01-22-2012, 07:49 PM | #1 |
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2013 Chevrolet Spark at Barrett-Jackson
After spending some time at the Ford display at Barrett-Jackson I decided to check out what Chevrolet had in their area.
The one new vehicle that caught my eye was the 2013 Chevrolet Spark - due to be released later this summer: I don't know much about the vehicle but GM's marketing materials indicated the Spark's currently being sold in Europe and features a 1.2 liter engine with a five speed manual transmission. While I think there's a market for a small/inexpensive Chevrolet I hope there's going to be an automatic transmission version available - otherwise sales will likely be pretty light. On a side note, Chevrolet's done a great job of updating their car line: Spark, Sonic, Cruze, Malibu and Impala - they all look very competitive.
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01-23-2012, 08:42 AM | #2 | |
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I'm going to take issue with the assertion that the Impala is competitive. Perhaps it was a major player when it was released in '06 but now it is nothing more than another bland, long in the tooth mass market rental car running around on 20 year old mechanicals. To GM's credit, however, the rest of their product line is as good as it has ever been and they are (hopefully) positioned for success going forward. |
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01-23-2012, 10:18 AM | #3 | ||
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Concerning the "second brake pedal" there was a great story about Iacocca's daughter who made a similar comment when looking at vehicles with her father. On a related note, I remember giving a ride to my cousin's daughter in my Jeep Wrangler who had never seen a vehicle with non-power windows. After explaining the history of power windows then I had to expain the history of automatic transmissions when she asked why I was always shifting the five speed. Quote:
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01-23-2012, 08:31 PM | #4 | |
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As for the Impala, I believe GM is looking to lanch a new model in 2013. There are spy photos of a covered Chevrolet sedan floating around the Internet and people think it is the new Impala. I don't know if it will be all new or just a refresh, but a new Impala is supposed to be coming out soon. |
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01-23-2012, 09:25 PM | #5 | |||
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At the risk of beating a dead horse, I still can't believe Marchionne stripped away a future small car from the CJDR dealers. I just don't see the Fiat 500 being a volume piece unless Auburn Hills scraps the Fiat Dealer Network. Quote:
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01-24-2012, 08:50 PM | #6 | |
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01-25-2012, 07:23 AM | #7 | |
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2012 Impala
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The law enforcement only Caprice PPV is nice....we have 7 or 8 of them. |
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01-25-2012, 09:45 AM | #8 | |
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Regardless, it's good to hear the Impala's getting replaced - it's probably the weakest (least competitive) vehicle in Chevrolet's car line. |
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01-25-2012, 09:49 AM | #9 | |
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That's cool. I wonder what the police departments will do with those cars when they're ready to be retired? If they're going to be sold to the public I bet there will be a strong market for them since there are always people who are willing to pay to have a vehicle no one else has. |
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01-25-2012, 01:05 PM | #10 | |
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Oil Life System
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Some dealer in New England retailed nearly a dozen of the PPV's before GM caught them. It's a shame they killed Pontiac, because the PPV is a G8 with a bowtire. |
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01-25-2012, 11:01 PM | #11 | |
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I just had to throw this aspect in there. What Sergio doesn't understand is that Chevrolet and Ford can grow volume just because of the sheer size of their dealer network. GM and Ford understand that their volume brand should offer just about every size of vehicle out there. If you want a Ford Focus or Chevy Spark, you can go to any Ford or Chevy dealership and order one. If you want a Fiat 500, there is only one (maybe two) places in your area that you can order one from. And sometimes, these dealers are miles away. That isn't too convenient for those individuals that don't want to go out of their way to buy a car. I think this is an instance in which Sergio and Auburn Hills think they are smarter than GM and Ford. |
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01-26-2012, 09:39 AM | #12 | ||
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I seem to remember another OEM found that their in-car system for determining oil change frequency needed to be reprogrammed because the oil change intervals were being stretched too far and engine wear/failure was becoming an issue. As I recall, there was some type of settlement from the OEM to the customers because it was alleged that new programming would increase the customer's cost of ownership. Quote:
It's really too bad. Pontiac could have positioned themselves as the American alternative to BWM and the brand would have lifted GM's overall image. Pontiac had some really good products when they were killed off. |
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07-08-2012, 05:14 PM | #13 |
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2013 Chevrolet Sprint was at Barrett-Jackson - Orange County
I was reminded of this thread when I was reviewing some of the pictures I took when I was at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Orange County.
Here's a picture of the 2013 Chevrolet Sprint they had on display: As before, I think the car looks pretty good and it has the potential to be a volume seller if Chevrolet prices it correctly. I also thought it was interesting that the model they had on display in Orange County was equipped with an automatic transmission. (There's no longer a question about whether an automatic transmission will be offered.) In some ways the Sprint reminds me of a PT Cruiser without the added rear hatch area. The car is pretty small but still offers a lot of room for the rear seat passengers because of the tall roof line. For the sake of the Chevrolet dealers I hope GM prices this vehicle right - I imagine the sales of this vehicle will be almost 100% plus business since GM currently does not have a competitive vehicle in this segment. |
07-09-2012, 06:44 AM | #14 |
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I dont sell many new impalas but i sell EVERY used 06-09 impala we get in we price them right wish i had 5 or 6 in stock now.The new SS is coming out should be almost the same as the g8 gt.
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07-16-2012, 10:48 AM | #15 | |
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Another death in the name of shared-sacrifice. |
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