I would seriously consider closing all U.S. based plants and manufacture Chevy, Cadillac and Saturn brands overseas. Both GM and Ford are profitable outside the U.S. As a matter of fact Ford just spent billions of dollars to build a state of art plant in Brazil, where they produce cars with non-union labor.
For years GM has been canibalizing its North American operations to finance plants in China and Europe. I think they should continue in that direction and along the way sell the relics and robots to India or the Russians.
One more point, I would focus all future R&D on a non-combustion engine. To do this in a big and comprehensive way I would spend $1 billion to engage all high school and college physics students around the world to work on a global replacement or solution for the combustion engine.
VW is down 19.2%. Not as bad as most that's certainly true, but not really a consoling number either.
Recessions are defined by certain traditional metrics, and using those standards, we are definitely in recession. If we don't want to use those metrics then sure we can argue anecdotally that we aren't in one, or we can choose our own metrics.
That 19.2% was just November. For the YTD they are only down 2.1%. They may be the best. Of course they only sold 205k cars YTD. I wonder if it will change their plans for a new plant in TN.
I think the country is flush with vehicles. Buying new right now is not that smart unless you get one heck of a deal and you have cash to spend. Borrowing is fine if you get a 2% or less loan. I would not sign for anymore than that.
VW seems to have made up in styling and performance what it lacks in reliability. Apparently being troublesome is not as much a deterrent to purchase as merely being made in Detroit. Go figure.
The Big Three obviously have an image problem. Even when they have a decent product, they can't win.
How does a new CEO turn around public perception? Wow, seems like an enormous task.
And this public image might not be just about the products, but the management as well.
(excerpt from CNNMoney.com)
" "A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll of nearly 1,100 Americans conducted earlier this week found 61% oppose a bailout, while only 36% support it. Even in the Midwest, home to most of the automakers' remaining plants, 53% of those polled opposed federal help.
That was a stunning reversal of polls taken before the CEOs last trip to Capitol Hill. A poll Nov. 11 and 12 conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates found 55% supported federal assistance for automakers at that time, and only 30% who believed they should not get federal help."
The fun part is how little polls matter and how worthless a vote is in the scheme of things.
How many supported bailing out the greedy scheming manipulative banks? And yet here we are, with untold trillions that will eventually be spent. And the people have absolutely no recourse, when it comes down to it.
I'd like to see a big overpaid suit 2.5 address the image problem, and not simply dismiss it as some grand liberal elitist media conspiracy.
The Big Three obviously have an image problem. Even when they have a decent product, they can't win.
That is the biggest understatement tonight!
A few DECENT PRODUCTS. They also have devastating timing. Haven't they always? The economic downturn was the final straw to a system doomed for years.
Like I said,the buck stops with the C.E.O. Your job is well compensated to allow immediate severance upon failure. When it continues for years, something is really wrong with your industry, let alone your particular company.
I assume that's why these guys are bullet proof because of the massive web of confusion.
I assume that's why these guys are bullet proof because of the massive web of confusion.
That is a MOST astute statement.
These big corporate boards are so intertwined that it is impossible to penetrate inside unless you are born in or groomed in. Fintail has mentioned this more than once. The corporate web in America is tied to the Congress and we are just the masses waiting to see what happens next. While I would not want Wagoner's job. I think he is way past his chance to make GM a viable company. I believe he has systematically sold off the cream of GM and was probably compensated in ways we will never know. Right now it is a worthless shell and the stock price is about right. If all the parts get sold off it will be lucky to pay the creditors. That leaves a big problem for the tax payers. How much do the retirees get from those that were not part of the debacle? The Enron employees got ZERO.... Life has tough lessons.
Well I saw this coming last year, so I already traded it in. Well, it was one of the reasons. The main reason was it was costing too much in repairs.
You will get warranty work from a GM dealer There is a law that says parts must be available for 10 years as well
Its up to you to decide if you want to get rid of it now. The resale values on Saturns are low to begin with, and will go real low if the brand is discontinued. Someone could buy the brand but it doesn't look like anyone's immediately ready to snap it up.
I personally like my 2007 Saturn Aura XR. I bought it in Apr.07 and only have 9500 miles on it. The only problem I have had so far has been the issue of separating rocker panels. This problem was resolved after a very long arbitration battle between Saturn and the BBB (Better Business Bureau). Has GM taken care of warranty repairs on other discontinued models such as the Olds. ? Where does it say, in writing , that they must provide warranty and parts to discontinued models? If another company buys Saturn.........most likely a foreign company.....are they obligated to provide warranty work ? Would appreciate any information on what has been done in the past when a situation like this occurs !!!!
Oh I am sorry. It is too hard to get the real answers here in the Metro Detroit area..media bias and all that. I would like to know the real answer on the warrantys and parts situation.
This will certainly teach the younger generation not to be awed by the Halls of Power. Large walnut tables and $3,000 suits don't make a person a leader.
I used to think, when I was in college, that large corporations were like a large line of railroad cars. The engineer, the leader, was in the massive diesel engine, hand confindently on the throttle; behind him, in the first passenger car, his Board, passing and receiving messages to and fro the long line of cars, which were filled with other employees, precious goods, etc.
Then, as I got a bit older, I thought well maybe it's not *quite* so orderly. Maybe there is an occasional struggle for the throttle in that big front diesel locomotive, and the "best man wins" and takes confident control every now and then.
Now, as I gaze on the goings on in Detroit and Washington, apparently (if I am wrong, someone open mine eyes) I see that the only thing in the massive diesel locomotive is a thin piece of twine rope tied around the throttle, wide open and consuming fuel, with no one in the compartment, while a party was going on in the cars behind.
I think Thomas Jefferson was correct - when he said we'll need a revolution every so many years. I forgot what he said - 10 years?
What we have is 2 parties both paid for by the same corporations and lobbied by the same lobbyists. The government gives concessions, breaks, loans, bailouts, eminent domain to these corporations and businesses, who in turn give privately and to the campaigns of the politicians. What they're leaving behind is $11+ trillion in debt just on the federal level, and a system that is going to use up our Social Security funds.
And we'll be lucky to avoid a Depression in the next few years, not just this recession. I think many people think this is about as bad as it can get? and that a turn around is just around the corner? I don't see that happening as more people are losing jobs, people are still in debt on credit cards, people have little home equity, and the government is running out of ways to help (almost broke, and not much further to lower interest rates).
GM will stand behind any GM vehicle for the length of it's warranty even if they sell or drop the model/division (as long as GM is in business at least). Parts will still be available per Government regulations. Not sure what the time period is for parts.
GM may sell the Saturn name but all the Saturn vehicles share many parts with other GM models so selling it as a company would almost be impossible. It is going to be allowed to whither with no new models. Dealers will drop out by either closing the stores by bankruptcy or by GM buyouts/deals with other dealers.
Hummer is a bit different but very similar as far as parts sharing. That is one reason why it is hard to find a buyer. Most likely a buyer will keep selling the vehicles overseas where it has good sales and basically buy the vehicles from GM until the new buyer integrates the Hummer into it's own engineering system. It is going to be hard though to find a buyer.
