C7 inventories affecting C8?
Race Director
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From: Holly Springs NC
St. Jude Donor '16-'17,'22,'24
No, if anything, just the opposite. Slow sales of the C7 will put pressure on BG to get moving on the ME. GM is in the new car business. If releasing a new model improves sales, that's what they'll do. If the C7 was selling well, that might delay the ME car.
Le Mans Master
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From: Metro Detroit Michigan
I think GM will produce both the C7 and C8 for a while to see what happens. Some people won't like the C8, because it's too radical a departure from prior Corvettes, or because it has less storage space, or because the first-year C8 will be slower than the C7 ZR1, or for various other reasons. I don't see why GM would want to lose Corvette sales to those people.
Race Director
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From: Alexandria, Virginia, USA VA
Making a lot of them is the key to it's success. The car is not suppose to be "exclusive", in fact, just the opposite, it was planned to be "inclusive". For many, Corvette is not a car, it's a way of life. Weekend cruises with fellow enthusiasts, shows, gatherings, clubs, get togethers of all sorts at all times. Road trips, vacations, all of it.
The other half of it that really drives profit for GM comes from those used Corvettes that can be had for a song. Parts and service create huge revenue numbers for both GM and dealerships. The more 'older' Corvettes on the road, the better for them, and for you. Not to mention the licensing money they get from aftermarket manufacturers of all those shiny under hood thingies boasting the crossed flags on them. Economy of scale keeps your car relatively cheap to maintain and repair. The Corvette is the high performance sports car that you can actually drive and enjoy. When GM gets too full of themselves and start trying to make the Corvette "exclusive", that will be the end of the Corvette.
As far any delay, there is no delay, because there is no car in the official sense. There was never an announced target date. The C8, in whatever form it may be, is still, simply, in development. That said, when the car is ready, they will not hesitate to reveal it to the World, regardless of how many C7's are still on the ground in inventory. GM will want to start collecting return on investment ASAP. C7's on the ground are already paid for. From a dealer's perspective, they would much rather see the profit from selling a lot of C8's at sticker or more for two years. That will more than cover moving the remaining C7's below invoice to clear them out.
The other half of it that really drives profit for GM comes from those used Corvettes that can be had for a song. Parts and service create huge revenue numbers for both GM and dealerships. The more 'older' Corvettes on the road, the better for them, and for you. Not to mention the licensing money they get from aftermarket manufacturers of all those shiny under hood thingies boasting the crossed flags on them. Economy of scale keeps your car relatively cheap to maintain and repair. The Corvette is the high performance sports car that you can actually drive and enjoy. When GM gets too full of themselves and start trying to make the Corvette "exclusive", that will be the end of the Corvette.
As far any delay, there is no delay, because there is no car in the official sense. There was never an announced target date. The C8, in whatever form it may be, is still, simply, in development. That said, when the car is ready, they will not hesitate to reveal it to the World, regardless of how many C7's are still on the ground in inventory. GM will want to start collecting return on investment ASAP. C7's on the ground are already paid for. From a dealer's perspective, they would much rather see the profit from selling a lot of C8's at sticker or more for two years. That will more than cover moving the remaining C7's below invoice to clear them out.
Race Director
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...and used 2014 - 2016 C7 is totally different target market than a new C8 of any price.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: AA/Metro Detroit
I think GM will produce both the C7 and C8 for a while to see what happens. Some people won't like the C8, because it's too radical a departure from prior Corvettes, or because it has less storage space, or because the first-year C8 will be slower than the C7 ZR1, or for various other reasons. I don't see why GM would want to lose Corvette sales to those people.
The only recent example of an old and new generation of a particular model being built simultaneously I can think of was the JK and JL Wranglers, and that was for the opposite reason: they sold so well the plants were running at full capacity trying to catch up on old JK orders while also sending out new JL. Even then, it was less than a year of overlap, the two models weren't anywhere near as dissimilar as a ME and FE Corvette, and both were selling at capacity. It wasn't just to see how things went. If the ME is a C8, the FE is dead, at least for that generation.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Milwaukee WI
That is my sentiments. The C8 appears to be ready for launch. Mules appear to be doing well in the wild. Not sure I understand the major electrical issue, a launch could happen in parallel while issues are ironed out. I don't think GM anticipated so many C7's unspoken for, coupled at a time when GM is closing plants and cutting costs.
Last edited by 638HP; Jan 27, 2019 at 03:55 PM.
