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Why can't you have stand-alone deslerships for three Genesis products? I don't agree with your reasoning at all. Lexus started out at stand-alone dealerships with only two models (the LS400 and ES250), Infiniti with two (the Q45 and M30), and Acura with two (Legend and Integra). And, I might add.......all of those vehicles were ether sedans or coupes.
But remember, at the onset Lexus was selling 4,000 LS400s a month, and 2,000 ES250s a month. Toyota also made a HUGE investment in dealers, guaranteed franchisees profits, etc.
I have to agree with Jill, Genesis' current model lineup can't support stand alone dealers. If they got one or two higher volume crossover type vehicles, it might be a different story.
To me the Lexus is in a good place when it comes to "prestige vs cost".
it's a sliding scale and subjective... some don't think much about an s550 when it comes to prestige vs cost, especially if they're leasing. we're all rationalizing what level works for each of us.
(re: lexus) Its not overly ostentatious, I never feel uncomfortable in it, where I would in an S Class or 7 Series at times in certain situations),
i don't find my g90 overly ostentatious (nor do i find an s-class or 7-series either) but i do find the kiriko glass (part of $23k package!) WAY ostentatious. i would never be comfortable with that kind of bling.
but people know what it is and know its expensive and that its a symbol of success (in sales, it matters). The Genesis I'd spend a lot of time telling people what it is, Mercedes or BMW I'd spend a lot of time laughing at peoples snide comments.
well honestly when people see my g90 more often than not they go "WOW, what's that a mercedes?" i say "it's a genesis" and then about half will say "what's that?" then i say "it's hyundai's luxury brand" and they go "wow, ok, yeah i've heard of it"... but i think people react very positively to it's stately but underatated looks and length. and if they're a passenger, they just laugh and go wow about the room, amenities, finishes, ride, etc.
but i have to say, i'd THOROUGHLY enjoy driving an s-class i'm sure, but at twice the least cost, i'll pass.
Everybody knows what an Infiniti is and what a Lexus is, very few people know what a Genesis is right now.
everybody knows the infiniti brand, but i doubt they know models at all and since infiniti doesn't have a sedan flagship, it's kinda weak. and i can guarantee without seeing the badge, 99% of people would not know what the new LS is.
Originally Posted by signdetres
I've got to admit... Watching this and looking at the G90 with all those Hyundai's in the background is not a pretty sight. Definitely made me feel a bit less enthusiastic about the car than I normally would've. They need to get those Genesis dealerships up and running asap.
After seeing that video, I was left with the feeling that it's not a car I'd want to drive nor be seen driving (it would look a bit funny and I'd feel a bit strange as I'm nowhere remotely close to the age of their target buyer) but I'd have no problems with an S560 or even LS500 (it would probably still look strange but I wouldn't mind )
each to their own.
Originally Posted by Mike728
I've expressed this before, but it seems like the dealers are only interested in selling Hyundais.
seems and maybe is where you are, but my dealer has dedicated genesis salespersons.
Originally Posted by signdetres
Of course it matters for Hyundai. A separate brand, aka Genesis, will only disguise who the automaker is and what their standing reputation is for so long to the general public/average consumer who does not follow cars and automotive news like you or I.
right well that's exactly the same with lexus, infiniti, etc., it's even the case with audi, porsche, and others.
Therefore, the perception is difficult to change regardless of how great the product is. I know how great it is, you know how great it is, the average person doesn't even know what Genesis is but the second you tell them it's made by Hyundai, they'll have already formed an opinion about it based on "Hyundai."
it takes time, for sure. but the product does matter, because that's HOW you change perceptions over time.
i get a lot of thumbsup from strangers, people looking at lights, and when i'm walking to it in a parking lot people will say "nice car!" - maybe they don't know what it is, but just maybe they'll look for and see the badging, and that's how perceptions change.
If you want to sell a luxury product, you can't associate it with a non-luxury brand. Chanel and Louis Vuitton can be found in Neiman Marcus but not Kohl's. Likewise, you won't find any brands sold in Kohl's at Neiman Marcus. They're products and stores for different demographics. Likewise, Genesis products and Hyundai products are intended for different demographics which is why you cannot sell them at the same 'store'.
Just like you won't find Neiman Marcus customers at Kohl's, you won't find full-size luxury sedan buyers at a Hyundai dealership.
funny you say that as a local dealer here sells VW and Porsche on the same lot, right next to one another! they also sell bmw too.
