Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options
General Motors discussions
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Aura underneath
On sale in the fall, the 2008 Malibu sedan still uses GM's front-wheel-drive Epsilon platform, which also underpins the Pontiac G6, Saturn Aura and, in a somewhat modified form, the Saab 9-3. But the new model uses the long-wheelbase (112.3-inch) version that was formerly used for the Malibu Maxx quasi-station-wagon/five-door-hatch thing. The Aura and G6 share this long version. So the Malibu (along with the Aura and G6) now has a longer wheelbase than all major competitors. It's between 3 and 5 inches longer than the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, etc.
Curiously, according to GM's figures, this stretch doesn't provide significantly more rear-seat legroom. Of the Japanese entries, only the sporty Altima has significantly less room in the rear. We wonder if GM's new measuring tape is incorrectly marked because, according to the specifications, the longer 2008 Malibu has less rear-seat legroom than the shorter 2007 version. We'll have to climb into the back of the new car at the Detroit auto show and try it for ourselves.
Room/Comfort (rear)
All models have ample leg room, even with front seats well back. But sloping roofline, especially in coupe and top-up convertibles, limits head room for those over 5-ft-10. Available panoramic roof steals head room, too, forcing taller passengers to scrunch uncomfortably. Entry/exit easy in sedan, stoop-and-twist in coupe.
Rear-seat legroom is generous as noted.
2007 Car and Truck of the Year Finalists
Each year, an impartial panel of 49 of North America’s most important automotive journalists, including PM’s Auto Editor, vote for the North American Car and Truck of the Year. The prizes are judged on factors such as innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value—categories we use to break down our own Automotive Excellence Awards. For the big panel, though, only vehicles that are all-new or substantially changed from the previous model are eligible.
Today, the independent accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche, which is charged with tabulating the ballots, announced three finalists in both categories:
2007 North American Car of the Year Finalists
Honda Fit
Saturn Aura
Toyota Camry
2007 North American Truck of the Year Finalists
Chevrolet Silverado
Ford Edge
Mazda CX-7
The winners will be revealed at the North American International Automobile Show in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 7, and we’ll be there—just like we are for every major auto show—with full multimedia coverage at PopularMechanics.com. Stay tuned. –Don Chaikin
Most likely the Aura and Silverado will win.
The truck finalists are the Acura MDX, Acura RDX, Audi Q7, BMW X5, Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban, Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Nitro, Ford Edge, GMC Acadia, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Wrangler and Mazda CX-7.
The car finalists are the Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Caliber, Honda Fit, Infiniti G35, Jaguar XK/XKR, Lexus LS460, Mercedes S-Class, Nissan Altima, Nissan Versa, Saturn Aura and Toyota Camry.
The 2006 prizes went to the Honda Civic and the Honda Ridgeline, the first time a single automaker took both awards.
Ridgline is selling better but still very low volume.
Hopefully GM will be the 2nd.
repriced over 80% of linup while adding standard equipment and uplevel content to many
reduced daily rental fleet and equipped more comparable to retail vehicles
residual values are up from 3 to 14 points per vehicle
retail market has stabalized and is trending up
introduced best powertrain warranty of any full line manufacturer
using incentives strategically in the market as ans enable for the transaction, not the reason for the transaction
There is more but those are the highlights that I remember being discussed here on Edmunds over a year ago.
Buoyed by strong demand for its products in Korea and around the world in 2006, the Incheon-based automaker's output climbed 31.8 percent compared to 2005 and domestic sales were up just over 19 percent.
The strong year was attributed primarily to GM Daewoo's two newest products, the Tosca premium midsize sedan, which went on sale across Korea in January, and the Winstorm SUV, which reached the market in July. GM Daewoo also received a boost from its aggressive and innovative marketing campaigns such as the Free Exchange Program and Residual Value Guarantee Program for its new products.
In December, GM Daewoo's domestic sales totaled 15,149 units - an increase of 44.6 percent compared to 2005. Exports in December were up 9.8 percent.
"No leader has had a tougher year than Rick," the magazine noted. "He has cut $8 billion in structural costs at GM, and weathered a tough board. He has the deep affection of his employees, dealers, and suppliers. He is an incredibly value-based leader."
Leadership Excellence readers nominated the award recipients based on six criteria: 1) Performed exceptionally well in a leadership role throughout 2006; 2) Inspired great performance from colleagues and co-workers and cultivated healthy relationships; 3) Displayed courage and wisdom in facing adversity, problems, and decisions; 4) Registered impressive results for the year and set the stage for sustained results; 5) Is acknowledged within the organization and industry as a person of vision, passion, purpose, direction, and integrity; and 6) Created a culture and standard of excellence. The other two recipients of the honor were Brian C. Walker of Herman Miller and Ed Zander of Motorola.
The awards are spotlighted in the January 2007 issue of Leadership Excellence, available now. The issue also includes a brief story written by Wagoner discussing the GM turnaround plan.
A year ago many said he would not last the year :confuse:
Can someone tell me what that means in dollars and cents?
