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  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gm- news/viewpressreldetail.do?domain=12&docid=29499
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    If you think its going to take 5 years for Toyota, to pass by GM, it won't ever happen. Right now is when GM, is most vulnerable. Another year or 2 GM, will widen its gap in worldwide sales. Every new car owner in China, is most likely going to buy a GM. The only chance Toyota, has at passing GM, is to merge. If they don't merge they will be #2 for the next 80 or more years. :P

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    I hope that shuts up Toyota and their little ad campaign. ;)

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    I just read though that Nissan USA is complaining to their lobbys in Washington that they are having problems with their retiree and healthcare cost and are threatening to not build more plants here. I guess they have been here 20 years or so. Anybody know which plant they have had that long?

    You are joking, right ? :mad:

    Rocky
  • bumpybumpy Member Posts: 4,425
    Guess the real news is that toyota company is at 2.1 million and GM company is at 3.4 million in US sales.

    GM is only at 3.4m through October? Wow, I guess they really did cut back on fleet sales after all.
  • bumpybumpy Member Posts: 4,425
    I just read though that Nissan USA is complaining to their lobbys in Washington that they are having problems with their retiree and healthcare cost and are threatening to not build more plants here. I guess they have been here 20 years or so. Anybody know which plant they have had that long?

    Smyrna started building Sentras and pickups around 1987.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/CompanyFocus/ForSelectCEOsRetirem- - - entAndABigRaise.aspx

    Rocky

    P.S. And some of you thought the UAW workers at the Big 3 had it good :surprise: I wished I could get a $1.1 Billion dollar retirement. You could buy any car, and as many you ever wanted. :surprise:
  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    No, Nissan is seeing the costs of building vehicles here going up and as we know they are in trouble with sales.
  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    I wonder how many of the big 2 execs are getting these perks? :P
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...the "L" stand for in DTS-L? Is it a long-wheelbase car? I hope it's not just a livery car like the long-wheelbase Lincoln Town Car. I see there's a long-wheelbase version of the Chrysler 300. I would very much be interested in that DTS-L if the interior is well-appointed.
  • bumpybumpy Member Posts: 4,425
    Yes, it's a long wheelbase DTS and yes, it's a livery car.
  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    I hope it's not just a livery car

    Is there something wrong with Livery cars?
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    62, They both have gotten compensated very well in the past but neither have gotten that greedy.....YET :P

    Rocky
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    I dunno. They just come across a gussied-up taxis - at least the current Town Car does.
  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    LOS ANGELES – It made perfect sense when Hyundai Motor hired a veteran Toyota engineer named Bruce Shibuya in 2003 to run its quality control unit in Chino, Calif.

    Shibuya, an American, had worked at Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.'s headquarters in Torrance, Calif. But as much as Hyundai benefited from Shibuya's 18 years of Toyota experience, it may have learned more from the secret company documents he brought along with him.

    Shibuya, given the title of vice president, Hyundai-Kia North American Quality Center, arrived with a passel of materials detailing Toyota's quality procedures. During his three years at Hyundai's America Technical Center, Shibuya often gave PowerPoint presentations emblazoned with the Toyota logo, according to Hyundai sources and a recent lawsuit.

    Shibuya's actions were so galling to Hyundai engineers that one of them anonymously leaked word of it to Toyota this year. In response, the Japanese automaker fired off a cease-and-desist letter to Hyundai. Shibuya, 50, was terminated at Hyundai in August.

    Kathy Parker, vice president of human resources at Hyundai Motor America, said Hyundai executives took action immediately upon hearing from Toyota. She said an internal investigation led to Shibuya's dismissal. All relevant documents were returned to Toyota. "Only a handful" of documents were involved, Parker said.

    But some Hyundai insiders, as well as a whistle-blower suit filed by a Hyundai employee, tell a different story.

    Hanna Kim, Shibuya's former executive assistant, contends in the suit, filed Nov. 17, that Shibuya ordered her to make copies of numerous Toyota documents and mail them to Hyundai headquarters in Korea. The lawsuit also alleges sexual harassment by Shibuya against Kim.

    Kim alleges she complained to upper management about copying Toyota documents that included the words "Do Not Duplicate." Kim was told that if she "didn't stir up anything," she would be promoted, according to the lawsuit, filed in Orange County (Calif.) Superior Court.

    Added a Hyundai source: "It was not a few documents. It was binders and binders of information." The individual spoke anonymously for fear of reprisal from the company.

    Although Hyundai sources were hesitant to give details about the stolen trade secrets, one said, "It was technical reports and their European quality-control model."

    It was high-protein stuff, said another Hyundai employee. "This wasn't just paint codes," he said. "This was something that should have been kept confidential."

    Hyundai sources say they reported Shibuya's actions to superiors, who did nothing to stop it. Only when Toyota's lawyers pounced in March 2006 with a "nasty-gram," as one source referred to it, did Hyundai take action.

