http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/il/news/2006/0420/saturn.sky.500.jpg

NEW YORK — General Motors may have posted its sixth straight quarterly loss on Wednesday, but many of its low-volume sports cars, including the yet-to-be-launched 2007 Saturn Sky, are already sold out for this year, according to GM Vice-Chairman Bob Lutz.

In a speech in New York, the GM executive said in reference to the Sky, "All available production for 2006 is accounted for."

The Sky shares its platform with GM's other popular roadster, the Pontiac Solstice. Lutz said the Solstice has the best turn rate of any vehicle in its segment and that the car is sold out for the 2006 model year. Pontiac launched the Solstice last year and by the fall had about 13,000 orders for only 7,000 units. The roadsters are often selling for more than their starting sticker price of $20,490.

Lutz said the Chevrolet Corvette is also sold out for the 2006 model year.

What this means to you: Expect to pay top dollar for the Sky, the Solstice… and the Vette — if you can get your hands on one.

Source: www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=110101#2

the fact that Saturn got more ballsy makes me like the car more

I'm glad not to be in the market for a car right now :)

Glad the General can do something right.

The Sky looks like great!

1. Convertible
2. Turbo charged engine
3. 260hp & 260tq
4. 0-60 low 5s
5. Beautiful design..

I predict this car will be sold out for a long time..

doesn't surprise me at all. LOOK at the car! it looks so mean and awesome, i love the thing. aww who am i kidding, i love all three of the cars mentioned! :D

I like the Saturn Aura a lot too. I saw a pre-production model at a show and it looked spectacular both inside and out. :)

Thanks for the article. One of my friends down here in Mexico tried to order a Solstice and they told him sold out. Like me neighbor who has one, he also intended to turbocharge it. Too bad Saturn is not sold down here as that Sky is really nice.

Well, that may put a damper on my plans to review a 2006 Solstice or Sky. There was a lot of interest in these two new roadsters here at CL, and they were on my review list.
I'm glad I reviewed the new Corvette C6 last December when I got the chance.

If anyone here at CL owns a Solstice or Sky.......or has had a chance to test one out........let's hear your review.

GM is sold out on models that sell total of 20,000 per year :-).

That's right, spwolf. To me, this is just another nail in the coffin. EVERYONE was predicting that the Solstice/Sky were going to be big sellers at this price point, so GM had to know they'd go fast. But they are so lumbering and slow to make decisions that they are stuck with unused capacity at lots of their factories while they can't meet demand here. So they brag about already selling the whole 2006 production while also announcing further billion-dollar losses.

what do they mean by sold out.....here's a list of 2006 Corvettes available at kerbeck Chevrolet...

