Quote:
Originally Posted by wescoent
I like this dialogue.
For the record, 80%+ of Accords, Camrys, and Altimas are sold with their smooth and efficient I4, and this was BEFORE the fuel disaster this summer.
Aura, Malibu, and G6 should all ensure that they have an excellent I4-auto-6-speed available, and make sure a buyer can get all of the luxury equipment they want with it.
A V6 should not be a "value" option... it should be the high-tech sporty speedster option. If the I4 is built right and is smooth enough, most buyers won't want the V6 anyway.
OHV V6s are a losing proposition. You may list out all these great GM cars with OHV V6's, but these were all built when GM's sales were dropping like a rock, and MOST of those cars were sold to fleet buyers and rental agencies. If buyers don't know the difference, then what's wrong with offering a powerful I4, and leaving the V6 to the highest end version of the car?
|
Exactly about 80% of Camry/Accord/Altima buyers are I-4 models which GM has a better option of now in the Malibu 2.4L 6A, leaving only about 20% of the owners available for "conquest" for GM with a DOHC V6. But the 3.6L V6 costs a fortune to make subsequently forcing GM to drop features accross the Malibu line resulting in lost sales to the 80% of I-4 Camry owners even though the Malibu has a better powertrain and MPG it is not even close on a "value" prospect compared to the Camry LE and SE. As a result GM loses thousands of potential sales to the Camry/Accord/Altima I-4 buyers by trying to go after the minority of buyers of V6 owners - many of which are VERY loyal Toyota/Honda/Nissan owners not likely to even look at a Malibu, putting GM in a very poor position in the overall market.
You guys need to forget all about HP and any other nonsense about DOHC V6 engines, it is about marketing and sales leading to profits and in today's environment survival.
By alienating MILLIONS of happy OHV V6 owners of GM CARS you insure your demise.
Why is this hard to understand???
You actuallly expect me to buy that it is a great idea to go after 100K Toyota/Honda/Nissan owners that MAY look at my V6 offering while not only ignoring but intentionally alienating MILLIONS of buyers that WANT to buy a GM car.
This market is about "value" and the car that gives the best value (price/features) with the highest MPG will own the midsize market.
GM can have that with the OHV V6 Malibu and had they pursued this originally would have sold more Malibu's overall which would have created a buzz among all Midsize buyers and without the cost penalty from teh DOHC V6 the Malibu would have been the hands down best value (Price/features/MPG) in the Midsize market and had better "conquest" sales to the 80% of Camry owners.
Again this is basic, basic, basic marketing - something GM is very poor at.
Toyota and Honda would have never ever alienated existing owners, especially when they represent their largest customer base.
GM has to start retaining the owners it already has.