I will not be checking this forum. I was asked to answer the question.
Although I'm not a Saturn owner, maybe what happened to Oldsmobile provides a good example. My Buick-Pontiac-GMC dealer services Oldsmobiles as they generally had many of the same parts as Buicks and Pontiacs. When I take my Pontiac in for service, I usually see a couple of Olds 88s, 98s or Aleros on the hydraulic racks being fixed.
If Saturn winds up being absorbed instead of killed off, which will be very expensive, I could see Chevrolet dealers being picked to service Saturns. Some Saturn models share Ecotec and other drivetrain components with smaller Chevys.
I can't see Saturn being sold off since it relies heavily on Opel for its models now, particularly Aura and Astra. Absorption may make more sense. If Buick needs a small model in order to meet CAFE regs, a rebadged Aura or Astra might do the trick. Vue and Outlook are probably doomed as the other GM divisions have their versions of both. However, I can see GM selling off Saab, but that's another story.
Thanks for getting some info on this matter. Now what would you advise Saturn owners do..............attempt to sell or trade the the nearly new vehicles with 5 Yr. warranties or just sit tight and hope Congress, GM and the UAW come to their senses ?
I think that after this fiasco, the buying public will move to the foreign brands whenever they need a new car. I hate to say this, but in my opinion, the US auto makers and the UAW have destroyed the industry....................... :sick: !
"If GM were to file for liquidation under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code, its warranties would go down with it.
But then again, there's $9 billion that's been reserved to pay claims, and that amount is supposed to be sufficient to pay each and every claim until all the warranties have expired on time, mileage, or resale. The main problem when British automaker MG Rover collapsed three years ago was the utter lack of funds to pay warranty claims, or anything else for that matter. That company went under, laid off all its employees, closed its doors, and took its warranties with it to the bottom. That's not the likely course for GM."
So how would all of this work ? Would we have to have the warranty work done on our own and then sue for reimbursment, or would some National Retailer be assigned as the operative for all work necessary under warranty ? I relalize this is a hypothetical and probably the details of warranty service would have to be worked out by the courts.
When Ford sold Jag and Land Rover, I'm pretty sure that they made Tata take the warranty obligations as part of the deal. Something similar would surely happen if GM sold Saturn, and it would be good business for the new owner to take over warranty claims.
If a new owner didn't take on the warranty obligations, then I guess you (or the FTC) would sue GM and the new owner. That'd be a fun process....
All bets are off in a Chapter 7 (and lots of things could happen in a Ch. 11 bankruptcy too).
In a Ch. 7, the company could be sold as one unit by the trustee or piecemeal. The court would have to approve any deal, and there would be fewer objections if the new owner agreed to honor the warranties (by using the money set aside for claims).
Under a Ch. 11 plan, I'd guess that the warrantys could be suspender or terms amended with court approval. So the court could agree that the new owner (or a reorganized GM) could limit warranty claims to, say, one year following approval of the plan.
My guess is that GM will be around to continue to honor the warranty regardless of what happens to Saturn.
The problem right now with HCCI is the narrow range of RPM of power delivered, and the complicated control strategy to keep the engine from stalling or knocking badly. That said, the real HCCI usage seems to be in a hybrid application, where the engine is free to run in a narrow RPM range, letting the electric motor or hydraulic motor create transient torque when required.
And you diesel fans out there need to remember 2 things:
1. Diesel exhaust is expensive and difficult to clean. The urea (yes, urine-like) catalytic injections are craziness. The EPA says if your pee-tank runs dry, then the car cannot be driven.
All bets are off in a Chapter 7 (and lots of things could happen in a Ch. 11 bankruptcy too).
My guess is in the case of bankruptcy liquidation the pensioners and workers wages owed would be the highest priority. Then creditors which a warranty is probably in that class. The trick will be finding dealers willing to do the work. When GM goes and I would bet big money it is not long for this world. All the dealers will switch to other brands or close the doors. What Ford shop is going to do warranty work for GM knowing they may never get paid? For the longest time we did not have anyone doing warranty work in Prudhoe on GM trucks. We had two choices. Fix it ourselves or ship it to Fairbanks at $3000 roundtrip. Dodge was the same way. Ford had two warranty shops in Prudhoe. So after 6 vehicles that were constantly costing us money we bought Ford trucks. Our management was nearly as dumb as GM's.
If Saturn survives it will be a miracle. I would expect GM to cover warranty if they survive. That is not likely.
PS Our boss bought GM because he loved Buick and his company car was a Buick and he had a close friend at Alaska Sales and Service. So we got GM trucks till they replaced the general manager.
I think that is a bad idea since the American car companies are building cars that are as good, if not better than the foreign brands. The new Chevy Malibu is rated #1 among the midsize cars for initial reliability, and it so much better looking than your average Camry.
I have to say also that everyone always says that GM is building cars that people don't want. How is that possible when they have been #1 or #2 automaker in the world for years.
I think GM definitely needs to drop Saab immediately. They also need to drop all the non-essential Hummers. I think the problem with Saturn is there bread and butter small and cheap Ion was replaced by a much more expensive Astra. My brother has a 2005 Ion that he uses for a commuter car and he has 150k miles, and he bought that. car new for 12k dollars. You could not touch and Astra for under 16k. That was a dumb idea. Thay need to cut a few thousand off the Astra and they would sell them. If I were GM I would drop Pontiac before I dropped Saturn.
"I have to say also that everyone always says that GM is building cars that people don't want. How is that possible when they have been #1 or #2 automaker in the world for years."
Can't speak for the vehicles in Europe- and I know GM sells alot of cars there.
But in the United States-they make cars people don't want to buy. They sell lots of trucks, but the cars (with the exception of the new Malibu ) are real pieces of junk and are not competitive.
Let's see the Cobalt, Aveo, Just about all the Pontiacs and Buicks. Not much there.
But Chuck1, that should show you what they will be putting out in the next year or so will be as good, if not better than the Malibu. I will give you, the Aveo and the Cobalt are crap. The Aveo is just a rebadged Daewoo, and the Cobalt is getting replaced next year with a better model. I have seen some pictures of the upcoming Buicks and they are beautiful, and you have to admit that the Enclave is the best looking between the Saturn, GMC, and Chevy.
I think they could have all made some cars that were a lot nicer if they didn't have to worry about paying their employees 70 bucks an hour.
I have to agree that GM always seems to have the latest and greatest in a couple years from now. They cannot catch up and pass the competition with NO R&D.
I think that is a bad idea since the American car companies are building cars that are as good, if not better than the foreign brands. Last time when I checked G8 "The BMW killer" it wasn't so. Please let me know when I could buy American bmw 335i.
GM hopes to conceive a new business model to make the brand profitable, LaNeve says. Saturn is not a candidate for sale because it has no dedicated manufacturing or engineering facilities apart from GM, according to another source.
As General Motors executives weigh the future of the disappointing Saturn division, GM is not allocating new money toward future Saturn products, according to a source familiar with GM's budget.
