Poll Of The Week: Should GM Bring The Opel Astra GTC To North America As A Buick?
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Our poll this week brings up the seemingly more common subject: the future of Buick; specifically, whether the Tri-Shield brand should sell the three-door Astra GTC in North America. Some would say that the car would be right at home wearing the Buick badge while others (yours truly included) believe that the sporty three-door doesn’t fit in with Buick whatsoever and GM would be better off developing a three-door Cruze that it would sell on a global basis, instead.
So, how do you feel about the Astra GTC with a waterfall grille and a Tri-Shield emblem? Put your opinion to a voe in the poll below!
Note that we ask you this on the heels of our report from a few days ago stating that the Astra has been green-lit for North America.
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It should be in NA as Chevy Cruze (does’t belong in a Buick lineup).
Lex why do you think that ?
Because Buick should be a soft luxury car, and not a 16 year old’s pimp mobile.
Lol. Well – put!
Bring the Astra here, but not as a Buick. Make it a Cruze, leave it as the Opel Astra, re-open Pontiac, anything, but not a Buick. Why? Buick is still an “old folks” car brand in the eyes of the target audience of this car. Maybe there will be a time when that perception changes? Cars like the Regal GS will help, but it’s going to take time.
You need good cars in the lineup to make that transition. Yes, it takes time but it also takes cars. This is a good car to help facilitate the change. Bring it over as the “Buick Catalyst”.
Actually you might be right about the timing? If they announce this vehicle now, you might be able to actually buy one 18-24 months from now? Maybe?
I would like to see it here. A small luxury hatch would be a nice addition to the line-up for me. I would like to move up in quality but not really in footprint and this would be a good combination. I drove the GS and really enjoyed the dynamics I think it could be a fun drive!
It should come as a Opel sold at the Buick store.
This is why Pontiac should be still alive.
When is GM going to end Buick’s identity crisis, Is it going for sport or soft?
No kiddin’! I think they’re throwing anything and everything at it right now to see if it sticks, reaping any and all of the profits/revenue, and calling it a day. Maybe when they finish putting it all in the bank they’ll begin to consider the long-term value of the brand, because right now — especially with the sub-25K Verano and Astra — it’s a hodge-podge.
I think GM should bring the GTC as a Buick, because there is a possibility that it could compete against the Volvo C30 sports hatchback
Absolutely right: the C30 is the only competitor I see. Maybe the Mini Cooper as well? But do those really need competing with?
Yes. If there isn’t a GM vehicle that competes, that’s market share we’re missing. How about an AWD hot hatch?
True. That said, the C30 only sells 300-400 units nationwide right now. If anything, I’d rather see a full-size luxury sedan that sells for $50,000+ and makes a good profit on each unit while selling more than the C30. Or maybe the Astra will leave the C30 in the dust so far as sales go… we’ll see 🙂
They might as well compare to Volkswagen Golf GTI
Another possibilty is the Fiat 500, and the Chrysler Ypsilon…..
I think 500 is on spark’s territory.
Are you sure? What about the Abarth esseesse (SS)?
Didnt Saturn bring the Astra over here a few years ago ?
Yep, as a five and three door hatchback. In the second Transformers movie, the main characters are escaping one of the Decepticons in an Astra five door, the vehicle that gets sliced in half.
I actually drove one today. It’s not great.
I almost bought one, actually. 2010 Astra XR 3 door.
I have an idea create a new brand called Opel USA… “The German car you always wished you could drive.” Ha anyway, just bring it over man good grief, who cares what its sold as…
Alex likes this 🙂
I agree 🙂
Actually if done right, meaning not verbatim the Opel this could be a nice vehicle for Buick, Here is my thing, invest in some sheet metal modifications have a suicide door behind the driver for access to back seat. Make car unique and even more sexy…
If you are having a hard time seeing this as a Buick it is because you are thinking about the 1989 Century you or somebody older than you drove back in the day. Buick is reinventing itself remember, in other words it is a clean slate. I think Buick should throw stuff at the market to see what sticks, it is worth reinventing the brand if they have to make mistakes along the way. I find it hard to believe that using Opel’s along the way of reinvention would be a mistake. If in 10 years we are all driving smokin hot 2 door coups by Buick because Buick is the hotest car brand ever than haleluia…
I’m just a fan of brand consistency… purity as well, but purity doesn’t always pay as far as ROI is concerned.
My stance, in general, for firms: do one thing well. Do it very well. Heck, be the best at it. Or don’t do it.
