In light of all the negativity surrounding government loans, Pontiac survival, etc., is it still worth believing that the coupe will be built?
I think I'm in need one of those Yes Virginia, Santa Clause is real type remarks, lol.
In light of all the negativity surrounding government loans, Pontiac survival, etc., is it still worth believing that the coupe will be built?
I think I'm in need one of those Yes Virginia, Santa Clause is real type remarks, lol.
I sure have hope that the coupe will be built, I have my order in the queues.
However, at this moment in time, reality dictates that I'm going to have to wait, at least a while, maybe a lot longer, for that puppy to be rolling down an assembly line.
JMNSHO!
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#000741, delivered 10/3/05
(the user formerly known as SolWhat?)
My advice... having hope is better than not. Honestly, I do not think it looks real good. Indications are pointing away from the Solstice. However, a lot can happen.
GM has invested a good chunk of money in the coupe to bring it to market. If they pull the plug now, they eat those costs. Chances are they have a decent number of dealer orders. Say they have 1700 dealers, average of 2 orders per, and they average $20,000 gross on each one sent to a dealer. That's $68,000,000 in potential income they could have by fulfilling just those orders. It's not a considerably high sum compared to the overall bottom line of GM, but it probably would go a long way to paying for the development of the coupe.
So GM has incentive to build it, just so it can pay for itself.
These are extraordinary times, and anything can happen. I wouldn't write it off yet. I might write GM telling them to build it, just to drive home the public's desire.
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Solstice and Sky Fan
Retired Solstice Forum Super Moderator (Apr 2005-July 2009)
Chances are they have a decent number of dealer orders. Say they have 1700 dealers, average of 2 orders per, and they average $20,000 gross on each one sent to a dealer. That's $68,000,000 in potential income they could have by fulfilling just those orders. It's not a considerably high sum compared to the overall bottom line of GM, but it probably would go a long way to paying for the development of the coupe.
While I know you're pulling those numbers out of thin air, I find it very hard to imagine that Pontiac has a backlog of orders for 3400 Coupes. In November they delivered only 325 Solstices vs ~1300+ the previous November. Another reason factoring against this is their failure to announce pricing on the Coupe. Not many people are going to order a car without knowing the price.
Come to think about it, how many people are going to order a car from a company facing bankruptcy?
The only thing favoring restarting the production of the Solstice/Sky is that it has a completely negligible effect on GM's bottom line + or -.
But I'll keep my hopes up!
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#000741, delivered 10/3/05
(the user formerly known as SolWhat?)
While I know you're pulling those numbers out of thin air, I find it very hard to imagine that Pontiac has a backlog of orders for 3400 Coupes. In November they delivered only 325 Solstices vs ~1300+ the previous November. Another reason factoring against this is their failure to announce pricing on the Coupe. Not many people are going to order a car without knowing the price.
Come to think about it, how many people are going to order a car from a company facing bankruptcy?
The only thing favoring restarting the production of the Solstice/Sky is that it has a completely negligible effect on GM's bottom line + or -.
But I'll keep my hopes up!
Yes, those numbers are out of think air and only meant to be an example, but I do suspect that there are a very significant number of orders in for the coupe too.
Some dealers may desire one or two for stock as well. A new model will likely draw some attention from buyers, even in a down market. Fewer cars are being sold, but there are still sales happening. Even from GM.
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Solstice and Sky Fan
Retired Solstice Forum Super Moderator (Apr 2005-July 2009)
Whoa! That's really going out on a limb, don't you think?
He's living on the edge!
Actually, I think he is predicting, should the plant start up, that they will build the coupe... since they could start the plant back up but scrap the coupe and just stick to roadsters.
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Solstice and Sky Fan
Retired Solstice Forum Super Moderator (Apr 2005-July 2009)
I know that my dealer has at least 2 coupe orders in queue so at least it is one dealer fulfilling your "thin air" numbers. I maintain hope that GM will survive and that my car will be built.
Actually, I think he is predicting, should the plant start up, that they will build the coupe... since they could start the plant back up but scrap the coupe and just stick to roadsters.
I have no doubt that they would produce the coupe if they started up production again. I suspect that demand for the coupe exceeds that of the roadster, right now, but that initial demand for the coupe will be short term, and then it will settle down to a low percentage of overall Solstice demand (assuming production starts up again).
Side note: I checked with my dealer this afternoon and he has one coupe order in the can, mine. Most of the people out there are unaware that the coupe exists.
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#000741, delivered 10/3/05
(the user formerly known as SolWhat?)
It looks like all may be ok for the coupe? The white house gave a bailout to the big 3 today.
I don't think the two are related. . . GM is not going to startup Solstice/Sky production as long as demand is less than current inventories of unsold cars. November sales of Solstices were only 325 cars nationwide (an annual rate of less than 4000 cars). The problem facing the auto industry is that demand has almost completely dried up along with the tightening of consumer credit. Solstice/Sky demand is even worse off as a sports car purchase is usually an optional-type purchase.
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#000741, delivered 10/3/05
(the user formerly known as SolWhat?)
I haven't had a chance today to really look into the white house bailout, but I believe it is a short term solution by the white house, that requires GM and Chrysler to come back with detailed restructurings, with concessions from all groups involved.
As such, I would not say the coupe or kappas are out of the woods yet.
If GM has to cut workforce and plants in a restructuring, kappa is still an inviting thing to slice... workforce intensive, dedicated plant, very low volume, and very low profit expectation even when times are good.
__________________
Solstice and Sky Fan
Retired Solstice Forum Super Moderator (Apr 2005-July 2009)
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