I had a Saturn sales guy call me at work today, I guess he got my number from Service, asking if I would like to take a look at the new Saturn's, as they are low on used Saturns, and could offer a good trade for my 95. I told him that I am not in the market right now. Can this be for real? They need used cars? I can see them pushing the sales of new cars, and I don't mind them inquiring with me about it, but I can't see them wanting my old car back.
They want your used car because they want you to buy a new ones, its just a usual sales talk.
It's a typical sales tactic. There is one thing that there is no shortage of right now, and its used cars. The intense competition, rebates and incentives, have created a huge glut of used cars.
Sounds like a Female Sales Pitch, or FSP for short. Yeah, it's real common.
It means that you get a free, new car because they need your used piece to spruce up their lot. I mean, why bother trying to get $14,000 when you can get $1,500?
Don't be naive.
This is B.S. Look at every "buy here, pay here" or "easy credit" type corner lot... tons of saturns. They seem near the bottom of the auction/resale value pecking order. Good or bad, depending on your point of view.
Interesting, on the PBS Nightly Business Report report the other night they were saying that GM sales are hurting by 7.5% due to declining sales in Saturn division. SO I guess they are getting desperate enough to start acting like the rest of them. In this case though, this particular dealership seems to be crossing the BS line.
From what I understand, the ION does not attract the S-series crowd. (It doesn't appeal to me, at least.) So they're throwing out one bunch of fans that took 12 years to get and starting anew. Idiots.
Low-mileage 02 Ss will probably hold their resale value somewhat better as the "last of the breed."
They should have done like VW and kept the same body style forever so it never goes out of fashion. If they sold Ss parallel to IONs though the ION would sell even worse and the execs would have egg on their faces. I'd bet you'd find many present S-series owners who drove beetles back in the day.
I'll take the low resale value of used saturns, as that's how I buy 'em. So of course my opinion is off the radar screen of new car designers.
Yeah, IMHO resale value is a bunch of bunk anyhow. A car is a losing investment no matter what you get. Myself I buy 'em to drive, not to trade back in. The only way to get your money out of a car is to drive it.
Ken
A car is an asset that you use to procure income. Yup, getting to work each day at lowest cost with considerations for safety made in the decision.
Wes
It's not BS at all. There may be a lot of Saturns at the bottom-feeder lots, but that's only because people tend to keep them a long time, until they're almost ready for the junkyard. Because of this, Saturn dealers *do* have trouble getting enough quality used Saturns -- less than 5 years old, with less than 50k miles or so.
Matt O.
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