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General Motors discussions
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Comments
Rocky
P.S. If the UAW does become more flexible on work conditions maybe GM, Ford, Chrysler, will reconsider moving plants.
Good Post "62"
It will be interesting if Bose will ever get there neat suspension launched ?
Rocky
Instead this selects orifice size in the strut based on what the strut is doing at the time. The three orifices give comfort, normal, or sport ride settings in the struts. The inputs to the computer controlling the orifice selection are vehicle speed and vehicle acceleration. Based on that the computer under the front seat changes the struts for optimum ride.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Rocky
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Rocky
Here's a link. http://money.cnn.com/2005/11/21/news/fortune500/gm_cuts/index.htm?cnn=yes
Rocky
Delphi plants targeted for sale, closure
A list of 21 Delphi Corp. plants that the auto parts supplier said Friday will be sold or closed under its latest plan. Locations are based on information provided to U.S. bankruptcy court by Delphi:
Location Primary Products
Adrian, Mich. Instrument panels, heating ventilation air conditioning (HVAC) assemblies
Anderson, Ind. Remanufactured service generators, ignition products
Athens, Ala. Steering products
Columbus, Ohio Power products, latches
Coopersville, Mich. Fuel injectors
Cottondale, Ala. Cockpit assemblies
Dayton, Ohio (Home Avenue) engine mounts, brake products
Dayton, Ohio (Needmore) Brake products
Fitzgerald, Ga. Batteries
Flint, Mich. Air filters, fuel modules, air meters, air induction systems, instrument clusters
Gadsden, Ala. Instrument panels and consoles
Kettering, Ohio Suspension products, fan clutches
Laurel, Miss. Plastic injection and stamped steel subassemblies for batteries, actuators, and ignition products
Milwaukee (E&C) Catalytic converters
Milwaukee (E&S) Powertrain controllers, body and security products, throttle control mechanisms
Moraine, Ohio Air conditioning compressors
New Brunswick, N.J. Batteries
Saginaw, Mich. (E&C) Brake and chassis corner modules
Saginaw, Mich. (Steering) Steering products, such as steering gears, power steering pumps, steering columns, intermediate shafts and driveline products, such as halfshafts
Sandusky, Ohio Wheel bearings, roller clutch bearings
Wichita Falls, Texas Conical oxygen sensors
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12098079/
Rocky
Rocky
Sorry Rocky, I was referring to your above statement on GM moving plants. The article you refer to only discussed closing plants in America to equalize GM product demand with capacity. I did not see anyting about product being moved to other plants. Of course as a plant closes and if that plant was bulding a needed product it would be moved. But most of the plant closings have the vehicle being built there able to be easily built somewhere else.
Guess I though you were talking about moving production overseas.
And, Pontiac Aztek should have been car/vehicle of the year a few years back. And, last iteration of Taurus.....
With the era of globalization and free trade upon us now, the efficacy of serious strikes against a company may be a thing of the past. Hey, maybe it's the UAW that's in more serious trouble now that GM and Ford? Haha, that would sure be a turn of events from 30 years ago.
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2002/05/10/140166.html
(it came out in 2002)
This is very unlike any previous GM system in that it's simpler and is very much like stability control in that there are sensors and computers involved as opposed to fancy suspension "modes" and adjustments. If all GM cars came with this, they would whomp on the competition.
I'll take the stability control, traction control, and magnetic ride, thank you
My only gripe is that they should have brought back the Roadmaster name for the CXS model. It's been a few years, but this really to me at least, seems like a natural progression of the old Roadmaster. Big, powerful, and very close to a Caddy in performance. Like Buicks used to be when our fathers were young
But in these columns the heavy ridicule has been on the names that have been with us for a while. Reusing the Roadmaster name would have just been fuel for the haters to use against Buick.
I can just hear it now. "They're still making Roadmasters for the 73rd year. Why my father had a Buick in 1937 and it leaked oil all over our gravel driveway. I'd never buy another Buick, especially one with the old name Roadmaster. They need to change or just do away with the Buick brand altogether."
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Adrian, Mich.
Anderson, Ind.
Athens, Ala.
Columbus, Ohio
Coopersville, Mich.
Cottondale, Ala.