I guess they made the same mistake again in the late 80s, setting up Saturn. But maybe the law forbids having a brand with factory stores in 50 states, I dunno.
And if GM terminated the brand like it did Oldsmobile in 2000, state franchise laws would protect the 211 dealers who own 425 Saturn dealerships
Dealer broker Mark Johnson estimates that GM would have to pay $3 million to $5 million to buy out the average GM dealer. So Saturn's dealer network alone could cost upward of $1 billion to shut down.
And yikes, is this really all the sales they have had this year?! Through November, Saturn's sales are down 20.9 percent to 175,434 compared with the year-ago period. Saturn's three cars — the Aura, Astra and Sky — sold a combined 76,191 units through November, while the Chevrolet Impala alone sold 244,692 units.
And that is with the Aura, COTY etc, out less than two full years, isn't it? And Astra only in its first year.
This brand needs to go, somehow, some way.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I think they should keep Saturn, since they have put decent work into the car, and looks some what modern. They have a good thing to work from. Just a little tweaking here and there to make the Saturn brand more solid.
However, Drop Pontiac.The brand is very stale, cheap and now is not the time to try to bring back a brand to life, other than its new G8! With sales down for the G8, rumors of it discontinuing, it will go away along with Pontiac. They can make up for this some where else in their line up! Perhaps throw that platform into a Chevy or even Saturn Brand. The issue at hand is that GM has too many cars to focus on, and with that, they cannot put they same kind of work they put into say a Cadillac. Pontiac is going down anyway now, as it is public knowledge that they won't be focusing on it. I feel that this has already been the case all along, GM has certain areas they focus anyway, the rest of the cars are just another car, nothing too special, perhaps just another money maker or a stale car sitting on the lot. So with them announcing which cars they will focus on, is only confirming it from the source, when its been going on like this for years.
I truly beleive Saturn has something great to work with, it is an attractive car, but needs a bit tweaking, like interior, quality, build, just going a bit further would make a world of difference. Pontiac is too far gone I think to repair its reputation. The G8 would have brought the Brand name up if it wasn't for the economy. I still believe they could have worked a more efficient engine in the car. Perhaps, lose the G8 name and replace the G6 with the new G8 look. Too late! bummer.
Now is not the time to play games. Its down to business, drop Pontiac, Perhaps drop another brand or two, to slim down the size of GM, then focus on your most highly sold cars, and work from there. Then they would have more cash flow to put quality into their products and gradually build their name back up.
GM just needs to lose the extra weight, Now is not the time to play around with diets, just lose it!
"Here's an article on the Saturn franchises. Supposedly, their franchise agreement is unique and may allow GM to kill this brand fairly inexpensively."
For dealers, Johnson says, the good news is that state franchise laws probably would trump any signed documents in a court of law.
"Johnson" is Mark Johnson, president of financial advisory and brokerage firm MD Johnson near Seattle.
I wonder when GM will make some decisions about what it will do with Saturn. It seems media speculation is running ahead of the actual facts, and WAY ahead of any moves by GM itself.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
"General Motors vowed it will "reduce nameplates," without specifying exactly which ones will get the ax, in a new video posted late Monday on the corporate GM FastLane blog."
They won't specify which, or when... but will this help GM in their quest for a long-term solution?
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As everyone knows GM is now undergoing a desperate crisis and has come to the American taxpayer hat in hand for a substantial loan. The Democratically controlled congress has asked that GM produce a business plan before considering the release of the funds. I wholeheartedly agree with not throwing good money after bad. I think I want to take a shot at being Rick Wagoner for a day and see what I could come up with.
In order to identify the solution to a problem, one must articulate point by point what those problems are and how to address them. Here are the major issues which are making GM as is unsustainable:
1. Too many brands, many utilize the same engineering components with inconsistent results. For example the automotive community has widely praised the Chevy Malibu, which is regarded as an excellent family car. Its platform mate, the Pontiac G6, has been received with much less enthusiasm. GM should go from eight to four brands, getting rid of Hummer, Saab, GMC, and Saturn; keeping Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac and Cadillac. Each of the remaining brands would become distinct in mission and purpose with little overlap.
2. High labor and Legacy costs. This is a sticky issue for many but the fact is that these costs put the General at a $1,500-$3,000.00 per car cost disadvantage versus Honda and Toyota, which use their advantage to market high quality compacts such as the Civic and Corolla. GM on their lower cost cars is forced to compromise on engineering, standard features and build quality in order to make profit. GM taking the steps to reduce the number of brands will call for a reduction in workforce, which in turn will help with the costs. Also this is an area where taxpayer funds might be best used.
3. GM runs a bloated and overpaid management system. Toyota and Honda run far leaner management per number of cars sold than the General and their executives are not paid nearly the salaries of any of the big three, yet their respective companies are very well managed.
4. GM needs a couple of clean burning diesels in its line up. A 2.5L Four cylinder and a 3.5L V-6. Volkswagen, Mercedes and Honda, have proven that diesel engines if engineered properly can be clean and quiet running. The real world mileage advantages can be extraordinary. The Volkswagen, Jetta TDI for example gets over 42 mpg in real world testing.
Here are my ideas to address some of these issues and for a future product mix.
In order to protect itself from its immediate situation GM should go ahead and proceed with Chap 11 and start restructuring. This will allow GM to shed some of it’s over burdensome labor contracts. The government can step in with funds to insure that during this period that all warranty work will be covered in full. GM and Congressional leaders should hold a national televised press conference in prime time to explain to the American public what this entails and to ensure the public that GM is not going out of business and that there is a plan in place to address the company’s problems.
Now the General can begin restructuring itself, eliminating brands and putting its resources where they can gain the best results. Here is where to trim the fat:
Hummer: There is really no need for this brand to continue. The Hummer vehicles of today are nothing more than re-badged Chevrolets. The H2 is just a re-skinned Suburban and the H3 is just a four door body shell over a Colorado pick up truck frame. The ones you see our military use are made by AM General and not GM as is widely believed.
Saab: There is not a reason to really hang on to this low volume maker. Many Saab loyalists gave up on the brand after the GM takeover. Saab lacks the prestige of Jaguar, Mercedes and BMW and does little to add to the bottom line. Sell it.
GMC: This brand is nothing more than pure badge engineering at its worst. There is not a dime’s difference between the GMC’s and Chevrolets mechanically. It is just a different grill and trim.
Saturn: This brand was conceived as Honda/Toyota killer almost two decades ago. Its unique business model, plastic bodied cars and culture of one-price fits all garnered a lot of interest. All of that is now gone and the Saturn cars are just re-badged versions of other GM products. It has two unique entries; the Vue and the Astra, neither of which are at the top of their respective classes.
So under my plan the four remaining players: Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick and Cadillac would have the following dealer couplings:
Chevrolet-Pontiac
Buick-Cadillac.
I would engineer the brand’s lineups as follows:
Chevrolet: The mission of this brand would be to offer a wide range of family oriented products, this would be volume leader.
