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Will XWD be expanded to these RWD Cadillac's ?????
It's goingto be excitingto see what happens with Buick, Pontiac, as this progression moves forward. I do thinkif handled correctly we will see GM, steal a lot of European/Japanese import buying customers.
-Rocky
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071013/AUTO01/710130338/1148- /rss25
-Rocky
WARREN -- So much is riding on the new Chevrolet Malibu that General Motors Corp. will back it up with an ad blitz as big as last year's $300 million launch of the top-selling Silverado pickup.
The pickup launch went down as one of GM's biggest ad campaigns in history, and now the automaker is vowing similar treatment for its redesigned midsize sedan -- a segment long neglected by Detroit's Big Three.
The stakes couldn't be higher for GM and the Malibu, which hits showrooms Nov. 1. The sedan is the automaker's most critical launch in years at a time when more fuel-efficient cars are becoming more important to automakers' viability in North America.
But to have any measure of success, GM must begin to reverse a deep-seated perception that the Malibu is a dowdy family hauler destined for rental fleets.
"We're not on their radar screen right now, and we need to be," Kim Kosak, Chevrolet director of advertising, said of a younger, more affluent demographic. "We've got to make this consumer believe that the Malibu can challenge a (Toyota) Camry or (Honda) Accord."
GM is prepared to spend truck-size proportions to attract more women, singles and urban dwellers to the sedan.
The Silverado "Our Country" campaign racked up $295 million in ad spending, according to Nielsen Monitor-Plus. Chevy officials on Thursday said the Malibu launch will be as costly.
Some Malibu ads also will play off the Silverado's popularity. Kosak said market studies show many Camry and Accord owners also have a Chevy truck. With that in mind, one ad shows an automotive designer sculpting a clay model of a Silverado into a Malibu.
Ads go on skyscrapers
But that's where the similarities end between car and truck.
Where the Silverado launch relied on Americana-themed TV ads and a John Mellencamp tune, GM is trying to embrace new strategies with the Malibu.
Ads will be plastered on skyscrapers in the nation's biggest metropolises, from Times Square to Hollywood Boulevard. And GM will team up with the nation's largest publisher of women's fashion magazines -- Conde Nast, the publisher of Vogue and Glamour -- for a tour of upscale malls and a host of interactive activities.
A massive online presence -- what GM calls "unprecedented digital domination" -- also will be a key element of the campaign. On Wednesday, Malibu ads will be so plentiful on the nation's top home pages that an estimated 80 percent of online users that day will see one. The tone will be edgy and honest, Kosak said, and won't shy from the reality that Toyota and Honda rule the market for midsize cars. One print magazine ad says: "We're tired of being a foreign car in our own country."
The catchphrase for the campaign is: "The car you can't ignore," a play on perception of midsize sedans as forgettable.
Fighting for the market
GM has been making a concerted effort to win back some of the midsize market, dominated for years by the Camry and Accord. Toyota spent about $270 million to roll out its new Camry last year, according to Nielsen.
Toyota has sold more than 360,000 Camrys this year and Honda 302,000 Accords, but Malibu sales barely surpassed 90,000 through September.
The carmaker's other midsize offering, the Saturn Aura, has garnered high praise from critics, but struggled to gain much traction in the showroom.
The 2008 Malibu will start at $19,995, more than $2,000 higher than this year's model and about $285 less than the base price of the Toyota Camry.
The Malibu will come with more standard equipment than the old models, Chevy says. A gasoline-electric hybrid version will start at $22,790.
GM's key challenge will be to get on the shopping lists of consumers who long ago wrote off domestic nameplates.
Even Kosak acknowledged that the first converts to the new Malibu will more likely come from other domestic brands or foreign nameplates such as Kia and Nissan, not from Camry and Accord buyers.
Chevy will have to work hard to rise above the noise and become credible, said Alexander Edwards, a marketing expert with Strategic Vision in San Diego.
