ONENATION

Very funny!

MSG C5

This is the key point I've been pushing for years. GM could probably encourage more in generation trade-ups if they introduced more styling and feature changes through a generational run. If the generations are going to last 5-8 years, they should have more differentiators besides paint color.

I think the Grand Sport should have been introduced with a HP bump compared to the Stingray and I think the Z06 should have gotten a similar styling tweak to help improve the cooling, similar to the ZR1 front fascia. Nothing to take away the thunder of the ZR1, just something slightly less aggressive, yet functional.

I guess it's a good thing from a resale perspective that you could place a 2014 Torch Red Stingray Z51 next to a 2019 Torch Red Stingray Z51 and not tell the difference. Or 99% of humans on the planet could not tell the difference.

Foosh

Refreshes within generation can be a double-edge sword. While some love the changes, there's always folks on the other side, who do not like them. Some have been fails, attracting some new customers, but causing existing ones to hold on to what they have.

The ZR1 is not the best example because it takes the C7 to another level, but I really don't like the looks of that nose. I do realize it's necessary for cooling. However, I've seen analogous changes on other makes for no other reason than just to change up the look.

JoesC5

Not by 40%

GM sales since 2014 in the US and Canada.

2014....................2,935,007
2015....................3,082,358
2016....................3,042,773
2017....................3,002,237
2018(Jan & Feb).......198,548

Now compare the "drop" in sales for the Corvette since 2014........

JoesC5

But, the high end Corvette sales is what keeps the Corvette in production, as that's where the most profit per unit is.

JoesC5

After Ford spent $2B to redesign their first generation Taurus, sales dropped by 1/3rd due to the ugly rear window design. Ford immediately went back to the drawing board, and spent a huge amount of money to change the rear window design from an oval to a rectangular shape, and sales went back to normal after the change.

Moral to this story...be careful what you wish for, as the "new" might not be as appealing as the "old".

JoesC5

Across the board, people are keeping their "new" cars for an average of 6.5 years, not 2-4 years.

thill444

Does that number include trucks and SUV's? Because car sales are down across the entire market segment. By a lot.

Also as keeps getting pointed out almost every car sees a drop in sales the following year after a new model is introduced. The Corvette was completley redesigned from the ground up in for the 2014 model year and got a lot of positive press and dealers could not keep them on the lot. We are now on the 5th model year of the C7 with no major changes. With car sales down and the C7 stagnant, it has nowhere to go but down unless GM ofers ridiculous incentives to move them but even then that would just be temporary as only so many people are looking to buy a 2 seater performance car with a V8.

thill444

That's true. But Ford also increased the price quite a bit with the 2018 Mustang. A loaded GT is now well over $50K.

I think we are hitting a point where most Americans simply cannot afford $50K. Just a few years ago a loaded Mustang was maybe in the high $30's.

JerryU

Last year I was looking and did order a 2017 Grand Sport around this time because discounts were vey high and I was anticipating the long several month shut down as the plant was closing in the summer when there would be a high demand for Vettes!

That was correct! In fact folks like Kerbeck (where I ordered mine) had a large inventory and were probably buying more for stock than normal (they are the largest Vette dealer and were selling 25/week) as they had a better idea than myself of the upcoming shortage! In fact as we were into the shutdown their inventory was depleting and Verts, for example, were in very short supply!

As expected their discounts (and others) were decreasing dramatically! Why not, with a limited supply and new orders not coming in that is what I would do! Why put yourself in a no stock position!

thill444

Because of price and depreciation. Cars cost a lot more now and depreciate at the same rate as before and people are financing for much longer than previously. My last two purchases dealers were pushing 84 month auto loans. 84 months!

stillcrazy

I have to respectively disagree here. It wasn't until G/M started offering massive discounts that inventory started moving. G/M over produced just before the shutdown. If you saw pics of the factory storage lot it was full and not moving. G/M over built and under sold until they started offering massive discounts.

LT1 Z51

That may be true for the broader market, but luxury customers (and from a durable goods perspective the Corvette is very much a luxury item), I think that time gets shorter. I don't have data, but just a logically feeling of how that market works.

There are a lot of 2-3 year leases in the luxury space, and while I think that doesn't apply as much to Corvette, the mindset I think still does.

LT1 Z51

GM overproduced before the shutdown because that is what you DO.

Since you can't manufacture product for a set period of time, you over produce a mix of cars you "think" people will order.

It's just how "build-outs" are done. It's better to have to discount the cars later than to lose sales entirely because you have no product to sell a customer.

thill444

I think where GM made a mistake was with rolling out the 2019 MY cars so quick. There were still lots of 2017's on the lot and 18's were shipping when the 19's were annouinced. One of the big Chevy dealers near me is frustrated because he has a pile of 17's and 18's and GM is offering little incentive right now so most cusomters, of course, would rather have a 19.

Vetteman Jack

Very good explanation of what the cause of the drop in sales could be from, especially the used market opportunities to buy a low mileage C7.

dbaker

Maybe.....since the '19 started production late in Jan,perhaps many folks skipped the short cycle '18 and waited for the '19's to hit the lot.

Just speculation on my part.

\db2

TBIRD57

imo there should have been a C7/ZR1 when the series was introduced. this adding it at the end of a series run is a silly way to just punch up a few sales in the end of the run.

a C8/ZR1 from the go

robert miller

Plus I think also like one has said above wanting to see the c8 Plus with starting price on the low end c8 going to be 70,k That will be great for a v8 4 cam & also over 500 hp car. Robert

joemessman

Yes. I was ready to pull the trigger on a 2018 Z06 and then all the news about the ZR1 made me hold off. And then there was the paint shop. I wanted to wait and see if the paint was any better. Then....the mid engine. Oh well I'll just hold off a couple of years. I already have a fine running Vette, so I can wait. If not for the paint, ZR1, and mid engine I know I would be sitting in a Z06 now. But who knows. I may get the urge again soon.