Why vettes,gt40's and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

[GTS Bruce]

Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

Yep we love them and there is a certain amount of free marketing.However there is really no logical link between a DC,GM or FORD supercar and the cars they need to sell to stay in business.To stay in business DC needs great products in daily driver MB,Chrysler,Dodge,car and truck products.DC makes money on ram trucks,vans,cars,the 300.This is where design,engineering,styling and quality control need to go.The same goes for GM and Ford.You think anyone buys a focus or f150 because of the gt40?A cobalt or trailblazer because of the vette?Nope.They buy Toyota,etc.. because it is a superior product.Not because of truck or F1 race cars.My point is that the supercars are mostly ego building for the mnfgr's that can not compete in the car and truck market.Supercars are a waste of effort.To stay in business they need to sell lots of great cars and trucks to regular drives not a few supercars.If you sell enough superior cars and trucks there is plenty of money to build supercars,race cars and trucks to play with.It doesn't work the other way around. GTS Bruce

 

[ROCKET62]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

Why some posters on this website are a waste of computer disk space

.... blah ...... blah ...... blah......blah ...... blah ...... blah......

Add something worth while Viper related that add to the experience of owning a Viper or please don't waste our time!

 

[TCKTPLZ]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

Yep we love them and there is a certain amount of free marketing.However there is really no logical link between a DC,GM or FORD supercar and the cars they need to sell to stay in business.To stay in business DC needs great products in daily driver MB,Chrysler,Dodge,car and truck products.DC makes money on ram trucks,vans,cars,the 300.This is where design,engineering,styling and quality control need to go.The same goes for GM and Ford.You think anyone buys a focus or f150 because of the gt40?A cobalt or trailblazer because of the vette?Nope.They buy Toyota,etc.. because it is a superior product.Not because of truck or F1 race cars.My point is that the supercars are mostly ego building for the mnfgr's that can not compete in the car and truck market.Supercars are a waste of effort.To stay in business they need to sell lots of great cars and trucks to regular drives not a few supercars.If you sell enough superior cars and trucks there is plenty of money to build supercars,race cars and trucks to play with.It doesn't work the other way around. GTS Bruce

From the mountains of Tibet, through the plains of Cambodia, to the pyramids in Timbuktu; does anyone give a flying f*ck?

 

[got one]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

You MIGHT be right...but who cares. Image brand Marketing, they need that Viper. And if Exotics don't bring in money...how can you explain the Vette lasting as long as it has. Ferrari, Lambo's...etc....not moneyworth going after, tell that to those folks who have been doing it for almost 50 years...I think you might be wrong on that one.

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

Its obvious car manufacturers are going to sell more of their everyday cars, therefore making more $$ from that market. But for those of us who are lucky enough to be able to drive the exotics, isnt it nice having that opportunity? Just b/c Dodge may sell a 500,000 Interpids in a year and only a couple thousand Vipers, I bet the Viper owners dont care as long as they have their Viper.

 

[IEATVETS]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

Having a bad day Bruce?

 

[rcdice]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

Very tough issue to dissect. First off, quality, reliability, fit and finish and the perception thereof needs to be brought up to the standards of the Japanese in the mass market. No question. Regarding making money on sports cars... how many vettes does GM sell a year, 20,000? At an average of say $40k each after rebates,etc. they have to be making money. That's a ton of cash flow. Viper may be a different story. The Viper and Ford GT are more about brand image. In a world where companies pay $2mil for a 30 second spot during the superbowl, I'm not so sure you can discount having a car like the Viper with your name on it.

Ever have someone look at your car and ask what it is? You say Dodge Viper and their response is "Dodge makes that"? Boom!!! Brand image just went up in that potential customers mind.

 

[GTS Bruce]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

No a good day actualy.Lambo is owned by I can't remember,Ferrari is owned by Fiat.Corvette is owned by the people that gave us the chevette.Toyota,Honda,etc put their efforts into world class cars and trucks.They have enough money to send people to mars,dominate all forms of racing and hopefullly build some inexpensive supercars when ever they get the urge.Obviously not with Viper torque.DC built Viper to save a k car company.GM builds corvette to save a chevette car company.Ford builds the GT40 to save a taurus car company.Toyota,Honda etc.. can do whatever they desire with their pocket change.Just contemplating is the cart before the horse or the horse pulling the cart?Nope I'm not pulling pud.Glad to have an opportunity to own a Viper however it came about. GTS Bruce

 

[hemibeep]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

"DC built Viper to save a k car company."
Correct. To reinvent brand image.
"GM builds corvette to save a chevette car company"
What the he!! does this mean? I think the vette came out a few years prior?
"Ford builds the GT40 to save a taurus car company"
not sure, but I think not.

Yes, the companies do have these "image" cars and some are profitable and some are not. The Viper was probably never a money maker. BUT, the Viper did sway many buyers to revive Ma Mopar. If you really think about Mopar, what saved their **** was the caravan.

Hey, if you feel that these ICON cars are a waste of corporate resources, PLEASE DO NOT GO TO WORK for any AUTOMOBILE manufacturer. As an auto fanatic myself, I LOVE what they are doing.
I think we could all come up with other large corp. wastes that are a much bigger issues.