Safety Car
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And THAT is the problem with Corvette. GM makes too many of them. This is why they aren't special nor exclusive. It's also why used Corvettes can be had for a song. Now, if GM cut production to keep demand high on the C8, they'd make the Corvette a "premiere vehicle" that it deserves to be. Yes, it's a bitchen car, but GM just makes too damn many of them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Metro Detroit Michigan
The ME Corvette would be the most radical departure from any prior Corvette yet. Wouldn't it be a little stupid for GM to not want to cover their azz, until they have a little time to evaluate how good or bad acceptance of the radical new platform (for a Corvette) is?
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Burning Brakes
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That is my sentiments. The C8 appears to be ready for launch. Mules appear to be doing well in the wild. Not sure I understand the major electrical issue, a launch could happen in parallel while issues are ironed out. I don't think GM anticipated so many C7's unspoken for, coupled at a time when GM is closing plants and cutting costs.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: AA/Metro Detroit
Aside from when they do.
The ME Corvette would be the most radical departure from any prior Corvette yet. Wouldn't it be a little stupid for GM to not want to cover their azz, until they have a little time to evaluate how good or bad acceptance of the radical new platform (for a Corvette) is?
The ME Corvette would be the most radical departure from any prior Corvette yet. Wouldn't it be a little stupid for GM to not want to cover their azz, until they have a little time to evaluate how good or bad acceptance of the radical new platform (for a Corvette) is?
Not that I believe this is the case, but if there are truly that many people who would prefer the FE to the ME, why would you even give them the chance to torpedo the ME by continuing to offer the FE?
Le Mans Master
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From: Metro Detroit Michigan
Melting Slicks
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From: AA/Metro Detroit
Which is a corner case I could see, but it is the one way I see them both being produced. I personally think it wouldn't be branded as a Corvette at that point though, unless it is a very limited production, one or two MY production run car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2017
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Then they come up with 4 more models. I thought they were loaded with cars they aren't, can't sell.
Look on Edmund's
Right didn't dealers order those cars?
Look on Edmund's
Right didn't dealers order those cars?
Last edited by Steve Garrett; Jan 28, 2019 at 09:42 PM. Reason: Merged Posts
Team Owner
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This is exactly what I'm wanting right now. A dealer in GA has a few for $11K off sticker at like $51K. The new 2019s come with the 19/20" wheels standard and I don't need Z51 content in a street cruiser. Base 1LT vert with MN7 and red painted calipers only. Add Corsa X-pipe and Extreme catback and done.
Team Owner
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From: Springfield MO
Which controller of the money is going to green light a program in which you need to keep a backup old car in production, one with already dipping sales that are only going to drop considerably, just in case? I mean, the Mustang didn't continue making solid rear axles just in case the faithful wanted them, and that could have easily been a line item option. If there is that much fear it is going to be a flop it is just going to be canned altogether. UNLESS this is some sort of a limited production special edition, or a Caddy, there is zero economic or marketing sense to producing both.
Not that I believe this is the case, but if there are truly that many people who would prefer the FE to the ME, why would you even give them the chance to torpedo the ME by continuing to offer the FE?
Not that I believe this is the case, but if there are truly that many people who would prefer the FE to the ME, why would you even give them the chance to torpedo the ME by continuing to offer the FE?
When Porsche introduced the Boxster/Cayman mid engine sports car, did they drop the rear engine 911 sports car? NO, and the "old" 911 sells more annually than the "new" Boxster/Cayman.
Burning Brakes
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2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
C7s are NOT affecting or "delaying" the C8 in any way. If GM was worried about the C7 inventories and are foolishly holding off the launch of the C8, they would just throw in incentives and help the dealers get them out at 25% off for the entire inventory. I didn't see anything like that during the holidays or now.
Melting Slicks
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From: AA/Metro Detroit
I'm not arguing that GM can't do it, rather that they both won't be a Corvette if they do it.
Race Director
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From: Middletown, DE
Toyota makes several different types of Priuses, no reason for Chevy not to make several different types of Corvettes -- if there is a positive NPV case for it. I would be surprised if Chevy has not done the analysis work to look at a 2 or even 3 "Corvette" solution. And I suspect that it is a study they dust off and re-examine every generation. What the numbers told them, and how they plan to fill up BG, well, I, like probably 99% of posters, have no idea. And, those that do know are definitely not saying!