FUTURE_OF_GM

Wow... I had no idea that Opel was doing that badly and Chevrolet was doing so well over there (You know, we get a MUCH different story here on the board) So maybe the Opel export business (to Buick or Saturn) is because Opel needs volume instead of "Opel is so great that GMNA wants us to build cars for them"

I still think the G6 coupe is one of the best looking coupes on the market.

GM needs to maintain at least 5-6 brands. I'll stop at that.

Wow... There is so much wrong with this post. It explains why GM is in the situation it's in (infighting, especially when GME, an entity that died 3 years ago only to have GMNA sweep in and save it's ass, has the balls to want to separate from GM) If I were GMNA, and you went on record "for" CPF, (something I'm sure he appreciates and also vehemently denies in the press) I'd send you both pink slips. Then again, all of this is in naught anyway... Opel will remain a captive unit of GMNA and it'll probably die a slow, painful death along with GMNA. Even *IF* Opel is somehow seperated, it wont last a year on it's own. Remember: "Saab is safe... Saab is safe... Saab has friends... Saab will not leave GM or be killed."

Nope. I can't buy a RWD Chevy sedan or an affordable Chevy roadster.

Camaro or G8?

F*ck the media... I'm glad the mayor stuck to his guns. Stuff like this should've started happening years ago (pertaining to the automotive industry) GM needs to hire me for PR

Why not build the Solstice (gen II) along side the C7?

From engineering standpoint.. YES. Especially now that they're becoming corporate again (Theta, coroporate V6 with no unique identity OR power, possible Epsilon, etc.) How long until the pundits start saying "GM doesn't need Cadillac..." Hell, they're already shamelessly begging GM to get rid of Buick and GMC (in record time) Of course it is... It also sells for more. It was in the 60s and 70s.. Besides, part of marketing a brand is image. Pontiac's image (to those of us who admire the brand) isn't totally performance driven and never has been. But then, not everyone knows the history like some of us here do. *shrugs* So what IS your idea of a performance brand? An >AFFORDABLE< mass market performance brand?

Hopefully GM will restructure Saab and keep it as a part of the company (kind of like GME or Holden are/were independent, but still part of GM) I think losing Saab is a VERY bad thing for GM's potential growth around the globe.

Hmm.... Same goes for Cadillac as we speak. (Save for the RWD sedan, which a better platform in a cheaper package can be had at Pontiac)

That does... I think it's something to do with the media and nature connection (not really nature itself) I'm thinking "Now that they've helped ruin our society, they're going to try and tell us how to relax as well." It (to me) is kind of insulting... (Yeah, it's weird... I know.)

Awesome! (I guess I just assumed that Miller was involved since it's a graphic novel flick *shrugs*)

That just pisses me off... (weird, ain't it?)

If I were GM, I'd tell the Germans to fork over the money or I'd run the damn company into the ground. If It wanted to, GM could eat Opels lower market with Chevrolet (via GMDAT) and re-badge all of the current high end Opel designs as Buicks. Will sales tank? Probably... But Germany sure as hell wouldn't get it's "beloved" little Opel back. No way in hell I would give up Opel, if I were GM. I have a hard time believing that GM would "finish off" a vital piece of it's operations... Then again, the management is pretty stupid. Not to mention, Opel won't LAST 2 years without it's export business. It be the same thing as Saturn; a distribution channel.

I think the Z28 will house the LSA (not the LS9)

That'd be cool!

Okay...okay... Maybe I am being a little touchy. (As far as Tool goes; that's a deeply entrenched hatred on my part. After having some exposure to that guy pictured, through interviews and the like, I just wanted to hit him with a baseball bat.)

Bingo... And that's why all of the "strong" or "alpha" leaders are leaving the company through retirement or hire through another company.

Nope.. In fact I hate them. But this only applies to american divisions? You're not about to forsake Mini over their (polar opposite of what the brand meant) new clubman and SUV, right?

WTF does Ru Paul have to do with the Trans Am and Who TF is that guy in the cowboy hat?

Trans Ams had unique powertrains when the brand first started. (I love coming to a GM board and hanging out with other GM fans ) Just because you all think you're too good to drive a Pontiac doesn't mean the brand isn't rich in history and appealing to folks that wouldn't be caught dead in a Chevrolet.

Simple... 1) GM is a global company and is structuring itself as such. The major growth in our lifetimes will come from China and India. The US is a mature market, and probably -- unfortunately (I hope I'm wrong) a shrinking market for GM. Buick has a global presence that saved it's ass. Pontiac does not AND Pontiac basically duplicates Chevrolet in the market unless it's a nice performance brand (which I hope GM fulfills it's promise of) So instead of 3 divisions fighting for the volume seller spot (Saturn, Chevrolet and Pontiac) GM has (naturally) given Chevy the nod, killed Saturn (because it's the easiest to kill) and reduced Pontiac to hopefully something very promising. 2) GM isn't worried about share anymore. If it can sell 2 Buicks for every 4 Pontiacs it sold and sell them at a better ROI (profit point; READ: not to fleet) then mission accomplished. The current Opels are too upscale to be passed off as Pontiacs (save for the Astra) without decontenting the hell out of them. If GM tried that, it would lose sales and lose it's ass profit-wise. GM previously believed that the Opels were too sporty to be Buicks. These factors made the Opel-Saturn marriage a perfect fit. But with the dire straights the company is in now, and Saturns failure to sell the cars (even though that was more the fault of GM as a whole) that makes Buick the new dancing partner. (which is a complete reversal of the 2005 plan) I'd say the performance of the Enclave raised a few eyebrows in the RenCen as well and saved Buick from death. I just hope this plan works... Chevrolet and Cadillac (if it gets product) will both be fine and I think Buick has huge potential given certain aspects of the brands image. However, if GM f*cks the marketing up like they typically do, I don't see Buick lasting long. I also think that GM needs to give Pontiac a very focused line up that will begin to rebuild the image of the division AND I think that Saab should be retained and allowed to operate independently, concentrate on increasing it's global pressence and make america a high 2nd priority. (i.e. Sell well here, but grow big where you're strengths are)

Correct, I'm assuming G8 and Zeta are viable through 2016 Kappa could be kept around for as long as GM wants to build it (I hope they don't let it wither, though) Maybe Kappa can be moved to BG like originally planned (especially now that the XLR is toast) The next Solstice could (as planned) be spawned from Y-body (especially now that the XLR is toast ) Unless Cadillac will want back on the program, which I kind of hope they will, but then again, I'd also kind of like to see Cadillac bring out a world beater sedan instead of a performance car. Of course, all of this is my speculation. I guess they could milk it longer... Maybe a GMDAT replacement for the Vibe?