FUTURE_OF_GM

Thank you consolidation!!! It's the same way here... Pretty much, when there's a profit to be made (READ: Summer demand) the price just 'magically' goes up.

LOL... More proof that this country is a f*cking disgrace... We've sold ourselves out so much that in order to survive we have to kiss China's ass for THEIR screw up... What about all the other $h! (food, etc.) that's been recalled?!?! We're the most charitable country in the world both in humanity and business, yet no one ever apologizes to us, appreciates us or anything of that nature. In fact 75% of the world hates us and prophesizes our downfall. What a disgrace.

The fault lies in the buyer as much as it does management. You can't force people out of ignorance no matter how good you make the products.

I think it would but I prefer to use something really heavy on silicone like Black Magic. Trim Detailer is excellent to use on trim pieces that aren't traditional plastic (Rubber, etc.) For example: I use it on the B pillar on my Focus because it's a rubbery type substance and traditional detailing stuff won't blacken it well because it's absorbed so many fingerprints over the years from people closing the door. Here's a pic so you can get a better visual (The black piece between the windows and the trim that runs to the mirror)

Like I've said for years... Wars are not only fought on the battlefield now. Weak economy + Artificially inflated fuel prices coming from "somewhere".... You do the math, but to me it looks like someone is trying to give our economy that little push over the edge it needs to go into a full fledged recession.

I agree, I've seen this first hand... Our dealership in my home town was owned/managed by someone from that town for years. Most of the salespeople had worked there a long time and most of them were very kind or at least polite. The owner sold out to a firm that owns a bunch of dealerhsips in Florida. Both the quality of the dealership and the salespeople has went through the floor. It's pretty much a revolving door for assholes and drugies (Small town --Remember, I went to school with most of these people) and I don't think they sell hardly anything now. They stock nothing and at one point thought about closing the Chevy dealership (It's a Chevy and Ford dealer) Then during one of the "Fire sales of used cars" that occured at the Ford dealership, they locked up the Chevy dealer and hung a sign on the door that said "Please go to the Ford dealership for assistance. LOL

Let him go, then pull a JFK on his ass when he steps out into plain site.

How's that? because he runs a GM FAN SITE that is BIASED IN FAVOR OF GM? This isn't a news site, it's a GM SITE. Gee, the same thing that every other concept to production car is, for the most part. Are you kidding me?!?!? I can name 20 things in the TRUCK MARKET ALONE that GM has been ahead of the curve on. GM has the history of being possibly the most innovative company to ever exist. It doesn't matter that people don't perceive it that way because of a few pasty faced journalists and clueless buyers that bought bad GM cars in the 80's. I wouldn't take the participation of the fans here so lightly. Toyota created the Prius DESPITE continueing to use 4 speed automatics. And I'm willing to bet they'll still be using them in 2011 as well. The "How many gears does your auto have" pissing match was nothing more than hoopla started by the media to screw over GM and Ford. Notice you never read about it anymore (Since the invention of Scion) and since it's common knowledge that leading importers such as Subaru (Greenie lust target #2) still use 4 speeds in their volume models. Yet still america continues sucking up the MYTH of TOYOTA and Japan Inc. like Lewinsky in the oval office. You want to talk about an industry lost, blame who is responsible for it. And you're not helping by joining in on the "GM is always inferior" chant. (Especially in cases like this when they're not)

But that's the characteristics of being an import fan in general and especially a Toyota fan... You have to conquest new people into "thinking what is right" and if they don't, then they're just simpletons that are beneath you. I run an anti-Prius group on Facebook and I actually had a Toyota person come on there and write me an email that was an entire page long "Demanding" that I do "what's right" and "remove my group"

I do believe E-Flex has been in development since the skateboard concepts. Might not have been called that, but most of the technology was there. And... Tell me again why we should give a crap when up until last year 60% of the new vehicle purchases in this country were TRUCKS?!?! The hybrid bandwagon always fascinates me because 1) The first gen hybrids sold here were the butt of jokes from EVERYONE, especially the media, that your quirky star trek geek older neighbor drove. 2) the market never dictated the investment until a year or two ago (And from a business standpoint STILL DOESN'T) yet, had Detroit "wasted money" on this venture when Toyota began WASTING MONEY on this venture, Wall Street would've bitched nonstop until the companies lost so much stock value that they would've been in trouble way before now.

HOWEVER, We're it a Scion, the 4 speed slush box would've been perfectly acceptable.

No groupthink in SoCal?!?!?! NO... NOT AT ALL..... I've thoroughly enjoyed ATL each time I've been there. Granted, those were short stays, but it seems like a cool place. I have family in Athens, which is pretty close to Atlanta and they love it.

I do... If it's one of my classic cars I do it very well because that's often a source of rust. If mud or salt or whatever gets up in there and stays for a long period of time and continues to get wet (a.k.a especially if it stays moist) it will begin to rust the fender and eventually you'll have big problems. The Focus, like most newer cars, has plastic wheel wells. Not only do I wash them, I detail them as well with a silicone based detailer. It makes them black and at the same time makes it harder for crap to stick to them, making the next wash easier.

