Northstar

Perhaps 3700lbs is with driver and gas, which is going to add the same amount give or take however much a couple gallons of gas weighs in any car, so it is probably safe to assume the car weighed somewhere between 3400 and 3500lbs without driver or gas.

The road they drove on (route 12) is a pretty busy road, I believe, and in some areas is 2 lanes and a 55mph speed limit. Clearly, if they drove 75mph they're going to be passing quite a few cars in the 55mph zone. If they were driving the car to maximize FE, I don't see why they wouldn't coast to stoplights, drive at speeds that they found to maximize mileage, etc. I think the way they drove is pretty much the way a normal buyer of a 4cyl family sedan would drive. How many 4cyl Camry and Accords do you see zipping off the line at stoplights? Certainly not many, so I don't see any reason for them to be lead-footing it. If it were a performance car, sure, but this is a 4cyl family sedan and they were driving it as such. The test is probably pretty representative of what someone could expect to get in real life without thinking about ways to maximize fuel economy, all the while driving like the average person who owns such a car.

Toyota was down 4.6% on a selling days basis, Mazda up 4.1%, Chrysler down 29.4%, BMW up 1.2%, Nissan down 1%, VW down 8.4%, Hyundai was down 7%, Ford down 19.3%. GM down 22.7%. Currently GM is down 16% and the market is down 9%, not on an adjusted basis. On an adjusted basis GM is down 22.7% and the market is down 16%. You lose. Look at the Malibu's increase in sales. I think it's quite obvious GM is making inroads there. Again, GM's car retail sales increased 6%. The Cobalt is 3-4 years old, when the new one comes if it does not start selling better then GM is in trouble, but it's currently one of the oldest, if not the oldest vehicle on the market in that segment.

142mph in the GTO... ran out of real estate, otherwise I have no doubt it would have easily made it to the 158mph limiter.

Car sales were basically flat (up 6 percent in retail sales). There's nothing they can do with gas at $3.50+ to stop the slide of large SUVs and pickups, where the main declines are at; total sales were down 51k, sales of T900s and T360s were down 37000 combined; that's a decrease of 14000 outside of large trucks, and with the market having a bad month in general (so far, at least), I'd say that's not terrible. When you look at everything as a whole, yes, GM still had a very bad month and it's their fault they depend so much on large trucks, but it also can be shown that they aren't doing that bad otherwise.

