GMC Should Die… And be Reborn

[TimR]

Originally Posted by Sal Collaziano

I don't see their customers going anywhere but Chevrolet if they can get a GMC or "Denali" rebadge. Because what more is a GMC than a Chevy rebadge and maybe some EXTREMELY light updates?

First of all, they aren't re-badges because the bodies are totally different except cabs and doors, and some content as well. Re-badge is a different badge on the same truck, such as the 97's where the only diff between chevy and gmc was the grille and name on the tailgate.

Everyone thought when they killed Olds people would just move to another division within GM. Wrong. It cost them huge, and here is everyone suggesting the same thing again...can't see it working this time either.

[poncho1982]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

No, what I'm saying is that we've owned three GMCs in the past and have no thoughts of switching to Chevy if GMC is still here. Like I said, you have to own one to understand. Most of the people calling for GMC's death have never owned one in their lives. For us "GMC fans," we've established close relationships with dealers, service departments, parts departments, and with the brand itself. I know my GMC salesman on a first name basis, his phone number is programmed in my cell phone, the dealer's number is in my cell phone. I'm not willing to give all that up without any protest.
If GMC dies, I'll go with Chevy. But only because I've been forced to and there's no other alternatives. Others won't think that way. Remember, we here on GMI are different than most consumers. The majority of buyers see GMC first, GM second. Just look at former Oldsmobile owners. Wonder how many of them are in a toyota now?
By the way, calling GMC owners stupid is not the best marketing strategy ever. We've been loyal to GMC for over a decade, which also means that we've been loyal to GM for over a decade.
Quite honestly, I don't like your tone at all in this post. It's pretty insulting to GMC owners, as if we're dumb for not going with a Chevy. I don't give a damn what you think, but don't you dare insult me for owning a GMC. It's my money and my decision, not yours, and if I want a GMC because I think it looks better, there's not a damn thing you can do about it. If you like Chevys more, then that's your own damn opinion, but don't ever call me stupid just because I like GMCs more.
Learn to think before you post.

Look, I never called anyone stupid. I said "If that is indeed the case, and they are too stupid to realize GMC=Chevy, then good riddence."

I never said...hey you are stupid, just that they would be stupid to not understand that GMC is a Chevy with a different body. Everybody has moments of stupidity, me included, but to take offense to that, is really petty.

And oh, about my "tone", the feelings mutual, I don't give a damn what you think either.

[SierraGS]

Originally Posted by vcs2600

It's kinda silly to attack the brand problem where it is working (GMC) and not where it is failing (Buick, Pontiac, Saturn, etc)

Think you said it all there, can we look in places that are not delivering billions of dollars to the bottom line?

Business 101 guys, you don't mess with what is paying the bills.

[akenaten]

I think they should keep GMC. Here in California I honestly see just as many GMC's as Chevy's. Maybe the popularity is a regional thing.


Saturn should be the first to go. GM simply replaced Olds(a favorite brand of mine since I was a teen)with a half-thought out concept. I had a new 93 SL2 for several years. It was reliable but NVH was ridiculous. None of the present Saturns do anything for me,or a lot of others judging by sales.

It seems to me that GM isn't really serious with Buick. Only two cars. Their SUV's recently have been less than stellar though the Enclave may change that.
And giving Pontiac the new Caballero/El Camino is ridiculous.
It should go straight to GMC. Market it as sporty and fuel efficient.

I do agree that they should make GMC the sole builder of medium duty trucks. Eventually it would have a halo effect for the light trucks.

[mgescuro]

I just thought I'd revive this thread and see how it goes....

[Generous Motors]

I can see all the sides here have good arguements for and against GMC. I can't understand the mentality of a few GMC customers who will not buy a Chevy Truck when it is the same darn thing really. I personally like the GMC for its looks over the split grill Chevy but I could live with the Chevy grill or buy a used GMC if it offended me bad enough.

Here is what I would purpose, let GMC live cause the Oldsmoblie experience should teach there is no money in closing down a division. GMC should have full sized trucks (GMT900) and Medium duty lines only, Chevy would get the more compact trucks like the Colorado, and all the SUVs that are viable. Allow the Chevy dealers to sell the full sized Serrias and the chevy commercial dealers could go right on selling GMC Medium Duty trucks. It would be a cheap way to make one model of each Truck with out killing any divisions and ticking off customers, well not ticking them off too bad.

[SierraGS]

Originally Posted by Generous Motors

I can see all the sides here have good arguements for and against GMC. I can't understand the mentality of a few GMC customers who will not buy a Chevy Truck when it is the same darn thing really. I personally like the GMC for its looks over the split grill Chevy but I could live with the Chevy grill or buy a used GMC if it offended me bad enough.

