“The problem is that most Japanese, and now Korean with the emergence of Hyundai, customers are satisfied. GM can’t just build an equal car to win them back, they must build a car that is clearly better and they’ve yet to show they can match things like the Accord.”
Yup, when faced with a choice between say an Accord and a Malibu...if the prices are similar, people are going to go with Honda. That doesn’t mean that GM doesn’t make a good products but people remember when they didn’t.
Every Japanese car buyer is either a former domestic buyer who was burned or the child of one. Winning those customers back may not be possible, it certainly won't happen if GM's current management remains in place.
Even if they aren’t the same price people will generally go with the Accord because the resale value is substantially better, it drives better, and it has a better reputation for quality.
Comparing resale values, an eight year old Accord EX V6 is with $10500 according to the bluebook. Thats MORE than a 2000 Lincoln Town car which is worth $8875. Obviously the Towncar was worth a ton more new.
My Dad said that the Impala "Wished it was a Cadillac". I thought that summed up the car very well. A cheap car, just whitewashed to look more impressive.
Just look at their warranties. The Detroit Three, only give three (3) year or 36,000 mi or five (5) year or 60,000 mi for their basic warranty. They don't believe in their own product to last to 10 yrs or 100,000 miles. And I wonder, does Ford worry about honoring a free tune-up at 100,000 miles, or do they figure it will not cost them much, because the original buyers will have sold them off, and the warranty doesn't travel to the second owner or beyond.
I'm a proud owner of a new KIA RIO5, with a 10 yr/100,000 MILE Warranty since Monday, getting over 35 mpg on the highway.