For one thing, the brand is going up against companies that already have mastered nontraditional media.
Toyota's Scion nameplate, for example, managed to crack the elusive youth culture, while Hyundai is making headway in minority communities.
Both are using one-on-one time with consumers.
"With the media blitz that every person gets each day, it can make such things less effective," Edwards said.
"But the main purpose of these blanket ads it to generate interest in the product -- if people get interested, they may try the vehicle."
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071012/AUTO01/710120348/1148-
-Rocky
Exactly. It may take time, but it is what needs to happen to turn GM's eight brands from a liability to an asset.
In the truest sense of its name, "General Motors" should have a car for everyone. If they move Cadillac up market with Mercedes, then they will have no problem marketing B-P-G to those who want brands like Infiniti, Acura, Lexus, and Volvo; Saturn to those who want a bit of cheaper German engineering like VW; and Chevy to those that just want basic transportation.
I don't see either of those in this area of the midwest. There may be many owners as described, but it's more based on economy or perceived economy than on reality of marketing to those specific groups. If anyone has cracked the minority groupo it's Mercedes in this area. Lots of used/lease/baby faux Mercedes show up.
I see good things in the article. Number one is GM recognizes its challenge and is attacking. Too bad the usual crowd got "GM on the Offensive: Will It Work" closed down. That's what they've done.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Lots of excellent model choices, good marketing strategies, quality is on the upswing,etc., all bode well for GM's future.
Only one big issue now, and it's the toughest of the lot.
They've got to get more cost out of their operations in North America.
Will they be able to do that quickly enough is the big question.
One more thing--re "Too bad the usual crowd got 'GM on the Offensive-Will It Work' closed down."
Weren't you one of the 'usual crowd' in that discussion?
My point was, and continues to be: Priced like the STS, the CTS will sell at about the same rate as the STS does: 25,000 per year rather than 50,000+.
However, a smaller, lower priced Cadillac would probably sell as well or better than the CTS.
Agree on the CTS vs ? question as well. How will it be viewed by whom and will they compare it to the 3, 5, C, E... But like you, have heard great reviews for the car. In driving the last-gen (2007 model) I admit it wasn't a bad ride, pretty decent. Would I by one, I still don't really know. :confuse:
(Sorry for the delay in response, too much tail-gating at the game yesterday)
Well surprise, surprise!! Just as you need good credit, steady background and the ability to jump through hoops to get a mortgage loan, you need to do the same to get emergence from bankruptcy. You can't rob Peter to pay Paul then go back and ask for more.
What's that, is that Nelson saying "Ha-ha"?!?!
"I don't see either of those in this area of the midwest."
Yeah well lot of people are "Buy American" car in the midwest though. I see alot of young people in Scion TC's though.
I don;t see alot of minority's buying Hyundai's though maybe 3-5 years ago but not now.
I think Nissan has alot of minority buyers.
"If anyone has cracked the minority groupo it's Mercedes in this area. Lots of used/lease/baby faux Mercedes show up."
Yeah Mercedes does have alot of minority buyers and I live in NJ. Mercerdes are in the rap video's alot too so that has alot do with alot of minority's buying Mercedes I think.
I think the CTS which is priced over 30K I think is a good car I mean one of the car mags said it was the best Caddy in 50 years and the best handling American(Domestic) sedan ever. Thats saying alot about the CTS I mean I would never buy one but I think its a heck of a car though especially now that GM has improved the interior. I;m not too crazy about the rest of Caddy's line-up except for the XLR which is a flop right now sales wise.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Well Steve Miller, sure is going to try his best.
-Rocky
Weren't you one of the 'usual crowd' in that discussion?
I believe he was referring to the usual "Trollers"
-Rocky
Lutz said GM's Ed Welburn, vice president for global design, was so overcome after seeing the Camaro in the flesh that he "ran over to it, and hugged it!
"I have the photo to prove it — but of course we can't show it to you just yet," Lutz wrote.
