General Motors discussions

rockylee

That's interesting. :surprise:

Rocky

m1miata

I don't know. Never seen a Lexus broken down on the roadside, so I guess the OnStar is for directions, unlocking doors, or the occasional accident or two along the pathway of life. But, yeah, I don't know why they are not listed.

I do know that at one time, they said people are not activating their free months of service with OnStar. So maybe it ain't everyone's cup o' tea?
-Loren

carlisimo

I have a feeling the first made-in-China car sold here will be sold by GM. In fact I'd bet on it. (Not counting Puerto Rico.)

Right now Chinese companies are starting to take off, but the existing economic situation is still multinational corporations from 1st world countries running factories in 3rd world countries. All those made in China products that we buy... are made under American leadership. I don't think that's going to go away anytime soon; those companies still have advantages over grassroots Chinese start-ups.

iluvmysephia1

what did we just talk about a few posts back? How quickly your understanding washes away! That is what I'm talking about, Kia is not going to just fly briskly away if Geely and Chery introduce some low-cost rigs here in the U.S. Look at how hard Hyundai and Kia have worked to get where they are now, people are gaining respect for them month-over-month and it shows in their increased sales.

Americans are already paranoid about Chinese cars about to be shipped here...Kia and Hyundai are firmly established. As gas prices rise they'll only gain more converts. Their body styling already eclipses that of GM and Ford.

gtgtcobra-where ya been? Man oh man, I remember chatting with you on here way back about 2000 and maybe early 2001! Back when I had the '99 Kia Sephia..yep the one that inspired my 'iluvmysephia1' nickname. Are ya drivin' South Korean product these days? You kept the same nickname, even. Welcome back!

62vetteefp

All service thru satellites. On of their ads is where in the mountains a phone call would not go thru on a cell phone but the emergency message was able to get outthru OnStar.

62vetteefp

What was his Salary in 2005 from the same source?

jimlockey

Went to the Dallas auto show Sunday. GM doesn't get it. They are still pushing the V8's and low MPG vehicles. When GM and Ford declare bankruptcy it will hurt this country even more.

62vetteefp

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/buyingleasing/should-you-pay-for-onstar-- 406.htm

rockylee

Well the Chevy Equinox is close enough, eh ?

Look at the sales on that vehicle FLIP FLOP

Rocky

rockylee

Well when Geely, is making carbon copy Chin-E class MB knock off's that look and drive nearly the same because they reversed engineered it and are selling them at Sonata-Azera prices, then you will come crying to me.

Hey the Chinese and Indians(India) are going to be major players and they aren't going to build half-[non-permissible content removed] cars. They will have the support of their government to help them build good cars and just in spite they will make sure hykia goes under.

Rocky

rockylee

Loren,

you've never seen a Lexus broken down by the side of the road ?

You sound as bad as our car commercials down here that say the same thing about Toyota's :confuse:

I see them (Toylex) occassionally broken down

Rocky

rockylee

2004' was the most up to date on that site.

Here's a better description "62" of just how "PHAT" these CATS are. :surprise:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20060207-1014-autos-gm-salary.html

DaRock

m1miata

I guess one with 200 to 300K miles on it, with never an oil change, may stall on the road. Most vehicles I see along the roadside dead are old Taurus, and Chevy and GM trucks. Not sure if it is the transmissions or electrical problems. Just take notes when ya see them. Rarely see a Lexus, or Toyota stalled anywhere. Anything is possible. Looking at reliability of the expensive Euro cars, you begin to wonder if you are getting what you paid for. Get the flat bed !
-Loren

rockylee

I agree it's rarer to see a Toyota or Lexus or Honda/Acura off the side of the road. They are indeed very reliable cars. However some claim to never see them broken down, which it's hard for me to believe since I do see camrys, accords, and even Lexus vehicles broken down along the side of the road.

