I Can See Why Corvette Sales Trail Off So Much During the End of a Model Run
10-14-2018, 07:45 PM
#41
Burning Brakes
C7 sales have been dropping by 5000 units a year over the past two years. The argument could be made that everyone who wanted a C7 already has one. However, I believe that's only part of the story. After the Grand Sport, Z06 and ZR1 models are out, the models are essentially feature frozen until the next model run. They do almost no updating. It's not zero, but close to it.
I was looking at the Camaro, and I was blown away by how much it has been updated compared to the Corvette over the same period of time..
* LED headlights
* Phone wireless charging
* Gen 3 infotainment system with HD touch screen
* HD backup camera
* Blind spot monitoring
* Cross traffic alert
* Forward collision avoidance
* Electronic rear view mirror camera
One could argue that it's a sports car, and no one needs this technology. However, I keep hearing GM say they want younger buyers for the Corvette. Young people like new tech. They demand new tech in their cars. Some older buyers do, too. The more cars that get this technology, the more outdated the Corvette looks.
If you look at the Mustang, that car gets engine horsepower updates every year or two. The Corvette gets none.
When you buy a 2019 base Stingray, you are essentially buying a 2014 car. It's like sitting in a time capsule. You have to give people a reason to trade in their car for a new one. Corvette is not doing that, and the sales numbers reflect it.
I was looking at the Camaro, and I was blown away by how much it has been updated compared to the Corvette over the same period of time..
* LED headlights
* Phone wireless charging
* Gen 3 infotainment system with HD touch screen
* HD backup camera
* Blind spot monitoring
* Cross traffic alert
* Forward collision avoidance
* Electronic rear view mirror camera
One could argue that it's a sports car, and no one needs this technology. However, I keep hearing GM say they want younger buyers for the Corvette. Young people like new tech. They demand new tech in their cars. Some older buyers do, too. The more cars that get this technology, the more outdated the Corvette looks.
If you look at the Mustang, that car gets engine horsepower updates every year or two. The Corvette gets none.
When you buy a 2019 base Stingray, you are essentially buying a 2014 car. It's like sitting in a time capsule. You have to give people a reason to trade in their car for a new one. Corvette is not doing that, and the sales numbers reflect it.
I agree that a majority of younger generation is more into car tech versus sports cars. That is what the Tesla represents. It is essentially the iPhone of automobiles. Electric motors with insane amounts of instant torque connected to batteries that can go 300 miles between charges and a car with over the air updates that will soon drive itself. Crazy, enjoy the V8 Corvette with a manual transmission while still exists.
10-14-2018, 11:55 PM
#42
Race Director
Life cycles of 2 door cars generally trail off after three years no matter the brand unless incentives are applied.
gk did this for the 2017 model year and then backed off corvette incentives.
same for camaro incentives.
dodge has really been hitting the incentive and cash on the hood for the challenger.
thats why sales are so strong. The give away lease deals are hard to ignore.
even mustang has played hardball incentivising heir vehicle but no to the degree of dodge.
of course camaro and corvette unit sales would take a dive.
none of this is rocket science.
i fully expect c7 fire sales to begin in the final model year of the vehicle.
all that said while many will take advantage of the incentives applied to the amazing c7, c7 grand sport and z06 many of us will go full msrp on the c8.
gk did this for the 2017 model year and then backed off corvette incentives.
same for camaro incentives.
dodge has really been hitting the incentive and cash on the hood for the challenger.
thats why sales are so strong. The give away lease deals are hard to ignore.
even mustang has played hardball incentivising heir vehicle but no to the degree of dodge.
of course camaro and corvette unit sales would take a dive.
none of this is rocket science.
i fully expect c7 fire sales to begin in the final model year of the vehicle.
all that said while many will take advantage of the incentives applied to the amazing c7, c7 grand sport and z06 many of us will go full msrp on the c8.
Last edited by JerriVette; 10-14-2018 at 11:56 PM.