"Seeing his beloved Camaro as a real car...in near-final metal, glass, rubber and plastic...transformed from a visionary dream into a highly drivable reality...well, it was almost too much for him," Lutz said of Welburn. The posting was titled "The Wonderful World of Oz."
The Camaro will be built on the new rear-wheel-drive global Zeta platform that Holden is engineering. It will be assembled in North America.
Perhaps more important, Lutz, who notes "I got to drive it first, not only because 'rank has its privileges,' but because I didn't want anyone stuffing it into a barrier before I got to drive," was able to give what may be the first on-road critique of the vehicle. "I loved the response, the sound, the steering and the brakes," he said. "There's more work to be done, for sure, and the group knows it. They still have time for further development. The goal of the team led by Gene Stefanyshyn is to produce the finest car in its class, ever. Do I think they will get there? I wouldn't bet against that team!"
The effusive posting also noted that the Camaro prototype "looked as awesome as the concept, and the blotchy black/white camo scheme could not destroy the great stance and proportion." Lutz also noted that quality levels appear to be high. "The body fits were already better than what came off the line a few years ago," he wrote. "The interior had some handmade plastic parts and showed some gaps but was remarkable for the first car."
In one of the most intriguing tidbits in the lengthy posting, Lutz gabbed that his recent trip to Australia also included time driving "other things in the rear-drive hopper." That little bit of information confirms that GM is considering expanding its rear-wheel-drive global lineup. Lutz said he "sampled [Pontiac] G8s in various states of tune, and they were fabulous."
What this means to you: GM's über-car guy seems pleased with the progress of the new Camaro, and that's encouraging news for you.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=123025
-Rocky
Weren't you one of the 'usual crowd' in that discussion?
I believe he was referring to the usual "Trollers"
What is interesting is gong back and look at what was being said. Lots of hot air (whoops, loose fingers?) A lot of suggestions for GM's success were already in place as they were typed on this forum. Just most were not aware. Good info here is about 1 year behind actuality. The media is the same way. They are pretty much 6 months to a year behind.
Weren't you one of the 'usual crowd' in that discussion?
I believe he was referring to the usual "Trollers"
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I have seen a fair number of people driving TC's under age 30 I think.
"For xBs it's over 55 or female over 40."
I have seen a few young people under 30 driving last gen XB's around but I saw a guy who was around 60 or over driving an XB a couple years ago.
I'd like to wait and see what CR has to say about the new 2008 CTS. Not only this year, but 5 or 6 years down the road when all the cost cutting measures creep up (or if GM has truly changed their ways.... don't creep up).
General Motors Corp. says its new labor pact with the UAW will slash labor costs by allowing the automaker to eventually replace up to three-quarters of veteran factory workers with lower-paid new hires who won't get costly retirement benefits promised to their predecessors.
Speaking on Monday for the first time about the contract, GM said 56,000 of 74,500 blue-collar workers could retire by 2011.
Many replacements will fall into a second-tier of lower-paid jobs created by the deal. They'll start at $14 an hour -- half the current average wage -- doing jobs outside of core assembly line work, from operating a fork-lift to maintenance to moving finished vehicles.
Even if new hires move into higher-paying jobs, GM won't pay medical bills in retirement, instead contributing to a 401(k) plan.
The automaker, which lost a combined $12 billion in 2005 and 2006, set out this year to cut a $25- to $30-an-hour wage-and-benefit gap with foreign rivals led by Toyota Motor Corp. GM wouldn't say on Monday how far the deal went in closing that chasm, but Chief Financial Officer Fritz Henderson detailed areas where GM stands to save big.
A new worker hired into a lower-tier job will cost GM $25.65 in combined wages and benefits -- less than one-third of the $78.31 GM currently spends. Workers will have the opportunity to move into the higher paying jobs as they become available.
But even workers who move into the richer $28.12 an hour will cost the company far less than current employees.