Rocky

rockylee

http://gmtv.feedroom.com/ifr_main.jsp?nsid=a-1d0baee9:10a84bc4f5d:-5284&st=11446- 89187781&mp=WMP&cpf=true&fr=041006_011246_w1d0baee9x10a84bc4f5dxw5283&rdm=402645- .6286005025

It's a good one........

Rocky

62vetteefp

One of the problems with exec. compensation today is that it is linked strongly on how they did in the previous year. 2004 was a good year for GM and execs did well. However they did not make the right decisions to assure that the future were also good years.

The above is not just an automotive problem but a problem with most large business's in the US. compensation for the leaders should somehow be based more on future performance. Not sure ho to do this. There are stock options and perhaps more compensation should be focused there instead of last years performance.

More costs cutting and product improvements should have been made in past years. In all fairness the health care and UAW issues are something that I doubt any person could have handled 2-8 years ago. The UAW sees profits at the corporate level and would never back down to a lowering of benefits or wages when the business shows profits. Health care is a national issue. New and better products have been coming out but should have been started earlier and this is a result of poor leadership 8 years ago.

rockylee

Well hopefully GM will start to make real progress so they can compete. Rick Wagoner seems very confident in his ability so we will see.

Rocky

62vetteefp

General Motors Corp., following rivals who have gone retro to boost car
sales, may convert its Chevrolet Impala to rear-wheel drive when it brings back another 1960s
icon, the Camaro, said people familiar with the ailing car company's plans.

A rear-drive Impala, which may be paired with a new Camaro in 2009, shows
the influence of GM Vice Chairman Robert Lutz, said one person familiar
with the development.

I wonder if the Monte Carlo/Grand Prix/?? will follow?

fintail

I'll bet my life that those fake MB do not drive and handle like the real thing. They look like a 1989 Hyundai with MB trim grafted on. I assume they drive the same way.

Of course, the market that will snap them up won't know the difference, they'll just want the look. I hope it encourages MB to change styling directions.

rockylee

I read a similar article in my latest Motor Trend mag.

They said a RWD Buick will also be featured called the Invicta :shades:

-page 26 in the May issue

Rocky

ubbermotor

GM offered to buy Ford in 1907 for $50,000. Henry Ford agree with one proviso, he wanted the money in cash. GM declined. Imagine the impact that could have had.

rockylee

They are also betting on a high performance RWD Sports Sedan. :shades:

That might be the G8 :surprise:

Rocky

rockylee

Wow, :surprise: I didn't know that....Thanx for the history lesson ubbermotor

Rocky

rockylee

True fintail.

So you don't think it's possible that the Chinese can build a carbon copy clone. Copy it down to the last bolt and sell em' here ?

I think anyone can copy, but of course it won't be original. It might not drive exactly the same, but it might be close enough to the real thing that people won't care because they just saved $50-75K :surprise:

I hope it doesn't happen either fintail, but they proved they can copy. You don't have to be exactly a brain to copy. The Chinese want Mercedes to spend all their money on R&D and then they will spend a fraction by reverse engineering it and putting a Geely or Chery badge on it and call it good enough. :sick:

Buh Bye Kia/Hyundai. America here's your $25,000 Chine-E Class 500 Benz

Rocky

fintail

IMO, China has shown it can copy a look - but not quality and things less tangible. I am sure a Geely or Chery MB knockoff will be just as clunky as a normal Geely or Chery. I can put a MB grille on a Yugo, but it's still a Yugo. The Chinese aren't reverse-engineering these cars, they are just making them look the same.

rockylee

http://www.ev1.org/ :surprise:

Rocky

rockylee

I hope you are right pal. It scares me when they can make Buicks that some say are as good as ours over here. I'm not sure what to believe anymore. :confuse:

Rocky

rockylee

http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7B89F1B0B5%2DE2C7%2D47B2%- 2DB305%2DD5F0A00F3DF0%7D&siteid=netscape&dist=netscapeclick

Rocky

fintail

But those Buicks are exising GM designs, just with better materials used than the fleet-grade stuff we see here. Just like with GM products in Europe and Australia.

rockylee

Avoiding Delphi stoppage is a priority, but automaker is stockpiling parts just in case, Wagoner says in TV interview.

http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060410/AUTO01/604100333/- 1148

Rocky

62vetteefp

Reason they were scrapped is both liability and access to parts. EV1's shared almost no parts with any production vehicle. OEM's have to support, by law, parts for a certain number of years. forget exact number-maybe 10. EV1 was basically a prototype build with prototype tools that perhaps could not have lasted 10 years. Also it would be very expensive to support service parts with such low volumes.

