GSRANDY

The GMPT Performance Build Center in Wixom, MI and the GM Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Bowling Green, KY will be back in operation beginning Monday, November 30, 2009.

Join me in welcoming back all of the dedicated individuals responsible for producing the finest world class engines and Corvettes we cherish, made right here in the USA.............

Regards,

GSRANDY

Motorhead-47

Earlier news I thought had indicated production would resume on 14 Dec.

peter pan

Cool

timd38

Good. They need to keep in mind that they need to produce one less than they can sell.

WannagetaZ06

That sounds like great business sense... but we need to remember - GM (Gigantic Monster) is a voume manufacturer.... and once you turn on the monster - it is hard to slow down or stop. Shutdowns are a great hassle and expense, and they bring in NO additional revenue.

Corvette is try to be somewhat exclusive - through the stream of a volume manufacturer... hard thing to balance.
Any other thoughts on this?

timd38

We make batteries and car interiors, so, yes I do have an opinion. If you build more than you can sell, you discount the hell out of them to move them, then the resale value sucks. Then the car companies don't make any money, so the suppliers and the government have to give them money to stay in business.

I bought a Lincoln LS because I really liked the car as a daily driver. Five years later I am stuck with it because it doesn't have any value, because they build more than they could sell. I now drive an Acura to work, still have the LS. Look at what used C5 Z06s are worth, or even better look at the discounts on new Z06s.

When the C7 gets launched, GM was planning to build the Solstice in the same plant as the Corvette. Many viewed this as a negative. I viewed it as a positive, because it would use up plant capacity and they would quit building more Corvettes than they can sell. GM needs to find a way to balance what they build or they will never make any money and you and I will continue get killed at resale time.

rm50

Great News!! I know there are a lot of people out their with orders (like me) that need their cars built.

jimmie jam

production schedules rely on historic data. unfortunately this data is now completely flawed and it's a cloudy crystal ball for the future. when they produce one less than they can sell the car will go away. the only way GM can make money with exclusivity is to raise prices to a "exclusive" level. that is not going to happen at "chevy". this economy is going to change ALOT of things moving forward.

as for resale mentioned in post #6, i don't understand why owners think that they can buy and use a mass produced car and then have it be worth anywhere near what they paid for it in the future. that's crazy. even low production hand built exotics drop significantly in value.

jschindler

If what you say is true, now I understand why GM got in such big trouble. You are implying that GM has no ability to predict sales based upon anything other than historical data. That would be a ****-poor marketing strategy.

It is up to their marketing department to forecast sales based upon a lot of other factors than history.

BTW, I agree completely with timd38. And to both of you, yes I understand that forecasting is not as perfect science.

timd38

I used to deal with the car companies on model year forecasts. They are all (GM, Ford and Chrysler) a bunch of dreamers even in good years. If you look at C5 sales from launch to replacement, you can see the trend. I guess GM did not believe that this trend would hold true for the C6 because they continued to forecast at level far above the C5, until recently.

Good discussion! Thanks!

jimmie jam

hey Jim, i'm not and didn't say that they use historical data "exclusively" to predict sale numbers. of course that's not the case. it is however, a large part of the equasion. i can only speak from my experience in GM divisional production management where i was employed for 4 1/2 years and delt with this stuff on a daily basis. that is one of the reasons why they spent so much time trying to figure out realistic production capacity for the new Camaro - there was no historic data to rely upon. heck, i don't know much - just my take on things.

60CorvetteJim

Supply and demand dictates prices for sure. Just look how well the 1996 (One Thousand with production sequence in the VIN) Grand Sports have held their value. Limited number and high performance has always been a key to holding value, just like '63 fuelies, '65 396s and '67 427s - only a limited number out there! You never know though - look at the 1990 ZR1s What happened there??

JoesC5

Comparing values of collector cars that are 40-50+ years old is not indicative of normal resale stats. I've had several "collector" cars that I owned back in the 50-60's that I sold for peanuts after owning a year or so. How about the 1932 Ford 3 window coupe that I sold for $300 in 1962.

bub

Looking at jeffhardy.com, since the shutdown, the qty on hand gives an accurate picture of how many sell in a day (since there is no new product coming into the pipeline).

Look at the figures for November (use the calendar function not a search). Not pretty.

Corvette Inventory for November 5, 2009
Coupe Convertible Z06 ZR1 GS Coupe GS Convertible Total
2008 16 78 36 0 130
2009 937 327 754 40 2058
2010 745 175 85 75 350 182 1612
Total 1698 580 875 115 350 182 3800


Corvette Inventory for November 29, 2009
Coupe Convertible Z06 ZR1 GS Coupe GS Convertible Total
2008 12 63 32 0 107
2009 732 276 653 29 1690
2010 736 178 90 88 320 181 1593 (equates to less than 20 2010's sold in period 11-5 to 11-29)
Total 1480 517 775 117 320 181 3390

SnapperDragon

Well, low resale prices are good for people that like to buy used. The "mistake" if we can call it that is to buy a new car.

Keeping a high resale value on any car just pushes me to buy new instead of used. A low resale on a good car makes me want to get the used car and save $$ over new.

Works both ways.

I tend to keep my cars until they don't run anymore, so resale is only a big deal for people who like to trade a lot (or need to due to changing circumstances).

I'd buy a used LS if it were in good condition and going at a good price. Why not?

ohmy

here is a thought for all of the NJ and tri-state area dealers: when production resumes, how about not ordering every C6 you stock with frickin' chrome wheels! I would have already bought one from Kerbeck if they had one in white/silver/black/red without this $2K bling bling option! out of a full lot of 2010 GS, I found only one without chrome, blah!

mpuzach

We need to keep in mind that with very few exceptions, Corvette production numbers have been driven by what dealers order and not by factory production limits or excesses. The only exceptions that I know of are some of the anniversary editions and pace cars. Heck, they'd have even built a boatload of L88s and '69 ZL1s if dealers and customers would have ordered them.

69L79

Exactly. They load the cars up with useless, expensive options pushing MSRPs beyond 60K, offer a few K off. And, then wonder why the cars sit. These cars should be affordable, less exclusive. If you want exclusive buy Porsche, Ferrari, etc,

Gearhead Jim

I have to agree that the GM chrome wheels are one of the biggest ripoffs on the planet- both for what GM charges, and the fact that dealers order them on almost all Corvettes.

OTOH, most buyers are uninformed and get what they deserve.

My 2009 came off a dealer lot because I made my decision too late to order with R8C like our last two 'vettes. Chrome wheels, of course. I dread the day when one of them gets scratched.

Vette Suspension

Scary numbers not only for the Corvette but the country itself. Hard to sell car when almost 20% of the population is out of work. The ZO6 numbers are very worrisome.