smk4565

I know, and how well is the Charger SRT8 selling? The 3-series outsells the G8 10 to 1, so which is the better market to be in, compact sport sedan, or full size sport sedan? GM chases consumers in the wrong segments, such as the dying Hummer segment and the 205 inch long front driver for the 70+ crowd DTS and Lucerne. Why not make a 3-series competitor instead, a Malibu hybrid that gets 38 mpg, not 27, a CTS that gets 36 mpg, not 26, a minivan, etc.

$41,000 also buys a base 335i that does 0-60 in 4.9 seconds and gets 17/26 mpg, and doesn't have the interior from a Kia. The G37 sedan (2009 with the 7-speed auto) will be just as fast as the G8 GXP also. This car won't sell, unless rebated down to about $32,000. The GTO was a failure, they repeated every mistake but this time with 4 doors.

We already have the G3, it's called the Aveo. Rebadging only wastes money and resources needed elsewhere. G3, G5 and G6 are not needed. I want to see GM turn it around, but the weak brands are sucking money away from the strong ones, bringing the whole company down.

535xi with auto is 3946 lbs, that is the heaviest awd 5-series built. A 528i xDrive is 3704 lbs, 400 less than the CTS. CTS is overweight. And you feel it if you drive the two back to back.

Pontiac's CAFE is irrelevant, GM's as a whole is all that is measured. The G8 GXP is going to be 14/20 mpg and $40,000 (with destination and gas guzzler tax). The Vette requires premium, since this is the same engine, it should also. G8 sales were around 1,800-2,000 the first couple months it was out but only 1,000 last month. 12,390 so far this year (wasn't for sale in Jan-Feb I think). The M5 couldn't save Pontiac's image at this point, the G8 won't either. Too many years of minivan and Equinox rebadges, rental fleet Grand Prix and G6 and now the econo box G3. I'm not against a compact, but make it with a Turbo 4 and aim it against the Mazda 3Speed, Civic Si or Mini Cooper S. The G8 dashboard would actually be good for such a car, since it is best suited to for the $20-23k price range. If anyone wants to test the G8's build quality, open the door with the window all the way down and then slam the door while keeping an eye on the top of the window. The window will rattle back and forth inside the door. Windows shouldn't rattle when you shut the door. It was a problem with F-body Firebirds a dozen years ago and they have yet to fix it.

Too big to compete in performance with a 3-series. Perfect size to challenge the TL, S80, and ES350 snooze-mobile luxury sedans. The CTS awd is over 4100 pounds, driving it feels almost like an SUV, the weight is very noticeable and I am used to a 3880 pound Aurora. The 5-series is much more quick and agile feeling.

The G3 is embarrassing. Pontiac has little credibility left as it is, the G3 shattered whatever was left. The G8 GXP was a waste of time and money, because the brand image won't support a $40k car (that gets 14 mpg). They are only selling 1,000 or so G8s a month as it is.

But $25 billion is for Ford, Chrysler and GM combined, GM gets $11-13 billion if this thing actually passes. So it buys them one year, if Wagoner is right and they burn $1 billion a month. If they can't stop the cash burn, it only delays the inevitable, and they just wasted $12 billion of tax payer money.

If a Cruze is $30k, gas prices won't matter because no one is going to buy it anyway. They struggle to get $15k for a Cobalt, they'll be lucky to get $18k for a Cruze. (transaction price, not loaded before rebates)

Same, a software update is minor, Cadillac has recalled cars in the past for dumb stuff also. My problem with Cadillac is the CTS is too big (and heavy) for it's price, the DTS, STS, XLR, SRX are all dated and uninspired. And Hyundai's engine is better than the Northstar.

Or for a little less (or same depending on equipment) get a Honda Fit, the hands down best car under $15k.

I don't want a BMW, I just recognize them as being the performance standard that everyone else is chasing. If a software issue was the only problem that isn't that bad, it will be years (if ever) before Cadillac or Lexus get a double clutch transmission.

He didn't play it well at all, he should have said we need X amount of money and we will do A, B, and C to make sure that we pay it back. GM is going to have to file for bankruptcy in January, they have zero time to negotiate or play games with Congress.

