Opel Adam, bring it to America?

[2o6]

And what the fuck is a Buick Encore?

.....


Super quiet, but far nicer version of the Chevy Trax.


It's doing pretty well here in the US.

[93JC]

Ah. That Chevy Whatchamacallit, with a Buick badge. I'm sure there had been a thread here about it some time in the past. Probably when it was announced. I guess this goes to show how much attention I cared to pay...

Never seen one (nor the Chevy). Must be setting the sales charts on fire.


EDIT: Oh, but I think I've seen a Buick Verano. And by 'a' I mean 'one'.

[2o6]

Ah. That Chevy Whatchamacallit, with a Buick badge. I'm sure there had been a thread here about it some time in the past. Probably when it was announced. I guess this goes to show how much attention I cared to pay...

Never seen one (nor the Chevy). Must be setting the sales charts on fire.

The US doesn't get the Chevy, and Buick dealers ordered six times what GM expected. It's getting favorable reviews, and dealers can't really keep them in stock.

[93JC]

GM must have set very low expectations.

I checked the sales charts in Canada for shits and giggles. Of the small mainstream and semi-lux SUVs out there the Buick Encore is third to last, beaten in rarity only by the Mini Countryman and the outgoing Suzuki Grand Vitara.

[2o6]

GM must have set very low expectations.

I checked the sales charts in Canada for shits and giggles. Of the small mainstream and semi-lux SUVs out there the Buick Encore is third to last, beaten in rarity only by the Mini Countryman and the outgoing Suzuki Grand Vitara.

It's just an Opel Mokka with some chrome and sound deadening. 


It's also only been on sale for a about a month or two, IIRC.

[Madman]

If you want to entice younger people into a GM showroom you have a plethora of smaller, more affordable Chevys.

Chevy already has the Spark and Sonic.  The Adam is supposed to be a slightly more upscale feeling car and, as such, would be a better fit with Buick.  Besides, Chevy dealers aren't exactly hurting for business.  But Buick can certainly use some more foot traffic coming in the door and if GM's marketing people can create a buzz around the Adam, then why not?

Buick needs to ditch its old-fart image and a fun, funky car aimed at fashion conscious urbanites can only help.  If Buick is to ever be considered cool it needs to give the twenty-something demographic something they can get exited about.  And if the old farts hate it, that only makes it more cool in the eyes of the people Buick needs to court.  You're never going to get a latte-sipping 25 year old hipster to look at a Lacrosse or Enclave.  Buick needs something different!

[12,000 RPM]

It's decent enough car for what it is.  Besides, what else have they got to offer in this segment?  GM has already spent the money to develop and build it, so why not try to sell it in as many places as possible? 

Their Korean designed cars are more profitable. This thing is made in Germany. They might as well make it in Monaco in a waterfront factory. I would be surprised that any manfuacturer would undertake such a project but then if anyone would it's GM.

Plus it's overstyled and heavy. Naw, we need the Panda. Fun + 40MPG in the mountains + affordable without being cheap. I really love that car.

[Galaxy]

Their Korean designed cars are more profitable. This thing is made in Germany. They might as well make it in Monaco in a waterfront factory. I would be surprised that any manfuacturer would undertake such a project but then if anyone would it's GM.

Plus it's overstyled and heavy. Naw, we need the Panda. Fun + 40MPG in the mountains + affordable without being cheap. I really love that car.

Well the Opel workers in Eisenach did take a 10% paycut to get Adam production. Plus the state of Thüringen footed the bill to convert the factory.

[93JC]

Chevy already has the Spark and Sonic.  The Adam is supposed to be a slightly more upscale feeling car and, as such, would be a better fit with Buick.  Besides, Chevy dealers aren't exactly hurting for business.  But Buick can certainly use some more foot traffic coming in the door and if GM's marketing people can create a buzz around the Adam, then why not?

Buick needs to ditch its old-fart image and a fun, funky car aimed at fashion conscious urbanites can only help.  If Buick is to ever be considered cool it needs to give the twenty-something demographic something they can get exited about.  And if the old farts hate it, that only makes it more cool in the eyes of the people Buick needs to court.  You're never going to get a latte-sipping 25 year old hipster to look at a Lacrosse or Enclave.  Buick needs something different!

Say you did get a bunch of "25-year-old hipsters" to buy Buick Adams. Not likely, but for the sake of argument let's say it happened. What happens when they're 30 and looking for another new car?

I can tell you: they're not coming back for a Buick.


I know what you're trying to say but there's nothing in the Buick lineup for these younger buyers to 'graduate' to. Which is why you start them off with Chevys and then maybe when they're 50 they buy a Buick.

Toyota doesn't sell the Scion xB as a Lexus in order to entice younger buyers into Lexus showrooms...

[Payman]

Much nicer looking than the horrible Spark.

[Galaxy]

Say you did get a bunch of "25-year-old hipsters" to buy Buick Adams. Not likely, but for the sake of argument let's say it happened. What happens when they're 30 and looking for another new car?

[12,000 RPM]

Plus a lot of older folks still drive smaller cars. VW Golf is a top seller; can't be all young people with how the population is aging. Opel Adam is a little too "quirky" to that end, but a Buick Astra could work.

[Payman]

THIS needs to come over as a Buick.

[Mustangfan2003]

Middle aged women would love that since they no longer make the Camry Solara. 

[280Z Turbo]

Yes. That would be a perfect Buick.

[2o6]

Not designed for the USA.


