Chevy to dealers: Let Cruze shoppers test-drive competitors

[DainBramaged]

Chevrolet is asking its 3,000 dealers to prepare for the late September launch of the new Chevrolet Cruze compact by purchasing competitors' vehicles for test-drive comparisons.

Chevrolet is encouraging dealers to have a Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic on site so prospective 2011 Cruze buyers can immediately measure the Cruze against its segment competitors, said Margaret Brooks, Chevrolet small-car marketing director.

The Cruze, which Chevrolet already sells in 60 countries, earned maximum scores in European front- and side-crash tests. U.S. crash tests have not taken place.

The Cruze Eco model gets a segment-leading 40 mpg on the highway, said Chuck Russell, Cruze vehicle line director. The Eco model is powered by a turbocharged, 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a standard six-speed manual transmission.

Russell said the Cruze has more shoulder room than the Corolla or Civic. And Chevrolet has equipped it with 10 airbags, a plush interior and sound-deadening glass in a bid to broaden its appeal.

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100831/RETAIL03/100839975/1261

[tabasco]

1. If they come out with a hatchback, I'd like to get one

after I put another 200,000 miles on my Toyota Echo.

[Rage for Order]

14. Photo of the Cruze:

[PBS Poll-435]

15. Love the color

That is HOT.

[earcandle]

47. Like Dorothy's Ruby Slippers!

[Romulox]

24. The Toyota Echo looks like crap by comparison.

The Toyota also gets a lot worse MPG.

[DainBramaged]

27. We waste our breath

The Eco was one of the WORST failures ever produced by Yota. People left in droves when it was introduced. Ugly cars may sell in japan, not here. At least not since the 70's when so many GM and Ford haters claimed they owned lemons.

[PBS Poll-435]

30. Echo/MR2/Last-Gen Celica was the precursor to the Scion brand

Doing quite well, by the way.

[Romulox]

34. Sort of. Scion was created to shed some of Toyota's dowdy image, due in part to cars like Echo.

So, it was a "precursor" in the sense that reaction to the dullness of Toyota's offerings lead the company to create a new nameplate that could be disassociated with the staid (that is to say, boring) lines of Toyota's mainstream grocery-getters.

Toyota is the new Buick, while the New Buick is ironically much hipper than Toyota at the moment. It's a paradox of our times. :hi:

[DainBramaged]

51. The ignored stalker experts show up to spew shit they know nothing about

with their noses planted firmly in the ass cheeks of the japanese.


Like I said, they claim expertise because they read Consumer Reports and Cars.com on the web.

[Kalyke]

54. You're kidding... the Scion was created to rid the Toy of its dowdy image?

:wow:

Those are the dowdiest, ugliest line of cars to come down the pike!




Ooofff!

[DainBramaged]

55. Pie wagons

Replacing the OLD Suzuki pie wagons of the 90's (no wonder they gave up on America, making shit like that)

[Xithras]

58. Lol, what do you know?

Scion (and other "ugly" Japanese cars like the Nissan Cube), are a hit with the urban young...which is exactly the demographic they're targeted at. Scion doesn't really care what middle aged suburbanite soccer parents think about its designs. In fact, they probably don't WANT those fourty-something soccer moms driving their cars. Nothing kills a cars "cool factor" more than seeing a bunch of grandpa's driving around in them.

American car companies have never had much interest in pursuing edgier designs for younger car buyers, so they have no room or right to complain when foreign competitors come in to target it. Young family-less teens and twentysomethings don't want to drive a boring sedan.

American offerings for this market pretty much begin and end with the new Ford Fiesta...which was, incidentally, designed by Ford Europe with very little American input. The Europeans have been building fun, edgy small cars for younger buyers for decades, and Ford was smart enough to tap them. Still, you can't honestly expect every young buyer in America to buy a Fiesta.

FWIW, I happen to think the xB is a pretty cool design. I'm a bit old and my family is too big for one, but I know it's on the shortlist of cars that my 17 year old daughter is looking at.

[PBS Poll-435]

28. When was the last time that Toyota made the Echo?

And why can't Chevrolet stick with a name for its 4-banger compact car?

Terrible for resale value.

[Romulox]

33. 2005, according to Edmunds (Ancient history, though still within the Statute of Limitations!)

Are we disowning the ugly duckling Echo with horrible looks, chinsy interior, and crap MPG?

:rofl: :hi:

[PBS Poll-435]

36. Nah. Trial and Error. And on what planet is 36 MPG highway crap?

What is embarassing about your reference to Edmunds is how a 5 year old Echo is still worth 50% of its MSRP.

[Romulox]

38. Compared to the current crop of cars in its class, its poor. (And hideous, while being poor)

:shrug:

[DainBramaged]

39. Some times the 'experts' show up in these threads

with their ONLY experience in the auto industry being the purchase of a car.


