With Viper splitting from Dodge, should Corvette have separated from Chevy?

[nearone]

PS, for those who use this thread to take a cheap shot at Obama, I suggest they spend their time studying economics and history.

Economics: look up the number of people that are employed both directly and indirectly by GM and imagine the impact on our already-stressed economy to have them all out of work at the same time.

History: It was your boy who destroyed the economy in the first place. The last time one of our guys was in the white house, he balanced the budget and had a surplus projected to pay off the national debt by 2012. Not to mention that 75% of our national debt was run up by Reagan, and Bush Sr and Jr. Stop watching Fox news and read a history book.

This is not a forum to argue Politics. One error you made was, 1/3 of the National Debt was added in the last 3 years! The Country is 236 years old in July.

When was the last time a Congressman asked you personally what you want? Can you do insider trading? You may be a multi-millionaire but you still won't be in the circle in you don't have a seat on the floor, do you? Can you cash a check at the Congressional Post Office? And, last, What is the last thing Congress or the President did that forced you to move, change the car you drive, or change the food you eat? It is all about Money and which corporation (Democrat or Republican) has majority control of it.

Politics is like getting excited when a sports team wins a big game then going out and burning buildings and rioting in the streets. Those so called FANS got nothing from the win and you get nothing from Government except entertainment in the press.

I don't care if you are a Communist or Socialist or ComDemRepunist, I will still wave at you on the road in your Chevrolet Corvette. But You and I are not qualified to discuss Politics unless we are running for office.

I do have a qualified opinion on the separation of services in companies since my business is Outsourced HR. Communication is a critical factor. What happens when GM and Independent Corvette have a difference of opinion? If GM does not compromise what does Corvette do? Would there be enough funding initially to allow Corvette to survive without GM in the early years of the separation? In this economy, I don't want them to take that chance and that is what I would advise.

You see, I drive Chevrolet Corvettes and I would hate to lose my unique ride. And, my Great Great Grandchildren would miss a thrill of a lifetime!

 

[buzblo]

do not split off from parent company

while I agree with you on Salesmen being ignorant of what they sell (many times I have had to show them things related to the car or have them go on their own website to find something) Corvette can not stand on its' own. In earlier years they were cranking out 30 to 50 thousand cars a year, and since 2006 it has been steadily declining to 15,000 or less. There would be no return on investment if they did not have the backing of the much larger Chevrolet Organization for support.

Overhead and advertising are very expensive, and when was the last time you saw an advertisement for a Corvette? They had one in the 60's that ran on Bonanza and a few years ago one ran at Christmas that was taken off the air because it might teach little kids that cars could fly! if they would just step up the promotion of the car, or at least include it in the ads for other Chevrolet lines, it might perk up the sales a bit, and THEN they could talk about splitting off, but not while sales are in single digit territory. IMHO

 

[Strodder]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Corvette alone won't be an advantage to us. Keep it in the Chevy Dealerships where it will still be easy to get parts for, and keep the price down. Alone the price would increase to the level of the sports cars it compares to, also harder to get parts, and service.
Besides why would Chevy follow Dodge, and Viper. :eyerole

 

[XRayOne]

Corvette IS a Chevy

The vette is Chevrolets "Halo" car. Most of us first saw one while looking for or servicing a regular Chevy people hauler. I do not see a seperate Viper dealership. Both cars are "hand built" per say and I hope they both represent the U.S. against the rest of the world as the top sport GT's to have. Don't you love seeing a vette in the center of the showroom floor...........Regarding Economics and History I refer to Civics. "CONGRESS (House and Senate) makes laws and appropriates money", that is thier job. If you are mad about the defecit, be mad at a Congress that passes unfunded mandates, spending bills and "reforms taxes." I worry the next round of laws will make our Classic Cars go away with regulations,licenses and special fuel.......Don't forget "The Wave."

 

[oldufer]

Viper splitting from Dodge

Who cares what an Italian auto company does? Dodge, Viper....its all still Fiat.

