i think GM is where Ford of North America was a few years back...creating inferior design products for their take on the the tastes of the north american driver which they deemed different from the european driver.. where in fact what the north american driver wanted is what the europeans were getting as evidence in the sales numbers of the european products vs the american products. Ford woke up and is giving us close to the same thing as what they offer elsewhere...GM needs to do the same and stop treating the north american driver as if we are some mutant half whit cousin to the europeans...which might be true but that is for a different conversation.
@blondnga: To be fair, the European approach didn't work for Ford originally (Capri/Merkurs were poorly marketed, Merkurs were too expensive, Contour/Mystique didn't have a market niche with the larger, albeit less-well-handling, Taurusable only a couple grand more, etc.)
@Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet: I got cut off by some one driving one of those the other day. She was pretty much begging to get rear-ended by the Bonneville I was driving at the time.
Why is it so difficult for GM to make a good looking and interesting sub-compact?
This thing is neither and won't get any better with a Chevy grill.
I'm a Chevy guy and based on on design alone I want a Ford Fiesta much more than I want this. I'd take a Toyota/Scion IQ city car before this too.
Come on GM, all we want is an interesting, cool sub-compact...Make One!
@Karsten Von Urea for All Sales Event: The problem with that is the North American contingent of "we" are about half the Jalops - it's not enough of a market for GM to care.
Interesting and cool are what sells in this segment, a certain quirkiness is required to overcome the small stature. People who want appliances don't buy sub-compacts anyway because they are afraid it will be too small for their 2.3 kids. So there shouldn't be any fear of intriguing styling that will exclude the appliances seekers.
Like I said, if GM is going to enter the segment then they might as well compete.
Edited by Karsten Von Urea for All Sales Event at 08/19/09 11:37 AM
Karsten Von Urea for All Sales Event was starred
Karsten Von Urea for All Sales Event was unstarred
One thing about GM, they sure held on to their infamous rebadging credentials in the restructuring. You would think there would be a lesson to be learned.
@Flathead Smith: That is a stupid comment actually... The rebadging that got them in trouble was between a Chevy and a Saturn sold down the street from each other. The Japanese as well as everyone else does it on a world-wide level.
@CulleyCTS: During restructuring GM has repeatedly vocalized their negative opinion regarding badgeneering, particularly directed toward the G8 GXP. They're talking out both sides of their mouths by re-badging the Spark here and using the Vue platform for a new Buick which we heard about the other day.
FS isn't specifically against re-badging here, just GM's double standards.
Also, your argument is much more appropriate without the first line.
08/19/09
We'll not discuss the amount of weight or aerodynamic drag of said item preventing the car from moving, of course....
08/19/09
08/19/09
08/19/09
08/19/09
Too bad I can't see the family resemblance.
08/19/09
08/19/09
08/19/09
This thing is neither and won't get any better with a Chevy grill.
I'm a Chevy guy and based on on design alone I want a Ford Fiesta much more than I want this. I'd take a Toyota/Scion IQ city car before this too.
Come on GM, all we want is an interesting, cool sub-compact...Make One!
08/19/09
08/19/09
Interesting and cool are what sells in this segment, a certain quirkiness is required to overcome the small stature. People who want appliances don't buy sub-compacts anyway because they are afraid it will be too small for their 2.3 kids. So there shouldn't be any fear of intriguing styling that will exclude the appliances seekers.
Like I said, if GM is going to enter the segment then they might as well compete.
08/19/09
08/19/09
08/19/09
08/19/09
FS isn't specifically against re-badging here, just GM's double standards.
Also, your argument is much more appropriate without the first line.
08/19/09
08/19/09
Back seat instructional placard.
08/19/09
@Ash78: But when you fold down the back seats...
08/19/09
03/02/09
Even if Aphid ended up with the rear door handles from a Jeep fucking Compass.
03/02/09
"Inka Dinka Doo..."
03/02/09
Not that Honda's listening, but "Hey Honda! Why can't we get the 5-door Civic in North America? I promise I'd buy one!"
03/03/09
03/02/09
*Sharpens pencil and starts stabbing out own eyes.
03/02/09
*Refills coffee mug with breakfast scotch. Maybe the alcohol will numb the pain.
03/02/09
03/02/09
See all information previously released under "Chevy Spark".
Hopefully this one isn't foam.