I have to agree with Jill, Genesis' current model lineup can't support stand alone dealers. If they got one or two higher volume crossover type vehicles, it might be a different story.
i agree with that, so change the model, make the dealer optional.
besides that, of course more genesis models are coming.
i agree with that, so change the model, make the dealer optional.
I'm not quite sure what you are getting at here, bit. Are you saying to go back to the Hyundai nameplate for the Genesis vehicles (in other words, the opposite of what they did with the G80)? Or are you saying to be able to order vehicles directly from the manufacturer, with no dealer franchises, like with Tesla?
besides that, of course more genesis models are coming.
I'm not quite sure what you are getting at here, bit. Are you saying to go back to the Hyundai nameplate for the Genesis vehicles (in other words, the opposite of what they did with the G80)? Or are you saying to be able to order vehicles directly from the manufacturer, with no dealer franchises, like with Tesla?
The current Genesis business model has a valet service from the dealer for both sales and service. If you decide to test drive a G90, the product specialist will bring the car to you. If you buy, they deliver the car to you, and for service they pick-up your car and leave a loaner. You never have to look at all those Hyundais at the dealership. The product specialist at the local dealer that I have contacted is young, well dressed, and very knowledgeable about the car. Forget the old stereotype for a car salesman.
Lincoln has a similar valet service so you don't have to see all those Fords at the dealership.
The current Genesis business model has a valet service from the dealer for both sales and service. If you decide to test drive a G90, the product specialist will bring the car to you. If you buy, they deliver the car to you, and for service they pick-up your car and leave a loaner. You never have to look at all those Hyundais at the dealership. The product specialist at the local dealer that I have contacted is young, well dressed, and very knowledgeable about the car. Forget the old stereotype for a car salesman.
OK.....assuming that's what Bitkahuna meant, thanks for the clarification.
Lincoln has a similar valet service so you don't have to see all those Fords at the dealership.
Yes, I know. I have reviewed several recent Lincolns.
Lincoln, for years, actually had a large string of dealerships which they co-shared with Mercury. They could have kept those shops, as stand-alone Lincoln dealerships, after Mercury was dropped.....but, apparently, upper-Ford management wouldn't allow it. It can be debated whether that was a mistake or not......I personally think it was.
i agree with that, so change the model, make the dealer optional.
besides that, of course more genesis models are coming.
it is catch 22, you can not have more sales without independent dealers, and you cant have dealers without sales.
Especially at prices required for Hyundai to make profit, which they have to do.
right well that's exactly the same with lexus, infiniti, etc., it's even the case with audi, porsche, and others.
it takes time, for sure. but the product does matter, because that's HOW you change perceptions over time.
i get a lot of thumbsup from strangers, people looking at lights, and when i'm walking to it in a parking lot people will say "nice car!" - maybe they don't know what it is, but just maybe they'll look for and see the badging, and that's how perceptions change.
funny you say that as a local dealer here sells VW and Porsche on the same lot, right next to one another! they also sell bmw too.
I italicized "for Hyundai" to stress that point. Lexus, Infiniti, Audi, VW, Porsche, BMW and so on are all established nameplates with decades of solid history, reputation, etc. They're not an automaker actively trying to change their current perception about their own products on top of trying to also startup a new luxury brand. That was my point.
it's a sliding scale and subjective... some don't think much about an s550 when it comes to prestige vs cost, especially if they're leasing. we're all rationalizing what level works for each of us.
Hence why I said "to me"
To be clear, I think the S550 is worth the premium. Its a great car, and sales figures bear that out. *For me* I worry about the image. Again, I'm in sales...you want to look successful but not necessarily more successful than your clientele, and I sell fairly humble properties. I worry about the optics of rolling up to somebody's house in a car that costs 1/2-2/3rds what their house is worth. Even though my LS is not a huge amount cheaper, it doesn't feel as ostentatious which I like.
*For me* I worry about the image. Again, I'm in sales...you want to look successful but not necessarily more successful than your clientele, and I sell fairly humble properties. I worry about the optics of rolling up to somebody's house in a car that costs 1/2-2/3rds what their house is worth. Even though my LS is not a huge amount cheaper, it doesn't feel as ostentatious which I like.
i think that's a distinction without a difference... meaning when you roll up in your beautiful ls460l they still think baller. actually, SUCCESSFUL baller who obviously *knows what he's doing*. so if you showed up in an s550 instead i don't believe it would make one iota of a difference.
i show up to clients in my g90 many of whom have very modest businesses or roles, and at first i was thinking "gee, they're going to think i am overcharging" but now i don't care. i look at it the other way, they know i'm doing ok and am likely good at what i do. to my clients - feel free to dork around with the guy in the used ford focus, and then come to me when it doesn't work out.
i think that's a distinction without a difference... meaning when you roll up in your beautiful ls460l they still think baller. actually, SUCCESSFUL baller who obviously *knows what he's doing*. so if you showed up in an s550 instead i don't believe it would make one iota of a difference.
