Whats GM to do with Corvette ?

[viet69]

This is a good article!
From today's Detroit Free Press:

http://www.freep.com/article/2010022...4/2210510/1331

Should Chevy Corvette have 2 versions?
BY MARK PHELAN
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST
__________________

 

[Mike G]

Future Vette

Wow, that's interesting. There's a hll of a lot of opinions and observations that can be useful to GM so it may be a good idea for everyone here and additional Vette fans to transmit to GM through the GM Blog, Bob Lutz email and other channels and get inputs to them. I think this should be a high priority for this site for one thing and to get the word out through the sportcar world also.

As far as breaking the mold goes, dominating the sport car world seems like a pretty good mold to me! I think they have a good layout now, the base model can be decently price-controlled and the ZR1 can continue it's overlord status in the C7 gen.

 

[yellow_2002_germany]

I am an advocate of how the C5 FRC was originally supposed to be. A car with few luxury items and few optionally available.

If GM went that route again with the new C7 it just might work to keep the price down to acceptable levels for an entry-level Corvette. Keep a Z06 and ZR1 type Corvette in the lineup. That would give just about everyone a price point that they could be comfortable with.

 

[tim414]

Wow, that's interesting. There's a hll of a lot of opinions and observations that can be useful to GM so it may be a good idea for everyone here and additional Vette fans to transmit to GM through the GM Blog, Bob Lutz email and other channels and get inputs to them. I think this should be a high priority for this site for one thing and to get the word out through the sportcar world also.

As far as breaking the mold goes, dominating the sport car world seems like a pretty good mold to me! I think they have a good layout now, the base model can be decently price-controlled and the ZR1 can continue it's overlord status in the C7 gen.

I agree w/ you if GM is now pondering what Corvette is going to become. Sitting here thinking of the article leads me to think of a trend that I believe occured that began in the 80's w/C4...ZR1. The base car price was up and the high -end performance version doubled the price even more. I remember back when I was buying new Camaros. I wanted a Vette but they were doubled the price of a nice Camaro. And coupled w/being a younger man my insurance rates were much higher. If indeed Vette is going to pick-up new buyers and continue its decades long customer base it must appeal to and get into the hands of younger buyers. Vette needs to have a 'no-frills' muscle version or version that offers excitement thats affordable to younger higher insurance paying people and us older farts pay a lil higher price for beefier versions like Porsche does.
I also agree it should be a priority of this site to comunicate w/GM our thoughts of Vettes furture.....I know I plan to drive one till I can't.....hope thats a good loooong while....

 

[KANE]

I am an advocate of how the C5 FRC was originally supposed to be. A car with few luxury items and few optionally available.

If GM went that route again with the new C7 it just might work to keep the price down to acceptable levels for an entry-level Corvette. Keep a Z06 and ZR1 type Corvette in the lineup. That would give just about everyone a price point that they could be comfortable with.

I might even be swayed with an entry level Vette.

 

[killain]

"Or should the mid-2010s car reach out to buyers enraptured by the 'Vette mythos but unable to afford today's car?"

I'm in favor of a base model just as was suggested above. The FRC was a great idea, but it soon was overcome by price increases. But I think it would HAVE TO HAVE many of the current options. But to me, the biggest problem on the horizon is going to be 1. Emissions, 2. CAFA regulations and 3. and the most important, is customer expectations.

When you go in to buy a Corvette, your really not interested in a Corvette LS or any of the other bargain basement names ! Buying a Corvette IS NOT like buying a Malibu sedan. If perhaps, the corporate bean counters who have "The Government" as help steeering the ship, decide to say using the Pontiac Soltice, or Saturn Sky as a "New" base model corvette, they might as well shut down Bowling Green, or convert it to making refrigerators or some other device, but it won't be producting automobiles anymore.

Sure Bob Lutz is still on-board, but where is John Cafaro, Bill Almond or Dave hill ? Gone is the answer. That's leaves the same crew that came up with the current 2010 Camaro ! Is that the direction we're heading ? Cause I believe that is a very bad slope to venture out on. I can't speak for any of you, But if my C5 was changed in size or swapping out the LSX engine with a V6, turbo charged or not is just not something I'd be interested in. Same goes for a Hybrid version ? Maybe a new generation will see a lot in the 'New' refined Corvette. but I'm so rooted in the C2 and on Corvette that I just could not make the same relation to a 'Different' Corvette.

