Article about slow 2014 Silverado/Sierra sales

[Coppertone]

_{Like I've said in before, I'm sure the trucks are functionally great but they just aren't very attractive. The design is polarizing. You either really like the new look or you hate it. For me its not horrible looking, its just not nice enough for me to upgrade from my 2010. Espescially if its going to cost me $25K to trade. It only cost me $9K to trade my 2007 up to a 2010 but now I really have to like it to want to spend about $12,000 more to trade for a 2014.}

 

This is pretty standard for all new models. People even love it or hate it......and then it grows on you.

[KMK454]

Of the big three, GM's newest truck is better than the current F150 and Ram. However, today's trucks are so good that the truck finishing third still grades an A. For those lacking brand loyalty, why buy a marginally better 2014 Silverado when the competition's offering is sitting with $5-10k worth of easy discounts? Compounding the situation is how trucks have historically had large incentives and discounts on them; even with significant discounting, the manufacturer and dealership still turns a profit. Consumers know this to be the case and expect bargaining room on truck prices.

 

I would love either a 2014 Silverado 1500 or a 2015 Silverado 2500, but won't get one unless the price comes down either through an MSRP change or through readily available discounts (not the asterisk/fine print ones where you have to buy the V6 model you don't want, have a 2nd cousin who is UAW and works for GM, have a GM credit card, trade in a Chevy in the designated color of the month that is at least 5 years old but not 7 years old, etc.).

 

It's not a matter of being able to afford the truck; it's a matter of how the consumer values the product.

[KARNUT]

If you look for packages like the Texas Package or the all star package, and you can get real good deals. I saved 10K off MSRP in Dec. You need to shop and buy off the lot. I never though I buy blue, I just wash it more often. Sales are slowing down on everything, people are getting sticker shock on the new (low) cost health insurance.

[ChrisNJ]

Offer the 6.2 in more models, build an SS again, build a competitor to the Raptor. Not the Reaper, the bulbous nose is horrible. If you can supercharge 'vettes, camaros, SS's, and caddy's, you can supercharge a Silverado. From there two different suspensions give you an SS and a ZR2, which they considered not too long ago...http://www.caranddriver.com/photo-gallery/chevrolet-silverado-zr2-concept

They may not sell a butt load of either, but they'll drum up some interest in the truck and get people to the dealerships to look at those and others...

 

 

I agree, GM used to be the innovative leader, they didn't do much with the '14's. Newer DI engines are nice, but not much different. The fact is that these 4-dr trucks have become the large sedan that we've been missing for 15 years. The sad truth is that this 20yr GM owner with over 15gm's bought actually looked at the Dodge. Dodge got me to look with air-ride. GM should do a few things right now for the '15's: add mag shock option, add selectable perf. mode button. Both of these would get me to trade in early. Would love to see a blower too, but I doubt it will ever happen. It would get me to order one now too.

Most of my peers (40somethings), are all driving 4-dr trucks or Chargers.

[KARNUT]

Buy a cheaper package do it yourself save money. Make it your own. I use to drive lots of miles new truck every two years. Drove all brands these new GM trucks are faster, quieter, more refine, etc, than just last year. I was going to buy a left over Denali, got the 14 Texas Package instead their that nice. If we all thought the same what boring life this would be!

[Savagecanuck1]

Buy a cheaper package do it yourself save money. Make it your own. I use to drive lots of miles new truck every two years. Drove all brands these new GM trucks are faster, quieter, more refine, etc, than just last year. I was going to buy a left over Denali, got the 14 Texas Package instead their that nice. If we all thought the same what boring life this would be!

Could not agree more.Back in November when I leased my 1lt Crew I looked into and LTZ but could not justify the huge bump in price.My 1lt with convienance package 5.3 3.42 heated cloth seats trailer tow with brake controller,rear cargo lights 18' wheels off road tires has pretty much every thing I need for a lot less money.Yes I would like leather but I can live with out it,the bench is almost like buckets

I bought a cheap floor console that holds my extra crap.Yes I have auto climate and 8' mylink 10 way power seat.A friend bought a left over 13 white diamond LTZ for 5k more than my neg price.After driving his i'm glad I got the 14 that little screen on the dash of the 13 looks hoaky.

[simon.hed]

I needed a truck right when these things came out and I paid too much. I knew that at the time.

 

I should have bought something I could have driven for 6 months and turned around and given that to my 16 year old. The rebates that have come available would have almost (if not completely) paid for it.

 

Oh well, other than a couple of really big issues (but not really big) I have enjoyed the truck.

[bdbake01]

The "buy low, customize make yours" doesn't always work or even make sense. For one, you can't finance $20k worth of mods over 6 years at 0.0% apr. At least...I haven't found a way. Second, a std cab WT will ALWAYS be a std cab WT and will resell like a std cab WT regardless of what wheels you may have on it. In fact, chances are that those wheels you loooove will be a turnoff to the buying public at large and therefore reduce your resell value. Third, we don't always have the time to make those lovely mods. Fourth, you will actually be haaaard pressed to get same truck for less money.

 

Don't believe me? Then tell me how you will make a Denali with every bit of the curb appeal, resale value, and bumper-to-bumper warranty (don't forget the one stop shop for service!) with aftermarket.

 

If I have a cracked rim, I take it to the dealership and they bring it back sans crack. If I have a beautiful aftermarket rim with better-than-GM warranty I start with an email. Then a phone call. Then a back and forth arguement on what actually caused the crack, yadda yadda until 3 months have went by and I may or may not have convinced them that it's warranty, THEN I have to either remove the rim myself and ship back at my considerable expense OR take it to a shop and have it removed/spare put in place....again at even more of my expense....so I can send back and have replaced.

 

I'm not knocking those who customize. I'm gonna mod the crap out of my truck! But let's not fool ourselves. Those mods are at MY expense and risk, period. It's not the same truck, will never be. Those mods will only have value to ME, and I'll purchase based on what I want and what I can justify.

[KARNUT]

Texas package 29,xxx vs Denali 44,xxx ( 13 Model) Texas package is loaded ( 14 model). I didn't want leather, navigation, Blinking mirrors, pretty much got the rest. Just trying to show some of the young how to save money. Some would say my truck has some curb appeal. Some people can save the 2to300 dollars per month they save to do their mods. So much for the standard cab work truck. The mods I was referring to where performance minded, The truck it self really is just find.

[Dnt]

Back to the topic re sales.

 

In my area ( Alberta Canada ) pickups are very very popular. I can say without a doubt there still surprisingly few 2014 GM Trucks on the road 6 months after their debut. A local dealer still has a very nice 2014 GMC SLT Z71 Crew Cab ( short box bronze alloy with 20" rims ) that arrived in July. This is not a demo, it sits in a line with the other new trucks and still has some plastic covering in the inside. There is no shortage of money here and plenty of serious GM truck fans who typically would pay full MSRP to have the first of a new generation of trucks. The 2014's are clearly not a hot item. If GM expected to establish premium pricing the recently released data of 170 days of inventory and declining sales year over year proves there in denial.

Dang it man they will probably be able to GIVE you that bronze truck now that all the holdbacks are paid. Better stop in and get your deal done there in no denying that you have had your eye on THAT truck since July. LOL looks like a typical off MSRP is around 8500 surely that would entice you to get out of your 27 year old beater 1987 GMC??