Aveo: ($13,000-$17,000) Refine and re-engineer this car in terms of quality and performance. Work with Daewoo (The car’s actual maker) to develop gasoline and hybrid versions of this car; aim for a starting price of 13K for the standard model and equip it to match the Honda Fit. Also a Hybrid version for $16,500.00 with mileage close to 50 mpg would certainly help with CAFE regulations and undercut the Toyota Prius by five grand.
Cobalt: Drop this model. It consistently rates low with most critics and loses money for GM. Other than the Turbo SS, the Cobalt is not a class leader.
Cruze: ($17000-$24,000) Develop this car as an up-market alternative to Civic, Mazda3 and Corolla. Make it slightly larger and roomier than the three aforementioned competitors. Offer coupe, five door hatchback and sedan versions of the car with three different engine choices. The base or “efficiency model” would have a 1.5 turbo 4 cylinder that will get close to 40Mpg. The up-level model would receive 2.4L that puts out 160Hp. Also offer a Hybrid version of the 2.4 and aim for the high 30’s in mpg.
“Cruze” Crossover ($21,000-$27,000) Replace the current Equinox with a crossover that will seat five in standard trim and option it for seven similar to the RAV4. Offer both a 2.4L 4 cylinder as standard and a 3.6L V6 as the up-level engine. Also offer a 2.5L turbo diesel for towing and higher mileage.
Malibu: ($21,000-$28,000) Increase the width by 2-3 inches (That is the biggest complaint people have about this car) Refine the steering feel. Replace the Hybrid with a 2.4L turbo diesel engine. With a six speed auto box this set up will get 35 or more MPG and have plenty of low end torque and drivability. Increase the six cylinder engine to 270Hp to match the Accord and Camry. Find a way to decrease the curb weight. Offer coupe and hatch versions of this car as well and one high performance model with the 3.6 DI V-6 trimmed to 280Hp with more aggressive suspension settings.
Impala: A slightly wider Malibu with a couple of more inches of wheelbase would make this outdated car redundant; drop it from the line up.
Transverse: ($28,000-$35,000) leave this intact while finding a way
Camaro: Leave it as planned; this would be Joe Six Pack’s sporty ride.
Corvette: To remove it further from the Camaro, switch to a mid engine set up. Also drop the “Chevrolet” designation and sell as a standalone product.
Volt: This is a great piece of tech, GM most now work hard to make this EREV affordable to the majority of middle class car shoppers.
Trucks: Leave as is. GM trucks have the highest overall rating by CR. Automobile, R&T etc
SUV’s Eliminate all Truck-Based SUV’s except the Suburban and offer it in two lengths and wheelbases similar to what Ford does with the current expedition. The Transverse is what about 95% of mid to fullsize SUV buyers really need. The ‘Burb is only better for towing and hauling really heavy loads.
Pontiac: Pontiac needs to be reborn as a more sporty division, with different products than Chevrolet. Hence everything in the current line-up except the G8 needs to be fully replaced and here is the mix:
Solstice: Keep this roadster and continue to refine it further. Furthermore the Kappa platform on which it is based can be used to underpin other Pontiac projects.
G5: ($18,500-$24,000) Replace the current Cobalt clone with a compact rear wheel drive 2+2 and rear wheel drive 4-door. Also offer a model with a removable top. The base engine should be a 170HP version of the 2.4L and the up-level engine should be a 260HP turbo version of same. The up-level version will replace the Cobalt SS. The cars should have a taunt Euro feel and aggressive styling. In concept these would be a BMW 1 series for much less.
“Kappa” crossover ($23,000-$25,000): Replace the Toyota Matrix cloned Vibe with a compact crossover based on the Kappa Chassis, offer both G5 engines and optional all wheel drive
G8: ($27,000-$32,000) Beef the V6 up to 300HP and keep the current V8. Also add a low volume 2 door to the line up. In the following year, phase in a hardtop convertible to replace the defunct G6.
Buick: Would serve as GM’s near luxury brand, similar to the Acura TL, Lexus ES 350 and Mercedes C Class.
Lacrosse: ($26,000-$32,000) Move to the Epsilon platform (Malibu) and offer a standard 3.6 with 275HP a six speed auto and standard leather, power everything, etc Offer a 3.5L Diesel as an alternative engine choice for those seeking better gas mileage. Tune the suspension soft in the standard trim and offer a slightly firmer GS version as well.
Rivera: ($27,500-33,000) a low volume 2 door based on the Lacrosse with distinct styling and all the same engine options.
Lucerne: Front Drive + V8 = Second Rate performer-Kill this outdated thing.
Park Avenue ($31,000-$38,000) a full size 4 Door that replaces the Lucerne. This would be a rear wheel drive car (Holden Chassis) with a base 3.6DI engine with 290HP. The up-level model would have a 4.6L V8 with 330HP. Both tuned for a softer ride than the G8. As an alternative engine offer a 3.5L V6 Diesel as a higher gas mileage alternative.
Enclave: Leave as is but offer a 3.5L V6 Turbo-Diesel as an engine alternative to the standard V-6.
Cadillac: This is the flagship division. This is the top end in performance and luxury.
BLS: ($28,000-$35,000) this would be the base Caddy, taking over for the original CTS and would be built on a shortened Sigma Chassis. It would act as a 1 series competitor with rear wheel drive and a 300HP 3.6V6 as the standard engine. Offer both 6 speed manual and automatic transmissions. Tune it with a taunt suspension and equip it similar to the 3.5TL.
CTS: ($35,000-$45,000) this would be a rear wheel drive 5 series/M45/E Class competitor. The base engine would be 3.6L liter V6 tuned to 305HP With an Optional 3.5L V6 Diesel as a higher gas mileage model. The top engine would be a turbo version putting out 350HP. All wheel drive would also be an option. Offer both coupe and sedan variants.
SRX: ($40,000-$47000) this crossover would be based on the CTS above and offer the same engine choices.
DTS: see Buick Lucerne, kill this underperformer.
SLS: (super luxury sedan) ($50,000-$65,000), this would be the true rear wheel drive. flagship luxury sedan for Cadillac and GM and replaces the DTS. The standard engine would be a 5.0L Northstar V-8 with an out put of 400Hp and an 8 speed automatic, to match the specs of the S-Class and LS460. This car would be loaded to the nines with everything. Both a short wheelbase and longer wheelbase executive models would be offered.
CTSV-update to the new larger CTS body, but keep the current ultra high performance engine and suspension.
Escalade, Escalade EXT: Cadillac needs to get out of the truck business.
Well that is my product mix which weeds out the mediocre cars GM currently has and replaces them with cars that exceed the competitors’ offerings at every level. Furthermore my plan also keeps overlap and redundant models to a minimum while satisfying a broad range of consumers.
Reducing brands means a smaller GM with less employees, but it will insure GM survives as a more flexible and competitive entity which most importantly is profitable. It is my hope that GM survives and has the best cars on the market in every single class. It would do my heart good to see GM cars come out the winner in almost every comparison test in every magazine, and to be able to read across a spread sheet and see the GM car the best in cornering, slalom, acceleration, and gas mileage against every car in its segment and to have the best 5 year reliability to boot. With few brands to mess with it will be easier for GM engineers and designers to achieve this.