New 2006 Corvette Inventory
Call 800.578.xxxx for Discount Pricing

New 2006 In Stock Corvette Coupe
Stock # Photo Style Exterior Interior Trans Equipment MSRP
G60769 Coupe Velocity Yellow Blk Auto QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51
$57,320
G60884 Coupe Velocity Yellow Blk Auto QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51
$57,320
G60957 Coupe Machine Silver Blk Auto QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, Z51
$56,570
G60966 Coupe Monterey Red Cas Manual QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51
$56,070
G61025 Coupe Monterey Red Cas Auto QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51
$57,320
G60994 Coupe Monterey Red Cas Auto QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51
$57,320
G61044 Coupe Monterey Red Cas Manual QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51
$56,070
G61031 Coupe Monterey Red Cas Manual QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51
$56,070
G61035 Coupe Machine Silver Blk Auto QG7, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51
$56,570
G60968 Coupe Monterey Red Cas Manual QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51
$56,070
G61123 Coupe Lemans Blue Red Auto 3LT, QX3, UE1, C2L, U3U, Z51
$58,220
G61101 Coupe Velocity Yellow Blk Manual QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51
$56,070
G61090 Coupe Velocity Yellow Blk Manual QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51
$56,070
G61102 Coupe Machine Silver Blk Manual QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51
$55,320
G61103 Coupe Black Blk Auto QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51
$56,570
G61099 Coupe Monterey Red Cas Auto QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51
$57,320
G61097 Coupe Monterey Red Cas Manual QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51
$56,070
G61111 Coupe Lemans Blue Gry Auto QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51
$56,870
G61137 Coupe Machine Silver Red Manual 3LT, QX3, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51
$56,020
G61152 Coupe Victory Red Blk Auto QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51
$56,570
G61156 Coupe Monterey Red Cas Auto QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51
$57,320
New 2006 In Stock Corvette Convertible
Stock # Photo Style Exterior Interior Trans Equipment MSRP
G60879 Convertible LeMans Blue/Black Blk Auto QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7
$62,720
G60933 Convertible Machine Silver/Black Blk Manual QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$62,865
G60930 Convertible Black/Black Blk Manual QG7, 3LT, UE1, CM7, Z51
$62,865
G60931 Convertible Machine Silver/Black Blk Manual QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$62,865
G60851 Convertible Machine Silver/Black Blk Auto QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$64,115
G60978 Convertible Machine Silver/Black Blk Manual QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$62,865
G60992 Convertible Monterey Red/Beige Cas Manual QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$63,615
G60987 Convertible Velocity Yellow/Black Blk Manual QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$63,615
G60980 Convertible Machine Silver/Black Blk Auto QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$64,115
G60984 Convertible Monterey Red/Beige Cas Manual QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$63,615
G61042 Convertible LeMans Blue/Black Gry Manual QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$63,165
G61033 Convertible Black/Black Blk Manual QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$62,865
G61045 Convertible Monterey Red/Beige Cas Manual QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$63,615
G60940 Convertible Monterey Red/Black Blk Auto QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$64,865
G61077 Convertible Lemans Blue Gry Auto QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$64,415
G61062 Convertible Monterey Red/Beige Cas Manual QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$63,615
G60967 Convertible Monterey Red/Beige Cas Manual QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$63,615
G60969 Convertible Monterey Red/Beige Cas Manual QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$63,615
G61088 Convertible Monterey Red/Beige Cas Auto QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$64,865
G61100 Convertible Monterey Red/Beige Cas Auto QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$64,865
G61131 Convertible Velocity Yellow/Black Blk Manual 3LT, QX3, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$64,315
G61136 Convertible Machine Silver/Black Red Manual 3LT, QX3, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$63,565
G61119 Convertible Monterey Red/Beige Cas Auto QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$64,865
G61126 Convertible Monterey Red/Beige Cas Manual QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$63,615
G61135 Convertible Velocity Yellow/Black Blk Manual 3LT, QX3, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$64,315
G61153 Convertible Machine Silver/Gray Gry Manual QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51
$62,865
New 2006 Inbound Corvette Coupe
Stock # Photo Style Exterior Interior Trans Equipment MSRP
N/A Coupe Monterey Red/Beige Cas Auto QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51 $57,320
N/A Coupe Monterey Red Cas Auto 3LT, QX3, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51 $58,020
N/A Coupe Lemans Blue Cas Auto QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51 $56,870
N/A Coupe Lemans Blue Cas Manual QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51 $55,620
N/A Coupe Lemans Blue Gry Manual QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51 $55,620
N/A Coupe Lemans Blue Gry Manual QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51 $55,620
N/A Coupe Machine Silver Blk Manual QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51 $55,320
N/A Coupe Black Blk Auto QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51 $56,570
N/A Coupe Daytona Sunset Cas Manual QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51 $55,320
N/A Coupe Monterey Red Cas Auto 2LT, QX3 $49,280
N/A Coupe Lemans Blue Gry Auto QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51 $56,870
N/A Coupe Lemans Blue Gry Auto QG7, 3LT, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51 $56,870
N/A Coupe Victory Red Blk Auto 3LT, QX3, UE1, U3U, Z51 $55,270
N/A Coupe Victory Red Blk Manual 3LT, QX3, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51 $56,020
N/A Coupe Monterey Red Cas Auto 2LT, CC3 $48,735
N/A Coupe Monterey Red Cas Manual 2LT, Z51 $48,430
N/A Coupe Black Blk Auto 3LT, QX3, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51 $57,270
N/A Coupe Monterey Red Cas Auto 2LT $47,985
N/A Coupe Monterey Red Cas Manual 2LT, Z51 $48,430
N/A Coupe Monterey Red Blk Auto 3LT, QX3, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51 $58,020
N/A Coupe Monterey Red Blk Manual 3LT, QX3, UE1, U3U, Z51 $56,020
N/A Coupe Velocity Yellow Blk Manual 3LT, QX3, UE1, U3U, Z51 $56,020
N/A Coupe Lemans Blue Gry Auto 2LT $47,535
N/A Coupe Black Blk Manual 3LT, QX3, CC3, UE1, U3U, Z51 $56,020
New 2006 Inbound Corvette Convertible
Stock # Photo Style Exterior Interior Trans Equipment MSRP
N/A Convertible Velocity Yellow/Black Blk Auto QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51 $64,865
N/A Convertible Machine Silver/Gray Gry Manual QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51 $62,865
N/A Convertible Monterey Red/Black Blk Manual QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51 $63,615
N/A Convertible Monterey Red/Beige Cas Auto 3LT, QX3, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51 $65,565
N/A Convertible Machine Silver/Black Blk Manual QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51 $62,865
N/A Convertible Victory Red/Black Blk Auto QG7, 3LT, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51 $64,115
N/A Convertible Velocity Yellow/Black Blk Auto 3LT, QX3, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51 $65,565
N/A Convertible Victory Red/Beige Cas Auto 3LT, QX3, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51 $64,815
N/A Convertible LeMans Blue/Cash Cas Auto 3LT, QX3, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51 $65,115
N/A Convertible Machine Silver/Gray Gry Auto 3LT, QX3, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51 $64,815
N/A Convertible Black/Black Blk Auto 3LT, QX3, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51 $64,815
N/A Convertible Monterey Red/Beige Cas Auto 3LT, QX3, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51 $65,565
N/A Convertible Velocity Yellow/Black Blk Auto 3LT, QX3, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51 $65,565
N/A Convertible Monterey Red/Black Blk Auto 3LT, QX3, UE1, U3U, CM7, Z51 $65,565

