Chevy Cruze Pricing; "Likely will sticker for a few thousand more than the Cobalt"

[nsap]

Let's think about this for a moment guys...

If this is an all-new premium compact car and the market is demanding said cars... Well, that is an obvious mix for a price increase. Look at what SUV's did throughout the 1990's. The same is going to happen with small cars. It's starting to happen now (see 2009 Corolla price).

[Ambalanche]

If it were being launched this fall with the Cobalt being built also then I could see a price increase. But this is for a 2010 launch in the US. So if that's the case and it's a 2011 model, it will be like the Cobalt, old before it hit's the ground and that would seem to me to preclude any price increase. I might be off a model year, but I keep hearing 2010 so it sounds like it's two years away. That's too long!

[Quickening]

GM doesn't get it.

[Ambalanche]

You might be right NSAP, but it better truely be a Premium Compact and not like GM's compacts of the past. It can't scrimp on anything if it's going to be taken seriously. Hopefully they've figured that out.

[Cortazzo]

It makes a ton of sense. The market is going to walk away from stripped out base model cheapo new cars. Cars are so reliable today that it is quite a reasonable decision to get a recent model used car. Higher content, better interior, more technology new cars at a moderately higher price point = better quality used cars on the market for those that don't want to pony up.

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Few thousand...as in $16k? $17k?

That isn't that bad, really. Unless you want the absolute basest car available, you're going to spend more than the $15,070 the Cobalt starts at. The 171-hp 2.4VVT Sport with StabiliTrak, 4 wheel discs and 17" wheels starts at $20,355.

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by nsap

Let's think about this for a moment guys...

If this is an all-new premium compact car and the market is demanding said cars... Well, that is an obvious mix for a price increase. Look at what SUV's did throughout the 1990's. The same is going to happen with small cars. It's starting to happen now (see 2009 Corolla price).

The Corolla is terribly overpriced (and overrated), especially considering this new version is pretty much just a reskin.

[sdotjoe]

How about this, sell it at $10K to make yall happy, take a $7K loss, and be bankrupt in 2 years. Who needs to make money anyway. Let's price the CTS starting at $29K and the Malibu at $15K, lets make the people at GMI happy.

[tholland]

I wonder what kind of mileage it could get with BAS+ as standard equipment? They could offer a pretty compelling value over a Prius, for example, rather than justifying a higher price over their current place in the market.

[racy]

Originally Posted by dindak

You just can't price above Corolla/Civic with a new model name with zero street cred.

GM should be careful here.

GM thinks they can do it apparently. And they've been strategically 'right on the money' for what, the past 30 years? uuuhhhhhhhh...

Its hard to root for the home team when the home team is run by idiots, have broken bats, are fat and out of shape.

Fewer and fewer people are buying tickets to the GM games anymore. Their stadiums are in disrepair and hurt the eyes.

I am one of countless many who have given up my season tickets. I bought my first non-GM car this year. Probably won't be my last

[osv_alero]

It would be wise for GM to update the Cobalt and run it along side the new Cruze. Both cars in the lineup would be perfect for todays consumer.

Being able to charge the same as a civic or corolla does not seem unreasnable if the car commands it.

[racy]

Originally Posted by tholland

I wonder what kind of mileage it could get with BAS+ as standard equipment? They could offer a pretty compelling value over a Prius, for example, rather than justifying a higher price over their current place in the market.

Not really. BAS+ adds about a $5k premium. Given it will cost more than the Cobalt, it puts it close to the price point of a Prius.

Base Prius is about $21k. Plus Prius has street cred unequalled by anything in the GM lineup. I don't see how GM can start a new model name with ZERO credibility, and expect to compete.

[BerettaZ]

Originally Posted by Perian

So this begs the question:

If the Cruze will be premium priced, how (and with what), will GM replace the current price point of the Cobalt?

Maybe they'll keep building the Cobalt in a decontented form and rename it "Classic" for 2011. Then they could sell a bunch of 'em to fleets, so that whenever a Civic or Corolla owner rents a car on business, they can tell their friends what outdated, uncompetitive cars GM is still building after all these years

[wescoent]

Originally Posted by dindak

You just can't price above Corolla/Civic with a new model name with zero street cred.

GM should be careful here.

Cruze won't be above the Corolla and Civic... even at $2,000 more expensive than the current Cobalt.

Build a better car, charge a higher price... imagine that. I don't understand why this is an issue.

[TJ95GAGT]

Why is this being discussed? Is the Cruze going to be available in 6months or less? Why create this press? Of course as the quality, content and MPG of vehicles increase there is going to be an increase in the cost but GM doesn't need this kind of press and this press will be forgotten when the SAME thing is written everywhere when the pricing for the Cruze is announced closer to release date.