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smk4565

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Everything posted by smk4565

  1. smk4565
    I think Buick and Chevy sedans both appeal to older folks so it turns off a lot of buyers. Chevy Cruze, Sonic or the Cobalt before it seem like the car for 20-somethings that can't afford better, the Malibu/Impala are either rental cars or for the grandparents that can't afford a Buick. My first car was a Chevy, I owned one in college, and then I moved on, I can't ever see myself buying a Chevy again because of the down-market image. Buick after being for the 70+ crowd for years has done a good job trying to change the perception, but I think they are still mostly a Chevy in better sheet metal. Buick may not get overlooked because of downmarket image, but Buick doesn't have a lot of cool-factor going for it to bring in younger buyers.
  2. smk4565
    What they should do is merge the Regal and LaCrosse into one car (in between in size) to compete against the Avalon, Azera, etc and then make either a Park Ave on Epsilon 2 that basically erases the XTS, or build a rear drive Park Ave to compete with the Chrysler 300, Hyundai Genesis, etc that is full size $35-45,000.
  3. smk4565
    It may be, but it is the #3 selling vehicle in the country behind the F150 and Silverado. So why does it sell? Consumers know and trust it. I'm not saying Chevy should make the Malibu drive like a Camry, but they need to build in the consumer confidence.
  4. smk4565
    Problem with the Malibu is beyond a sport or LTZ or Eco trim, it is that the car overall isn't that good, and the consumer perception of the Malibu is poor at best. The Camry and Accord have legendary reputations, they can sell on that alone. The Sonata, Optima and Fusion have great looks, great feature content, great driving dynamics which helps them sell cars. Plus the Altima is the #5 selling vehicle in 2012, another good product with a good reputation. The car basically needs restyled inside and out, better build quality and more marketing. They barely advertise it, and the ads are weak, the car is so bland there is nothing even to put in the ads to lure buyers in. I think the warranty needs to be bigger too, perhaps doubled, because people buy Toyota/Honda due to belief in low ownership cost and reliability, Hyundai used a mega warranty to combat that, Chevy needs to also.
  5. smk4565
    Agreed. This is a segment that GM never seems to go all in on. It is the biggest segment in the auto industry and GM comes out with a less than mediocre 2004 Malibu, an average 2008 Malibu, and a sub-par 2013 Malibu. They need to put way more focus on the Malibu, it should be seen as the most important vehicle in all of GM, but it isn't. They almost need to blow it up and start over, a refresh of crap is not going to compete with the 400,000 units a year Camry.
  6. smk4565
    The current baby boomers are about 55-65, and many have disposable income to buy new cars. The average age of a new car buyer is over age 50 after all. Toyota loves this demographic, just as this demographic loves Toyota, while American cars turned to junk in the 70s and 80s, the Baby boomers flocked to imports. Buick historically has been selling to the baby boomer's parents, I think they'd be happy to get 50-60 year olds in their cars. But regardless of age, the Regal doesn't really line up with the attributes of the rest of the line up.
  7. smk4565
    Their naming schemes are getting a big crazy, they should have stuck with 3-series and had different body styles. And shouldn't a 428i have 4 doors, if anything, the 228i should have 2 doors. I think this is a way to charge more money for a coupe by making people think a 4-series is better than a 3-series. We'll see how long this lasts too when 3-series sales get split up and the C-class outsells the 3-series, then BMW loses bragging rights.
  8. smk4565
    I tend to agree with you on the comment re the Regal's interior. Opel offers a beige interior in the Insignia, is that interior color availabe in the Regal? The Regal interior comes in beige too, but just overall, the Regal inside and out (being an Opel) has a Euro sport sedan look. It doesn't really fit with what Buick is trying to be, as the softer side of American Luxury and going after that baby boomer and older group that may otherwise buy a Toyota/Lexus or Chrysler or Lincoln.
  9. smk4565
    The Verano is a better package and a problem with the Regal, is I always see it in the charcoal grey interior, it is a cold, euro look interior, and too sporty for a Buick. Buick interiors need to be warmer and more toward the soft side of luxury. Look at the sales of the Camry/Avalon/ES350. The beige leather and walnut wood trim look works. The Regal, Lacrosse and Enclave fit what you expect of Buick. So many brands do "sport sedans" but not everyone wants a sport sedan, some want a slush box luxury car, and I've thought for years if someone made a small one it would sell and the Verano does pretty well. Toyota/Lexus sell a lot of slush boxes because no one challenges them, everyone wants to challenge BMW and lose.
  10. smk4565
    Right now the E-class has a lease offer and a 2.49% finance offer, but no cash back rebates from the manufacturer.
  11. smk4565
    Huge month for the E-class, that is incredible for a car of $50k+ to sell that many.
