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Opel

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[ QUOTE ]
I know they still manufacture cars. Why aren't we importing some of them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Now that IS a fine question... with GM in need of good small cars, and a good supply of decent small cars in Europe, why DON'T they bring some over?
 
I think we're on to something here....good gas mileage...good looks, good price, reliability...Bring back the German Opel.
 
What about "the Caddy that zigs?" remember that? That was an Opel. That was fairly recent. Are they still selling those?
 
I don't remember that. I know that Opels were marketed through Buick dealers. I'm familiar with the Opel Kadette, the Opel Manta, and the Opel GT. I just love all of those cars.
 
Dropped from the line-up in 2001 the Cadillac Catera was an "Americanized" and re-badged Opel Omega. Unfortunately Cadillac's version of Americanizing was making it soft and squishy with low power output. A pity, In Opel trim they're pretty nice.

The reasons we don't see any Opels today are the same reasons they went bye-bye in '75, strong Mark, er... Euro, weak dollar and little interest from GM marketeers.

Small German cars are too tough to bring over here and sell competitively. German marques like BMW, Audi and Mercedes only sell medium and higher market models. Even Volkswagen is pushing their Touregs and Phaetons because they can't make enough money with Golfs and Beetles.

Opel doesn't make an SUV (they sell Isuzu Rodeos in Germany badged as the Opel Frontera) so GM doesn't have high mark-up vehicle to bring in. If they tried to bring over the mid and higher Opels they'd be fighting in an already crowded premium car market. Heck, they just killed Oldsmobile because they too many midsize and large cars in their stable.

Strangely enough the only car you can buy in the US today that approximates what you can get of the showroom floor in an Opel dealer is the Lotus Elise. Sold as the Opel Speedster and Vauxhall VX220 Lotus OEM builds them with different bodywork and GM powertrains. Of course they aren't German cars at all, they're LBCs!


PC.
 
Ok, I guess they still sell the Opel Frontera in Germany. So since it has the same styling and drivetrain you'll get in Germany the closest thing you can get in the US to what you'll find in an Opel Dealer is actually the Rodeo.

Either way, no real Opels get here anymore. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif


PC.
 
Could it be that if GM imported small Opels, that it would undercut prices on Volkswagen? Maybe internal German politics is the reason why they aren't up for export here.
 
I doubt that there could ever be any back-room shenanigans of that nature between Volkswagen and GM. GM is well known for doing whatever they want, whenever they want. The normal mode is that the divisions plead for whatever it is they think they need and the-powers-that-be at corporate HQ order them to shut up do what they're told. (think Oldsmobile)

I think the Germans would love to sell as many cars as they can. I'm sure it's all part of GM's corporate plan.


PC.
 
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