better nameplates... such as... GNX?

 

And, do you have data which supports that conclusion? Or are you speaking from the gut here?

I am suggesting that GM (A) Either has studies which supports the name changes [although Lutz pushing in that direction can't hurt either], or (B) really has no friggen clue how to sell cars. And B isn't a very realistic option.

 

Here is an interesting post on gmfastlane blog. It is listed under the subject "Everyone has got an Opinion."
__________________________________________________ _______________
Mark,
A friend of mine took her Buick LeSabre in to a Buick dealership for repair and rented a new Buick to drive. The problem was she didn't know what she was driving. When I asked her if it was a Lascrosse or a Lucerne and she said " A What?" Customers don't know what these models are anymore. What's the Buick that reminds me of floor tile when I hear it's name? I think the customers are confused with so many vehicles that a new name alone doesn't intice them to buy.


Posted by: Joe Mannix at June 5, 2006 01:26 PM

 

I'll say it again, Buick's problem is it's target market. Who are they targeting? 30-40 yr olds? 40-50? 50-60? The majority of Buicks are sold to people over 60, that is their demographics. That demographics is dying off. Buick only sells around 200K cars a year if that. Unless Buick somehow can draw in people that are not about to die I don't see how they can survive. They have nothing that appeals to me, and I'm 52. Every Buick I've seen on the road is driven either by old men or old women. Tell me I'm wrong? For Buick to draw in a younger crowd they somehow need to shake off the old man car syndrome. So far they haven't succeeded IMHO.

 

I agree with some of what you are saying, and I think they are trying to address the issue of a dying demographic....

I am 34... I went back and forth with deciding whether or not to consider Lucerne... I wrestled with the "Granny" image, etc... I ended up giving it a strong look, and came away with it probably being one of my top choices in CXS form..... surprisingly, the thread I posted here got almost nothing but positive comments about Lucerne. The only thing that ended up stopping me from getting a Lucerne CXS over the Grand Prix GXP I ended up getting is the fact that there just were no attractive lease deals to be had on Lucerne.

Enclave should appeal to younger (as opposed to elderly) people as well when it comes out.

FWIW, in 2004 Buick sold 309,639 vehicles, in 2005 they sold 282,288. It'll probably be a bit less this year... That looks back, but the vehicle line has been consolodated over the past few years, and it will consolidate once again when Rainier and Rendezvous roll into Enclave... not unlike how LeSabre and Park Ave rolled into Lucerne, and how Regal and Century rolled into LaCrosse.

I've never been a Buick fan, but their last 2 offerings have impressed me so far.

 

Ancedotes are not data.

However here's my ancedote: I went on a business trip and we received a LeSabre as a rental. My colleague really hated this car and kept calling it a "LeBaron".. Then he started saying Leh-sah-BUH in an exaggerated french accent to mock the thing.

(As to what inspired this reaction, we're from California, and there's more porsches on the road out here than Lesabres.)

 

And everytime I see a Toyota Camry or Avalon being driven it is an old man or old woman driving, does that mean that Toyota's target demographic is that age group? No it doesn't.

 

No, But Buicks is and they have a huge perception issue to overcome.

 

I agree but just because you see old people driving a certain make doesn't mean that is its main demographic.

 

did you punch him in the nose?

I like the lucerne, but think the lacrosse could be better. But I agree that not many people know what the hell they are. I don't think I have ever seen a lucerne commercial now that I think about it.

 

They had quite a few TV ads at launch... the Northstar one... the heated washer fluid one... and I think one other. I haven't seen any recently though.

However, they are really marketing Lucerne in print and on the internet. Seems I see a Lucerne ad of this type a few times a day.

 

Hmm, I actually do think that Toyota's core demographic has always been and is Baby Boomers, some of whom are now retired and have gray hairs. That's a pretty damn good market to have -- although they are trying to counter the age-perception issues with Scion and other younger-person-oriented cars.

Buick's problem is that their market has always been the generations in front of the baby boom; it's looking like future retirees will gravitate towards Avalons instead of Lucernes. "Demographics is Destiny" as someone said.

Given that, there's no a lot of logic in holding onto Ye Olde Nameplates which frankly were in their prime 30 years ago.

[I'm not saying anything new here -- people have seen this coming for 20 years. Only now it's fourth down, and Buick really needs a Hail Mary play to survive in the long term. Personally, I think GM's already written off Buick internally which is why you see product going to Saturn etc.]

Heh, I'm not one to defend the honor of GM's rental fleet.

 

Strange, I just saw a lucerne commercial a bit ago.... it was a 0% financing one.... ironic to say the least.

 

I'm 24 and i have always been a buick fan. The name "buick" means more to me than the models do. I know i'll be getting a good car for a decent price. I just wish they would build me a new toy. Buick needs a baddass to be a flagship. GSX's are getting hard to find and i've already owned a GN.