GMI Exclusive: Saturn May Go To BPG, Why Aura ≠ Insignia

[uvaeeman]

Originally Posted by jkr2106

I think there is a difference between sharing a showroom floor and a multi-brand dealer. One has Aveos next to XLRs, the other can have multiple rooms for multiple brands. That way the service for Cadillac can still be exclusive to Cadillac and its buyers don't have to mix with the mainstream crowd. Having the brands at each location will ensure that both GM and each dealer can offer something to everyone in the market. If an up comes to see the Vue, but decides they need a third row, their salesperson can refer them to the Traverse and the dealer still gets the sale, and Saturn's Euro-inspired lineup is not dilluted by bulous American crossovers. Show up to Buick, but decide you want something sportier...try Pontiac. My dealer is a Nissan/Acura store. It is one building but two different showrooms. What's wrong with that?

I /think/ one of the GM dealers here (Thompson Cadillac, Pontiac, GMC) has a separate showroom for the Cadillac stuff. Possibly even separate service area (garage same, but client area different). I don't see a problem with that. It accents the exclusivity of Caddy. Also.... might help move customers up to Cadillac from Pontiac or GMC who are ready but maybe don't know they're ready!

[uvaeeman]

Originally Posted by DarkRaider

GM as far as I am concerned is F-ed up. Nothing more can be said about a corporation that is lost, and it's higher ups don't have the necessary vision to see ahead. All I know is my next car is an import, screw GM and its stupid ways.

GM always stretching its resources accommodate various rebadges and then wonders why they can't make a descent reliable car, idiots, do what the japanese and ford do, limit your models and concentrate your resources to make awesome cars that people want. Insignia is the best that saturn can ever be, but no go ahead and redo the exterior and interior so it looks crap and no one would want one. Look at your competition out in the market place and respond appropriately!

I guess what GM needs now is a new leadership, someone more aggressive and a bit younger to take on the imports. Someone who is a risk taker, who knows what is required to lead GM into the next decade. Lutz is starting to lose it, and wagnor seems confused on how to take GM forward.

Really, KILL SATURN/PONTIAC/GMC, and like someone said, bring OPEL here and share it with Saturn.

Anyways, it was fun owning GM cars, now I will head for some Imports and even Ford.

Something about post this seems to remind me of another GMI member.
I'm not talking about mgescuro - his words are fan-frustration.
And I'm not talking about plane and his wonderful posts - I enjoy reading plane's thoughts and waiting for someone to miss the sarcasm
You guys know who I mean....

[Astra RL]

Dumbing down the Insignia is stupid. Giving the current model a short 2010 run is ok if the Insignia comes in like March or April as a 2011, but letting the current car ride till 2012 big no no. The insignia would be 3 years old look what happens to a good car introduced late (astra). Adding Saturn in the rural areas to add dealers where there are normally none is a good idea. Also saturn can continue to move upscale; look at the Malibu its average transaction price increased $5000 because it is a car deserving of the price. So with a starting price of 23,000 for the XE and stretching up to 34,000 for a loaded Aura XR. This is the space occupied by the Lax currently but it is moving up to compete with the ES 350 so this could be in the 33,000 to 48,000 range pushing the CTS up. The 25-45 range is getting real crowded with the Malibu G6/8 and Impala there too.

[uvaeeman]

Originally Posted by Astra RL

Dumbing down the Insignia is stupid. Giving the current model a short 2010 run is ok if the Insignia comes in like March or April as a 2011, but letting the current car ride till 2012 big no no. The insignia would be 3 years old look what happens to a good car introduced late (astra). Adding Saturn in the rural areas to add dealers where there are normally none is a good idea. Also saturn can continue to move upscale; look at the Malibu its average transaction price increased $5000 because it is a car deserving of the price. So with a starting price of 23,000 for the XE and stretching up to 34,000 for a loaded Aura XR. This is the space occupied by the Lax currently but it is moving up to compete with the ES 350 so this could be in the 33,000 to 48,000 range pushing the CTS up. The 25-45 range is getting real crowded with the Malibu G6/8 and Impala there too.

You have an interesting point about the "3 years old look". Some say that was the problem with the GTO (as if there was just one problem). I'm not sure why GM keeps doing this kind of thing to us. But, I work for a very, very large computer/technology corporation. The same thing happens here - you'd swear from month to month that the management/executives have multiple-personality disorder!

