Quote:
Originally Posted by plane
That depends.
It's a different market now.
There are several other brands can slide in immediately as direct replacements.
If I can buy a Malibu with better styling, equivalent safety and 10% better fuel economy at a lower price, I just might do that.
Not to mention the Saturn Aura, Honda Accord, or similar offerings from other manufacturers.
That level of competition in the North American market did not exist in 1980.
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Ah yes, because they'll want to go GM dealership after the horrible experience they've been having with their cars up until 2005 (and it has yet to be seen if those don't eventually come back - and considering that as a domestic customer you ALWAYS find yourself having to justify your choice in one way or another, that tells you about perception amongst the buying public).
You know that those reliability surveys used to put the Oldsmobile Silhouette
on top of its class? In reality, its reliability is just as piss-poor as its platform siblings (how the heck could it top the foreign minivans of the time, anyhow?), but apparently it didn't matter. I sincerely doubt that the surveys regarding Buick being equal to Lexus in reliability to be any more accurate.
Post 05 you had lemons, which made some owners rage to a point where they made defamation websites, augmenting bad press...
Toyota might have lost the puck for a while, but don't tell me they don't deserve the rep they got. -_-
Malibu is a proof that a superior car and millions in advertising won't bring all the consumers back into the showrooms nearly as quick as you think they will... Albeit it brings a lot, but not enough to be a sales-leading vehicle.