10-15-2018, 04:33 PM
#43
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Life cycles of 2 door cars generally trail off after three years no matter the brand unless incentives are applied.
gk did this for the 2017 model year and then backed off corvette incentives.
same for camaro incentives.
dodge has really been hitting the incentive and cash on the hood for the challenger.
thats why sales are so strong. The give away lease deals are hard to ignore.
even mustang has played hardball incentivising heir vehicle but no to the degree of dodge.
of course camaro and corvette unit sales would take a dive.
none of this is rocket science.
i fully expect c7 fire sales to begin in the final model year of the vehicle.
all that said while many will take advantage of the incentives applied to the amazing c7, c7 grand sport and z06 many of us will go full msrp on the c8.
gk did this for the 2017 model year and then backed off corvette incentives.
same for camaro incentives.
dodge has really been hitting the incentive and cash on the hood for the challenger.
thats why sales are so strong. The give away lease deals are hard to ignore.
even mustang has played hardball incentivising heir vehicle but no to the degree of dodge.
of course camaro and corvette unit sales would take a dive.
none of this is rocket science.
i fully expect c7 fire sales to begin in the final model year of the vehicle.
all that said while many will take advantage of the incentives applied to the amazing c7, c7 grand sport and z06 many of us will go full msrp on the c8.
10-16-2018, 07:52 AM
#44
Melting Slicks
um, ok. But Camaro guy admits 'ros are falling off the cliff, saleswise. what i would hate, if i was a ZL1 buyer, is to see the planned Camaro push as the "economy alternative" sports car to Mustang, with tens of thousand of economy camaro's pushed out the door at $19,995, (plus 20% off MSRP, like chevy is advertising the Silverado in commercials now) for a car i paid 70k for.
Camro Cliff Diving
Camro Cliff Diving
I understand Mr. Simcoe wants to make GM styling his own, and Ed Welburn was certainly the best designer of a large auto company in his era, and some would say as good as Bill Mitchell, which makes it a hard road to pass, but if the few vehicles upgrades he as done are any indication, we might me seeing some Pontiac Aztec's in the future.
10-16-2018, 08:19 AM
#45
Melting Slicks
Originally Posted by LIStingray
If the new GM Head Designer, Michael Simcoe, expects the new Lexus grill to help Camaro sales, I am worried hew will really screw up the design of the new C8.
I understand Mr. Simcoe wants to make GM styling his own, and Ed Welburn was certainly the best designer of a large auto company in his era, and some would say as good as Bill Mitchell, which makes it a hard road to pass, but if the few vehicles upgrades he as done are any indication, we might me seeing some Pontiac Aztec's in the future.
I understand Mr. Simcoe wants to make GM styling his own, and Ed Welburn was certainly the best designer of a large auto company in his era, and some would say as good as Bill Mitchell, which makes it a hard road to pass, but if the few vehicles upgrades he as done are any indication, we might me seeing some Pontiac Aztec's in the future.
Last edited by ssidekickbp; 10-16-2018 at 08:20 AM.
10-16-2018, 08:19 AM
#46
Regarding upgraded and expanded tech: do competitive sports cars like the Porsche 911 and McLaren also have lane departure warning systems, wireless phone charging, etc? I would imagine that once you start piling on these features, the weight and complexity of the car will increase significantly. If comfort was my priority, I probably wouldn't be looking at a Corvette.....maybe a BMW 650 would be a better option.
A sports car is supposed to be simple and driver oriented. One of the most awesome cars I've been in is my friend's Factory Five Cobra. It has a lousy stereo and no A/C, but it weights less than 2500 pounds and has a 450 horsepower stroked 351 Windsor that will make you black out when he steps on the gas. On top of all this, it roars like a power boat and handles like a go cart. My 1LT Z51 is a Cadillac in comparison with its Bose stereo, iPhone integration, power everything, and touch-screen infotainment system. (Most of which, I can do without)
Don't forget that BMW and Porsche sell "stripped down" versions of their cars that cost thousands of dollars more than the luxury versions simply because they are more "sporty". Also, they tend to release these models toward the end of the model run to boost sales. This tells me that tons of features and updates are not necessarily what sells sports cars. Driving experience, however, does.
A sports car is supposed to be simple and driver oriented. One of the most awesome cars I've been in is my friend's Factory Five Cobra. It has a lousy stereo and no A/C, but it weights less than 2500 pounds and has a 450 horsepower stroked 351 Windsor that will make you black out when he steps on the gas. On top of all this, it roars like a power boat and handles like a go cart. My 1LT Z51 is a Cadillac in comparison with its Bose stereo, iPhone integration, power everything, and touch-screen infotainment system. (Most of which, I can do without)
Don't forget that BMW and Porsche sell "stripped down" versions of their cars that cost thousands of dollars more than the luxury versions simply because they are more "sporty". Also, they tend to release these models toward the end of the model run to boost sales. This tells me that tons of features and updates are not necessarily what sells sports cars. Driving experience, however, does.