Re: Alfa Return

[MAXLTV@domain.elided]

In a message dated 9/3/01 20:22:26 Eastern Daylight Time, Carscribe writes:

<< As far as current Swiss spec Alfas being nearly legal for sale here 
already brightening the prospects of Alfa's return, I'd say that since Swiss 
specs have mirrored our for nearly ten years now, and considering Alfa's 
absence during much of that time, there doesn't seem to be a causal 
relationship there at all. >>

There is a lot more to this than just meeting crash & environmental regs. 
There has to be a marketing and service organization established to go along 
with the sale of the cars. The "back office" support, if you will, is just as 
important, if not more, than just bringing units in for sale. You also write: 


<< I feel it's probably a great disservice to Alfa  to be sold and serviced 
by GM dealers.  Alfa will most likely be abandoned by GM after they decide 
that the unit volume is too low, the warranties are too expensive to honor, 
the customers that are likely to buy an Alfa are fickle, and those not likely 
to buy and Alfa are 98% of GM's normal customer base.>>

I am sure GM is well aware of the "captive import" syndrome that affected 
their attempts to distribute Opel in the late 60s, as well as Ford's lame 
attempt with the Merkur. If they are that stupid to get caught in the 
crosshairs of that potential debacle, they deserve to be hung. However, if 
this were marketed through Saab dealers, or if GM would allow some of the old 
dealer network to handle the cars as newly enfranchised GM dealers, I don't 
see a problem here. Many dealers today also have multiple franchises of 
several makes, and quite a few would have the experience to handle Alfa 
properly. If FIAT wanted to do this on their own, they would not need General 
Motors. FIAT must be painfully aware that in the world's richest and most 
populous car market, they have no exposure. If FIAT wants to grow, there is 
only one path of least resistance. 

-Don 

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