    Even then, Hyundai's internal investigators seemed more interested in determining who contacted Toyota than in discovering how much information was stolen, sources said.
  • ron_mron_m Member Posts: 186
    Thanks for the link to this article Rocky. I'm going to refrain from commenting on the contents of this article, because I have some extremely strong opinions about the behaviors described within it. Let your imagination be your guide as to how I feel about it. :)

    Ron
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Okay..... :)

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Investors believe the bankrupt auto parts supplier will be able to limit in liabilities.

    http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061128/AUTO01/611280337/1148-

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    GM's latest crossover seen as promising attempt to woo buyers and revive brand in the hot market.

    http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061128/AUTO04/611280338/1148- - - /AUTO01

    She's beautiful isn't she lemko. :blush: I could see me owning one. I'm waiting patiently to see the CTS though. I also am still praying my Velite, gets made but that is likely wishful thinking. :sick:

    Rocky

    I'm glad GM, lemme voice my opinion on what it should be. :)
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    3 models could challenge foreign brands

    http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061128/BUSINESS01/611280377

    Rocky
  • bumpybumpy Member Posts: 4,425
    Looks like the old and new Hyundai Santa Fes had an oversized baby. Too bad the designers didn't account for the portholes when they penned the fenders.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    bumpy, that was awful thing to say about such a beauty. :confuse:

    Rocky
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Geeze, those dudes make the heads of GM and Ford look like paupers! Good God, I'd get fired if I only worked ten hours a week. These guys are raking in absurd fortunes. Maybe we should outsource the CEOs and bring in a guy from China or India who will work his butt off for a mere sliver of what those guys in the article make for slacking off.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    http://www.sportruck.com/news/2007-GMC-Sierra-Denali/index.htm

    What a heck of a truck. It is only missing AC/Ventilated seats, and it appears a DVD-A system from being nearly perfect. :)

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    No, they work harder than union guys in those 10 hours, as some would argue. :sick:

    It's pretty crazy when people are getting Billion dollar retirement packages and fight the grunt over a nickel. It makes me sick. :mad:

    Rocky
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    The portholes are neatly planned for in the shape of the hood. They fit perfectly. Nice look to the vehicle.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    I really love the Enclave's interior from what I've seen in pictures. I hope it looks as good or better in person. Why don't they put as nice an interior in the LaCrosse?
  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    Rocky, how many DVD-A do you have? I have two and from what I can tell the technology has pretty much stalled out. Issue is that MP3 players have killed the CD market. I know that MP3 is a crappy system but no one seems to care.

    I doubt if many will offer the system. I was at a presentation about 5 years ago when the DVD-A folks came in to convince us to offer it. From then to now not much has changed.
  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    Its coming in the new EPS 2 vehicle.

    The current LaCrosse has a very high quality fit, finish and material execution. The way the center stack blends into the console is not typically done in an under $30k vehicle. I think the issue is that the full width IP wood treatment is not a contemporary execution.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Blame the record company's for not making more albums with 5.1 on them. The next big hype is Blue-ray and DVD-HD lasers. Blue-ray holds alot of promise and it's going to take the record company's and players(stereo equip manufactors) to get on board. I do own a couple of DVD-A discs I play on my 7.1 custom home theater unit. The MP3 and i-pod craze ruined good quality music. The Teeny boppers wanted i-pods and thats where the money went. They pirate the music off the net and DL it to the i-pod for free.

    Until they find a way to convert those MP3 files into surround sound, good quality sound is doomed. I guess we still have logic 7 or Pro-logic II available which mimics surround sound in some automotive applications. :sick:

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    62, english doc :P

    What the heck is the EPS 2 vehicle ???? :surprise:

    Rocky
  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    Off the subject a bit but MP3 is not going ever going to surround sound or better quality. Much more important to put as much data as possible on the samllest recordding medium possible.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Yeah I know and it stinks. I prefer quality over quantity. the youth missed the boat.

    Rocky
  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    Epsilon 2. Come on we've talked about that here alot. It is being engineered in Europe, slightly larger than current Epsilon (G6, Aura, Malibu) and be available in FWD and AWD.

    Summer 2009-LaCrosse, G6(probaly not anymore), Aura, Malibu, BLS.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Oh okay....Now I remember 62. :)

    Rocky

    P.S. I thought all buicks were going to be RWD or AWD though ?
  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    I sure never said that!

    BUT I guess maybe you are right?

    LaCrosse-EPS 2:AWD could be standard
    Lucerne-Zeta?:RWD
    Enclave-FWD but maybe a futrue AWD?
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    No you weren't the one who said it....Remember a news article said that was where buick was headed by like 2009 or something ? Pontiac also. ;)

    Rocky

    P.S. sounds good to me....Where's my Velite at in that line-up :P
  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    NEW YORK -- Standard & Poor's said on Monday that it raised its ratings on GMAC LLC, the finance unit of General Motors Corp., and upgraded GMAC's subsidiary, Residential Capital LLC.