There are other issues that GM should address. Such as being the first to field an affordable Hydrogen car and supporting infrastructure. The Volt is a good start, but gas-hybrids and extended range electrics are stepping stones to the real solution of fuel cell cars.
GM already has said it is exploring the sale of Saab and Hummer
In addition, it is reviewing the fate of Saturn.
Cadillac likely has at least two nameplates on the extinction list, the DTS sedan and two-seat XLR. U.S. sales of the $85,000-plus XLR totaled a measly 1,151 for the 11 months through November.
Other likely candidates to chop include the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups. Through November, combined Colorado/Canyon U.S. sales totaled 63,430 units. GM already plans to drop Chevrolet's TrailBlazer mid-sized SUV and Uplander minivan.
Pontiac's biggest-volume nameplate, the mass-market G6, would appear to be on the chopping block. Ditto for the two-seat Pontiac Solstice, a Saturn Sky clone.
Nothing but outdated, old, slow selling models and brands. Meanwhile, they'll be adding more in their places.
"SOAKY-TULIP, Tennessee (CNN) -- General Motors hasn't officially announced the end of Saturn, but in a restructuring plan submitted to Congress, the automaker said it would concentrate resources on four core brands -- Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC."
Ok, the byline is really Soddy-Daisy, but those who live around there will get the inside joke.
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I was hopeful when I saw the title of the article..... GM just does not get it! At this point, i say, let 'em fail! They'll be forced to sell to someone who will actually turn this company around and make a profit.
Comments
For years GM has been canibalizing its North American operations to finance plants in China and Europe. I think they should continue in that direction and along the way sell the relics and robots to India or the Russians.
One more point, I would focus all future R&D on a non-combustion engine. To do this in a big and comprehensive way I would spend $1 billion to engage all high school and college physics students around the world to work on a global replacement or solution for the combustion engine.
Recessions are defined by certain traditional metrics, and using those standards, we are definitely in recession. If we don't want to use those metrics then sure we can argue anecdotally that we aren't in one, or we can choose our own metrics.
I think the country is flush with vehicles. Buying new right now is not that smart unless you get one heck of a deal and you have cash to spend. Borrowing is fine if you get a 2% or less loan. I would not sign for anymore than that.
I believe he was the one with all the answers to the ECONOMY during the election. So now it's going to be his.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The Big Three obviously have an image problem. Even when they have a decent product, they can't win.
How does a new CEO turn around public perception? Wow, seems like an enormous task.
And this public image might not be just about the products, but the management as well.
(excerpt from CNNMoney.com)
" "A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll of nearly 1,100 Americans conducted earlier this week found 61% oppose a bailout, while only 36% support it. Even in the Midwest, home to most of the automakers' remaining plants, 53% of those polled opposed federal help.
That was a stunning reversal of polls taken before the CEOs last trip to Capitol Hill. A poll Nov. 11 and 12 conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates found 55% supported federal assistance for automakers at that time, and only 30% who believed they should not get federal help."
How many supported bailing out the greedy scheming manipulative banks? And yet here we are, with untold trillions that will eventually be spent. And the people have absolutely no recourse, when it comes down to it.
I'd like to see a big overpaid suit 2.5 address the image problem, and not simply dismiss it as some grand liberal elitist media conspiracy.
That is the biggest understatement tonight!
A few DECENT PRODUCTS. They also have devastating timing. Haven't they always? The economic downturn was the final straw to a system doomed for years.
Like I said,the buck stops with the C.E.O. Your job is well compensated to allow immediate severance upon failure. When it continues for years, something is really wrong with your industry, let alone your particular company.
I assume that's why these guys are bullet proof because of the massive web of confusion.
Regards,
OW
That is a MOST astute statement.
These big corporate boards are so intertwined that it is impossible to penetrate inside unless you are born in or groomed in. Fintail has mentioned this more than once. The corporate web in America is tied to the Congress and we are just the masses waiting to see what happens next. While I would not want Wagoner's job. I think he is way past his chance to make GM a viable company. I believe he has systematically sold off the cream of GM and was probably compensated in ways we will never know. Right now it is a worthless shell and the stock price is about right. If all the parts get sold off it will be lucky to pay the creditors. That leaves a big problem for the tax payers. How much do the retirees get from those that were not part of the debacle? The Enron employees got ZERO.... Life has tough lessons.
Any thoughts? Are we all going to end up with vehicles that are worth nothing? Will we or where will we get warranty work done?
My Saturn is only 1 year old with 5000 miles. Should be thinking about trading it in in view of recent events with GM?
We have a very small Saturn dealership in our town. They might bite the dust and then I will have to travel over an hour for warranty work.
Thanks
TS
You will get warranty work from a GM dealer There is a law that says parts must be available for 10 years as well
Its up to you to decide if you want to get rid of it now. The resale values on Saturns are low to begin with, and will go real low if the brand is discontinued. Someone could buy the brand but it doesn't look like anyone's immediately ready to snap it up.
I'm afraid that's an urban legend.
Parts need to be available during the warranty period but if the company is gone, there's no one for the FTC to chase after.
Practically speaking it doesn't seem to be much of an issue. Even Daewoo owners can still get parts in the States.
and only have 9500 miles on it. The only problem I have had
so far has been the issue of separating rocker panels. This
problem was resolved after a very long arbitration battle between
Saturn and the BBB (Better Business Bureau). Has GM taken
care of warranty repairs on other discontinued models such as
the Olds. ? Where does it say, in writing , that they must provide
warranty and parts to discontinued models? If another company
buys Saturn.........most likely a foreign company.....are they
obligated to provide warranty work ? Would appreciate any information on what has been done in the past when a situation like this occurs !!!!
I used to think, when I was in college, that large corporations were like a large line of railroad cars. The engineer, the leader, was in the massive diesel engine, hand confindently on the throttle; behind him, in the first passenger car, his Board, passing and receiving messages to and fro the long line of cars, which were filled with other employees, precious goods, etc.
Then, as I got a bit older, I thought well maybe it's not *quite* so orderly. Maybe there is an occasional struggle for the throttle in that big front diesel locomotive, and the "best man wins" and takes confident control every now and then.
Now, as I gaze on the goings on in Detroit and Washington, apparently (if I am wrong, someone open mine eyes) I see that the only thing in the massive diesel locomotive is a thin piece of twine rope tied around the throttle, wide open and consuming fuel, with no one in the compartment, while a party was going on in the cars behind.
Fundamentals and morality goes away as greed filters in to the locomotive and then everyone parties while Rome burns!
egards,
OW
What we have is 2 parties both paid for by the same corporations and lobbied by the same lobbyists. The government gives concessions, breaks, loans, bailouts, eminent domain to these corporations and businesses, who in turn give privately and to the campaigns of the politicians. What they're leaving behind is $11+ trillion in debt just on the federal level, and a system that is going to use up our Social Security funds.