I wish everybody would get that finished because it just throws the whole market off. People come in with domestic experience and think there is 10,000 dollars of discount in every car. :surprise:
Rocky
Reason why domestic avoiders do not buy domestic is 77% reliablity and 69% reliability. Not new news but actually good news for domestics. Reliability and quality is pretty much on par between GM and asians. Now they just need to convince the 18% that will not buy domestics and the other 30% that are on the fence.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/misc/zoom.pbs&Site=C3&Date=200701- 03&Category=AUTO01&ArtNo=701030382&Ref=H5&Profile=1148
that sounds right for DC and probably also areas like LA.
DETROIT — Malcolm Bricklin always imagined that Chery cars would be the first Chinese vehicles to be sold in North America. He probably didn't figure they would wear Dodge badges when they finally arrived.
Just before the new year, Chrysler cleared the first hurdle in its long-rumored deal with Chery, signing a letter of intent to collaborate with the Wuhu-based manufacturer on developing and building a new line of small cars primarily for North America, Europe and other export markets.
The B-segment cars will be branded as Dodges and will compete against such Japanese and Korean rivals as the Toyota Yaris and the Chevrolet Aveo.
An earlier agreement between Chery and Bricklin's Visionary Vehicles, the original U.S. importer, was dissolved in November. Bricklin said his company now is pursuing import deals with other Chinese manufacturers.
The latest Chery deal has greater implications, both for the Chrysler group and for the U.S. auto industry.
Without providing details, Chrysler has indicated that its agreement provides for the joint development with Chery of even larger vehicles. At the same time, there is widespread speculation in China that Chrysler will begin local production there of several of its own compacts, including the Jeep Compass. Given parent DaimlerChrysler's ongoing cost-reduction movement, it may be only a matter of time before some larger Chrysler products not only share platforms and underbody components with Chery vehicles, but actually are imported from Chinese factories.
Chrysler also hinted its first China-built subcompact probably won't resemble last year's well-received Dodge Hornet concept. But the general styling theme is consistent with Dodge's future design direction. Chrysler also indicated the first Chery-built cars could arrive as early as 2008 or 2009. They will be based on an existing Chery platform, with sheet metal designed by Chrysler.
Chrysler isn't the only automaker to consider sourcing some of its U.S. models in China. That option is among several under study at Ford, which lacks a B-segment vehicle in North America. The next-generation Fiesta, which is being engineered in Hiroshima by Japanese affiliate Mazda, will be produced around the world, including factories in India and China, and it will be no surprise to industry watchers in Detroit if a China- or India-built Fiesta finds its way to the States by 2010.
General Motors and its Chinese partner Shanghai Auto are already building a version of the Korea-engineered Chevy Aveo. Sooner or later, GM could decide that it's much cheaper to import the car from China than Korea.
Once the flood of small cars with American badges begins, the Detroit-based automakers will begin evaluating how to re-source larger vehicles from China. It's a sure bet that topic will be high on the agenda as the U.S. manufacturers enter contract talks later this year with the United Auto Workers.
What this means to you: We always expected to be driving Chinese cars at some point in the future. We just never expected that they might carry Chevy, Dodge or Ford nameplates.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=119035
Rocky
Rocky
http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=AUTO01
Rocky
Lincoln I was explaining to ya yesterday with the ultra soft cloth seats was a 1983' Continental Signature Series. He told me today the Signature Series was the "shorter" version of the Continental.
Rocky
\
I saw a signboard in Cincy on way through to Nashville that was by Toyota trying to drum up how 'Merican they are as a car company. I wish I could have written it down; I'll have to have my wife photograph it next time we go. I talked to my friend who was working up north of it today; I should have had him call me about what it said on his way home.
They had been running radio commercials a few months ago.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I see quite a few domestic SUVs and pickups, a handful of DCX minivans, and a smattering of Mustangs and Vettes and PC Cruisers and Calibers and Cobalts.
But I literally do a double-take on the very rare occasions I see a Malibu or LaCrosse or G6 or any domestic model that might compete with the Camry or Accord. They simply don't sell, and I can't think of anyone I know who would ever consider buying a domestic in that segment.
Rocky
Total cars: 1,625,376 down 7.2%
Total Truck: 2,499,269 down 9.6%
Chevy: --------- 2,415,428 down 10%
GMC: ----------- 481,222 down 15%
Pontiac: ------- 410,229 down 6%
Buick: --------- 240,657 down 15 %
Cadillac: ------ 227,014 down 3%
Saturn: -------- 226,375 up 6%
Hummer: -------- 71,524 up 26 %
Saab: ---------- 36,349 down 5.2%
So in 2006, all GM brands were down in sales except Saturn and Hummer. What's more, Ford took back the title from Chevy as the best selling brand in 2006.
Wonder if Walmart will get into the distribution action in the US somehow.
I laughed at Lemko's Walley World comments like every one else but I never made fun of them because his words are the inevitable reality for all of us. If GM imports cars from China, into my country they will be probably banned by me. DCX selling Chin-E cars with Dodge emblems on them its a slap in the face to everyone that has ever worked at Chrysler.
