Could a sports car be profitable?

[bishopts]

I know for the most part that sports cars are usually halo cars to introduce new designs or technology, or eye candy to get people in the door at dealerships.
Sedans will outsell coupes usually ,and for no reason other than trunk space suvs will outsell sedans.
I thought back before camaro did the facelift, "what if they made a 4 door version to be a direct competitor to the charger, and called it the chevelle?"
The SS/commodore was a massive flop here in the states and i related that too the fact that no one ever knew it existed. (Lack of advertising).
So if i would have had the opportunity to buy a 4 door camaro named chevelle then i would have jumped on it for sure. It would have fit my family better, the insurance would have been cheaper, manual transmission sedans are awesome.
I know the Cadillac cts-v is pretty much that same thing but its face doesn't exert dominance like a camaro does.
This was just a thought, i was wondering what you guys think. Would you have bought a 4 door sports car if it was on the same performance level?

[RIPws6]

Originally Posted by bishopts

I know for the most part that sports cars are usually halo cars to introduce new designs or technology, or eye candy to get people in the door at dealerships.
Sedans will outsell coupes usually ,and for no reason other than trunk space suvs will outsell sedans.
I thought back before camaro did the facelift, "what if they made a 4 door version to be a direct competitor to the charger, and called it the chevelle?"
The SS/commodore was a massive flop here in the states and i related that too the fact that no one ever knew it existed. (Lack of advertising).
So if i would have had the opportunity to buy a 4 door camaro named chevelle then i would have jumped on it for sure. It would have fit my family better, the insurance would have been cheaper, manual transmission sedans are awesome.
I know the Cadillac cts-v is pretty much that same thing but its face doesn't exert dominance like a camaro does.
This was just a thought, i was wondering what you guys think. Would you have bought a 4 door sports car if it was on the same performance level?

Pontiac sold 3 times as many G8’s in two years starting in 08 during the financial crisis than Chevrolet sold SS cars in 5 years. (2013-2018).
Most of the g8’s that sold were in the first and last few years.
I think the appeal of cars in general were on the decline as the crossovers picked up steam, but the price point of the SS was and still is ridiculous in comparison to the g8 or any 400hp V8 of the same model year.
They put as much advertising money behind the SS as they did the Camaro.
The G8 had a very notable TV campaign upon launch and a few more later on.
I would have entertained an SS back in the day but not at that price point.
It’s a niche within a niche market. Tough sell these days.

[NYTMARE23]

For me personally, I'd pass on a 4 door sports car, regardless what it is. I'm old school so I am a 2 door sports car/muscle car guy. I enjoy my ZL1 just the way it is plus I have a Traverse and Silverado for daily's/family. That said, I can understand the appeal if you could only have one "family" car or are unable to have multiple vehicles for options.

[CamaroDreams76]

Would I have bought one, no. Do they serve a purpose, absolutely. Look at the 392 and Hellcat charger. Lots of people that want a fast 4 door buy that vehicle. Not only that but Challenger community gloats over the fact that they can use the rear seat because the chassis is a 4 door chassis and has room in the rear seat. The charger is a vehicle where you can have your slice of cake and eat it too for the most part. Can also do it with a car seat in the back. If they weren't so expensive they would sell so many more.

I love the G8 and SS. Theyre a great family car with tons of potential.

[Junction65]

Originally Posted by bishopts

Would you have bought a 4 door sports car if it was on the same performance level?

No

[CHASLT1]

Rather see a S10 size reg cab with a 450hp EV motor or V8.

[m6-lt1]

No. I am actually out of the norm here on this board because I am tired of how unusable the Camaro is as a car but I still would not buy a 4 door version of a sports car. I would only buy it if I could only have 1 car, or I would have bought a challenger since it’s a decent bit larger.4 door sports cars don’t look as cool. I’m actually not a fan of the sleeper look. I like a car with a long hood, slopping roof and short deck lid.

[dpevans]

they ruined the Charger name plate making it a 4 door, just saying.

[Number 3]

Well I had an SS and it’s one of a few cars I now wish I had. They run almost as much as new right now.

I laughed at your original post because yes a sports car can be profitable. The Corvette has been wildly profitable for GM. But if your discussion is on 4 doors, then sure but it depends on a lot of other factors involved in developing any car.

As mentioned the G8 outsold the SS, but the SS was the G8 GXP and with no data I’d guess the GXP didn’t outsell the SS. And used GXPs, like the SS go for original sticker.

And whether any of them were profitable is a guess, only GM knows. The cost to make a Holden a Chevrolet or a Pontiac was some badging and a front fascia which is nominal investment. And I know there wasn’t a lot of validation done for the US market. But overall you’d have to look at the Commodore and Statesman that were shipped Globally as the Chevy Lumina and Vauxhall VXR8 and the Caprice as well as a very little known Buick Park Avenue.

So out of all that and a Gen5 Camaro all of of Zeta 1 and Zeta 2 was it profitable? No idea.

[Smokin19]

No 4 door car is a "sports car" period.

[MT-SS1LE]

IMHO, a true sports car shouldn't be comfortable for long highway trips, have four doors, be able to get lumber at Home Depot, your weekly groceries, take your four kids to their soccer match, etc. If that's what you want/need, get a sedan or a minivan.

[DeuceCam]

I think it would be. (Why not?) A sedan is more practical than a coupe and would likely appeal to a larger group of people. Look at the Charger, BMW 3 & 5 series, Blackwing, WRX, Civic Si & Type R, Elantra N, Integra Type S, etc.

I prefer a coupe for my non-daily fun car, but it's not a hard requirement. I also considered the M340i and CT4V Blackwing, but didn't want to spend that much on a car that I don't need (i.e., not a daily).

That said, I'm not sure how I would feel about a Camaro with 4 doors. If Chevy comes out with a 4 door sporty car, it should be called something else, like an Impala SS.

[bishopts]

I would say out of a random 1000 people. 9998 of them would be more likely to buy a 4 door over a 2 door. So if you're in the market off building and selling cars then you're likely not going to waste your time with 2 door cars at all. If you were to build some you would build a low volume and compared to your more profitable 4 door variants.

For the corvette its profitable because of the high price they have now. But in comparison the crappy old malibu platform is more profitable because of the volume of that sell.

The only way i could see it actually being profitable for the company would be like what dodge did. 4 door car that has an option of "sports car" but the bulk of that platform is a common sedan.

I think the Mustang might be the most profitable overall sports car.

[Smokin19]

Originally Posted by MT-SS1LE

IMHO, a true sports car shouldn't be comfortable for long highway trips, have four doors, be able to get lumber at Home Depot, your weekly groceries, take your four kids to their soccer match, etc. If that's what you want/need, get a sedan or a minivan.

I can't visualize carving canyon roads in a 4 door sedan. Maybe only on Sunday drives.