FUTURE_OF_GM

Mini is more of a niche... I'm talking a volume building entry level brand. Besides, this philosophy could also save them from whoring out the Mini name like they apparently are planning to do. Most Mini owners I know are repulsed by the Clubman and forthcoming SUV.

Other items that I have read said that there will in fact be a caravan.

LMFAO! You played it cool IMO. I would've been a 'finger pointing jackass' had I been there. Nothing I like better than a nice, hearty [family] confrontation.

I remember the 9-3X concept car... Looks like a 9-3 wagon with a lifted suspension to me... Oh well, if it helps GM, then I guess it's okay. (LOL)

Bu...But... I thought it was only Detroit that "Put themselves in this situation." Speaking of a tighter tie up between GM and BMW, why not sell Pontiac to BMW as an entry level division?

:angry2:

Via a "GREEN" initiative.. That hardly sounds like Detroit money to me...

DAMMIT!!! They beat me to it! I was in the very early processes of setting up a website. No caravan?!?!?! Stupid I am glad they set up a site though!

BTW, Toyota is moving forward with establishing a 4th brand now (in the US --they'll only have 4 brands) Prius is supposedly going to become its own entity. Tell me GM needs to assassinate divisions.

Yep... That's what I've heard too. Maybe it's the resurrection of the so-called Chi architecture. If Cadillac goes down that path, they're as dead as Lincoln. Then again, since GM seems to have wet dreams about Saab, maybe it will now become the "global luxury division" and cadillac can take Buick's role.

We did have STS and DTS replacements until the powers that be thought it was a good idea to kill Zeta.

Glad to see I'm not the only one here that has an official hairdresser. Although, I must admit that my haircut is a very simple one (I have some military influence, so I keep the side and back VERY short out of habit and comfort) Going to the salon isn't awkward for me except that I banged one of the hairdressers that has a booth there... That gets a bit weird, especially since my present GF now uses the same salon. I freakin' LOVE hanging out there though. It's so warm and inviting (I've had the same salon for 12 years now) and I LOVE to hear the small town gossip, LOL. My hair dresser HATES it when I grow out my goatee and threatens to cut it off everytime I go in. Before I cut it this time, it was down to my collar bone. But alas, I'm interviewing for "real" jobs now and had to chop it off. P.S. The goth chick sounds kinda cute. Something about those 'fru fru' high maintenance girls really does it for me.

We toyed with the idea of a C&G publication back in the site heyday.

That is quite possibly one of the collest YouTube vids I've ever seen! And for 1930, it's excellent!

This is all well and good, but How 'Bout Them Opels?!?! (FOG waits for PCS to chim in.... crickets chirping......) Hmm... You mean Opel doesn't have a better solution?

It would be nice if both Congress and the media kept that same perspective when discussing/denegrating the big 3.

The politicians are against the automakers because this COUNTRY is against the automakers. Remember, a politician is like a dumb dog. They know how to get the "treat" that they want and they will focus on getting that at all costs. That treat is the voters majority and/or money from import companies (plants, extended manufacturing in some states, etc) so they will destroy Detroit to ensure their success. That's politics 101. I used to be a little optimisitc, but I think america has (unknowingly, because they've bought into the years of stereotypes that have been tirelessly perpetuated by an anti-Detroit few) decided that the auto industry should no longer exist. I think the ONLY hope we have is either 1) americans see a "rebirth" in the industry (And the only way this will happen is with political support from Obama and a HUGE PR/engineering push) or 2) A niche industry that sells to diehards like us. The rebirth was coming when Lutz was hired on, but the media sensed it and started blasting Detroit with OPINIONATED EDITORIALS about "SUVs" and "How Detroit is outdated" and "Why Detroit should be bankrupt" The media can no longer fault the products, so they have moved the (much more aggressive) war to the opinion pages. Their goal is to creat a negative opinion of the Big 3. And since the companies already have a dmaged image, that goal was EASILY accomplished. Now that the big 3 are 'over a barrel' the media barrage has been nonstop and twice as brutal because the anti-Detroit majority in the media can see their ultimate goal coming to life. That ultimate goal is either a dead Detroit or a Detroit that has little, if any influence over the industry. I just can't pinpoint WHY the most recent media barrage started (circa 2005) The only thing I can think is that it was a massive, anti-Detroit PR push by Japan Inc. or It stems from the horrible financial results reported that year or it's a combination of both (I think this is the most likely) The bad press started with the bad results and the japanese companies started whispering in the medias ear to try and influence them in a 'kick them while they're down' menatlity and it worked TOO well. I'm willing to bet that the japanese companies (judging by their comments) never believed that the Detroit 3 would actually go bankrupt. (And they would not have gone bankrupt had the market not crashed) They merely wanted the industry to limp along and bleed share. But "Freedom of Speech" is a powerful concpet here in america and I don't think they understand what effects it has on the population. (Which is a funny oxymoron, since we promote freedom of speech, then adopt the most convenient opinion and stick to it like a communist sticks to a soup bowl) I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt it, since americans are too stupid to see the forest for the trees... We're the only country I know that sits back and allows ourselves to be screwed for to benefit of fat, rich bankers and then the very next day criticizes and tries to destroy an industry that employs (empowers) a large majority of us. IMO, we should've been 'in the streets of DC and New York with our guns loaded' a long time ago. But hey, who am I? I don't have a from an Ivey League school and I don't have any money, so no one listens.

You know, I was thinking... If GM uses the number of people it employs as leverage for the "bailout", wouldn't killing divisions and downsizing be counter productive? And +1 on the "GM needs to let Congress [and the world] know that it only sells 4 divisions." Then maybe less people would be asking/forcing them to assasinate divisions. Repeat after me: FOUR DIVISIONS (Because that's the way the restructure was supposed to be. 1) Chevrolet 2) Saturn 3) Buick/Pontiac/GMC 4) Cadillac/Saab/Hummer

Who wants to take bets on how long it will be before that document is leaked to the competition?

Finally, a voice or truth!

But the problem there is, GM has procclaimed that it needs VOLUME to survive. VOLUME is what Pontiac provides, rebadges or not.

Umm... The SALES both in american and especially outside of america in relation to the competition.

That's bad business. That entire division of 'badge jobs' (eventhough they aren't) is straight profit. GM would have a nice little PROFITABLE niche if it kept GMC. That's abd business as well. Take Buick out of China and then see how GM's prospects look. As long as Opels would be Pontiacs as well, this will work. Saab has NEVER made a profit and would be insignificant even if it were to. But it can tap the import intenders that will NOT buy other GM products

Yep. Refresh or not, compared to the competition and especially the Aura, uit's WAY outdated. And in comparison to the competition and especially the "wonder child" Astra that was supposed to save the world, it's outdated. The same Aveo that's been out for how long now? It's main competition, the Miata, is brand new. I agree with that Notice, these are the two volume sellers. And I'm just quoting what I've heard both here and in the media. It's all about ROI.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozLX7OGi5Wg Priceless!