Fitzgerald, Ga.
Flint, Mich.
Gadsden, Ala.
Kettering, Ohio
Laurel, Miss.
Moraine, Ohio
New Brunswick, N.J.
Sandusky, Ohio
Wichita Falls, Texas
Two new Wal-Marts and Sam's Clubs coming to these locations!
Dayton, Ohio
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Saginaw, Michigan
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Review your vehicle
Looks great - more filling
Seriously though, the Buick line at least have names, unlike poor ol' Deville which is now a DTS. Lucerne and a bunch of letters is good compromise. Would have preferred LeSabre, but what the heck.
Could be the Lucerne Padrone, or the Lucerne Padrone Della Strada, or maybe not
-Loren
The Cobalt, aside of problems with the car, is your basic economy ride. Cobalt has an engine with more torque than does the Civic. Not sure of anything else to say. It doesn't look offensive in any way, but it is lost in the crowd of econo cars. Sort of looks like a '90's Japanese or Korean model, or something. Had it looked different and had say RWD, then yes, something of a Car of the Year candidate. For small cars, the competition is gonna overwhelm. -Loren
1- Lexus: --------------- 93,056 up 5%
2- BMW: ----------------- 88,353 up 16%
3- Mercedes: ------------ 72,512 up 16%
4- Cadillac: ------------ 68,845 down 2%
5- Acura: --------------- 65,023 down 3%
6- Lincoln: ------------- 43,571 up 5%
7- Infiniti: ------------ 38,805 down 11%
8- Volvo: --------------- 38,101 down 11%
9- Audi: ---------------- 25,296 up 5%
10- L. Rover: ----------- 15,035 up 30%
11- Porche: ------------- 12,458 up 21%
12- Saab: --------------- 11,366 up 8%
13- Jaguar: ------------- 7,115 down 39%
Cadillac needs to hurry getting the next gen CTS to market. Their hard won sales gains are starting to reverse.
-Loren
...and with the 3.6 V6 as a standard engine, telescopic steering column, and lumbar support as standard? I would think so. For $30K, you should get a decent HP engine. 10 year warranty wouldn't hurt. :shades: -Loren
They could drop the DTS now that they have the Lucerne. How many large luxo models for cruising do they need? A smaller than CTS Coupe' for around $27K would be cool.
Call it the CTS.5
-Loren
From the spy photos that were making the rounds a few weeks back, it appears a CTS coupe is in the work.
I want GM to throw caution to the wind and bring out a single model El Dorado coupe, rather than a coupe sibling to a sedan. Probably not enough grumpy old loners like me to establish sufficient market.
GM could drop the DTS now that they have the Lucerne. But I think GM may decide to drop Buick first.
-Loren
or do they already do this?
assuming that the Vette is the "best" GM product?.....
or is my assumption just way off base?
How about just making a nice coupe of the CTS, and a new smaller chassis for a RWD Nova sedan and coupe. The same platform for the Camaro? Sure why not. Make a smaller and lighter Camaro. We don't need over 79" wide cars. Make a small V6 or better yet an inline 6, and a small and fuel efficient V8 and be done with it. Well plus the Caddy engine and Truck engines. Let's say, cut the number of engines at least in half. I don't want a DOD engine - thanks you. If they had a Nova with a 3.6 V6, and weighing in at 3,100# or less, that would be sweet. The Altima, I think weighs in around that figure. Then make a Camaro even leaner using more aluminum.
-Loren
Chevrolet Camaro, Impala, Monte Carlo
Pontiac G8, GTO
and the Buick Statesman?
Now, Australia's new VE Commodore is coming out this year, and will effectively be the first Zeta car. Every new generation of Commodore comes with a new generation of Statesman/Caprice (eventually), which is a stretched, more luxurious version with different styling. So by calling it the Buick Statesman in a press release, is Lutz saying that the new Holden Statesman will be rebadged as a Buick? Seems odd to double up on a name (look at Ford Fusion and Ford Fusion... UK & US)
Also, if the Monte Carlo and Camaro are going to be on the same platform, how are they going to differentiate them? The Monte Carlo can't go all soft and rely on only old people, can it? Or will it be cheaper? More luxurious?
