GMC Should Die… And be Reborn

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by Snafu_SS

They certainly aren't ashamed of the Corvette though...no bow tie there either

Camaro for the longest time had it's own symbol...and no bow tie as well

I think it would be ok, ppl would still identify it as a Chevy.

I know that the main reason why so many ppl buy GMC is because they can't stand the looks of the Silverado over the past 4 or 5 years now. My dad wouldn't consider the Silverado on the 800 platform when it had the angeled headlights, instead he got his used 03 Sierra and is very happy with it. My family is very loyal to GM and although I agree that GMC seems to be the obvious choice for off loading...it still provided another "look" to attract more buyers.

Currently, the Acadia and Sierra look so much better (of course my opinion) than the Silverado and that Traverse (one HUGE Malibu lookin beast)

Technically, the Corvette's badge does have a Chevy badge within the racing flags, and the Camaro had a Chevy badge in it's badge as well. Small though.
As for the Lambdas, it's a matter of personal opinion, but I actually like the Traverse over the Acadia. If I do end up needing to get one, it's going to be a tough decision to choose between the two.

[Ambalanche]

Originally Posted by Snafu_SS

They certainly aren't ashamed of the Corvette though...no bow tie there either

Camaro for the longest time had it's own symbol...and no bow tie as well
)

Actually if you look at my Avitar, the Corvette Cross Flags have always had the Bowtie incorporated in it. Same with the Camaro red,white, and blue logo, it was at the bottom of the logo. It is small I'll grant you , but it is there. There was a time 25 years ago, many cars, save the econo-cars, had their own logo and many had it as a stand up hood ornament.

[Ambalanche]

Sorry Fenwickhocky, you beat me to it!

[poncho1982]

Originally Posted by 2648562

It's funny, but I've honestly heard Chevy owners say the same thing about GMCs.

Yeah, from me.

GMC is a knockoff.

Kill it.

[PAULSTS1]

Mgescuro:
Though I at times see the basic logic in some of your "plans/visions", i have to admit this one escapes me. The primary issue isn't selling these two brands, it's keeping them viable in the reality of unreasonably high fuel costs.

If technology was introduced to drastically reduce fuel consumption, or if new energy resources were introduced the problem would be solved. Both the Chevy trucks, and the GMC trucks would seek their own water level. Current technology is Gasoline/E85,and Diesel both are way too expensive and we have been brainwashed to believe they are in dwindling supply.

I would modify the plan as such: First make some changes on GM's Board of Directors, bring in a savvy Chief, and stop production on all full-sized trucks and slow selling cars. Go into GM product archives, test the inventions purchased over the last 50 years from backyard techs and small companies too cash strapped to produce the products and within months retrofit the most promising of technologies to stretch more economy out of the current vehicles. Lobby Washington to provide a bailout with the money, create lighter strong platforms, which are all modular in design, to spread the costs over the total product line. Decrease product implementation lead time, to no more than 18 months. Make the retrofit fuel devices, available to comsumers at all GM parts centers/Service through dealerships. GM must obtain temporary waivers for emissions, if the devices will save 30% or more fuel.

Doing this there will create a 2 fold advantage: GM would regain a positive sales flow, the would add value to vehicles already produced. There would be no need to cancel or drop any product, that wasn't obsolete or unwanted.

It would all depend on a rebirth of an Industry, with current management it won't be done, GM will face Bankruptcy or face an ownership change to GM/TOYOTA MOTOR LLC

[rrwWasHere]

Ive always thought that it would make sense to kill off the Chevy trucks and make GMC its own SUV brand, as to lessen the amount of vehicles in Chevy lots so new products could be introduced (El Camino, Nomad, etc.). But making a Chevy Trucks arm of Chevrolet is interesting and does make a lot of sense.
BTW, "Cascade" sounds awesome.

