I assume you mean "profitability" in the sense of the margin between GM's cost to produce the Corvette and what it sells it to dealer's for?

I doub't the Corvette is GM's most profitable in terms of margin - I don't doubt has a healthy margin on the Vette but I suspect that if we could actually get a look at GM's internal numbers you would see a much larger margin on its full-sized trucks and SUVs.

 

That's why I was very careful to say "car". But I'd bet Corvette's margin per unit rivals most trucks.

 

And neither is the Solstice.

 

Neither is the Solstice to what??? And just what is an approproate comparison?

 

None are appropriate.

All models are built on different cost scales so low-volume "Cool" cars can make money too.

The only vehicles you can take apples-to-apples in sales units and profitability would be a shared platform like Sky and Solstice. But even then they get different trim and pricing levels, so its still not the same.

 

The point was not how much cost/profit is or is not made in one vehicle compared to another; the point was that GM has a history of killing off low-demand cars after just a few years; even if they are making a profit because the numbers aren't big enough to impress GM in the long-term.

That's been true even with vehicles wiht unit sales far greater than the Solstice/Sky.

Some say this is a "new" GM...I say, maybe it is and maybe it isn't.

I guess we'll know in three or four years or so when it's time for a major model redesign.

 

Not surprising. Looking at it from just a buyer's point of view, the Solstice looks more exciting than the Miata. I was very disappointed with the Miata's redesign. Roadsters are usually "fun cars" not daily drivers so they need to look like "fun cars". IMO, the Miata fell short of this especially with the introduction of the Solstice and the Sky.

 

Im hoping your wrong. I agree with others that Solstice is closer to Vette. It doesnt need to be high profit. Much like Vette, as long as its profitable and putting a good image on the brand its doing its job. It is another Halo car.

 

1988 Fiero Production

GT 6849
Formula 5643
Coupe 13910

Total 26402

Listed in the archives at fiero.nl. Note-depending on where you look, total numbers listed for gt and formula models will vary from 1-5 units each. Wikipedia isnt very useful, someone had initially listed on there incorrectly that the car was unprofitable. That since been corrected, I just fixed their prod. chart also.

Talking about unprofitable-Anyone notice that the Solstice msrp is now $22,115 on gmbuypower? Of course they had to honor Uncle Bob's 19+k price proclamation even if it meant losing money.

 

According to all Corvettes are red, Corvette not only came close to being killed, but actually was killed. It was a small group of people working under the radar that kept development going. More than once. When the final "go-no go" decision was being made, the thing that clinched it was when someone (don't remember who) brought up how it would look like in the press at a time when everyone was piling on GM. Something to the effect that "GM kills an Icon".

Today, Corvette pays it's own way, and it's in effect it's own company within GM. It finances it's own upgrades, has it's own development, and is essentially independent of GM. That's what was mandated starting with the C5, and continues today.

Not downplaying Fiero's following. But when you get around the 20 year mark since a car's death, people tend to forget the reality about a car and instead put it on a pedistal where the car did no wrong and it's history is forgotten. The only really good Fieros happened the last year or 2 of production when it git a V6, electric steering, 4 cyliner engines that carried enough oil for the engine, and most importantly, didn't have the propensity towards sponteneous combustion. Also, it was the last year or so when Pontiac actually started backing away from marketing the cars as "Commuter Cars" with high fuel economy.

While the masses of Fieros made where for John Q. Public's ride from the suburbs to work or the 1st new car for secretaries, the Solstice is bought for one reason: As an open top sports car. It's rare enough that when 2 pass each other, the owners nod. Not so with Fiero. Fiero ran in SCCA, and did well, and from an 80s standpoint, it had a decent aftermarket. If it wasn't for the discovery of CHP Vehicle sales and the 5.0 Mustang, I would have bought one. But I still think it's a mistake to view it as another Fiero, and think it will go down the same track.

I'm very aware that the car was made as a short term car. The whole Solstice program is based on low production numbers and a 3-5 year lifespan, and we're into Solstice's 2nd year. But like the Monaro, if the volume exceeds initial projections & it is still profitable, and it continues to pass safety regs, GM is probally going to keep making them. Especally if it's selling at Saturn as the Sky, at Opel and Vauxhall as the GT, and soon to be Daewoo and likely Holden as well.

Also, this car is the 1st draft of a new line of cars, so I wouldn't dismiss the prospect of a new version of Solstice made on a chassis that is based on higher volume.