cmattson

Okay, enough talk about BM and back to ME. ME, ME, ME, ME. Enough about you. Let's talk some more about ME. Thanks for the kind words HP. j/k - talk about BM all you want -- it's a free country.

I'm not defending his position (or how he communicates his position). I'm just defending his enthusiasm for my favorite automaker -- along with a side tangent to rip on the way-too-easy target of GM marketing. My kool aid comes in a diet coke can & I drink far, far too much of those throughout the day (my work offers free soda to it's employees).

You are absolutely correct. He's voicing his opinion and in doing so, is trying to rally support from other shareholders to put pressure on GM management. These statements are being made from one perspective only: the perspective of making IMMEDIATE profit. The Hummer brand is far too profitable for GM to sell off. It's image alone is worth something. A large chunk of it's platform/engineering costs is shared across other model lines. Killing the brand would be stupid. Selling the brand would generate a one-time blip on your income sheet, but you'd lose image, and more importantly, you'd lose sales and the large profit that these models generate. You could successfully make the case that Saab offers far too little return on it's investment for GM to keep the brand under it's current porfoilio.

Ok, let's settle down. No need to get upset. BM is passionate about GM - just like you and me. He's sick and tired of seeing GM sales numbers slip - and he's trying to do something about that. While you or I or half the people on this board may not agree with how he's trying to go about it, or what the plan entails, give him credit for his passion and for trying to make a difference. A good part of GM's issues are marketing. GM's marketing (if you can call it that) has been pathetic. I can't remember the last time I saw a vehicle advertised based on it's features - instead of it's price. Take a look at the Malibu. While it's styling is very, very conservative (I own one; careful now..), the car has several things going for it: 1. It's gas mileage (4cyl) matches the Accord & Camry, while the 6cyl Malibu handily beats the Accord & Camry V6's. 2. Initial quality: jdpa says it's been #1 for 4 of the past 5 years. 3. Long term durability: jdpa says it's been #1 for 3 of the past 5 years & was 3rd place one of those years as well. The Camry & the Accords didn't even make the top 3 in any of the previous 5 years. How about the Silverado? I'm starting to see "Toyota Tough" adds on their Tundra. Why not highlight the hp/torque/towing advantage the Silverado has over the Tundra -- all while offering a larger payload, larger cab, larger bed, and oh yeah: all while delivering the same gas mileage as a Tundra. GM's got it's competitive advantages; why isn't it's marketing department working with those?

As a business, yes, I guess you would advertise them; especially when you have the history of playing fast-and-loose that Toyota does: 1. Removing rear seats before measuring interior volume of SUV: check. 2. Measuring "ground clearance" from door-sill to ground (as opposed to frame-to-ground): check. 3. Putting reinforcements in our bumpers to artifically score better on a pole-crash test: check. 4. Measuring hp with necessary external vehicle components removed: check. 5. Setting a 7500 mile normal / 15000 mile severe oil-change schedule on their engines to artificially reduce the cost-of-ownership: check. Do you have any doubt that Toyota wouldn't attempt to design a vehicle that could achieve great EPA test scores - but cannot achieve them in everyday real life?

As a side topic to this, let me tell you guys something: Today's business world looks out for the almighty dollar first and ONLY. They'd replace you or me in a heartbeat if they could get it cheaper somewhere else. When I hear managers or owners bitch about how there "is no loyalty" anymore (usually when a co-worker leaves), I remind them that THEY fostered this climate. They created a climate where a worker has to constantly look for the best-deal available. They could be gone tomorrow, which means they need to get as much as they can today. That being said, I'm fortunate to work at a business that has rewarded me well over my years of service (it'll be 12 years this Aug). Most business's you work for don't care about you. There is no longer a sense of partnership or responsiblitybetween a business and employee. There is no sense of loyalty either way.

Ahh, customer-incentives are one thing, dealer-incentives are another. Honda and Toyota work under the dealer-incentive models. They don't advertise discounts, but they are available if you, as a buyer, push the dealer for them. Again, one of the biggest points of this lower-price program is that this will inflate residual % measureably. Let's take a "base" Malibu: '06 pricing is: 16,990 (trim level is called "1LS") '05 pricing was: 19,200 (trim level is callsed "BASE 1SA") How does that "base" Malibu age? Kelly's blue book lists the resale of an '05 as $15250. With '05 pricing, this 1-year old vehicle has lost 20.57% of it's value. With '06 pricing, it's nearly HALF that -- only 10.24% For comparison: 2005 Honda Accord DX (auto) Sedan: new=$17095, resale=$14195 (16.96%) 2005 Toyota Camry Std (man) Sedan: new=$18,185, resale=$16,800 (7.7%) All numbers gathered @ autos.msn.com, which uses Kelly's Blue Book for it's used vehicle pricing.

Most educated people will be able to do the simple math and realize that the net vehicle price is remaining the same. The important thing is that this will *unquestionably* raise GM resale values. I applaud this move by GM. Didn't we all want GM to just drop the stick and do away with the B-S? I know I did..

