thegriffon

Standard Toyota practice. A redesign every 4-5 years, but a new larger platform every 2nd model change. Next gen midsize rwd sedans (previewed at Tokyo) keep the current platform, but get new bodies. This Corolla is only cosmetically different, under the skin it's no wider and no longer. The most dramatic structural difference is the rake of the A-pillar (the bottom has been pushed forward). GM did more with the latest Astra, and they don't even pretend it's "all-new" as Toyota does with this. Just be glad you don't get the Japanese version.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but that seems the consensus on other on-GM sites too.

It is. Oh, there are a few more upgrades than in a typical MCE, but it's far from "all-new".The 2.4 gets a 5-speed manual or auto, and less power and highr fuel consumption than a Cobalt 2.4 with a 4-speed auto. Oh, and did anyone notice? the 1.8 L has a 4-speed auto. When is GM going to realize they need a 6-speed auto to be competitive. Oh, wait, my mistake, this is a Toyota, a 4-speed must be the latest development in transmission technology. They'll upgrade to a 3-speed 2010 and really blow the competition away.

losers

Aren't almost all politicians lawyers anyway?

Videos of Heinricy tearing around the Nordschliefe in the Cobalt SS Turbo at http://www.youtube.com/user/gmblogs (In three parts or longer full video).

GM Investing $73 Million in Shreveport, La. Truck Plant for Production of HUMMER HT3 SHREVEPORT, La. – General Motors today confirmed that it will invest approximately $73 million into its Shreveport, La. truck assembly plant to prepare the plant for production of the all-new HUMMER H3T. “GM’s $73-million investment in Shreveport is further proof that the community remains an important part of GM’s manufacturing plan,” said Troy Clarke, GM Group Vice President and GM North America President. “The H3T is unique for HUMMER because it is the brand’s first true pickup. Like every HUMMER model, the H3T delivers capabilities unparalleled in the marketplace and will carve out a new niche in the truck market. I’m happy to say that the men and women of Shreveport will be a big part of this new growth.” Cal Rapson, UAW vice president and director of the GM Department, also voiced strong support for the project. "This investment is a testament to the members of UAW Local 2166 for their hard work and commitment to build high quality products," Rapson said. "UAW members at the Shreveport plant are an important part of the team that is bringing this exciting new GM vehicle to the market." Larger than a midsize truck, smaller than a full-size, the H3T delivers attitude, versatility and capability. And more important, with a fully functional truck bed and one of the industry’s broadest range of personalization accessories, the H3T provides a new level of lifestyle functionality to the HUMMER portfolio and will draw new customers into the brand. The H3T is scheduled to arrive in dealerships by third quarter 2008. “I am delighted that GM has once again chosen to increase investments in Louisiana by expanding operations in Shreveport,” Governor Blanco said. “Louisiana looks to partner with companies interested in doing business in our state who will not only positively impact the region’s economy with their activity, but will also provide quality jobs with good benefits to our workers. Thank you for helping us move Louisiana forward.” In the last several years, GM has invested approximately $1.5 billion in the Shreveport facility. This investment along with the plant’s annual payroll of $160 million and annual taxes of $4.5 million, demonstrates that GM will continue to be an economic force in the local community and state of Louisiana for years to come. Shreveport Assembly has built trucks since 1981, beginning with the Chevy S-10. The plant presently produces the HUMMER H3 and Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon mid-size pickup trucks. Shreveport Assembly employs approximately 2,100 employees.

I deal with a lot of press photos, and believe me, none of them are any better than GM's and many are a lot worse. What's with this fashion of photographing everything in low light? It's like they don't want you to see what the thing looks like. If it's that bad why design it like that in the first place?

10 is a lot different from 18,500

The first Daewoo model (Gentra X 5-door) with the new 1.2 L is already on sale in Korea, 3/5-door Chevrolet versions with the 1.2 and a revised 1.4 go on sale in Europe in March. 1.6 L models (Korea and US) will wait until the new engine arrives later next year. Expect improved fuel economy and a boost in power to around 115-120 hp or so.

The new 1.6 L will be added next year.

Except that they're crashing because not only are there a lot of foreclosures selling below value, but because almost no-one, no matter how good their credit, can get finance.

From the description, the red panel is the production SS, while the silver one is the concept.

If it's anything like Australia increases in the cost of necessities (food, housing, fuel etc.) has been counterbalanced by a negative pricing of luxuries (cars and electronics etc.), so that purchasing power has remained the same. In Australia the increase in food prices can be blamed on the prolonged drought (or perhaps the end of an unusual wet period, and climate change brought on by deforestation and overgrazing as much as global warming). The destruction of orchards and vineyards that depended on lost water allocations will impact food prices in the long term, even if rainfall increases to earlier levels.

