Completely agree. The automakers are making what people want and are buying. They know full well how the cycle works. Some react to it better than others, but that's the nature of the mainstream car business.

 

Yes, Buick (like Chrysler before it, getting rid of the 200 and the Dart) may merely be responding to buyers' demands but if automakers do not take a long-term view -- considering the long time it takes to design, develop, gain approval and bring a new car to market -- they could be left with nothing that buyers want if the market changes (left with fuel-guzzling SUVs sitting on their dealership lots as buyers look for fuel-efficient cars).

Buick, being a relatively small brand in North America, but with product it may bring over (after some re-development to approve for North America) from China (Buick) or Western Europe (Opel), may be in a better position than Chrysler which is getting rid of North America-only product.

 

Although, legally of course, people are free to spend their automotive dollars as they see fit (and can afford), I partially blame the public itself for the topsy-turvy world of automotive product-planning. Seems like every time typical pump-prices for gas in the U.S. go up or down more than just a few cents, John Q. Public rushes out to trade in for either the newest Prius or the newest large truck/SUV as quick as they can get dressed and out the door. Automotive marketers/planners can be (and often are) the bane of my existence, but, in some ways, you have to feel sorry for them. It is not easy trying to guess what gas prices will be, in a world where the slightest event in the Middle-East disrupts the crude-oil market so much, and where public reaction to it can be like lemmings jumping off a cliff. What flies off of dealer-lots today faster than can be delivered may, in six months, sit around on the same lot collecting dust and bird-droppings LOL.

 

Thats just how it is in any industry. Consumers are fickle, and guessing what they're going to want next is a moving target. If I knew what consumers in any industry were going to want 3 years from now in any industry I wouldn't be sitting here right now lol

 

Where would you be sitting? In Trump Tower? Or on the beach in Dana Point, CA?

 

It would be called "Steve Tower" and it would have all the best views!

 

And they would be HUUUUUGE!

 

True. Although that doesn't seem to alter the way Toyota, Honda, Acura, Nissan, and Hyundai produce products during the up and downswings. They still offer one or two compacts each. Unless one wants to say Buick is not as mainstream as those brands, and deserves a more narrow market niche?

 

The old Verano and current Verano/Excelle GT are selling well overseas. Does that mean Buick is only discontinuing the US-market Verano? It's a rare car, a luxurious small FWD sedan that sips fuel, and it would be dumb of Buick to dump it in favor of SUVs that tank the moment gas prices go up.

 

I own one.....I wouldn't say it sips fuel. Its mileage is not particularly good by compact-sedan standards, but that is partly a function of the car's weight from its solid construction and added layers of sound-deadening.

 

I think it will be dumb too, but perhaps they are not confident that a second gen will do higher sales than what it is currently selling

 

Let's not make excuses for GM and Chrysler by saying this is all the fault of fickle consumers. These companies built sub-par compact cars from the get go and made poor business decisions (who would want to buy a compact Buick that's a rebadged Cruze?). You don't see the Japanese or Koreans having to take steps like this.

 

Not a rebadge, its based off the Cruze. Similar to the way Escalade/Tahoe, Avalon/ES, LX/LC

From Car & Driver"

"The fair Verano is a small thing that competes with the Acura ILX and uses the same basic platform as the Chevy Cruze. It is quiet, comfortable, satisfying to drive, and it handily beats the one-size-up Regal in sales."

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...al-test-review

 

So, at one time, did the Koreans. Times change. And GM and Chrysler are not the same companies they were before the reprganizations/buyouts. I do question, however, GM and Chrysler dropping two excellent small, luxury-oriented sedans that has done well in the U.S. and have a good reputation. Unlike similar past GM/Chrysler products, the Verano and Chrysler 200 are good for more than just rental-cars.

No offense, but I would, Thank-You. First, I have been well-pleased with my Verano...along with the Subaru Outback i once owned, some of the best automotive dollars I have ever spent (and, as a person who reviews and test-drives a lot of different products, I don't say that lightly). Second, although both the Verano and Cruze are related to GM's Delta II vehicle-platform (as is the European Opel Astra), the Verano is FAR more an Astra than a Cruze. In fact, the Verano's interior and basic chassis is almost identical to the Astra's...the major difference is in the GM-derived power rain and Buick Quiet-tuning sound-insulation. That's one reason why I bought a Verano.....it was clearly a departure from the usual GM/Chrysler junk-engineering of its smaller sedans. So, for that matter, is the impressive (for its size) Chevrolet Sonic subcompact.

They make their share of marketing goofs. Look at some of the stuff, for example, Acura has introduced...and then had to pull because no one would buy it.

 

FWIW, I chose a Verano as a business car rental a year ago and drove it about 1000 miles as I was curious about the car seeing MM owns one.

Agree with MM that is is quiet, and in fact more than my IS., I'd say like my past RX. Ride was also good most of the time. and fuel economy was excellent (~35 highway mpgs if I recall). Handling too was surprisingly nimble. A great highway cruiser without the feeling of driving a boat.

On the downside, ride got a little choppy over certain road imperfections, driver's seat was uncomfortable resulting in lower back discomfort, seat bottom was lob-sided on the left (maybe contributed to the sore back?), and the Rubbermaid-like dash materials, fit, and finish were nothing to rave about even for this price range.