[indica]

http://www.egmcartech.com/2008/05/31/chevrolet-tahoe-and-gmc-yukon-hybrids-off-to-a-slow-start/

 

[paul8488]

A 15,000 dollar premium? Sheesh! Buy a regular Tahoe and an Aveo for the same price.

Imagine this money had gone into making a hybrid version of the Lambdas or the Cobalt / G5 or G6 or Lacrosse or, well anything! Instead, they add a $15,000 option that will never pay itself off to vehicles that are already dropping in popularity. Brilliant.

 

[FenwickHockey65]

Yeahh...$15,000 premium isn't very appealing...
I like the fact that GM's trying to make their full size SUVs more fuel efficient...but this just doesn't seem like the way to do it...

 

[plane]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHGGGGGGGGG!
BAM! BAM! BAM!
<hits head with 15 pound sledgehammer repeatedly>
<curls up on floor in writhing pain>

There is not a $15,000 premium for the hybrid.
This is like comparing the ultimate stripped model to what most people actually order.
We went through this previously.
A realistic figure would be $4-$7K premium over a comparable Tahoe or Yukon.
There are previous threads that go over this ad nauseum.

Production is just now ramping up.
For the past 8 months, I haven't seen a single hybrid.
Now my local Chevy dealer has 4.

Let's be careful here because what we have is a 7 passenger, 6000 lb towing capable SUV that can achieve the fuel economy of a mid-size sedan.
As gas prices skyrocket, this type of vehicle will only become more desirable.
No other manufacturer in the world has anything like this. Period.

And assuming that this post is falling on deaf (and escargot-filled) ears, I'm going to go back to my sledgehammer. It's likely less painful than seeing how this thread turns out.

 

[Old Dood]

I saw a Yukon Hybrid Friday in Novi, Mi.
It was just like the photos...
White with the word HYBRID along the doors.

Kinda cool looking....

 

[paul8488]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHGGGGGGGGG!
BAM! BAM! BAM!
<hits head with 15 pound sledgehammer repeatedly>
<curls up on floor in writhing pain>

There is not a $15,000 premium for the hybrid.
This is like comparing the ultimate stripped model to what most people actually order.
We went through this previously.
A realistic figure would be $4-$7K premium over a comparable Tahoe or Yukon.
There are previous threads that go over this ad nauseum.

Production is just now ramping up.
For the past 8 months, I haven't seen a single hybrid.
Now my local Chevy dealer has 4.

Let's be careful here because what we have is a 7 passenger, 6000 lb towing capable SUV that can achieve the fuel economy of a mid-size sedan.
As gas prices skyrocket, this type of vehicle will only become more desirable.
No other manufacturer in the world has anything like this. Period.

And assuming that this post is falling on deaf (and escargot-filled) ears, I'm going to go back to my sledgehammer. It's likely less painful than seeing how this thread turns out.

Well then they have to get their numbers straight in the story. The way I read it I can buy a base Tahoe for around 35,000 and need to pay 50,000 for a hybrid. That's not true?

Also, there could very well have been threads at GMi about that, but I certainly don't recall that.

 

[jkennedy293]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHGGGGGGGGG!
BAM! BAM! BAM!
<hits head with 15 pound sledgehammer repeatedly>
<curls up on floor in writhing pain>

There is not a $15,000 premium for the hybrid.
This is like comparing the ultimate stripped model to what most people actually order.
We went through this previously.
A realistic figure would be $4-$7K premium over a comparable Tahoe or Yukon.
There are previous threads that go over this ad nauseum.

Production is just now ramping up.
For the past 8 months, I haven't seen a single hybrid.
Now my local Chevy dealer has 4.

Let's be careful here because what we have is a 7 passenger, 6000 lb towing capable SUV that can achieve the fuel economy of a mid-size sedan.
As gas prices skyrocket, this type of vehicle will only become more desirable.
No other manufacturer in the world has anything like this. Period.

And assuming that this post is falling on deaf (and escargot-filled) ears, I'm going to go back to my sledgehammer. It's likely less painful than seeing how this thread turns out.

I completely agree. I saw an article where someone from GM said sales, which are around 800 total, were right where they expected them to be. I don't think GM expects to sell a ton of these, but since the system was designed with two other manufacturers, they were probably limited on the initial size.

