Lutz: G8 to survive in the US as Chevy Caprice

[ifcar]

According to this the Impala will be continued and the G8 will become a Caprice.  So Chevrolet will have 3 sedans.

Five.

Aveo, Cobalt, Malibu, Impala, Caprice.

[Payman]

Five.

Aveo, Cobalt, Malibu, Impala, Caprice.

Make that Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Impala, Caprice, Volt.  Not a bad lineup.

[ifcar]

Make that Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Impala, Caprice, Volt.  Not a bad lineup.

Spark's not a sedan, is it?

[nickdrinkwater]

Five.

Aveo, Cobalt, Malibu, Impala, Caprice.

I meant to write 'large sedans'.  As in, they have 3 cars that are very similar in size.

[ifcar]

I meant to write 'large sedans'.  As in, they have 3 cars that are very similar in size.

The Malibu is quite a bit smaller than the Impala, at least on the outside. And the G8 is much roomier than either.

[the Teuton]

The Malibu is quite a bit smaller than the Impala, at least on the outside. And the G8 is much roomier than either.

The 'Bu feels larger on the inside from the back seat.  The 'Pala feels wider, less bolstered, and generally more airy than the 'Bu.

Really, the differences between the two come down to personal preferences and quantity versus quality.

[nickdrinkwater]

I was just saying, whereas most manufacturers have a more pronounced size difference between sedans, the Chevrolets seem a bit closer.  I've only seen the Impala and the VXR8 (Caprice to be) in isolation but they both seemed pretty big cars.

[Madman]

According to this the Impala will be continued and the G8 will become a Caprice.  So Chevrolet will have 3 sedans.

Yes, Chevrolet will have three similarly sized sedans all competing with each other and stepping on each others toes.  See why I said the G8 should go to Buick?  The G8 would have given Buick something unique to sell.  Which is useful, considering their existing clientele is dying off in droves.  Too bad GM never got the message that dead people don't buy cars!

Meanwhile, Pontiac-Buick-GMC dealers across the land are stocking up on oversized chairs and large potted plants to fill in all the empty space left in the showroom once all the Pontiacs go away.


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[93JC]

The plan is probably to phase out the Buick and GMC brands over the next decade.

[SVT666]

I still say it should be a new Buick Grand National.

[Raza]

The plan is probably to phase out the Buick and GMC brands over the next decade.

I don't think they'll phase out Buick soon.  People turn 80 everyday, and they're going to need cars.

And as I recall, GMC is a cash cow.

[93JC]

Today's octogenarians were the 1980s' fiftysomethings, who remember dumpy Centurys and Skyhawks and probably won't want anything to do with a new Buick no matter how good it is.

GMC may be considered a cash cow if your accounting is creative enough. Factoring in the extra marketing, the money spent on separate tooling and the fact most GMC buyers probably wouldn't have a problem with buying a Chevrolet instead, and I figure it's a big waste of time and money.

[Madman]

I don't think they'll phase out Buick soon.  People turn 80 everyday, and they're going to need cars.

And as I recall, GMC is a cash cow.

So, when I turn 80, does that mean I'm suddenly going to have an irresistible urge to buy a Buick after a lifetime of driving European cars?  Somehow, I doubt it!  And if I do, please do the right thing and tell the doctors to pull the plug!

Cheers,
Madman of the People

[Raza]

So, when I turn 80, does that mean I'm suddenly going to have an irresistible urge to buy a Buick after a lifetime of driving European cars?  Somehow, I doubt it!  And if I do, please do the right thing and tell the doctors to pull the plug!

Cheers,
Madman of the People

It could be worse.  You could live to 90 and then trade in your Buick for a Toyota Avalon.

[CALL_911]

So, when I turn 80, does that mean I'm suddenly going to have an irresistible urge to buy a Buick after a lifetime of driving European cars?  Somehow, I doubt it!  And if I do, please do the right thing and tell the doctors to pull the plug!

Cheers,
Madman of the People

You're already driving a brick Volvo around, you ain't THAT far away, bud.

[93JC]

You're already driving a brick Volvo around, you ain't THAT far away, bud.

[280Z Turbo]

GMC may be considered a cash cow if your accounting is creative enough. Factoring in the extra marketing, the money spent on separate tooling and the fact most GMC buyers probably wouldn't have a problem with buying a Chevrolet instead, and I figure it's a big waste of time and money.

Exactly. That's exactly what a marketing prof told me as well.

The fact that GMC still exists says to me that it's still business as usual at GM.

[r0tor]

I still say it should be a new Buick Grand National.

I agree... "Caprice" is so filled with horrible memories of the last 90's turd bucket that I could never force myself to drive something with "Caprice" on it

[280Z Turbo]

I agree... "Caprice" is so filled with horrible memories of the last 90's turd bucket that I could never force myself to drive something with "Caprice" on it

They should have called it Chevelle or something.

[93JC]

Exactly. That's exactly what a marketing prof told me as well.

The fact that GMC still exists says to me that it's still business as usual at GM.

It takes time to whittle the brands down.

[r0tor]

They should have called it Chevelle or something.

they should just keep it a G8 or Monaro or something without a past stigma or a name that will set it up for failure with complete die-hard fans like "GTO"

[Eye of the Tiger]

they should just keep it a G8 or Monaro or something without a past stigma or a name that will set it up for failure with complete die-hard fans like "GTO"

Corsica?

[Raza]

Corsica?

They should call it "Fourdoor".  The Italians can get away with it.

[Madman]

I agree... "Caprice" is so filled with horrible memories of the last 90's turd bucket that I could never force myself to drive something with "Caprice" on it

I briefly owned a 1979 Caprice wagon.  They were turd buckets even way back then, too!

Cheers,
Madman of the People

[nickdrinkwater]

"We've been looking at it for police applications. As for whether or not it's broader than police applications, I am not a believer in re-branding and re-badging. We've been talking about in terms of potential police applications and we'll leave it at that."

Like I said before, rebadging is not a good idea.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/15/fritz-henderson-chevy-caprice-is-being-looked-at-as-police-app/

[NomisR]

Like I said before, rebadging is not a good idea.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/15/fritz-henderson-chevy-caprice-is-being-looked-at-as-police-app/

Re badging is more referring to having the same car being sold under multiple brands.

[Raza]

This is just a good car being saved from a bad brand, and shaking off the image in the process.  It's not really rebadging.  I don't think people cried foul when the Prowler lived on as a Chrysler.

[L. ed foote]

Caprice is a huge ugly turd that only cops and taxi drivers drive. 

9C1 FTW

[L. ed foote]

I know that I would prefer not to drive a car used widely by police departments, for several reasons.

I'm looking @ a few.  They seem to be pretty reliable, and with all the cop stuff added, they're durable and handle better than their civilian counterpart.

[Raza]

I'm looking @ a few.  They seem to be pretty reliable, and with all the cop stuff added, they're durable and handle better than their civilian counterpart.

You're talking about an ex-police car, correct?  That's a little different, for the reasons you already mentioned, and they're usually dirt cheap because of the abuse they take.  I was talking about not driving a civilian version of a car widely used by police departments.