Visit www.autolinedetroit.com and see the Buickman interview with John McElroy. Click on archive to download this week's show.
Also, if your local radio covers it, listen in to Car Concerns with Harry Douglas this Saturday at 2PM. In the alternative, visit www.fastlanepublishers.com shortly afterward to hear the broadcast.

 

Interesting.

 

"I've got GM D.N.A. in my blood, and I'm really not interested in any of the other manufacturers or what they have to offer."

 

Damn we must be related...

blood brothers or something, cause i got that same stuff in my blood

 

Not to rain on the parade, but that quote - while heartwarming - did not answer the question asked. The journalist asked him what he thinks ToyoHondaNissan are doing better on the marketing side. He really didn't directly answer too many questions, but rather delivered the same recorded message we've been hearing for weeks.

On the plus side, he comes off very well - I have no doubt he can sell a car. If I had not seen his statements dissected here, I would have been really impressed.

 

The "dissecting" by members of this group has been tremendously beneficial. The level of issue comprehension and the passion that exists went way beyond expectations. GM executives could increase their level of understanding the market were they receptive enough to "Listen to the Heartbeat" of CamaroZ28.com.

 

I still cringe at the fact you talk about yourself in the third person all the time. Buickman is about as much a superhero as that character Eminem plays in his music videos.

 

Jason,
I welcome your criticism, but don't understand the "all the time" comment. Didn't you watch the video? It was all first person.
Jim

 

Jim,
Decent interview, unfortunately constrained by the realities of sound bite friendly segments. Only gripe I have is that in the interview you said " the product is fine" but quickly thereafter talk about the lack of product. Not that I am disagreeing with you, but wondered if you could expound on what you meant by that?

James

 

It's called controlling the conversation. It's a form of manipulation that politicians, PR reps and car salesman excel at.

 

Just watched the video:

You presented yourself better in person than you do on the Internet... I sort of pictured you be a wild maniac. You started to get a little ranty there toward the end though...

Issues I have with some of the stuff you said:

1) You want to get rid of the destination charge.... OK, fine... but, is there an auto munufacturer that doesn't have this charge right now? It may help, but in reality, all you will be doing is shifting money. The $650 deestination charge will simply be rolled over into the base MSRP... granted it may become more "transparant"... but it's 6 in one hand, half dozen in the other. One down side to doing it is that the "base MSRP" at the top of the window sticker will now be inflated, even though that number really is just about meaningless.... but a higher number there, even if it's the same at the bottom... could maybe scare off a few folks.

2) Delivering the cars to the customer at their house, etc... I would imagine just about any dealer would do this if the customer asked. Of course, I live in Ohio... if I buy a new car from you up there in Michigan.... are you going to bring it to me free of charge? I doubt it. Where do you draw the line? Then what do you tell the person that is 1 mile out of your "free delivery" range? I think this the benifits of this were really blown out of proportion.

3) First you say flat out "It's NOT the product! It's the marketing!"... then, you say "Where's my new product?!" .... kind of shooting yourself in the foot there.... that one made you look really bad, IMHO.

 

One of the big things I don't understand about his point of view. Right there in the interview he said it wasn't the product, 3 minutes later he's asking "where Buick's large coupe is....give me a large coupe." How can GM's problems not be the product but at the same time, it is lack of product?

 

You paid attention. You were not suppose to do that. Just stare blankly and let yourself be steered to the correct conclusion.

 

Wait, maybe I am on the right site after all! Sometimes I'm not so sure. I'm with you 100% on that!

 

Point is, the product is not the problem. GM has many wonderful products, they've suffered from disastrous marketing. Product though, is an evolving thing. The competition is constantly bringing new vehicles and we must keep up by introducing competitive units. Buick in particular has suffered from a dearth of product. Again, this isn't the main issue, it's perceptiopn, image, and a lack of leadership.
Will gladly deliver to Ohio, took 2 to S Carolina last month and one to Florida. We can do that. My focus is on the customer and getting the job done, not the price, payment , or rebate.
I tried to explain to LaNeve how to dismount the tiger of inflated pricing. The proper procedure would be to eliminate useless, confusing, incentives with offerings of perceived value. Instead, he chose to listen to MBA's with virtually no experience, or common sense. The repurcussions will surface and the true nature of the incompetent direction provided by borderline corrupt, useless excuses for management will reveal themselves for what they are.