FUTURE_OF_GM

Hmmm. 2 of my cars (The '68 and the '82) are fitted with only driver side mirrors and it's awkward driving them. I can't imagine what it would be like WITHOUT both. In fact, I prolly use the side mirrors more than the rearview (I was taught to back using mirrors---good for towing things.)

Having both the 9-3 and the 9-5 seems a little redundant to me.. Why not upsize the next 9-5 a *little* bit and put it on an AWD version of Zeta?

"Super" sucks, plain and simple.... "Ultra" was better (And great IMO) "Reserve" just sounds retarded. Buick: Little to no product, forgotten heritage and sponsor car for "Super!" GS and GSX would be EXCELLENT!!! I can see the media headlines now: "Buick Super....Not so SUPER" Or "Super, but not Excellent" etc.

GMT900? You know, like Nissan does with the Titan/Armada & Pathfinder/Frontier Same platform, different sizes? EDIT: Nevermind, ehaase beat me to it. :D

Hopefully this will receive MASSIVE coverage... (YEAH RIGHT) Good to see that it IS getting mentioned these days and good to see Toyota stumble (Just like GM did at their peak)

[quote]While GM is ramping up production of SUVs, Toyota and others are ramping up production of hybrids like the Prius.[/quote] Except in Texas where Toyota is RAMPING UP big truck production just as fast as GM is ramping up GMT900. [quote]This is just a hunch, but with soaring gasoline prices I bet those hybrids do very well.[/quote] WOW!! What AMAZING insight. (Bubbling with sarcasm and hatred) [quote]7. Poor quality versus foreign competition [/quote] :bs: Outdated thinking. [quote]8. Lack of industry vision[/quote] Wow. Pulled that one right out of his ass didn't he?!?!?! [quote]according to closely held government data,[/quote] Obviously not too closely held. [quote]"Since 1994, companies with weak pension funds have been required by law to calculate the value of their pension funds on a termination basis and to send the information to the pension guaranty agency. But Congress also enacted a measure keeping the information secret, in response to the stated concerns of companies, who argued that the information could be misconstrued if shared with the public.[/quote] Nice to see that the media is obeying the law (When is something going to be done about these troublemakers?) and it's also nice to see that, just like with every other "weapon" they can find, they're exploiting it to the max against GM. [quote]The agency made its own calculation at the end of June and released the figure in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act. [/quote] So someone was digging for dirt on GM... What a surprise. [quote]Now I don't know about you, but I have a problem taking seriously a company that is comforted when sales decline a mere 33% while banking on selling more SUVs with soaring gas prices.[/quote] And you see the REAL opinion of the author, and thus the way the article is slanted. [quote]"The government's calculation involves a variety of different assumptions about the future value of benefits the company owes[/quote] To quote the author: {dumb redneck voice} "Now I don't know 'bout you, but I have a problem taking seriously" {/dumb redneck voice} a calculations that is based on ASSUMPTIONS. [quote]The government says its figure gives[/quote] Illiteracy and all..... [quote]"Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao called for such disclosure in a speech in January. Access to the termination data, now secret, would 'empower workers, investors, regulators, and the public,' Ms. Chao said.[/quote] Empower them to do what exactly? B*tch about underfunding? Panic and freak out, decreasing their pension values by driving the market down? Stress out about it and have a heart attack? (Because they certainly can't fork over 31 Billion themselves) [quote]Well, here we are with a recovery that seems all but dead just as we are about to head into the recession of 2006....I remain convinced that GM is headed towards bankruptcy[/quote] Has this guy got a frikkin' crystal ball or something???? He sure is predicting a lot to make his argument relevant. [quote]or if it will kowtow once again to industry lobbyists.[/quote] Stick it to the man!!!!! (Sarcasm) [quote]until it confronts that mammoth list of problems head-on. I see no reason to believe it can or it will.[/quote] Okay... Yeah, because GM isn't confronting it's problems or anything... This "journalist" has absolutely NO credibility.. This "article" is nothing more than yet another ATTACK on GM by an anti-Detroit zealot to try and stir negative sentiment around the company... The pension plan WAS one positive piece in the GM puzzle and just like everything else positive pertaining to the company, it is now being attacked and spun and destroyed by the media. Come to think of it, this isn't a "new point of view" at all. It's the same doomsday :bs: that we've had shoved down our throats for the better part of 3 years now. P.S. No clue why the quotes aren't working in this post

I was refering to the legitimate competitive disadvantages that have and still do exist today, not product.

Nice that the article makes GM out to be 'A big fat crybaby' Typical media cynicism. I think GM will be okay.... But for how long?

If you think I'm just a GM cheerleader then obviously you haven't read the majority of my posts. Furthermore, I couldn't care less what anyone here thinks of me. It's a blog based on opinion and this is my opinion. If you like my posts, GREAT! If not, great! THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF IT. I never singled out the automotive press.

