AutoWeek: GM cuts production of sluggish-selling Cadillac XLR halo car
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From: Newhall, CA USA
Re: AutoWeek: GM cuts production of sluggish-selling Cadillac XLR halo car
Originally Posted by R377
Last year in the US, Mercedes sold close to 13,000 SLs.
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From: Nashville, TN
Re: AutoWeek: GM cuts production of sluggish-selling Cadillac XLR halo car
This is purely a pricing issue, as that is the strongest determinant of demand. If they drop the price to $69,995 I bet sales would reach goals easily.
Its priced under its competition, but its a Cadillac, and I don't think a lot of Mercedes SLK500 buyers who are willing to pay $85K for the Mercedes are legitimately going to look at the XLR even if it saves them $10K. For those buyers the Merc is a status car.
This is no different than real estate. The first thing they tell you when your house doesn't sell is drop the price.
Its priced under its competition, but its a Cadillac, and I don't think a lot of Mercedes SLK500 buyers who are willing to pay $85K for the Mercedes are legitimately going to look at the XLR even if it saves them $10K. For those buyers the Merc is a status car.
This is no different than real estate. The first thing they tell you when your house doesn't sell is drop the price.
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From: Ontario
Re: AutoWeek: GM cuts production of sluggish-selling Cadillac XLR halo car
Originally Posted by centric
Ouch. Does anyone know how many of those heinous radioactive-pumpkin-seed Lexus roadsters they sold last year?
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From: five-one-oh/nine-oh-nine
Re: AutoWeek: GM cuts production of sluggish-selling Cadillac XLR halo car
i think it's a mix of price and styling. from the very first time I saw the "evoq" concept I said it looked like crap. the XLR is probably the worst application of A&S. It needs to look more stylish and less like you could use one of it's creases as a meat cleaver.
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From: South Jersey
Re: AutoWeek: GM cuts production of sluggish-selling Cadillac XLR halo car
I want to like this car, because I like the way it looks, but I checked one out at the last auto show and I was shocked at the level of fit and finish Cadillac is trying to pawn off on a $70,000+ Car. The gap between the trunk and rear quarters was almost large enough to put my pinky finger in. Gasketing on the door didn't match the shape of the gasketing on the car right behind the door (this is at the top and right in your face, mind you). Tons of stuff like this.
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From: Ohio
Re: AutoWeek: GM cuts production of sluggish-selling Cadillac XLR halo car
Originally Posted by R377
Last year in the US, Mercedes sold close to 13,000 SLs.
Alright. I'll admit it. I am shocked.
SL500's are just the 2 seat roadsters, right? (I don't know many specifics on M-B's...)
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From: Racine, WI
Re: AutoWeek: GM cuts production of sluggish-selling Cadillac XLR halo car
Originally Posted by WERM
I was shocked at the level of fit and finish Cadillac is trying to pawn off on a $70,000+ Car. The gap between the trunk and rear quarters was almost large enough to put my pinky finger in.
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From: Kansas
Re: AutoWeek: GM cuts production of sluggish-selling Cadillac XLR halo car
I think the problem is who they are trying to market the vehicle too. Obviously most people cannot afford at $76k vehicle and those who can probably wouldnt consider a caddy anyway. Those who look for performance will likely choose the vette which is cheaper and has considerably more power. It just seems difficult to target those who can afford such a car and of those people, the GM loyalists who would actually consider it over a German or Italian made car.
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From: Jersey Shore
Re: AutoWeek: GM cuts production of sluggish-selling Cadillac XLR halo car
Price is a little high, could drop 5-7k, but the interior is fantastic. I dont know about the autoshow car, but when I got to drive one at some Caddy event, I enjoyed ever second I was in the car. Very snug fit, but very nice.
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Re: AutoWeek: GM cuts production of sluggish-selling Cadillac XLR halo car
Originally Posted by Jason E
If they came out with the XLR-V and made it the same price as the current car, they'd have a winner. The problem is, I think Caddy's image doesn't live up to that price level for that car just yet. Don't get me wrong...I love it, and I appreciate everything the car is. But at $76k, it'd be nice to be a little better.
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From: In a meeting
Re: AutoWeek: GM cuts production of sluggish-selling Cadillac XLR halo car
Originally Posted by falchulk
Caddys image better live up to this proce level! They are set to intoduce a $120,000+ sedan!!!
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From: Chattanoga & Franklin
Re: AutoWeek: GM cuts production of sluggish-selling Cadillac XLR halo car
I think the problem isn't the pricing. Its the fact that people can buy the "better" Mercedez Benz for 10K more. When people have this much money, price isn't as big of a deal.
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Re: AutoWeek: GM cuts production of sluggish-selling Cadillac XLR halo car
Originally Posted by gtjeff
This is due to plastic body panels which must allow for expanding and contracting. I personally like the style of the car, but feel the sticker price is what is holding back sales.
The regular consumer is probably too dumb and clueless to realize this, but as an enthusiast, i can't help but compare this car to the vette convertible and that's all due to the fact that the two share platforms. I'm thinking...why should i spend 20+k more for a bit more fluff, gadgetry, retractable hardtop, LESS performance, and cadillac badging? So the thing hurting the XLR's image in relation to its msrp imo is that vette link. The vette respresents such a bargain that it makes the XLR seem way overpriced.
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From: Albany, NY
Re: AutoWeek: GM cuts production of sluggish-selling Cadillac XLR halo car
Originally Posted by quick
Toyota didn't do too well when they tried to sell the last gen Supra for big bucks, even though it was a great car, but Lexus has rocked the world.