That's because new hires will pay 15 percent of their health care costs while they're actively working, instead of the current 5 percent. And GM will contribute $1 for each hour worked into a 401(k) plan, rather than picking up costly medical bills for its future retirees.
The deal also allows GM to push many workers out of the so-called jobs bank, where laid-off employees receive nearly full pay and benefits. With a few exceptions, workers' time in the bank will be capped and they will be forced out if they turn down offers for other jobs. Under the old rules, workers in the jobs bank were only required to take a job that's in their line of work and within 50 miles of their old job.
UAW rank-and-file workers last week voted to ratify the deal, with about two-thirds in favor of the agreement.
My brother was in jobs bank for over 3 years. This would hopefully stop that.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071016/AUTO01/710160368/1148-
What do you think about GM and their supposed windfall in 2011 when they'll have a large number of eligible retirees? Talk is they're going to have another buyout then. With the current saving from the past buyout / retiring veterans they seem to be sitting ok; and with the future one in 2010 ~ 2011 they seem to be banking on being in good shape then.
I don't know.
210delray is NOT one of the people to whom I'm alluding.
BTW the troll graphic showed up in the salesman forum. I don't want to imply I thought of it.
That wasn't quite the type of troll I was addressing. I was talking about those off topic, anti-GM who repeatedly kept negating anything said positive about GM just because they had a 1978 Chevette that gave up with maintenance. And they did this 20 times per week in each discussion that might be suggesting GM might be producing some cars that people buy, drive, and are satisfied with just because they themselves had Honda religion or Camry religion or BMW religion.
There's certainly nothing wrong with those cars, however they are machines. They put their tires on one wheel at a time just like all other cars.
210delray is NOT one of the people to whom I'm alluding.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
What? You don't want to hear about my Accord? :P
Just as well. I hear it got a tail lens and bumper mashed in a parking lot.
Can't help on bashing a Chevette. Never had one. Did ride in one once. They were certainly narrow enough. Certainly doesn't pertain to current GM.
"The least reliable car of all, according to Consumer Reports survey, is General Motors' Pontiac Solstice sports car. Its reliability was calculated to be 234 percent worse than average. It was followed closely by GM's Cadillac Escalade EXT, which is calculated to be 220 percent less reliable than the average vehicle."
Looks like those trolls :P who bash CR now need a new explanation for why CR so loves Toyota and is biased towards their cars. How could CR not recommend a model that is Toyota's Bread and Butter?
Oh my.... maybe Toyota forgot to send that payoff check to CR's CEO? :surprise: :P
I included the quote above for those in these forums who keep saying no matter what you buy these days; it'll be reliable. I don't think so.
That's right. Those V6 Toyota Camrys aren't good anymore per CR! :sick: CR has found reality just like we've been saying all along!!!
Reality is coming to CR although their "sampling methods" aren't. In the article they admit their website also collects opinions about car models and they use it in their results!!!
"Consumer Reports' rankings are based on survey responses from subscribers to the magazine and its Website."
LEXUS TIES BUICK
Lexus Ties Buick
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Reality is coming to CR although their "sampling methods" aren't. In the article they admit their website also collects opinions about car models and they use it in their results!!!
"Consumer Reports' rankings are based on survey responses from subscribers to the magazine and its Website."
First off, there are still a few mountains, valleys, and passes between "not recommendable" and "worst performing least reliable" vehicles. The Camry even with V6 is still not in the same class as many GM vehicles (above them still).
Secondly, CR has no reason to not allow subscribers to fill out their surveys online instead of by snail mail, it is the year 2007 after all, not 1957.
My point has just been made.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Reality is coming to CR although their "sampling methods" aren't. In the article they admit their website also collects opinions about car models and they use it in their results!!!
I think we get that you don;t like Toyota because you are a GM fan. Its not like CR loves every Japanese branded car they don;t like some of Nissan's products either reliability wise.