And we'll be lucky to avoid a Depression in the next few years, not just this recession. I think many people think this is about as bad as it can get? and that a turn around is just around the corner? I don't see that happening as more people are losing jobs, people are still in debt on credit cards, people have little home equity, and the government is running out of ways to help (almost broke, and not much further to lower interest rates).
GM may sell the Saturn name but all the Saturn vehicles share many parts with other GM models so selling it as a company would almost be impossible. It is going to be allowed to whither with no new models. Dealers will drop out by either closing the stores by bankruptcy or by GM buyouts/deals with other dealers.
Hummer is a bit different but very similar as far as parts sharing. That is one reason why it is hard to find a buyer. Most likely a buyer will keep selling the vehicles overseas where it has good sales and basically buy the vehicles from GM until the new buyer integrates the Hummer into it's own engineering system. It is going to be hard though to find a buyer.
I will not be checking this forum. I was asked to answer the question.
If Saturn winds up being absorbed instead of killed off, which will be very expensive, I could see Chevrolet dealers being picked to service Saturns. Some Saturn models share Ecotec and other drivetrain components with smaller Chevys.
I can't see Saturn being sold off since it relies heavily on Opel for its models now, particularly Aura and Astra. Absorption may make more sense. If Buick needs a small model in order to meet CAFE regs, a rebadged Aura or Astra might do the trick. Vue and Outlook are probably doomed as the other GM divisions have their versions of both. However, I can see GM selling off Saab, but that's another story.
advise Saturn owners do..............attempt to sell or trade the
the nearly new vehicles with 5 Yr. warranties or just sit tight and
hope Congress, GM and the UAW come to their senses ?
I think that after this fiasco, the buying public will move to the
foreign brands whenever they need a new car. I hate to say this,
but in my opinion, the US auto makers and the UAW have
destroyed the industry....................... :sick: !
But then again, there's $9 billion that's been reserved to pay claims, and that amount is supposed to be sufficient to pay each and every claim until all the warranties have expired on time, mileage, or resale. The main problem when British automaker MG Rover collapsed three years ago was the utter lack of funds to pay warranty claims, or anything else for that matter. That company went under, laid off all its employees, closed its doors, and took its warranties with it to the bottom. That's not the likely course for GM."
General Motors' Warranties (Warranty Week)
warranty work done on our own and then sue for reimbursment,
or would some National Retailer be assigned as the operative
for all work necessary under warranty ? I relalize this is a hypothetical and probably the details of warranty service would
have to be worked out by the courts.
If a new owner didn't take on the warranty obligations, then I guess you (or the FTC) would sue GM and the new owner. That'd be a fun process....
All bets are off in a Chapter 7 (and lots of things could happen in a Ch. 11 bankruptcy too).
In a Ch. 7, the company could be sold as one unit by the trustee or piecemeal. The court would have to approve any deal, and there would be fewer objections if the new owner agreed to honor the warranties (by using the money set aside for claims).
Under a Ch. 11 plan, I'd guess that the warrantys could be suspender or terms amended with court approval. So the court could agree that the new owner (or a reorganized GM) could limit warranty claims to, say, one year following approval of the plan.
My guess is that GM will be around to continue to honor the warranty regardless of what happens to Saturn.
And you diesel fans out there need to remember 2 things:
1. Diesel exhaust is expensive and difficult to clean. The urea (yes, urine-like) catalytic injections are craziness. The EPA says if your pee-tank runs dry, then the car cannot be driven.
2. Diesel fuel costs much more than gasoline.
My guess is in the case of bankruptcy liquidation the pensioners and workers wages owed would be the highest priority. Then creditors which a warranty is probably in that class. The trick will be finding dealers willing to do the work. When GM goes and I would bet big money it is not long for this world. All the dealers will switch to other brands or close the doors. What Ford shop is going to do warranty work for GM knowing they may never get paid? For the longest time we did not have anyone doing warranty work in Prudhoe on GM trucks. We had two choices. Fix it ourselves or ship it to Fairbanks at $3000 roundtrip. Dodge was the same way. Ford had two warranty shops in Prudhoe. So after 6 vehicles that were constantly costing us money we bought Ford trucks. Our management was nearly as dumb as GM's.
If Saturn survives it will be a miracle. I would expect GM to cover warranty if they survive. That is not likely.
PS
Our boss bought GM because he loved Buick and his company car was a Buick and he had a close friend at Alaska Sales and Service. So we got GM trucks till they replaced the general manager.
I have to say also that everyone always says that GM is building cars that people don't want. How is that possible when they have been #1 or #2 automaker in the world for years.
I think GM definitely needs to drop Saab immediately. They also need to drop all the non-essential Hummers. I think the problem with Saturn is there bread and butter small and cheap Ion was replaced by a much more expensive Astra. My brother has a 2005 Ion that he uses for a commuter car and he has 150k miles, and he bought that. car new for 12k dollars. You could not touch and Astra for under 16k. That was a dumb idea. Thay need to cut a few thousand off the Astra and they would sell them. If I were GM I would drop Pontiac before I dropped Saturn.
Can't speak for the vehicles in Europe- and I know GM sells alot of cars there.
But in the United States-they make cars people don't want to buy. They sell lots of trucks, but the cars (with the exception of the new Malibu ) are real pieces of junk and are not competitive.
Let's see the Cobalt, Aveo, Just about all the Pontiacs and Buicks. Not much there.
I think they could have all made some cars that were a lot nicer if they didn't have to worry about paying their employees 70 bucks an hour.
link title
link title
Once again, GM is counting on the consumer to "wait until next year" only this time, it's 2011. :sick:
Last time when I checked G8 "The BMW killer" it wasn't so. Please let me know when I could buy American bmw 335i.
http://www.autonews.com/article/20081208/ANA03/812080318/1078
(registration link)
As General Motors executives weigh the future of the disappointing Saturn division, GM is not allocating new money toward future Saturn products, according to a source familiar with GM's budget.
I guess they made the same mistake again in the late 80s, setting up Saturn. But maybe the law forbids having a brand with factory stores in 50 states, I dunno.
And if GM terminated the brand like it did Oldsmobile in 2000, state franchise laws would protect the 211 dealers who own 425 Saturn dealerships
Dealer broker Mark Johnson estimates that GM would have to pay $3 million to $5 million to buy out the average GM dealer. So Saturn's dealer network alone could cost upward of $1 billion to shut down.
And yikes, is this really all the sales they have had this year?!
Through November, Saturn's sales are down 20.9 percent to 175,434 compared with the year-ago period. Saturn's three cars — the Aura, Astra and Sky — sold a combined 76,191 units through November, while the Chevrolet Impala alone sold 244,692 units.
And that is with the Aura, COTY etc, out less than two full years, isn't it? And Astra only in its first year.