 

[GTS Bruce]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

I do not invest in car companies.I would specificaly not invest where I work under any circumstance.Unless it was short term throw down the toilet speculation money.Invest where you work and risk losing job and retirement.Yep many examples to the contrary.ie IBM and xerox in the 40's and 50's.RAD in the 70's through 90's.Have to know when to get out or cut your losses though. GTS Bruce

 

[98viperGTS]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

I believe that the high performance cars that are in question benefit the daily driver cars in many ways. They use our cars as test beds for new products. Such as fuel injection vs. the carburetor, sorry that the example is so dated but it makes the point. Also the reliability issue is tested on performance cars because if it will take the beating of the track then it has proven itself. Sometimes you have to break even on one line of cars to improve the line that is your bread and butter. Just my point of view.

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

Apply that commentary to Mobil. They produce a "superior" product called Mobil 1 synthetic engine oil that the population could really live without, as the mineral oils would do fine. And in fact, like all other big oil companies, Mobil sells 10X more mineral oil than synthetic. They've just chosen to go to market using the "halo product" campaign, and many on this forum would say it's successful.

The logical link is business school basic marketing, which starts with building awareness of and interest in a brand, not a specific product. That's a lot harder to do if you're only selling inexpensive, commodity generic drugs; each company needs their version of ****** to differentiate themselves. I think you have it exactly backwards, that it's not free marketing, it's part of an integrated marketing plan. And they don't just market with "supercars", they go NASCAR racing on Sundays with the family car, they go drag racing with obsolete hemi engines, they spill the "SRT" concept over Neons, Magnums, and Jeeps, and all sorts of other things to satisfy your ego, Bruce, not theirs.

 

[Viper Fever]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

As Tom just said the "halo" effect.I love my vipers
and am a total dodge convert from ford.Did dodge make money
from me buying vipers you bet.I have 2 dodge diesel
trucks a jeep and just ordered the new 300 very excited
about the 300.GM wasn't even a thought as well as ford.

 

[AviP]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

To stay in business they need to sell lots of great cars and trucks to regular drives not a few supercars.If you sell enough superior cars and trucks there is plenty of money to build supercars,race cars and trucks to play with.It doesn't work the other way around.

Spot on, Bruce. That's why Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche are no longer in business. Detroit needs visionaries like you. ROTFLMAO.

 

[garolittle]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

Someone's got their *****'s in a wod.

 

[jimster]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

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What does this thread have to do with Vipers?

Mods, delete this dribble before it becomes infectious.

 

[Jay Herbert]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

...DC built Viper to save a k car company.GM builds corvette to save a chevette car company.Ford builds the GT40 to save a taurus car company.Toyota,Honda etc.. can do whatever they desire with their pocket change.Just contemplating is the cart before the horse or the horse pulling the cart?Nope I'm not pulling pud.Glad to have an opportunity to own a Viper however it came about. GTS Bruce

No fair, you already knew the answer

 

[Anaconda]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

Yep we love them and there is a certain amount of free marketing.However there is really no logical link between a DC,GM or FORD supercar and the cars they need to sell to stay in business.To stay in business DC needs great products in daily driver MB,Chrysler,Dodge,car and truck products.DC makes money on ram trucks,vans,cars,the 300.This is where design,engineering,styling and quality control need to go.The same goes for GM and Ford.You think anyone buys a focus or f150 because of the gt40?A cobalt or trailblazer because of the vette?Nope.They buy Toyota,etc.. because it is a superior product.Not because of truck or F1 race cars.My point is that the supercars are mostly ego building for the mnfgr's that can not compete in the car and truck market.Supercars are a waste of effort.To stay in business they need to sell lots of great cars and trucks to regular drives not a few supercars.If you sell enough superior cars and trucks there is plenty of money to build supercars,race cars and trucks to play with.It doesn't work the other way around. GTS Bruce

What a worthless post.

Cars such as the Viper, Corvette, Ford GT, help to improve the image of the company they are from. It gives a hip, young feel to the brand. It makes it cooler to own a car from that company. Not to mention that it gives a lot of free advertising to the company. How many magazines have run articles about the Viper as compared to say the Stratus?

Dodge did something really smart by taking some of the Viper's styling cues and bringing across the product line. The crosshair front fascia of the Viper was brought to trucks, to make them sort of appear to be complimentary products.

I don't know what you are whining about, but you obviously don't know anything about marketing, brand loyalty, or advertising.

 

[GTS Dean]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

they go drag racing with obsolete hemi engines,

And still do quite well with a 40 year old basic design - 500ci, 7000+ hp - thank you!

 

[thebigsnake]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

Bruce, you have to think outside the box. In this case the box is North America, where all speeding on roads are banned.
Super cars and their top speed capabilities are still very relevant to Europeans.
Auto makers don't build cars just for America.

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

Not a slam, Dean, I was only referring to availability in current vehicles.

PS We designed oils for Top Fuel engines that "claimed" closer to 9000 hp. Interestingly, if you calculate the engine speed, vehicle speed, and distance traveled, the engine rotates less than a thousand times during a race (I think that's right.) But they would still pancake a bearing. Too funny when the engine builder comes out and announces "hey, those look pretty good!"

 

[Viperfreak2]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

GM invested(?) 3 billion to start Saturn. Toyota invested 1 billion to start Lexus. It's all about image....

 

[kARLUG]

Re: Why vettes,gt40\'s and vipers are a waste of corporate resources

Its all about image and marketing. I'm sure that Dodge doesn't make a profit on Viper sales but the image enhancement is invaluable. Ask any kid what a Viper is and the eyes lite up. Also true with most adults. The specialty cars give the manufacturers great public exposure that you can't put a price tag on. Why do the major manufacturers pour millions into racing? Not because of the
huge profits but image and name recognition. Its a little naive to think that the manufacturers put out specialty cars to satisfy egos. If it didn't enhance their bottom line they wouldn't be doing it.