Here is what I would purpose, let GMC live cause the Oldsmoblie experience should teach there is no money in closing down a division. GMC should have full sized trucks (GMT900) and Medium duty lines only, Chevy would get the more compact trucks like the Colorado, and all the SUVs that are viable. Allow the Chevy dealers to sell the full sized Serrias and the chevy commercial dealers could go right on selling GMC Medium Duty trucks. It would be a cheap way to make one model of each Truck with out killing any divisions and ticking off customers, well not ticking them off too bad.

You do not understand that this is a dealer issue - do you?

Why would I go to a Chevy dealer to buy a truck when I am happy with my Buick/Pontiac/GMC dealer?

GM is going to build up the Buick brand and by doing so will build up demand for GMC truck sales which is why the Sierra has been outperforming the Silverado on a percentange basis for quite a while.

B-P-G buyers tend to have higher incomes and will be the first back into the market since there will be some Cadillac buyers added who will 'trade down'.

Why does everyone insist on ticking off the best buyers GM has?

Keep it up - Toyota is waiting to take the truck title from Ford and Chevy.

[SierraGS]

Originally Posted by akenaten

I think they should keep GMC. Here in California I honestly see just as many GMC's as Chevy's. Maybe the popularity is a regional thing.


Saturn should be the first to go. GM simply replaced Olds(a favorite brand of mine since I was a teen)with a half-thought out concept. I had a new 93 SL2 for several years. It was reliable but NVH was ridiculous. None of the present Saturns do anything for me,or a lot of others judging by sales.

It seems to me that GM isn't really serious with Buick. Only two cars. Their SUV's recently have been less than stellar though the Enclave may change that.
And giving Pontiac the new Caballero/El Camino is ridiculous.
It should go straight to GMC. Market it as sporty and fuel efficient.

I do agree that they should make GMC the sole builder of medium duty trucks. Eventually it would have a halo effect for the light trucks.

I agree if GM cuts a brand it should be Saturn (it can sell SAAB) and GMC can be GM's sole Medium Duty brand, but GMC needs to be GM's global truck brand with the U.S market being the only market for Chevy trucks the rest of the world would sell GMC only.

GMC trucks are very popular in SoCal also - so GMC trucks sell well in California.

Yes, the most profitable brand GM has actually sells well in one of the largest auto markets (if not largest) in the U.S., something GM has been trying to do since the mid 1970's now it has one.

Of course that means GM's management will screw it up and do something really stupid with the GMC brand - then go under.

GM could wise up and figure out that what it needs to do with GMC is make it GM's global truck brand and create a strong GMC Crossover/Truck/SUV lineup that can be sold with any brand - anywhere, unfortunately they do not seem to understand this and will waste billions of dollars trying to juggle trucks into 10 global Car brands.

Why not one global truck brand?

It does not get any easier than that.

[Generous Motors]

Originally Posted by SierraGS

You do not understand that this is a dealer issue - do you?

Why would I go to a Chevy dealer to buy a truck when I am happy with my Buick/Pontiac/GMC dealer?

GM is going to build up the Buick brand and by doing so will build up demand for GMC truck sales which is why the Sierra has been outperforming the Silverado on a percentange basis for quite a while.

B-P-G buyers tend to have higher incomes and will be the first back into the market since there will be some Cadillac buyers added who will 'trade down'.

Why does everyone insist on ticking off the best buyers GM has?

Keep it up - Toyota is waiting to take the truck title from Ford and Chevy.

You really can't read can you? The only change would be that Chevy dealers would be selling GMC Serrias in place of the Silverado Pickups, and the existing GMC dealers would still be around to sell you a GMC too.

[aznative981]

I totally agree with this scenario. As far as the 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks go, market it like this:


Black grille, blue bow tie, call it the Scottsdale. You know, the equivalent of the pos F-150 STX 4x4 work truck I have. Rubber floor, the sport style can get them wet seats type material, single c/d player, cruise, a/c roll-up windows, STANDARD CAB, and 4.7 V-8, ta-da, a "truck". The Scottsdale should have a small 4.something V-8. I carried 4,000 lbs. in the bed no problem for over 50 miles.

Next would be the Cheyenne. 5.3l engine, regular fuel or E-85. Standard cab or extended cab. You know, chromish grille with a yellow bow tie, carpeted floor, Nice cloth seats, cruise, 6 disc cd, posi-locking rear, 5.3ish V-8, shift on the fly 4x4, two tone interior option, the "next step up" truck. You know, the F-150 XLT killer.

