ :D

GM & Shell announce partnership:

http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/adv_te...ell_050103.html

GM's Advanced Technology information site for Hydrogen/Fuel cells:

http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/adv_te..._fcv/index.html

Fuel cell Milestones (progress):

http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/adv_te...milestones.html

Shell's hydrogen and fuel cell technology site:
http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=hydrogen-en

I think it already happened back in May 2005. I believe Hamtramck has already started producing the 2006 Cadillac DTS.

Yeah... $3k is a big deal when it comes to content on economy cars. For the price of the Mazda, you could have had a fully loaded Cobalt LT w/Leather interior + simulated wood trim (that would have helped with the "budget & stark" feel), power everything, side curtain airbags, and upgraded stereo with XM radio.

Great pic. :) Hmmmm... but (as others have mentioned) it does appear smaller than what I thought a Zeta vehicle would be. Will Zeta still be in SWB & LWB versions? Because Torana was suppose to show off the potential of a "Beta" platform... Why my concern? A Zeta vehicle should not be close enough in size to cause confusion between it and the up-coming (smaller... almost compact) 2008 Cadillac CTS. That just seems to be "Beta" territory. Maybe a SWB Zeta can be small enough to cover the compact/midsize segment?

Tagline is now missing when I view the header in IE.

I usually start at the top and work my way down...

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Why do I feel you use that method in more than one situation? :P :lol:

I really can't see how someone not grossly familiar with SAAB 9-3 would know the BLS is related (how many can there be... honestly). There's very little shared inside & out that would actually hint to the design not being original to the BLS. Sure it's a compact & FWD, but a lot of premium European cars are. It looks good to me. I think it would look better in a different color. The blue that it originally debuted in was very nice.

Have you tried viewing C&G in IE? It might have to do with you using Firefox...

Here's how I see the Forum:

Sometimes personal observation does not equal reality. The article even explains that is what they're doing:

Reducing commercial deliveries is a company wide initiative at GM, but it's especially important at Buick, given its relatively poor residual values caused by numerous stodgy products, a lack of investment and an aging buyer demographic.

“We really are reducing the amount of business we do in the fleet market. We'll still do some fleet business in certain markets, especially when there is nothing else in GM that can do that job, like the Rendezvous (cross/utility vehicle,)” Brooks says.

“Whatever we do, we're going to do it judiciously. We did some premium fleet business with the LaCrosse (midsize sedan), and we'll do a little with Lucerne. But we're going to reduce that part of our business. It's critical to helping the resale value of our products.”

Buick started doing this in 2003... notice that 2005 is the 3rd year in a row for market share drop/sales drop. 2003, 2004, & now 2005.

Q. How can retail sales be up when overall sales & market share are down?
A. Fleet sales have been reduced.

Right underneath the header to the left:

Logged in as: VenSeattle ( Log Out )

Okay... to break some of this down... let's see:

1) Sales declining:

Through July, Buick sales are trailing year-ago's results by 4.3%.

but

However, Buick's retail sales are up 3% this year through July, Brooks says

This means Buick has been selling less to fleet and more to customers... hence the percentage drop in overall sales. GM announced years ago that Buick would be slowly backing off from high amounts of fleet sales. GM NEVER stated they would increase retail sales to compensate on a "1 to 1" level with fleet sales. Retail sales are more profitable to GM so this is actually GOOD NEWS.

Buick's goal right now is to increase retail sales. That will determine Buick's market viability. Buick is increasing retail sales.

Plain and simple: More individual customers have bought a LaCrosse, LeSabre, Terraza, Rendezvous, & Rainier this year than customers who bought a Regal, Century, LeSabre, Park Avenue, Rendezvous, & Rainier last year.

2) Product cuts, what does it really mean:

For 2005 Buick has disco'd 3 sedans, added 1 new sedan and 1 new minivan.

Besides the LeSabre, Buick has discontinued production since last year of the Regal and Century midsize sedans and the Park Avenue large car. During the same timeframe it has added the Terraza minivan to its lineup.

Yet, retail sales are up from 2004 and Fleet sales are down???? That's actually pretty DAMN spectacular. For those who think the Terraza is selling poorly, it's selling better than the Saturn Relay and equal to the Montana SV6 that's sharing the showroom floor with the Terraza.

The Relay doesn't even have a separate minivan to compete with in the Saturn showroom.

3) Who are buying the new Buicks?

“One of the things we've seen during the last two months, 50% of the people who bought a LaCrosse told us that if they didn't buy a LaCrosse, their second choice was a non-GM product. So we're able to maintain buyers in the fold.”

Besides the Sable joke, the fact is the LaCrosse attracted A LOT of non-GM buying customers in June and July. That's the type of penetration GM needs with Buick's new products. More retail sales to the non-traditional Buick buyer. More retail sales from customers NOT CROSS-SHOPPING OTHER GM PRODUCTS.



Yes... actually A LOT of good news in this article.

It was only a matter of time until ocnblu managed to work in the word "penetration"

Nice... I love the Alfa Romeo-ness of it all.

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I thought Alfa too... looks great!

7 10

Yeah... no point in a Z-Series if every Chevy has an SS trim.

Martha Stewart won't be the only outlet for Buick marketing... but it is a smart move in my opinion. The marketing won't appeal to you in particular, but it wasn't meant to either. :) Buick needs to be exposed to several different markets and become a viable brand in those markets. Martha Stewart is in this to make money and rebuild the empire. Buick will get the chance to be associated with several current and up-and-coming premium brands. All the while still getting coverage with the 30-50 year old female audience.