Comments on: Leftlane sits down with Brian Shipman, Product Manager for the Pontiac G8 http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html Car news, reviews, and specs for the auto-industry Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:21:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: bigp http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-367315 bigp Thu, 20 Mar 2008 23:34:23 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-367315 the resale vaule of v8 cars like this will go throw the roof once the 2020 cafe hits the resale vaule of v8 cars like this will go throw the roof once the 2020 cafe hits

]]> By: Kiwiguy http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-367043 Kiwiguy Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:45:32 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-367043 Why the hell is this peice of shit car getting so much coverage?!?!?!? Why the hell is this peice of shit car getting so much coverage?!?!?!?

]]> By: CleanGTO http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-367038 CleanGTO Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:29:59 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-367038 A manual available for the entire range is NECESSARY if you want to sell to the ENTHUSIAST. A manual available for the entire range is NECESSARY if you want to sell to the ENTHUSIAST.

]]> By: jjayc08 http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-366796 jjayc08 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:02:43 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-366796 TomF- I think that sport wagon territory you talk about is Subaru territory for the most part. Does anybody have sales numbers on the Subaru Outback/Legacy wagon? TomF- I think that sport wagon territory you talk about is Subaru territory for the most part. Does anybody have sales numbers on the Subaru Outback/Legacy wagon?

]]> By: TomF http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-366763 TomF Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:51:32 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-366763 I think the Magnum was a fringe vehicle owing to styling and marketing. It looked like a show car from Ed "big Daddy" Roth, not a Costco-and-soccer field runner. The size was right but it was a self-limiting proposition -- my wife wouldn't even go sit in one because of its looks. Why is 70% of Volvo's US volume station wagons? There's a bunch of overpriced, so-so quality vehicles that are marketed on the basis of a 40-year-old safety "brand story" and vague Euro-prestige allure, but they do really well. I think there's a big untapped "sportwagon" market in which a $23k-$28k G8 wagon would've been a home run. I think the Magnum was a fringe vehicle owing to styling and marketing. It looked like a show car from Ed “big Daddy” Roth, not a Costco-and-soccer field runner. The size was right but it was a self-limiting proposition — my wife wouldn’t even go sit in one because of its looks.

Why is 70% of Volvo’s US volume station wagons? There’s a bunch of overpriced, so-so quality vehicles that are marketed on the basis of a 40-year-old safety “brand story” and vague Euro-prestige allure, but they do really well. I think there’s a big untapped “sportwagon” market in which a $23k-$28k G8 wagon would’ve been a home run.

]]> By: eliteski2 http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-366761 eliteski2 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:46:56 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-366761 I agree that there could be an unseen market for the wagon. However to say that there are no american options isn't fair. Dodge just stopped building the Magnum, possibly the coolest and most American wagon anyone could build, because of slow sales. This could be attributed to dodge's low quality problems, but I don't think that is responsible for it all. The manual should definitely be offered throughout the lineup. They're already investing the money to create the ability to put a manual in the car, why not offer it on the lower models? The world doesn't have nearly enough fun, manual, large/midsize sedans. I agree that there could be an unseen market for the wagon. However to say that there are no american options isn’t fair. Dodge just stopped building the Magnum, possibly the coolest and most American wagon anyone could build, because of slow sales. This could be attributed to dodge’s low quality problems, but I don’t think that is responsible for it all.

The manual should definitely be offered throughout the lineup. They’re already investing the money to create the ability to put a manual in the car, why not offer it on the lower models? The world doesn’t have nearly enough fun, manual, large/midsize sedans.

]]> By: injunraiv http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-366759 injunraiv Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:42:38 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-366759 TomF, I think Chrysler might have proved the wagon market is dead with the Magnum. If that didn't sell, what will? TomF, I think Chrysler might have proved the wagon market is dead with the Magnum. If that didn’t sell, what will?

]]> By: SWM335 http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-366755 SWM335 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:55:24 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-366755 I think it is a dumb move to only offer a manual with the GXP model. I was really considering this car for my next vehicle, but now that I can't get the manual with the GT, it has just been scratched off the list. I think it is a dumb move to only offer a manual with the GXP model. I was really considering this car for my next vehicle, but now that I can’t get the manual with the GT, it has just been scratched off the list.

]]> By: TomF http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-366753 TomF Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:44:44 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-366753 The guy's point of view on the station wagon market is short-sighted. There's only 100k annual wagon sales in the US because of lack of selection (including ZERO US-made options). People who want wagons and would probably buy a G8 Sportwagon are forced into crossovers and cute-utes instead. If the product were out there, it'd sell. Under GM's reasoning, Iacocca would've spiked the minivan project in 1982 because "there's no evidence station wagon buyers want a vehicle like this" and gone on building Aries and Reliant wagons. Why is it considered smart to throw the 50th option at the premium / near-luxury sedan market, which is clearly finite, but dumb to compete with just one American product in the station wagon market owned by Subaru, Volvo and VW? The guy’s point of view on the station wagon market is short-sighted. There’s only 100k annual wagon sales in the US because of lack of selection (including ZERO US-made options). People who want wagons and would probably buy a G8 Sportwagon are forced into crossovers and cute-utes instead. If the product were out there, it’d sell.

Under GM’s reasoning, Iacocca would’ve spiked the minivan project in 1982 because “there’s no evidence station wagon buyers want a vehicle like this” and gone on building Aries and Reliant wagons.

Why is it considered smart to throw the 50th option at the premium / near-luxury sedan market, which is clearly finite, but dumb to compete with just one American product in the station wagon market owned by Subaru, Volvo and VW?

]]> By: injunraiv http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-366752 injunraiv Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:37:25 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/leftlane-sits-down-with-brian-shipman-product-manager-for-the-pontiac-g8.html#comment-366752 Another in the long line of 'who cares' articles. LLN, we want CARS! Another in the long line of ‘who cares’ articles. LLN, we want CARS!

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