Mike, how the dealers are organized is the crux of the whole thing. If GM simply let any dealer carry any new GM product, then all this talk would be unnecessary. Individual products could sink or swim. You could brand a car a Buick or a Chevrolet, but 'Randy Watson' (my favorite theoretical GM dealer name :chuckles: ) could carry any GM car he liked.

A megadealer [such as Ganley or Spitzer around here] doesn't have to have Pontiac, Buick, and GMC all in the same site. Pete Baur's GMC operations are in Bedford, but his Pontiac operation is somewhere else. But does it matter? It's still the same DEALER, even if it's a different showroom location. GM is still working with the same Pete, regardless if they are shipping him a Grand Prix or an Envoy.

Why does this matter? I'm thinking of several Pontiac-Buick showrooms in the Detroit area. Same showroom. Buick isn't perceived by the public as a 'nicer' car than Pontiac, because you pick one off the same old bland lot and buy it in the same bland showroom. Shopping at a Shelton or Fresard showroom, I can't think of any benefit given to Buick buyers that Pontiac buyers don't get.

That's okay if GM wants Pontiac, Buick, and GMC to signify different types of vehicles but a similar type of experience (i.e. not economy but not luxury), but I don't think they've given up yet on the whole idea of Buick being 'better' than Pontiac, but just in terms of product but also brand image and perception, which means that dealers do matter because all sales and service departments are not equal.

I think the worst offense is having Chevrolet and Cadillac in the same showroom. Yuck!