The 2020 Buick LaCrosse we won't get
#31
Lexus Test Driver
It's more than a business. It's extortion. GM and Ford are trying to force people out of sedans into SUVs, where there is more profit per unit. In fact, Sulu has just posted a Car Chat thread which (correctly) predicts a big backfire coming from the current proliferation of SUVs.
Don't get me wrong. I was a big supporter of GM getting the bailout money, and still believe, today, that it was the correct national decision for us, at the time. That was the GM of 10 years ago, essentially trying to run an honest business, slimming down, and reorganizing into four divisions instead of eight. Then, Marry Barra came along, and, for several years, ran the company brilliantly. But that is not the GM of today. Things changed in the last couple of years (particularly last year), when management forgot who they were, what they were running, what their long-term missions/goals were, and decided to go all-out for short-term profits by trying to force sedan-buyers into SUVs, not realizing that, in the long term, they will alienate a lot of people and lose sales down the road. It's a shame that money (and, particularly, questionable or unethical ways of trying to make it) has such a hold over so many people.....simply sad.
Don't get me wrong. I was a big supporter of GM getting the bailout money, and still believe, today, that it was the correct national decision for us, at the time. That was the GM of 10 years ago, essentially trying to run an honest business, slimming down, and reorganizing into four divisions instead of eight. Then, Marry Barra came along, and, for several years, ran the company brilliantly. But that is not the GM of today. Things changed in the last couple of years (particularly last year), when management forgot who they were, what they were running, what their long-term missions/goals were, and decided to go all-out for short-term profits by trying to force sedan-buyers into SUVs, not realizing that, in the long term, they will alienate a lot of people and lose sales down the road. It's a shame that money (and, particularly, questionable or unethical ways of trying to make it) has such a hold over so many people.....simply sad.
#32
Lexus Fanatic
it's imperative you move on from these thoughts and accept how modern businesses work.
Only the best sedans out there are the ones posting decent numbers.
People shop what they want to shop and do
Last edited by mmarshall; 06-16-19 at 01:49 PM.
#33
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
In fact, Sulu has just posted a Car Chat thread which (correctly) predicts a big backfire coming from the current proliferation of SUVs.
Things [for GM] changed in the last couple of years (particularly last year), when management forgot who they were, what they were running, what their long-term missions/goals were, and decided to go all-out for short-term profits by trying to force sedan-buyers into SUVs, not realizing that, in the long term, they will alienate a lot of people and lose sales down the road.
honda and toyota sedans are down or way down year over year. all uvs are flat overall (notably the pilot and highlander suffering some) .
kia soul and telluride, hyundai kona and new santa fe are making a dent in small and media uv sales.
i guess they're all in on the conspiracy too to 'force' people into suvs.
GM and Ford are not in the business to force buyers to do anything. People shop what they want to shop and do. No one holds a gun to them and forces anything. It's imperative you move on from these thoughts and accept how modern businesses work. The weak companies cannot make due with low selling products. SUV's are what people want. Only the best sedans out there are the ones posting decent numbers.
i believe we're going to see some big consolidation as well as bankruptcies in the auto biz in the next few years.
#35
Lexus Fanatic
#36
Lexus Fanatic
Thank You. But this doesn't revolve around me. I am not the issue. I have no desire to be the issue....I'm simply a car guy that talks and reviews vehicles, not a grandstander out to get attention for myself. I'll also point out that I am not the one who started this thread....I was basically responding to the reasons why we, in the U.S. aren't getting the (thread-topic) 2020 Lacrosse and some other GM and Ford sedans.
#37
Thank You. But this doesn't revolve around me. I am not the issue. I have no desire to be the issue....I'm simply a car guy that talks and reviews vehicles, not a grandstander out to get attention for myself. I'll also point out that I am not the one who started this thread....I was basically responding to the reasons why we, in the U.S. aren't getting the (thread-topic) 2020 Lacrosse and some other GM and Ford sedans.
