Would you be willing to bet your life on it in a game of chicken at approx 60-70 mph ? You in a Sonata and I in a 2007 Volvo S80 ?
I've walked away in a 70 mph crash against a cattle truck in my 2002 Cadillac Seville STS. I know what it feels like to be crushed. I would be even more confident in a Volvo S80 with all of it's safety features to save my life. Volvo's safety features that Hyundai doesn't have can't be overlooked. The Crash Tests performed by the government are a wimpy 35 mph offset. Whoopie do :confuse:
I'll pay the extra dough to insure myself and my family are atleast driving a safe car.
and what test does the volvo pass? one would hope for the add'l money your paying for the vehicle you would be buying a safer vechile. But dont automatically discredit hyundai's efforts, because for the money again the money, this is an excellent buy.
The Volvo is 3 times the vehicle of any Hyundai made. I'll take one Volvo S80 and you can keep your 2 VCR's on Wheels and have a much better vehicle than you. :P
To each their own I suppose. If you like driving tinaments, then so be it.
I went to J.D. Power Consumer site and compared the Hyundai Tiburan 2 door with the V6 and the Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged. I chose these two as they were priced almost the same, the Hyundai at 21,395 and the Chevy 21,495.
Here are the results:
Tibby / Cobalt Overall Q: No data / 2 of 5 Mechan Q: No Data / 3 0f 5 Body & Int. Q: No Data / 2 0f 5 Feature & Access Q: No Data / 3 of 5 Overall Appeal: 3 of 5 / 3 of 5 Comfort: 3 of 5 / 3 of 5 Style: 3 of 5 / 3 of 5 Overall Depend: 2 of 5 / No Data Mechanical Depend: 2 of 5 / No Data Body & Interior Depend: 2 of 5 / No Data Feature & Access: 2 of 5 / No Data
Some observations:
First, I did not get an overall rating for this Tibby. Appears maybe we were comparing Apples to oranges? Or at least different priced models.
Second, when I average the Cobalt score, I come closer to 3 of 5 than when I average the Tibby scores.
Third, the Cobalt does pretty well in a lot of important categories.
might i add its also three times the price. But i seriously doubt that volvo has that much more quality than hyundai of late. not that im comparing the two, but in the midsize area the sonata is a value leader for features and value per dollar. i doubt the volvo has the same advantages with its competitors. Actually most of the volvos competitors are just as safe if not safer than the S80. Do your research.
I did do my reasearch and the smoke you are blowing, sounds straight from the Hyundai Peace pipe.
I also notices none of you would step up to the plate in a head on colission, giving me further ammo that you all know the Volvo S80 can't be matched in safety by pretty much anybody. It makes common sense that a VCR on wheels would have the capability of building a sturdy frame, and employ the level of safety features, at a fraction of the cost using whips and chains for labor corrections.
BTW- you name me a safer car than the Volvo S80 :P
YOu're right, ace35, Hyundai has the reliability of Volvo beat, but not the quality, or what I call quality. They are pretty tinny, a little rough, and not as luxurious as Volvo is. But the Azera may change that, the Sonata is pretty darn nice, just about equal to Honda, their target. They are really different animals.... Tough to compare, IMO.
"The Stang had more V-6's built "wannabe pony cars" than actually GT's and Cobra's made. The ratio for the camaro wasn't close."
I won't debate the numbers with you, Rocky, you may be right. But that pathetic 2.8L V-6 with the leaking intake manifold they put in the Camaro was a disgraceful car!!
Besides, Ford invented the Pony car. They have reinvented it again now. GM did so well with the Camaro, they had to abandon the market, just as they did the Police U Taxi market.
I submit, if GM had been on their game, Ford would be gone by now......
The Stang had more V-6's built "wannabe pony cars" than actually GT's and Cobra's made. The ratio for the camaro wasn't close. :P
You are right and that's why GM no longer builds a Camaro. The entry level model is what has allowed the Mustang to survive for 40+ years.
Plus, the Camaro/TransAm got very expensive. I remember looking at a late 90's T/A convertible that stickered for over $36k. Who in there right mind would pay $36k for that POC. Makes the new Mustang GT Convertible look like a bargain.
at what point did i compare the hyundai to the volvo, i understand they are different vehicles aimed at different buyers, i never said hyundai is a better vehicle than a volvo. (with that much of a price difference i should hope not.) BTW i drive a lexus so im not in anyway defending hyundai as a driver of one, i have however rented one and was overall impressed with the vehicle. Now if you want to compare the volvo compare it to lexus. Theres no comparision at all.
Hey, I drive a Lexus too, and there is NO comparison. I've had an S-80 T-6, and it was a wonderful drivers car, for a FWD. But it had a fair amount of problems while I had it. The Hyundai's I buy for customers at the auction, are awful dependable. Rarely do I buy a used Hyundai that has an issue. Even several years old and many miles long.
I'm just saying, don't get defensive on me! I'm with you.
crashtest.com then scroll on down and pick the two car. Yes the Sonata has better numbers. And no, I do not want to crash a car, but thanks for asking. Never thought much about picking a car to do that though. Maybe a real Mercedes, as in upper class one? I would have to research that. I have been looking at Sonatas and other cars. Sure looks well built, though time will tell. Historically, Toyota is the safest bet, followed by great engines of Honda, then some Nissans. Really had great luck with the Datsun I had, but not sure about the years since. Looks like some good, and some great. Would consider an Altima. Most Volvos have had a poorer rating for reliability, just check the stats. Some are OK. The BMW is outstanding for handling and quality interiors and such, yet some are not rated well for reliability. Pretty good cars to crash. Please, don't try this at home. :sick:
Most new design USA built cars seem to improve in the third or fourth year of production. So if I was looking for a Mustang it would be the '07 or '08.
