GM joins Ford in jettisoning the minivan market

On Thu, 21 Dec 2006 18:25:16 -0500, Eugene got out the hammer and chisel and etched in the wall:

lol!

They need more than one dealer to store their excess inventory. >:)

Correct they don't build excess then dump it on rental & lease firms, killing the resale value for 1 or 2 years.

Why not? The Northstar is a great engine (for 1993), but it doesn't have MDS like the Hemi does.

The Impala has a niche. University and public school district police departments are what use them around here.

When the Ford Interceptor gets de-throned, it will be by a rear-drive car. The Charger is the best bet to do the de-throning right now, but a lot of PDs are very entrenched and slow to change. Hell, that's the same reason they were still buying M-body Mopar copcars back in the 80s- because they'd always bought Mopar in the past. It sure wasn't the blistering performance of an 8:1 compression 318 and 2.45 rear-end ratio!

You misspelled a word. Its not n-e-v-e-r, its spelled a-l-w-a-y-s.

Given that the Toy will break whenever you try to do any sort of work more serious than driving to dinner in it...

over-equipped

No, they will just be guys with grade 12 educations and 2 years run through an associates class trying to troubleshoot and diagnose the car that a bunch of robots put together on an assembly line. A car, that is, which isn't designed to be repaired. As a result if your a new car buyer you will probably be having to get used to discarding your car when it fails, and buying a new one. Hope your wallet can stand it.

Ted

Do you think they will be taught the proper use of contractions? :)

Really? That may be your opinion but crossovers are not SUVs and Toyota and Honda do not offer AWD sedans. Both of those markets are the fasted growing markets in the US Audi and Subaru are also-rans when it comes to sales in the US. According to CR's and several other recent new car owners surveys the Fusion and Milan have outscored the Accord and Camry. CR pointed out the V6 Fusion sells for thousands less than the 4 cy Camry as well. As to what buyers chose to buy based on past experience, both GM and Ford outsell Toyota and every other import brand in the US ;)

mike

What in the world make you believe import brands do not try to sell to fleets and rental car companies? They certainly do, they are just not very successful at selling to fleets, with the exception of the Koreans. Imports do in fact sell to rental car companies however and in bug numbers.. All manufactures offer discounts to fleets and rental car companies. It ranges between $600 and $800

mike

The highway mileage, listed in the CAFE Guide, is 25 MPG.

mike

No it was the $2,500 lower purchase price LOL

mike

GM and Ford were smart to get out of the minivan business, at this point.

1. Why waists capitol in a declining market, with an ever increasing number of competitors?
2. Chrysler dominates the market at around 48% of the sales, with six others to share the balance
3. After 20 years of trying, the Japs are finally offering vans that can compete with what you offer.
4. The competition can built their van for around 1/3 less than you can.

Good more GM and Ford, concentrate your capitol on the fast growing COV and AWD market instead.

mike

In you're dreams. :))

Ill just be happy if they learn to use punctuation thats what I don't like?

Yes it is. Pretty impressive for a car that moves like the LX cars do.

Mike Hunter wrote:

Well, that and the fact that you couldn't wear them out with sand in the oil and driving 80 mph on railroad tracks. Damn those things were un-killable!

Unfortunately GM & Ford are already showing weakness in those markets.