Will General Motors declare bankruptcy?

[Joey D]

The Cobalt is a very good car, bout time GM realized how crappy the J-Bodies were and made something worth while.

 

[niky]

Actually, what I meant is, the Cobalt is a strong third in sales in its segment, despite all the doom and gloom.

And yes, it is a pretty good car. Not the best, but it's competitive, good looking, and most of all... new.

 

[Poverty]

The Cobalt is a very good car, bout time GM realized how crappy the J-Bodies were and made something worth while.

Dont you mean opel made something worthwile.

 

[Disturbed07]

Dont you mean opel made something worthwile.

I take it Opel designed/built the chassis? I know it's a 100% GM powertrain, and I know GM spent much time with the suspension, so the only real component left is chassis...

Either GM built a good car, or GM bought a company that made a good car, either way, they did something good for it, no?

 

[Joey D]

OPEL IS GM!!! What is so hard to understand about that?

 

[Poverty]

The engine was in a astra long time before the cobalt.

Opel is German. Developed and manufactured in Germany. While they might belong to GM on paper, they have nothing in common with the American cars of GM.

Actually, Opel does have something in common with the american cars of GM, as in, many of them are based on Opels -- for example, the Cobalt is heavily Opel-based.

 

[Joey D]

I don't care you buy an Opel, the main GM sector sees all the money.

 

[Poverty]

So its opel/vauxhall thats keeping GM afloat.

 

[MrktMkr1986]

I don't care you buy an Opel, the main GM sector sees all the money.

GMAC makes more money than the cars do. They should strongly consider spinning off its assets into another public company.

Joey, if you're long on GM, you might want to think about averaging down. ($18.89 and dropping...)

BTW == J-Body is what car? The Cavalier/Sunfire?

 

[Joey D]

Opel, Vauxhall, and Holden contribute to GM greatly, but in America the Caddy line, Buick line, and the GMT 800/900/355/360 all contribute as well.

GMAC makes more money than the cars do. They should strongly consider spinning off its assets into another public company.

Agreed.

Joey, if you're long on GM, you might want to think about averaging down. ($18.89 and dropping...)

If it goes down a little more I'm going to put some money...well more money into it. GM won't go under but it will be 7-10 years before its way up there.

BTW == J-Body is what car? The Cavalier/Sunfire?

Yup, some of the worst cars ever made.

 

[Disturbed07]

The engine was in a astra long time before the cobalt.

The ecotec? what does ecotec mean in German?
It was in Sufire's/Cavalier's since 02, I believe
the new 2.4 will be a rip of the last 2.4, modified though which is actually of Oldsmobile descent

 

[Zardoz]

Nothing surprising here:

The official 2005 sales numbers: Read it and weep...

 

[Poverty]

The ecotec? what does ecotec mean in German?
It was in Sufire's/Cavalier's since 02, I believe
the new 2.4 will be a rip of the last 2.4, modified though which is actually of Oldsmobile descent

Germans use many english words in their evryday language in regards to technology.

In the UK vauxhalls have had ecotecs for years now aswell. Vauxhalls btw are opels but right hand drive and with a vauxhall badge instead.

 

[Disturbed07]

ok, so which company actually developed the Ecotec? Opel or Chevy? It kinda seems a tad low-revving to be German, but I don't know....?

 

[TheCracker]

-
- The Hummer line is getting a refresh to make them more appealing

You've spelt the word appalling wrong.

 

[Joey D]

You've spelt the word appalling wrong.

Of course you haven't seen the new hummer's yet, they are starting to look much better.

 

[neanderthal]

Of course you haven't seen the new hummer's yet, they are starting to look much better.

of course, going by the current looks, it would be hard for them to not get better wouldnt it?

