ORIGINAL: sambo77
Do I Understand some of it makes a little sence
BUT most of it does not because how can you say what you do and how do you figure in to this marketing equation of yours the likes of Ford's Ultra-retro/performance, limited production, higher dollar, GT that sells even higher prices than the Dodge-Viper???
You CAN'T compare the GTO to the VETTE...
The VETTE is a 2 seater enthusiast performance car...
The GTO was originally and recently marketted as a 2+2 MUSCLE car just like the Original GTO being a car of the masses...
AND...IF you think that the higher/over-pricing of the GTO had NOTHING to do with its lack luster sales, THEN I think you are wrong...
The original GTO WAS a car of the masses with a price within the average normal rage of most domestic automobiles of its day...
The NEW GTO tried to be something different than what the original GTO was and the masses rejected it partially because of HIGH-PRICE...[&o]
IF DODGE makes the same marketing mistake with the new Challenger likewise it will be a mistake since the original Challenger was a car that was ment to compete with the likes of other contemperary pony/muscle cars of the day and was priced to appeal to the masses instead of the elite/rich auto-enthusiast few......
Well the the reason why I can say that about Dodge for the Viper and not say that about for is the fact that the Viper has been successful for 14 years and the GT has failed. Ford couldn't make it work, Dodge was able to work. Look at Dodge's offers for the last ten years vs. Ford's (outside the Mustang). The Intrepid still had its sporty image vs. the Taurus has been reduced to a Grandparent mobile (just like the Crown Vic) since it lost the SHO model. The Stratus is still being made and attracts a younger crowd, vs. the Contour was dropped after its first generation with most of its market being again old people and some girls. The Neon actually had a performance model to talk about vs. the Focus had nothing that could compete against that model. Currently, Dodge is able to sell a more expensive top model sedan than Ford.
Dodge has more credibility than Ford and as a result can sell for a higher price. With the exception of the Focus, Ford's cars mostly have appealed to senior citizens vs. Dodge has been able to keep a younger crowd that expects more out of their cars. The Plymouth division was killed off because not enough people wanted a car that was more basic than Dodge and less expensive to make it worth while. You need to learn more about marketing and why Dodge is not intended to compete against Ford or Chevrolet. You might think this is a foolish strategy to charge a coupe thousand more, but it works.
Just look at the results. GM and Ford are pushing their budget brands harder than they ever have before, doing what you think is the right decision, and guess what, they are failing. DCX is doing what you think is foolish (charging a couple thousand more, selling less, but making it worth that extra couple thousand and then some), and guess what, they are succeeding. The Japanese charge more for their cars their either Chevrolet or Ford does, and they are taking away the market from them. If budget was the pure way to success, then KIA would be the most popular brand around.
Your right that the current GTO is nothing like the original, but the difference is you and many people misunderstand what it is. GM was intending to compete against the Mercedes and BMWs, not against the Mustang. If that was their intent, they would have recreated the GTO. Considering the cars it they were intending to compete against cost around $50,000-80,000, it is a bargin. Don't believe me, here is one review that proves my point.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...pe_comparison/
That is what GM was intending to do, NOT compete against the Mustang. The styling doesn't do