 

[FenwickHockey65]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHGGGGGGGGG!
BAM! BAM! BAM!
<hits head with 15 pound sledgehammer repeatedly>
<curls up on floor in writhing pain>

There is not a $15,000 premium for the hybrid.
This is like comparing the ultimate stripped model to what most people actually order.
We went through this previously.
A realistic figure would be $4-$7K premium over a comparable Tahoe or Yukon.
There are previous threads that go over this ad nauseum.

Production is just now ramping up.
For the past 8 months, I haven't seen a single hybrid.
Now my local Chevy dealer has 4.

Let's be careful here because what we have is a 7 passenger, 6000 lb towing capable SUV that can achieve the fuel economy of a mid-size sedan.
As gas prices skyrocket, this type of vehicle will only become more desirable.
No other manufacturer in the world has anything like this. Period.

And assuming that this post is falling on deaf (and escargot-filled) ears, I'm going to go back to my sledgehammer. It's likely less painful than seeing how this thread turns out.

How's that sledgehammer coming? :lmao:

 

[paul8488]

I completely agree. I saw an article where someone from GM said sales, which are around 800 total, were right where they expected them to be. I don't think GM expects to sell a ton of these, but since the system was designed with two other manufacturers, they were probably limited on the initial size.

This was in the story:

GM sold about 1,100 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon hybrids since January, well behind the pace of GM’s goal of 12,000 sales a year.

 

[vcs2600]

Here's the original NY Times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/31/business/31hybrids.html

G.M. is hedging its bet with the Tahoe and Yukon hybrids. Most of its dealers do not even carry the vehicles in stock. Instead, they order from a central pool.

“You have to wonder if G.M. is really committed to this, or just using them for public relations purposes,” said Mr. Friedman of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

 

[chickenkicker]

Well then they have to get their numbers straight in the story. The way I read it I can buy a base Tahoe for around 35,000 and need to pay 50,000 for a hybrid. That's not true?

Also, there could very well have been threads at GMi about that, but I certainly don't recall that.

There have been several threads in the past year or so debating what the real price premium of the hybrids are. Here's one of them: http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f19/truth-dare-tahoe-vs-tahoe-hybrid-58505/


There's several detailed posts comparing the price difference between a 3LT and a Hybrid (since the Hybrid has almost all of the same options on it standard as the 3LT does). The hybrid can't really be compared to a base Tahoe since the options the hybrid comes with standard would push the price of the base Tahoe to around 48,000 to get the same options. Depending on how people weighed the value of the options the real difference in price is 4k-7k.

 

[AMERICA 123]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHGGGGGGGGG!........
.....There is not a $15,000 premium for the hybrid.
This is like comparing the ultimate stripped model to what most people actually order.
We went through this previously.
A realistic figure would be $4-$7K premium

So true - all of your post.

I have continiued to look at this topic outside of GMI and based on that and the fine job you did on the earlier threads plus help from all the others interested in the truth of the matter - it really does look like what DuSpinnst hinted at long ago - basically a 5,000.00 - 5500.00$ spread - which with todays fuel prices is even easier to justify.

***************

Let's be careful here because what we have is a 7 passenger, 6000 lb towing capable SUV that can achieve the fuel economy of a mid-size sedan.
As gas prices skyrocket, this type of vehicle will only become more desirable.
No other manufacturer in the world has anything like this. Period.

And assuming that this post is falling on deaf (and escargot-filled) ears, I'm going to go back to my sledgehammer. It's likely less painful than seeing how this thread turns out.

As usual spot on.

The situation is one of never ending spin.

When this kinda' crap starts up I can at this point, guarentee that either positive news for Gm's hybrids or negative concerning Toyotas either just happened or is about to.

 

[jkennedy293]

This was in the story:

The 12,000/year figure was expected before the economy slipped and oil hit $130/bbl. I think GM, rightfully, has changed their sales forecasts.

I mean they are allowed to adjust production figures and sales forecasts, right?

 

[big swede]

I think what you're seeing is that the people that justified "needing" that big of a vehicle realized they really don't need that big of a vehicle when they have to pay $4.00 for a gallon of gas. Even though the Hybrid is a great accomplishment the price difference will buy a lot of gas and most of them showing up on the lots are $45,000 on up which sounds a lot more expensive than $37,000.

One other issue is that if you buy a Hybrid the weight savings was made up in the interior so returning customers don't want to pay a higher price for a vehicle that has an interior that looks a generation older than the one they are trading in.

