[merlin803]

Originally Posted by Posaune

You think the 6th Gen has amortized its development cost already and turning a profit?

I have no idea. Nor do I know what time table that would normally happen.

I'll just post what I did earlier:

If the 5th Gen's had say $1000 of profit per sale and the 6th Gen has $1500 profit per sale, doesn't than mean that 6000 6th Gens sold, profit wise, really equals 9000 5th Gens sold?

What if the profit per sale doubled for the 6th Gen over the 5th Gen? Doesn't that mean they could sell half as many cars and be just as profitable?

[merlin803]

Why does it always sound like crickets in here when something like this is posted? It is like the people who are mad about the sales won't even consider it.

[aestil]

Originally Posted by merlin803

Why does it always sound like crickets in here when something like this is posted? It is like the people who are mad about the sales won't even consider it.

I'm willing to allow that GM probably wanted to sell more Camaros than they did in May, but also think that they had to assume sales would not be as high as the previous generation Camaro considering the price increase. I think they made a conscious decision to improve the brand image and elevate it to 'sports car' status instead of 'pony car' and they did that very well.

MY16 was in production for what... 9 months? I think they probably sold like 5% or maybe 10% less overall than what they wanted to sell. The price of the car increased and I think the profit must have gone up considerably over the Gen 5 cars.

More is better, but I think they'll be OK.

[Raven87]

Originally Posted by merlin803

I have no idea. Nor do I know what time table that would normally happen.

I'll just post what I did earlier:

If the 5th Gen's had say $1000 of profit per sale and the 6th Gen has $1500 profit per sale, doesn't than mean that 6000 6th Gens sold, profit wise, really equals 9000 5th Gens sold?

What if the profit per sale doubled for the 6th Gen over the 5th Gen? Doesn't that mean they could sell half as many cars and be just as profitable?

True. Of course, that would be a laughable comparison at most watercooler discussions. "Hey, the Camaro is getting its ass kicked in sales by the new "XXXX" but man, the profit is the same as it was when we sold twice as many cars!"

Then, the "XXXX" fan says this - 'But MY company is selling more cars and even though we are making less per car than yours, since we are selling MORE, we are making even MORE overall profit!'.

Which method in the end makes the most profit?

That is why a sales program based only only total overall profit would first go as low-cost as possible to build the car and maximize profit per car. GM did the opposite - they built the best car possible and yet those features and performance did not increase sales (at least for May).

[merlin803]

Originally Posted by Raven87

True. Of course, that would be a laughable comparison at most watercooler discussions. "Hey, the Camaro is getting its ass kicked in sales by the new "XXXX" but man, the profit is the same as it was when we sold twice as many cars!"

Then, the "XXXX" fan says this - 'But MY company is selling more cars and even though we are making less per car than yours, since we are selling MORE, we are making even MORE overall profit!'.

Which method in the end makes the most profit?

That is why a sales program based only only total overall profit would first go as low-cost as possible to build the car and maximize profit per car. GM did the opposite - they built the best car possible and yet those features and performance did not increase sales (at least for May).

Honestly, considering the fact that most Camaro enthusiasts aren't willing or possibly able to move to a 6th Gen yet, along with the decision to reduce fleet sales and raise prices, I don't know why anyone would just assume that the number of sales should be more than the previous few years.

[merlin803]

Originally Posted by Raven87

True. Of course, that would be a laughable comparison at most watercooler discussions. "Hey, the Camaro is getting its ass kicked in sales by the new "XXXX" but man, the profit is the same as it was when we sold twice as many cars!"

Then, the "XXXX" fan says this - 'But MY company is selling more cars and even though we are making less per car than yours, since we are selling MORE, we are making even MORE overall profit!'.

Which method in the end makes the most profit?

That is why a sales program based only only total overall profit would first go as low-cost as possible to build the car and maximize profit per car. GM did the opposite - they built the best car possible and yet those features and performance did not increase sales (at least for May).

Wal-mart can crow all they want about being the biggest retailer but it doesn't mean I want to shop there

[Raven87]

Originally Posted by merlin803

Wal-mart can crow all they want about being the biggest retailer but it doesn't mean I want to shop there

Exactly!

[clanky]

Originally Posted by Emoto

Whatever you do, do NOT go test drive an SS. If you do, you will find a way to make it work.

Yeah there is a lot of truth to this. I'm waiting on a ZL1 and made the mistake of going to test drive a SS... Honestly if it would have had the options I wanted I wouldn't have left without it. Fortunately it was the wrong color and didn't have sunroof/MRC/ or the right wheels. Got some weak will power I guess lol. Anyways at least if I decide not to get a ZL1 I still think I will be plenty happy with a 2ss.

[Raven87]

Originally Posted by merlin803

Honestly, considering the fact that most Camaro enthusiasts aren't willing or possibly able to move to a 6th Gen yet, along with the decision to reduce fleet sales and raise prices, I don't know why anyone would just assume that the number of sales should be more than the previous few years.

Very true. But - the numbers didn't even stay close to the same and were down quite a bit.

I don't know if anyone was counting on an increase but I think most thought the numbers would at least be somewhat better than the waning years of the 5th Gen but weren't.

I think that is the most surprising stat of all.

[Posaune]

Originally Posted by merlin803

I have no idea. Nor do I know what time table that would normally happen.

I'll just post what I did earlier:

If the 5th Gen's had say $1000 of profit per sale and the 6th Gen has $1500 profit per sale, doesn't than mean that 6000 6th Gens sold, profit wise, really equals 9000 5th Gens sold?

What if the profit per sale doubled for the 6th Gen over the 5th Gen? Doesn't that mean they could sell half as many cars and be just as profitable?

Profit per car is not as simple as that, especially early in production.

Originally Posted by merlin803

Why does it always sound like crickets in here when something like this is posted? It is like the people who are mad about the sales won't even consider it.

How do you know who has or hasn't considered buying a 6th Gen?

[merlin803]

Originally Posted by Raven87

Very true. But - the numbers didn't even stay close to the same and were down quite a bit.

I don't know if anyone was counting on an increase but I think most thought the numbers would at least be somewhat better than the waning years of the 5th Gen but weren't.

I think that is the most surprising stat of all.

I think it probably is a shock to at least Camaro/GM enthusiasts and other casual observers, I just hope that it isn't too much of a shock to GM and what they had planned.

[merlin803]

Originally Posted by Posaune

Profit per car is not as simple as that, especially early in production.

How do you know who has or hasn't considered buying a 6th Gen?

Huh?

I don't, I just know that when what GM has stated that their plan was, and a logical example is given explaining why the sales may not be a "failure", most of those people that are screaming that the sky is falling don't want to even consider it.

[Raven87]

Originally Posted by merlin803

I think it probably is a shock to at least Camaro/GM enthusiasts and other casual observers, I just hope that it isn't too much of a shock to GM and what they had planned.

After I saw the new Camaro in person and sat in it, I would have bet my next paycheck that it would kill the Mustang and Challenger in sales. I was sure of it.

The quality, the LT1 drive train, the A8 trans, the interior and instrumentation - all of it - I was 100% certain the G6 Camaro would retake the sales race just as the 5th Gen did in 2010.

It is a great car.

[andrec10]

Problem these days is most people look at price first, everything else later. But if you do the math, the Camaro is better buy. I mean hell, it beat the 81k BMW M4. What else do you want. But again, people see price first, and thats their mistake!