  12. smk4565
    The ATS is eating away at the CTS, although maybe the XTS is as well, as the CTS does get some of the older "traditional" Cadillac buyers due to lack of other options in the showroom. Although the ATS-CTS-XTS is selling better than what the CTS-DTS-STS did last year. The Regal seems to be dying quickly, the Verano is a much better value and the sales numbers show it. The Lacrosse down I wonder if is in part to people spending more on an XTS, or if the new Camry/Avalon/ES350 trifecta is out now and hurting Buick, probably the latter. Chevy is pretty much what you'd expect, I'm assuming the Malibu sales are the 2013, that thing is still a dud in the mid-size segment. Wouldn't surprise me if 40% or more of Malibu sales are fleet, that car is embarrassing. You'd think being the main sedan of GM competing is the biggest, most competitive segment that they would do more.
  13. smk4565
    No one buys the A8 now... dunno what the future S-class has to do with that. True, it has never been able to break through against the S-class and 7-series. But if their new A8 can't sell against a 7 year old S-class, I imagine a rough year is in store when the new S-class goes on sale.
  14. smk4565
    Anything with a front bench seat or manual crank windows should not sell for over $3,000, and this truck has both.
  15. smk4565
    Odd since they were thinking of making an R10 super car based on the Le Mans race car with a 700 hp TDI engine. But perhaps they know the new S-class goes on sale next year and no one will be buying the A8.
  16. smk4565
    If it wasn't for the China market, Buick would be as dead as Pontiac, Saturn, Oldsmobile, etc. Yes, too bad China saved them.
  17. smk4565
    What makes this very possible is the Firebird is gone and they are going to move Camaro to Alpha. So basically you take the Camaro which will probably have turbo 4, V6 (maybe turbo) and LT1 V8 and that is your basis for Buick. They can change a few body panels and front and rear facias to get the exterior styling to work, then give the Grand National an interior more like the other Buicks. I think it wouldn't be hard to do. If the Camaro (not counting a ZL1) sits in the $25-40k range, I assume the Buick would have to be at least $30k, if not $35-45k, since a Regal is about $30k and a Grand National has to be more than a Regal. So then you have a $35-45k, 350 hp V6 turbo coupe which is going to look better than the ATS. GNX could easily step on the ATS's toes, and if you price the GNX at $50k or more, you sort of price it out of the market, and a Regal GS is $40k, so a GNX could easily be over $50k and into Corvette or mid-level Cadillac territory.
  18. smk4565
    No surprise as the ATS is a better car. It looks better proportioned on the road, (although I still don't love the front end) and the ATS is going to give better handing, ride, fuel economy, same interior, same price. The ATS is basically doing what the CTS did to the STS in 2008. Now the question will be, can the CTS go head on with the 5-series and E-class and sell cars? Cars like the STS and Lexus GS before it have failed, the new CTS will have it's work cut out for it, and it is going to make the XTS pointless I think, but we shall see.
  19. smk4565
    I think the 2025 and even the 2050 G-class will look the same as the current model. It almost has to be the internal joke at Mercedes to see how long they can charge people $125,000 for an SUV that is shorter in length than the M-class and with a design from the 1970s.
  20. smk4565
    I can see adding the color back, but I wouldn't change the logo from the tri-shield. Changing logos confuses people and costs marketing dollars explaining why you did it.
  21. smk4565
    The ELR I assume is going to be a 2+2 coupe, but look at all the 2 and 4 seat coupes that cost in the $50-60,000 range: Next Gen CTS and potential future ATS coupe Chevy Corvette Chevy Camaro ZL1 BMW Z4 BMW 335i/M3 Mercedes E-Class Coupe Mercedes SLK Porsche Boxtser/Cayman Audi A5/S5 The 2 Chevys aren't luxury cars, but the rest are, and the ELR built on the Delta platform and loaded with batteries isn't going to have the sportiness of any of the cars on that list. "Sporty" is a relative term, a Fusion or Optima may feel "sporty" compared to a Camry but in the luxury coupe class the standard is way higher. This ELR is going to have to sell almost only on Eco impact and electric range, which is going to be almost impossible. This car is a waste of money that could be spend on RWD Cadillacs.
  22. smk4565
    The Escalade had a head start, but with 4wd it isn't that hard to get crazy 0-60 times if you throw enough power at it. The GT-R got quicker in 2012 though, the 0-60 time now is 2.7 or 2.9 seconds. I assume Hennessy made the video to make a point and I get it, but what happens when that Escalade hits a corner?
  23. smk4565
    Gotta admit, if they get 90 mpg without a plug in system that is pretty amazing.
  24. smk4565
    This is a good move because the Quattro cars and 911 Turbo AWD, etc launch so much better than a RWD car can. Imagine the V12 hooked to AWD with launch control, instead of spinning tire it will slingshot the car to 60 or 100 mph in no time. But I'm glad RWD is staying, as there is more to a car than launching it off the line and I'd prefer the rwd.
  25. smk4565
    What is going to make the ELR sporty? Compared to say an ATS 3.6 with Magnaride that costs possibly $10-20,000 less. The ELR will probably be the least sporty coupe over $45k on the market. If the interior is Audi A8 level to offset the lack of performance maybe they have something, but most people looking to spend $60k (or whatever this will be) on a coupe are looking for a sports car or grand tourer.
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