Well, some here appear to know what they are talking about, and others clearly don't.
1) ANYBODY can poke around with Google and get "invoice cost" on any new car.
2) Without checking, I recall seeing the profit margin on Skys at about 6-7%.
3) Mention was made about the profit on a Cadillac. Base unit cost is about 11-13% and 15% on factory options.
4) Addition margins are built into invoices on domestic cars (called "holdback") of about 3%. Out of this can come local/regional factory advertising fees and other charges.
5) End of year rebates are made to dealers to help clear inventory.
6) My dealership (pne of three Saturn group) recently purchased 8 Skys at local auction. There were more. All wholesaled over msrp. All sold at their used car lots, and they won't be doing again. Too much, now margin. They have no clue where they are coming from.
7) GM "captured fleet" numbers are far too low to account for the numbers showing up at auction nationally.
Why is it that when there is an absence of information people assume that any stories must be lies/fiction? Skys and Solstice ARE showing up at auctions! Saturns have low markup. Dealers get end of year rebates. Look, stuff happens. Some of it is actually true!!