LEXUS TIES BUICK
I don;t like JD Powers because if somebody complains about a rough ride its listed as a "problem" in their survey. To me a rough ride should not be counted as a "Problem" in a car brand reliability survey. Those Buick products that JD rated from 2004 up to the 2007 model year(3 year reliability survey)most of them date back to the late 90's like the Century and Regal.
Well, it's certainly GM's big chance here. Just in time for the Malibu launch. They've set the ball up on teh tee. Let's see them hit it.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
-Rocky
-Automobile Magazine
:shades:
-Rocky
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
I'm very impressed with the new Malibu. :shades:
-Rocky
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
-Rocky
No its not based on if the Pilot was based on the Accord that it gets an automatic pass its just that historically Honda vehicles have an above average record of reliability so thats why CR gives Honda the automatic pass.
But, many other things were disappointing with this car. Nothing really "felt right," including the switchgear, controls, etc. - everything from an ergonomic point-of-view. And when you closed the doors, they went "clank" similar to an old '70s or '80s vintage Imapala, rather than a nice solid sound.
I'm basically sold on GM's power train combinations, but it's what's built around the engine and transmission that really bothers me. Their engineers have a lot of catching up to do if the Monte Carlo is an "average" example of a GM offering.
But you missed the point. Those "above average" records can change; it just did for Camry, albeit slower than it should have. Was it the current Malibu which didn't get a pass despite its being based more on the predecessor while at the same time a foreign brand (Pilot?) was given a pass at CR 'just because.'
Times change and we have to be flexible to change with the times.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
No I didn;t miss the point. Honda and Toyota(up til now) do have outstanding reliability wise unlike GM which can be hit or miss like CR says reliability wise.
"Those "above average" records can change; it just did for Camry, albeit slower than it should have."
What do you mean by slower than it should have? How long has the 07 Camry been out like a year and a half?
"Was it the current Malibu which didn't get a pass despite its being based more on the predecessor while at the same time a foreign brand (Pilot?) was given a pass at CR 'just because."
Yeah but the Malibu(since the 97 model came out anyway) or the Chevy brand historically hasn't had an above average mark for reliability like the the Honda brand has had as the Pilot that you are reffering too.
"Times change and we have to be flexible to change with the times."
I agree though and CR has proven that it is flexible to change just as Toyota's reliability ratings on the 07 Camry V6 and Tundra V8 did.
I once saw on Autoline Detroit a gentleman from CR and he was discussing some of the ways they determine vehicle reliability. One interesting point was that if a person takes a vehicle to a dealer multiple times for the same repair due to the dealer's incompetence (installed the part wrong, misdiagnosis, didn't make the repair at all, did a band-aid job instead of completely fixing the problem), it would be considered a reliability issue against the vehicle. It carries the same weight against reliability as if the car had multiple breakdowns and the dealer / repair shop fixed each one right the first time.
Sorry for the side-step, back to GM...
They have never faltered to offering Americans the truth without any softening of the message.
It seems these days EVERY car is praised and loved by that auto magazines and press. How can every car be so great?
I'd like to see some cars scoring in the 3's out of 10's or 30's out of 100, not all these 6/60's or so scores that are supposed to be bad?
The scoring systems are out of whack. We need tougher, harder, more stringent people reviewing vehicles.
When you say "6-way" power seat, are you referring to that type that's been around since, say, 1957 or so? The kind where there's a joystick in the middle flanked by an up/down switch on either side? At least, that's what I always referred to as "6-way". Basically, the 6-way does just about everything except recline the seatback.
So does the Acadia have a fixed, rigid seatback, or is it just manually adjustable and not power?
A few years back at one of the Carlisle swap meets, I saw a late 70's Olds 98 coupe that only had a 2-way power seat! If you're going to be that simple, why pay for power at all? You can slide a seat forewards and back faster than the power assist could do it, so it almost seems a waste of money. The main reason I'd want a power seat in the first place is for a greater range of positions and improved comfort, which you can achieve by allowing it to adjust the height and tilt the seat. But just letting it slide fore/aft really doesn't give you anything extra.