GM Eager To Keep Pontiac & Saturn Customers; 1.6m To Get Free Oil Change Coupon

[JeffInDFW]

Originally Posted by BerettaZ

I agree. I'm not concerned about resale on my G8 the least bit. Nor would I be concerned if I had a Sky or Solstice. Now my Vue, on the other hand, will drop like a rock, as will Auras, G6s, etc...

I do agree with you. The Solstice/Sky and G8 will most likely do well on resale value because of the short run and nothing like them available. I have a 2009 Sky, and they only built 4000 total for the model year. It is also a redline (turbo), and a 5 speed, and a Ruby Red limited edition (367 redline RRLEs built), so I"m hoping all those factors help. The G8 speaks for itself. Short model run, and you can't get anything like it anywhere else. If you get a 6 speed GXP, you are sitting pretty on resale....

Other questions asked.....No, they only built a coupe version of the Solstice, not one for the Sky. Resale value of discontinued brands cars usually takes a hit in their mainstream offerings.

[Buick61]

I mean, 1.6 million oil changes can't be cheap. How effective do you think it will be?

Would it not be more noteworthy if they sent people a non-standard gift? Like a $59 iPod shuffle with GM's logo on it? Maybe loaded with songs that mention GM vehicles? I'm sure Apple would give them a volume discount if they bought a million of them!

[prototype66]

Here's an idea..........Don't shut down Pontiac and Saturn!
Reduce the size of the offerings and keep them tied to where they were!
Keep BPG together and pair Saturn to Cadillac (to fill the Hummer spot).
offer 3-4 lines with 2-3 ranges and keep your loyal customers.
It may take a few years to re-organize but people will wait. if it's done right!

[jaywestfall]

Susan, you must access the wisdom of John Z. DeLorean.

Chant: What would John do? What would John do? What would John do?

[ledfoot73]

Does my 65 GTO qualify for the oil change offer. Wait, I didn't buy it new, oh well.

[camaro_freak]

Originally Posted by Buick61

I mean, 1.6 million oil changes can't be cheap. How effective do you think it will be?

Would it not be more noteworthy if they sent people a non-standard gift? Like a $59 iPod shuffle with GM's logo on it? Maybe loaded with songs that mention GM vehicles? I'm sure Apple would give them a volume discount if they bought a million of them!

That would require actual thought and we know with the killing of both brands GM has done none of that.

[TJ95GAGT]

So, will this voucher include the fine print saying something along the line of: free oil change up to 5qrts of oil?

[Murrow]

To all the naysayers, please keep in mind this is probably just step one in retaining these customers. GM is trying to create an incentive for people to go to a new dealer, to meet a new service manager, etc. I think this program is an important first step in creating that relationship.

Once the relationships are established, I suspect vouchers, etc. will be more effective. In other words, the thinking is probably that people are going to be more willing to buy a new car from a dealership they're already familiar with.

I don't think there's a need to rush out vouchers or loyalty incentives, etc. It's not like the 1.6 million people they're targeting are all in the market for a new car right now.

[ejfx]

This hardly costs GM a thing...I think many people will still use it even if they are pissed...it keeps the service dept busy...and gets people in the showrooms

[tbirderic]

I don't think this is smart, because in the eyes of most car owners, an oil change equals a $25 service, and that's the value they'll put on this. Does not matter that the service procedure at a GM dealership involves far more than changing oil, it's the price you pay elsewhere that people will see.

Personally, I think Saturn and Pontiac owners should have been offered a voucher for purchasing a GM vehicle from another division. I'm pretty sure this was what they did with Oldsmobile...

Anyone else have other ideas of how to retain these orphan owners?

[YGmMatters]

Originally Posted by ZvetteGuy

Well, you all can nit-pic all you want... but, at least the General is trying some things to 'persuade' some to stay with them. If they did nothing at all... you all would still be complaining that not a single thing was done to keep the Pontiac and Saturn consumers within the family.

I give them props for trying 'something' instead of nothing!

P.S. I'm a GM enthusiast that posts on a GM blog site... surprise surprise... I see nothing but GM bashing. *sigh*

I agree. GM is trying. A free oil change may at least get some past customers into GM dealerships.

[ddomino]

I have a 08 Vue Redline and I leased it..so who is the smart one now? In a year, I'm going to get a Terrain

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by ZvetteGuy

Well, you all can nit-pic all you want... but, at least the General is trying some things to 'persuade' some to stay with them. If they did nothing at all... you all would still be complaining that not a single thing was done to keep the Pontiac and Saturn consumers within the family.

I give them props for trying 'something' instead of nothing!

P.S. I'm a GM enthusiast that posts on a GM blog site... surprise surprise... I see nothing but GM bashing. *sigh*

Indeed.

Although a rebate on a new GM vehicle may be more effective at retaining customers, even if it does cost more.

[ProjectRS]

hahaha free oil change?
FAIL

[JeffInDFW]

Originally Posted by TJ95GAGT

So, will this voucher include the fine print saying something along the line of: free oil change up to 5qrts of oil?

I also have a Viper...Well, my Dodge dealership has me on their mailing list where I get coupons for service, and EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM says "Offer excludes Viper". Uh.....then maybe stop sending me this stuff?!!?

I don't know....Maybe this "free oil change thing" is a good deal. This way, GM can get the Saturn owners to be introduced to the surviving GM dealerships. Gets them used to going there for their warranty and service items, and then they will be more likely to walk thru the showroom to see whats there....

From being on the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky forums, there is a surprising amount of anger aimed at GM for killing not only their beloved cars, but their brands too. Especially among the Saturn crowd.