I just don't think that there is anyone at GM these days who are interested in continuing the Worlds Best Sports Car ! :cry

I should also like to say that IF General Motors was to discontinue the C6R progran with racing Corvettes in GT1 or 2 class would be a big mistake. People see the Corvette as a icon or many defferent levels. Racing, Touring, the NCRS group and countless other people who were born into the Corvette era, and have matured with the car as it has growphysically and Image-wise. There is only going to be a ZR1 or a ZR-1. No other car will fill that slot. Porsche would never change it's programs because of tight budget. The Porsche racing group is an integal part of their sale and Marketing program. The old saying "Racing on Sunday, selling on Monday" is so very true. I hope that history is not lost on the new management at GM.

 

[philbillyvette]

People pay the same kind of money for SUV's and some of these fully loaded trucks and other cars as we do our Vettes. It is a matter of choice. You go to a dealership and order a nice loaded Avalanche or Tahoe, and you will be pushing mid 40's up into the 50's. Corvettes are divide by price as it is now, several different models to choose from.

 

[22229stingray81]

In my opinion GM is already doing this. A $48k base 'vette, and a $100k supercar 'Vette. I guess he's saying he wants the starter to be $8k cheaper?

Part of the Corvette's mystique is it's exclusivity. If every one who could afford a Nissan Z could also afford a 'vette, yes it would sell a many more units, but ya lose a little of what a CORVETTE is, in my opinion of course.

-Tatortot

 

[NORTY]

The link wouldn't load for me?;squint:


I just hope the C7 survives the Gov't intervention of GM.

 

[Yoda]

As History repeats, GM should look backwards while planning to the future!!

Significant events throughout Corvette production and life have been the saviour of the Corvette. Be it the introduction of the Ford Thunderbird, the V8 engine, design, government restrictions or insurance and EPA mandates, the Corvette has been there with an engineering group that weren't afraid to take the gloves off and maintain a design, style and product that WE the general public did flock too like a moth to a light.

Left in the hands of the "Bean Counters" the Corvette would have died long ago, before the 1st V8 ever graced the Corvette, or before Thunderbird arrived to pose a market impact on sales. (I would rather see Corvette DIE than to follow the marketing and design changes to the Thunderbird!)

I don't know the answer to today’s "issues" at GM or what the future holds for Corvette, but I do know that if the General won't make yearly improvements to the Corvette be it within the same generational production or a new design, they might as well throw the towel in now. Sitting around in focus groups or wringing their hands about Corvettes future ain't solving anything. They need to toss their crystal balls at the window and get down to the business of business... make a decision if the brand is staying or not. THEN they can engineer and design a CAR and not a myth restricted by future production costs. Once the concept is done THEN set out to produce the product in COST EFFECTIVE way to recover the engineering and design and come up with a comfortable profit margin GM can live with.

From the article above:
”Corvette sales hit a 49-year low of just 13,934 in 2009, Edmunds AutoObserver.com notes. Corvette's 48.3% decline was far worse than Chevrolet or GM as a whole suffered in recession-plagued 2009.” Article page 2

Getting my handy dandy calculator out

• 13,934 Units
• $50,000 aver. unit price (I have no idea how close this is)
• Total Sales Dollar = $696,700,000.00

With those numbers HOW MUCH DID GM LOSE IN PRODUCTION OF CORVETTE in 2009??? (REMEMBER... this is the 5th year of production of this Generation, surely the Engineering/Design/Production costs have been recovered within a 5 Year Production run!!)

As the old saying goes… Maybe we should “Follow The MONEY”

Bud Dougherty
Amarillo, Texas

 

[Stuart]

In my opinion GM is already doing this. A $48k base 'vette, and a $100k supercar 'Vette. I guess he's saying he wants the starter to be $8k cheaper?

Part of the Corvette's mystique is it's exclusivity. If every one who could afford a Nissan Z could also afford a 'vette, yes it would sell a many more units, but ya lose a little of what a CORVETTE is, in my opinion of course.

-Tatortot

erd:

The Camaro is Chevy's sports car for less money. What's wrong with that?

 

[Radar]

"Or should the mid-2010s car reach out to buyers enraptured by the 'Vette mythos but unable to afford today's car?"

I'm in favor of a base model just as was suggested above. The FRC was a great idea, but it soon was overcome by price increases. But I think it would HAVE TO HAVE many of the current options. But to me, the biggest problem on the horizon is going to be 1. Emissions, 2. CAFA regulations and 3. and the most important, is customer expectations.

