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Z-06

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Everything posted by Z-06

  1. Z-06
    I think the Buick sedan trio is too close to each other's comforts. Verano should be where it is, move Regal to the size of Lacrosse and push Lacrosse into a RWD/AWD platform. Chevy also has the same problem when it comes to sizing of its trio. However, given the volume Chevy generates for its sedans, there is less a simplistic answer. First you should start with Malibu being right sized, packaged and competent in the mid-size market. Then push Impala up and move Cruze down. Why do I say that? Because - mid-size is possibly the "perception" market and unarguably the battleground where competition is stiffest and margins are less. Getting Malibu right is paramount. Which means, getting next generation epsilon platform to perfection is very important. All the incompetencies of existing EP II platforms must be removed (interior packaging, weight, width). Impala will be gravy on Malibu's mashed potatoes. Cruze needs more than one body style and power train just like the Focus. Cruze is too monotonous like the Corolla and other than Cruze, Corolla and Sentra, no other small car has just one body style and power train (let's ignore Cruze D for a while). That is not an exciting company to be with.
  2. Z-06
    It is a cultural thing for sure. It is marketing and product both, I get that. Vehicles GM spends money on developing and then advertises every year sell. But some cars are done a shoe string, get advertised then forgotten about and left to die. I haven't seen many Regal ads on TV lately, and they ran all the time when it first came out. Hypocrisy much?
  3. Z-06
    Well, Cadillac has made that statement already by having the Escalade as its pricier model... Escalade is not that.
  4. Z-06
    In the May 2013 GM sales thread you were proven wrong.
  5. Z-06
    Yes, GM needs solid FWD sedans and it has historically sucked at solid FWD sedans. Last year Malibu sold ~31,000 units in June, that ~10,000 unit drop is huge, given Impala did not move too much iron. MCE for Lacrosse and Regal may not push those cars enough to pull Buick out of the rut. I think Buick sales may peak in US at 20,000 per month.
  6. Z-06
    One of my friends got a lemoned BMW 550i so he was pushed into an S class (both MB and BMW share same dealership). The list price of the car was $109,000; he got it for $92,500. So much for the S klasse's value leadership.
  7. Z-06
    This proposition is not unacceptable. In fact Cadillac should perfect the S Class competitor and then gun for the Bentleys. So may be another 7years or so when Omega is ready for an update engineering and design changes can be made to accmodate a bigger sedan. However, having a non-sedan (coupe/convertible) as a true flagship is more intriguing than the boring bodystyle if Cadillac wants to make a true statement.
  8. Z-06
    Dear Toyota, Welcome to the first steps in bankruptcy. Sincerely, GM (and Chrysler)
  9. Z-06
    So it is not a LS3 but the 6.0L truck engine making ~350hp and yet pushing aside the 425 hp SS? That is sweet James. Again, why is this vehicle not here?
  10. Z-06
    I would say probably worse than Camaro due to bed in the back.
  11. Z-06
    I like GM is taking the past perception of Diesel being unclean head on.
  12. Z-06
    Agreed there Reg. GM is playing a little too defensively that it's hurting the creativity and bringing mediocrity. It wants to make money from these vehicles, but it does not want to put too much efforts and money that if the vehicles become polarizing they will fail to deliver. But with the defensiveness, that is precisely what is going on. Looking at the efforts put in the Corvette and the CTS, which to me are 99%+ products in execution, I see no reason to believe GM is capable of doing the same for the rest of its lineup.
  13. Z-06
    It is going to be a long 4/5 years for GM with this duckling.
  14. Z-06
    A good start. I hope GM does not chase the Germans by offering equipments that should be standard for this price range as options and charging arms, legs and crotches for them. Put the base priced directly in line with Germans, but offer tremendous value that should be the mantra. Like the 2014 Corvette, this car is another 99.9% (nothing is perfect) effort from GM unlike the other compromises we have seen.