Sad, would beat the brakes off the Chrysler 200

[MrH]

It's decent enough car for what it is.  Besides, what else have they got to offer in this segment?  GM has already spent the money to develop and build it, so why not try to sell it in as many places as possible?  Buick needs products that will appeal to people who have never considered the brand before.  If they can lure young, trendy customers into a Buick showroom with the Adam, some of those customers may eventually step up to a Verano or a Regal.  GM desperately needs to grow the brand if Buick is to survive.

As long as they can undercut the MINI and price it closer to the Fiat 500, I can see the Adam selling in respectable numbers.

Because it's likely being built in Europe.  It's not cost effective to get it approved in the US, then ship the thing over at razor thin margins.

[Mustangfan2003]

Not designed for the USA.


Sad, would beat the brakes off the Chrysler 200

I forgot that car even exist. 

[Payman]

Not designed for the USA.


Sad, would beat the brakes off the Chrysler 200

Yup. I can see this becoming the new best selling convertible in North America. If only.

[Vinsanity]

Yup. I can see this becoming the new best selling convertible in North America. If only.

Really? I don't see more people choosing this over a Mustang. I definitely wouldn't.

[Madman]

Really? I don't see more people choosing this over a Mustang. I definitely wouldn't.

Nobody will ever cross-shop a Mustang and a Cascadia (or whatever its called).  They are very different cars aimed at very different buyers.

Granted, a drop-top like this is a perfect fit for Buick and would spank the underwhelming Chrysler 200.

[Vinsanity]

Nobody will ever cross-shop a Mustang and a Cascadia (or whatever its called).  They are very different cars aimed at very different buyers.

Granted, a drop-top like this is a perfect fit for Buick and would spank the underwhelming Chrysler 200.

I didn't claim that people cross-shop the two. I claimed that the Mustang will continue to be the most popular car among people who want to buy a 4-seat convertible. Or any convertible for that matter.

[93JC]

Plus a lot of older folks still drive smaller cars. VW Golf is a top seller; can't be all young people with how the population is aging. Opel Adam is a little too "quirky" to that end, but a Buick Astra could work.

There IS a Buick Astra:

[MX793]

I didn't claim that people cross-shop the two. I claimed that the Mustang will continue to be the most popular car among people who want to buy a 4-seat convertible. Or any convertible for that matter.

I'm pretty sure the Sebring/200 Convertible outsells the Mustang convertible.  For starters, it's a fair bit cheaper than the Mustang (you cannot get a drop-top Mustang for under 30K anymore).

[Vinsanity]

I'm pretty sure the Sebring/200 Convertible outsells the Mustang convertible.  For starters, it's a fair bit cheaper than the Mustang (you cannot get a drop-top Mustang for under 30K anymore).

It's probably a regional thing, then. Easily over half of all convertibles I see on the road are either Mustangs or 3-serieses

[TurboDan]

They don't need to offer anything in this segment. And federalizing the car is probably not all that profitable.

I know we've discussed this before, but can someone refresh my memory as to why cars that are perfectly acceptable in every other country on the face of the planet are not considered worthy of driving on our roads here without millions of dollars in investments and modifications?

Regarding this car as a Buick... as someone else mentioned, if it wasn't for China, Buick would have gone the way of Pontiac and Saturn. Buick, for the rest of eternity, will be associated with 80 year olds who drive old land yachts. Some of us have said Opel's problem is that it isn't well known here. I argue that a non-known brand is better than what Buick is unfortunately well known for.

[2o6]

.....why the fuck do you guys keep perpetuating the idea that no one wants Buick, and Buick isn't doing well?


As of May YTD Sales

- Audi ~60K
- Acura ~62K
- Cadillac ~ 69K
- Infiniti ~ 43K
- Lincoln ~ 30K
- Volvo ~ 25K


And Buick....with ~82K units sold so far.


Only brands ahead of Buick are BMW (113K) and Lexus (97K)

[veeman]

i like buick.  it has that whole "quiet" thing down real well and does it at a cheaper price than lexus with in my opinion better styling and cheaper but still good looking interiors.  The lacrosse is competitive with the lexus es and the enclave is very very good at the price point (under 45 grand usually) its sold at.  Both cars have no sporting pretensions which is the way it should be.

Buick messed up the Regal.  They tried to market it as a sporty sedan but its powertrain does not match up favorably with the competition's sports sedans.  People say it handles well but its relatively slow and thirsty and it's automatic doesn't shift that well.  And then, to top it off, initially they only offered their most sporty model with the best engine with only a manual transmission?!  I'm sorry fanboys, but that will guarantee you piss poor sales in the U.S.; land of the big gulp and inferior driving skills.  You've excluded 90% of the population who can't drive manual and those who can, often don't buy one because their spouse can't drive one.  Of the 5% who can drive a manual and want a manual transmission, a buick is not on their list because these people like cars, read car mags, and know the Regal powertrain is inferior to that of its competition.  So, instead they buy a vw gti or acura tsx.  The Regal looks great.  That kind of car can't sell here though.  For the same price, you're going to get an equally fast camcord or fusion which is significantly more roomy and gets equal gas mileage.     

[Raza]

5%er right here!  But I'm still not buying a $40,000 Buick, even if it has a manual. 

[12,000 RPM]

5%er right here!  But I'm still not buying a $40,000 Buick, even if it has a manual.

Why not? Wouldn't you buy a $40K Audi? Dollar for dollar the top of the line Buick seems like the better value, badge snobbery aside.