Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenZLE
No doubt there will be nothing but excuses about how Malibu is not wanted! Funny how we're told nobody wants an Impala, Camaro, Malibu, or anything other than an under powered SUV or EV yet I constantly run into people wanting them all. I personally have 2 kids driving older Impalas, one wont buy a new car because he hasnt found something the same size and price point that he likes. I wanted another Impala but had to settle for an Equinox because the Impala is dead.
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Well it’s true. You may not want to hear it but when sales get to the point you don’t have business justification for $250 million for a light refresh let alone a Billion for an all new model they die.
Malib and Impala were decent cars. But note Hyundai/Kia, Toyota and Honda all still have 2 sedans in their line ups. Only Cadillac now has sedans and GM as a whole has 3 cars. They did this to themselves over the years. Toyota and Honda maintained on reliability and resale. Hyundai/Kia not so much but GM made “pretty good” cars. Just not great ones (Camaro being the exception here as it was truly great but didn’t sell for other reasons). I really liked my LaCrosse. Very solid car. Still make it in China. And Buick just showed some very slick sedans…….in China.
I was there when GM was forced to cost cut on everything and I was here when they made dumb product decisions to differentiate the brands. Go back to 5e LaCrosse. LWB Epsilon, Mailibu was SWB Epsilon. Impala? Base suspension only. Buick? Linked H-arm/hyper strut suspension optional. Cadillac XTS? Standard. That uplevel suspension could have worked to make the Impala and it would have even worked on the Malibu but nope. How about the TT V6 in the XTS? Would have fit in the Impala. Or better yet have about an AWD 400 HP Regal? All the parts were there for some compelling cars.
But in the end they weren’t spectacular and if you weren’t brand loyal you bought a Honda or Toyota, both of which have launched an all new Accord and Camry in the last year. Both hybrids and pretty great cars.
Sad.