RAV4 was based on production vehicle and therefore parts should be available from normal service channels.

rockylee

SAIC Motor Corp. will build capacity to make up to 300,000 vehicles and 400,000 engines a year by 2010

http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060410/AUTO01/604100332/- 1148

Rocky

rockylee

Some General Motors vehicles outrank Toyota's, but a few troubled models reinforce a bad reputation GM fights to change

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006604100374

A Must Read !!!! :shades:

Rocky

nvbanker

>They said a RWD Buick will also be featured called the Invicta </

Now, here we go. GM Blows up all their Buick Heritage names, like LeSabre, Electra, Park Avenue, Regal, Century - and names all cars after cities in France. Swell. Now, they come along with Invicta? That's a beautiful heritage name for Buick dating back to about 1957 or so, when it was a model of Buick.

I just don't get it - unless they have figured out that people are non-plussed with the new names.. But the inconsistency here is amazing.

m1miata

Well the two cars which are suppose to be better than the Japan makes, the Malibu and the Century aren't much to consider. The Malibu looks cheaper inside, and the shape is well let's say a rectangle without any style added. Just blah. The other car, the Century is discontinued and not on par with the Camry and Accord anyway. So this leaves the rest of the cars. Some have high first 90 day ratings - yippeeee! If the latest GM cars hold up over time, just maybe we all will be impressed. Some of the cars newer than 2001 are good, more are better in the latest two years, but in looking at the individual cars in the Consumer Reports book, it still seems not as good as Honda, Toyota, and other Japan makes. Hyundai cars are coming up in quality too. I would much rather own a Sonata than a Malibu. Well unless, the Malibu was a '68 Malibu SS, the real deal :P
-Loren

tlong

Remember my post on how shortsighted GM has been? Remember the reply that said hybrids weren't cost effective anyway? Remember how I said that Toyonda will be 3-4 generations ahead, and the longer term future is the real market? Well, I spotted this article today:

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/04/10/next-prius-to-offer-113-mpg/

GM had better hope this is not accurate. I'm sure everybody will want V8 SUV's as the gas prices rise...

rockylee

That's Hawg Wash. Just like when Toyta claims they get 60-65 mpg in the current one, it only get in the 40's. I believe it when I see it.

Rocky

rockylee

Isn't the Sonata suppose to be a step up from the Malibu ? I thought the Sonata was suppose to compete with the Impala ? Ahhh you perhaps don't want to mention the Impala, because the Sonata can't hold the Impala's Jockey Strap except in price and warranty. OTOH the Impala has more benefits than negatives and the interior is much nicer than the platicky tin can Sonata. :P

Rocky

tlong

That's Hawg Wash. Just like when Toyta claims they get 60-65 mpg in the current one, it only get in the 40's. I believe it when I see it.

So when Toyota claims 94mpg, they probably won't get over 70.

m1miata

The Impala is larger than the Sonata. Sonata has more safety features, more powerful engine, longer warranty, and will likely out handle the Impala. Impala may have better seats and is larger. Other than that, can't say too much about anything I can see as better about an Impala. The new styling brings it closer to looking like an Accord than anything. Think of the the Impala as an Accord on steroids.

Heck, I saw a one year old Cadillac for sale, last year, for only $25K. I think it was a rental car, or something. Heck, $17K to $19K off makes a Caddy a better buy than a new Impala. Impress your neighbors! But I don't know how to golf... Ah, just throw a bag in the back that looks like a golf bag..... yeah, that's the ticket!
-Loren

rockylee

Your funny.

