That's not even the point Darth.

Hey, if you didn't like the Beretta that okey-dokey with me.

 

Well, what is your point, really?

WHY should Chevy bring back a, as you say, 'spiritual successor' to the Beretta?!?

When 95% of your market will buy Product A (Cobalt Coupe), Product B (Camaro) or Product C (G6 Coupe)... why spend tons of money developing a car that is not needed?!?

(This is looking beyond the absurdity of thinking it is just fine that Beretta was so similar to Corsica, of all things, but a new one off the new Malibu, a FAR SUPERIOR structure and vehicle, would be a disaster!)

 

Jeez Darth....easy on the caffiene buddy.

The point I'm trying to make is that the Beretta was considered a stylish sporty car by GM, the media and the public. Sportier than a Malibu minus 2 doors would be today.

As far as "spiritual successor"...that was wishful thinking. I think that Cobalt and G6 will cover those bases. In fact, I think that the G6 GXP....will be the "spiritual successor" to the Beretta GTZ.

 

...and I wasn't saying that the N-car was structurally superior than Epsilon...that would be ridiculous.

I was talking about LOOKS!

Unless the Malibu gets a total sheetmetal-ectomy...a coupe version would look even more ridiculous than the sedan.

 

But... you just got done explaining how Beretta had different sheetmetal from Corsica (though it was VERY similar)... what would the difference be, assuming they did the same procedure to the 04 Malibu?

 

GIVE THIS MAN A CIGAR!!

In a round about way you've gotten my point!

If there would ever be a Malibu coupe...EXTENSIVE sheetmetal revisions would be required...more than the changes required to delete two doors. It would need to be a substantially different car...like the Impala/MC and yes even like the Corsica/Beretta.

 

OK, here we agree... if they were to do it, they'd need to be different looking (assuming they called it Beretta or something other than simply "Malibu" (coupe))

Of course, I still stand firm in my position that it would do no good, really, and just cause product overlap, and in the end, most likely be a money loser, even if it looked like it did well, when you consider most buyers would have opted for another car GM offers or will offer.

 

Sorta related..

I'm trying to think of one.. but does GM have an affordable convertible in its line up now? I don't think so.. I think the next gen Camaro might be able to fill this niche?

 

In order of pricing: Cobalt 'vert, G6 'vert, Camaro 'vert, GTO 'vert???, Corvette 'vert, XLR. I do believe by the end of MY07 GM will have this one covered...

 

The Accord Coupe and Camry Solara look alot different than the sedan....so GM could make the Malibu look different.

Since it's built of Epsilon they could give it a turbo V6 and AWD and market it towards the import crowd. Plus it would return some much needed coolness to Malibu name plate.

The Monte is too big and ungainly...I just don't see alot of people saying screw that Accord Coupe I want a Monte Carlo SS!

Either way...it wouldn't cost to much to develop and would be kinda cool to try.

 

Again... Cobalt, Camaro, G6... somewhere in there is an alternative to a Malibu Coupe for 95% of those who would buy the Malibu Coupe... two of those are even on the same Chevy showroom floor.

That's your opinion... but Monte Carlo fills a spot in the market that is different enough from Cobalt, Camaro, and G6 to warrant it's existance.

 

Well far as the G6.....I don't know how many people cross shop Pontiac and Chevy...I think alot of buys are impuse buys.....

I for one know I would not buy a Cobalt coupe because it was too small and only had a 4 cylinder. My fiance may not know the difference between FWD and RWD, but she and 90% thinks V6's are better than I4's.

The Camaro depends alot on where it's priced. I can see a base Malibu Coupe starting at $20K and toping at $25K...then maybe a base Camaro starting at $24K...


Doesn't GM sell more Vettes than Montes? I really think styling is it's main failure because there is definatly has the personal luxury coupe market to it self since the death of the MN-12

 

Monte Carlo is selling around 60,000 annually, Corvette is around 36,000.

 

Bingo...not everyone who shops Chevy will go to Pontiac. What the HELL would be the matter with Chevy making a decent looking, smaller-mid-size, FWD coupe? So what if it overlaps with the G6 a little? Is that ok? I don't see why it isn't!!! I might want a new Chevy. I DON'T want a 4 cylinder, small car, but I want a coupe. A Monte is too big, too bulky, whatever. Camaro? "Too powerful" A Malibu coupe is perfect...right size, right engine, less menacing than a Camaro. Oh wait...we don't have one...

If GM should have no product overlap, then lets kill off all of Pontiac division period, as they are sporty Chevys. If/when Pursuit comes down here, sporty Cobalt. When G6 comes out, sporty Malibu. Grand Prix? Sporty Impala. Bonneville? No one buys those anyways...

I realize because these are 4 doors, they will sell vastly better. But Chevy DOES need a smaller, 2 door image car. Yes, the styling would need to change, but as Beretta vs Corsica showed, they can do that. Most people around my age group do NOT want a Monte. Yes, the sometimes-not-so-mainstream styling has something to do with it, but also, its BIG. People in their 20s typically don't like BIG cars. Its odd because while the dimensions on my Z28 and GP are probably very close, my GP feels BIG, especially when squirting through traffic. My Grand Am felt just right...

Which is the entire reason, I believe, there should be a Malibu-sized coupe. Cobalt, too small. Monte, too big. Malibu? JUST RIGHT

 

Variety is the spice of life....or lack thereof in Chevrolet's lineup.