GM's recovery depends on winning over car buyers

[PAULSTS1]

Originally Posted by skylark68

Back to the thread - The Camaro will be an impressive halo car for younger buyers. This car alone will get people back into Chevrolet dealerships so they will see the changes that they have made since just a few years ago in cars.

Hi Skylark68:

How many (16-21 year olds) do you know that have an extra $26K-40K sitting around to buy a "halo car?" The Student Loan program, has blown up and without a college education, only Mickey D's will hire them. This is my issue: The Camaro is a good times car! It will only work given lots of spare cash. You have pointed out that in the 1960's one could have a friend (grease monkey) adjust the car, and it would run. Today's vehicles are all computer controlled each time you take it to a dealership outside of warranty your talking $400, this is in addition to $4.66 per gallon gas, and expensive insurance rates (target vehicle surcharge). These are the points that may get someone into a dealership, and sold something used, or stripped down, such as a Cobalt. I am pointing out real life scenarios, not pie in the sky, fiction.

[vcs2600]

Originally Posted by ChevroletRevived

GM didn't make them because they couldn't make any money on them....

GM claimed that the Cobolt/HHR/G5 program was profitable*, and that was before gas went to $4. Funny what just a little effort can do.

And those cars were basically starting from scratch. Think where GM's small car program could be if they taken it seriously earlier.

* of course with legacy costs and so on, "profitable" is a technical accounting question, but the J cars were admitted money losers for CAFE purposes.

[boblutzfan]

They key for me will be the MPG of the new Buick Sedan due out next year. I really like the look of it based on the small pic released and the spy photographs we have seen on the web. If the Big fold out Buick add showing a "concept" Buick sedan interior is any indication of what the new sedan looks like I will buy one hands down. But for it to be successful it will need to have excellent fuel economy combined with Lexus like quiet.