Is it that they are AWD or performance compacts?

Ok, Brandon first it was 150k then 200k, what is next 400k?

W/ about 70% fleets! That is roughly 32K retail per year! You do realize that is less than Corvette right?!

To go from 32K to 200K is absolutely INSANE! I don't think you could make 1 sane person think that is possible even w/ a refresh and heavy reengineering. Also remember there are other choices in this market, Maxima anyone?

That is your opinion and you are perfectly entitled to it, everyone is entitled to be wrong if they want. While you and I might LOVE to get a V8 Alpha there are plenty of others who DO want that turbo 4 cylinder or high tech V6s. And more importantly they may not have ever considered a GM car before.

 

Most of the EVO and STi's draw is in their AWD


In my first post I underestimated the GP's current sales figures. When I saw it is probaly around 120K units a year, I decided 150-200 would be attainable for a decent Grand Prix.


I am not sure that is a accurate number. GM has never confirmed it in anything I have seen...only seen it posted by supposed "insiders". Either way, you are missing the point....and I don't think you will ever get it. People are not buying the current Grand Prix because from a content stand point, it is non competive. Making matters worse, it's styling is very polarizing, and alienated many of the core buyers. Go on www.clubgp.com sometime and read what the 97-03 owners think of the new car. They hate it, and many will not trade their old ones in for one. Aside from the core styling issues, the new car was slower with the same engine, and much harder to mod because of the computer. This cut the aftermarket off at the knees, which was the backbone of the old GP. The V8 Grand Prix is cool, but there is no aftermarket, and it is a pretty scary car to drive anyway. I researched buying my Grand Prix, in the 2003-04 time frame. Up until the new one was anounced, a top of the line Supercharged Grand Prix went for $29-$30K, and the lower content cars were in the low to mid 20. This was sale price after negotiation. The Current Grand Prix started off strong, but pretty quickly, the top cars ended up in the mid $20K's, and you can get a base one for under $20K now. So basically, the old Grand Prix sold in even greater numbers at a higher average sale price. These people are holding on to their old GP's because the new one is that bad. If you build a proper Grand Prix...it WILL sell. The Grand Prix is a hot rod for people who have families, and will not buy RWD (FWIW, Chicago has been the GP's biggest market for years). There are plenty of people out there who have Grand Prix's and love them, and would but them again.

You are mixing and matching numbers here. If you did reengineer the Grand Prix, I have no trouble believing that it coud go from the current 120K a year to 150-200K plus, and the rental to retail ratio will imporve. This is a GM car, and you will never be able to just take fleet sales out. Over half the Impala's, Malibu's (and probaly Cobalt's) go to fleet's, and no one is hammering them saying they should be cancelled.

Basically, what I am saying is that GM screwed the last GP up, but the nameplate is not destroyed to the point that it makes sense to say forget it and walk away from that kind of potential volume.

We will see...my point is that even if this car is cool...there are several other cars I would buy before it.

 

35 MPG CAFE.
2.0 liter 260hp DI 4 cyl turbo.

Here's the problem. A turbo AWD V6 will be heavy and a gas guzzler. And more expensive than a V8 RWD. It won't appeal to those who want decent gas mileage. It won't appeal to those who want RWD. It won't appeal to those who want a V8. The market that's left is not 0, but probably close to. However, you'll get your wish, I think, when Lincoln brings the MK-S to market. Or when Saab brings their next-gen 9-3 to market (Saab is sort of American).

Alfa Romeo makes a V6 non-turbo AWD car, and it's heavy and a guzzler even without the turbo. It's done pretty poorly in the comparisons I've read, being consistently beaten by the RWD competition (read, BMW).