Wanting a plan is reasonable, I knew they would want one. I don't know why Red Ink Rick thought he didn't need a plan and they would just fork over the money. What the 3 CEOs failed to do is explain how they will pay the money back. All they did was try to scare Congress and say jobs would be lost if we don't get money. They need to present a real recovery plan, unfortunately, I don't think they have one. Northstar is right about needed to get down to 3-4 brands and 25 solid models. I said that years ago, but everyone argued that Pontiac and Buick have such great history and we can't get rid of them. They need class leaders, not 20 front drive generics and 20 mid-size SUVs.

Wagoner looked weak in front of the House committee and the Senate committee. Nardelli looked at least like he was willing to work for $1 or do whatever it takes. Ford isn't in as bad a shape, so Mullally seemed not as desperate and like he had a plan, but none of them were convincing. Wagoner was especially bad, not being able to answer when they would run out of money or how big of a loan they need. They aren't going to get a loan if they look incompetent and that is how they looked.

When you let market cap fall to $1.7 billion you run the risk of being bought. I am surprised Kirk Kerkorian hasn't come back.

Looks much better than before, the MKS front end helps. Too much black plastic in the interior, although I like the layout and aluminum and wood. Looks better in and out than a TL or ES350, way better than any Buick product, but not going to threaten the CTS or the Germans. But it is cheaper than a CTS, it offers a lot of technology and features for the money, it should meet sales goals. Stereo must be good since it is 14 speakers and 600 watts. The CTS's optional system is 10 speakers and 300 watts.

The G3 is overpriced by $14,994.

I don't like CAFE regs because they'd have to build only econo-boxes to get 50 mpg, and that limits consumer choice. If they want to deter purchases of gas guzzlers, put a $2000-$3000 tax on cars getting under 25-30 mpg, and give a tax credit on cars getting over 40 mpg. Then consumers have incentive to buy a fuel efficient car, but still have a choice.

Chapter 11 or lack of a bailout will kill off the UAW. When a UAW worker makes $34 more an hour than a Toyota worker to make a car with lower quality, it can't last long before going bust.

$230 million should buy them 4 more days.

The convention center sells tickets and food to visitors, so they'd lose a ton of money. Detroit would also take a hit from restaurant and hotel revenue. The city would lose too much money if the show didn't go on, and the import manufacturers will want to be there. If GM-Ford-Chrysler want to skip it they could, but then they are losing out on free press coverage while Toyota sucks it up with the new Prius.

I wish bailout would go to new product development at Cadillac and Chevy, and closing/selling Hummer and Saab (possibly Saturn as well) and focusing on making the core brands competitive. But, I believe the money will just go to funding the cash burn, and have no impact on product or innovation.

Toyota will have a plug-in hybrid as well, plus the 3rd generation Prius. The Volt has to be first to market and excellent, because Toyota can attract the "green" crowd as well. Problem is GM R&D is not funded properly, and lags $2-3 billion a year behind Toyota. GM has more models, they should be spending $2 billion more than Toyota, not less. In 2007, GM's hourly wage with benefits was $71, Toyota's was $47. The 2010 deal won't be enough to make up for that.

I wouldn't buy a Toyota or Lexus product, but I wouldn't discredit them so quickly or call Toyota a one trick pony. If their products is so weak and what they do is so easy, how come GM or Ford aren't doing it, and being as successful as they are? The primary thing they have is the Toyota Production System, which goes beyond just-in-time inventory, waste reduction and efficiency and actually recognizes defects and problems which are then eliminated. No one can match their efficiency. Others may be able to copy product attributes, but they can't duplicate the production system. Secondly, they have some strong product attributes. They have a car that gets 48 mpg in the city, no body else does. They were first with an 8-speed automatic, they have the only car that parks itself, and the LS can recognize a crash before it happens and adjust the power headrest to prevent whiplash (S-class has that I think, but Ford and GM don't). I don't like Toyota products, but I recognize how well they run their business and how strong of a competitor they are. Underestimating Toyota is a huge mistake. GM for years didn't see them as a threat, just like many here think they are a joke. Toyota is more profitable than all other automakers combined. They are a tough competitor, and I don't think GM knows how good they have to become to compete with them.