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Why anyone would care about what others think is something I've never understood.
Interestingly, the GMC Yukon and Chevy Tahoe/Suburban appear to be more popular in upscale areas than the Cadillac Escalade. :confuse:
But, Rocky - that 95 Riv had a very nice interior, compared to, oh, say the friggin 06 Lucerne!! Lots nicer.
BMWs have been and continue to be fragile, so to speak. IOW, they need frequent maintenance. So do Mercedes, by the way. The Germans don't see a problem with maintenance - that's normal to them. Pretty much the same all over Europe. It's only the Japanese who are consumed with perfection and reliability. The Germans build to go fast, and go long, but not without maintenance. The Japanese try to imitate the German style, but it HAS to hold up perfectly, even if it's not going to drive like a Bimmer. Maybe it's enough if it looks like one? Sorta?
People who love their BMWs are in love with the status it holds, not it's reliability, like Cadillac USED to hold. But no longer does. It's an esoteric thing, but it's real, and tangible. BMW and Mercedes cast the longest shadow now. Lexus may be 3rd, or Jaguar. Infiniti is coming up a bit. Acura is near luxury, but pretty hot now. I don't know. Where the hell is Cadillac anyway?
I would guess that you have less chance of getting carjacked or having your vehicle stolen if it is the GMC or Chevy vs. the Cadillac. Just self preservation working.
The trophys have both tarnished a lot.
Around here, those blonde soccor mom uppity trophy wives are in Navigators and LX470s, and the X5 of course.
Rocky
Rocky
Rocky
Rocky
Initially, only 20,000 - 25,000 GM and Delphi workers were expected to accept buyouts and early retirement as part of a large cost-cutting effort to restore the world's largest automaker to prosperity.
"These numbers are higher than we had budgeted," said GM CEO Rick Wagoner. "It makes us more cost competitive and this is for sure going to free up resources to be able to invest even more in products and technology."
GM is now able to beat its target of cutting 30,000 jobs in North America by the end of 2008, more than two years ahead of schedule. To ease the transition to a smaller workforce, the automaker has started hiring temporary workers at some plants for about $18 per hour without benefits. Traditional union workers cost GM about $81 an hour in 2005, including benefits and retirement costs, according to Bloomberg.
What this means to you: GM is making good progress toward getting its finances in order, a good first step which should help put more cash where it's needed most — into its products.
Rocky
I like the spin on that.
What this really means to all: The ship is sinking and there won't be enough life boats soon.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060628/ap_on_bi_ge/auto_incentives
GM is blowing serious wad of cash to offer 0% APR at todays prime rate. Rocky, you now know where uncle Rick will be investing the 'savings'.
Delphi Corp., the biggest U.S. auto-parts maker, hired 2,000 temporary workers to replace thousands of more expensive union members who are taking early retirement or buyouts.
The temporary employees are being trained at U.S. plants before moving into jobs held by United Auto Workers members, Delphi spokesman Lindsey Williams said in an interview Tuesday. Most temporary hires will earn $14 an hour rather than the $27 now paid to union workers.
Delphi, which filed for Chapter 11 protection for its U.S. operations Oct. 8, said that 12,600 workers accepted retirement offers made in March, and it expects more to take buyouts under a June program. The company is trimming employment to reduce costs under its plan to exit bankruptcy by mid-2007.
"There should be some short-term loss of productivity but the lower wages rates should more than compensate," said Morgan Keegan & Co. fixed-income analyst Pete Hastings.
Williams said that "ample time is available to train new or temporary employees prior to many of our employees departing, which will occur throughout the year."
UAW spokesman Paul Krell couldn't be reached to comment.
The company doesn't yet know how many workers it will need as a result of the departures, Williams said.
Delphi is in the process of closing 21 of its 29 U.S. manufacturing sites, and some of the remaining plants may not need as many workers because the company also is exiting product lines.
"The focus may now be on the numbers of people, but the overriding issue for us is obtaining a comprehensive agreement with our unions," Williams said.
Delphi is in talks with the UAW and five other unions over proposed changes including cutting hourly wages to as low as $12.50.
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060628/AUTO01/606280353/1148
Rocky
Rocky
Rocky
Rocky
General Motors Corp.'s revival of 0% financing won't be enough to keep the automaker's U.S. vehicle sales in June and July from dropping to "brutal" levels compared with a year ago, when employee discounts sent results soaring, a top GM sales executive said Tuesday.
However, the automaker, which capped its cost-cutting drive Monday by announcing that about 35,000 U.S. hourly workers have agreed to retire or quit, nevertheless sees some good signs on the sales front.
In June last year, GM's U.S. sales soared nearly 50% after the automaker launched its Employee Discount for Everyone program, offering the general public the same prices GM employees pay. GM results were the strongest since September 1986.
This year, GM has eased off incentives and cut vehicle prices, causing sales to drop about 8% during the first five months of the year.
