George Pipas
George Pipas
assumption base planning
Our base planning assumption was not predicated on unemployment going down,
affects consumers interest months rates sitting six wondering year
There is a lag factor. A year ago, even six months ago, we were sitting here wondering when consumers would sense that interest rates were going up. I don't think this significantly affects the first quarter.
areas coming good news optimistic
We're optimistic that we'll see more good news in these areas in coming months.
We're not where we want to be or where we need to be but we are improving.
buying cars feedback less people
Some of the feedback we got was there was less traffic, but people who were there were people there buying cars and trucks.
chance economy glut hell pricing time value
If there was ever a time to try to make value pricing work, this is the time. If the economy was weak, and if you had a glut of old models, you wouldn't have a snowball's chance in hell of implementing value pricing.
bunch decline factors percent talking
Clearly, I think there's a bunch of factors out there, and probably we're talking about a year-to-year decline of 15 percent translates to 5,000 or 6,000 units,
improved june performance predict retail
I predict that in June we'll show improved performance in the retail end of the business,
achieved car category holds increase market share since year
If our market share in this category holds up, it would be the first year since 1993 that we have achieved an increase in car market share.
car five sell
If you can sell 100,000-plus Fusions and 100,000 Five Hundreds, you are back in the car business,
good looks quite strong
I don't know if 1999 is going to be quite as strong as 1998 but it looks like it's going to be another good year.
dealer focused incentives trucks uplift
I don't know if it's a seasonal uplift so much as that dealer incentives have been more focused on trucks than cars.
business entire lost orleans
In the New Orleans area, many of our dealers are out of business and have lost their entire inventory.
baby boomers driving segment vehicle
The segment is always going to be important. But come on. Baby boomers won't want to be driving the same vehicle when they're 70 that they did when they were 55.