I wonder why Tiger Woods is no longer shilling for Buick?
~smirk~
I also wondered why he would associate himself with a vehicle driven only by rich old white women?
Posted on 04/06/2011 12:24:39 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
While Butler University's long-shot bid collapsed Monday night against the University of Connecticut in the NCAA title game, basketball fans got a glimpse of another Cinderella story that may have a better chance of success.
Buick, the long-struggling General Motors brand, recently signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the NCAA, highlighted by the debut of a new “anthem” commercial during the final days of March Madness.
“Our intention is to plant the flag and inspire a reappraisal of Buick,” said Craig Bierley, the brand’s marketing chief.
Not many Americans are aware that Buick is still around, Bierley concedes. Indeed, many analysts have long urged GM to abandon Buick, and it was expected to be one of the first brands to go when the giant carmaker plunged into government-controlled bankruptcy in 2009.
The U.S. government forced GM to cut four of its eight North American brands. In the end, Saturn, Hummer and Pontiac were closed, while Saab was sold. Buick survived, along with Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC.
Buick not only survived, it’s now starting to thrive. For the first two months of the year, the nameplate, which is being positioned as a mid-luxury brand, outsold Lexus, a vehicle brand that has long been dominant in the U.S. luxury market.
Lexus regained its lead in March and the two carmakers were, in turn, surpassed by BMW for the first quarter.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Buick’s decision to reveal the concept vehicle in China rather than at April’s New York Auto Show is significant, yet not really surprising. In fact, Ed Welburn, GM’s global design director, acknowledges Buick likely only still exists “because of China.”
In a curious twist of fate, the last emperor owned a Buick, which was later captured by the communists only to become the prize possession of Mao’s long-time lieutenant Zhou Enlai. When GM approached Chinese officials a dozen years ago with plans to put a factory in Shanghai, the company was told it had to produce Buicks rather than one of the company’s stronger brands. Since then, GM has grown to become China’s largest automaker, and Buick one of its largest foreign brands.
Now the challenge for Buick is to reproduce their success in China here in the United States, “where the perception [of the Buick brand] is out of touch with reality,” lamented Chris Perry, GM’s North American marketing director.
Now while I knew Buicks sold very well in China; I did not know it was because the Chinese strong-armed GM into it.
I swear every old geezer in town drives one of these with a big anchor dragging behind....
Well the DUmmie Bobo the Hobo is probably interested (she’s homeless in case you didn’t know.)
A communist loved car, going to be made in Chimerica, by gummint, union workers at a cost of $500/hour/worker and not using more than 20 workers for no more than 50 hours each.
Such a deal.
My grandfather always drove big Buick boats. Every one of those danged things had a squealing water pump. Could always hear him coming from three blocks away.
Chrysler’s and GM.
No Thanks.
I once owned two Buick Rivieras. I now drive Hondas.
I once owned two Buick Rivieras. I now drive Hondas.
“Now while I knew Buicks sold very well in China; I did not know it was because the Chinese strong-armed GM into it.”
It goes way back. Around the turn of the century (not this one) a Buick won a cross country race in Asia and the Chinese remember that. The name has a lot of cachet in Cina and it was in the Shanghai GM design studio that the fresh new look of Buick got started with the LaCrosse.
Two old guys are in a Buick going down the road when they barely miss getting T-boned at an intersection.
One says, “Gosh that was close. You did a fine job driving to avoid getting us killed!”
The other says, “I’m driving?”.
I once owned a Buick Electra 225. My Toyota is one third its size.
I thought it was because Buick was a brand name they could pronounce better than Cadirrack, Orsmobire or Chevloret.
Hey now My wife is White and 40, unless you consider 40 old? SARC. We love her Enclave.
Buick Electra 225
I think it is amusing to point out that lexis is just a toyota with pretty trim. Most of those “geezers” hate that truth.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.