[The Law]

Gm could always kill Pontiac and have a Buick Firdbird off the Riviera concept.And just use Pontiac as a sub brand for performance models.

[Ambalanche]

I'm sorry but if this is true, the folks in the Ren-Center have really lost it. There would be entirely too much overlap to have Saturn in the BPG channel. The Insignia is a car Saturn could use NOW but who knows, nobody asked me...

[Caleb02]

Originally Posted by 1G6

B-P-G-S.

Hmmmmm.

BS PG

[TriShield]

God, GM is so broken.

It's just amazing.

[TriShield]

There's a HUMMER Cadillac Pontiac Saturn dealership in Sioux Falls South Dakota where I used to live. It's been there for many many years.

Not exactly news.

[kmacleod]

Aura Delayed because sales are rising? Nope. OVERLAP? WHAT? Sorry I don't buy into that argument. I like the Insignia (Aura) better than the Invicta.. What EPII is more stylish put side to side. Yup you guessed it. The Insignia....

Can't have that now can we.........................

I can only see Saturn sold @ other Small GM dealerships in Rural Villages (Like Paw Paw, MI) besides the standalone dealers in larger towns.

RANT: I'm not happy and I'll be grumbling when I can't purchase a TDI AWD Caravan version of the Insignia (AURA) next year.

The car better be here by MY '11................... My Montana will be nearly 10 years old..........: END RANT

Sorry I'm griping......................................

Ken

[FireFox89]

Originally Posted by eaton53

If they must do this (I'd just cut Saturn myself) then Saturn should go back to its roots selling small FWD cars only.... forget this moving upscale crap.

This relieves Pontiac from the burden of selling them and allows it to concentrate on RWD performance, including the modern day 2002 that BMW seems incapable of building and the Torana along with the G8 and Solstice.

Great minds think alike..........
That's what I've been ranting for at least 3 months.
That is the only way a pbg(s) would work on a major scale.
The rencen should of been pitting saturn against scion, smaller vws, and minis. Not nissan and mazda, as that is pontiac's job.

[Uzzy]

Originally Posted by TriShield

There's a HUMMER Cadillac Pontiac Saturn dealership in Sioux Falls South Dakota where I used to live. It's been there for many many years.

Not exactly news.

Yes, and like I said earlier, my local and preferred PBG dealer is 25 feet away from a Saturn dealer and owned by the same person. And the PBG sells Hummer and just got a big H installed out front and the Saturn dealer has always been a Saturn/Saab (formerly Isuzu) dealership.

[jkr2106]

Originally Posted by drew770

I hear you but we all know GM!! They will simply dump Buicks on the same floor as Caddy, don't retrain the salespeople, keep the same experience and call it a day.

Someone buying an $80,000 XLR will get the same craptastic experience that someone buying a $30,000 LaCrosse. I don't think that's the way to change folks preception about the Caddy brand or enhance a customer's buying experience.

You definately have a point, lol! Maybe it's better to avoid the temptation to crowd the floor with H2s next to green line Vues.

Originally Posted by uvaeeman

I /think/ one of the GM dealers here (Thompson Cadillac, Pontiac, GMC) has a separate showroom for the Cadillac stuff. Possibly even separate service area (garage same, but client area different). I don't see a problem with that. It accents the exclusivity of Caddy. Also.... might help move customers up to Cadillac from Pontiac or GMC who are ready but maybe don't know they're ready!

Ideally, it would be nice for the aura (pun intended) of all GM's home-runs (CTS, Enclave, Malibu) to cast over the entire lineup and like you said someone trading in their Malibu could be tempted to move up to an Invicta or something. As it stands, many don't have any idea how GM's brands are related and I think Megastores could only help. Of course Chevy, Cadillac, BPG, and Saturn would have their own sales floor, but the dealer would be able to have a product for ANY customer so no more G3s or dealers with inadequate volume to fund building maintanance.

[psycho]

It's about time to do this!!!

[member12]

Okay, they are not even finished grouping all the Pontiac, Buick, and GMC dealerships and now they change their plans?


STUPID.


GM should stick with their plans for more than a few weeks at a time.