what do they mean by sold out.....here's a list of 2006 Corvettes available at kerbeck Chevrolet...

Huge List Deleted

What they mean is that all the cars are sold to dealers already. You can't get any extra than what are already on order. It doesn't mean that there are none available at retail. It does mean you will pay more for exactly what you want.

I like how the Solstice looks in person
I love how the Sky looks in person
I tried to have sex with a Z06

I think GM needs to see a trend here. they are all LOOKERS!! People will give GM a chance based on good looks.

Nissan IMo doesn't make the best looking cars but part of their restructuring plan was to make eye catching vehicles to sell. GM needs to try that without so much of the UGLY stick on its cars

We have 51+ new 06 vettes at two dealerships in my area. Someone is blowing smoke.

I think they are going for below invoice also.

GM to limit production of Solstice, G6 convertible in effort to strengthen residuals, avoid incentives

http://cwimg.us.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=CW&Date=20060612&Category=FREE&ArtNo=60612001&Ref=AR&Profile=1041&MaxW=800

GRAND BLANC, Mich. -- Pontiac will limit production of the Solstice and new G6 convertible to strengthen their residual values and avoid offering incentives, officials say.

"That's part of the positioning -- to keep the car where people want it," John Larson, Buick-Pontiac-GMC general manager, said at a press event here last week.

The Solstice roadster debuted during the 2006 model year. It has a backlog of 6,000 sold orders, Larson told Automotive News. A G6 convertible typically stays on a dealership lot for five days before it sells, he said.

