Autoblog

Be Oh Be @ Jan 11th 2007 11:26AM

Didn't really say too much on the next generation Impala, and he didn't really answer the question about the threat from the Tundra very clearly, but overall, it was an interesting read.

Chevy definitely has some compelling vehicles coming out, the new Malibu looks good, the Camaro is frigging awesome obviously, and hopefully the rear drive Impala will be cool (I'm sure it will be). The problem for GM will be trying to get people in my age group to take the Chevy brand seriously. Especially college educated people in their 30s who don't live in the Midwest who would only consider import products. That's going to be very tough to shake themselves of the stigma of being a "lower class" or non-"hip" vehicle to own. Here in Houston, I see very few people in that demographic driving Chevy cars (I see tons of them driving Tahoes and Yukons though - those are extremely popular here in Texas, with every age group). I don't know for sure though, maybe that isn't necessarily the crowd they're going after, but you definitely need them, especially with cars that are going to be priced in the upper 20s to low 30s (I'm sure the Malibu LTZ or the next gen Impala will be kind of expensive). Hey, maybe that's what Saturn is for.?? I don't know.
The Malibu will sell well, if it's priced correctly and marketed well.

I owned a 98 Camaro Z28 - aside from the plasticky interior, the car rocked a donkey's ass. I loved it (and I miss it). It had a ton of character, and it was fun as shit to drive. Almost all of my friends, whether they were BMW fans, truck guys, not even really car guys, thought that car was cool as hell. I'm seriously considering getting a 2009 when it comes out - I'm 10 years older and probably don't really need one, but what the hell? Chevy is banking on a lot of those kind of sales - for their sake, I hope that get them.