Agreed
I'm glad my Mom is not stupid enough to pay the same price for a Camry as she could have gotten a DeVille for.noahsdad said:Hey gang - just heard this story from my brother in law, a quality manager at GM. Thought it would be of interest here...
In 2004, one of the VP's at GM (can't remember his name) offered his mother free use of a Cadillac DeVille to see if she liked it. She has been a die-hard Toyota buyer for 25 years, her last car being a Camry, which she was ready to trade in after driving over 200k of relatively trouble free miles.
The deal was she could drive the DeVille for six months, and at the end of that time she could either buy the Caddy as a GM program car, or turn it back in to GM and buy a new Camry - the price would have been about the same either way.
She drove the SDV, loved it, and at the end of six months, turned it back in and bought the Toyota. Her son was incredulous. She explained that although the Cadillac rode and handled perfectly, was supremely comfortable, and the build quality was as good or better than any car she had ever seen, she just wasn't sure it would go 200,000+ miles like her beloved Camry.
This could be the biggest hurdle American car manufacturers face: In the mind of the buyers, perception is reality.
My two Devilles lasted well into the 200,000 mile category. My 1985 lasted until 238,000 miles (had a catastrophic water pump seal failure) and my 1993 has 298,000 miles on it. Engine is still going strong! Body and interior are in excellent shape.mccombie_5 said:Yup, the reason American cars don't sell well here in the UK
My mother loves our Cadillacs, but refuses to buy one because it "Won't be as reliable as a BMW or Saab"
Completely wrong, my Seville is one of the best cars I've ever owned
Indeed, the Cadillacs cost about the same to maintain as any other BMW Mercedes or Lexus in this country because of parts.thu said:My two Devilles lasted well into the 200,000 mile category. My 1985 lasted until 238,000 miles (had a catastrophic water pump seal failure) and my 1993 has 298,000 miles on it. Engine is still going strong! Body and interior are in excellent shape.
When I considered buying another car this year, I considered BMW, but realized that when things broke (not 'if', but 'when'), I'd be paying through the nose in repairs. Same for Mercedes. Ironically, same for the Japanese makes, too!
Sandy said:It could all be fixed very easily. It's called "protectism"
George Bush signs into law a 7% income tax rebate for anyone who purchases a 2006/2007 GM or Ford car (except a Chevy Avio) between Dec. 1st and Dec 1 '06. Anyone who purchases any other car, has to pay an tariff of 7% on their income tax, in 2006.
All done. Fixed.
Uh oh.... this is turning political.I~LUV~Caddys8792 said:Good idea! Didn't we have something like this in the late '70s/early 80's?
What happened in '92? I was only 5 years old at the time90Brougham350 said:Rough times have come before, anyone remember 1992?
There are two things wrong with that:In 2004, one of the VP's at GM (can't remember his name) offered his mother free use of a Cadillac DeVille to see if she liked it. She has been a die-hard Toyota buyer for 25 years, her last car being a Camry, which she was ready to trade in after driving over 200k of relatively trouble free miles.
Ah, but Sandy, you forget, It's Honda of AMERICA now. Besides, people would pay extra for Jap quality. I mean, look at the situation now; most people pay sticker price for a Honda, which fly off the lots, while GM has to dish out like $5,000 in rebates, "employee pricing", etc. just to get people to LOOK at their cars, which just sit there at the lots and have their brake calipers rust over...It could all be fixed very easily. It's called "protectism"
George Bush signs into law a 7% income tax rebate for anyone who purchases a 2006/2007 GM or Ford car (except a Chevy Avio) between Dec. 1st and Dec 1 '06. Anyone who purchases any other car, has to pay an tariff of 7% on their income tax, in 2006.
All done. Fixed.
noahsdad said:.... one of the VP's at GM (can't remember his name).....