Hate to Whip a Dead Horse but read the new Automobile Mag.

[CFour]

You are very right Greg about platform sharing among other brands and GM. The lack of this with Corvette has made it so unique over the years and given it its "American Exotic" apeal and allure, now its gone. No one needs to accept anything Greg. I myself after 19 years of Vette ownership simply wont buy there CaddyVette period. I just may go sniffing around my local Dodge dealer instead. Please don't forget I have been on the "inside" I have seen how much the two cars share, (XLR and Corvette). Sometimes you have to buck the "trends" to stay alive, GM will find this out the "hard way" in future Corvette sales im afraid.

 

[LMN8R]

Free market. Hopefully it saves the car (Caddyvette ). Very sound point.

Greg

 

[Senna1994]

C4, I sold my 99 C5 Coupe because I was not thrilled with the interior quality, etc. It was my sports car as I have a sedan for work, if they get the interior right on the C6 it will make me look at it again versus a 911. I would have had no problem if GM charged a $1,000 more to put in better carpet, leather, etc. In fact I think my 90 C4 had nicer interior materials. So I agree with you on this point. What did you think of the C6 Interior you saw, has the XLR benefited the C6 as far as interior materials used?

Tony

 

[LongTimer]

Some VERY good points made on this thread. It is impossible to say that Cfour is wrong, because only time and model introductions will tell us if the vette will be over-diluted. The Cad release alone is not, IMO a significant dilution at 7k cars / year.
Though I am also OK with engine sharing, it must be like the F bodies were, detuned. The Corvette must always be the HP king at GM.

As for the intro sequence, my guess is the Marketing boys figured that trying to sell a Caddied up vette for $20-25k more than the vette would be more challenging than trying to sell a higher-performing-than-C5 C6 with some Caddy overflow parts to us vette-lovers at a C5 price (price I hope).

The elitist XLR demographic would have a hard time with an XLR that was perceived as a gussied up C6. Hence, the early XLR intro. MMMM, could it be that the delay of the C6 release was only so the XLR could be completed and released first?

 

[Vettelt193]

GM dealers alone have had a 7 grand profit in the Corvettes Sticker. If GM wanted to they could have easly put better content in Corvette without going broke. They just want to keep the money for GM instead of giving you better appointments,quality,leather etc. Its that simple. 60 grand is not a bargain price HELLO?. A car with more value added features has nothing to do with platform sharing it has to do with GM making maybe $700.00 less profit per car. thats the bottom line here folks.

$700 is not enough money to put the cars together better, use better interior materials, and make the overall fit and finish that much better.

When you talk about 60 grand, and 7 grand profit, you are talking sticker price. I am not sure where you shop for Corvettes, but it isn't the right place if the dealer is charging sticker. It is more than easy to get at least 5 grand off sticker price on a C5.

I hate to give you the bad news, GM isn't in the car making business to lose money or break even. The company builds cars to make a profit. If they can sell the Corvette at the current price, and at the current quality, why wouldn't they? Why should they reduce profits to increase quality?

With the Caddy linked, they can have the same level of profit, while increasing sales from higher demand of a better car. This is simple business here, and in the end GM will make even more money by selling a better car at the same price.

 

[CFour]

You would be shocked how much $700.00 buys when you are GM!

 

[Brett]

I really think this is a topic where there are two sides and there will always be people on each.

I understand what CFour is saying in that Corvette needs to retain its American Exotic appeal.

However, I have to say I like what is being done. I think the bottom line is we will be getting a better car. I also think the car's powerplant is far more important than a few body parts here and there, and the Corvette will have its own engine. Like someone pointed out, the F bodies had the LS1. I don't find it to be all that disturbing of a concept. And the shared frame is more Corvette's than it is the XLR's.

I read an article in the new Road and Track (I think) about the XLR. You know how magazines will pull out an important quote from the text and put it in a picture? Well, they had one that said something like "Much of the XLR's frame will be what we see in the new Corvette C6". This quote shows proper respect to the 'vette, and gives credit where credit is due. I wish I could remember it word for word, but it was definitely written under the context that the Caddie has CORVETTE'S frame, and it was a compliment to the Caddie in saying it is using a true sports car frame.

So I disagree that the general assumption will be that the Corvette is following behind the XLR instead of the other way around. The XLR is definitely mooching off of Corvette's reputation, and everyone knows it. I don't think it is that much of a mystery.



Brett

 

[IWonAVette]

This whole Vette/Caddy thing is much to do about nothing. I have been driving Vettes for over thirty five years. I have owned examples from all generations except C1, a total of eleven Vettes. Each Vette was unique. But, the common thread being that each generation got better. The C6 will be the "Bomb" from a styling/performance perspective. That was then, this is now. Its called progress! And, "C Four" , trust me, the sky is not falling.



Save the WAVE!!

 

[CFour]

I dont care what kind of Prom dress they put on that Cadillac its still not going to make it a Corvette in my eyes.

 

[Tuna]

I dont care what kind of Prom dress they put on that Cadillac its still not going to make it a Corvette in my eyes.

That's just what GM wants to hear - the XLR ain't a Vette!!!
Sharing a chassis and door handles, won't make it a Vette.

They target different markets. GM has said that all along. Just ask Dave Hill.

 

[Dragonslayer]

Remember "Only the shadow knows". I'm sure that GM has put a lot of thought into not ****ing off the CORVETTE CLAN. Which is even more important when it comes to the profit line. For 50 years they have done the job correctly through all knids of economical turmoil, gas prices, wars etc.etc.etc. What makes you think their gonna _uck up this one. I think that all is well in the land of corvettes. Long live the C6. Hail to the king

:booty :booty

Bottom line............No one is forcing anyone to buy one!

 

[ROCKETBLOCK]

I don't care about profit margins. I don't care about sharing to improve the breed. I don't care about different markets. I don't care what the public percieves. I just don't like it. To heck with common sense... I'm just going to pout!


just kidding