enzl

Get out the tin foil hats! It's the obligatory "I've given this guy 100 days to fix everything the last guys screwed up...he sux" from the peanut gallery. He's helping GM...who cares how. Whenever you guys veer into politics, you reveal a streak of ignorance that tells me you should stick to your obsession with true hardtops....

Because people NEED to believe all the 'conspiracy' theories to justify their irrational fear of Obama. Usually, I give them a break....They're the same people still catching up on reality since they suffer from the cognitive dissonance necessary to have voted for Bush. Twice.

I'm shocked pleasantly surprised that Barry and the Boyz got tough with the Little 2. This is nothing more or less than a prime example of how Politics & Biz intersect, much to the detriment of all involved. There are NO good choices here. Regardless of your political bent. GM as we know it will be irrevocably changed in '09. Looking forward to how this all pans out...I'm in the 'glass-half full' zone right now. See me in 60 days or so....

two issues: 1. The Euro effort for Cadillac & Corvette (IMO the 2 most marketable GM lux commodities in Europe) have been awful. Every decision a disaster. 2. Those deniers who simply can't confess that GM visiting & learning from their mistakes isn't the way forward. It's the single largest reason none of their 'plans' of the last 30 years have been workable. GM's been real sick for a long time. Somebody's gotta stop the madness. If not GM's fans, then who will point the way?

It's still not enough....they haven't dealt with legacy or bond-holders debts.... GM currently owes more to creditors than it can EVER earn in profits, assuming it can make money on operations, which I don't believe it can in a sub-10mill marketplace here in the US.

Economics are cyclical, folks. The shenanigans in the financial realm have amplified this downturn, but you must have bad times to have good ones, relatively speaking. The assault on our manufacturing base started decades ago....and protectionist polices merely prolongs the agony & cost of true investments in said base. The solution for the current crisis has its basis in both effective (which is vastly different than 'more') oversight of our financial system (both nationally and worldwide) and a change in the negative mindset that dominates the current picture. Putting up walls only makes other dig under them...decisions made while in the midst of a panic are, generally speaking, not the wisest. Believe it or not, this too shall pass. It may suck for a while, but the reason that our system works (for the most part) is that its flexible....

A8 is available in a FWD, 6cyl version in Europe. Regardless, the new SRX is better positioned than the old one. I have no objection to that change, given the current SRX struggles. Cars on stilts are not the place to expend time on 'BMW-like' handling---even the X5's performance has to be qualified as good "for a tall, overweight vehicle" I can't stomach the idea of abandoning RWD for sedans, wagons and (god forbid) coupes. If Sigma can keep a factory running in volume, it should be used extensively. I'd rather see a Riv coupe or some other product developed to keep volume high, rather than a batch of EpII derivatives as Caddies.

The CNN article is full of gross inaccuracies and distorted facts, to be sure, but aren't all of GM's most ardent defenders missing the point? GM should have been working on the massive restructuring being forced on them now---years ago. The writing has been on the wall for the past 2 decades. Consistent market share loss, product overlap and systemic inability to really produce 'game-changers'---top flight, undeniably great product (with rare exception) have been the song for years! That where GM is at fault. Writers like this guy should be embarassed---but the fall of GM has only been sped up by recent events...instead of a slow-motion dive into the ground, this plane crash is now at 500 MPH. How many of us have been screaming about product problems, marketing issues, image meltdown et al....forever! The time has come to make all the hard decisions---and the ax will fall on many as a result. Wouldn't a controlled winddown be superior to what we're looking at? You guys can cry all you want about the content of this story, but the theme is frighteningly accurate--deadly for GM as a matter of fact. Don't confuse poor writing with the substance of the underlying situation. Our neighboring dealer (PBGMC) just closed his doors after 30+ years in the biz. A family owned business---it was either bleed his families nest egg dry or quit---he had to quit because GM has been run by a bunch of soft-headed, short-sighted losers for years--they nearly destroyed Buick and Pontiac---left them as shells of their former glory. I can take issue with the author, but don't forget the original sin here!

Anyone in the business will tell you it isn't the problems, but how they're handled...at both dealer and manufacturer levels. I have found that good dealers, regardless of make, will work with customers and 'red flag' a repair 'comeback' immediately---cab rides, rental cars and the token gift usually work at non-lux dealers to appease a disappointed customer. I have also noticed that other than Lexus, there is wide variation as to how manufacturers respond to problem vehicles, even within the same make. Cars are simply too complex to be perfect. And A#@hole customers are who they are, regardless of class, race, religion, etc...there's nothing that's going to please some people.

I agree...the MSM are hopeless sheep---the quality of their reporting is at a historical low (IMO)--and they've missed this story years ago. Anyone with a vague knowledge of accounting and the ability to read GM's public filings could have seen (and written) about this disaster in the making. Now its just another part of the overall economic disaster....and negativity brings readers and viewers...like a car crash slowing traffic on the other side of the highway.

Here's a positive: History will treat RW a little better than the captain of the Titanic. On what planet does one live on that RW deserves positive press? Remember, GM wasn't making money in the LARGEST US car market ever! 17 million units a year and the Rickster couldn't get GM making money. Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over, while expecting different results. RW and the Board of Bystanders are beyond insane. How's that for positive? If all of the unemployed GM'ers (as well as the 100's of thousands that will be on the streets at suppliers and dealers) had the same golden parachute that RW had, I'd be more positive. Or, how about this: The GM management team is somewhat more competent than Enron's. They're slightly smarter than Chrysler's? They're more honest than Bernie Madoff?

Quite simply, they can't afford all divisions---selling stale product disallows the possibility of selling 150k Buick anythings! Imagine an ES350 at LaCrosse pricing---that should have been a new LeSabre or Regal--but as posters above more ably put it: 4-5 mediocrities were the result, rather than 1 strong, high volume product. A trimmer GM with strong product is the only recipe for success at this point. The rest will be accounting tricks and gov't largess---nothing more or less. For me, 30 excellent products trumps 60 uneven ones---GM has proven in fits and starts that a great vehicle (CTS, Lambdas, G8, Vette, GMT900) is in their realm, but the white noise from reconstituted W's and a set of Delta disasters (Ion, Cobalt, Astra = Cobalt@a greater loss) just prove that there's not enough $ to do it right...which is simply more important than just producing whatevers.

Wow...it's incredible how little many posters here understand the extreme situation GM is in. Pontiac being marginalized is necessary because they simply can't afford it: -Marketing--can't do it properly, no $ -Developing new product---no $ -Surviving without a gov't handout---no $ It's not a matter of whether in an ideal world, Pontiac would thrive...we aren't living in that world! GM loses money on nearly everything they sell! They lost a record amount of money last year---there's nothing left to sell, give away or cut, so now the major organs are being sold off or cut off. The G8 is a fantastic product that they probably couldn't make a buck on, unless it was made here (w/ Camaro in Canada)--but, of course, that's not how they went about it. Get over each announcement of cuts, product cancellations and all other bad news about GM. This train left the station years ago...as many pundits, professionals and posters have been ranting about for years! Teeth gnashing will not bring this rotted corpse back, it'll be the largess of the US taxpayer.... Maybe Rick W. should go now, guys? or should we wait until GM is gone?

Sorry, just not a fan of the Cobalt---an SS sedan, in a pinch, I could live with, but I couldn't live with the constant reminder that I spent my hard earned money on an inferior product---I genuinely hope you enjoy yours, but I'd dip into the second-hand market myself---I didn't mean to insult your choice, but GM's utter futility in this arena drives me nuts. Our Chevy store sells about 2500 new cars/year and we've had exactly 2 XFE's on the lot--one was a mis-allocation, the other a specific order from a fleet client for his private use. Every other inquiry I've heard about from sales staff was basically-"Oh, it only comes with a stick?". The XFE is a marketing tool for posters and little more, IMO.

Yep...because the priority is HVAC I don't believe a Cobalt has any advantage other than HVAC. (oops. almost forgot about that 37 HWY MPG for the XFE that noone will end up finding on a lot...) There is no credibility in defending the Cobalt....it simply dims any of the points you really are right about! The Yaris is certainly not good, but I'd sooner walk than buy a Cobalt

As sad as it is, you've struck upon the exact reason why GM (& other companies in similar straits) may need to be euthanized...there's a challenge for well-run, cutting edge companies who deserve help---propping up hopeless cases is a luxury that we may not be able to afford. It is awful, but there's a "sophie's Choice" that needs to be made.

I'm not sure how far-fetched that rumor is....I suspect the idea of handing (selling) Jeep to a US-based, Union shop might not be a horrible thought. Always remember that our current administration is going to have to answer to the unions, so throwing membership on the street (Ch.7) is out, as is selling any part of Chrysler to China. I'm partial to the GM /Chrysler shotgun marriage approach as the odds-on favorite in this race...

I'd just like to see Chrysler survive to produce anything at this point. I'm not sure how the political aspect of the whole situation will work itself out. I suspect a GM/Chrysler forced merge may be part of the future.

Why should the bad decisions stop just because there's a crisis? They steered themselves over the cliff and, now, management is stepping on the gas! Upper management (and the Board of Directors) should have been out in '05, when record US car sales still resulted in red-ink. Absurd.

An assumption of debt would be sufficient. I don't believe a dollar would have to be raised to take it from GM---thousands of employees and the savings of $billions by not having to face 400+ franchisee lawsuits would be payment enough, you'd think. Slap some new signage above the doors and, viola, no more Saturn for GM--a good deal for all around.

You could sell the brand, dealers & a factory (there's plenty of unused/underused plants who's capacity isn't coming back). To me, this actually makes MORE sense to a Chinese or Indian company (or Fiat, Citroen or other Euros w/no distribution here, BTW). Great dealers, good geographic coverage and a need to get out of the GM family dysfunction. Unfortunately, they'll probably throw their hands up and close it down---another GM disaster in the making.

I agree. I believe a 'production' version, toned down slightly, would be much more handsome. There's something amiss with the total design, although I can appreciate what they were going for...

First, until his last posts replying to mine, PCS never stated just how bad a product the Catera was...ask any real car guy what kind of product that was, despite it being RWD...it's why you see almost zero on the road---a combination of unreliable, expensive to fix and un-Caddy-like do not a good car make... ANY defense of that product is simply inexcusable--it was that bad. Check any source--ask a mechanic--it was a disaster, not just bad. I don't dislike GM lifers, in fact, I don't dislike GM anything. I'm a fan watching a world-leading institution being driven into the ground by misguided management who not only do not know what to do, they obviously can't read their own press clippings and frankly & honestly assess the situation (and PCS has made that point for me quite clearly.) The Catera is just another example of the gross disconnect between GME and GMNA that consistently resulted in failures, whether it was 70's Opels or 90's Cad-opels or '08 S-opels, the result has been tragically similar. A global company simply shouldn't be that bad at synergy... ...but hey, I'm just a hater That's always been the easier explanation from the peanut gallery here. ....So ignore me like you have for years. I take no pleasure in being right...just wish someone who mattered actually listened....(remember, patriots lead revolutions, too.)

You implied it was an OK car--It wasn't. Not close. Not in any way, shape or form. By your judgment, a better tuned suspension and a modern set of engines were what it needed. That's simply untrue. It was one of the biggest turds the General has produced in the last 20 years. Don't shove a few candles on it and tell these guys its a birthday cake. You should know better.

No offense, but the Catera was/is an unreliable wreck. Engines that routinely failed by 60k and build quality questions doomed the Catera. Mix in un-Caddy style and a dealer body who had no idea how to sell the thing and you've got a recipe for the disaster that Catera was...unmitigated fail on the part of GM with another euro-transplant. My boss will hold/sell anything---and Cateras that come in on trade go right out to auction. I know you work for GME and all....but the Catera was indefensible...a piece of crap of epic proportions---don't lie to these guys.