This is the funniest two sentence combination I've read in ages -- thank you for writing it.

 

Just like Andy Grove, former Intel CEO used to say: Only the paranoid survive.

When you're at the top, there's only one way you can go: down. Of course Toyota worries about GM.

 

VW has a lot of inherent panache and prestige amongst teenie boppers, hippies, and wannabe yuppies who think they are buying a miniature BMW. For mainstream carbuyers, they don't even necessarily care about "what's best." They want something decent, reliable, and a good value (to include resale value) and once they get set on a brand, they aren't likely to switch to an unknown just for shits and giggles, or because an add tells them "GM is back!" My parents are just such buyers, they've bought three Accords back to back to back, and don't even shop anywhere else but the Acura/Honda store when it's time to buy a new car. They don't care what's new and hot and "best," they just know Accords have worked for them, and they assume the trend will continue.

There are millions more just like them.

 

My parents were loyal Toyota buyers then Honda buyers. Now, VW. Why, for similar money the product is nicer... assuming you don't mind getting to know your mechanic. They decided to buy their second Passat despite the issues with the last Passat. Many of the older VW's did not have any more prestige than many Japanese cars. Yes, SOME people thought they were great but SOME people will always buy GM even when the cars were largely junk.

Yes, some will stick with the Japanese but certainly many would go back if the cars were great. Look at how much more respect and enthusiasm the C6 gets vs the C5 or more so the C4.

Don

 

lol this thread should simply be closed by the statement that GM does have potential to grow and reach Toyota but it may take many many years.

 

[QUOTE=rockville,Sep 19 2007, 01:27 PM] My parents were loyal Toyota buyers then Honda buyers. Now, VW. Why, for similar money the product is nicer... assuming you don't mind getting to know your mechanic. They decided to buy their second Passat despite the issues with the last Passat. Many of the older VW's did not have any more prestige than many Japanese cars. Yes, SOME people thought they were great but SOME people will always buy GM even when the cars were largely junk.

Yes, some will stick with the Japanese but certainly many would go back if the cars were great. Look at how much more respect and enthusiasm the C6 gets vs the C5 or more so the C4.

Don

 

This has to be the funniest quote. Since when? Toyotas always command good prices. Last month I tried to buy a Camry hybrid but they wouldn't negotiate much and did not submit to my offers. In fact, they said: "If we don't sell to you, we'll sell to someone else in a heartbeat because we can hardly keep up with sales." Indeed, it was true. Every hybrid they acquired was sold almost immediately. In the end, they did not submit to my offers and it seemed like I needed them more than they needed me.

If anyone who "gives away" their vehicles, it's GM and Ford, what with their "employee pricing", discounts, rebates, no-interest financing, etc. You won't find those at Toyota, Honda, BMW, etc., dealerships.

In conclusion, this article was written by an idiot who knows nothing of the "real life".

 

I think you misunderstand the term "new domestics." That term referrs to Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Subaru and BMW. Sometimes VW is lumped in there.

 

Business in the modern Global Market, is fought quarter-to-quarter, sale-to-sale. TTM is a big deal that I believe GM, Chrysler, and Ford have forgotten.

 

trying to win back sales in the domestic world with 100000 mile warranty or lifetime