GM doesn't seem to be hit nearly as hard as other manufacturers with the new EPA ratings. GM's always had their numbers on the conservative-side & I can't ever recall them engineering-a-vehicle to beat an automotive test a la Honda or Toyota. Yes, GM does have consumer-hybrids coming, but remember: GM's dual mode system is quite unlike Toyota's single-motor synergy system. GM's system is built around the transmission gearing. We simply don't have any information at this stage to know if the new EPA tests will affect GM's hybrid system at all. It's interesting to note that GM's dual-mode hybrid claims only a 25% gain -- unlike Toyota's over-the-top approach -- which again may illustrate GM's conservative nature. Lastly, while a hybrids unquestionably polute less, they also have rather large batteries that need to be disposed of -- so it's not a complete gain either. Fuel economy technology must improve. I don't think that hybrids are the final answer, but if even if they simply serve as a bridge to get us to a future, better technology, they'll more-than-have-proved their worth..

* very debatable * #1: The Prius being mid-sized is a misconception. By interior volume, yes the car is a midsize. In reality, a chunk of that interior volumn is that awkwardly shaped hatch region. Sit in one, front and back, and then compare to virtually any other mid-size car and you'll easily see that the Prius is much more comparable in usable interior volume to a compact sedan. #2: Go back and wade through the EPA document: their testing of a Prius, in almost half-a-million miles of use - achieved a paultry 41mpg. My Malibu, in a 60/40 hwy/city mix (with roughly half of those hwy miles in stop-and-go rush-hour traffic) routinely hits 36+ mpg.

Hi all, If you want to read all the minutia, go here: http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/420d06002.pdf Interesting to browse. The EPA really is doing their homework on this -- and it should clear things up quite a bit. The problem appears to be that the EPA testing was based on "perfect conditions", etc - rather than focusing on real world conditions (i.e. use of air conditioners, etc). The EPA test is well known by auto manufacturers and I think we can safely speculate that some manufacturers have engineered their vehicles to improve on this test -- as opposed to doing better in real life. This isn't much different than the whole fiasco by Honda where put steel reinforcements behind their bumper in strategic locations to help the car perform better on a pole-crash test. As a result, the car did better in testing-- but in real life the car wasn't any-more crash worthy than it otherwise normally would've been. It's interesting to note that in their testing, only ONE vehicle observed combined-mpg performed better than the current EPA label AND BOTH of the proposed new testing standards. Chevrolet should be PROUD of the tested 2004 Silverado 4wd! In 28,000 miles of testing, it beat the current EPA label by 5%, the "5-cycle" test by 16% and the "MPG-based" test by 14%. For comparison, an '03 Civic lost 23%, 1%, and 6% respectively.

My brother in law bought a house about 5 years ago. The house was built in the 40's. I'm not sure how old the furnace was, but he had to have it replaced (even though it was running strong) when he put central air in about 18 months ago. The old furnace that was removed? Made by General Motors.

Who is to say that GM's 3.6l is going to stand still in the next 15-18 months? We know that the 3.6l is slated to recieve DI at some point in the not-to-distant future.. and we also know that it pushes hp to the near-300hp levels as well. As it is, 270hp is still competitive. If you want to gather sales, you need to be competitive in ALL areas -- and that's something just about EVERY new GM vehicle has lacked. Sure, each vehicle is competitive in some way but they've also lacked in some way as well. This vehicle appears to be able to compete with the best, regardless of the chosen arena. A great time to be a GM fan. Let's hope that more vehicles are this complete!

Back to that engine.. 4.8l, 380hp -- hmm.. I wonder if we can speculate that it would find itself into the next Tundra...?

I've got one in my '04 Malibu. I've got just over 37,xxx miles on the car in slightly less than 2 years of driving. When I researched my Malibu, the word I heard is that the Ecotec is damn-near indestructible. I've heard the same thing about people running up the miles with nary a problem. The gas mileage on the 2.2l Malibu is outrageously good. If you baby the vehicle, you can squeeze 36+mpg pretty much without a problem. I've never had it out on the freeway for a full tank of gas, so that 36+mpg I've achieved is in a combo of city and hwy driving. If you drive it hard, you'll still get 30+ mpg. The only times I've dropped underneath 30mpg on a tank is when I do strictly city driving -- which is pretty rare. I average a 60% hwy/40% city mix. -- with half of those highway miles in stop-and-go commuter traffic. My only complaint with my Malibu is that the cloth interior sucks. In '04, you couldn't get leather with the 4cyl. To get leather, you needed to move up to the LS or LT trim levels, both of which gave you the V6 - which I wasn't interested in.

We really should be getting excited by the debut of this vehicle for a couple of reasons: #1: It enters GM into the consumer-hybrid market. #2: At a price that is practically free to the consumer. You get a tax credit that almost equals the additional price. It's a no-brainer. #3: The belt-alternator-starter hybrid system is fairly easy to implement. It'll find it's way into multiple GM vehicles -- the Vue being the first. Can you imagine moving this over to an already "green" vehicle like the Malibu. Consider the current 2.2l Vue goes 0-to-60 in 9.1s and delivers 22/27 mpg. A 2.2l Malibu does 0-to-60 in the same 9.1s and delivers 24/35 mpg. A 2.4l hybrid Vue shaves a full second off of the 0-to-60 time and bumps mileage to 27/32 (an increase of 22.7% city / 18.5% hwy). If a 2.4l hybrid Malibu was produced, you could expect the same acceleration gains (interesting to note that a hybrid 2.4l Malibu would nearly match a non-hybrid V6 Malibu for 0-to-60 performance (8.1s for the hybrid, 7.9s for the V6)).. but the mpg gain would put the Malibu at 29.5mpg/42.7mpg. You probably could expect even better results as the Malibu would probably be able to use the electric motors a bit longer due to it's decreased mass.

Absolutely stunning! Ask yourself this: What does the car need? Does the vehicle lack in any area? I cannot think of a single thing! I think GM has an honest-to-goodness, unapologetically competitive-in-every-sense of the word vehicle. This vehicle nails it in virtually every competitive arena: Exterior styling: while the rear is reminiscent of VW, the front and side profile are unique, with a subdued boldness that is both edgy and classy. It's uniquely American: it's perfect for Buick. Interior styling & appointments: Have you seen any better--from GM? From anyone? Talk about raising the bar. It's gorgeous! Technology: 270hp DOHC V6 mated to a 6-speed transmission. Outstanding. Your benchmark here in the near-lux class might be the Lexus RX330; it's current 3.3l develops 223hp and 238ft-lbs of torque. If the RX330 gets Toyota's new DI-3.5l engine, it'll push 268hp. A 3.5l Acura pushes 253hp, and an Infiniti 35FX pushes 280hp-- so Buick's right where it needs to be on this one.

Congrats Lakefire! This is an exciting time for you! I've been through the home building process twice - and I wouldn't trade it for anything; it was tremendous both times.

It's that thing that smokes & shreaks for mercy when you floor that 1st gen (that I drool over daily).

My brother in law is a State Trooper. As a personal firearm (and backup), he carries a Glock. Swears by them. Says that pretty much ever trooper he knows carries one as a backup.

Mmm. Fire. Good.

That's it! I'm officially gonna sue my high school guidance counselor. I was never informed "jobs" like this were available. I certainly wouldn't have went after my computer science degree if I could've scored a choice job like that! And how about the guy who films the "Girls Gone Wild" videos? Never was told about that one either.. Damn..

No -- haven't seen it. But thanks for getting old, obnoxious grooves stuck in my head. Bastard! Might as well share (misery loves company): Hit me Going going gone Now I dialed 911 a long time ago Don't you see how late they're reactin' They only come and they come when they wanna So get the morgue embalm the goner They don't care 'cause they stay paid anyway They teach ya like an ace they can't be betrayed I know you stumble with no use people If your life is on the line they you're dead today Late comings with the late comin' stretcher That's a body bag in disguise y'all betcha I call 'em body snatchers quick they come to fetch ya? With an autopsy ambulance just to dissect ya They are the kings 'cause they swing amputation Lose your arms, your legs to them it's compilation I can prove it to you watch the rotation It all adds up to a funky situation So get up get, get get down 911 is a joke in yo town Get up, get, get, get down Late 911 wears the late crown 911 is a joke Everyday they don't never come correct You can ask my man right here with the broken neck He's a witness to the job never bein' done He would've been in full in 8 9-11 Was a joke 'cause they always jokin' They the token to your life when it's croakin' They need to be in a pawn shop on a 911 is a joke we don't want 'em I call a cab 'cause a cab will come quicker The doctors huddle up and call a flea flicker The reason that I say that 'cause they Flick you off like fleas They be laughin' at ya while you're crawlin' on your knees And to the strength so go the length Thinkin' you are first when you really are tenth You better wake up and smell the real flavor Cause 911 is a fake life saver So get up, get, get get down 911 is a joke in yo town Get up, get, get, get down Late 911 wears the late crown Ow, ow 911 is a joke Get up and get, get down. 9-1-1 is a joke in your town. Bastard -- I'm gonna hafta go shuffling through old CD piles now..

Wholly #@^$%#, your minivan came out looking like a BMW?! What dealer are you going to? I'm heading down there tomorrow -- I don't care how far I hafta drive! :P

'04 Malibu (purchased late March of 2004): 37,xxx miles Other than oil changes, the only work that's been done on the car is the commonly-known steering column issue. It's been a dependable daily driver ever since I bought it. The steering column sensor failed that one time, I shut the car off, which reset the sensor. I made an appt @ the Chevy dealer, dropped it off & picked up their loaner car. Couldn't have been easier. '03 Suburban (purchased Dec. of 2003): 18,xxx miles Oil changes, Transmission fluid/filter change (I tow with this vehicle every summer, so feel obligated to keep up on the tranny fluid/filter changes). I've replaced the wiper blades on this truck once as well (my wife turns on the squirters every time she gets so much as a spec on her windshield). I couldn't be happier with either vehicle: they've both been lights-out rock-solid dependable; and I didn't need to pay a premium-price to get that dependability -- but being good GM fans, you already knew that, didn't you?