GM with its Chevy division is laden with American tradition. The corvette has been a part of that tradition since its inception. Why change something that has enjoyed success just for change's sake?
I'm proud of my pride and joy, a highly modified supercharged 2008 Corvette coupe. I've read it's made of near onto of 67% American parts. That's something in this day and age.

 

[vetteman2000]

vette

Each dealer should have a Corvette salesperson only and also a Corvette mech.Some say they know vettes but,usually the buyer is more informed.

 

[Strodder]

Each dealer should have a Corvette salesperson only and also a Corvette mech.Some say they know vettes but,usually the buyer is more informed.

As they should be.

 

[TerryO]

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/14/video-chevrolet-corvette-zr1-gets-its-own-tv-commercial/

Last month, Check it out.

Video: Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 gets its own TV commercial

while I agree with you on Salesmen being ignorant of what they sell (many times I have had to show them things related to the car or have them go on their own website to find something) Corvette can not stand on its' own. In earlier years they were cranking out 30 to 50 thousand cars a year, and since 2006 it has been steadily declining to 15,000 or less. There would be no return on investment if they did not have the backing of the much larger Chevrolet Organization for support.

Overhead and advertising are very expensive, and when was the last time you saw an advertisement for a Corvette? They had one in the 60's that ran on Bonanza and a few years ago one ran at Christmas that was taken off the air because it might teach little kids that cars could fly! if they would just step up the promotion of the car, or at least include it in the ads for other Chevrolet lines, it might perk up the sales a bit, and THEN they could talk about splitting off, but not while sales are in single digit territory. IMHO

 

[buzblo]

very cool...about time! Although I have never seen it on TV...

 

[LuvmyC5]

Chevrolet salesmen should learn about the cars their selling or they should not be allowed to sell them.

I agree, but ANY salesperson selling a product should know about it, especially cars though!

Although it does make me laugh when I know more about it than they do! I want to ask them to split their commission with me!

 

[bagger]

Should Corvette split from Chevrolet like Viper did from Dodge

Why? Corvette has been a main stay in the Chevrolet stable since '53. Over the years the designer and engineers have fine tuned it into the spectacular car it is. I believe the future will bring even a better Corvette from Chevy. If you want to be an elitist go buy yourself a Bugatti.

 

[c4cruiser]

I recommended this to Dave McClellan in 1989. Corvette is now sold by Chevy dealers who sell te a year, know nothing about the product and have sales people who KNOW NOTHING about the product or it's heritage. By separating it from Chevrolet, Corvette could SELECT dealers who would stock, train on and support the product. Better dealers would increase the value of the franchise & insure MORE CONSISTENT QUALITY OF SERVICE between dealers. GM, the dealers and the customers would benefit greatly.

I think that's a pretty broad statement to make. There are Chevrolet dealers across the country that have sales staff specifically trained in all things Corvette. The sales staff who work on commission certainly need to be knowledgeable about the car(s) they sell. And a salesman who would be a dedicated Corvette person would have a big interest in knowing the product. After all, his income depends on that.

These same dealers will typically have shop techs trained in Corvette service and repair. There are dealers that have dedicated Corvette sales staff; they may sell all models, but when a customer asks about a Corvette purchase, they are directed to a specific person.

It would be hard to "select" dealers simply because of the current allocation system. While some dealers get allocations, any dealer can work with another dealer to exchange a Corvette or to transfer it. I believe the allocation goes with that transfer.

In the end, it's the buyer that needs to be informed. That's no different than any other person looking for a new car regardless of the make and model.

 

[DRIVEJUNK]

Xlr

It is an interesting consideration but think of this; The Corvette was really kind of separated from Chevrolet with the Cadillac XLR.


94-96 Fleetwood= LT1

CTS-V= Opel with LS6/LS2

XLR= NorthStar= steam engine! Corvette bones don't make a Corvette, they make a kit-car.
And, if you get caught in the rain in an XLR with the top down, all the water on the deck lid dumps in the car when you put the top up, just like a poorly thought out kit car! Clever lads, those engineers...

Which was more successful?

