Front engine future
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 435
Likes: 25
Approaching 300 posts on this topic, well, those and whatever off topic rants a couple of our favorite narcissistic friends have added, and we are still bickering about the future of the FE Corvette. July 18 can’t get here soon enough to simply put the debate, and the FE, to rest. :-)
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,934
Likes: 4,257
From: NC
Listen here mister. If you are going to insist on asking PCMIII tough questions which he can't answer, at least have the good taste to give him credit for being light on his feet....you say BGA, he says Lordstowne, you ask where the 75K unit number comes from and he tells you about a research firm that is NOT in GM's employ, who made that guess based on Google earth.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 208
Likes: 53
From: Clermont FL
Nothing to back it up? Really?
How about 65 years of Corvette history where well over a million FE cars have been sold making Corvette the longest running production car in history? How many ME Corvettes have been sold? Zero, as in nada.
Prospective Corvette purchasers have several FE choices: Supra, Mustang GT500, BMWs, etc. If Corvette is foolish enough to abandon the FE market of 30K vehicles annually to its rivals, then it deserves what will happen. I seriously doubt Mary B. wants to kill Corvette, but it would not be the first time it has been on the chopping block.
How about 65 years of Corvette history where well over a million FE cars have been sold making Corvette the longest running production car in history? How many ME Corvettes have been sold? Zero, as in nada.
Prospective Corvette purchasers have several FE choices: Supra, Mustang GT500, BMWs, etc. If Corvette is foolish enough to abandon the FE market of 30K vehicles annually to its rivals, then it deserves what will happen. I seriously doubt Mary B. wants to kill Corvette, but it would not be the first time it has been on the chopping block.
The ME Corvette at ~$70 base will sell 10K units annually after the first year. Unfortunately for BGA to be profitable, it needs to make 75K units annually so Corvette needs a FE in the $50-70K segment that will sell 30K units annually. That is still only half of the units BGA needs so additional products are essential -- maybe a Caddy or SUV. In any event, 10K ME units will not cut it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 167
From: Bonaire Ga.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 703
From: Raleigh, NC
obviously zero me corvettes have been sold in the 65 years of corvette history since there has never been one produced for public sale. I dont think corvette buyers are buying the corvette because its fe or me or re. They are buying it because it has the corvette nameplate stuck on it. Nothing about the corvette design history defines fe is a must. The design element must would be v8, rear wheel drive, 2 seater, a sort of "gills" in the front fender and since 1961 a sort of quad taillight setup.
So since 1983 till now, bga was profitable by only making ~30k corvettes per model year, but all of a sudden with the c8 they need to make 75k corvettes per year to make a profit?
So since 1983 till now, bga was profitable by only making ~30k corvettes per model year, but all of a sudden with the c8 they need to make 75k corvettes per year to make a profit?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,703
Likes: 984
From: Annandale VA
Obviously zero ME corvettes have been sold in the 65 years of corvette history since there has never been one produced for public sale.
So since 1983 till now, BGA was profitable by only making ~30K corvettes per model year, but all of a sudden with the C8 they need to make 75K corvettes per year to make a profit?
So since 1983 till now, BGA was profitable by only making ~30K corvettes per model year, but all of a sudden with the C8 they need to make 75K corvettes per year to make a profit?
Do you not know that GM massively expanded BGA and invested $900 million of upgrades? Those costs need to be recouped and a profit realized on top.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 1,024
From: AA/Metro Detroit
Yes, they will sell more than 10k a year. If they don’t, it will be for reasons that also would doom a FE model as well. There is little about ME v FE that would make me think that sales would change drastically. I think no manual is going to harm them ten times more than ME, and I don’t even think that will be a big deal at the end of the day.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,703
Likes: 984
From: Annandale VA
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 208
Likes: 53
From: Clermont FL
Do you realize that GM invests millions into upgraded everytime a new generation is produced? or when they decided to produce the XLR along side the C6?
That $900 million of upgrades also included new toolings for body panels, new software for the robotic frame welders, robotic painters, and any other computer operated system in regards to a new car design and layout.
Last edited by born2beS12; Jun 12, 2019 at 11:05 AM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 435
Likes: 25
@PCMIII Question. And I am being honest. At what point will you admit defeat? After the July announcement? Or will you say "they may release C7.5 in 6 months still".. just wondering at what point (if any ) you will say "geez I was wrong and I am ready to move on"...
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 703
From: Raleigh, NC
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,703
Likes: 984
From: Annandale VA
@PCMIII Question. And I am being honest. At what point will you admit defeat? After the July announcement? Or will you say "they may release C7.5 in 6 months still".. just wondering at what point (if any ) you will say "geez I was wrong and I am ready to move on"...
Meanwhile, there is a lot of evidence that the C8's arrival will not mark the end of the FE. There is also a lot of logic behind that idea. But the naysayers simply ignore the evidence and logic.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 1,024
From: AA/Metro Detroit
When GM/Corvette officially states that the FE is gone for good. Nobody has said that yet even though GM obviously could easily do so. GM's policy is not to comment on future products, but many here are certain that the FE is finished when the C8 arrives. They are assuming without evidence which is foolish.
Meanwhile, there is a lot of evidence that the C8's arrival will not mark the end of the FE. There is also a lot of logic behind that idea. But the naysayers simply ignore the evidence and logic.
Meanwhile, there is a lot of evidence that the C8's arrival will not mark the end of the FE. There is also a lot of logic behind that idea. But the naysayers simply ignore the evidence and logic.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 208
Likes: 53
From: Clermont FL
When GM/Corvette officially states that the FE is gone for good. Nobody has said that yet even though GM obviously could easily do so. GM's policy is not to comment on future products, but many here are certain that the FE is finished when the C8 arrives. They are assuming without evidence which is foolish.
Meanwhile, there is a lot of evidence that the C8's arrival will not mark the end of the FE. There is also a lot of logic behind that idea. But the naysayers simply ignore the evidence and logic.
Meanwhile, there is a lot of evidence that the C8's arrival will not mark the end of the FE. There is also a lot of logic behind that idea. But the naysayers simply ignore the evidence and logic.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
Nothing to back it up? Really?
How about 65 years of Corvette history where well over a million FE cars have been sold making Corvette the longest running production car in history? How many ME Corvettes have been sold? Zero, as in nada.
Prospective Corvette purchasers have several FE choices: Supra, Mustang GT500, BMWs, etc. If Corvette is foolish enough to abandon the FE market of 30K vehicles annually to its rivals, then it deserves what will happen. I seriously doubt Mary B. wants to kill Corvette, but it would not be the first time it has been on the chopping block.
How about 65 years of Corvette history where well over a million FE cars have been sold making Corvette the longest running production car in history? How many ME Corvettes have been sold? Zero, as in nada.
Prospective Corvette purchasers have several FE choices: Supra, Mustang GT500, BMWs, etc. If Corvette is foolish enough to abandon the FE market of 30K vehicles annually to its rivals, then it deserves what will happen. I seriously doubt Mary B. wants to kill Corvette, but it would not be the first time it has been on the chopping block.
I don't know if we're dealing with a juvenile, a troll, dementia, or someone who just isn't very smart.
Last edited by Foosh; Jun 12, 2019 at 02:39 PM.