This brand needs to go, somehow, some way.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
However, Drop Pontiac.The brand is very stale, cheap and now is not the time to try to bring back a brand to life, other than its new G8! With sales down for the G8, rumors of it discontinuing, it will go away along with Pontiac. They can make up for this some where else in their line up! Perhaps throw that platform into a Chevy or even Saturn Brand. The issue at hand is that GM has too many cars to focus on, and with that, they cannot put they same kind of work they put into say a Cadillac. Pontiac is going down anyway now, as it is public knowledge that they won't be focusing on it. I feel that this has already been the case all along, GM has certain areas they focus anyway, the rest of the cars are just another car, nothing too special, perhaps just another money maker or a stale car sitting on the lot. So with them announcing which cars they will focus on, is only confirming it from the source, when its been going on like this for years.
I truly beleive Saturn has something great to work with, it is an attractive car, but needs a bit tweaking, like interior, quality, build, just going a bit further would make a world of difference. Pontiac is too far gone I think to repair its reputation. The G8 would have brought the Brand name up if it wasn't for the economy. I still believe they could have worked a more efficient engine in the car. Perhaps, lose the G8 name and replace the G6 with the new G8 look. Too late! bummer.
Now is not the time to play games. Its down to business, drop Pontiac, Perhaps drop another brand or two, to slim down the size of GM, then focus on your most highly sold cars, and work from there. Then they would have more cash flow to put quality into their products and gradually build their name back up.
GM just needs to lose the extra weight, Now is not the time to play around with diets, just lose it!
dtownfb, "Saturn may be easier to kill.... " #1348, 8 Dec 2008 9:03 am
"Johnson" is Mark Johnson, president of financial advisory and brokerage firm MD Johnson near Seattle.
I wonder when GM will make some decisions about what it will do with Saturn. It seems media speculation is running ahead of the actual facts, and WAY ahead of any moves by GM itself.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
General Motors Vows To Reduce Nameplates as Auto Loan Bill Hangs in Balance (Inside Line)
They won't specify which, or when... but will this help GM in their quest for a long-term solution?
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As everyone knows GM is now undergoing a desperate crisis and has come to the American taxpayer hat in hand for a substantial loan. The Democratically controlled congress has asked that GM produce a business plan before considering the release of the funds. I wholeheartedly agree with not throwing good money after bad. I think I want to take a shot at being Rick Wagoner for a day and see what I could come up with.
In order to identify the solution to a problem, one must articulate point by point what those problems are and how to address them. Here are the major issues which are making GM as is unsustainable:
1. Too many brands, many utilize the same engineering components with inconsistent results. For example the automotive community has widely praised the Chevy Malibu, which is regarded as an excellent family car. Its platform mate, the Pontiac G6, has been received with much less enthusiasm. GM should go from eight to four brands, getting rid of Hummer, Saab, GMC, and Saturn; keeping Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac and Cadillac. Each of the remaining brands would become distinct in mission and purpose with little overlap.
2. High labor and Legacy costs. This is a sticky issue for many but the fact is that these costs put the General at a $1,500-$3,000.00 per car cost disadvantage versus Honda and Toyota, which use their advantage to market high quality compacts such as the Civic and Corolla. GM on their lower cost cars is forced to compromise on engineering, standard features and build quality in order to make profit. GM taking the steps to reduce the number of brands will call for a reduction in workforce, which in turn will help with the costs. Also this is an area where taxpayer funds might be best used.
3. GM runs a bloated and overpaid management system. Toyota and Honda run far leaner management per number of cars sold than the General and their executives are not paid nearly the salaries of any of the big three, yet their respective companies are very well managed.
4. GM needs a couple of clean burning diesels in its line up. A 2.5L Four cylinder and a 3.5L V-6. Volkswagen, Mercedes and Honda, have proven that diesel engines if engineered properly can be clean and quiet running. The real world mileage advantages can be extraordinary. The Volkswagen, Jetta TDI for example gets over 42 mpg in real world testing.
Here are my ideas to address some of these issues and for a future product mix.
In order to protect itself from its immediate situation GM should go ahead and proceed with Chap 11 and start restructuring. This will allow GM to shed some of it’s over burdensome labor contracts. The government can step in with funds to insure that during this period that all warranty work will be covered in full. GM and Congressional leaders should hold a national televised press conference in prime time to explain to the American public what this entails and to ensure the public that GM is not going out of business and that there is a plan in place to address the company’s problems.
Now the General can begin restructuring itself, eliminating brands and putting its resources where they can gain the best results. Here is where to trim the fat:
Hummer: There is really no need for this brand to continue. The Hummer vehicles of today are nothing more than re-badged Chevrolets. The H2 is just a re-skinned Suburban and the H3 is just a four door body shell over a Colorado pick up truck frame. The ones you see our military use are made by AM General and not GM as is widely believed.
Saab: There is not a reason to really hang on to this low volume maker. Many Saab loyalists gave up on the brand after the GM takeover. Saab lacks the prestige of Jaguar, Mercedes and BMW and does little to add to the bottom line. Sell it.
GMC: This brand is nothing more than pure badge engineering at its worst. There is not a dime’s difference between the GMC’s and Chevrolets mechanically. It is just a different grill and trim.
Saturn: This brand was conceived as Honda/Toyota killer almost two decades ago. Its unique business model, plastic bodied cars and culture of one-price fits all garnered a lot of interest. All of that is now gone and the Saturn cars are just re-badged versions of other GM products. It has two unique entries; the Vue and the Astra, neither of which are at the top of their respective classes.
So under my plan the four remaining players: Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick and Cadillac would have the following dealer couplings:
Chevrolet-Pontiac
Buick-Cadillac.
I would engineer the brand’s lineups as follows:
Chevrolet: The mission of this brand would be to offer a wide range of family oriented products, this would be volume leader.
Aveo: ($13,000-$17,000) Refine and re-engineer this car in terms of quality and performance. Work with Daewoo (The car’s actual maker) to develop gasoline and hybrid versions of this car; aim for a starting price of 13K for the standard model and equip it to match the Honda Fit. Also a Hybrid version for $16,500.00 with mileage close to 50 mpg would certainly help with CAFE regulations and undercut the Toyota Prius by five grand.
Cobalt: Drop this model. It consistently rates low with most critics and loses money for GM. Other than the Turbo SS, the Cobalt is not a class leader.
Cruze: ($17000-$24,000) Develop this car as an up-market alternative to Civic, Mazda3 and Corolla. Make it slightly larger and roomier than the three aforementioned competitors. Offer coupe, five door hatchback and sedan versions of the car with three different engine choices. The base or “efficiency model” would have a 1.5 turbo 4 cylinder that will get close to 40Mpg. The up-level model would receive 2.4L that puts out 160Hp. Also offer a Hybrid version of the 2.4 and aim for the high 30’s in mpg.
“Cruze” Crossover ($21,000-$27,000) Replace the current Equinox with a crossover that will seat five in standard trim and option it for seven similar to the RAV4. Offer both a 2.4L 4 cylinder as standard and a 3.6L V6 as the up-level engine. Also offer a 2.5L turbo diesel for towing and higher mileage.