I wouldn't be surprised someday you can go to Sams or Walmart and they will have a parking lot full of Chin-E class of cars. They will have retro or classic versions of some of America's and Europe's automotive days with a Walley World commercials saying "falling prices" with that smiley face :mad:
I cannot believe my country has gone so far down the gutter to allow this to happen. It was bad enough to let the Japanese, come over here and whip us but to also allow China, to dominate our automotive empire is like receiving "leather goods" for a christmas gift.
Rocky
Page 19 of the MT February 07' edition
The Holden Grand Prix appears to be a GO !!!!
The Cadillac CTS-V will be 600 horsepower via supercharged V8 from the Corvette SS.
Rocky
Hummer's up only because of the H3 -- the cutesy fake one that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, but swills almost as much gas as the real ones.
Uh, did GM finally turn a profit in the 4th quarter (after 7 consecutive quarters of losses)?
Rocky
P.S. He's ranked # 2 in Motor Trends Power List.
The only thing wrong with the Ultrastar is that it should have been in production five years ago.
The Cadillac CTS-V will be 600 horsepower via supercharged V8 from the Corvette SS.
And with traction control, the CTS-V will be about a 350hp car since it can't even handle the 400hp LS2 now. 600hp is pure ad copy, completely unusable in the real world.
Is this madness or what?
Ford sales of Explorers and F-series pick-ups were down like 20-30% this year. I call that shrinking of sales in those segments. Now I don't know how GM fared, but I know Silverado sales took a hit earlier in the year, although not by as much. If GM manages to achieve its goal of "grabbing a larger slice of the shrinking pie of large SUV and pick-up sales", then kudos to them. But the fact that the pie is shrinking, fairly fast in the case of truck-based SUVs, can't be too comforting.
They need to speed up their shift of focus. Updates of the Vibe and Cobalt (and clones) are needed post-haste, plus the '08 Malibu must be a real world-beater, moving as far ahead of the current model as it did from ITS predecessor. This and a small crossover with good fuel economy, plus the proposed RWD Impala (soon, GM, bring it SOON), will stanch the outflow of sales to other car companies. With the reduction in fleet sales this year, GM lost another point and 3/4 in market share. And that is with 2/3 of their minivans still going to fleets this year, not to mention other fleet faves they still have. Hopefully, they will continue to toe the line of fleet sales reductions in 2007.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
http://www.fleet-central.com/af/t_pop_pdf.cfm?action=stat&link=http://www.fleet-- - central.com/af/stats2006/cars_web.pdf
Plus, the problem with the CTS isn't that it offers too little power. The car needs more refinement and a MUCH nicer interior to really compete and win in this class.
Buyers in this class aren't looking for mega-horsepower. They are looking for refinement, the look of quality (nice interiors, paint, etc.) and overall competence.
In the Harrisburg area we get a good mix of domestics and imports, but the trends for the domestics are still ominous. The local Dodge/Kia dealer closed its doors on Tuesday, because the drop in Dodge sales made the business unsustainable. The Kia sales weren't enough to take up the slack.
Harrisburg is now down to two Dodge dealers - one in the eastern suburbs near Hershey, and one in the far western suburbs, which also sells Subaru and VW. That is all the market can sustain.
I'm not seeing too many Auras right now...they seem nailed to the dealer's lot around here. National sales aren't too hot - 5,000+ after four months on the market. The car is probably too nice for the typical Saturn customer, who doesn't want to pay those prices for a vehicle, but not impressive enough to get people out of their Accords and Camrys. This one smells more and more like the Olds Intrigue...
The local Cadillac dealer has its Escalades parked out front with "$4,000 off" scrawled on the windshield. They are stacked up like cordwood around the lot.
I do see a fair number of Ford Fusions, and not with rental car company stickers on them.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I don't understand what you mean. If the car can accelerate from 0-60 in under 4 seconds I'd hardly call that unusable. :confuse: FYI The traction has a defeat button on the current V model and neither of us know how much better the driving characteristics are in this car. Hell the 08' CTS could have Delphi's magneride suspension making it's tire to tarmac contact among the best in the world which would eliminate wheel/axel hop.
Rocky
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=119076
Rocky
GM is way ahead of others right now, but if this trend continues (Toyota gaining and GM loosing at the same pace which is unlikely) Toyota will pass GM as America's largest seller in less than 5 years.
If Toyota keeps gaining and GM remains stable around a constant market share, which is likely, Toyota will pass GM in 10 years. Scary isn't it?
Very scary but a heck of a lot better than this time last year.
GM incentives have dropped to under $2400 / vehicle. (Chrysler at $4400, Ford $3800, Toyota $1360) GM profit per vehicle is up and fleet sales are down. It is scary at GM but even worse at Chrysler and Ford.
In 2006, GM again sold more vehicles outside the United States than inside, Wagoner said. In 2005, about 51 percent of GM's sales were outside the United States. In 2006, sales outside the United States rose to 55 percent of overall sales. That trend will continue, Wagoner said.