General Motors has said it plans to build 17,000 Solstices for the 2006 model year and produce 20,000 Solstice and high-performance Solstice GXP units in the 2007 model year. As of June 1, the Solstice had 1,500 units in inventory and a 21-day supply.

GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said last month that potential demand for the Solstice is as high as 35,000 units a year. Lutz said GM may boost production at its assembly plant in Wilmington, Del., which builds the Solstice, Saturn Sky and Opel GT.

But Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson said production would increase only if sales of the roadsters are sustained.

Raj Sundaram, president of Automotive Lease Guide, said the Solstice's residual value is one of Pontiac's highest in a "very long period." Sundaram's company, which sets residual values for the industry, predicts the base-model Solstice will hold 54 percent of its sticker price after three years.

A residual value of more than 50 percent is considered outstanding.

"When you're one vehicle short, there's no question it's going to help residual values," Sundaram said.

The G6 GT convertible has a three-year residual value of 45 percent, he said.

Dennis Maraone, Pontiac's product director, said GM plans to build about 15,000 G6 convertibles a year at its assembly plant in Orion Township, Mich.

Said Maraone: "We want to maintain the integrity of the vehicle and make sure that it's always in high demand."

Source: http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060612/FREE/60612001/1041/LATESTNEWS

Well, they're not quite all spoken-for. I saw a black Sky available yesterday afternoon at a local Saturn dealer, but yes, they are not exactly a dime-a-dozen. You can find a few Skys still unsold..... in some cases the deal did not go through because of bad credit ratings, order cancellations, etc..... and they are back on the market for sale. But it IS rare, though, to find an unsold Solstice.....perhaps because of its somewhat lower price.

I partially blame GM marketing for this. GM, knowing that these two cars would be red-hot competitors for the Miata, simply did not build enough of them in the first year. Perhaps this mistake will be rectified next year...we'll see. Next year, starting this fall, the turbo models will also offer an powerplant alternative.

GM to limit production of Solstice, G6 convertible in effort to strengthen residuals, avoid incentives

[
GRAND BLANC, Mich. -- Pontiac will limit production of the Solstice and new G6 convertible to strengthen their residual values and avoid offering incentives, officials say.


But Pontiac spokesman Jim Hopson said production would increase only if sales of the roadsters are sustained.

]


This, IMO, is bulls* * t................ :nono:
The demand for these cars is ALREADY there. These guys are walking around with their heads up their a * * es.

Auto marketers sometimes drive me up the wall.

Who cares what they sell for on the secondary market!

If GM is concerned about defaults/the cars coming back, just strengthen credit requirements for these cars.

I agree that the incentives need closeted in this case, but limiting production is the worst thing GM can do. They need as many of these cars on the road as possible to help boost interest in GM products.

M.

I agree that the incentives need closeted in this case, but limiting production is the worst thing GM can do. They need as many of these cars on the road as possible to help boost interest in GM products.
M.

Actually this is one of the first long term thinking things they have done. They don't need as many of those on the road as possible for the cost associated with doing it. Does Toyota have as many Prius on the road as possible? Nope... They could have more out but at what cost?

I don't like this mode of operation as a consumer but for the company it *is* the way to optimize their profit from you, the consumer. I worked with someone for several years whose explicit job was to try and figure out how to price products and services to extract the most dollars from a consumer, and here's the important part, over the lifetime of the consumer. :egads:

I don't like this mode of operation as a consumer but for the company it *is* the way to optimize their profit from you, the consumer. I worked with someone for several years whose explicit job was to try and figure out how to price products and services to extract the most dollars from a consumer, and here's the important part, over the lifetime of the consumer. :egads:

Yes, but stop and think a minute. I don't agree with that line of thinking. Gotta think of the future, too. The more dollars you bilk from people now, the fewer they have left over to buy something else from you in the future...and in the auto industry you DON'T want to p * * s off customers, high demand or not. That's why the " employee " pricing incentives of last summer were such a great idea. They got many people into GM showrooms......people who are going to be lost if GM starts playing Scrooge with those incentives.
Dealers also need to learn that lesson. Charge somebody way over list for a car now that is in high demand, and that customer might pay it if he / she wants the car bad enough, but when it comes time to replace it...........you're going to be in the dog house.

