Buick and the 24 HR Test Drive
#91
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Back on topic, I think it is a smart move on Buicks' part because many potential buyers may feel obligated to buy the car after having it for 24 hours. It may be difficult to go back to the Buick salesman and say, "I lived with it. It just isnt' for me". I think there is a psychological component at play here.
Okay, now everyone can go back and discuss which vehicles fit into which tiers and which ones are cross-shopped with others.
Okay, now everyone can go back and discuss which vehicles fit into which tiers and which ones are cross-shopped with others.
#92
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
ludicrous statement if you've sat in a grand cherokee summit like mine.
o'rly? i checked out macan, cayenne and mb models before getting my jgc. price was a factor but wasn't the only factor. i have enormous respect for those other brands though.
oh boy. i don't consider lexus a "tier 1 luxury brand" actually and notice you didn't mention them when dissing the jeep. but obviously jeep only has the grand cherokee higher end models as a luxury vehicle, so it's definitely not a luxury brand overall nor does it claim to be.
but when people buy stripped bmw 228i that ain't a luxury car either, sold under what is consdered a luxury brand. that's why i pretty much ignore brands.
agreed.
i know someone with tons of money who just got a gc srt and is in heaven.
back to buick and 24 test drive... obviously they're struggling some, and this is a decent promo to get people considering one.
but when people buy stripped bmw 228i that ain't a luxury car either, sold under what is consdered a luxury brand. that's why i pretty much ignore brands.
agreed.
So what, the GC SRT is not as special as a Cayenne.
back to buick and 24 test drive... obviously they're struggling some, and this is a decent promo to get people considering one.
#93
Moderator
iTrader: (16)
Buick really needs to hurry up on the midsize Envision CUV to spur sales. Unfortunately its not slated to arrive Stateside until next year, and not before the Cascada convertible based off the Opel Cascada in Europe also joins the line-up. CUVs are a hot commodity right now. They'd do themselves a favor bringing the Envision first
#94
^ Seriously, what is wrong with GM management? I didn't realize they already had a midsize Buick SUV they sold in China and other markets. Sell it here, this has only been the hottest vehicle segment in this country for the past 5-6 years now.
#95
Lexus Champion
Again--Jeep sells a WIDE RANGE of cars. The Renegade is not at all like the GC SRT. So comparing the Jeep brand to the Porsche brand is meaningless. No one is going to cross shop a Mercedes CLA250 with a Lexus LS460--but Lexus and MB are "competitors" as BRANDS. "Chevy" isn't a "competitor" to Porsche as a brand, but you cannot argue with a straight face that a Corvette would not be a "competitor" to a Boxster/Cayman/911 (depending on which model). People don't cross shop BRANDS--most people don't purchase the entire lineup of an automaker. They cross-shop CARS.
Do I think that all my neighbors with Buick Enclaves are going to go purchase a Lacrosse or Regal as their second car? Hell no--I hardly see any of those in my neighborhood (except in front of houses with in-law suites).
Last edited by tex2670; 07-27-15 at 07:21 AM.
#96
Lexus Champion
According to the MT article, the last time GM did this it proved successful for them. If these numbers are accurate I would think the Buick brand should see some increased sales from it. How much? Who knows but probably worth a shot. Might be kind of PITA for the dealers to handle though.
"When GM previously offered a similar promotion, over 500,000 extended test drives were generated during the year it ran. Nearly 190,000 sales were also attributed to the campaign, according to Automotive News. However, Buick's program will have an evaluation after three months to see if it will become a long-term offer."
"When GM previously offered a similar promotion, over 500,000 extended test drives were generated during the year it ran. Nearly 190,000 sales were also attributed to the campaign, according to Automotive News. However, Buick's program will have an evaluation after three months to see if it will become a long-term offer."
#97
Lexus Champion
#98
Lexus Champion
What isn't a gimmick in the world of car sales and marketing? There's nothing bad with having confidence in your product--give us a try, and we are convinced you will like our product.
#99
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
maybe you're not considering the fact that china is a HUGE market and Buick is a HUGE leader there, so best to lead in your best market, no?
#100
Lexus Test Driver
And it may be built to China's safety, emissions and local market specs that may not be profitable to modify to meet US specs, specially crash worthiness and California emissions.
#101
Lexus Champion
From a corporate standpoint GM might figure they have the Equinox and if a buyer wants to go a bit more upscale they have the GMC Terrain in the same showroom as Buick. Not a sale for the Buick brand but a GM offering nonetheless.
#102
Shouldnt any good-for-something dealer work with a prospective buyer to make sure they can sample the vehicle for something other than a 15 minute test drive?
And I had zero problem walking back into the Acura dealer, handing them the keys to the TLX that they loaned us for 2 days and said "sorry, we dont like it". They also had no problem hearing that....it is what it is.
#103
Moderator
iTrader: (16)
Im still not understanding why a 24 hour test drive is marketed as a big deal.
Shouldnt any good-for-something dealer work with a prospective buyer to make sure they can sample the vehicle for something other than a 15 minute test drive?
And I had zero problem walking back into the Acura dealer, handing them the keys to the TLX that they loaned us for 2 days and said "sorry, we dont like it". They also had no problem hearing that....it is what it is.
Shouldnt any good-for-something dealer work with a prospective buyer to make sure they can sample the vehicle for something other than a 15 minute test drive?
And I had zero problem walking back into the Acura dealer, handing them the keys to the TLX that they loaned us for 2 days and said "sorry, we dont like it". They also had no problem hearing that....it is what it is.
#104
Lexus Fanatic
It usually does for me, but that's because I'm single, don't have a family, don't have a garage, and am long-used to test-driving vehicles. Perhaps, for those not used to it or who have to make sure the car will fit the home and family OK, more than that amount of time would be needed.
#105
Somebody else said it will arrive in this country next year. I never have understood why it takes GM so freaking long to role out model variants to the US when they've been on sale in other markets for 1-3 model years(same thing with the Regal, Opel had that car out a good 3 years before we got it)