Lexus, for instance, makes very good soft luxury cars. It tried to spice up its vehicles with the F line, and ended up effing it up (pun intended). No one buys F products. But for the most part, Lexus did and still does soft lux the best.
BMW does performance lux the best. Intel makes the best processors. Dell makes the best cheap computers/personal devices. Hyundai is well on its way of making the best affordable cars, even at $50,000, the Equus is a bargain compared to a $100,000 S-Class.
At the end of the day, each brand/company is known for one thing it does very well, or has done ver well, historically. If Buick is reinventing itself, what is that one thing that it will be known for? What’s its forté? I guess this all comes back to the question: what is Buick?
It bugs me that I don’t know the exact answer to this question. There’s a bunch of “middle ground” stance on the brand for GM execs, journalists, and marketing analysts… but they’re all saying something different.
The GTC would have made a great Pontiac.
I hate to be nostalgic, but the thought of a Pontiac lineup featuring models based around the Opel GTC and Insignia to go with the G8 and Solstice would have been a dynamite lineup and makes me sigh every time I think such things.
Totally agreed. And then Buick could do the “soft lux” thing without any kind of dilution.
On a side note, maybe we should have “Like” buttons on our comments…? Or maybe a vote up/down system?
Yes, like buttons!! I like it lol
Looks like we have some coding work to do! 🙂
Alex – agree 100% if I pulled up in a 86 BMW and you had a 2011 BMW, anyone would know that these were from the same brand. That level of consistency in design language and branding is remarkable and is exactly why BMW is the leader in there market. This is exactly what GM is missing in so many ways especially with Buick, GM needs to fine tune buick no question. Until then they need to figure out who is willing to purchase there cars so throwing rebadged Opels in the mix is a great idea for now, but not the long term…
Buick has come along way in a short time, just think a couple of years ago all they had were Lucernes and badly designed lacrosses.
Very well-put!
Manoli, Pontiac will forever be missed, its unbelievable its gone. We can only fantasize what could’ve been. Now we are stuck with trying to figure out what a tired old brand like Buick should be. You guys should do a poll asking if GM should bring back Pontiac.
What if Opel were to replace Pontiac globally?
That would be a good idea but except IF Opel does make it’s shore here then it has to be a afforadable sporty niche brand to differentiate Buick.
You’re right it would have to focus more on performance and affordability to keep a line between Buick AND Cadillac’s V range.
Yeah. It would need to be different in the way Opel is different from Caddy today. FWD-focused performance.
For instance, I never see Caddy with a Corsa-like vehicle. Or even something like the Astra GTC. But I’d be all for having some of those fine Opels here in the States. Opel could even compete with Audi’s FWD-based AWD performance approach and let Caddy take on BMW in RWD/RWD-based AWD. That would also fix them up in Europe and accomplish that upmarket goal they’ve been discussing.
But if they do bring to here should Opel make something that’s kinda like G8 to compete with say Charger??
I think that the Camaro competes pretty well with the Charger, it’s blown the Dodge away in every test. Besides, the Camaro doesn’t have a stupid chrome piece that screams “FUEL” on the side in case Cletus forgot what goes in that hole.
Gets back to the discusion a while back about starting out here with little boutique like stores, so corsas and astras would be decked out and compete with mini and fiat… no reason to bring over insignia at first… ha or sell previous gen Saturn aura as insignia here with some updated sheet metal, (no that’s stupid) just thinkin outside box…
The fact is Opel has a great selection of auto’s that belong in more than just European markets. Opel needs a team within GM researching possible intro to NA evaluating best vehicles for placement here, and maybe even a NA exclusive vehicle with German inspiration that Vic suggested. This really is a no brainer… Time 4 GM to explore all possibilitiies.
Opel/Holden dealerships all you get are decked out models…
But then I thought of it when the first G8 comes out, I’ve wonder why Pontiac never offer a touch screen nav considering people are paying around 30s to 40s for that car.
Sweet, a Opel based on next gen Camaro. The design could be a take on a retro Opel or a crazy futuristc street machine… Opel needs something crazy radical…
I wonder if something like that would “fit in” size-wise. I have a hunch that the upcoming Opel flagship will be similar to the LaCrosse… and if that’s the case, there’s no room (from a dimensional perspective) for something like a G8 or something Alpha-based. Unless it’s a gullwing-door-wielding crazy car. 🙂
Yes, crazy gull wing alpha platform, sweet…
Draw up the plans now…