    S&P raised GMAC's credit rating to "BB-plus," one level below investment grade, from "BB," and removed them from CreditWatch, where they had been placed on Oct. 3, 2005. The outlook is now developing.

    At the same time, S&P raised its ratings on GMAC's subsidiary, Residential Capital LLC (ResCap), to 'BBB,' the second-lowest investment grade level, from 'BBB-minus.'

    "The upgrades reflect the benefits to GMAC and ResCap that will result from ultimate parent General Motors Corp.'s sale of a 51 percent ownership stake in GMAC to a consortium headed by Cerberus Capital Management L.P. (Cerberus), in a transaction we expect to close shortly," the statement said.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    62, Thanx for the update. That is good to hear. :)

    Rocky
  • torque_rtorque_r Member Posts: 500
    final power rating for the Enclave is 275 hp and 251 ft-lb. Not bad. Sure it is no 300hp- MDX, but it has more power than Lexus RX350 (270 hp). actually it has more power than GM's own Cadillac SRX.
  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    SEE ENCLAVE UNVEILING LIVE! . . . You can have a front row seat when
    Tiger Woods and Buick unveil the new 2008 Enclave. The event will be
    webcast live at http://gmtv.feedroom.com tonight starting at 8:45 p.m.
    ET, with video-on-demand-replays to follow. Tune in from your home
    computer to get the first look at this exciting new vehicle!
  • 62vetteefp62vetteefp Member Posts: 6,043
    Complaints: None at this writing. This is the kind of vehicle Saturn should have given us from the very beginning.

    Ride, acceleration and handling: It rides like a well-crafted station wagon -- exceedingly smooth and comfortable, even over difficult roads. Credit the Outlook's 118.9-inch wheelbase, which is the centerline distance between the front and rear wheels, and its four-wheel independent suspension.

    Head-turning quotient: We got favorable looks everywhere and lots of damning with faint praise.

    Body style/layout: The Saturn Outlook is a front-engine, full-size combination station wagon-hatchback-minivan with some SUV styling pretensions. It is a work of unitized steel construction available with front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive in base XE or upscale XR trim.

    Engine/transmission: A 3.6-liter, V-6 engine is standard for all Outlook models. But in the XE version with a single exhaust pipe, that engine develops 270 horsepower at 6,600 revolutions per minute and 248 foot-pounds of torque at 3,200 rpm. In the XR with dual exhaust pipes and, thus, lower outlet restriction, that engine develops 275 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 251 foot-pounds of torque at 3,200 rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

    Capacities: There is seating for up to eight people. Cargo space with second- and third-row seats up is 19.7 cubic feet. It is 117 cubic feet with second and third rows down. Maximum payload, the weight of what can be carried onboard, is 1,678 pounds. Maximum towing capacity is 4,500 pounds. The fuel tank holds 22 gallons of regular unleaded.

    Mileage: I averaged 24 miles per gallon in highway driving. Ria averaged 17 mpg in city runs.

    Safety: Standard equipment includes side and head air bags and traction and stability control.

    Price: The 2007 Saturn Outlook is on sale now. Base prices range from $27,255 for the front-wheel-drive XE to $31,555 for the all-wheel-drive XR. Dealer's invoice prices range from $25,756 for the front-wheel-drive XE to $29,819 for the all-wheel-drive XR. A $735 destination charge will be added to both prices. The prices are provided by Saturn and www.edmunds.com .

    Purse-strings note: Front-wheel-drive makes more sense and saves more gas money in areas with little snowfall. The 2007 Saturn Outlook is a buy.
  • 210delray210delray Member Posts: 4,721
    Uh-oh, sounds like good old Warren Brown of the Washington Post.
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    WOW, just checked out the video 62, and it's pretty a impressive CUV. :shades:

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    62vetteefp, lemko, fintail, Loren, and anyone else what do y'all think of the Enclave ? Does it give you a new perception, hope, confidence, that GM, is really turning things around by delivering refined good quality products ?

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Golf great helps GM introduce new crossover in L.A.; vehicle is set to hit showrooms in June.

    http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061129/AUTO01/611290420

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Wagoner will stress future of plug-in hybrids during speech today at Los Angeles Auto Show.

    http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061129/AUTO04/611290363

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Company wants to build on a 28% surge in sales outside the U.S. with a plant in Warsaw.

    http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061129/AUTO01/611290345/- 1148

    Rocky
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    AM General forced to trim H2 production by GM, which wants to stress sales of the H3.

    http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061129/AUTO01/611290346/- 1148

    Rocky
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    Thanks for posting the link. I watched when I remembered this morning after rocky's post.

    I hear the BPG group channel mentioned. I take it that means ideally a store would be Pontiac, Buick, and GMC luxury trucks. Pontiac is sport; Buick, luxury.

    I like the reporter asking about "relevant" sales for Buick trying to turn it into a negative without regard for number of vehicle lines having been reduced and lower rental sales. The detractors just never give up.

    Would he have asked that at HoToy PR unveilings?

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

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