That's interesting.. When I worked there the benefits were available despite union membership, but that's been long enough for a new contract to be signed. The benefits were nice, and the pay was good but I just didn't get enough hours... I am a super efficient person because I cannot stand to have idle time. For example, at my job now we get a 15 minute break. I Never take the break because I don't really want to sit around for that long. I used to work what we called "The Wall" which is where we would receive 45-53 foot trailers from manufacturers (Parts Unlimited, Square D, etc) and unload them into sort. We (3 of us) would usually average 12-15 trailers a night in right at 3 hours. I loved the hard work because I love physical labor (I was raised in a rural environment, I've been splitting wood and throwing hay since I can remember) but what pissed me off was that I would go full throttle and do my job, then try to leav only to be pulled to another part of the plant to pick up some lazy bastards slack doing his job. Sure, there were some people who just needed help for one reason or another and I didn't mind that. It's the people who would leave early or not show up to work on time or would take 5 breaks in 2 hours that pissed me off. One of them was really bad for doing 2 of the afore mentioned and any time someone would talk to him about it, he would make a huge scene (shouting, hand gestures, etc) and then immediately run to his union rep. People like that are the very reason I hate unions, they feel as if they're entitled to a free ride. To me it's the same as not getting a job and living off of wellfare for most of one's life. (Again, I realize that not all wellfare recipients are that way)

I guess I'm a bit jaded though... I tried to get involved heavily with a cruise night here locally when I was 19 or 20 (Mind you, I had both of the Camaros) and the club wouldn't have anything to do with me. They'd all just kinda brush me off when I tried to get involved and volunteer for things multiple times. I'm guessing it was because of my age. Now it'd probably be virtually impossible based on apperance alone as I've progressed more toward the greaser/ heavy metal look and we all know what retired people think of that. I dunno, I don't mean to come on here and throw stereotypes around or make it out to sound like older people aren't cool (because most of them are -- I get along with them a lot better than most of the import driving idiots that are my age) but it's just frustrating to try and get involved with something you're so passionate about and being judged based on your looks or age. [/end ]

I enjoy going out to cruise nights... But I admit, I'm more apt to attend if trophies and 50/50 are involved. Cruise nights are fun, but after a while they get a bit monotonous... Not to mention, I don't make friends too easily with retired guys (Since that's all that cruises around here)

That badge placement looks horrible. And riddle me this in the age of duplication elimination; why the HELL is GMC still using "Z71"?

I worked with UPS for a while... Never joined the Teamsters though (Eventhough everyone tried to bully me into it, and eventhough my grandfather was a Teamster) To paraphrase my 'adventure' there: There are aspects of it I miss but at the same time I don't think I would ever go back. I was in excellent shape (Could pretty much lift 300lbs from the ground) and I LOVE physical labor. I just got real tired of picking up the slack from lazy union members.

I'll add my :twocents: for better or for worse. 1) There is nothing wrong with anger. The problem is when the anger invades every aspect of your life (Been there, done that -- got therapy, anger management & pills) The key is just trying to maintain a positive outlook through all of the Find something that makes you happy and hold on to it. A loved one, music, cars, nature, etc. My problem always was (and still is) that I am so analytical and anal retentive about things that often these hobbies that I love turn into stress and hell and end up being something that I don't want to be a part of anymore (Witness: being a C&G mod) That's when you have to step back and say "Wait a minute, I'm having tunnel vision again. There is much more to this than what I've come to see." 2) Tequila works well, I chug Solo cups of straight tequila and I always feel better afterwards. 3) It's too bad I'm not out of school yet and have financial backing because I'd offer you a deal. I plan on eventually opening up a resto shop and doing high quality restorations of cars right here in the country (READ: NO suburbs or yuppies allowed) I'd certainly need a few partners in this venture.

I dunno... I think it's all knowledge based. For instance, the common Joe has no idea that I am a car enthusiast when I pull up beside them in my Focus. (daily driver) However, the more knowledgable people who look to see that it is the more sports biased ZX3 and that it has a stick (No offense Fly, I don't buy into that auto = no enthusiast stuff either) and that it is immaculately maintained will know that I am an enthusiast. At least, that's how I tell if someone is an enthusiast. Because someone can't afford a $40,000 Vette or just because someone prefers luxury cars with automatic transmissions doesn't make them any less of an enthusiast.

My question is this: How much longer until they're in bad shape? I mean, the Tundra might be making money, but probably isn't giving them the return they wanted. And the Prius is probably in the same boat... I'm sure we'll never see this sort of thing capsize Toyota, but I'm hopeful.

Yet again... No major media exposure... Hmmm...

I'd buy it... BTW, I'll us a line from one of my favorite movies to sum up how I feel about this little PR blip: "I'll believe that when me $h! turns purple and tastes like rainbow sherbert!" Bonus points to anyone who can guess the movie.

How exactly are the Camry and Accord better products than the Aura again? The new products are as 'superior' as you can get. The surveys (apparently) don't lie, and the surveys have been trending up for Detroit (especially GM) and down for Toyota for years now.

That's where the media bias comes in... The media is always arround to 1) remind the consumer why they should not buy domestic (Even if the reason did originate 2 generations ago) and 2) positively reinforce the choice to buy from JAPAN INC. This article right here proves how big of a deal media bias is and how uninformed and basically ignorant the consumer is. The solution isn't black and white either... Detroit needs to be BETTER and MORE COMPETITVE in marketing. They need to EDUCATE the consumer and not us the 'cheap' tactics they've been using for so long (REBATE THIS!!! and "This is a cool car" that) The consumer has to wise up, which I think they are beginning to do (But it will still take a while for there to be major revalations) -AND- Detroit needs to REALLY work on growing new buyers; a.k.a marketing to younger generations, before they've had a chance to really latch on to the bias that is hurled by the media.