Volt changing the perception of GM?

[volt11]

You know it seems like no matter now nice of a car GM has come out with, from CTS to Enclave to Malibu to LaCrosse, people with negative attitudes toward GM have been slow to change their view very much if at all. But to me, last night I had proof positive that the Volt is different: my brother.

A little background: my older brother John has never been one to say many nice things about me or my stuff, often it seems the opposite is true. For example when I got my 2004 Corvette, I think all he'd say about it is that what he wanted was a mid-60's Corvette, being the ones he liked. And it's not just me. He drove our Dad's new Buick LaCrosse around for weeks while Dad was in the hospital and rehab, and despite the fact that it's a really very nice car, he just focussed on his complaints about it that it was slow (it's a 4-cylinder, but really not bad) and that the A-pillar creates a blind spot. The car he wants most right now is a Nissan 370Z.

But I think the Volt surprised him. When I originally told him I was getting one, one of the comments he made was that it would be ugly (I doubt he even knew what it would look like.) He saw it for the first time on Christmas Eve, and we went out for a short drive with his 2 grown children. He liked all the gadgetry, the fact that it was a car you can plug-in, and he even liked the styling and particularly the color. But as a child of the 60's and 70's, he paid it the ultimate compliment last night after Christmas dinner. His ex-wife (mother of his children) and her sister came for dinner, and he said to them, "you have to go out and check out Bob's car, it's cool!" For my brother, who has always seemed obsessed with "coolness", this was almost unheard of, especially when it comes to anything that could be taken as complimenting me.

More than all its awards and positive press, nothing has convinced me so much that GM will turn people's heads around with the Volt as that one moment from last night. The challenge is going to get people to experience the car directly.

[twist]

Good topic. Heard an interesting comment at work last week. After a coworker saw a photo of a red 2011 Volt. He stated, "Pretty nice, doesn't look like an electric car".

I know this sounds funny. But, we know what he's talking about.

NPNS

[scottf200]

Great story. Thanks for sharing it.

Because I've never been a GM/Chevrolet person (i.e. raised on Ford but bought variety as I got older) ... I've been amazed at how people react to GM when I bring it up. Quite a mix of disdain (Gov Motor) or pride Chevrolet, apple pie, etc.

[goyogi]

Hehehe...many people think that my Scion xB is a hybrid car...because it's funky looking!

[misslexi]

I think people's vehicle brand perception is formulated mostly by two things: service department experience and resale value. Neither of those have been top tier with respect to GM from what I've observed. The good news is Chrysler has heretofore provided a backstop position in that they are even worse than GM in both categories, in general.

Will the Volt change perceptions? Based on my premise above, too soon to tell.

In any event, an enlightened product from a manufacturer viewed with skepticism, or myopia, may result in interest and sales, but to be sustainable GM, and their dealers, will have to deliver the goods.

[ocryan]

I'm up to 23 test drives and counting. Friends, family, neighbors...they're kind of surprised after looking at it when I say...want to drive it!

I'm fine being a traveling salesmen for GM. I'm excited to raise awareness of this car and a few miles on the car and a few hours of my time is worth it to me. I'm the prototypical "Maven" to my friends and family as Malcolm Gladwell would explain, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a few more Volts in my "sphere".

The feedback has been the same from all..."Wow". Even my neighbor who is a managing editor of a major 4 wheel drive magazine said, "I didn't expect it to look so good"...."everything is so well made, even down to the steering wheel". And this is a guy who sees a lot of cars (well trucks).

Others say things like..."it's great to see GM start to make such good looking well made cars."

I don't know if the Volt will change the perception of GM, but I'm doing my part to make sure that it does.