GM Media Release * Retail Car Sales Up 6 Percent * Chevrolet Car Retail Sales Up 24 Percent Led By a 147 Percent Increase in Malibu, 17 Percent Rise in Cobalt, 13 Percent Increase in Aveo and 8 Percent Hike in Impala Sales * Pontiac Retail Car Sales Up 6 Percent With a 39 Percent Increase in Vibe, 3 Percent Climb in G5 and G6 Sales * Buick Retail Trucks Up 32 Percent Led By 4,000 Enclave Crossover Sales DETROIT - GM dealers in the United States delivered 260,922 vehicles in April. Retail car and crossover sales were up more than 9 percent. A sharp sales increase in fuel efficient cars and crossovers could not make up for soft truck demand and a sharp decline in fleet deliveries impacted by the American Axle strike. On a non-adjusted basis, retail sales were down 11.5 percent and total sales for the month were down 16 percent. On an adjusted basis, total sales declined 22.7 percent. Dealer inventories were at their lowest level since September 2005 with about 824,000 vehicles in stock, down about 206,000 vehicles compared to last April, and down more than 84,000 vehicles compared with December 2007. "Consumer preference is shifting and we're shifting with it as evidenced by our strong car and crossover sales. Our new products such as the Chevrolet Malibu, Cadillac CTS and Buick Enclave were hot throughout the month," said Mark LaNeve, vice president, GM North America Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. "Throughout the industry, truck sales have been soft. We've been able to match the current economic slowdown with historically low total inventories, and as we look for ways to increase car and crossover production, we are improving our competitive position for the economic recovery." Chevrolet Malibu total sales were up 29 percent with retail sales up 147 percent, Aveo sales were up 14 percent total and 13 percent retail, and Cobalt sales were up 16 percent total and 17 percent retail. Pontiac Vibe total sales were up 36 percent and retail sales were up 39 percent compared with April 2007. Saturn Aura was up 19 percent total and 16 percent retail, and the Astra had its fourth consecutive month of increasing sales with more than 900 vehicles sold. In the luxury car segment, the award-winning Cadillac CTS saw total sales increase 8 percent with a strong retail increase of 12 percent. GM's popular crossover Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook together accounted for nearly 13,000 retail vehicle sales in the month, an increase of 7 percent compared with the same month last year. There were more than 6,600 Acadia, 4,000 Enclave and 2,300 Outlook retail sales. The Saturn Vue had a total sales increase of about 600 vehicles compared with April 2007. "Our sales performance in mid-cars and crossovers shows the power of new products to attract consumers - even in a tough market," LaNeve added. "So as the mix shifts from trucks to cars, we're ready in our dealers' showrooms with vehicles that provide industry-leading value, great fuel economy and the best warranty coverage of any full-line automaker." Certified Used Vehicles April 2008 sales for all certified GM brands, including GM Certified Used Vehicles, Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, Saturn Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, Saab Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, and HUMMER Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, were 44,479 vehicles, up nearly 7 percent from April 2007 results. Year-to-date sales are 168,087 vehicles, down 7 percent from the same period last year. GM Certified Used Vehicles, the industry's top-selling certified brand, posted April sales of 38,861 vehicles, up 6 percent from last April. Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles sold 3,565 vehicles, up 27 percent. Saturn Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles sold 1,159 vehicles, down 21 percent. Saab Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles sold 727 vehicles, up 14 percent, and HUMMER Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles sold 167 vehicles, up 109 percent. "Our certified sales momentum continued in April, as GM Certified Used Vehicles sales grew for the fourth consecutive month, a 6 percent increase over last April's results," said LaNeve. "The Cadillac, Saab and HUMMER Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles programs also generated robust increases as consumers take advantage of the great value and peace-of-mind assurances that come with the purchase of certified GM vehicles." GM North America Reports April 2008 Production, 2008 Second-Quarter Production Forecast Revised to 950,000 Vehicles In April, GM North America produced 242,000 vehicles (128,000 cars and 114,000 trucks). This is down 93,000 vehicles or 28 percent compared to April 2007 when the region produced 335,000 vehicles (120,000 cars and 215,000 trucks). (Production totals include joint venture production of 22,000 vehicles in April 2008 and 16,000 vehicles in April 2007.) Approximately 130,000 units of production have been lost in April due to the American Axle work stoppage. Since the dispute began in late February, approximately 230,000 units of production have been lost. GMNA has revised its forecast for 2008 second-quarter production to 950,000 vehicles, down 130,000 units from the prior forecast to reflect April production losses. Due to the current American Axle work stoppage, there is considerable uncertainty with regard to the second quarter production forecast. Yesterday, GM's annual total vehicle sales forecast for the industry was revised to an expected mid-to-high 15 million vehicle SAAR. The previous forecast provided in January of this year was in the low-16 million unit range. The revision reflects actual industry sales rates for the first four months of 2008 and the current assessment of the recovery of the U.S. economy. ____________________________________________________________________________ Terrible month for trucks, as expected. Malibu still isn't at 20k/month yet, which is disappointing. I don't understand how the Fusion is outselling it. G8 is almost at the maximum it can do in a month because of production restraints, so that's a good sign. Not many bright spots...

1-Series cannibalizing 3er sales, or are 3er sales just down because of the competition (CTS, C-Class, G35) being newer?

GM cannot get the Volt out soon enough. 21k Prius sales? Camry + Prius is over 60k, that's 720k/year, more than Silverado...

It's not. It's down 14.8%. If it's in parentheses that means it's down, not up.

Congrats! I had an academic scholarship to go to a private college, however I get a whopping $0 here at U of I.

Was C&D's an LTZ? According to this article the Malibu weighs 3700lbs... unless they are mistaken. I'm not sure what would make up the 300lb difference, though.

If I recall your A4 is a 2005? Those weighed ~3500lbs... 200lbs less than the Malibu. I can't be sure, but it sounds like your trip is also all highway driving, which the Malibu saw 34MPG on... I'd say each car is fairly impressive. The Audi's engine is smaller and unless the turbo has to do much while cruising at 90, I don't see why it shouldn't be getting quite good MPGs? Keep in mind in their test they said they also drove around town, though it did not say how much. So, if you are averaging 24-26 in mixed driving and their mixed driving is similar, I'd say the Malibu is doing quite well at barely under 30MPG. Also, one would expect the Malibu to get better as the engine is broken in... the A4's engine is already broken in. As for whoever said the I4 Malibu's only weighed 3500lbs, I believe they listed the weight in the article as 3700... I would guess that since the LTZ has all the features for the most part, they all add some weight (along with bigger wheels which probably add a significant amount), and a base I4 is more than 3400. The 6-speed may also add some weight.

It sounds to me they weren't focused on get the best gas mileage possible. Didn't coast, passed at every chance (which would mean they were giving it a lot of gas), used accessories at all times... what more do you want them to do to decrease the mileage? Rev the engine at stoplights?

No... your car weighs ~3400lbs and the Malibu weighs ~3700lbs. You car may be bigger in terms of length, but the Malibu is bigger where it matters for MPG: weight, and by ~300lbs. I'd say the MPG is pretty impressive. I'd like to know what the city/highway mix was, though.

