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'11 13,034 vs '12 11,630
I honestly thing the one thing that is keeping that car from selling better: the back seat.
I seem to recall someone saying that that back seat was a mistake. :shades:
I don't think customers go to a Buick store looking for a sporty sedan. This is a case of not-every-division-should-try-to-be-sporty.
Having said that, GM has economies of scale since it is sold in Europe.
With aging baby boomers, why not let Buick be Buick?
It's said that 'numbers don't lie', and the published numbers for the Malibu's rear seat are two inches larger than Sonata's. As I've said, I would think there'd be an SAE-standard for interior measurements, but maybe not.
When the wheelbase shrinks five inches, it has to come out of somewhere. I noticed it in the look of the length of the rear doors, first one I ever saw, late last winter.
Damn, bpizzuti, I still haven't seen a new SS or Captiva on my dealer's lot!
Definitely, looking at monthly sales, Regal sales basically dropped 50% once the Verano made it on dealer lots.
I honestly thing the one thing that is keeping that car from selling better: the back seat.
IIRC, there was an article or two mentioning the '12 model was outselling the '13 model well into 2012. Looking at the monthly numbers, the Malibu had some solid sales months through mid year, then really dropped when the '13 model was on it's own.
IMO, the Malibu just doesn't stand out. I don't doubt it's a nice car, but from my perspective it just doesn't grab my attention or interest. I think I'd buy an Accord, Fusion, or Passat.
Like Andre has mentioned, if I wanted to buy a Chevy, I'd probably just buy a Cruze over the Malibu. I don't know if there is any correlation or not, but Cruze sales have increased quite a bit since mid '12.
I do think most car customers are not 'car guys' and are largely influenced by a handful of magazine writers...but we've been there before.
One would think that with the absence of highly-publicized recalls of late, and CR putting some recent Ford models on 'worst' lists and the like, that GM would be picking up some, but apparently not yet. Perception lags reality as they say.
When will US Fusion production begin?
I'd send my money to Fairfax, KS, and also to Detroit over Marysville and Japan!
(Not meant as fighting words, so calm down, those of you so inclined! LOL)
Comparing '11 to '12 December numbers it looks like the Accord (up 66%), and Sonota (up 20%) are picking up those sales.
Stripping away any biases and just looking at the stats. The new Accord is impressive. Top safety scores, top FE ratings, good performance, plenty of room, and non offensive looks (IMO anyway). Add a good reputation you have a car that nearly matches the sales numbers of the Fusion and Malibu combined in Dec. Take away fleet sales and only look at retail customers and it's likely even more of a blow out as the Honda rarely sells more than 5% to fleets vs. 20-30% for a Malibu and Fusion.
Nothing wrong with that, but to many of us there is one more factor. If I'm spending $25-30k, I'm buying the car I like the best.
The SS is going to be special order only apparently. And you must not be looking very hard on the Captiva, took me less than 10 seconds on Google to find a dealer with Captivas. :shades:
One miss - fuel capacity isn't as much as class leaders so range could have been better. Call it a missed opportunity.
The SS is not out yet.
http://www.edmunds.com/car-news/gm-recalls-54686-2013-vehicles-for-rollaway-risk- .html
It ain't 600K Subarus, but I did learn something positive (IMHO) from the link. I was under the impression, as I think many here were too, that Suburbans and Escalades were made in Mexico. This says Arlington, TX and I doubt they manufacture in Texas and Mexico, but I don't know that for a fact.
Okay $20k. Currently anyway I'd think it would be hard to get a Malibu out the door for less than that.
I know for a fact that some Suburbans and Yukons were made in Mexico. My '00 Suburban was made there and in '08 when I was shopping for it's replacement, every Yukon and Suburban I looked at came from Mexico.
I read on Wikipedia that after 09 production for the US market is all here and Mexican made Suburbans stay in Mexico.