"Our year-over-year comparisons are going to be especially brutal," GM sales chief Mark LaNeve said Tuesday. "June and July aren't going to be a picnic."
Stock prices of GM and other companies in the auto industry fell Tuesday after GM announced its new incentives. GM shares, which have climbed about 28% since the beginning of the year, closed at $25.90, down $1.85, or 6.7%, on the New York Stock Exchange.
Despite the drop in shares Tuesday, several Wall Street analysts raised their earnings estimates for GM on Tuesday after more workers than expected took the automaker's attrition package.
Ford Motor Co. and the Chrysler Group also will post weaker sales in June, said Art Spinella, president of Bandon, Ore.-based CNW Marketing Research.
"The year over year is going to look miserable," he said.
Toyota Motor Co., thanks to strong sales, particularly of its Camry midsize car, might be the only major automaker to post improved results in June, Spinella said.
Automakers are scheduled to report June sales Monday.
Despite the poor results, GM sees growing demand for its new models, such as the Pontiac Solstice, Chevrolet HHR and Saturn Sky, which are selling about as fast as GM can build them.
Consumers also are willing to spend more on GM vehicles. The average price paid for a GM vehicle during the first five months of the year was $26,431, up $1,200. The industry average was a rise of $365 for a price of $25,908.
In addition, GM is no longer fighting news reports about a possible bankruptcy, which hurt sales five or six months ago, LaNeve said.
The focus is beginning to shift from GM's many cost-cutting measures outlined over the past few months -- including the hourly and salaried job cutbacks and the plant closings -- to vehicle sales.
This week, Chrysler, which already offers 0% financing for five years on many of its vehicles, will roll out a new summer incentive program that's expected to revive employee pricing and provide a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Even if Chrysler offers employee discounts, don't expect GM to follow.
"We're not planning on reviving employee pricing," GM's LaNeve said. "I personally don't think it's going to work as well. I think last year was somewhat of a phenomenon, the likes of which we'll never see again."
GM will begin offering 0% financing for up to six years on most of its 2006 models on Thursday, with the sale running through July 5.
"I think GM is hoping that this is the buy-now signal" for consumers, said Mark McCready, director of pricing strategy and market analysis for CarsDirect.com, a Los Angeles-based car-buying and research site.
Ford has been offering a similar deal on most of its 2006 Ford brand vehicles and will stick with its program through the end of July, spokesman Jim Cain said.
Cisco Codina, group vice president of Ford Marketing, Sales and Service, said Ford is going to chart its own course on incentives and is pleased with its incentive program, which started at the beginning of June. Typically, Ford has followed GM incentive programs.
"We, perhaps, may have caught them a bit off guard," he said Tuesday.
Automakers typically add incentives during the summer months in order to clear space before next year's models arrive in the fall and to cut costs of carrying car and truck inventories.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006606280302
Rocky
Rocky
Rocky :shades:
Rocky :shades:
Rocky
I doubt we will see a Trans-Am for atleast 4-5 years.
Rocky
The previous-gen Riviera was lame with that GCC, (Graphic Control Center). I knew a guy who had one of those Rivieras. His name actually was Mr. Lancia. You'd think he'd have one of his namesake cars.
I'd like to hear some of ya'lls opinions.
Rocky
Rocky
Rocky
I didn't get to hear them start up the Camaro. I imagine it would've been awesome.
My ride is atleast somewhat logical and affordable unless you won the lottery and your not sharing. :P The Velite when it was suppose to see production was going to be priced in the low-mid $40K range.
Rocky
<I can picture my wife, I, and the kids cruising
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Rocky
Tiger with the Velite
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.searc- h.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3DBuick%2BVelite%26toggle%3D1%26ei%3DUTF-8%26f- r%3DFP-tab-web-t400%26b%3D201&w=400&h=300&imgurl=gm.wieck.com%2Fforms%2Fgm%2FPV_- _017799__.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fgm.wieck.com%2Fforms%2Fgm%2Fpreviewpage%3F017799- &size=31.1kB&name=PV__017799__.jpg&p=Buick+Velite&type=jpeg&no=216&tt=643&ei=UTF- -8
Rocky :shades:
Rocky
Rocky
Maybe GM will have a hit if they bring it out as is style-wise. Base price will have to be low to be affordable to younger people. Will be interesting to see demos of purchasers. Will it be a mix of late teens, some professionals, baby boomers, Nascar types. Will young single women want one?
As far as cool, latest Mustang still has better style then would-be Camaro. Mustang was cooler than Camaro in late 60's and still would be. Note that Steve McQueen used Mustang fastback in Bullit movie rather than the kind of chunky Camaro of the time.
Rocky
P.S. Disagree the Camaro/Trans-Am are the real pony cars. Not even this current Mustang had the following that this Camaro has.