Subaru and GM part company

dcarrb · #1 10-05-2005, 07:24 AM

Enter Toyota

This is probably a very good move for Subaru.

dcb

Landshark · #2 10-05-2005, 09:02 AM

IBShadowsaysSubarumadeworstdecisionevAr

dcarrb · #3 10-05-2005, 09:05 AM

I read an editorial awhile back speculating that Toyota should buy GM.

dcb

Chiketkd · #4 10-05-2005, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Landshark

IBShadowsaysSubarumadeworstdecisionevAr

+12345

-Chike

svxsubaru1 · #5 10-05-2005, 10:32 AM

Well i guess no more cheap 92xs (imprezas) with he GM employe discount.

Shadow248 · #6 10-05-2005, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Landshark

IBShadowsaysSubarumadeworstdecisionevAr

Actually, GM made a good decision. It's a waste of time for GM to mess with Subaru. Couldn't hurt Subaru though. If anything, you guys should be worried about your beloved cars losing anything resembling excitement. Look at what Toyota currently offers. You want a Subaru line like that? I wouldn't.

Good luck to ya.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcarrb

I read an editorial awhile back speculating that Toyota should buy GM.

Why would Toyota want all that debt? I've heard so many people saying how Toyota could buy GM...etc. Why would they? They'd gain nothing but a huge burden. Instead, Toyota has elected to help GM buy actually RAISING prices in their US lineup. I used to think that Toyota was out to get GM, but I am now questioning the presumption that Toyota wants to be on top. I'm starting to believe that they really don't care. They did nothing to counter GM's employee pricing (which increased their market share singlehandedly by almost 10%), and have made several moves that actually help GM in the long run. So i dunno. Maybe they're just crazy.

Mr. Pockets · #7 10-05-2005, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadow248

Instead, Toyota has elected to help GM buy actually RAISING prices in their US lineup. I used to think that Toyota was out to get GM, but I am now questioning the presumption that Toyota wants to be on top. I'm starting to believe that they really don't care. They did nothing to counter GM's employee pricing (which increased their market share singlehandedly by almost 10%), and have made several moves that actually help GM in the long run. So i dunno. Maybe they're just crazy.

Please provide a link showing an announcement from Toyota that they're raising prices to help GM. The last I heard, Toyota denied they were going to do this.

Toyota are concerned about the Big Three. They're worried that one of them failing would cause patriotic backlash against them.

As for Toyota not countering GM's employee pricing, I don't think that was restraint on their part. I think it shows how comfortable of a position they're in.

Royal Tiger · #8 10-06-2005, 04:35 PM

Does this mean there will not be a new Corolla Rally car anytime soon in WRC? And can we get the Toyota F1 car painted with a blue rear wing just for us?

Shadow248 · #9 10-06-2005, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Pockets

Please provide a link showing an announcement from Toyota that they're raising prices to help GM. The last I heard, Toyota denied they were going to do this.

You could say the motivation is open to interpretation. Toyota will not say that they did it to "save GM" (and that's the wrong way to put it even if it IS the truth), but look at Toyota's current position, portfolio and future plans. You will see how much they have to gain by keeping GM around. It does make sense.

That being said, I won't argue that there is undeniable evidence that they decided to raise prices to help GM, only that they did decide to raise prices.

http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/...e_20050730.htm

http://money.cnn.com/2005/07/26/Autos/toyota_prices/

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Pockets

As for Toyota not countering GM's employee pricing, I don't think that was restraint on their part. I think it shows how comfortable of a position they're in.

This could have been their position going into the "price wars", however, on the tail end, I guarantee you Hiroshi Okuda is kicking himself. GM gained almost 5% in market share thanks to their aggressive pricing. The company's stock has stabilized and their aggressive fixed-cost cutting measures will only further the improvement of GM's situation. Seeing as prices of most of GM's lineup will not be returning to their previous levels, Toyota's ever-slowing march on GM may finally come to a halt.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/Auto...175.A8785.html

benebob · #10 10-07-2005, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadow248

GM gained almost 5% in market share thanks to their aggressive pricing. The company's stock has stabilized and their aggressive fixed-cost cutting measures will only further the improvement of GM's situation. Seeing as prices of most of GM's lineup will not be returning to their previous levels, Toyota's ever-slowing march on GM may finally come to a halt.

Yeah a gain, they will pay for during the next 2 years. How many people are gonna buy a GM that isn't offered at a discount? Everyone will wait for the price to come down in their head (even though they are now priced a little more in line with other manufactures). 20 years of rebates will do that to ya. It will REALLY hurt them for the next couple of years but it is something that should've been done well 19.5 years ago. Toyota's march won't end until GM can get a clue on designing an engine that doesn't sound like 2 pushrods eating themselves.

Shadow248 · #11 10-08-2005, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benebob

Yeah a gain, they will pay for during the next 2 years. How many people are gonna buy a GM that isn't offered at a discount? Everyone will wait for the price to come down in their head (even though they are now priced a little more in line with other manufactures). 20 years of rebates will do that to ya. It will REALLY hurt them for the next couple of years but it is something that should've been done well 19.5 years ago. Toyota's march won't end until GM can get a clue on designing an engine that doesn't sound like 2 pushrods eating themselves.

We'll see won't we?

Seeing as GM's "pushrod eating" engines are outperforming Toyota's engines in both power and economy, one could argue quite effectively that GM has little need for change in that department.

BTW - 32 valves make alot more noise than 16. That's a matter of physics.

Royal Tiger · #12 10-08-2005, 09:06 PM

If you look at the products portfolios for both, Toyota is catching or exceeding the General across the board. Lexus usually out scores Caddy in the magazine write ups, the new Tundra looks like a winner when it hits the street, and the Tacoma walks all over that POS Colorado. Why GM decided that the Colorado/Canyon would get a vibration happy I-5 when it's I-6 (Trailblazer/Envoy) was winning all kinds of acclaim is beyond me. The new Impala is a great idea, but it looks like a pumped up Malibu. The new Camry is going to blow you away when you see it. GM needs to wake up. But thankfully ford is still in worse shape.

MNYPNNY · #13 10-08-2005, 09:12 PM

I just want Subaru unique styling back. The new body style and the new SUV = ick IMHO

Landshark · #14 10-08-2005, 11:35 PM

....................

NikFu S. · #15 10-09-2005, 12:45 AM

Subaru wants the hybrid technology.