So...

Buick survived the swinging axe at GM. I understand why. Old people and the chinese buy buicks. Old people have money, and they are familiar with buicks.

I don't think I know of anyone, anywhere, ever, under the age of 50 who has bought a late model buick. They haven't made a model that appealed to youth since the Grand National.

In ~20 years, when the old folks get rid of thier cars and head to the nursing homes, what will become of Buick of North America? I understand that they are profitable now, but will they be able to sustain it in the long term?

Will Buick be able to turn thier image around and attract youth before thier elderly customer base dries up?

 

If they're going to survive, they'll need to start now. You don't just automatically check out Buicks as soon as you hit age 50.

Some of the Chinese concepts are cool. If they were released in North America, though, they wouldn't appeal to the traditional Buick customer. Younger buyers wouldn't buy them because they have the perception of Buick as grandpa/grandma cars.

I could see Buick being phased out of North America, yet continuing to be sold in places like China.

 

Buick's going to have plenty of time, once GM's back on their financial feet via a thorough restructuring. I think they can go after non-elderly folks, with cars like this:



and in the more immediate future, this:

 

I am 28 and bought a 2009 Buick Enclave. Lots of people want to see that new LaCrosse. Buick can finish the turnaround with the Regal. If Buick gets an Astra type vehicle, I think they are set.

Buick is going to lose the blue hair stigma if it wants to survive.

 

Oh I hope they get a Golfer like Tiger Woods to do the ad campaigns for those cars. Because golfers are the athletes us young people look up to the most and whose image we would most like to have.

 

The Enclave is really selling outside of the traditional Buick buyer profile. One of the few GM success stories in recent years. If they can keep that up with the LaCrosse, Buick might outlive "the greatest generation".

Also, I assume sooner or later Buick is going to end up in Chevy dealerships. Their product line is more-or-less complimentary with what Chevy already sells so it would be natural fit.

 

Only prob is then wth do we do with GMC?

 

Or Cadillac.

Premium from Buick and sport luxury from Cadillac.

 

Introduce a line of Chevy Denali trucks.

I can understand why GM wants to keep GMC for now. But the future of the consumer market is crossovers. And having a brand full of FWD Chevy-clones is exactly what got GM into this mess.

 

I like that idea. Keep the GMC bodies but only sell them as option loaded trucks.

What will probably happen is GMC will just go away when the GMT-900 goes away.

 

I know several a few people under 40 with Enclaves, and I know two with Lucernes.

I think the new LaCrosse will add more.

The same was said about Cadillac before the Art & Science revolution....

Though, I will say I think the Cadillac name itself had a bit more behind it than the Buick name ever could, as far as being a draw in and of itself.

 

One thing for sure, Buick will be adding to it's product line-up now.

 

Ironic since it was just purposely pared down to just 3 models, and Saturn was expanded to 4/5...

More of the dog chasing the tail it seems at times.

 

Anyone think the new Astra will go to Buick?

 

I guess it's possible but I'm having a hard time seeing the Opel Astra, Opel Insignia (regal), and Buick LaCrosse all next to each other.

Are they really different enough from each other to justify them sitting side by side on the show room floor when GM is trying to reduce costs and become profitable at a lower volume of sales?