That hasn't been my experience lol. My partner had an MB C Class that he traded on a GS. He used to get snide remarks from people all the time about his C Class, but much fewer about the Lexus...despite the Lexus being considerably more expensive. He does the property management side of our business, so the customers he's interacting with are different, but still.
He recently traded the GS in on a Ram truck, and now he gets NO comments, despite the Ram again costing more.
People do form opinions about you based on the brand of car you drive.
That hasn't been my experience lol. My partner had an MB C Class that he traded on a GS. He used to get snide remarks from people all the time about his C Class, but much fewer about the Lexus...despite the Lexus being considerably more expensive. He does the property management side of our business, so the customers he's interacting with are different, but still.
He recently traded the GS in on a Ram truck, and now he gets NO comments, despite the Ram again costing more.
People do form opinions about you based on the brand of car you drive.
True. It's partly why I find Genesis somewhat alluring. It doesn't draw the ire of the anti-snob.
Not long ago, I was at work, returning from just having gone out for lunch. I drove everyone in the IS. I happened to notice that the elbow part of a sleeve of my jacket was wearing, and thinking out loud, was like, "Ah, looks like I need a new jacket." Coworker says, "It looks decent to me, how long have you had it?" Me: "About 5 years or so." Other coworker: "I'm pretty sure my last winter coat lasted me about 9 years." First coworker: "Come on, he has a reputation to uphold - he drives a Lexus! He can't be seen in 5-year-old jackets!" So... yeah it is a real thing, even if my coworker was just pulling my leg.
Drove in the new Genesis G90 tonight. It was a sponsored event talking us to the horse races. Anyway, hard to believe anyone would say the Lexus LS500 is a nicer car. There is just a superb level of detail. The “OFF” light on the push button start for instance. Silent ride. The V8 is standard in Canada as the V6 is special order. Only issue is that it feels like a time warp in that it been done before by Lexus with all the previous LS models.
Drove in the new Genesis G90 tonight. It was a sponsored event talking us to the horse races. Anyway, hard to believe anyone would say the Lexus LS500 is a nicer car. There is just a superb level of detail. The “OFF” light on the push button start for instance. Silent ride. The V8 is standard in Canada as the V6 is special order. Only issue is that it feels like a time warp in that it been done before by Lexus with all the previous LS models.
Thank you for doing what I have been saying for years .......actually going and sampling today's Hyundai/Kia/Genesis products. Those who take the time to so do are usually not disappointed.
The V8 is standard in Canada as the V6 is special order.
If someone wants the V6 for a little better gas mileage, fine, but, as I see it, if you can afford a G90's price (even though it is usually less than its main competitors), you can afford to keep the V8 filled up.
I myself strongly considered an AWD G80 last time around ....and, thanks to inept GM management, may (?) actually end up in one next time.
Thank you for doing what I have been saying for years :thumbup
)
The car does seem to suffer from an identity crisis. No doubt nice, but where is the passion, or emotion when looking at the design?
Originally Posted by mmarshall
If someone wants the V6 for a little better gas mileage, fine, but, as I see it, if you can afford a G90's price (even though it is usually less than its main competitors), you can afford to keep the V8 filled up.
It is a strange thing for Canada to have the V8 standard and 6 optional.
05-30-18, 03:14 PM
then i say "it's hyundai's luxury brand" and they go "wow, ok, yeah i've heard of it"... but i think people react very positively to it's stately but underatated looks and length. and if they're a passenger, they just laugh and go wow about the room, amenities, finishes, ride, etc.
Are you saying to go back to the Hyundai nameplate for the Genesis vehicles (in other words, the opposite of what they did with the G80)? Or are you saying to be able to order vehicles directly from the manufacturer, with no dealer franchises, like with Tesla?
i look at it the other way, they know i'm doing ok and am likely good at what i do. to my clients - feel free to dork around with the guy in the used ford focus, and then come to me when it doesn't work out. 
.......actually going and sampling today's Hyundai/Kia/Genesis products. Those who take the time to so do are usually not disappointed. 