Rumors & Rumblings: The future of RWD, small cars, compact SUVs-and Pontiac?-at GM

[lscaprice]

After 250k on their Roadmaster my folks (retired) gave up and bought a Dodge. The first out of GM purchase since 1958. They (and I) refuse to go FWD. We have been waiting for the new RWD Impala since 1996. I can repair my old cars, my folks cannot hence the purchase of the Magnum. When will GM wake up to this?

[SCarFan]

Originally Posted by lscaprice

After 250k on their Roadmaster my folks (retired) gave up and bought a Dodge. The first out of GM purchase since 1958. They (and I) refuse to go FWD. We have been waiting for the new RWD Impala since 1996. I can repair my old cars, my folks cannot hence the purchase of the Magnum. When will GM wake up to this?

Honestly, GM doesn't have to wake up. In case you didn't notice, the Magnum is getting the axe very soon. There really isn't a market for big RWD wagons in the US, and there hasn't been for decades now. Don't get me wrong, I like RWD and wagons, but people like you and your folks make up a small part of a niche market that mainstream automakers just cannot profitably cater to.

[Caleb02]

Originally Posted by lscaprice

After 250k on their Roadmaster my folks (retired) gave up and bought a Dodge. The first out of GM purchase since 1958. They (and I) refuse to go FWD. We have been waiting for the new RWD Impala since 1996. I can repair my old cars, my folks cannot hence the purchase of the Magnum. When will GM wake up to this?

Hate to tell you this but your folks Dodge Magnum and their old Buick Roadmaster have something in common. They have both been killed off by their parent companies. Thats right Chrysler has killed the Dodge Magnum stationwagon due to slow sales.

[CarStar]

It looks like Pontiac does not have much of a future beyond 2013 just as Mercury
is likely to disappear after 2012. Pontiac and Saturn seem to be competing for the
same import customer anyhow so it makes sense. As for GMC, they should be
reduced to vehicles that do not compete with Chevy or be eliminated altogether.
That goes for other non-core GM products like Hummer and Saab as well. There
should be only three sales outlets: Chevy-Chevy Trucks , Buick-Cadillac-GMC, and
Saturn by itself or mated to a Buick/GMC outlet.

[T'Cal]

GM has way too many divisions. It's not like the old days when each one had its own distinct styling and engines. Now Pontiac is basically a trim line for Chevy and Saturn. Other than the G8 (silly name), Pontiac has nothing unique. The G8 should be turned into the next Impala and the Malibu should come also as a coupe and convertible; the rest are duplicates and redundant. Pontiac no longer means excitement. Much the same could be said about Saturn. Turn the Sky/Solstice into a new Chevy product (Stingray?) and the Astra into the Cobalt replacement. All that's really needed is Chevy (value and performance), maybe Buick (near luxury), and Cadillac (luxury). A two division system works quite well for Toyota/Lexus, Nissan/Infiniti, and Kia/Hyundai. It looks like FoMoCo is headed that way with the likely demise of Mercury. Only Chrysler seems to need a third division; Dodge (including its big and midsized trucks), Jeep (with its small to large SUVs) and Chrysler (luxury cars and SUVs).

[T'Cal]

Originally Posted by SCarFan

Honestly, GM doesn't have to wake up. In case you didn't notice, the Magnum is getting the axe very soon. There really isn't a market for big RWD wagons in the US, and there hasn't been for decades now. Don't get me wrong, I like RWD and wagons, but people like you and your folks make up a small part of a niche market that mainstream automakers just cannot profitably cater to.

The Magnum was always somewhat of a niche car with the 300 and Charger being the mainstream lines. It is being replaced on the the production line by the new Challenger, also a niche car.

[SCarFan]

Originally Posted by T'Cal

The Magnum was always somewhat of a niche car with the 300 and Charger being the mainstream lines. It is being replaced on the the production line by the new Challenger, also a niche car.

Challenger has FAR more mainstream appeal and sales potential than the Magnum ever did. The Challenger is not "replacing" the Magnum in any way, production line or otherwise.

[T'Cal]

Originally Posted by SCarFan

Challenger has FAR more mainstream appeal and sales potential than the Magnum ever did. The Challenger is not "replacing" the Magnum in any way, production line or otherwise.

I beg to differ. Challengers, as appealing as they may be, will not be a big seller. It will indeed be a niche car, though not as limited as the Magnum. It will be limited production probably due mostly to CAFE concerns. The more low mileage Challengers they sell, the more they need to sell smaller, more fuel efficient and lower profit vehicles. On the production line, it will in fact replace the Magnum.

BTW, wasn't the Challenger originally going to be built on the next RWD platform dubbed LY? I'm guessing the LY went away when Daihmler did and Chrysler decided to extend the life of the current LX platform (300, Magnum, and Charger).

[Hitman1970]

Originally Posted by T'Cal

I beg to differ. Challengers, as appealing as they may be, will not be a big seller. It will indeed be a niche car, though not as limited as the Magnum. It will be limited production probably due mostly to CAFE concerns. The more low mileage Challengers they sell, the more they need to sell smaller, more fuel efficient and lower profit vehicles. On the production line, it will in fact replace the Magnum.

BTW, wasn't the Challenger originally going to be built on the next RWD platform dubbed LY? I'm guessing the LY went away when Daihmler did and Chrysler decided to extend the life of the current LX platform (300, Magnum, and Charger).

Won't the Challenger line up be similar to Mustang? How low production is Mustang? Chrysler doesn't do small cars anyway. They will just get in bed with Mitsubishi or Nissan and rebadge one of theirs.

[kgm777]

The problem is NOT with RWD; the problem is that too many RWD products are Chryslers. If GM and Ford would step up to the full-size RWD plate, sales would increase.