SALES TALES: Cadillac keeps 'true luxury' title
By John K. Teahen Jr.
Automotive News / February 14, 2005
John K. Teahen Jr. is the senior editor of Auomotive News.
True luxury
2004 U.S. sales of cars and light trucks over $42,000 by major brand in luxury segment Sales over $42,000* Percent of total sales
The best ...
Cadillac 182,727 78%
Mercedes-Benz 156,466 70.7%
Lexus 152,223 52.9%
Lincoln 133,603 96.1%
BMW 129,895 49.9%
... and the rest
Acura 56,535 28.4%
Infiniti 32,690 25%
Porsche 31,473 100%
Audi 29,725 38.2%
Hummer 29,345 100%
Land Rover 25,497 71.8%
Volvo 24,962 17.9%
Jaguar 24,333 53%
Saab 6,352 16.7%
Once again, it's time to make one U.S. luxury brand happy and several others mad.
It's the annual Automotive News rundown on which major brand sells the most "true" luxury cars and light trucks - those with a sticker price of $42,000 or more, including options.
In this case, Cadillac will be pleased; others won't be.
The $42,000 comes from the U.S. government's late and unlamented luxury tax, which kicked in at a transaction price of $40,000. The tax died at the beginning of 2002. Car and truck prices have continued to rise, so Automotive News now uses a benchmark of $42,000.
In 2004, Cadillac was the winner for the third year in a row, and it increased its margin considerably last year. In 2003, Cadillac topped Mercedes-Benz by 933 true luxury U.S. sales. In 2004, Cadillac's margin was 26,261. Mercedes was second again.
Cadillac chalked up 182,727 true luxury sales last year, and Mercedes had 156,466. Lexus was next in line with 152,223 followed by Lincoln (133,603) and BMW (129,895).
Only one other brand in the luxury segment had more than 35,000 true luxury sales. That was Acura, with 56,535. Most of those were loaded MDX sport wagons.
That order of finish differed from the ranking in the overall luxury segment. The 2004 leaders in that segment were, in order, Lexus, BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes, Acura and Lincoln.
If you're confused, you have a right to be. But the answer is simple.
Every major luxury brand except Porsche and Hummer sells cars and trucks that do not qualify as true luxury under the Automotive News standard of a sticker price of $42,000. They are counted in their make's overall tally, but not in this one. They include, for example, the Cadillac CTS, Mercedes C class, BMW 3 series, Lexus G 35 sedan and many Lexus RX 330 sport wagons and some Lincoln LS models.
Looking at percentage of sales represented by true luxury deliveries, Porsche and Hummer are 100 percent over $42,000. Lincoln has 96.1 percent of its sales in that class, and Cadillac has 78.0 percent (see box below).
By John K. Teahen Jr.
Automotive News / February 14, 2005
John K. Teahen Jr. is the senior editor of Auomotive News.
True luxury
2004 U.S. sales of cars and light trucks over $42,000 by major brand in luxury segment Sales over $42,000* Percent of total sales
The best ...
Cadillac 182,727 78%
Mercedes-Benz 156,466 70.7%
Lexus 152,223 52.9%
Lincoln 133,603 96.1%
BMW 129,895 49.9%
... and the rest
Acura 56,535 28.4%
Infiniti 32,690 25%
Porsche 31,473 100%
Audi 29,725 38.2%
Hummer 29,345 100%
Land Rover 25,497 71.8%
Volvo 24,962 17.9%
Jaguar 24,333 53%
Saab 6,352 16.7%
Once again, it's time to make one U.S. luxury brand happy and several others mad.
It's the annual Automotive News rundown on which major brand sells the most "true" luxury cars and light trucks - those with a sticker price of $42,000 or more, including options.
In this case, Cadillac will be pleased; others won't be.
The $42,000 comes from the U.S. government's late and unlamented luxury tax, which kicked in at a transaction price of $40,000. The tax died at the beginning of 2002. Car and truck prices have continued to rise, so Automotive News now uses a benchmark of $42,000.
In 2004, Cadillac was the winner for the third year in a row, and it increased its margin considerably last year. In 2003, Cadillac topped Mercedes-Benz by 933 true luxury U.S. sales. In 2004, Cadillac's margin was 26,261. Mercedes was second again.
Cadillac chalked up 182,727 true luxury sales last year, and Mercedes had 156,466. Lexus was next in line with 152,223 followed by Lincoln (133,603) and BMW (129,895).
Only one other brand in the luxury segment had more than 35,000 true luxury sales. That was Acura, with 56,535. Most of those were loaded MDX sport wagons.
That order of finish differed from the ranking in the overall luxury segment. The 2004 leaders in that segment were, in order, Lexus, BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes, Acura and Lincoln.
If you're confused, you have a right to be. But the answer is simple.
Every major luxury brand except Porsche and Hummer sells cars and trucks that do not qualify as true luxury under the Automotive News standard of a sticker price of $42,000. They are counted in their make's overall tally, but not in this one. They include, for example, the Cadillac CTS, Mercedes C class, BMW 3 series, Lexus G 35 sedan and many Lexus RX 330 sport wagons and some Lincoln LS models.
Looking at percentage of sales represented by true luxury deliveries, Porsche and Hummer are 100 percent over $42,000. Lincoln has 96.1 percent of its sales in that class, and Cadillac has 78.0 percent (see box below).