Only@GMI: Cadillac Zeta Car Rumored Dead

[GMC-70]

Originally Posted by Al63240

The G8 isn't selling well? This is the first that I have heard this. Are there sales numbers anywhere?

A friend of mine is the finance manager at the local dealership and he said they can't get enough of them. The longest one has sat on the lot so far is 9-10 days.

I hope you are correct, but the other day I noticed a nice white G8 with an older couple driving it (probably 60s-early 70's). I thought that was a bit strange and then I noticed the dreaded red dot on the back bumper.

Apparently this G8 was a rental--really, really suprised about this. If GM is just supplying some as a "get the word out" sort of thing then great. But if its becuase they are not moving on the dealer lots then the G8 is in trouble already!

BTW it is a great looking car and I really hope it makes it in the market!

[fp115]

Originally Posted by Sal Collaziano

You're right. But smart manufacturers like BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Lexus aren't taking the options away from their customers - they're simply making them pay for it. Right now, BMW (for example) is paying the CAFE fines on their own. If they continue to increase, they'll pass them on to the customer - who will GLADLY pay the fine to have the vehicle they want.

I wish Cadillac would let me pay for the vehicle I want...

Don't be so sure about that. BMW's last price increase infuriated many customers. Why would anyone want to pay a premium for a car that doesn't really have anything special to it. You think people will want to pay a $2k premium for a V8 RWD car just because 2% can afford it and want that kind of car? Answer is no, you want to attract the an audience, not a portion of the audience. BMW is going to have a very hard time keeping up and staying profitable if it continues on its current path. Mercedes will be no better, however Mercedes can allow itself the luxury of doing so much more since their target has a much higher income than BMW and Cadillac.

[fp115]

Originally Posted by GMC-70

I hope you are correct, but the other day I noticed a nice white G8 with an older couple driving it (probably 60s-early 70's). I thought that was a bit strange and then I noticed the dreaded red dot on the back bumper.

Apparently this G8 was a rental--really, really suprised about this. If GM is just supplying some as a "get the word out" sort of thing then great. But if its becuase they are not moving on the dealer lots then the G8 is in trouble already!

BTW it is a great looking car and I really hope it makes it in the market!

Although it sells decently in Canada, the main reason it isn't selling as well as it should is simply due to having such a large powertrain and being RWD. Many of the customers are complaining that they don't want a V8 and sometimes don't even want a V6. Mind you they don't even see the EPA ratings, but to them they just assume a V8 is bad on gas and a V6 isn't that good either.

[Rick_VT]

Sounds like a bad move by GM large luxury cars need to RWD and its just plain sensible to use Zeta as the basis for this, its why this platform was designed in the 1st place, they are making all there other cars to go on platforms for specific sized cars this one needs to be on a upcale version of Zeta, GM spent a Billion designing this platform then need to utilize it to its maximum to recoup investment and to make every vehicle that uses it more profitable, maybe they will just delay it a 12-18 months till there in better position to spend money needed on such a car.

[mcool]

If this is true, then this is extremely dire for both brands. I believe it's worse for Cadillac because if new product for Caddy isn't borne hear, there isn't another market that's incubating significant product for the brand. At least Buick can lean on China for future direction.

Cadillac's sucking wind on the Escalade range right now, the XLR just got a so-so MCE, the STS frankly pales in comparison to the CTS while living at a higher pricepoint. Without a new car built on Alpha and a top of the line S-Class fighter, where the heck is Cadillac poised to go?

The new SRX is fine, and the CTS coupe and wagon look great, but that's only two niches. I'm all for Cadillac to get out of the livery business, but not if Buick has to ditch that potential volume as well.

Hopefully these rumors don't prove true.

[KingElvis]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

If the cash is not there, then the cash is not there.

It would seem that GM is pouring all available resources into the Volt and plug-in Vue. Everything else can wait. Other than the Cruze and Beat (and even even with them, U.S. introduction is delayed), what else is getting pushed forward? All I can think of are a couple of CTS variants and the Camaro.

I do wonder if this has to do with limited resources rather than some kind of pullback from rear drive in general. Maybe the oats just aren't there and GM is basically in triage mode.

Still, a flagship sedan SHOULD be where all the profit margin is.

Hope this isn't like burning the furniture just to keep warm.

[Rick_VT]

Originally Posted by GMC-70

I hope you are correct, but the other day I noticed a nice white G8 with an older couple driving it (probably 60s-early 70's). I thought that was a bit strange and then I noticed the dreaded red dot on the back bumper.

Apparently this G8 was a rental--really, really suprised about this. If GM is just supplying some as a "get the word out" sort of thing then great. But if its becuase they are not moving on the dealer lots then the G8 is in trouble already!

BTW it is a great looking car and I really hope it makes it in the market!

I think i read the other day that it has about a 27 day turn around which they said was good, not sure if it is over there, and if i really struggle to remember i think 1500 sold the last month

[MrJamesMc]

I'm sick of all the bad news I've been hearing lately!

[megeebee]

Originally Posted by Al63240

The G8 isn't selling well? This is the first that I have heard this. Are there sales numbers anywhere?

A friend of mine is the finance manager at the local dealership and he said they can't get enough of them. The longest one has sat on the lot so far is 9-10 days.

I suppose it depends on how one defines "well". The latest figures that I can find are for January through June of this year. Through June 30 G8 sales were 6270, with 1536 in June. This according to Automotive News Data Center. The number sold to rental or other fleets is not broken out.

The break-down by individual nameplate for July has not been posted yet.

That would put it on a track to sell about 12,000 for the year. You'll have to ask GM if that qualifies as a "success".

[T-Type]

Originally Posted by MrJamesMc

I'm sick of all the bad news I've been hearing lately!

Get used to it. We've got a least another year's worth of bad news ahead of us. 2010/11 should be when things start to turn around (hopefully).

[sigma]

Originally Posted by megeebee

I suppose it depends on how one defines "well". The latest figures that I can find are for January through June of this year. Through June 30 G8 sales were 6270, with 1536 in June. This according to Automotive News Data Center. The number sold to rental or other fleets is not broken out.

The break-down by individual nameplate for July has not been posted yet.

That would put it on a track to sell about 12,000 for the year. You'll have to ask GM if that qualifies as a "success".

Considering they were going to import between 10-15,000 a year, especially with the sinking dollar making every sale significantly less profitable, I would say that it is meeting its albeit low expectations.

[ghughes]

16, please(you retarded f**ks) and the buick. I mean, some will be happy that they focus on a BMr 1-sized car, but that HAS NO PLACE in the lineage of these brands nor expertise of GM!!!! - D I S A S T E R - GM, please watch the sopranos and see what sedans they drive in order to get a feel for what was once your stronghold.

[FierySolstice]

Motortrend reported that that the large Caddy was almost completed that the only thing GM had to do was to rework the headlights because they were too busy. I doubt they would cut it after doing all the work already.

[t-rex]

Originally Posted by Family Man

The general publics wants a good, fuel efficient car now.

The general public can't afford Cadillacs. Trust me, the well-heeled aren't being affected one bit by high fuel prices.

This cements my contention that GM treats its flagship division not like the luxury brand it deserves, but as a tarted-up Chevrolet (which it's always been anyway).

[ghughes]

, for one, am happy that GM is doing this. How many potential sales would be lost? 10k/20k per year? - no, genius. The deville/dts has been selling 129k to 170k for 30 f**ing years- still sells over 120k when combined with the lucerne.