[GM-Joe]

One or two bad months and everyone wants to shut the door; glad our grandparents didn't think that way, or we'd be speaking German, Russian, or Japanese by now.

Consolidating GMC, Pontiac, and Buick is a good move; these 3 offer cars, cuv's, and trucks where cars and cuv's should get most sales. Remember, if you shut GMC, they'll lose most of their sales to toyota because many people who buy GMC wouldn't be seen in a Chevy. If people talk about closing these brands, more sales will be lost and American tax payers will foot the bill, not the Japanese.

The world isn't ending, if you can't afford gas, then take your lunch to work instead of the a supervalue meal; you'll save gas, save cash, and will probably live another 15 years.

[K Dawg ONE]

Im sorta on board with you on this one, but, the one thing that puzzles me about your last couple of commentaries is the mentioning of Grand Prix and TB/Envoy...GP was done production at the end of Oct. TB/Envoy also dont survive past MY08 (in fact, we diddnt even order any 08 ENvoys as they are the same price as the Acadia)

[Slideways]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

I fail to see the benefit of this plan. If Denalis and Cascades are not called Chevrolets, then they need their own ad budgets, or no one will know they exist. And you still need the ad budgets for the GMC commercial trucks. Under this plan, you need separate buildings for the trucks. Now Chevy and GMC trucks are sold in existing buildings. Commercial GMC trucks will never bring in the profit margin that GMC trucks currently get (it would be too easy for Ford to undercut GMC's price; today people pay extra for a GMC because of the exclusivity, not the towing capacity).

I don't think people will buy orphaned models:

I drive a Silverado Denali.
-- Who makes that?
Umm... I don't really know. They never told me. But I know Chevrolet does not make it. I don't drive Chevrolets. That's what my gardener drives.

Finally, I suspect too many BPG dealerships would fold without GMC.

I have to agree with HoosierRon. I don't see how your plan helps. GMC sells a lot of Sierras, and even high gas prices aren't a reason to jump ship. With the GMT-800s there was at least some different sheet metal up front, and now the 900s are a lot different. Yes, pillar to pillar they are the same truck, but I think that you're still going to appeal to more buyers with two different designs. GM can do this because GMC and Chevy are both established brands. Ford couldn't really have two different F-150s, and don't bring up the LT. They couldn't sell the LT as a Lincoln because it was too similar to the F-150. This is a case where rebadging works, and I'm not entirely sure why.

[CadiEldo67]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

So unless GM wants to sell a GMC Cobalt, GM needs to make the though decision.

Now that you've jokingly made that suggestion, GM would begin production on July 1st, 2008

[Clocker]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

With the advent of $4 gas and in some regions of the US, $5 gas, what use is a brand that is All Truck and All SUV and All Rebadge? The answer is, “None.” It is completely useless.

So, GM should dispatch GMC post haste.

I agree with that, at least.

[SierraGS]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Where else is there to go?

If they want a truck, they have to Chevy or Ford.
If they are a Denali buyer, they'd have to go to Chevy, but because the new Denali line has no Chevy badging on it whatsoever, just "Denali," then the low rent image of Chevy doesn't affect "Denali."

As truck sales are plummeting now, GM really can't support more than 1 truck based brand.

GMC owners will go to TOYOTA

GMC trucks appeal to import buyers, at least here in SoCal - there are dozens driveways in my area with Acadia, Sierra Trucks, Sierra Denali and Yukon Denalis parked next to BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes Benz cars and the Denali line is considered a Status vehicle in ALL of the wealthy areas. They are common sights on city streets from Rodeo Drive to LaJolla and are one of very few American trucks that I have ever seen parked next to Toyota Camry, Hond Accord or Nissan Altima cars but this is also a common sight.

Wake up!!

Do you really want to increase Toyota sales by 400,000 units a year?

What will you say when the Tundra is the #1 selling pickup/vehicle in the U.S. in 2012?