Looks quite true to concept. The BRX will sell quite well if the exterior is 95% concept, as well. GM looks to still be on a roll turning out great vehicles.

$3.49 for 87 here, but the Goat likes it's premium feed for $3.69.

I don't see what they would build... unless they need another plant for the Malibu. Most plants are under capacity as it is, anyways.

The video would have been much better if the guy would have been clever enough to actually make the words sound like Greek letters, and used the ones from an actual fraternity. For example: Lambda Chi -> Ramda Guy

After reading that, I can't believe you are serious.

So why go for the CTS when a larger RWD sedan can be had for $10k less? I realize the sedan market is significantly bigger, but this is a direct comparison between two versions of two different cars. There are a lot more people who can afford a G8 but can't afford a CTS wagon. Same as I just posted above. Why wouldn't Cadillac want to get exclusivity on GM RWD sedans? And again, the CTS is out of many people's price range, the G8 would not be.

What a loser... I'm guessing if he took the time to make such a video he was probably sour that he didn't get any bids to join a house. I re-opened the thread, so let's keep it civil. I don't want to see anything get out of hand.

From GM Media: DETROIT – It’s been approximately six months since Chevrolet’s redesigned Malibu was launched. In that time, it has received critical acclaim – including being named 2008 North American Car of the Year – and numerous recommendations by consumer groups. More importantly, the new Malibu is resonating with customers. In only the first quarter of 2008, market share is up 1.3 points over the same period in ’07. Much of that growth is due to retail sales, which increased 110 percent during the first three months of the year, with three large, import-heavy states showing dramatic growth: * Florida sales are up 91 percent * New York sales are up 135 percent * California sales have leaped 186 percent In fact, some dealers are reporting retail sales increases of nearly 1,000 percent over 2007 Malibu sales. “The new Malibu is the car Americans have wanted from Chevrolet,” said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. “Its combination of amenities and value are at the core of Chevrolet’s philosophy, but the Malibu brings them together in a drop-dead gorgeous design that makes it a must-have car.” Malibu customers are demanding more uplevel models, reflecting buyers with higher household incomes than the previous model. Many of those new customers are bringing in a non-GM vehicle to trade, too: More than 40 percent of trade-ins are non-GM vehicles and among them, the number-one trade-in is a Toyota Camry. Efficient performer A variety of efficient powertrain combinations gives Malibu customers choices that all return excellent fuel economy, including a new four-cylinder/six-speed automatic transmission combination that was recently added to the lineup. It uses the powerful 2.4L Ecotec engine paired with a specially calibrated six-speed automatic to deliver EPA-estimated mileage of 22 in the city and 32 on the highway. That’s better highway mileage than Accord or Camry. Also available is the Malibu Hybrid. It is the most affordable hybrid version of a midsize sedan in the market, delivering 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway, without having the highest price tag. Safety performance When it comes to safety, the Malibu is an impressive performer. It earned the government’s highest possible NCAP crash safety rating: 5 stars. That means the Malibu scored 5-star ratings for driver and front passenger in frontal crash testing; and 5-star ratings for front and rear seating positions in the side-impact crash test. The Malibu’s roster of standard and available safety features includes: * Dual-stage frontal air bags with GM Passenger Sensing System * Head curtain side-impact air bags (front and rear outboard seats) * Front seat-mounted driver and front thorax air bags for side impact protection * Front safety belt pretensioners * LATCH child safety seat anchors * Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS * Traction control * StabiliTrak stability control system with panic brake assistance (LT and LTZ) * Tire pressure monitoring system All Malibu models come standard with OnStar 8.0, which features advanced automatic crash notification. Intangible qualities Efficient performance and a long list of safety features fulfill important consideration points that customers place on all new cars, but the Malibu also delivers with a package of details and qualities that are difficult to quantify. From an exceptionally quiet driving experience to upscale interior lighting, the Malibu conveys the feeling of a more expensive car. Additionally, details such as standard XM Satellite Radio, remote vehicle starting and even a household-style rear-seat power center are features uncommon in the segment. “We couldn’t be happier with the Malibu’s enthusiastic reception in the market so far, but we’re hardly resting on our laurels because the competition is fierce,” said Peper. “We will continue to improve the car to strengthen its leadership position and help make Chevrolet the best car brand in the business.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quite an impressive start, I would say. I look for the Malibu to have some great sales in the summer months.

I don't see how they would really compete with each other. G8 is quite a bit bigger (at least sedan vs. sedan), and significantly cheaper. Comparably equipped the CTS is probably $10k more.

That has to be the fattest D-Pillar in the history of civilization!

Probably going into the checking account... that way I can save some of my money from working in the summer.