Then on deck would be the Silverado. 5.3l engine, regular fuel or E-85. Extended cab or Crew cab. People pay stupid money for this name. I personally am so endeared to the Silverado. My dad had a '71 C/10, and then a '79 Silverado Big-10. Offer the customer most anything on this truck, combonation wise. Rubber floor and cloth seats, shift on the fly, single c/d, 4x4? Black grille and chrome or body colored bumpers? Two tone interior on top of that? Call it the upgraded hillbilly version? Cloth seats, carpeted floor, 60/40 split seat, dual exhaust, but with a 4.something 2-wheel drive with chromed grille and chromed bumpers? Call it the "city get around" version? Offer a "beefed out" z-71 off road package. Standard with a lift, deer killer grille, fender guards, you get the idea. Yellow bow tie. Or perhaps an orange bow tie? But of course, as always, you have to pay a little extra for that Silverado name. You just get the perk of making it yours. The one that would destroy the F-x2, F-x4, and Lariat all in one fell swoop, cause it can.

For either the Cheyenne or Silverado, if you get it as a Hybrid, it gets the Cascade badge. That's right, I'm saying also to introduce it as a new badge series to let the Hybrids stand out. Give it a GREEN bow tie.

After that, offer the Denali. It retains the open grille look with Denali centered there instead of a bow tie, and is the Denali as we know it now. It is the "Cadillac" of trucks, refined and regal. It screams "I have arrived". Takes itself out on the town and embarrasses the King Ranch and the cheesy Harley Davidson montrosity.



For the 3/4 ton platform, call it the Sierra. You start out now as you would any other 3/4 ton. No extra packaging labelling to it except for Z-71. Every option avialable at pre-tiered prices. In essence however, you can get any of the above combonations on your 3/4 ton just wash, rinse, and repeat, and you get to throw a diesel in it if you want.

Take the GMC name, and throw it on all the bigger stuff. Call it the 3500 and go up from there. Just start with the standard cab "Scottsdale"version for either the 3/4 ton (Sierra), or the one ton and up (3500 and up). Go back to that alpha numeric model designator. Just alter it as you need to as you go up the food chain.

G-10 - The Scottsdale version.

G-20 - The Cheyenne version.

G-30 - The Silverado version, along with a Z-71 package, of course.

G-40 - The Denali version.

The only way you will know it has a diesel is by the Allison badge on it.

Problem solved. Your welcome...

[vibecar]

The problem is that it's way too late to change something with GMC and Chevy trucks. My opinion is to kill GMC to focus on Chevrolet as one strong full-line brand (Like Ford & Ford Trucks). Who else but GM needs two Truck brands? After reading comments on this forum, it's clear that some are loyal to GMC, some don't like Chevy Trucks, some are for shutting it down, some are against. GM simply should have made the decision years ago.

[diffrunt]

GM,s biggest fault is no place for owner/buyers to express opinions, desires & inform GM what it,s been doing wrong since time began. My Camaro was ordered last Thursday.

[chakis24]

OR

gmc = "professional grade" as in upscale. no more silverado ltz's and the like. chevy are base trucks. work trucks. (with some options of course, but topping out at say 35-40k). that seems to be the perception now anyways (and seems to be how its marketed). chevy < gmc < caddy. flip your idea and make chevy the true commercial brand- they have more sales outlets and market share anyway, might as well build on it. gmc can be niche upscale trucks. just keep the denali lines and get rid of anything lower than ltz's at gmc. that would fit nice with buick....and pontiac is till the odd child.

[chakis24]

Originally Posted by TimR

Not true, the GM pickups are some of the best under the skin. That is very important. The looks of the Silverado are some of the worst, so I bought a GMC. Hardly costs GM much to put good looking panels on the same chassis, and they get a lot of extra sales.

If GM made the Silverado look like a Sierra but called it the Silverado, perfect! But they didn't...they made some butt ugly thing and called that the Silverado and I won't buy it.

Calling people stupid who don't agree with your opinion won't get you very far in life....

you solidified ponchos argument. you bought your truck because it looked better than the chevy- not because it was different underneath.

[akenaten]

Originally Posted by SierraGS

I agree if GM cuts a brand it should be Saturn (it can sell SAAB) and GMC can be GM's sole Medium Duty brand, but GMC needs to be GM's global truck brand with the U.S market being the only market for Chevy trucks the rest of the world would sell GMC only.

GMC trucks are very popular in SoCal also - so GMC trucks sell well in California.

Yes, the most profitable brand GM has actually sells well in one of the largest auto markets (if not largest) in the U.S., something GM has been trying to do since the mid 1970's now it has one.

Of course that means GM's management will screw it up and do something really stupid with the GMC brand - then go under.

GM could wise up and figure out that what it needs to do with GMC is make it GM's global truck brand and create a strong GMC Crossover/Truck/SUV lineup that can be sold with any brand - anywhere, unfortunately they do not seem to understand this and will waste billions of dollars trying to juggle trucks into 10 global Car brands.

Why not one global truck brand?

It does not get any easier than that.

But Your right: GM management will screw it up.