#38
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
i don't see how mazda can survive by itself.
the profitability of ram and jeep help fca out big time (their european performance is dismal) but i think they're in deep trouble overall going forward.
i think subaru will be challenged although their brand and momentum have been very strong, but still, the volume isn't huge.
and i don't even know how mitsubishi is still in the car business.
the profitability of ram and jeep help fca out big time (their european performance is dismal) but i think they're in deep trouble overall going forward.
i think subaru will be challenged although their brand and momentum have been very strong, but still, the volume isn't huge.
and i don't even know how mitsubishi is still in the car business.
#39
Lexus Fanatic
Mitsubishi.....I'll agree with you. I honestly don't know how they have managed to stay in the U.S. market this long. Both me and Mike (1SICKLEX/LexFather) thought they'd be gone several years ago....and they are still hanging on. Whether that is because their dealerships keep folding (there are very few left) or the dealerships fold because of poor sales is an open question (and maybe a Catch-22 relationship), but they don't seem to be even a niche brand any more. There are no more dealerships at all in Northern Virginia where I live (several years ago there were three or four)*
(*Oops...I'll have to take that back. Amazing....Mitsu's dealer-locator shows a new dealership must have just opened up in Manassas, VA....not far from where I live. I'll have to stop by and see what they are selling.)
Anyhow, though, nationwide, there seems to be a serious shortage of Mitsu shops.....which was also the case wth Isuzu and Suzuki before they left the American market. A couple of years ago, a friend of mine, who lived in Carson City, NV was interested in a new Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, at least partly because of its low price and long warranty. When I did a dealer-search for him, the closest place to him (so he could even go look at the vehicle) was some 75-80 miles away, in California. Well, so much for that.
Last edited by mmarshall; 06-16-19 at 04:33 PM.
#40
Lexus Fanatic
#41
Lexus Champion
i don't see how mazda can survive by itself.
the profitability of ram and jeep help fca out big time (their european performance is dismal) but i think they're in deep trouble overall going forward.
i think subaru will be challenged although their brand and momentum have been very strong, but still, the volume isn't huge.
and i don't even know how mitsubishi is still in the car business.
the profitability of ram and jeep help fca out big time (their european performance is dismal) but i think they're in deep trouble overall going forward.
i think subaru will be challenged although their brand and momentum have been very strong, but still, the volume isn't huge.
and i don't even know how mitsubishi is still in the car business.
Subaru, although it has not been as open as Mazda has, is no doubt in a similar position as Mazda, as are Suzuki and Daihatsu. Subaru may seem to hold a nice niche position in North America but that is still a small market -- a small slice of a diminishing market is no more than a small (and perhaps not sustainable) market.
Mazda, Subaru, Suzuki and Daihatsu will need help from a larger, richer big brother. Toyota seems to be this big brother. Daihatsu is already a member of the Toyota family but the other 3 automakers are resisting joining. Toyota seems to realize this and is investing in and setting up the EV joint venture, of which all 5 and auto-electronics supplier Denso are members.
Mitsubishi has chosen to ally itself with big brother Nissan, which itself wants to become a more equal partner with Renault in that partnership. That way, Nissan will have a greater say in the direction that Renault goes (such as partnering with FCA).
FCA does well in North America, which is why it sought the partnership with Renault, which is strong in Europe but has no North American presence. Who knows, but the FCA-Renault merger may not be dead yet.
#42
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
^^^ great post.
#43
Lexus Fanatic
FCA does well in North America, which is why it sought the partnership with Renault, which is strong in Europe but has no North American presence. Who knows, but the FCA-Renault merger may not be dead yet.
I'm concerned, though, that, sooner or later, the entire auto industry as we know it will consist of three or four super-corporations, which will not be good for the consumer. Too much consolidation can be a two-edged sword.
#44
Lexus Fanatic
Anyways, we just an issue of AutoWorld Canada. For May sales programs, the new 2019 has the lowest lease rate of .50% for cars over $30K. Perhaps someone can comment if that is good for the buyer and bad for GM? I assume this reflects poor demand. But it does not look like GM is making money on this car.
#45
Lexus Fanatic
its....a....business.