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LS1Hawk · 06-13-2009, 08:10 AM

There isn't anything wrong with wanting a car to appeal beyond the enthusiast market. But when you specifically set out to disregard and ignore that segment, the ones that carry a passion for the name, it's going to backfire. You have to remember, the majority of people who knew what a GTO was before 2004 were 40+. The YAMs (young affluent males) that GM said they were targeting with the GTO most likely never heard of or knew what a GTO was. Yet what were they into buying? BMWs, Benzs, etc. All they knew it was a Pontiac, and no way were they going to consider a Pontiac over a BMW. Sales should have been driven by enthusiasts first and then focused on a larger market.

It's clear GM learned from their mistakes with the Camaro. What they are doing with that car they should have done with the GTO: give it retro cues from the past and gobbs of performance, let it work the show circuit for a couple years and build press and gauge public interest, then bring it to market.

06-13-2009, 08:10 AM	#27
LS1Hawk Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,308 iTrader: (0)	There isn't anything wrong with wanting a car to appeal beyond the enthusiast market. But when you specifically set out to disregard and ignore that segment, the ones that carry a passion for the name, it's going to backfire. You have to remember, the majority of people who knew what a GTO was before 2004 were 40+. The YAMs (young affluent males) that GM said they were targeting with the GTO most likely never heard of or knew what a GTO was. Yet what were they into buying? BMWs, Benzs, etc. All they knew it was a Pontiac, and no way were they going to consider a Pontiac over a BMW. Sales should have been driven by enthusiasts first and then focused on a larger market. It's clear GM learned from their mistakes with the Camaro. What they are doing with that car they should have done with the GTO: give it retro cues from the past and gobbs of performance, let it work the show circuit for a couple years and build press and gauge public interest, then bring it to market. __________________ John Last edited by LS1Hawk; 06-13-2009 at 08:11 AM.