This brings to my mind a beautiful editorial piece several years ago in AutoWeek magazine titled Some automotive purchases leave a litany of "If only"s. No doubt written by a Cimarron owner. Another Cadillaced up Chevy. False goods, all.

 

[Rob]

Response via email:

NO. You've got to be kidding me.. With the people just bailing the big three out of trouble, how long do you think its going to take for us to bail out Corvette if it goes on its own. It would not be the great American sport car any longer. Let the fools at Dodge do what ever they want. The Viper will be come another over priced car made out of the U.S. What happens to the American worker then?????

 

[Jack Reynolds]

All Corvettes Are Red

It is the chevrolet corvette, there would be no corvette if it was not for Chevy

Answering this question intellllligently requires one thing. A complete read of "All Corvettes are RED" The internal power struggles at GM are a nightmare for creative engineering. Vote after you know something.

 

[njlouc]

This concept is equivalent to disowning one of your children. Correct me if I am wrong but the Corvette was the very first true American sportscar and almost 60 years later still commands respect from around the world. ........
Chevrolet Corvette Forever!

Not exactly the Crosley guys claim that they were the 1st American sports car.

 

[njlouc]

If it were not for PRESIDENT OBAMA and his administration's bailout of GM THERE WOULD BE NO CORVETTE being buiilt TODAY becasue there would be NO GM. You show both a lack of respect for the President and your IGNORANCE with your posting. GM has paid back the bailout money and had a very profitable year. If GM had GONE BANKRUPT as Gov. Romney advised in a WSJ Op Ed the bondholders and stockholders would have lost everything anyway.
Buy a FORD if you like, but don't blame the President for your lack of Chevrolet loyalty.

WOW!!! what a misunderstanding!! The media has truly done a great brainwashing job!!

GM was taken over by the govt (auto workers union), and canada.

They were given $billions in loans and bailouts. True they paid back SOME loans, but not nearly the hundreds of billions they got in bailouts. ad
NEXT - They are profitable because they stiffed all their suppliers when they (didnt go bankrupupt), but when they changed owners. So their costs were greatly reduced.
Then in a great move they took billions of YOUR money and built 2 buick plants in China with no Chinese subsidies, as we do here, so that the Chinese can build buicks and STEAL our technology AND have a huge plant for making WAR machines. Thats how they paid us back in full and made a profit.
BTW China makes it difficult to remove money made in China so most of this profit is on paper only and is used to further advance China:ugh

Of course we lost tons of all sorts of jobs. that's how Obama creates jobs!!

Please look it up.

 

[njlouc]

Taking a $50,000 plus Corvrtte in for service, and you get treated like a $12,000 Sonic owner.Chevrolet dealers are more interested in low price car sales, than they are high dollar Corvette sales, or service.

How correct you are!!! and I also feel that there is a larger helping of jealousy!!!

 

[njlouc]

These are not really dumb questions but rather sophisticated marketing issues from enthusiasts.

Examples:
1. the Cadillac XLR could have been a much better selling car if GM marketing didnt have the fear of being a corvette. How much nicer would it have been to have corvette drive train installed in an already corvette chassis.
All of us know how many aftermarket items are available for the Corvette and nothing (useful) for the Cadillac.
I guess their greed got the best of them.

2. I was interested in buying a T-bird (last generation). Then I found that the drive-train was from a small Lincoln. I was hoping it was Mustang powered, but NO!!
Again what is available for a Lincoln.....NOTHING!!

These seemingly innocent/selfish marketing decisions are car killers!!ad

 

[DRIVEJUNK]

China

Then in a great move they took billions of YOUR money and built 2 buick plants in China with no Chinese subsidies, as we do here, so that the Chinese can build buicks and STEAL our technology AND have a huge plant for making WAR machines. Thats how they paid us back in full and made a profit.
BTW China makes it difficult to remove money made in China so most of this profit is on paper only and is used to further advance China:ugh


Where will we be when China nationalizes all the plants that western free-enterprise companies have built? See Brother Dave Gardner's plan to fix the southern economy in the early 1960's.