I didn't know it either until I looked it up. Considering those SUVs haven't changed since '07 and at that time, they were being built in Mexico for the US market, I had no reason to think anything had changed.
Not until May or June. Ford is spending over $500 million to upgrade the plant with a new body and paint shops. When at full capacity, they'll have 1200 new employees running 2 shifts.
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passenger_vehicles_in_the_United_States
While imports have been gaining ground in terms of units sold during the 2000s and have regained roughly the same market share they held in 1992, the sales of domestic vehicles are still more than double those of imported vehicles. It should be noted, however that the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics "Includes cars produced in Canada and Mexico" as domestic vehicles as both countries are part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), thus including many cars by Asian and European manufacturers - many Volkswagens are made in Mexico, Toyotas in Canada, also.
Seems the US Bureau of Transportation considers Mexican production domestic, ie., American.
To me, U.S. is "America", and I'd venture a guess that most people, other than those who like to argue (!), would have that same opinion.
I just ran across the definition of "domestic", as determined by the government, and thought others might be interested in seeing it, so that when the term is used, at least we can all understand how the government (US Bureau of Transportation Statistics) defines "domestic" content.
That's one way to look at it. The other way to look at it would be to say the competition is building better cars for less money and/or better value and bang for the buck.
The competition definitely has something to do with low Malibu sales.
You can say 'better', but for less money? Give me a drag of what you're smokin'!
not leading in any way, I'd say "Most" competitors "build" cars for less than GM.
Unless you smoke some serious Green!
Regards,
OW
I'll comment further when you post a serious statement.
General Motors (GM) appears to have regained its position as the leading auto maker by unit sales in the world after having been ousted from the spot four years ago. For a related story see this link. Just looking at the numbers, GM appears to be very well positioned for continued growth in both the top and bottom lines. The problem is that most of us just aren't buying the idea that the GM culture and management has changed sufficiently to continue to make improvements. Of course the debt situation is much improved. But will it stay that way? Even with its greatly improved capital structure, GM is still lagging Ford and Toyota with a lower net margin ratio. The company states that it intends to improve margins in the future but I have not been convinced that management has a comprehensive strategy that will effect that change.
So, because they over-price their cars and then add incentives (since they can't balance production/capacity/inventory to save their lives), they make less per vehicle sold and the competition can price less than GM and still make more money.
Seriously. :shades:
Regards,
OW
The competition definitely has something to do with low Malibu sales.
It could also bee poor reputation. Even if the product is just as good, if the history is poor it's going to take some new track record to prove that before many people are going to gamble with $20K+.
Or, J.D. Edwards:
http://autos.jdpower.com/content/press-release-auto/Q5wPftR/2012-u-s-vehicle-dep- endability-study.htm
Man, Audi, Subaru, Nissan, BMW, Mazda, Kia, VW, and Infiniti have some catching up to do, to get to where Chevy is!
You mean J.D. Power?
No problem! Chevy was better in 2009 than all of the brands you mentioned if you take the rags for Gospel, which we all know you don't. So, these numbers run counter to your argument...unless you are now, somehow, mysteriously, flexible! :surprise:
Must be those meds.
Regards,
OW
It's OK for others to praise 'the rags', then not use them when they don't fit their agenda...I'm posting it here for all you guys' edification!
I don't buy a car based on what a magazine says, but a lot of people here think that's the wise thing to do. Again, just bringing it to your attention!
BTW, I'm not aware of "J.D. Powers" magazine.
Did you mean "Frenchmen"?
It's a virtual 'rag".
J.D.Power
The editors/staff drive a heck of a lot more cars than we do so their opinion has more weight than, say, your neighbor or you B.I.L./cousin/etc.
The studies conducted by your hated CR or J.D. Power, your favorite, are but a guide. The bottom line for GM is they lost market share and went bankrupt for many a reason. They might have gone to confession but they are a long way from being saved.
From a fan's perspective, it was the sad-cased customers that deserted GM who ultimately failed GM.
