"why is this automaker still around? and why did that one leave?"

[land sea air]

I know I know more threads.... Blame Joey since it was his Mercury thread that gave me the idea.

I often wonder when I see dwindling and or pointless model ranges why an automaker is still around, or at least why people haven't figured out they can get the exact same vehicle with a different badge... list your pointless makes and anything you can think up that would improve their line up

Then again I also wonder why certain makes left our country or still have yet to arrive. List makes that you wish would start selling iron in your neighborhood wherever that may be...

I will edit later to add my picks

Why does Isuzu still sell cars in the US? they have what? 3 cars left? the ascender is a joke as most people who don't know jack about cars still see a Trailblazer!

 

[YSSMAN]

On my list of brands that I must have:

- Alfa Romeo
- FIAT (just for the 500 and the Panda)
- Citroen/Peugeot
- Renault (I want a Megane!)

...The good news is that most of those brands are considering a return (well, Alfa is confirmed) to the US market, so I do stand a chance of being able to buy one in the not-too-distant future...

 

[niky]

Isuzu, Suzuki = GM blanket.

I don't know why GM still uses Suzuki to pimp substandard Daewoo fare in the US when it's using Chevrolet to do that overseas (and in the US, in the case of the Aveo) now. They should use Suzuki to pimp Suzukis... those awesome Swifts and the "probably-not-safe-enough-for-the-US" Jimnys.

Isuzu? I'm wondering what they're still doing in the passenger car market. Most of their offerings are total crap compared to the competition (no offense Isuzu lovers...), they have no development budget... nothing. They should stick to making trucks and engines.

 

[YSSMAN]

AFAIK, GM dumped most of their holdings in Suzuki and Isuzu, which I believe is now rated at less than 20% in both companies. Suzuki is supposed to be bringing more of the "real" Suzuki products to the United States (namely the Swift), but as for Isuzu, they're still floundering about with the Trailblazer and the Colorado.

BTW: If I was shopping for a Trailblazer and a Colorado, I'd probably check out the Isuzu given that its exactly the same vehicle, but thousands cheaper...

 

[GilesGuthrie]

I really wonder why Peugeot & Citroen continue to operate as separate entities. They build cars that compete in the same segments, and usually one is clearly better than the other, so why persist with the inferior model?

I do wonder about Saab as well.

 

[Jim Prower]

On the other hand, Giles, would you want all your cars Badge-engineered?

you know, one of the things I love about G.M. of the '60s is that each division had their own engines.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

On the other hand, Giles, would you want all your cars Badge-engineered?

you know, one of the things I love about G.M. of the '60s is that each division had their own engines.

Well, in the modern marketplace each carmaker needs to do what they can to be viable. I think that the PSA division is rather like the UK competing as component nations in sport: why willingly give yourself that disadvantage? Basically, PSA's R&D and design offices are having their catfights on the open market, and I wonder how much money is being wasted.

 

[TheCracker]

I really wonder why Peugeot & Citroen continue to operate as separate entities. They build cars that compete in the same segments, and usually one is clearly better than the other, so why persist with the inferior model?

I do wonder about Saab as well.

Like in most countries i bet the French have their own loyal factions. Some will be die hard Peugeot fans and some will be eternal Citroen fans. Neither will ever even consider buying the 'rival' brand even if the products are the same under the skin and from the same parent company.

 

[Danny]

I wonder why Perodua are still around.

 

[YSSMAN]

Basically, PSA's R&D and design offices are having their catfights on the open market, and I wonder how much money is being wasted.

Correct me if I'm mistaken, but isn't PsA one of the most-profitable (in terms of percentage gain) car companies in the world? Quite honestly, while I compltely understand that their products are pretty much the same, it isn't as though they lose money by having someone buy a C4 instead of a 407, or vice-versa. Personally, I'd think of the PsA setup as something similar to that of Chevrolet and Pontiac; Yes, they are the same cars, but they both have very different attitudes when it comes to style, performance, etc.

(And yes, I still want a Citroen C4)

 

[land sea air]

I wonder about Saab myself sometimes, I understand that its all about being different and being part of a smaller crowd, but that isn't enough when your products aren't really clearly defined... we have one GM vehicle (admittedly very well badge engineered though) then we have (had?) a wrx with the ignition moved, then we have one very week saab model and the sole savior (9-3) that still isn't up to par...

 

[Tornado]

then we have (had?) a wrx with the ignition moved

Funny story, but I'm sure that if Saab still sold the 9-2X sales would start going through the roof about now.


Oh, and Saturn. Never made much sense, especially after Oldsmobile got the axe. And now that all of Saturn's cars promise to be rebadged Opel's, why not just pull of that embarrassing, stigma laden badge?

 

[land sea air]

Funny story, but I'm sure that if Saab still sold the 9-2X sales would start going through the roof about now.

Very true, unless of course they got the same upgrades... otherwise people would probably snap up the last remaining 9-2s and stick Subaru badges on them

 

[YSSMAN]

Oh, and Saturn. Never made much sense, especially after Oldsmobile got the axe. And now that all of Saturn's cars promise to be rebadged Opel's, why not just pull of that embarrassing, stigma laden badge?

Two words: Opel Kadett

Car and Driver hated it so much that they threatened to crush it, and started a mini-war with GM for quite some time...

---

The problem is, ditching the Saturn name pisses off a lot of hardcore Saturn fans, and furthermore, kills a brand that quite a few Americans are aware of, normally for the good service at the dealers, and occasionally the plastic side-panels (by which they no longer offer).

Sure, we'd all love to forget about the L-series and the Ion, but ever brand has its idiotic cars. Keeping Saturn, Saturn is probably the best thing GM could do right now. Their cars are selling well, so I wouldn't complain...

 

[High-Test]

Why does Isuzu still sell cars in the US? they have what? 3 cars left? the ascender is a joke as most people who don't know jack about cars still see a Trailblazer!

But tell it to a Saab dealer in Kansas City and they will argue the fact that the 9-7x is entirely different from a Trailblazer.

 

[Tornado]

Two words: Opel Kadett

Two numbers: 1965-1973. If Americans can forget Hyundai's being terrible only 15 years ago, they certainly can forget that.

The problem is, ditching the Saturn name pisses off a lot of hardcore Saturn fans

All 4 of 'em, right?

and furthermore, kills a brand that quite a few Americans are aware of, normally for the good service at the dealers

Those are much better points, though.

Sure, we'd all love to forget about the L-series and the Ion, but ever brand has its idiotic cars.

How many brands only ever manage to have 1 good car for 90% of the companies existence? Every other car the brand had after it sucked (Vue, Ion, Relay). There was only 1 good "Saturn." The rest are good Opels. And the Outlook? By far the lesser of the 3 currently on that platform.

 

[YSSMAN]

Personally speaking, I didn't find the original VUE that bad at all. It was good at most things, but not excellent, and that may be part of the problem. The same can be said of the Relay, which was easily the best of the Lambada minivans, but that by no means makes it good either. Digging up models from the past, the Saturn S was an excellent car, and the original L wasn't too bad either (as I recall), but obviously GM forgot about that when they redesigned them.

As for the Outlook: Certainly it isn't better than the Acadia and Enclave, both of which were meant to be more luxurious in the first place, but IMO, its the one I'd pick. It really isn't that expensive, drives quite well, and IMO, is a very good-looking vehicle. For about $30K, there aren't many mid-size SUVs that are that good...

 

[V1P3R]

There are lots of people that are "taste challenged" and actually like stuff from these manufactures that shouldn't be around. That or they are broke?