Just like it'll take "Years for GM to gain credibility in the market and press" it's going to take years for the press to be forgiven by me (If ever) a few months of positives don't make up for years of negatives and a bankrupt GM and Ford. Motor Trend is always the push over... Automobile, Edmunds Consumer Reports and Car & Driver (Which already trashed the HHR in their "preview"--in quotations because they're so slow it can't really be called a preview.) will be the real measure.

But that I could live with I guess... As long as they weren't completely devoid of truck-like qualities (You know; the major selling points of an SUV over a car and decent towing, AWD performance to match)

BINGO! It is one success story in a time of many failures for GM. To abandon ship would be typical, dumb, old GM think.

If GM were parred down like that I can honestly say that I wouldn't buy GM... I can't afford luxury and I don't want mass-market

I'm not saying you're wrong (As I don't know how much effect a GM bankruptcy would have) But IMHO, this is the typical apathetic attitude that has gotten us into the slide to nothingness that this country is in. "Screw those who will suffer, because as long as I'm okay, all is well with the world and we're # 1" It's typical of the individualist thinking in America and ESPECIALLY in California. I'm not being critical. In fact I'm the SAME way, except in regards to GM surviving.... I'm merely pointing it out as what I think is an example.

Both CR and MSN suck... Case closed. If you don't know anything about autos, then don't report on autos.

Agreed. :ph34r: RE: Healthcare The government NEEDS to get a handle on lawsuits, lawyers and the medical/insurance industry gouging going on. That would help a helluva lot.

Why so deffensive O.C.? I blame the media for the majority of problems at GM simply because of the thier continued bad impression of GM REGARDLESS of what GM does. Just look at the editorials that flat out slander and blatantly beat up on GM (or Ford) for no reason. The L.A. times editorial was a good example from your area. Edmunds article on Chevrolet getting no respect is a good example of them highlighting their own collective error. Articles by the Auto Extremist is another good example of ADMISSION of bias, or LACK of critique of the competition. It's all over the place, right in front of everyone's eyes yet some just refuse to see it either through spite or apathy. :bs: The Corvette has NO competition, therefore it receives praise (Except for the C4 which the media hated) It's also low volume. The CTS DID NOT receive positive media attention initially and still receives lukewarm reviews. The Suburban has no import competition, and if you think the constant barrage of "gas guzzler this" "dinosaur this" and "gas hog that" comments is positive, then I'd hate to hear your negative. The CTS (V excluded) has claimed victory in 1 comparison in the rags (unless I'm seriously mistaken) throughout it's 4 year run, that being in Road and Track. The Suburban has always been loathed by media such as Consumer Reports and the Corvette was ridiculed until '97 when the C5 debuted. The truth might get tiring, but it's still the truth.

Therein lies the problem... Now that domestics are reliable (A lot of times more so than Imports) the bar has been moved to "trendy" and "techy" by those who run the game. You know; the game of who can destroy the domestics fastest.

OF COURSE.. Because everytime GM threatens us with GREAT, high quality, segment leading product things ALWAYS come under review and ALWAYS get cancelled... I for one will be PISSED if evok is forshadowing a cop out by GM and even more PISSED if we never get to see the original pics. (No I haven't seen them) GM does not need to let GMT360 wither and die and GM does not need to b8tch out on GMT361 and lose share. Toned down is okay I guess... Crappy and devoid of competitiveness is ridiculous and typical.

That's right and GM will lose again... Whether through twisted facts or lies. They'll do it by trying to kill the HHR's momentum through BAD comparison tests and BAD image association. (Therefore making an HHR purchase less justified, or holding the buyer accountable)

Excellent post... And I'll have to check out that book as well, it sounds interesting.

So you assume I'm a socialist when I posted a pretty neutral and apathetic response to a rhetorical question? okay I never endorsed government sponsored healthcare... merely stated the facts. FOR GM, financially, that would be the best alternative.

I would certainly hope so. (VENGENCE would be mine) But I doubt it would crash the economy... Would it cause negative effects on the economy, absolutely. But I don't think it would crash the economy. Probably never... I think if the government were actually going to do something and not be apathetic and oblivious to all our problems, they would've done it by now.

And the media/Detroit haters hit paydirt!!!! Bad news all around. Of course, it might help if GM actually MARKETED it's cars!!!!! GM: The HHR is doing well because the HHR not only is a good vehicle but also was marketed pretty well, same with the new Impala, except not as good of marketing. GM does not need to continue to be hooked on incentives, I'm sure the Asians are grabbing share left and right and I'm sure we'll here all sorts of opinion swaying reports from the media, further putting the nails in the coffin of Detroit. It might finally be over. WE gave it a good fight.

Inventories are still terrible around here... My biggest Chevy dealer only has 2 HHRs (already sold) 1 Impala, 2 Malibus and a handfull of trucks and Cobalts