While GM has some nice hotrods coming to the streets soon, has any else noticed how almost all of the them are selling for around $40,000.

Gauranteed dearer mark-up not included in these prices.

SSR- $35-40 grand
GTO-$30-35 grand
CTSi- $40-45 grand
SS Silverado- $35-40 grand
XLR- $75 grand
C6- -$45 grand

 

hmmm... I actually have to be the "devil's advocate" to some extent on pricing. I would like to see an AFFORDABLE but fun to drive car. Here's at least some justification for some of them.

From what you have listed:

SSR- $35-40 grand - Not sure on that one cause there's nothing to compare it to in that "class" if there is one.
GTO-$30-35 grand - limited run of cars that will completely sell out. They could put it at $35 - 40K and they'd still sell out
CTSi- $40-45 grand - it's a Caddy, their target market will pay whatever as long as they get to be driving a Caddy - 'nuff said
SS Silverado- $35-40 grand - price of a more basic Silverado extended cab is not too far behind that. (maybe $32-35K I haven't been looking at trucks lately but that's not too far from what I have heard people paying.
XLR- $75 grand - it's a Caddy again
C6- $45 grand - as far back as my young mind can take me, a Vette has been in that type of range (considering inflation and all). Even now, isn't a C5 going for about $40k for a not fully loaded model?

I'm not happy about it all and I don't really think that all of these new products will have that kind of "value" attached to the actual product, but hell, that's just me and my opinion and unfortunately, enough people will buy them that they wouldn't need my input on that.

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Mike
It's a 5.7 Liter container of Whoop ***
Caution: Do not mix with rice
99 Z28 M6

Stereo Pics

[This message has been edited by DrMilhouse (edited July 07, 2002).]

 

It obvious that GM is targeting an older and wealthier customer with these slick new machines.

I just hope that GM has some affordable performance in the pipeline or they risk losing a huge group of potential customers that will go somewhere else.

I just cant help to think about how a base Z28 in 1994 sold for under $18 grand.

 

They have already lost them .

 

Profit.

Apart from the real car guys at GM (we know who they are), everyone else there is pushing the afordable, ahem "performance" side towards competing with compact imports. FWD, 4 bangers.

I guess they have done the figuring and believe there is more money to be made by having a premium performance product line and a cheapo "performance" product line. And cutting out the middle ground that the f-bod stood for.

I am really thinking that I may *have* to be going elsewhere for my next mid-price performance car as GM isn't going to make what I want.

 

By the time you add dealer mark-up and tax and liscensing fees to most of these car their price will be closer to $50 grand.

Im sure insurance will be more expensive for these trophy cars as well.

The only one that seems even remotely plausable for me is the 2004 Pontiac GTO.

 

It's not exactly what we want to hear but:

Impala SS: GTP's driveline in a cheaper lighter package.

Grand Am SC: will be pretty quick. Not Corvette catagory, but only slightly slower than that turbo Neon comming down the line.

GM will also be showing off a few RWD concept cars next year which once approved, will be in showrooms within 2 years.

 

This is the interesting stuff...

Fingers crossed

 

Im afraid it would take longer than 2 years to bring a prototype into production if the car is all new from the ground up.

While the PT Cruiser and New T-bird went from prototype to production very quickly it was based on the fact they were virtually guaranteed to go into production from the onset of the prototype showcar. The PT and T-bird also shared a huge amount of existing parts and shared platforms that reduced their time in developement .

If GM unveils 2 new RWD prototypes during the January 2003 autp show circuit I would bet the absolute soonest they would see product would be fall of 2005 as a 2006 model. The more likely scenerio would be a spring or fall of 2006 launch as a 2007.


[This message has been edited by johnsocal (edited July 10, 2002).]

 

Maybe they expect all us who can't afford the good stuff to buy Caviliers that are 8 years old!

 

The saving grace is that you can buy used 4th-Gen F-bodies pretty cheap.

 

GM expects cavalier z24's and all those other factory rice mobile cars they had earlier this year, if they will ever go into production

about the Cadillac prices, they are luxory cars. Generally car companies make atleast $10,000 profit per luxory car, they love luxory cars, C6 - around the same as current corvette if not less.

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www.gerbilz28.cjb.net

 

Why do they cost so much?? Because they are stupid, but I kinda see why the GTO is.

 

Eventhough Im a diehard Chevy guy the following RWD cars do look interesting and are (or will be) more AFFORDABLE.

2003 -Nissan 250Z -$27,000
2004- Mazda RX8- $28,000 (est)
2005- Toyota Supra $29,000 (est)
2005- *Ford Mustang V8 $23,000 (est)

These FWD's are intersting as well:

2003 PT Cruiser Turbo -$23,000
2003 Mini Cooper-S (supercharged) - $19,000

* I would expect that the 2005 Mustang will be more expensive then todays Mustangs since todays Stang is built on the 25 year old Fox Chassis and the new one will be based a shortened version of the T-bird chassis and ford dealers will get a premium price for the 1st year or so.

 

I forgot to add the Nissan 250 derived Infiniti G35 Coupe 2+2. The G35 coupe in my opinion looks nicer the the 250z and it has back seats to boot.

There is a really nice article about the new GTO in this months issue of Automobile magazine.