Stellantis blaming themselves

Nayf said:
The 911 accounts for a fairly tiny proportion of sale nowadays.
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That's not my point though Nathan. When Porsche announced the end of the 911 in the early 80's there was a huge backlash as a result of which the company had a major rethink, and that led to many 911 derivatives which sustained the company for years to come - and brought the good times back after a period of uncertainty. It's debatable whether or not Porsche would have survived if the 911 had been dropped as planned.
 
Phil H said:
That's not my point though Nathan. When Porsche announced the end of the 911 in the early 80's there was a huge backlash as a result of which the company had a major rethink, and that led to many 911 derivatives which sustained the company for years to come - and brought the good times back after a period of uncertainty. It's debatable whether or not Porsche would have survived if the 911 had been dropped as planned.
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I am sorry but I would have to disagree. What saved Porsche in the 80s wasn’t the 911 - it was the humble 924 and the 944 which sold very well and introduced the brand to a much wider audience. We are diverging here, but by 1994/5 Porsche was all but bankrupt precisely because of the 911 and the supposed successor the 928. It was the Boxster and the Toyota-ed 996 that saved the company ultimately.

Anyone who has taken apart a 993 from 1995 and a E36 M3 from the same era can see that the 911 really had its roots in the 1960s and that it was no longer a good thing…

Back to Maserati - I think we are in agreement. What I wanted to add is that the Brand needs to fashion an identity and show passion about it - even if only for marketing purposes. There are no longer **** cars on the market. Brands that we used to laugh at - Kia and Hyundai come to mind - are leading now. So you need something else, not just a pretty face. Some history, some passion and some customer care to start with.

Btw, Lamborghini was famous for declining to make race cars when the Tractor man was in charge. Look at them now - pretty decent results in GT3 and GT2 series and the Hurracan is a hoot of a race car according to a mate who placed one in 7th place on the starting grid of the 2023 Nurburgring 24hrs. So Maserati not racing for a while is neither here, not there. The power of marketing and story telling can turn things very quickly.
 
We could argue the semantics of exactly which model(s) avoided further financial problems for Porsche, although the fact remains that the 911 series hit over 1 million sales long after the 924/944/928 had departed, and that was for a model whose demise was announced for 1982; what I was alluding to was that when the announcement was made, the company got a very public bashing from its fans and Schutz was brought in to turn it round which he did - with the aid of the 911. In short, the company listened to its customers at a time of strife, something I can't imagine Stellantis doing.

cheburator said:
Back to Maserati - I think we are in agreement. What I wanted to add is that the Brand needs to fashion an identity and show passion about it - even if only for marketing purposes. There are no longer **** cars on the market. Brands that we used to laugh at - Kia and Hyundai come to mind - are leading now. So you need something else, not just a pretty face. Some history, some passion and some customer care to start with.
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Exactly that.
 
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Phil H said:
We could argue the semantics of exactly which model(s) avoided further financial problems for Porsche, although the fact remains that the 911 series hit over 1 million sales long after the 924/944/928 had departed, and that was for a model whose demise was announced for 1982; what I was alluding to was that when the announcement was made, the company got a very public bashing from its fans and Schutz was brought in to turn it round which he did - with the aid of the 911. In short, the company listened to its customers at a time of strife, something I can't imagine Stellantis doing.


Exactly that.
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I buy Italian because they look good.
Say the name in the Italian accent as it should be pronounced, and women quiver with excitement and trepitation.

Word of the day people......Trepitation lol.


Yes I know I'm not politically correct but I'm from a by gone era.

Went on a managerial course last year, and the woman running it turned round and said

" oh your one of those men, it's been a while since I come across one of your type, thought you were all extinct "


High praise indeed :clapps:
 
Italiano said:
I buy Italian because they look good.
Say the name in the Italian accent as it should be pronounced, and women quiver with excitement and trepitation.

Word of the day people......Trepitation lol.


Yes I know I'm not politically correct but I'm from a by gone era.

Went on a managerial course last year, and the woman running it turned round and said

" oh your one of those men, it's been a while since I come across one of your type, thought you were all extinct "


High praise indeed :clapps:
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If an Italian women said, "Maserati" to me ... funny, I also quiver.
 
Italiano said:
I buy Italian because they look good.
Say the name in the Italian accent as it should be pronounced, and women quiver with excitement and trepitation.

Word of the day people......Trepitation lol.


Yes I know I'm not politically correct but I'm from a by gone era.

Went on a managerial course last year, and the woman running it turned round and said

" oh your one of those men, it's been a while since I come across one of your type, thought you were all extinct "


High praise indeed :clapps:
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https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/plh2vk
 
Italiano said:
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I tend to agree, the number of people who simply don't know what the MC20 is, and given it is a work of art, a master piece ... is appalling.

Tavares actually needs to go ... what moron would rock the confidence of every perspective buyer of a Maserati by being so narrow minded
and telling the world he'll kill the brand ... only to have PR come out and say, yeah, ignore that idiot and what he said. What a complete moron.
The damage he did with that statement will take a long time to come back from. He needs to be taken off the board.
 
mark.bellino.social@gmail said:
I tend to agree, the number of people who simply don't know what the MC20 is, and given it is a work of art, a master piece ... is appalling.

Tavares actually needs to go ... what moron would rock the confidence of every perspective buyer of a Maserati by being so narrow minded
and telling the world he'll kill the brand ... only to have PR come out and say, yeah, ignore that idiot and what he said. What a complete moron.
The damage he did with that statement will take a long time to come back from. He needs to be taken off the board.
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Yep a complete Gerald Ratner
 
Maserati are just as guilty as Lancia

No advertising lead to.their demise

7 time rally champions but.that never advertised to the people. Lancia died.

Maserati no advertising at all but your paying premium bucks for a car in a colour they decree, unlike an Aston that will inundate you with choice of options and colours.
Maserati is dying.

You can't profess to be a high end quality product/player when your competitors are out playing you in every way
 
Wondering when the new Granturismo will get down to sensible prices for a 2 year old one, "sensible" maybe being 80/90k?

Doesn't seem like many exist to find out.,...

I know they are going for premium but £150k+ seems a bit off when you look at what else is available.

Especially when you get almost the same interior as a Grecale and a powertrain which in the Grecale and Granturismo is basically the Alfa Quad powertrain....

The Ghibli and Levante seem too old tech to be credible but would like to have a go in a Trofeo of either and hope it would win me over as a potential replacement for my Jag next year. Maybe the Granturismo if I could convince my wife it's a legit family car and they have depreciated enough!
 
For me, looks gorgeous but, it's NOT a V8.
The price tag warrants a V8. I'm sorry but chasing the eco warriors into the forest has undone the marque.
No one wants electric
No one wants hybrid
Sales figures have stuck the finger up to the powers that be in many manufacturers sectors.
Your senses wish to be raped by that special noise from the engine.
My recent visit to Blenheim Palace, and the rasp engine noises down the approaching roads, Porshe, Aston, Lamborghini was a delight.
Turning up in a V6 Granturismo, well that was never going to happen at that event, would be embarrassing.
A tiger with its teeth pulled out.

Think I shall stop now, as that's enough to fuel debate and recriminations
 
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