The rags only reflect the reality, hurt as it does. On the other hand, even some of the "rags" have been positive towards GM lately.
Regards,
OW
I think you meant JD Power. JD Edwards was an ERP company bought by Oracle as I recall.
Well it's certainly poor for the brand, if not the Malibu specifically. And I'm sure the bailouts did not help for at least a proportion of the public. Even if an additional 10% of the people shun GM who wouldn't have otherwise, that's a handicap.
Your link is for initial quality, which is not what will generally create a long term reputation. It's the 50-100K mile range where reputations are built.
I have in front of me the CR annual buying guide for Dec 2012. Looking at the 4 cyl Malibu, it rates reliablity for '06-'11 all as average, except for '09 which is better than average. For the 6 cyl, they rank '06, '09, '10 as average, and '07, '08, and '11 as worse than average.
I also see other Chevy products such as the Cobalt - 5 of 6 years '06-'11 are worse than average; for the '11 Cruze much worse than average; for the Equniox from '06-'09 worse than average, improving to average for the last 3 years; and the Impala shows 2 of 6 years much worse than average; 2 of 6 years worse than average; and 2 of 6 years average. So among cars, the brand -- not very good.
Contrast this with Ford Fusions v6 and 4cyl showing much better than average for 4 of the combined 12 years of models; and all other years for both engines either better than average or average, with nothing worse than average in any of those 12 combined years (6 for each engine).
The Honda Fit is much better than average all six years. The Honda Civic is much better than average 4 of 6 years, better than average the remainder. The Honda Accord is average to much better than average across all years for both 4 and 6 cyl engines.
The Toyota Corolla has only one average year and all the others are better or much better than average. The Camry both 4 and 6 cyl has only one average in the 12 combined years and all other years are better or much better than average.
The 2008 Malibu rates poorly in overall dependability at JD Power, too:
2008
The 2009 rates somewhat better, up to their second-lowest, rather than their lowest rating:
2009
I think some poster are, umm, selectively flexible! :P
Wrong. The link is for problems with 2009 vehicles in 2012.
I am continually delighted at my Cobalt after 62K miles, particularly for its $9,900 purchase price new...built by workers who live where and near where I live. It's all good.
The 2011 Cruze did have issues in its first year, as has the 2012 Focus...'much worse than average' in CR. The Cruze has improved to 'average' for 2012...this is all CR. I still buy based on my own inspection and experiences.
As for the Fusion...as somehere posted that they wouldn't care if a Cavalier went 500K miles without a problem, I feel that way about the Fusion. I dislike the styling and of course, the 'made in Mexico' as a way only to not pay American workers to build the car, but those in a much, much poorer country--is distasteful to me personally. But unlike one pro-foreign buff here, I'm not wishing death and destruction on those workers or Ford executives! Talk about 'meds'!
Guess I'll have to shop them when I want to replace my under-$10K-new Cobalt.
The 2008 Malibu was available in four-cylinder and V6 versions, one with a four-speed trans and the other with a six-speed. The results make no differentiation at all for that. Those are two hugely different, large components of the car.
I posted just to say, 'hey guys, here's something that says some of the most beloved brands mentioned here aren't so reliable, either, contrary to constant posts otherwise', but it does point out the sweeping generalizations made by organizations as JDP and CR as well.
It's good for you, but not necessarily for GM . I don't see how they could have made a profit by discounting your Cobalt that much.
So I guess we are similar in that we'll both buy GM products if discounted enough;) Just kidding of course!
From what I've seen in the used market, you're Cobalt is probably still worth close to what you paid for it.
Well, for full disclosure, I should say that my Cobalt was bought at invoice ($14.9K), had a $3K rebate, and I had $2K of GM card earnings. So if I wasn't a GM card holder, it'd been $11.9K. Still, with AC, ABS, floormats, satellite radio, and side moldings (all I wanted...ABS was hard to find on a cheapy, as were four doors), I still think it'd have been a good value.