1- Ford Explorer: ---------- 60,488 down 30%
2- Ford Escape: ------------ 58,279 down 2%
3- Chevy Tahoe: ------------ 58,242 up 46%
4- Chevy Trailblazer: ------ 56,178 down 14%
5- Jeep Grand Cherokee: ---- 51,073 down 22%
6- Toyota RAV4: ------------ 47,798 up 113%
7- Honda Pilot: ------------ 46,432 up 11%
8- Honda CR-V: ------------- 45,856 down 4%
9- Jeep Liberty: ----------- 45,348 down 18%
10- Toyota Highlander: ----- 40,115 down 11%
Will this repeat for pickups 10 years from now?
Cobalt should of been rental car of the year.
Honorable mentions: Impala, Malibu.
If there is manufacturer's trophy GM would win that too.
I think that GM needs to reduce the number of platforms that it is using. The Camaro will be a zeta platform, and there are going to be some sedans on this platform too. The zeta will probably replace the W-platform (FWD Impala...) and the FWD G-platform (Lucerne, DTS). However, there will be some new Epsilon cars on a second generation Epsilon platform.
GM has recently put new engines into production - the DOHC global V6; and the pushrod VVT 3.5 and 3.9 liter V6's. The 3800 will be dropped and also I think the last of the 3.4's.
1- Toyota Tacoma: ------------ 57,027 up 17%
2- Ford Ranger: -------------- 31,448 down 18%
3- Chevy Colorado: ----------- 27,840 down 39%
4- Nissan Frontier: ---------- 27,397 up 16%
5- Dodge Dakota: ------------- 26,628 down 25%
6- Honda Ridgeline: ---------- 18,295 up 151%
7- GMC Canyon: ---------------- 6,549 down 44%
8- Mazda B-Series: ------------ 1,634 down 34%
Highlights:
- Tacoma's sales are almost double the sales of the second best seller. What's up with that?
- Sales of both the Isuzu i-series and Mitsubishi Raider were undisclosed. But both trucks are seriously failing.
Yesterday, I went to watch the Cruisin' Morro Bay Show, cruise night. Well 6PM anyway. Now there were some sweet GM cars cruising the street. Heck, even the 4th generation Camaro Z28. Or was that two of them. Sort of a modern day relic. Sure like the looks. I can see though how the Mustang may be a better choice for daily driving, like around town. Better visibility, trunk, passenger leg space. But for what it is, the Camaro is one sharp car. At least something to play with.
A Monte Carlo with RWD and a 350V8 would be sweet.
With 25MPG possible, no worries about having to go DOD, or anything to obtain the gas mileage.
-Loren
The bean counters will say "That panorama windshield is too expensive. Use the headlights from the Cobalt. Take the tail lights from the Sky. Nobody wants navigation in an economy car. The Ecotec 2.2 is good enough." What we'll end up with is a Cobalt hatchback and a few different body panel stampings.
However, I've really gotten into that show Pinks on Speed and some guys have built the heck out of them. Some of those cars can really really go!! One guy with a bored out small block was running in the 8s. He took a 505 ci 68 Nova 3 out of 4 times. It was unbelievably fast. Despite the weight, I guess that they can be built.
The report says from '07 through the next gen Saturn/Opel Astra, the car will be made in the Netherlands and imported to the US.
If you understand the manufacturing process, you would know drastic changes, such as a new body to accomodate a different wind screen and elaborate changes to the drive train will be more expensive than it is worth.
If the Opel can accomodate a Nav system, it could well be offered as an option. Navs are expensive baubles, imo. Would not want to pay for it as a standard feature.
I'll believe that the day after I see it. The exchange rate between the Euro and the dollar would put a European-built Saturn Astra well in the mid-$20s. VW can get away with those sorts of prices because of their reputation for good interiors and handling. Saturn has neither of those.
If you understand the manufacturing process, you would know drastic changes, such as a new body to accomodate a different wind screen and elaborate changes to the drive train will be more expensive than it is worth.
One would think so, but then look at the blizzard of stuff GMNA did to the Opel Vectra to make the Saturn Aura. Completely different powertrains and interiors, and they even put a footbrake on the Aura.
Vectra
Aura