[TimR]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

Ok... so what's to stop Chevrolet from making a better looking truck??
One that is attractive to both GMC and Chevrolet owners??

#2 selling nameplate? The way gas is going? GMC will be dead in 2-3 years if GM did nothing.
The future is NOT trucks. So unless GM wants to sell a GMC Cobalt, GM needs to make the though decision.

And I didn't say "kill GMC." I'm not stupid. But GMC's better off being a true "Professional grade" brand and stick to the commercial market and quit dabbling in crossovers and luxury cars.

1) I have no idea. Ask the designers! If they had taken the sheetmetal off the avalanche for fenders and matched the box styling to those wheel openings they would have a winner IMHO. Very clean look. But then everyone would bitch that its not radical enough (like the last restyle). The current design is just odd, angles and curves everywhere, coming down the road the front looks bent across the middle, and WTF is that chrome bar about in the middle of the bumper??... thought I would get used to it but never have.

2) There will ALWAYS be truck sales. I think what we are seeing now is the "casual" truck/SUV buyers opting out. Also, once people resign themselves that gas is 4-5.00 gallon or more (wherever the future takes us), they will make a decision then based on needs and wants.

Just as a sidenote here, I sold my 07 Silverado to buy this GMC...I am a GM fan (tough as that is getting to be), not a GMC fan...but look at the May sales figures...GMC is still #2 nameplate...by a HUGE margin compared to some brands.

Also, I bought my 07 GMC when gas here was 1.25L for regular. That is $4.73 for a US gallon (STILL MORE THAN YOU GUYS ARE PAYING!!)...and I made the decision that I want a truck and I do use it, but could probably get away without one if I had to. Trucks are not going away.

Don't take offense to comments on here. You posted your opinion, I posted mine. Its a discussion, that is all, not a personal attack (although I must say these boards are getting quite poisoned).

[2002 Caddy]

Originally Posted by mgescuro

So, where would they go?
Are these same buyers loyal to GMC or to GM?
How can one quantify the number of people who would never buy a Chevy? And if that number can be quantified as significant, then the problem isn't with the people, the problem is with the image of Chevrolet.

You're part right and part wrong.

First the right part. GMC's competitive position and product line competes mostly with Chevy trucks. Kinda like the problem we have with the Caddy STS... It only competes with the CTS... Dumb Dumb Dumb... If GMC is to live it needs a product line that is different then Chevy.

The wrong part. Was the Oldsmobile experience so long ago that we have forgotten what happened? GM management predicted that MOST Oldsmobile loyalists would drive Buicks or Caddy's today... The truth is that pretty darn near 100% now drive Toyota, Lexus, Honda or Infinity... If your POV of GMC is correct, these are "up scale" Chevy trucks... who the heck wants to "down grade".

Now there is an untapped market...
American's who want to scale back... The 12 people that make up this demographic hold their annual convention in the back of a 1974 VW bus.

Back to your question... Where will they go? Ask yourself, Who currently makes an upscale truck... Also keep in mind that GMC buyers already PAY MORE to have a GMC on the grill.. They will NOT consider a Chevy truck.

My bet:
5% -> Escallade
5% -> Something odd like a Ridgeline or Titan
10% -> Ford Trucks
15% -> Dodge Ram
15% -> Chevy Trucks
50% -> Tundra

My prediction (and I feel that the above is REALLY optimistic) You will take a group of loyal buyers and you will lose at least 80% of them...

Granted that's 20% better then what happened with Olds...

I used to own a GMC truck... I would never consider a Chevy Truck.

[poncho1982]

Originally Posted by SierraGS

GMC owners will go to TOYOTA

Wake up!!

Hahahaha!! Good one.

I thought GMC buyers were all about "Professional Grade"? That in itself negates Toyota.

Any GMC buyer that goes to Toyota over a Silverado, (which BTW is basically THE SAME VEHICLE) or even Ford or Dodge, is stupid.

Buh Bye! Good riddence.