 

[Poverty]

Doesnt look too good for GM

GM Death Watch 46: The $2b Question

For those of you who've just joined us from Wall Street, welcome. We’ve been waiting for you for a while-- long enough to wonder if GM’s stock price got lost in hyperspace. I guess you guys needed some kind of sign to find your bearings. Something like Toyota’s announcement that they’re gonna Avis The General in ’06, ending GM’s 70-year run as the world’s largest automaker. Or Rabid Rick Wagoner’s post horse departure barn door closing homily: “I’m not conceding anything to anybody.” No matter. Now that you’re here, let me tell you a story…

I was scanning Wardsauto.com the other day when I came across a “good news” piece: “Crucial GM Fullsize Truck Program Launches Early”. Well, OK, it MIGHT be a good news piece, you know, if The General’s SUV cavalry racks-up the sales GM needs to die another day. Obviously, it’s a bit of a long shot, what with SUV’s being a dead genre guzzling. But hey; it is what it was. Anyway, mid-way through Ms. Priddle’s puff piece, a thought occurred to me: is it really a good idea to rush the GMT900 vehicles (Tahoe, Yukon, Escalade, Suburban, Silverado, Sierra, etc.) to market? What if they’re not ready?

It’s not inconceivable. The Pontiac Solstice was due to hit the forecourts in June, promised for November, still isn’t widely available and already appears on bulletin boards with a laundry list of complaints. Let’s face it: GM has a bit of a history manufacturing, dare I say it, crap. Oh wait; Ward’s says the “new” trucks will use 60% of the old trucks’ components. And according to Gary White, GM’s Fullsize Truck Vehicle Line Executive, the GMT900’s are “entering the world with higher quality than the ones they replace.” Now THERE’S a reassuring thought.

But let’s get to the point. Check the article’s last paragraph: “’No one’s going to ride a 1-trick pony today,’ White says, noting GM could have spent an extra $2 billion for marginal additional improvement to the GMT900 lineup, but recognized the money is better spent elsewhere for a balanced product portfolio.” Now ask yourself a question: what the Hell does THAT mean?

The first part of White’s quote seems straightforward enough. White’s saying his handiwork’s got to be safe, reliable, comfortable, attractive and frugalesque. (By implication, yesterday's "one-trick" SUV's were, um, affordable.) But what’s that second bit about the extra $2b GM DIDN’T spend on “marginal additional improvement”? Is White seriously suggesting that a couple of bil only buys you a bit of soft touch plastic here, a nicer steering wheel there? I’m no bean counter, but I would have thought that 2000 million dollars can do a great deal to improve a vehicle.

I emailed Ms. Priddle to see if White had specified these missing marginalities. (GM stopped returning my calls sometime back in April.) No joy there. It then occurred to me that no matter what White’s mob left out of the GMT900’s, his remarks typify GM’s product mentality. The company’s lineup is stuffed with ¾ vehicles: cars, trucks, SUV’s and minivans that are just about as good as the competition, but not quite. For example, the Pontiac G6 seems a suitable alternative to a Nissan Altima. But if you look closely (as customers do), the G6 isn’t up to snuff on almost every level: interior quality, engine refinement, reliability, etc. Even the class-killing Chevrolet Corvette features some of the nastiest plastic known to mankind. In general, The General signs-off its vehicles when they're still a few furlongs from the finish line.

An Audi engineer once told me that the final millimeter of a materials gap eats up a third of the item’s production budget. Even though an Audi buyer might not see or feel the resulting precision, the automaker makes the effort and pays the freight. That’s just the way they do things. It’s already clear from the GMT900’s 60% parts carry-over (much of which is due to the SOS timetable) and pre-production shots of the vehicles themselves that White’s got it exactly backwards. The huge amount of money GM spent on these vehicles delivered nothing BUT marginal improvements.

White's comments highlighted the trade-off that created the $2b compromise: “marginal improvement” vs. “a balanced product portfolio”. In other words, rather than get one vehicle-- I mean, a host of similar vehicles-- absolutely perfect, GM prefers to build [yet] another product. It’s a shotgun approach in a rifle shot world. By manufacturing a complete range of not quite products across eight brands, GM condemns itself to perpetual mediocrity, and guarantees its also-ran status relative to the tightly focused folks at Toyota. The General’s generals fail to realize that people don’t buy GM’s balanced product portfolio. They buy a single GM product. Or, increasingly, not.

 

[Joey D]

Doesnt look too good for GM

You had to post it twice? You realize that's just some cracked out guy thinking he knows something about GM.