It boggles my mind, but, like the DU nannies, they have to interject their line of crap.

[PBS Poll-435]

41. LOL!

OMFG. You have no freaking idea.

[DainBramaged]

52. And right on cue, there they are except the best part is I ONLY see

IGNORED

[Obamanaut]

59. With only 160,000 registered users, I'm surprised there is anyone left

who is NOT ignored.

[DainBramaged]

60. And the same sorry attention whores return, like moths to a flame

hoping beyond hope that their futile efforts will be acknowledged.


They just can't help themselves.


:nopity: :rofl:

[snooper2]

53. You do know all auto companies have their good and bad cars...

you know what I'm reffering to when I say 22RE?

One of the best engines ever produced...

Just like Ford's 300ci inline six banger...run forever.


If you had to chose between a used PT Cruiser GT and a Toyota Celica GT what would you pick? (the POS?)


You spout at LEAST as much crap about American made cars as you get from Yota fans. You can admit that correct?

[JVS]

50. To be fair, Chevrolet stuck with the name Cavalier for about 20 years.

[tammywammy]

2. The Toyota dealer next door to where I worked did this

It's a good promotion. Good luck to Chevy, the Cruze is set to be a big hit.

[PBS Poll-435]

3. Pretty decent HP/Torque specs out of that displacement

Especially out of the turbocharged 1.4.

[Indydem]

4. I wonder how many of the available cars will be US assembled:

Assembly

Australia: Elizabeth, South Australia
China: Shenyang, Liaoning
India: Halol, Gujarat
Russia: Saint Petersburg
South Korea: Bupyeong-gu, Incheon
Thailand: Rayong, Rayong Province
United States: Lordstown, Ohio

[PBS Poll-435]

6. Probably a 85%/15% mix with most being produced here and the rest from South Korea

Old Daewoo facility.

[Romulox]

25. Love how you make things up on the spot. nt

[DainBramaged]

16. All of them

I wonder how many of the japanese cars will be assembled here?

[DainBramaged]

21. Let me re-emphasize, ALL of the production will be from Lordstown Ohio

with additional capacity (if needed) coming from other U. S. plants. In spite of the supposed expertise of the Toyota supporters around here, GM doesn't worry about simply keeping up any longer. They are taking customers away from the poor quality japanese brands.


GM Says Lordstown Cruze Production Is On Schedule For Sept 8th Production Start

While there's a huge new sign outside the Lordstown GM Complex, workers inside have had to address what's being called a "parts availability problem" recently that had slowed down work on the new Chevy Cruze.

"We worked together with the supplier and got it worked out," said plant spokesman Tom Mock.


But at this point, the pace is much slower and more methodical than what was seen before with the Chevy Cobalt, the last of which rolled off the line two months ago.


"Quantity right now is not the priority," said Mock. "Quality is the priority."

And at least one industry expert said GM's desire to have a flawless launch of the Cruze is aimed both at potential customers as well as the automotive press. Dr. David Cole, of the Center for Automotive Research in Michigan, said if there are any initial problems with the car, "that's going to get reported."



http://www.wkbn.com/content/news/local/story/Lordstown-GM-Cruze-On-Schedule/IDZUHimjpUeZ7DmWWY7x-g.cspx

[flvegan]

5. Didn't Cadillac do this not so long ago?

Obviously not with econobox cars, but with Lexus, et al competition? And with great success? I'm almost positive I recall this, even if it was only a local marketing ploy. Sounds good to me.

[PBS Poll-435]

7. More of the "Let the best car win" strategy. nt

[divideandconquer]

8. Honda delayed the next Civic to improve it so they wouldn't be embarrassed

Ford also has a bunch of superior new compacts on the way. No excuse to buy a Toyota now.

[flvegan]

10. If Ford brought their Focus RS stateside...

I'd be really hard pressed to not consider signing on the dotted line.

[NNN0LHI]

20. What do you consider stateside? Focus is assembled in Wayne, Michigan

http://autos.aol.com/cars-Ford-Focus-2010/expert-review/

[flvegan]

57. Stateside, meaning here in the US.

Ford Focus RS, assembled in Germany for Europe only. They could easily build it here and sell it here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Focus_RS

[HughBeaumont]

9. From what I'm hearing about it, it may be my next vehicle.

[doc03]

11. Sounds like a good idea and I hope it works out

for them, they are assembled in Ohio. It just looks like a updated Cobalt or any other of Chevy to me. I owned my last Chevy in 1977 a (lemon) and they will have to prove themselves before I ever spend my money on another Chevy.

[DainBramaged]

17. Of course, 33 years ago and still hold a grudge against Chevy

keep your money.


:puke:

[blue_onyx]

12. I'll definitely consider the Cruze...

whenever I purchased a new car.

[Canuckistanian]

13. This should have been done DECADES ago

It might have encouraged GM to adopt some of the better ideas of imports.