If the Loonie stays strong you will eventually see prices more in line with the US (given taxation differences). Most of that will come from lower inflation of car prices in Canada v the US, and perhaps minor decreases in prices at MY changes. Automakers are not only concerned with new vehicle buyers, but recent buyers who bought their vehicles when the loonie was worth much less. Vehicle prices need to be stable, they can't swing with changes in he exchange rate, or as has been mentioned more than once, it wreaks havoc with resale and residuals. The exchange rate isn't retroactive, and neither are car prices. If you want permanent price parity with the US you need to dump the loonie and switch to the US dollar.

Great to see you all backing up the article, even if you didn't mean to.

As a rule of thumb you should aim to have 6 months income in a high-interest savings account (in the US that maybe an oxymoron), term deposit or CD. It's not a great investment, but that's not what it is for. It's to cover extraordinary expenses (delays in insurance settlements, deductables, short-term unemployment etc.). After that is established, you should be spending a third on housing, a third on regular expenses (necessary or otherwise) and a third on investment. A credit card is great for managing cash flow, but you should not be carrying any debt on it beyond the monthly statement.

Wouldn't that count as the "building something" I mentioned? Most people don't do that though—they simply bid up the price of already well-maintained property. Affordability is irrelevent—the mortgage will be paid by tenants and any deficit can be written off against the capital gain. If they drive potential homebuyers out of the market, well and good, that just increases the demand and price of rental housing.

"Investing" in real estate is a fools paradise. It's a scam—nothing more than an enormous pyramid scheme. Unless you're actually building something, you're just hoping the next sucker is going to be stupid enough to pay more than you did—as people are now finding out, there isn't always going to be a "next sucker." An "investor" who buys property for the sole purpose of renting it out is nothing more than a scalper—they don't create value, they just drive up the price of property and increase the number of people who can't afford to buy themselves. This correction is going to hurt, but you should feel lucky. You now have an opportunity to correct past problems with lending practices, and ban those that contributed to the over-leveraging that caused this mess—place restrictions repayment periods and limit repayments to a lower proportion of household income. It will limit future growth in home prices, but will keep housing affordable and avoid the problems you have now. While prices were so high, such restrictions would have been unpalatable to current homeowners who already paid too much, but now prices are crashing anyway, it doesn't matter anymore. Not everywhere in the world is facing a real estate crash that will make such reforms acceptable to voters depending on their homes appreciating even further.

reminds me of the private Sting Ray race car that led to the Corvette Sting Ray. http://www.conceptcarz.com/view/photo/1982...,0,0/photo.aspx

you're getting warmer at least.

Toyota's 3rd quarter sales declined in several major markets, not just NA, while GM's increased. Part of Toyota's decline can be put down to an uncharacteristic interruption in the availability of several models during the switch to a new generation, however, for GM to retake the sales crown it has duly grown sales faster than Toyota. Indeed sales growth in most regions outside NA has been phenomenal, thanks largely to Chevrolet. Toyota is also facing the same problem GM has long faced in NA. In most markets, including Europe, it is no longer a small, growing brand, but a large established one, in many markets the biggest brand, with the largest vehicle lineup. In these markets there simply isn't anywhere for the brand to grow anymore—no profitable niches it hasn't already entered, no demographic which is not yet familiar with the company and its strengths. From now on it comes down to the same hard slog of that every other major automaker faces in their established markets. GM on the other hand has new brands that consumers are only now learning about, and whose sales have nowhere to go but up as they enter new segments and are recognized by more and more consumers. What brands are they? Chevrolet, Cadillac and Hummer. Each of these brands was virtually unknown outside the Americas, and each has enormous gaps in their lineup yet to be filled in these markets. In many respects GM is better positioned to grow in new markets and segments, and to respond to higher fuel prices and alternative fuels than Toyota, or any other automaker. The Hummer H3 will take sales from Jeep, but in many markets (especially once the diesel comes online) the key sufferer will be Toyota's Land Cruiser 120. The Volt will take sales from the Prius, even if it is a flop. The Gamma crossovers will take sales from the RAV4. In these and other segments Toyota often has as much market share as there is to take. Even an unsuccessful product from GM (or most other automakers) will cost Toyota sales, and boost GMs. What you've seen happening to GM in NA is about to happen to Toyota globally (although no doubt Toyota will do a better job of resisting than GM did in the previous 30 years).

That's ok, the other stuff to have fun in will be banned if it uses gasoline anyway.

Watch out when crossing the road PCS :AH-HA_wink:

P.S. the German term "gang" typically used for the number of gear ratios is the same word as English gang (in chain-gang, work-gang, gang-plank etc.), in a different application. Both are ancient forms of the action-noun "going" and refer to a specific method, equipment, means, manner, route etc. used in going or proceeding.