Tiger has to give back Aztec

[Dave L]

Poor Tiger, hows he going to get around?

General Motors won't be entering a new endorsement deal with golfer Tiger Woods, ending a partnership of nearly a decade, the company announced Monday.

"Both GM and Woods agreed to a mutual and amicable separation that included a desire for more personal time for the 14-time major winner who is expecting his second child in late winter as well as the search for budget efficiencies during a difficult economy for General Motors," GM said in a statement.

GM has used Woods as a spokesman for Buick and its OnStar communications devices since 1999. The renewal signed between the two parties in 2004 was reportedly for $40 million US, lapsing Dec. 31 of this year.

The move had been rumoured for a few weeks, with GM's vice-president for North American sales, Mark LaNeve, claiming the mutual decision is the result of discussions well ahead of its campaign, along with Ford and Chrysler, to seek billions in loans from Washington.

But it's clear GM is reconsidering its commitments to sports properties. The company indicated it won't advertise during the Super Bowl and it will reportedly scale back its NASCAR investment next year.

The automaker has also been involved in Olympic initiatives on both sides of the border.

GM Canada representative Stewart Low told the Vancouver Sun last week that the automaker's woes wouldn't adversely affect its commitment to the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee for the 2010 Games.

"We are hugely committed to the Olympics and will do everything in our power to continue on with that," Low told the newspaper.

GM's head office in Detroit ended its sponsorship of the U.S. Olympic Committee after the Summer Games in August in Beijing.


http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2008/11/24/gm-tiger.html?ref=rss

[strupgolf]

Question. What did Tiger REALLY do for Buick over all those years? I say nothing. Ask anyone if they bought a Buick because of Tiger and I bet the answer is no. There goes another 40M wasted on nothing.

[Noah930]

I don't know, strup. My father-in-law is an avid golfer, loves Tiger, and is Buick man. I think the in-laws have 3 Buicks, currently.

Of course, this is actually good for Tiger. Now, instead of having to stick a fake smile on his face and drive around in grandpa cars (avg or median age of a Buick buyer is something like 65 or 66, IIRC), he's free to pitch for sexier companies.

[Rick Lee]

I heard Buick is the number one selling foreign car in China. My wife's folks are about to buy.

[Dave L]

Originally Posted by Noah930

I don't know, strup. My father-in-law is an avid golfer, loves Tiger, and is Buick man. I think the in-laws have 3 Buicks, currently.

Okay, but was FIL a buick man before Tiger or after. I think the intention was that Tiger would attract a younger audience to the brand. Anyone here have a buick?

[legion]

Buick didn't make the Aztek.

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by Dave L

Okay, but was FIL a buick man before Tiger or after. I think the intention was that Tiger would attract a younger audience to the brand. Anyone here have a buick?

Pre-Tiger Buick

[legion]

My dad had a Grand National.

Caught on fire in our driveway one day while he was mowing the lawn...

[pwd72s]

I wonder which car company wants to take Buick's place? BMW?

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by strupgolf

Question. What did Tiger REALLY do for Buick over all those years? I say nothing. Ask anyone if they bought a Buick because of Tiger and I bet the answer is no. There goes another 40M wasted on nothing.

I disagree.

I think Tiger brought them business. The guy is the Michael Jordan of Golf.

Buick makes a good product. It would be a shame to see the brand die.

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by legion

Buick didn't make the Aztek.

Pontiac was the one to blame. However, like Porsche owners, Aztek owners wave to each other too (a woman I know has one).

Sherwood

[legion]

And I'd think they'd shake their heads at each other in mutual regret...

[VincentVega]

It is kinda funny. GM tarts up an Aztek, calls it a Buick and Tiger pushes it to the over 50 crowd. To GM's credit it seems to have worked pretty well. With the product established they dont need to pay top dollar for promotion.

[slow&rusty]

The Grand National, Typhoon and Cyclone were a time when GM were on the cutting edge...what happened General?

Yasin

[coldstart]

I have a friend (AVID golfer) who turned in his Merc E-Class and bought a Buick Aztek/Rendevous. I know another little-white-ballchaser that bought an Buick Allure. Both purchases were completely out of character and left field. Buick is GM's no. 1 brand in China. IMHO, Tiger did lots for Buick.

[TerryH]

Saw my first Aztec about 7-8 years ago when a visiting friend rented one. He said I had to come out front and see what he was driving. We howled with laughter at the ugliness. It truely looked like an AMC Pacer/Gremlin combo on steroids. He said he liked the ride, but visibility was horrible out the rear window through the mirror. It will probably have a cult following in a few years.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Buick makes a good product. It would be a shame to see the brand die.

HD, have you driven a Buick lately? Those things (Rendesvoux, Century, LeSabre, which is what my in-laws have--I haven't had an opportunity to drive their newest acquisition from last month, a LaCrosse) really define the market niche of the modern American land yacht. You don't so much drive the cars, as much as shepherd them down the highway. Braking is done well in advance of actual need to be stopped. Well in advance.

And the reliability of their vehicles hasn't been so hot, either. Not awful, but on par of what I'd expect of something mass-produced from the General. The medical term "looks older than stated age" comes to mind. I sometimes wonder if those glowing JD Power ratings for Buick come from the fact that the average Buick buyer (who is in the mid-60s) has a pretty low expectation level of what a new car should be.