  Evelyn Member Username: Evelyn Post Number: 244 Registered: 02-2005 |
I was poking around the web, looking for bicycle routes to work and other things, and I found this article: http://www.treehugger.com/file s/2006/10/gm_tries_integratedb ike_racks.php I think this is a neat idea- making bike racks a standard feature on cars. | ||
Rrl Member Username: Rrl Post Number: 963 Registered: 12-2003 |
Standard feature, unlikely. Optional, maybe. It's not like there aren't already a multitude of aftermarket racks that you can get for your rig, probably at a lesser cost w/ greater options. I love my roof mounted Yakima rack, which fits neatly onto the factory installed roof rack side rails. | ||
Ndavies Member Username: Ndavies Post Number: 2989 Registered: 10-2003 |
You're willing to pay $1000 (£500) for a Bike rack. That's almost 5% of the vehicle's total cost. I wouldn't pay that and I'm sure most other consumers wouldn't either. | ||
Craig Member Username: Craig Post Number: 796 Registered: 02-2007 |
VW had a promo for a free bike with the purchase of a car. That we've not seen it again says a lot about its effectiveness as a tool for selling vehicles. | ||
Lostlegumes Member Username: Lostlegumes Post Number: 29 Registered: 09-2007 |
I think that was the Jetta Trek a while back. | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 2084 Registered: 05-2005 |
they already do... in europe, on the opel corsa and opel antara (opel version of saturn vue http://www.autoblog.com/tag/bike%20rack/ http://www.autospectator.com/u ploads/Opel/2007/Corsa/Opel_Co rsa_bike.jpg http://www.telegraph.co.uk/mot oring/graphics/2006/09/02/mfco rsa3.jpg (Message edited by gravitymachine on May 16, 2008) | ||
Craig Member Username: Craig Post Number: 797 Registered: 02-2007 |
But not here (at least not that I've heard lately; local regional plays are not always evident to guys in Detroit, though). My point is that bikes in the US tanked. Auto OEMs & dealers are always looking for the can't-miss sales gimmick/incentive. Other than cash on the hood they all have a shelf-life, which is why Chrysler's $2.99 gas deal will soon fade away. Not saying that a combination of motoring & biking is a bad thing for an individual consumer, but as a marketing tool it ranks up there with Ollie Fretter's "five pounds of coffee..." | ||
Fishtoes2000 Member Username: Fishtoes2000 Post Number: 527 Registered: 06-2005 |
quote: Which of course explains why so many automakers include bikes on their auto show displays, in their commercials, and in their dealerships -- and why some car companies make/brand bikes (e.g. Jeep, Mercedes Benz, Porsche). At the time, VW/Trek marketing program was extremely successful for both companies. I saw a presentation by the woman who created and managed the program which proved its success. The main difficulty with the program was keeping the independent Trek dealers happy since this cut into their sales. | ||
Crystal Member Username: Crystal Post Number: 197 Registered: 05-2007 |
An important consideration for every car we have bought in the last thirty years is: Where do the bikes go? Hitch rack, roof rack, inside, combination? | ||
Craig Member Username: Craig Post Number: 799 Registered: 02-2007 |
Many auto brands & even some nameplates have branded merchandise. From my insider's perspective none of the bikes have been big sellers. Further, Crystal is the exception (buy based upon bike carrying capacity). When you see bikes in a auto display you are observing an example of lifestyle marketing, i.e. reference actual and aspirational behavior as a means to establish cognitive and emotional bonds with a utilitarian product. Put otherwise: you're being played. A common & familiar example of this is the rugged and outdoorsy imagery draped around SUV marketing. Most of those don't go off road, but the aforementioned imagery connects with consumers' aspirations for independence, capability, reliability, etc. This is psych 201. Enjoy your bikes, but understand that today the vast majority of drivers do not truly want a bike or a rack. Free Sirius/XM radio is a bigger draw for customers. | ||
Crystal Member Username: Crystal Post Number: 198 Registered: 05-2007 |
I agree with Craig. Salespeople have always looked askance when we bring bike measurements, check out the hitch capacity, and see if our current bike rack will fit on the roof. We also check out the seating configuration to see whether they can be removed or folded down to accommodate dogs, including one elderly, arthritic dog. I'll bet salespeople see customers for whom many different things are priorities. | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 2085 Registered: 05-2005 |
quote: my dad, a civil engineer dealing in watersheds, always brought his post hole digger to the dealership to see if it fit in the trunk funny now that i finally look at the link in the original post and realize i was referencing the same thing in my previous post, helps to read i suppose |
