haypops

Thanks guys! I'm honored and I'll do my best

Do you get the use of the C&G corporate aircraft.

Best wishes

Ernie

One gripe, with even Hyundai offering push button start, why is GM yet to adapt that concept?

Maybe it has the excellent remote start that the HHR features as standard equipment on the automatic transmission model.

Since the Buick Lacrosse is Epsilon II and the Invicta is also Epsilon II, how are the 2 Buicks diffeentiated from each other?

9-5, I think. The 9-3 is supposed to go on DeltaII aka Global Compact Car Architecture.

Good point, but that assumes GM is able or willing to spend that kind of money on Saab. In some respects Saab is more easily differentiated from Buick than is Pontiac or Saturn so maybe GM will do that?

If GM goes through with their other planned brand changes, then the 9-3 might be the only other Mid size FWD sedan to go with Malibu and the nice new Lacrosse.

.

the whole BS about 'I wont set foot in Chevy deaelr, but will Saturn' makes no sense, since Saturns are the same quality vehicle. The SL's just had plastic panels, not "way better" than Cavalier's of the day. I see more old J cars running than SL's, FWIW.

FWIW I bought a SL and a J car in 1994 and the Saturn was of better quality. It was not just plastic pannels as my two delta vehicles (ION and HHR) both use engines built under Saturn patent. Obvioulsly I am one who will set foot in a Chevy showroom.

That keeps the investment in Saturn small...

I wonder how much of Saturn's future existence is tied to investment or more likely making it look like GM has changed for the public and congress. In other words the single fastest way to eliminate 400 dealers is to eliminate Saturn. Is it all about Show?

I even had one offer lunch while shopping.

My Chevy dealer offered my wife and I breakfast while the HHR was in for warranty work.

The fact is the original cars were OK but they were pretty much entry level and too limited in models

The sedans sold at 50% premium to other GM small cars. The Saturn wagons and coupes were even more pricey.

I understand that Saturn has to go because of its advantageous dealer agreements. I just don't agree with all the hatred and revisionist history around here.

Steel bodied ION? *scratches head* The ION still had polymer panels...

Too much holiday chear I guess.

Not only that, it sounds like the unions already have made huge concessions that will kick in in the near future. I don't have all the details, but I recall that retirement and healthcare costs have been slashed and wages halved. If you do the math it seems that the little man has just been screwed and GM still will be making a huge loss per vehicle.

I saw a headline indicating that PE Obama agrees with you.

I wondered if Toyota's quality slide was just a NA thing. I guess not.

In 1994 I bought both a Saturn SL and a Cavalier. Both cars were good, but the Saturn did last longer, was better performing, and the parts were LESS. Never had a problem with either panel creaking or the supposed large gaps. I would argue that those of you who compare an early 1990's Saturn to a 2009 Astra are just not being "fair". That said , my 2006 steel bodied ION and 2008 HHR are wonderful cars too (so far).

Weren't these cars (slant 6 espeically) constant favorites of Consumer Reports? How times have changed!

I have, and I can honestly say it feels way better than any cobalt ever would, and the funny thing is that they ride on the same chassis, albeit, the astras is more finely tuned to european driving specs. The car feels solid. Take it around corners and you don't have much body roll at all,

Many at the HHR forums have installed a rear roll bar on their cars are quite pleased. Does the Astra already have one possibly?

This list:

Lexus (Japan, Europe, Asia, America)

Toyota (Japan, Europe, Asia, America)

Toyopet (Japan, formerly sold in the US)

Corolla (Japan)

Netz (Japan)

Daihatsu (Japan, Europe, Asia, formerly sold in America)

Perodua (Europe, Asia)

Hino (Japan, Europe, Asia, America)

Scion (America)

Thanks for the clarification.

The SL was a nerd-mobile and not all that great.

Name calling - now there's a pleasant change for Christmas Eve. I suppose you resented all those guys in wheel chairs buying them too.

Toyota doesn't own all of Subaru, and Dihatsu is rather small. I was comparing GM's 8 to Toyota's 3 in North America. GM has Opel, Vauxhall, Holden too, which is more baggage than what Subaru or Dihatsu are.

I don't think Toyota's partial ownership of Subaru makes a difference to the discussion. By the way have you noticed the give away lease prices on Subaru vehicles since Toyota took over? Also you forget Hino. I believe that it was Griffin(my apologies to him If I am wrong) once posted a long list of Toyota brands and sales channels that they use in Japan.

Toyota has been cleaning their clock with 3.

Actaully it's much more than that in Japan and 4 in the U.s. (did you forget Subaru?).

For the many months that I checked, Saturn had the smallest sales % decline of any GM brand. That combined with the fact that there are just 31 Saturn employees makes we wonder how bad they can be doing. On the other hand if Toyota lost over over a $Billion, you can bet they aren't making money now.

I will be sad to see Saturn go. However, I believe GM when they say the dealer agreements with Saturn dealers make this easier.

Yes. I am assuming that the government will be concerned about public reaction. Most of the people I've talked to think that the $14B is it, and we won't need more money. They're surprised to find out that the companies will blow though this money by March and then need billions more. I think that much of the public will be enraged if we have to continue pumping money into this company. Especially after the government has proved they don't know what they're doing in the financial industry.

I assume that GM won't "miss by a mile". Of course if the economy sours even more, then adjustments in expectations will need to happen. Leadership may be necessary to "move" the public. If GM makes considerable progress but doesn't fully meet requirements, it should be no big deal.

You're assuming that GM will meet the terms the government has set.

Are you assuming the government won't change those requirements if necessary. PE Obama just announced he was increasing the jobs cretion/retention goal.

You think Obama would do more? What do you want him to do? Nationalize the companies?

Sure he would do more; specifically not pull the plug on GM if they only "come close" to published goals.

What if they haven't become "viable" by March 31st and the government recalls the loan, there is no way they will be able to pay it back then.

Isn't the March 31 deadline subject to(and likely to) change by the next congress and administration?

Depending on volume make it in China and import to the US. With Chrysler soon to go away, a Buick G6 convertible would make a nice addition for the FL crowd.

All good suggestions, but didn't the Bush requirements include no additional offshoring of jobs? Since the production lines/tooling is already in place, can't G6 production economicaly limp along in the U.S.?

There are businesses that dont exist to maximize profit?

My health care plan is not-for-profit

Regarding taxing soda: grapes are as bad as soda

Regarding higher health care costs for fat people: thin individuals are more likely to get cancer and less likely to tolerate treatment than obese individuals when they do get it.

Regarding individuals bad reactions to equal: Coke just announced they will be introducing new diet drinks sweetened with Stevia. If you like licorice you will love this one.