There are way too many car dealers, dump the under performing ones and the others will prosper.

A few questions...If you dump the underperformers doesn't that imply the "performers" are already prospering? WHy not let "market forces" determine who prospers? Why are they still in busines if they are not prospering? and lastly...what difference does it make to the parent car companies anyway? If they have more exposure for their product and presumably all the dealerships are "profitable" (or I assume they wouldn't last very long at all) then what affect do more dealerships have on the viability of the manufacturer? (unless they have buyback agreements like magazine distributers//) if this is the case then I can see their interest in the dealerships...do you know?

Good question- I haven't heard the answer. I know the dealers lease the cars on their lots, maybe they do send some back and what happens then? So why not just limit the number of cars sent to the dealerships or change the parameters of the deal when a car is not sold and goes back to the manufacturer?..Here's my two cents. Have big dealerships with a test track and salespeople who really know the vehicles (think of Cabelas). You can have video presentations and even lectures at these sites. Keep service at more widespread small locations, it could be farmed out but still certified... Chrysler needs to keep the Jeep/ Dodge Truck brands separate from Fiat. The small Fiats will sell here if they have a good warranty and we can be convinced that it won't cost a ton of money for parts. GM needs to sell good small cars. When we all graduated from school in the 80's and bought Hondas and Nissans, they were doomed. When you buy a Civic or a Prelude, 8 years later you'll buy another Honda or an Accura. There is actually value in bigger GM vehicles like the LeSabre or whatever it is called now, but everybody trades in their Corolla on an Avalon or a SUV. They would be more likely to buy a (?) Ranier if they had started out with a small Buick. BTW the best car I ever owned (reliable as hell, went in the snow) was an 85 Sentra that I bought for like $6500 and so I am partial to Japanese brands.