GM going clone crazy AGAIN!

pacodiablo · October 1, 2003

Word has it that Saab will also be reciving a version of the TrailBlazer in 2005. It's the '80s all over again! One would think that four versions of the truck, not counting the Bravada, would be enough (Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Isuzu), but apparently GM doesn't think so. I guess time will tell how this goes. Maybe GM is expecting Isuzu to be back on its feet by 2005 and ready to make their own SUV? Who knows. That was the plan with Honda and Isuzu years ago, and that relationship lasted longer than anyone expected.

CMNTMXR81 · October 1, 2003

It'll actually be 6. The Bravada is now the Buick Ranier.

As to cloning, your beloved ford isn't perfect either. Let's see

Explorer/Mountainer/Aviator

Expedition/Navigator

Escape/Tribute

Ranger/B-Series

If ford had more divisions, you can bet each would also have their own version also.

The difference between now and the 80's is that GM differentiates the vehicles more than just trim. There are different options the Ranier has that the TrailBlazer doesn't. Back in the 80's, a Cutlass Supreme, Buick Regal, Monte Carlo and Grand Prix were completely identical cars just with different front and rear ends and a different name on it.

Brock · October 1, 2003

also don't forget ford's cars.

Sable/Taurus, Crown Vic/Grand Marque/Town Car, Monterey/Windstar/MPV

pacodiablo · October 1, 2003

MPV is different from the Freestar/Monterey.

Ford sticks to 2 of the same and 3 in some rare cases (as does Honda, Dodge, Toyota, etc...). What is the need of 5 OF THE SAME THING? With the introduction of another vehicle on this platform, one of the others could start to lag in sales (except for the TrailBlazer and Envoy which will likely stay the sales leaders of the group no matter what). You guys have to admit that 5 of the same truck is a little much. The options really are not THAT different.

I have a feeling the Saab with be an ugly Envoy as far as trim goes.

CMNTMXR81 · October 1, 2003

That's cause they've only got 3 divisions in case you forgot. Those are Ford, Lincoln, Mercury....

As I said in my last post, if there were 4 more divisions, you can bet each one would have their own versions.

k1500chevy97 · October 1, 2003

Word has it that Saab will also be reciving a version of the TrailBlazer in 2005. It's the '80s all over again! One would think that four versions of the truck, not counting the Bravada, would be enough (Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Isuzu), but apparently GM doesn't think so. I guess time will tell how this goes. Maybe GM is expecting Isuzu to be back on its feet by 2005 and ready to make their own SUV? Who knows. That was the plan with Honda and Isuzu years ago, and that relationship lasted longer than anyone expected.

pacodiablo · October 1, 2003

That's cause they've only got 3 divisions in case you forgot. Those are Ford, Lincoln, Mercury....

As I said in my last post, if there were 4 more divisions, you can bet each one would have their own versions.

There is no Jaguar Taurus, Land Rover Explorer, Aston Martin Mustang or Volvo Focus. All of the above companies are owned by Ford in full.

gmcjoe · October 2, 2003

MPV is different from the Freestar/Monterey.

Ford sticks to 2 of the same and 3 in some rare cases (as does Honda, Dodge, Toyota, etc...). What is the need of 5 OF THE SAME THING? With the introduction of another vehicle on this platform, one of the others could start to lag in sales (except for the TrailBlazer and Envoy which will likely stay the sales leaders of the group no matter what). You guys have to admit that 5 of the same truck is a little much. The options really are not THAT different.

I have a feeling the Saab with be an ugly Envoy as far as trim goes.

GM will sell the crap out of them too

I heard the Avaiator was scrapped? Is that true?

Guess they couldn't sell them eh?

Tex2kZR2 · October 2, 2003

Yep Aviator is scrapped as well as that Fugly Lincoln Blackwood. Why someone would pay 54K for a 2wd underpowered truck is beyond me. But as P.T. Barnum said, "There is a sucker born every minute."

holderp · October 2, 2003

I think that GM is blurring the distinction between the various nameplates. The only nameplates that need to be selling trucks is Chevy and GMC. Cadillac and Buick need to stick to luxury cars. But like the man said, GM will go wherever they find money.

Truckman031 · October 2, 2003

That is the one thing I can't stand about GM. They hit a homerun, then each of their divisions gets one.

kdeatrick · October 2, 2003

They do it as a marketing thing. Some people think it is a better truck or suv if it has a certain label on it. We know that is not true, the guts are the same!

pacodiablo · October 2, 2003

Yep Aviator is scrapped as well as that Fugly Lincoln Blackwood. Why someone would pay 54K for a 2wd underpowered truck is beyond me. But as P.T. Barnum said, "There is a sucker born every minute."

The Blackwood is long gone. Have not heard about the Aviator. Any links? Not too suprising if it is true.

The demise of the Blackwood may just benefit me. I have a bunch of Lincoln brochures from the year the Blackwood came out (2002 I think) still wrapped in plastic (5 per bundle). Now just have to let them sit around for a while.

naskie18 · October 16, 2003

Actually, I'm kinda anxious to see what Saab does with it. I saw the new 9-2 today (which is based off the Subaru WRX, another company that GM owns a large portion of) and I really like what they've done with it. The WRX, on the other hand, doesn't appeal to me at all. Thats why they make different versions of the vehicles. I have yet to see a Subaru that I like. I've driven WRXs and they are very fun to drive, but I personally can't stand the styling of them. Now the Saab I saw today, I could handle driving one of those. Its all about preference and what you like, as an individual. Thats a big part of the reason the sheet metal and trim is different, despite the fact that the "guts" are the same. I'll wait to see how the Saab turns out before I decide whether its a good thing or a bad thing.

Tungsten · October 26, 2003

Wait... Who cares? GM is the largest auto maker in the world. They can do what they want. All 5 will appeal to different types of people. They would not be adding another clone if it was not working for them. And GM is getting sick of Sabb not adding new cars to their line up. So GM is stepping up.