why the c8 is coming out sooner rather than later

[JB]

Salemen can only sell what they can actually get to the dealerships. I dont know whats true or not with regards to when the c8 will be released...but i do know a good way to sell existing inventory is to suggest the next generation vehicle has hit a snag and will be delayed.

car salemen say whatever it takes to sell existing inventory...

take you tube videos with a grain of salt.

none of us know when the c8 official release will be at this point.


Salesmens job is to sell what they can get their hands on now.

corvette c7 sales this year are off dramatically from last year.

corvette sales were off 51 percent last month.

down 51.5 percent for the month compared to last year.


Year to date corvette sales are off 23 percent.

down from 22800 to 17500 units.

from a business perspective ...

the c8 cant come out soon enough...

[John]

I sure agree with you, “the C8 can’t come out soon enough.”

How about tomorrow!

[Mobius]

How about tomorrow!

I checked the web... no news yet, but it's still early.

[Busa Dave]

ROI! For GM it cannot come soon enough... That being said---they better get the bugs out of this one before it is released or it will not be pretty especially since this is a radical departure from the old technology of the C7 in my opinion. GM does not want a list of problems to deal with in the press or with owners on this one.

[John]

As a few of us said about a year ago over lunch, there are two critical things that GM must get right for the ME. Many of you have echoed both things here several times since.

First, the DCT must be excellent in its execution, especially decelerating to a stop and taking off from one; and,

Second, it must have its cooling perfected, for a mid engine is a harder car to cool than a front engined one.

[C8-wannabe]

So, can we assume C7's will be discounted even more next year?

Currently, depending on model, prices are what, up to 20% off MSRP - will it go to 25% or more?

Looking at used C7 prices, some are about the same as you could get a deal on a new one.

[JB]

So, can we assume C7's will be discounted even more next year?

Currently, depending on model, prices are what, up to 20% off MSRP - will it go to 25% or more?

Looking at used C7 prices, some are about the same as you could get a deal on a new one.

I believe 25% is doable next year.

i would shop new starting in january rather than 2018 calender year. The more corvettes dealers sell next year The larger allocation of c8 s they will get motivating them to really give away c7 s next year.

jmo

[WoW Factor]

According to a thread on GM Authority only 1,244 Corvettes sold during November 2018, a 51.5% drop from November 2017. Another reason C8 needs to be out soon.

[C8-wannabe]

I believe 25% is doable next year.

i would shop new starting in january rather than 2018 calender year. The more corvettes dealers sell next year The larger allocation of c8 s they will get motivating them to really give away c7 s next year.

jmo

Yup, I agree. I bought my C5 new end of Jan., and it has been the only new car I've bought ever. I prefer to buy used and save the MSRP depreciation, however if used prices are so close to discounted new ones...

[JB]

According to a thread on GM Authority only 1,244 Corvettes sold during November 2018, a 51.5% drop from November 2017. Another reason C8 needs to be out soon.

Last year wasnt a banner year for corvettes at 22k units ...year to date corvettes sales are down 23 percent...at 17400 units to the end of the year with one month to go.

[John]

According to a thread on GM Authority only 1,244 Corvettes sold during November 2018, a 51.5% drop from November 2017. Another reason C8 needs to be out soon.

Thank you very much WoW Factor. I did not want to place a “like” next to your post because that is bad news. What is expecially troublesome is that during November they made 93 per day for 20 days, or 1860 new C7’s. That deliveries to production ratio is going to get even worse for December, January, and February, e.g. so many more unsold new Corvette piling up every month. Add another 600+ more unsold Corvettes sitting on Corvette dealers lots just for November alone.

As we also know, every day a bunch of non-forum Corvette folks are waking up to learn about the upcoming C8, and consequently that ratio is going to get worse for perhaps not just the winter, but maybe for early Spring and even summer? A key question we do not know, is whether GM is, as their plans were in December 11, 2017 in an internal document they shared with their dealers on that date, going to keep making 2019 C7’s through next March.

[C8-wannabe]

Is that the plan, to stock up on C7 inventory. Then have the plant go through the C8 change over, including, isn't there usually a BG summer production lapse?

[Shadow]

Yes, there is typically a two week summer shut down. However, for a generation to generation change, there is typical a 6 to 8 week shut down for re-tooling.

[John]

Last year wasnt a banner year for corvettes at 22k units ...year to date corvettes sales are down 23 percent...at 17400 units to the end of the year with one month to go.

Couple that with the declined November sales rate, though factoring fewer deliveries for December (even worse weather), that would mean around 18,500 new Corvettes deliveries to customers this year.

I was told years ago that thisannual sales rate is still a “break even” rate, so even during the 2018 calendar year, GM did not lose any money on the C7, maybe even made a little bit.

GM has made around $2B in profits on the C7, so even if sales next “half year” are less than even the current rate, GM has done extremely well with the current generation.

[George]

So, can we assume C7's will be discounted even more next year?

Currently, depending on model, prices are what, up to 20% off MSRP - will it go to 25% or more?

Looking at used C7 prices, some are about the same as you could get a deal on a new one.

I know some of the C6 427's, even though a wonderful car, left the dealers at 30% off after the C7 arrived.