The main draw for these vehicles are for people where money really isn't the issue but they want a lot of space without portraying to their neighbors/friends/family that they are gross consumers. Then the problem becomes status and a now loaded $50,000 Yukon has some stiff competition.

 

[PhishPhood]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHGGGGGGGGG!
BAM! BAM! BAM!
<hits head with 15 pound sledgehammer repeatedly>
<curls up on floor in writhing pain>

There is not a $15,000 premium for the hybrid.
This is like comparing the ultimate stripped model to what most people actually order.
We went through this previously.
A realistic figure would be $4-$7K premium over a comparable Tahoe or Yukon.
There are previous threads that go over this ad nauseum.

Production is just now ramping up.
For the past 8 months, I haven't seen a single hybrid.
Now my local Chevy dealer has 4.

Let's be careful here because what we have is a 7 passenger, 6000 lb towing capable SUV that can achieve the fuel economy of a mid-size sedan.
As gas prices skyrocket, this type of vehicle will only become more desirable.
No other manufacturer in the world has anything like this. Period.

And assuming that this post is falling on deaf (and escargot-filled) ears, I'm going to go back to my sledgehammer. It's likely less painful than seeing how this thread turns out.

Listen to the man here. Automotive writers and 'anal ysts' are barely worthy of walking on their two hind legs. Most are one week removed from vine-swinging. Math and economic analysis are far beyond their meagre intelligences.

What IS true although the writer is too stupid to comprehend this is that all heavy vehicles are taking an unmerciful pounding in this market. 20-21 mpg is fantastic for this vehicle and it would fly off the shelves if fuel wasn't heading for $5 a gallon. THAT nuance is beyond the comprehension of the baboon who did the analysis.

 

[paul8488]

What IS true although the writer is too stupid to comprehend this is that all heavy vehicles are taking an unmerciful pounding in this market. 20-21 mpg is fantastic for this vehicle and it would fly off the shelves if fuel wasn't heading for $5 a gallon. THAT nuance is beyond the comprehension of the baboon who did the analysis.

Why would this vehicle 'fly off the shelves' if gas WASN'T getting more expensive? More expensive gas is the only thing that might encourage sales of these vehicles. Even if it's 'only' $5000 more than a comparable Tahoe with a non-hybrid engine, gas has to get a whole lot more expensive before buying one of these hybrids makes economic sense.

 

[paul8488]

The 12,000/year figure was expected before the economy slipped and oil hit $130/bbl. I think GM, rightfully, has changed their sales forecasts.

I mean they are allowed to adjust production figures and sales forecasts, right?

Again, this is a vehicle that only makes MORE sense as the cost of gas goes up. If we all agree that some people will always want / need large vehicles like the Tahoe, only as gas gets more expensive will the premium asked for this vehicle be worth it.

You are right though. GM can certainly change their forecasts... but is it really a surprise that the economy is suffering? If they introduced a hybrid they were counting on higher fuel costs... and should also have been counting on people having less disposable income for large, expensive SUVs.

If GM can't sell a hybrid with gas prices climing, what good was the investment in such a vehicle?

 

[PMC the 1st]

http://scc.sdsu.edu/

 

[lio45]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHGGGGGGGGG!
BAM! BAM! BAM!
<hits head with 15 pound sledgehammer repeatedly>
<curls up on floor in writhing pain>

There is not a $15,000 premium for the hybrid.
This is like comparing the ultimate stripped model to what most people actually order.
We went through this previously.
A realistic figure would be $4-$7K premium over a comparable Tahoe or Yukon.
There are previous threads that go over this ad nauseum.

Production is just now ramping up.
For the past 8 months, I haven't seen a single hybrid.
Now my local Chevy dealer has 4.

Let's be careful here because what we have is a 7 passenger, 6000 lb towing capable SUV that can achieve the fuel economy of a mid-size sedan.
As gas prices skyrocket, this type of vehicle will only become more desirable.
No other manufacturer in the world has anything like this. Period.

And assuming that this post is falling on deaf (and escargot-filled) ears, I'm going to go back to my sledgehammer. It's likely less painful than seeing how this thread turns out.

When I read the article, I knew you would have a fit (justified, of course)

I can conservatively say that everyone back then (including mkaresh) agreed that the premium for the hybrid was AT MOST ~$9k regardless of how you look at it.