Such as smaller bodies with more luxurious models and MUCH better gas mileage.

Honda, Suzuki, Toyota and Mazda (and Volkswagen for that matter) wouldn't have had a chance if the Big Three had produced competitive cars that people WANTED.

[DainBramaged]

18. (sigh) And you should have been President decades ago and everything would be Swiss cheese

and LOLcats.


We didn't have the technology decades ago to build this car. NO ONE DID. Americans just wanted cheap imported shit, JUST like they do now.

[Canuckistanian]

19. No, I meant the idea of keeping a competitior's car for comparison

It wasn't a comment on any specific car.

[DainBramaged]

22. mmmm, ok.

:shrug:

[Canuckistanian]

61. Look, I want American car companies to succeed

Because those same American companies have employed MY friends and families in Canadian car plants for decades.

I own a GM vehicle now. And I've owned vehicles from all of the Big Three at various points.

But there were times in my life when American-built cars just didn't suit my lifestyle or budget, even after TRYING to buy American.

I think a lot of people feel this way.

[DainBramaged]

62. OK

:shrug:

you don't need to explain to me. You've expressed yourself before. And the UAW and GM thank you for your loyalty!

[NNN0LHI]

23. Uh, a couple decades ago I watched my aunts Honda rust away right before my eyes in about 2 years

She loved that car. Thought it was the best thing in the world. After that one rusted away she ran out and bought another.

My aunt was an idiot.

Don

[Fumesucker]

26. So you're saying someone who has a bad experience with a car..

And then buys another of the same brand is an idiot?

[DainBramaged]

29. He said his aunt was an idiot

wasn't he clear enough?

[Fumesucker]

32. I was asking a question..

That's why I used a question mark at the end of the sentence, I was trying to determine the reason the poster thought their aunt was an idiot.

It occurred to me that the two statements the poster made might be somehow connected.

[Romulox]

31. The current Ford Fiesta is a far better car than the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit...

I've thought about buying or leasing one for my business, but it isn't made in the USA. Perhaps I should consider a Cruze.

[depakid]

35. The Suzuki Alto beats all of them

Not sure you can get them in the states.

[Romulox]

37. That's a ridiculous statement, unless you're comparing a US legal version of all cars.

PS: THANK GAWD IT PASSED! :hi:

[depakid]

40. It's a factual statement

Less expensive to purchase- to run and safer.



http://www.motoringmatters.com.au/wordpress/?p=1067

Good luck with your bailed out auto industry- and I really mean that.

Going head to head and adapting to the 21st Century is going to be a challenge.

[Romulox]

42. You don't even know what you don't know. Waste. of. Time.

Australian legal models tell me nothing of how the US legal models compare. You don't even understand the variables involved, which is why you are (yet again) a waste of time.

PS: THANK GAWD IT PASSED! :hi:

[depakid]

43. Facts suck, huh?

Aside from the Alto being a less expensive and safer car- there's a reason we had to bail two of the big three out.

Apparently, some still haven't learned.

As I said- good luck with it.

(And you might want to compare US and Australian road safety stats sometime- if you do, you'll see something similar to the stats that reflect our two economies).

[Romulox]

44. You are an emotional cripple--you attack because you desire a response.

Your responses have nothing to do with the topic of this thread, and everything to do with your need for attention. You haven't got my anger, you've earned my pity. :shrug:

[depakid]

46. Project away

I only mentioned that there's a better car out there than the ones you cited.

Perhaps the big three can do it one better.

As I said, good luck with it.

[Romulox]

45. Now ALERT! ALERT! I've gone too far in my response to your unprovoked attacks!

ALERT! :hi:

[DainBramaged]

49. Why come in this thread and start shit over a car not even SOLD here?

Jesus Christ on a Popsicle stick, we just don't CARE about Australia, get it?

[depakid]

63. I don't know whether it's sold in the US or not

or whether it will be in the future

Apparently yours and others ideas of "starting shit" is anything that interferes with your worship of American cars (whether they're actually built in America often seems to be beside the point).

[DainBramaged]

64. We don't interfere or spew our opinion in Australian Internet forums AGAINST

Australian products, why do you have to come here and think you can get away with breaking our balls about American car companies?


You love that little piece of crap, start a Suzuki love thread.

[depakid]

65. This is a message board- not a PR wire for the big three automakers

Though if it were a promo site, it generally wouldn't be a good idea to be so thin skinned and inclined to chucking tantrums.

Doesn't exactly exude a lot of confidence in the products that you're attempting to promote.

[DainBramaged]

66. Meh

:patriot:

[madmom]

48. But hey ya all.....

don't you dare shop at WALMART because they sell foreign shit!:eyes:

[PBS Poll-435]

56. I pray one day that we can have a car thread without baseless personal attacks. nt

:patriot: