akirby Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 Would you suggest that GM should have changed the name of the new Impala then or just call the old one Impala Classic (Malibu Classic anyone?)? Foolishness! I would suggest that they stop selling fleet queens altogether! But if you're going to do it then it would make more sense to use a different name to avoid confusion and to separate the sales data. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 I would suggest that they stop selling fleet queens altogether! But if you're going to do it then it would make more sense to use a different name to avoid confusion and to separate the sales data. GM knows what the real numbers are, so the only confusion is to pundits like us who get the public sales data. It's quite possible that they had long-term fleet contracts that would have been more expensive to opt out of than to just keep the gears turning on the old stampings. Plus they can still limit the new model to more retail sales, which, whether or not they are combined with the "old" Impala in sales numbers, should help maintain its resale value. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 GM knows what the real numbers are, so the only confusion is to pundits like us who get the public sales data. It's quite possible that they had long-term fleet contracts that would have been more expensive to opt out of than to just keep the gears turning on the old stampings. Plus they can still limit the new model to more retail sales, which, whether or not they are combined with the "old" Impala in sales numbers, should help maintain its resale value. "Hey - let's go look at the new Impala. I hear it's really nice!" "Are you kidding - I had one of those POS rentals last week. No way I'd consider buying one." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 (edited) "Hey - let's go look at the new Impala. I hear it's really nice!" "Are you kidding - I had one of those POS rentals last week. No way I'd consider buying one." From what I've seen around the airport, the new ones are the ones going to rental fleets. I see the old designs going more to filling municipal and government contracts. And come on. Nobody who rents the old Impala is going to confuse it with the new one, even if they have the same name. Do all automakers buy back all of the previous generations of vehicles from rental agencies when they release a new model? No. When my 2011 Edge was in the body shop after being rear-ended, I got a 2010 Edge rental. If that 2010 was my only reference for what an Edge was, I wouldn't have bought one by any stretch. But you know, people do research. Edited October 29, 2013 by NickF1011 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 From what I've seen around the airport, the new ones are the ones going to rental fleets. I see the old designs going more to filling municipal and government contracts. And come on. Nobody who rents the old Impala is going to confuse it with the new one, even if they have the same name. Do all automakers buy back all of the previous generations of vehicles from rental agencies when they release a new model? No. When my 2011 Edge was in the body shop after being rear-ended, I got a 2010 Edge rental. If that 2010 was my only reference for what an Edge was, I wouldn't have bought one by any stretch. But you know, people do research. If you were an average car renter who didn't know there were 2 Impalas and the one you rented was underwhelming, what would cause you to go look to see that there was a new one? I don't even remember the original question. But I don't think it's smart to have 2 different Impalas especially when the new one appears to be significantly better than the old one and very competitive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 If you were an average car renter who didn't know there were 2 Impalas and the one you rented was underwhelming, what would cause you to go look to see that there was a new one? I don't even remember the original question. But I don't think it's smart to have 2 different Impalas especially when the new one appears to be significantly better than the old one and very competitive. If you are considering buying one the opinion of a one-time renter isn't going to dissuade you from checking it out yourself. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 If you are considering buying one the opinion of a one-time renter isn't going to dissuade you from checking it out yourself. I'm not talking about someone else's opinion - I'm saying if YOU rented an Impala and didn't like it you probably wouldn't go look to see there was a new one. I know I wouldn't unless I already knew there were two different versions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 I'm not talking about someone else's opinion - I'm saying if YOU rented an Impala and didn't like it you probably wouldn't go look to see there was a new one. I know I wouldn't unless I already knew there were two different versions. Why would you assume that a car you are renting is the newest model? Like I said, I had a 2010 Edge rental after the 2011 had been released. If I was dumb enough to assume that rental was the new one I probably wouldn't own an Edge now because that one was far worse than the new one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 (edited) Why would you assume that a car you are renting is the newest model? Like I said, I had a 2010 Edge rental after the 2011 had been released. If I was dumb enough to assume that rental was the new one I probably wouldn't own an Edge now because that one was far worse than the new one. I give up. You win. It's totally good for GM to build 2 different Impalas and dump one into fleets. Edited October 30, 2013 by akirby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 I give up. You win. It's totally good for GM to build 2 different Impalas and dump one into fleets. It's not ideal, but I don't think it's nearly as damaging to the new one as you are making it out to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 It's not ideal, but I don't think it's nearly as damaging to the new one as you are making it out to be. But it certainly can't be good for the new one either. I just think it would be better to give it a different name or stop the fleet queen sales altogether. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 (edited) But it certainly can't be good for the new one either. I just think it would be better to give it a different name or stop the fleet queen sales altogether. Well, technically it does have a different name: Impala Limited vs Impala. And the Impala Limited isn't even on the Chevrolet retail site. Edited October 30, 2013 by NickF1011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Why would you assume that a car you are renting is the newest model? Like I said, I had a 2010 Edge rental after the 2011 had been released. If I was dumb enough to assume that rental was the new one I probably wouldn't own an Edge now because that one was far worse than the new one. Yes, but Nick, you actually have a clue. Most folks don't. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grbeck Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 (edited) Why would you assume that a car you are renting is the newest model? Like I said, I had a 2010 Edge rental after the 2011 had been released. If I was dumb enough to assume that rental was the new one I probably wouldn't own an Edge now because that one was far worse than the new one. Most people expect rental cars to be new, or at least fairly new. Plus, you cannot assume that the average car buyer possess as much knowledge about cars and the automobile industry as you and rest of us on this site do. For most people, their knowledge of a car is limited to the fact that it has four wheels, an engine that requires gasoline and is made by a big corporation. If you mention "Impala," they may remember that it is a Chevrolet, but if you showed them a mint 2011 Impala and told them it was the all-new 2013 model, they would not know the difference. I remember a conversation with a co-worker in 1994 who bought a brand-new base Firebird. I asked her why she choose a Firebird, and her response was, "I wanted a sporty car, and the Camaro and Firebird looked exactly the same, but the Pontiac dealer gave me a better deal than the Chevrolet dealer." I doubt that most of us would have said that a 1994 Camaro and Firebird looked "exactly the same." The differences would immediately jump out to us, and most of us would have a strong preference for one or the other. But lots of people simply don't pay that much attention to cars. Edited October 30, 2013 by grbeck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 *I* thought the Camaro & Firebird looked exactly the same: terrible. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grbeck Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 I liked the Camaro, but thought that the Firebird looked overdone and somewhat silly. The main problems were that both had uncomfortable interiors and lousy build quality. The bulge in the front passenger side floor of the cars, necessary to clear the catalytic converter, was particularly ridiculous. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbyd Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 (edited) I think part of the issue might be getting customers used to the fact that it's not the same old cheap Impala. Ford had similarly large barriers to overcome when the Taurus was re-introduced. They were so large, in fact, that it was launched with a different name, Five Hundred! The Taurus Limited and Impala LTZ are very close in price, I think the Taurus is cheaper by $200 bucks or so. Ford has much larger rebates on the Taurus compared to the Impala. However, Impala has started some competitive leases on this car recently. Still, the Impala is much more expensive than the previous model. I think that's why Chevy lovers choose the Malibu when, initially, they were looking at the Impala (After Hearing Consumer Reports Trumpets Blowing About the Superior Impala). Ha! Ha! Edited October 31, 2013 by bobbyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Ford has much larger rebates on the Taurus compared to the Impala. However, Impala has started some competitive leases on this car recently. Still, the Impala is much more expensive than the previous model. I think that's why Chevy lovers choose the Malibu when, initially, they were looking at the Impala (After Hearing Consumer Reports Trumpets Blowing About the Superior Impala). Ha! Ha! If the current, pathetic sales numbers for Malibu are AFTER a bump from Impala defectors... Good grief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
630land Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 The Malibu went from hero to zero in less than 5 years! Why did they cut the back seat area? And raise the prices. Anyway, I bet GM will keep the Impala 'classic' until 2021! Maybe even 2041! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrewfanGRB Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 (edited) And come on. Nobody who rents the old Impala is going to confuse it with the new one, even if they have the same name. NOBODY? I take it your job doesn't involve day-to-day working with the public. People are very, very stupid. And Impala is an Impala is an Impala to the average consumer. Keep in mind what we argue with peple that INSIST Lincoln MUST have a RWD vehicle because BMW and MD have them: That huge #'s of BMW buyers don't even KNOW it's RWD and another huge # don't care. People. Are. Dumb. Edited November 23, 2013 by BrewfanGRB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrewfanGRB Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Why would you assume that a car you are renting is the newest model? Like I said, I had a 2010 Edge rental after the 2011 had been released. If I was dumb enough to assume that rental was the new one I probably wouldn't own an Edge now because that one was far worse than the new one. What? The better question is why would you assume the one you're renting ISN'T a new model? Just as much as you insist people are super smart and all research everything they do, I can tell you that people know rental agencies buy new cars, rent them for a particular period and then sell them off. You don't get a rental that's 5 years old with 75000 miles on it. It's a year old with 5-10000 miles on it. So if I rented a car, got an Impala and it was the old one, and it's garbage, why in the world would I think "I bet there's a NEW Impala that's waaaay better, so let's go look"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fgts Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 NOBODY? I take it your job doesn't involve day-to-day working with the public. People are very, very stupid. And Impala is an Impala is an Impala to the average consumer. Keep in mind what we argue with peple that INSIST Lincoln MUST have a RWD vehicle because BMW and MD have them: That huge #'s of BMW buyers don't even KNOW it's RWD and another huge # don't care. People. Are. Dumb. So I take it this kind of opinions is repeated in Ford boardrooms?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 So I take it this kind of opinions is repeated in Ford boardrooms?. Not an opinion, it's a fact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 Not an opinion, it's a fact. The only reason GM is continuing with Classic Impala is because GM knows the moment it uses the '14 Imppala for fleet sales, any any potential elevation in Chevrolet brand is toast. But here's the thing, selling the Classic Impala says more about how GM views its fleet customers and their business, that completely overshadows any advantage that strategy gives. Re: GM and RWD, Cadillac ATS seems to be stuck at 2,800 sales a month - about the same as MKZ but the inventory has ballooned to 17,000 The problem isn't with the cars mechanical specs, dimensions or appointments, it's the fact that people who buy BMW and other luxury brands want to be seen in them, they wear their cars like fashion accessories and statements. Why pay near BMW 3 series price for an imitator and miss out on the status and prestige of that BMW badge.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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