 

[Joey D]

For those of you who've just joined us from Wall Street, welcome. We’ve been waiting for you for a while-- long enough to wonder if GM’s stock price got lost in hyperspace. I guess you guys needed some kind of sign to find your bearings. Something like Toyota’s announcement that they’re gonna Avis The General in ’06, ending GM’s 70-year run as the world’s largest automaker. Or Rabid Rick Wagoner’s post horse departure barn door closing homily: “I’m not conceding anything to anybody.” No matter. Now that you’re here, let me tell you a story…

Toyota should have surpassed GM long ago, it's no surprise to anyone.

I was scanning Wardsauto.com the other day when I came across a “good news” piece: “Crucial GM Fullsize Truck Program Launches Early”. Well, OK, it MIGHT be a good news piece, you know, if The General’s SUV cavalry racks-up the sales GM needs to die another day. Obviously, it’s a bit of a long shot, what with SUV’s being a dead genre guzzling. But hey; it is what it was. Anyway, mid-way through Ms. Priddle’s puff piece, a thought occurred to me: is it really a good idea to rush the GMT900 vehicles (Tahoe, Yukon, Escalade, Suburban, Silverado, Sierra, etc.) to market? What if they’re not ready?

The 900's are some of the best trucks and SUV's ever produced according to a lot of pre-reviews. They weren't released early at all, they were ready and they were released. GM's been working on them for several years.

It’s not inconceivable. The Pontiac Solstice was due to hit the forecourts in June, promised for November, still isn’t widely available and already appears on bulletin boards with a laundry list of complaints. Let’s face it: GM has a bit of a history manufacturing, dare I say it, crap. Oh wait; Ward’s says the “new” trucks will use 60% of the old trucks’ components. And according to Gary White, GM’s Fullsize Truck Vehicle Line Executive, the GMT900’s are “entering the world with higher quality than the ones they replace.” Now THERE’S a reassuring thought.

The Pontiac Soltice is great, everyone agrees (expect this wack-o) and the reason there aren't any to be had is because they are so popular.

The GMT 900 is pretty much an all new truck, new chassie, new engine, new transmission. I don't see how he says it's the same truck.

Also GM does no produce crap, I hate it when people say that. You may not like GM vehicles (which is fine) but they aren't crap.


Screw it I can't even be bothered with picking apart the rest of the article, that guy is a moron.

 

[Poverty]

I posted it twice because it was relevant.

Maybe the guy does talk some crap for entertainment purposes but he does speak some sense aswell and for average joe on this forum they will now be able to follow and understand as to why GM is in the position it is today. The UAW as screwed them up majorly and the GM execs are cheapskates and money hungry.

If it wasn’t so funny, it would be sad. GM loses billions in ill-advised overseas "investments", produces an over-abundance of vehicles that are two model cycles behind the competition, can’t build a single hybrid, completely cocks-up production of its Solsticial one hit wonder, cedes US market dominance to Toyota, plays “Let’s Pretend to Make a Deal” with its union, announces its intention to sell-off majority interest in the only profitable part of the company, refuses to outline its turnaround plan, and the stock market yawns. The federal Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) discovers GM’s accountants have lost four hundred million dollars behind the couch and the stock tanks. What's that all about?

Before the SEC probe, like many other industry watchers, I was laboring under the impression that GM’s stunning incompetence and epic lethargy reflected management myopia. In other words, The General’s G5 corporate culture had insulated Rabid Rick Wagoner and his well-paid minions from what you and I would call reality. They honestly believe their own hype. Now, I’m not to sure. Although the $400m was “misreported” rather than “lost”, there are ominous rumblings that GM’s mea culpa is the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Lest we forget, the SEC’s main focus was/is GM’s multi-billion dollar pension and benefit schemes (vis-a-vis bankrupt auto parts supplier Delphi). Yesterday, the federal Pension Guaranty Corporation reported that Delphi’s pensions are underfunded by $10.8b.

If GM’s been cooking the books, people will soon wonder if Rabid Rick's secretly hired Dorian Grey's portrait painter. After all, GM maintains an entire ledger of accountants to ensure that The General’s financial statements are on the up-and-up. The audit committee in charge of these pusillanimous pencil pushers reports directly to Rabid Rick. So, if the SEC finds that GM’s increasingly obvious use of “aggressive accounting” tipped into pension and benefit-related GBH, the chances that the shell game was a devious plot concocted by a rogue element with The General’s ranks are minimal. The discovery will reflect Rabid Rick’s willingness to encourage-- or at the very least tolerate-- corporate duplicity.

This would put us back in charted waters: in Enron territory, watching arrogant execs manipulating the public trust for personal greed and glory. And that sucks. Because it would mean that GM is deeply, fundamentally corrupt. That all the garbage we’ve been interpreting as corporate “spin”-- our cars are terrific, our new SUV’s are high mileage heroes, we’re sorting the brands, badge engineering is dead, discounts are dead, crossovers are coming, hybrids are coming, fuel cells are coming, etc.-- is actually a deliberate cover-up of executive malfeasance. It’s a slippery slope from PR to lies to cutting corners to criminal conduct. The SEC probe could reveal that Rick’s riding a Flexible Flyer.

Sadly, it makes perfect sense. Perhaps Rabid Rick can’t turn GM around because he’s lost in Nixonian paranoia, struggling to maintain his administration's hold on executive privilege at all costs. Wagoner is, after all, a straight-from-biz-school boffin without any work experience outside of GM. Rabid Rick's moral and ethical compass was handed to him by GM’s heavy hitters. His managerial mindset was forged by the plots and plans of The General's inept dictators. Personal power could well be his primary goal-- rather than the greater good of the company, its customers, employees, suppliers and stockholders. If you want evidence of this perspective, drive a GM product and ask yourself a simple question: why isn’t it better?

I know: it’s a deeply cynical portrait. But GM is a deeply cynical company. After launching and vigorously defending its post-fire sale “value pricing” strategy, after going to all the trouble to retrain its front line salesman to switch from deal-making to product pushing (at a cost of millions), The General has just announced a year-end “Red Tag” sale to once-again clear its bloated inventories. At the same time, they’re taking credit for building-up their inventories [supposedly] in preparation for the inevitable Delphi strike and resulting production shutdown. Is this first-class crisis management, gross incompetence or a reflection of something darker, something rotten in the heart of RenCen? I’m beginning to lean towards the third option, and so is Wall Street.

Financial analysts like Banc of America's Ron Tadross haven’t suddenly “woken-up” to The General’s fundamental flaws and looming troubles. They’ve simply begun to see that The General’s generals don't have a viable plan for winning the battles-- never mind the war. And like Kirk Kerkorian, they can smell imminent exsanguinations from a mile away. Each day, the likelihood grows that Captain Kirk or another similarly voracious corporate raider will swoop down and buy Rabid Rick’s alma mater, sell off the entire GMAC finance unit, pocket the profits and flog the unprofitable automaking side of the business for chicken feed. Either that or just close the factory gates and walk away.

According to Rabid Rick Wagoner, terminating his employment would only slow down GM's recovery: "When you bring in a lot of new people, you bring in a lot of change and people just sort of sit there and try to figure out what to do." As opposed to what? Keeping the same old people and making no changes so that people can sort of sit there and watch the world’s largest automaker go bankrupt? Rick’s comment appeared in AutoWeek immediately after Standard & Poor’s rating service downgraded GM’s credit rating to “B”, some five steps below investment grade, with a negative outlook. Clearly, Wagoner is to leadership what penguins are to civil engineering.

Like any clueless corporate alpha, Rabid Rick wants us to believe that everything’s under control. Indeed, he’s instructed PR flack Gina Proia to tell the world that GM has “an aggressive and well thought-out strategy to turn around our North American business.” Apparently, this comprehensive plan comes complete with quantifiable goals, implementation dates and, well, everything Rick’s mob needs to save GM from a Valentine’s Day Massacre. Only AutoWeek reports that Rabid Rick “prefers to keep it private.” In fact, GM’s would-be savior “declined to predict whether GM's North American automotive operations could break even next year.” [NB: “could” not “would.”]

“Other people may or may not have time frames, but it's not what I'm worried about," Wagoner told AutoWeek. "I'm focused on the fact that we need to fix the business, and that's really what is driving me." Why do I keep seeing images of Rabid Rick in a pinafore, wandering through a vast wonderland of unsold GM product? In what alternative universe is it OK for the head of the world’s largest automaker to stare financial oblivion in the face and say “trust me, don’t rush me”? Lewis Carroll himself would be proud of Wagoner’s strange rhetoric, which blithely suggests that timetables are antithetical to corporate repair.

Anyway, it’s not as if GM’s rivals are about to steal Rabid Rick’s master plan, so that they can counter The General’s new product launches and/or drive their company into the ground. UNLESS… Rabid Rick’s briefcase actually contains the codes for the nuclear option. Sure! Rick’s mob have a secret plan to leave Delphi twisting in the wind and let the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike. GM would then fall into bankruptcy accidentally on purpose, so it could jettison its UAW contract, close factories, cut brand deadwood, realign the product portfolio and…

Yeah right. Back here in the real world, Rabid Rick is fighting for his company’s survival by strolling down the path of least resistance. Rather than make a stand against the UAW, Rabid Rick’s ready to pay the blood money needed to forestall a Delphi strike-- even though “we certainly didn’t budget for stuff like that.” Rather than kill-off Buick, Saab and Saturn, Rick’s content to let their salesmen hit the forecourt like members of Robert Scott’s ill-fated Antarctica expedition (i.e. “I may be some time”.) Rather than slash GM’s model range across the board and concentrate on building the world’s best cars, Rick’s happy to manufacture dozens of mediocre examples of the sorts of vehicles people may want to buy by the time GM finally gets around to building them.

Rabid Rick’s timidity makes me wonder if he’s even trying. When asked about the SUV slump in Automotive News, Wagoner claimed the company was powerless to respond. "We just couldn't react," he admitted. "It really highlighted that the underpinnings of our business are too fragile… if we lose mix or volume, we cannot get costs down as fast as (sales) volume comes down." Does Rabid Rick really think that GM’s ability to turn tail and run is the key to its success? Wouldn’t building hybrid SUV’s, killer crossovers or awesome sedans have been the better option?

As the Italians say, the fish stinks from the head down. If GM couldn’t detect and react to a change in market conditions quickly enough to avoid losing its proverbial shirt, that’s because its CEO couldn’t perform with sufficient insight, speed or decisiveness. If the UAW is tying Wagoner’s hands, preventing him from doing what needs to be done, it’s his job to sever those bonds, once and for all. It's one thing to admit you made a mistake, it’s another to have the courage and wisdom to make sure it never happens again. Isn't that why Wagoner gets paid so much money?

News reports recently revealed that The General’s CEO has negotiated a deal with GM’s Board of Bystanders that makes his multi-million dollar pension fund bankruptcy-proof. Not only is that a boneheaded move relative to GM’s negotiations with the UAW (which include pension liabilities and contributions), but it betrays Rabid Rick's stunning lack of confidence in his own talents. It's an opinion that's increasingly easy to share.

 

[Joey D]

POST SOURCES!!!! Who wrote it? What magazine is it from? Because honestly that guy that wrote that is just writing outta hate for GM. I'm frankly getting tired of everyone bashing GM.

Maybe the guy does talk some crap for entertainment purposes but he does speak some sense aswell and for average joe on this forum they will now be able to follow and understand as to why GM is in the position it is today. The UAW as screwed them up majorly and the GM execs are cheapskates and money hungr

The management isn't top notch but they aren't aweful, the UAW sucks I'll agree with because I know that first hand.

 

[Poverty]

If one man says your horse is a mule its a horse.
But if 10 men say your horse is a mule well then its a mule.

And here you go heres the source.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/content/11356501321576650551/

 

[Joey D]

If one man says your horse is a mule its a horse.
But if 10 men say your horse is a mule well then its a mule.

And here you go heres the source.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/content/11356501321576650551/

What?

But anyways I'll say it is a crediable source given the writers on there, but I still think they have no idea what they are talking about.

 

[Disturbed07]

I'm frankly getting tired of people bashing GM.

You should be used to it by now. And I doubt they'll ever quit. How many billion is GM in debt, right now, exactly?And how many cars have they sold exactly in this last year?

 

[neanderthal]

but why complain. we slam toyota for making boring cars too dont we?

 

[Joey D]

but why complain. we slam toyota for making boring cars too dont we?

Toyota makes boring cars yes, but I don't go around saying they are crap. They make some good cars and some bad cars, just like GM, just like any car company.

 

[YSSMAN]

Sounds like you need some help Blazin...

GM has it's problems, there is no question about that. But if you look at how far their cars and trucks have come even in the last three years, it is evident (atleast in the United States) that things are looking better for the General.

First and foremost, I completely agree that it has been the UAW that has ruined not only GM, but Daimler Chrysler, and Ford as well. These power hungry, uncrontrollable creeps that have torn down everything that these great companies once stood for should now face the burden of toppling one of the largest companies in the world. If it wassent the UAW *****ing about actually having to pay for some of their health insurance (like the rest of America), GM might be in a better situation than it is in today...

That said, many of the other problems at GM comes from the complete lack of compotence on behalf of some of the product planners at GM. Many of the leaders of the company (including Wagner) lack the vision that is needed (along with the balls to make an executive decision) to create cars and trucks that not only satisfy the GM faithful, but also the general public that have no ties to any company whatsoever. Men like Bob Lutz should be at the head of GM. We need people like Lutz, or Charles Goshen (of Renault/Nissan), hell Rodger Penske may even do what needs to be done.

Now, to go in defense of GM:

To quote random websites that literally have no push or pull in the industry is complete crap. Word for word, one can easily see the bias against GM, and therefore all things GM... I would suggest looking for actual sources that actually has contacts within the company, or people who have been writing about cars for 50 years... Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Road and Track, Automobile, Autoweek, etc. all come to mind...

Poverty: You of all people have no idea what the hell is even going on at GM North America, nor should you even concern yourself about it. Ive read plenty of your posts, and it has been easy to recognise that you are indeed biased against anything and everything that comes out of an American factory, espically that of GM's product lines.

Concerning yourself about the GMT900 from your "Spider Hole" in Euope is completely irrational and really is only going to get you in trouble as you know nothing about the trucks themselves... Outside of maybe Sweeden and US Embassys across Europe, you would probably never see one except in a magazine.

...And for anyone to completely write off the GMT900 as a piece of junk when models are just begining to trickle out to US dealers is completely irrational. Every review I have read on the 2007 Tahoe has been nothing but positve, as every problem that the old GMT800 model had faced has been fixed. Motor Trend allready called it the best American SUV available, and is better than the majority of it's European and Japanese competition as well...

And seriously Poverty (or any the Anti-GM folks out there), have you actually taken the time to look at the GM lineups anywhere else beyond those of Opel or Vauxhaul? Things are very different here in the US, and brands like Chevrolet have taken the top honor as the best selling marque in 2005.

Throughout the 2005 model year, much of the talk about GM products is that of vast improvement. Interior fit and finish is lightyears ahead of what it was three years ago, and in many models it is on par with the majority of their Japanese compeditors.

The article you quote talks about the G6 and it's percieved quality issues, but as an owner of a Nissan Altima 2.5S, I can assure you that the Nissan is FAR behind that of the G6... Indeed the Nissan has a lower grade of plastics and cloth seats than those in the G6, and if anything, the G6's ride and overall refinement is much better than that of the Nissan. Seriosuly, if this Truthaboutcars.com or whatever the hell they call themselves actually know anything about cars, it is easy to see the G6 is a superior product.

If there is anything that GM is doing right, it is offering a great ammount of value and performance at great price points. Well equipped Malibus are often thousands less than similarly equipped Honda Accords and Toyota Camrys, and save you money on gas and insurance costs as well...

Speaking of gas, in many situations American cars have been on the better side of good mileage in recent comparison tests. Averaging more than 25MPG on regular 83 grade fuel is great in the US, and some models have been better than their Japanese and European competiton overall... Much of the savings is comming from the proper gear choises to match the engines power, the use of cylinder deactivation, and the use of VVT as well. Hell, even the Solstice GXP is going direct-injection next year with it's Turbocharged 260HP ECOTEC I4.

...And what is with the complaints about engine technology in the GM products? They are just as powerful and as efficent as many of their compeditors, and more often than not, can actually build better powerplants that their foreign rivals. GM can still build V8s that outdo those from Nissan, Toyota, Ford, DC, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Jaguar, etc... with great fuel efficency and great power. The Vortech lineup is getting a revamp this year, and the LS2 and LS7 powerplants have proven themselves over, and over again as some of the best V8s available in the world.

Now if we are going to complain about GM's models, I can understand some of the gripes about the platform sharing. It is rather stupid that every brand has to have a variant of a different platform, but it is the way GM has worked since, well, ever... Lutz has allready said that was going to change, and things are going to go back to the way it should be. Pontiac, Buick, and GMC are all going to be trimmed back and will all be on the same sale lots in the next few years with the three brands selling together what one brand should (see Chevrolet).

Of the new models introduced in 2005, what has there been to complain about?

1) The Chevrolet Corvette C6 has been a HUGE success, not only in performance but in sales as well. The new Z06 is the monster that they promised it would be, and it has Europe running scared.

2) The Pontiac G6 has sold pretty well. The press gave it the nod as a good car for the money, and it should satisfy anyone who has a taste for a well balanced sedan. The new coupe, along with GXP versions of the sedan and coupe have also recieved good press, more for their performance vs value than the overall execution. They also have gotten many good comments about the looks, and about how far the Grand Am (its precessor) has come.

3) The Chevrolet HHR is a hit, and GM knows it. Production is to be increased next year, and word is that a 205HP variant is on the way. Again, it is the value part that has been a major part of it's succes, as it is thousands cheaper than the less-than-steller PT Cruiser.

4) The Buick LaCross has be called one of the best American sedans available, and is a good compeditor in the class it is in. Obviously targeted at people over 60 years of age, it is quiet and comfortable.

5) The Buick Lucerne is another car that proves that Buick knows who they are selling to, and builds a car for them. Its quiet and comfortable, and with the optional V8, it does set itself apart from the Volvo S80 and Toyota Avalon.

6) How bout those V-series Cadillacs, huh? The CTS-V is still the king of the sport sedan crop, the XLR-V has the SL55 in it's sights, and the STS-V is a car worthy to be an option against the M5, CLS55/E55, and S6.

7) The Cadillac DTS (see Buick Lucerne) is a worthy evoltuon of the old DeVille in which it replaces. It is nowhere near as nice as the cars it is meant to compete with (the Audi A6 and BMW 5-series come to mind), but in America it should do allright.

8) The Pontiac Solstice is a huge hit as well... Dealers are backordered for months, and the press has been positive. It is a worthy adversary to the MX5, and acts well as both a sports car and a cruiser as well. The looks are perfect, the power is right, and the price is cheap. The GXP model next year shouldnt have a problem chasing down 350Zs and TTs, and will still be a great deal under $30K.

If youre gonna ***** about GM, you not only have to go through Blazin, but through me as well...

 

[YSSMAN]

double post

 

[a6m5]

The article you quote talks about the G6 and it's percieved quality issues, but as an owner of a Nissan Altima 2.5S, I can assure you that the Nissan is FAR behind that of the G6... Indeed the Nissan has a lower grade of plastics and cloth seats than those in the G6, and if anything, the G6's ride and overall refinement is much better than that of the Nissan. Seriosuly, if this Truthaboutcars.com or whatever the hell they call themselves actually know anything about cars, it is easy to see the G6 is a superior product.

What year Altima though? Mine's '04. You know, the one right before they corrected the interior. Altima is possibly the worst Japanese midsize sedan right now, so I don't know if comparison to Altima says much about G6. I'm not trying to be a jerk, but I drive one and you drive one, so you know Altima is not as refined as other imports(I do love the engine though).

I'm not a fan of GM, but I'm not a hater either. From what I understand, GM has made a remarkable stride in the reliability and quality. Unfortunately, I think it's their misdirection over last couple of decades that lead to the loss of consumer confidence, which IMO then lead to the negative bias.