Quote:
Originally Posted by BerettaZ
So, if Saturn loses its no haggle, customer service as a priority philosophy, and sell them along side Buicks, GMCs, and Pontiacs, wouldn't this officially make Saturn the Oldsmobile replacement  |
Hopefully, the B-P-G dealerships gain the excellent customer service, a la Saturn, and adopt the no haggle process as well. From what I hear, Pontiac dealers could stand to learn a lot with customer service. And if this is true, Pontiac is the end of Redline for Saturn, and Super for Buick. Doesn't this defeat the point of a "niche" dealership for GM? If they are transferring Saturn to "move the metal" then its all about volume. Furthermore, I don't know how they could market such similar brands in a different fashion, they already have a hard enough time with the dealership as is, but then throw Saturn into the mix, and its just plain chaos. I'm suggesting a plan, whether it works, is ultimately up to GM and the consumer, but I'm throwing my best idea out there anyways.
Saturn:
Astra - 1.4 Turbo, 1.8 Ecotec Turbo (Gamma II?)
Aura - 1.8 Ecotec Turbo, 2.0 Ecotec (235hp) (Epsilon II)
Zafira - 1.4 Turbo, 2.0 Ecotec (Delta II)
Saturn is touted as the Green machine or something dorky like that, it eliminates the need for a small Pontiac or Buick, and allows both brands to explore more "niche-like" products. Saturn is also the brand which offers a diesel engine in each of its cars, a 1.9 Turbo producing around 155 hp, and lots of torque.
Pontiac:
Solstice - 1.8 Ecotec Turbo, 2.0 Ecotec (Kappa II)
Grand Prix/Firebird - 2.0 Ecotec, 3.6 DI V6 (Alpha)
Bonneville/GTO - 3.6 DI V6, 6.0 (L76) V8 (Zeta)
Pontiac is the next step up, featuring performance out of its entirely RWD product line. Its basically everything Pontiac should be, but isn't currently.
Buick:
Invicta - 1.4 Ecotec Turbo, 1.8 Ecotec Turbo (On Delta II)
LeSabre - 2.0 Ecotec Turbo, 3.0 DI V6, 3.6 DI V6
Riviera - 2.0 Ecotec Turbo, 3.6 DI V6 *coupe or hardtop 'vert (Epsilon II)
Enclave - 3.0 DI V6, 3.6 DI V6 (Lambda)
Buick is really going all out, its luxury for the everyday man, woman and child. They aren't Cadillacs and don't pretend to be either, its just American luxury that draws on traditional cues, yet is very modern as far as engines, transmissions, creature comforts.
*Note that all three brands stated use either Ecotec or High Feature V6 variants, this helps to eliminate the High Value family (not that there's anything wrong with it, but its cost effective to eliminate it)
GMC:
Canyon/Terrain - 3.0 DI V6, 3.6 DI V6, based on Theta II
Sierra/Yukon - 4.2 Inline-Six (Atlas), 5.3 V8, 6.2 V8, 4.0 Diesel
Hybrid and Denali trim levels take up the rest of GMC.
And another thought, where does this leave Hummer and Saab? If they are sold off, GM is left with a Chevy dealer, a B-P-S-G dealer, and a Cadillac dealer. I say that Saab should get partnered with Chevy, and sell its European roots out.