Malibu: ($21,000-$28,000) Increase the width by 2-3 inches (That is the biggest complaint people have about this car) Refine the steering feel. Replace the Hybrid with a 2.4L turbo diesel engine. With a six speed auto box this set up will get 35 or more MPG and have plenty of low end torque and drivability. Increase the six cylinder engine to 270Hp to match the Accord and Camry. Find a way to decrease the curb weight. Offer coupe and hatch versions of this car as well and one high performance model with the 3.6 DI V-6 trimmed to 280Hp with more aggressive suspension settings.
Impala: A slightly wider Malibu with a couple of more inches of wheelbase would make this outdated car redundant; drop it from the line up.
Transverse: ($28,000-$35,000) leave this intact while finding a way
Corvette: To remove it further from the Camaro, switch to a mid engine set up. Also drop the “Chevrolet” designation and sell as a standalone product.
Volt: This is a great piece of tech, GM most now work hard to make this EREV affordable to the majority of middle class car shoppers.
Trucks: Leave as is. GM trucks have the highest overall rating by CR. Automobile, R&T etc
SUV’s Eliminate all Truck-Based SUV’s except the Suburban and offer it in two lengths and wheelbases similar to what Ford does with the current expedition. The Transverse is what about 95% of mid to fullsize SUV buyers really need. The ‘Burb is only better for towing and hauling really heavy loads.
Pontiac: Pontiac needs to be reborn as a more sporty division, with different products than Chevrolet. Hence everything in the current line-up except the G8 needs to be fully replaced and here is the mix:
Solstice: Keep this roadster and continue to refine it further. Furthermore the Kappa platform on which it is based can be used to underpin other Pontiac projects.
G5: ($18,500-$24,000) Replace the current Cobalt clone with a compact rear wheel drive 2+2 and rear wheel drive 4-door. Also offer a model with a removable top. The base engine should be a 170HP version of the 2.4L and the up-level engine should be a 260HP turbo version of same. The up-level version will replace the Cobalt SS. The cars should have a taunt Euro feel and aggressive styling. In concept these would be a BMW 1 series for much less.
“Kappa” crossover ($23,000-$25,000): Replace the Toyota Matrix cloned Vibe with a compact crossover based on the Kappa Chassis, offer both G5 engines and optional all wheel drive
G8: ($27,000-$32,000) Beef the V6 up to 300HP and keep the current V8. Also add a low volume 2 door to the line up. In the following year, phase in a hardtop convertible to replace the defunct G6.
Buick: Would serve as GM’s near luxury brand, similar to the Acura TL, Lexus ES 350 and Mercedes C Class.
Lacrosse: ($26,000-$32,000) Move to the Epsilon platform (Malibu) and offer a standard 3.6 with 275HP a six speed auto and standard leather, power everything, etc Offer a 3.5L Diesel as an alternative engine choice for those seeking better gas mileage. Tune the suspension soft in the standard trim and offer a slightly firmer GS version as well.
Rivera: ($27,500-33,000) a low volume 2 door based on the Lacrosse with distinct styling and all the same engine options.
Lucerne: Front Drive + V8 = Second Rate performer-Kill this outdated thing.
Park Avenue ($31,000-$38,000) a full size 4 Door that replaces the Lucerne. This would be a rear wheel drive car (Holden Chassis) with a base 3.6DI engine with 290HP. The up-level model would have a 4.6L V8 with 330HP. Both tuned for a softer ride than the G8. As an alternative engine offer a 3.5L V6 Diesel as a higher gas mileage alternative.
Enclave: Leave as is but offer a 3.5L V6 Turbo-Diesel as an engine alternative to the standard V-6.
Cadillac: This is the flagship division. This is the top end in performance and luxury.
BLS: ($28,000-$35,000) this would be the base Caddy, taking over for the original CTS and would be built on a shortened Sigma Chassis. It would act as a 1 series competitor with rear wheel drive and a 300HP 3.6V6 as the standard engine. Offer both 6 speed manual and automatic transmissions. Tune it with a taunt suspension and equip it similar to the 3.5TL.
CTS: ($35,000-$45,000) this would be a rear wheel drive 5 series/M45/E Class competitor. The base engine would be 3.6L liter V6 tuned to 305HP With an Optional 3.5L V6 Diesel as a higher gas mileage model. The top engine would be a turbo version putting out 350HP. All wheel drive would also be an option. Offer both coupe and sedan variants.
SRX: ($40,000-$47000) this crossover would be based on the CTS above and offer the same engine choices.
DTS: see Buick Lucerne, kill this underperformer.
SLS: (super luxury sedan) ($50,000-$65,000), this would be the true rear wheel drive. flagship luxury sedan for Cadillac and GM and replaces the DTS. The standard engine would be a 5.0L Northstar V-8 with an out put of 400Hp and an 8 speed automatic, to match the specs of the S-Class and LS460. This car would be loaded to the nines with everything. Both a short wheelbase and longer wheelbase executive models would be offered.
CTSV-update to the new larger CTS body, but keep the current ultra high performance engine and suspension.
Escalade, Escalade EXT: Cadillac needs to get out of the truck business.
Well that is my product mix which weeds out the mediocre cars GM currently has and replaces them with cars that exceed the competitors’ offerings at every level. Furthermore my plan also keeps overlap and redundant models to a minimum while satisfying a broad
range of consumers.
Reducing brands means a smaller GM with less employees, but it will insure GM survives as a more flexible and competitive entity which most importantly is profitable. It is my hope that GM survives and has the best cars on the market in every single class. It would do my heart good to see GM cars come out the winner in almost every comparison test in every magazine, and to be able to read across a spread sheet and see the GM car the best in cornering, slalom, acceleration, and gas mileage against every car in its segment and to have the best 5 year reliability to boot. With few brands to mess with it will be easier for GM engineers and designers to achieve this.
There are other issues that GM should address. Such as being the first to field an affordable Hydrogen car and supporting infrastructure. The Volt is a good start, but gas-hybrids and extended range electrics are stepping stones to the real solution of fuel cell cars.
would be eligible to drive something besides a " YUGO " .
GM already has said it is exploring the sale of Saab and Hummer
In addition, it is reviewing the fate of Saturn.
Cadillac likely has at least two nameplates on the extinction list, the DTS sedan and two-seat XLR. U.S. sales of the $85,000-plus XLR totaled a measly 1,151 for the 11 months through November.
Other likely candidates to chop include the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups. Through November, combined Colorado/Canyon U.S. sales totaled 63,430 units. GM already plans to drop Chevrolet's TrailBlazer mid-sized SUV and Uplander minivan.
Pontiac's biggest-volume nameplate, the mass-market G6, would appear to be on the chopping block. Ditto for the two-seat Pontiac Solstice, a Saturn Sky clone.
Nothing but outdated, old, slow selling models and brands. Meanwhile, they'll be adding more in their places.
Business as usual. :sick:
Ok, the byline is really Soddy-Daisy, but those who live around there will get the inside joke.
Saturn owners hope GM doesn't abandon them (CNN)
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I'd be looking for a new job. :P