The latest report from the various GM dealers is that the "emplyee discount" campaign is providing a "closing ratio" of 22%. This ratio describes what % of the people who visit a showroom actually BUY a vehicle.

 

Would anyone like to know what the AVERAGE closing ratio is? Las time I looked, it's about 16%. I would think GM had their sights set a little higher than what's been accomplished so far.

 

Traffics up 30%, and the closing ratio's up to 22% from 16%, so the month to month sales increase should be substantial. 100 customers=16 sales vs 130 customers=29 sales, if you believe those numbers. The bigger question is, what's next?

 

As I've said before, it will be interesting to see the GM sales numbers for June. Someone on FTE mentioned that all this might do is take future customers and get them to buy now, and then the question REALLY becomes, "what's next?"

My dealership's waiting list for Mustangs (V6s and GTs) is now out to this time next year, with Shelby orders through 2008. And it's all been done without one single penny in rebates. If that doesn't prove that this business is all about PRODUCT, then nothing ever will.

 

My dealership's waiting list for Mustangs (V6s and GTs) is now out to this time next year, with Shelby orders through 2008.

Welcome to the 'Vette business, Jeff. I'm actually dreading when the first Z06 hits.

 

You guys seen the waiting list for the latest BMW M5???
I kid you not when I say if you put an order in NOW, expect to see your car in around March 2007...

 

I'll take the Z06, thanks. I see GM announced pricing and official 0-60 times today- $65000 and 0-60 in 3.7 seconds (still in first gear). That car (and the Mustang GT) have got to be the performance bargains of the decade.

That 'Vette price, BTW, beat my best guess by about $10K.

Edit- I wonder if our dealers will ever be convinced to run the GT and a Z06 down the track at PIR?

 

Ford Offers Incentive to Workers, Retirees
By Associated Press
1 hour ago

DEARBORN, Mich. - In its latest gambit to boost slumping sales, Ford Motor Co. is offering employees and retirees up to $1,000 in cash to entice friends, relatives and neighbors to buy vehicles with employee discounts.

The No. 2 U.S. automaker is allowing each of its 300,000 employees and retirees to give the special discounts to up to eight people this year, The Detroit News reported Friday.

"If every employee and retiree helps sell just one more vehicle, it would account for over 300,000 sales and an additional two points of market share," Steve Lyons, vice president for Ford's North America marketing, sales and service, said in an e-mail sent Wednesday to employees.

A Ford spokesman did immediately return a message left by The Associated Press Friday.

Under the plan, which runs through Sept. 30, employees and retirees will get $50 in cash for the first sale they sponsor, $75 for the second, $100 for the third, $150 for the following four sales and $175 for the eighth sale.

Ford's move follows General Motors Corp.'s recent effort to boost sales by offering all customers the same discounts available to employees.

Ford sales are off 5.7 percent this year, while its U.S. market share has fallen by a percentage point, to 19.1 percent.

 

Well put. Your math is accurate BUT the question that looms is WHAT'S NEXT? Aren't the car company's "stealing" future sales via these current/ innovative incentives?

 

It would have to be a tough choice for me personally...
As for performance cars of the decade, I personally think the Noble M12 GTO 3R should also be up there, and thats before I open up the Caterham catalogue (hello Cosworth CSR 260!!!)