When you go in to buy a Corvette, your really not interested in a Corvette LS or any of the other bargain basement names ! Buying a Corvette IS NOT like buying a Malibu sedan. If perhaps, the corporate bean counters who have "The Government" as help steeering the ship, decide to say using the Pontiac Soltice, or Saturn Sky as a "New" base model corvette, they might as well shut down Bowling Green, or convert it to making refrigerators or some other device, but it won't be producting automobiles anymore.

Sure Bob Lutz is still on-board, but where is John Cafaro, Bill Almond or Dave hill ? Gone is the answer. That's leaves the same crew that came up with the current 2010 Camaro ! Is that the direction we're heading ? Cause I believe that is a very bad slope to venture out on. I can't speak for any of you, But if my C5 was changed in size or swapping out the LSX engine with a V6, turbo charged or not is just not something I'd be interested in. Same goes for a Hybrid version ? Maybe a new generation will see a lot in the 'New' refined Corvette. but I'm so rooted in the C2 and on Corvette that I just could not make the same relation to a 'Different' Corvette.

I just don't think that there is anyone at GM these days who are interested in continuing the Worlds Best Sports Car ! :cry

I should also like to say that IF General Motors was to discontinue the C6R progran with racing Corvettes in GT1 or 2 class would be a big mistake. People see the Corvette as a icon or many defferent levels. Racing, Touring, the NCRS group and countless other people who were born into the Corvette era, and have matured with the car as it has growphysically and Image-wise. There is only going to be a ZR1 or a ZR-1. No other car will fill that slot. Porsche would never change it's programs because of tight budget. The Porsche racing group is an integal part of their sale and Marketing program. The old saying "Racing on Sunday, selling on Monday" is so very true. I hope that history is not lost on the new management at GM.

Boy, as a C4 driver, (but someday hoping to also have a C6), I could not agree more! I would not mess with the formula too much - a V6 or a Prius Corvette, count me out when that happens.

Radar

 

[KANE]

I'd like to see all the manufacturers bend the cost curve on all products.



A sub-base Vette at $29k would be a sought after machine. People would line up from a price point for those. If someone wants more options- so be it. You can buy them.

I'd take a cloth interior, a base stereo, fixed roof, MN6, A/C (or not), Z51, and I'd be happy. I don't need OnStar, keyless, a HUD, or the other stuff.

 

[leftyvette]

A local Chevy dealer in my area use to have a long row of Vettes right up front. Now, it is hard to see the few Vettes with all the Camaros that now line the front area of that dealership!!

That may be the future!!! :bash

 

[tim414]

erd:

The Camaro is Chevy's sports car for less money. What's wrong with that?

And where the hell are all those Camaros? Surely not on the ALMS race tracks. I bought new Camaros throughout the 80's and they (especially early 80's) were CRAPPY cars....I can say that. I bought the pcs of shit...and thats what they were...crap. I sooo loyal to point of fault, *I've never owned anything except GM and it's because my first car...60's Pontiac muscle....but , your right about Camaro in respect it needs to find its way into younger drvers hands to create that customer loyality.

 

[tim414]

I'd like to see all the manufacturers bend the cost curve on all products.



A sub-base Vette at $29k would be a sought after machine. People would line up from a price point for those. If someone wants more options- so be it. You can buy them.

I'd take a cloth interior, a base stereo, fixed roof, MN6, A/C (or not), Z51, and I'd be happy. I don't need OnStar, keyless, a HUD, or the other stuff.

I agree w/you....they also should sit them next to those V6 camaros at same price point. The insurance compnies need to get on board as well....

 

[KANE]

The insurance companies need to get on board as well....

That is an EXCELLENT point.

Seeing as insurance is based upon risk, medical liability, and property damage / replacement cost... a less costly Vette would be less expensive to insure.

I like your thinking orange09Ntexas!

 

[tim414]

That is an EXCELLENT point.

Seeing as insurance is based upon risk, medical liability, and property damage / replacement cost... a less costly Vette would be less expensive to insure.

I like your thinking orange09Ntexas!

Thanks....it's only experience talking....I was once a young dude (in the service) trying to keep my Camaro's and pay the HIGH rates that were charged then. I pay today on my vette what I paid when I was 22 after buying my first new camaro. I was 48 last summer when I bought my first vette. So it took me 26 years and getting allot older for them to decide not to gouge me anymore.....

 

[6 Shooter]

WOW - Corvette has 6 models to choose from right now...

​

 

[22229stingray81]

​

Exactly what I was thinking.