That is true, you probably could find a leftover Deville for $20,000 off. You could get a set of clubs from Walley World and buy a used 'Ping' bag

Rocky

noob

This is funny, but it's also educational..

http://www.chevyapprentice.com/view.php?country=us&uniqueid=238ee5de-122b-1029-9- 8eb-0013724ff5a7

http://www.chevyapprentice.com/view.php?country=us&uniqueid=ed9acefc-1185-1029-9- 8eb-0013724ff5a7

This is how GM lost potential customers..
They need hybrid vehicles..

rockylee

Those are Great

Rocky

tlong

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060330/whistleblower_gm_06- 0406/20060406?hub=TopStories

And what are they doing about it?
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060406/generalmotors_canad- a_statement_060406?s_name=&no_ads=

Apparently, not a lot...

dieselone

Yep, that's the 3.8 I know. Happened on my grandpa '00 Park Ave. around 60k miles or so.

irnmdn

Just like when Toyta claims they get 60-65 mpg in the current one, it only get in the 40's
How much mpg do you think all new full-sized SUVs rated at mythical 20mpg get in real world?

iluvmysephia1

since we don't really know how the American people will respond to Chery/Geely and the like, there is no way to really know how Hyundai/Kia will fare, for sure.

Just a ballpark thought and comment regarding same will be that by the time Visionary Vehicles Ltd. (Bricklin's venture)and the Chery product gets here, or if Geely beats them by 6-12 months, fine, Kia and Hyundai will have won over even more people here that they won't be having to leave anytime soon.

The market is not always easy to predict, but I know how badly the Hyundai Excel product error in the 80's hurt them and how far they've come with hard, hard work since then. Kia is helped by having Hyundai "back them" and they are making great product today. The 2006 Kia Rio5 gets a better review than the 2007 Toyota Yaris in a 7-car compact vehicle review in the May '06 C&D magazine review. Better handling and funner to drive were just two of the reasons they gave the Rio5 the nod over the Yaris.

Here's a question for y'all: will Kia and Hyundai and Nissan and Toyota and Honda aggressively lower their prices to fight the brand new Chinese product that introduces here in another year or so? Don't you think that they had better? What kind of feelings do you get about that? I mean, think of the fine cars we're gonna get out of that deal for the dollar paid? That was a big point made in the C&D comparo article I read today-that for under $15,000 one can buy a car that is not a "penalty box" any more. You can get a fun car to drive, one that is relatively safe as well, for under $15,000 today. I know, I'm conducting a "casual" iluv search for said cars constantly and I wouldn't be afraid to be seen in many of them nor would I feel unsafe in very many of them, either.

Now, if the Chinese can(and it is a big if IMHO)make similar subcompacts and compacts for, say, $9,000, I would think that the other Asian manufacturers would need to follow suit or risk losing too much market share.

Of course, it won't lose market share if Americans decide that they still want large pick-em-up trucks and SUV's for as far as the eye can see, though. That is what is going to be real interesting to follow in the next several months. I think the automakers are making wise choices by concentrating on the small car market right now.

High ghastly prices will demand that Americans start looking at the econocar brackets once again.

Whoever said that history doesn't ever repeat itself?

torque_r

Oh yeah! That's true. Car & Driver got something like 12 or 13 mpg for a Chevy Tahoe that was rated at 16/22 mpg.

iluvmysephia1

the cash to go start up his own automaker for the 2nd time. I can't imagine him in that time period having to share with dorks from GM, can you?

irnmdn

General Motors executive Bob Lutz told Germany&#146;s Automobilwoche magazine that GM has avoided bankruptcy. Mr. Lutz said GM has put the worst behind itself, and bankruptcy is no longer a concern. He said there is no likely scenario for bankruptcy facing the troubled automaker. &#147;We have put the worst behind us,&#148; he was quoted as saying
http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/04/10/lutz-gm-has-avoided-bankruptcy/