  15. Z-06
    It is a cultural thing for sure. It is marketing and product both, I get that. Vehicles GM spends money on developing and then advertises every year sell. But some cars are done a shoe string, get advertised then forgotten about and left to die. I haven't seen many Regal ads on TV lately, and they ran all the time when it first came out. VW can advertise the luxury brands in Kiplinger because that is cheap to do and it is targeted. GM has to buy ads during NBA finals, prime time sit-coms, NFL games, etc, they are buying high dollar media because they need to hit mass market eyeballs. Ford and Toyota are in the same boat, but I think Ford does a better job of keeping a fresh and well advertised line up than Chevy does. Again none of your points above support your earlier point of marketing makes or breaks a product. You are now just beating the dead horse. Back to the topic, for starters, GM historically has sucked at successfully packaging, placing and delivering FWD sedans and in modern cars, nothing dramatic has been improved to take that statement away. The 2008 Malibu and the Cruze came close, but not complete. Second, GM lack of direction in finishing the product also hurts. Case in point ATS. There are smaller chinks in ATS' armor which are now being picked on such as lack of manual transmission, small trunk and back seat, gearing of the automatics, etc. I am going to ignore the rants about the CUE and interior quality (latest from Car and Driver), which I believe is far superior than the Tupperware products placed in the BMW 3 series. Another examples - the new Silverado and the limited "you order we build only" SS sedan. Third, GM's marketing is still a mess.after many heads, agencies, consultants getting a chance. Finally, the most important, GM needs to redefine its values and core. You cannot not have those before defining your business. And in fact after bankruptcy, I am yet to see those in GM.
  16. Z-06
    SMK, marketing is a small part of the equation. What part of that you don't understand? You make it sound like products make or break because of marketing alone. That is not the case. GM's lack of advertising products after initial blitzkreig is more of a company's cultural issue than a monetorial issue, which cannot be fixed even if there is one Brand and tons of money to waste on. And for your information about Bentley, Porsche not marketing look at Forbes, Kiplinger other financial magazines you will realize how much marketing those companies do.
  17. Z-06
    Name: Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (2008) Date Added: 11 June 2013 - 10:39 PM Owner: Z-06 Short Description: None Provided View Vehicle
  18. Z-06
  19. Z-06
    Get off your bi-brand theory because it is working so well for Ford (May 2013 - Ford Brand ~240,000, Lincoln 7,000)! VW has 7 brands passenger car brands in EU with a similar sized market as US. Both those examples hurt your theory. And if you missed previous iterations, GMC has little investment with much better margin than other way around. It is management of resources NOT number of brands which GM is poor at. What makes you think GM will be better of with even TWO brands if the mentality of marketing you are depicting above is true?
  20. Z-06
    Example: no Chevy Trax here. It would sell 80k here Practically a HHR replacement. GM lost 100,000 units per annum sales by removing HHR. Cruise did not have coupe or hatchbacks, which would have notched another 50,000 in sales, given success of Ford Focus. Now Avalanche will lose another 30,000 units. These quantities, which GM calls small suddenly add up. Totalling them is ~180,000, which is February 2013 sales! The problem is GM did not offer comparative replacements for those brands in other existing brands.
  21. Z-06
    No one opposes the car, it is the packaging which can be improved First off - offer the LT1 with genuine 6 speed or 7 speed manual transmission to at least make it worthy of a 4 door Corvette. Second off - price it at $40,000 not $46,000; if it has less standard equipment then so be it. Thirdly, it weighs ~4,000 not 4,200 lbs.
  22. Z-06
    Another 95% effort from GM. It seems like GM has a trend for these niche models. GTO, SSR and now this - offer with lesser powertrain for a lot more dough to attain nicheness. The press will hammer the car, GM will realise it was a mistake, offer better powertrain but by that time the damage has been done. Does GM want these niche cars to fail?
  23. Z-06
    The industry grew by an average 8% for the month of May, GM grew by only 3% in the same duration. The industry outgrowing GM has been the case over the last couple of years. Last year lack of inventory from Japanese car manufacturers prevented GM from losing (in fact gaining) market share. GM needs to seriously think of the root causes and find fixes.
  24. Z-06
    GM needs to find ways to bring volume to its main stream cars (Cruze, Malibu and Impala). GMC and Buick and Cadillac will be volume restricted icings on cake. GM needs a strong Chevy. The entire Chevy lineup barring the C7 is nothing to brag about; everything is 90 - 95% cooked with missing final attention to details. Ford is strikingly close without Lincoln helping it.
  25. Z-06
    That is if you pay MSRP on Accord. True car has it selling for $22,000 that is not the case for the Passat.
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