GM has tons of cars sitting around that they can't sell but they finally come along with a couple of cars people want and don't build nearly enough of them. Good job GM. :rolleyes:

I understand that they don't want to dillute these models but at least meet demand or almost meet demand. What would make better sense for them is simply to raise the price point. That would fix every problem.

i think slowing production hurts your profits overall because you couldve sold maybe 2-3x as many cars overtime thats more parts and more service neede, brand/image building and a lot of money to be made. If the car is a hot seller you dont need to have incentives to sell it.

The hard thing to do is balance demand with production, dont want to produce too many and risk spamming dealers with oversupply and having to offer incentives to get rid of them but you dont want to produce too little and lose out on a lot of sales. Some people will get disinterested if they cant find one and get something else, then you just lost a sale

Yes, but stop and think a minute. I don't agree with that line of thinking. Gotta think of the future, too. The more dollars you bilk from people now, the fewer they have left over to buy something else from you in the future...and in the auto industry you DON'T want to p * * s off customers,

Several comments:

First, they are thinking of the future. Keeping people who have money today saving and wanting to buy it next year is exactly what they want.

Second, if customers are spending 15K over sticker for 6 months into a model year you aren't p**ing the customers off. Clearly your customers are willing to pay the extra $$ to get that product. Now if you ask 15K over sticker and the cars don't sell but you won't budge on prices (Pontiac GTO?!?) then they are being stupid. But odds are there are folks that want the product that will either wait for the price to come down to MSRP or better or those that will walk away. If you have your production set up properly you can afford to lose those that walk away.

Third, I don't see anybody taking into account the cost of builiding more of these cars. Can you build more? Sure. Are you willing to give up quality because the plant isn't set up to build that many? How about dropping the Solstice so you can build more Sky? Oh you want to support two brands? Build a new factory! Well doesn't that cost a $$$$ and what about two years from now when you've sold everyone a Solstice and Sky? These aren't family cars like an Accord or Camry. It just isn't as easy as waving a magic wand to "build more".

Like I said, I hate this but after working with someone that did this for a living and having many conversations with him I can appreciate the way it works. Just see if George Lucas won't keep selling version after version of Star Wars to folks. He's got this one down pat. It's not about giving customers what they want. It's giving them just enough to keep them coming back.

i think slowing production hurts your profits overall because you couldve sold maybe 2-3x as many cars overtime thats more parts and more service neede, brand/image building and a lot of money to be made. If the car is a hot seller you dont need to have incentives to sell it.

See my post above. Is it worth it to build a new plant and have overcapacity later? Is it worth it if the quality suffers or you can only deliver enough for one brand?


The hard thing to do is balance demand with production, dont want to produce too many and risk spamming dealers with oversupply and having to offer incentives to get rid of them but you dont want to produce too little and lose out on a lot of sales. Some people will get disinterested if they cant find one and get something else, then you just lost a sale

And the thing to remember is that in business it is sometimes perfectly OK to let people walk away from a sale. Ferrari doesn't hurt for limiting production of it's cars. An extreme example but there are folks that "walk away" and Ferrari didn't lose a sale! That's because they are selling all they can make. Ditto for the Sky, Solstice and Corvette.

GM is sold out on models that sell total of 20,000 per year :-).

Yep, and to quote you... "if anyone could get it, wouldnt be fun..."

Good comments. I will add though, Toyota cannot make enough Prius's and the plant is already working overtime year round to try and meet demand. However, that is not a car I think you should worry about keeping value high, its a mass produced car.

I do agree with Mr. Johnson here that it might sound nuts, but it is a good move and a long term thinking one. The car is already cheap(20-25k) if they sell to many of them, the prices will drop like a rock.