For gas mileage, it seems GM is pretty darn good for a base V6 which seem to get around 31 MPG for say the Monte or the Impala. It seems like the prices on those are pretty low, unless you want the side air bags, and a couple other items. Then the prices are closer to Japan makes, and more than the Hyundai.
Now, I suppose the question is, why can't Hyundai, with a brand new car, built in a brand new plant in USA, be as good as any other make. The current data shows most people are pleased with the car. I have no way of knowing if the car implodes in five years. Likewise, no one really knows if the car is not going to be as good as say the Honda in five to ten years since this is a new Hyundai - a new Sonata, and all new parts, built in a new plant.
Most cars seem to be improving for reliability. So I am sure among the list is most GM cars. Forgetting what I owned back when, which is not always easy to do, I am sure that most people are having pretty fair reliability on GM cars. That said, the new models, like the Cobalt, I would still be leery of. Still have in the back of my mind, wait a couple of years on new domestic models AND if not a super low price always consider domestic cars in the used car market.
The new stuff, like the Sonata compared to say the Impala gets real interesting on paper at any rate. You add up all the stuff on Hyundai, then add the warranty, and you will see why some went on over. Some will say Korean cars are junk, and I do take equal note of that to those which have had crappy domestic cars, and say they are crap. These is todays cars, not yesteryears, and tomorrow will tell how good they both are. -Loren
If it were RWD, I'd consider you possibly correct. But the torque steer was annoying. It would have been awesome and fun if it had been RWD. And I'm not sure the AWD cure works for me either.
Here is a question on styling. What is your impression of the Monte Carlo.. ... Like the quirky styling?
The gas mileage on the base model is pretty good. The handling doesn't seem to impress the press much, but it seems OK to me. Not what I would say is quick, but it is not meant to be tossed around like a Celica lightweight and seemed like it was good on a test drive I took of a 2005 model car. The interior looks about medium grade. The throwback style of a car with big doors, fairly large, and following todays styling rules of thumb I find a bit interesting. Resale value would indicate this is more a used car buy unless you keep it for say five years or more. There is something to be said for having a unique car. No, not so unique as the ugly Edsel car, but rather something which has some old-time charm in a new design. Reaching for the right words here. It is not a knock out beauty, nor what is considered even proper proportions in car style drawings, yet it does not strive to be some other car. It is not a Euro car knock-off. Not sure the current change of the front made sense. It appears to be off the previous model of the Monte. Which leads to question two. Was the more simple lined '99 Monte Carlo a better design?
Quirky only begins to describe the eclectic styling of today's Monte. Also, a sport coupe in FWD is a disgrace, IMO. I have no respect for it - it's still a Lumina in 2 door to me.
I was sorta joking about crashing in two Sonatas instead of one S80.
It's a bizarre comparison though... a premium brand's top model vs. a value brand's middle model. Even S60 vs. Azera would be an unfair comparison in the Volvo's favor. But hey, easy win for you! :P
Let me try this again. They test crash results are better numbers for the Sonata. I am not making the numbers, the dummy in the cars registered the numbers. The price of the car makes no difference in the crash results. Volvo and the Sonata were crash tested by the same method. If Sonata does well, it should be noted, as this is a car more people can afford than the overpriced Volvo, with gold plated parts pricing when they need replacing. -Loren
Going by the data, I would say the Sonata, to name one. I don't have the time to look up every car made, but I am sure there are plenty matching and/or surpassing the Volvos. The Volvo, when money is no object, would be a good car to own. But a RWD car would make more sense in that price range to me. As for crashing into cars, I guess you could go out and buy a Hummer. That should be a good one to destroy the opponent.
You do know the Sonata is made in USA. They are happy workers, I would think. Well, I mean most may be. In any labor force you have those people which are mad at the world. They are just unhappy with life. So what is all this about the workers quality, and the cars being tinny? Looks to me like the 3.3 V6 is a modern engine compared to some relics of a different age produced by..... No please, no more discussions on OHV engines. They are fine, the world is fine, they produce power to the wheels, decent gas mileage, easier to work on, and whatever. Just saying the Hyundai is a modern engine with great HP. Better or not, the car is new, the plant is new - give them a break will ya, it looks like they are on course. And NO I can not see into the future five to ten years to know if the cars really do last that long. -Loren :shades:
Let me try this again. They test crash results are better numbers for the Sonata. I am not making the numbers, the dummy in the cars registered the numbers.
I was never implying you were a dummy Loren, and sorry if I came across that way. I however am going to call whoever did the test a dummy.
The price of the car makes no difference in the crash results. We disagree to a certain extent. The Volvo has one heckuva lot more safety features than the Sonata, and the new one widens that gap by a considerable margin. If you looked at the new S80 on the Volvo website it shows some of the new safey enhancements applied to the new car.
Volvo and the Sonata were crash tested by the same method. If Sonata does well, it should be noted, as this is a car more people can afford than the overpriced Volvo, with gold plated parts pricing when they need replacing.
I'm not sure if one could call a Volvo a over priced car if you look at what you get for your money vs. what you get for your money in the Sonata. The Volvo has a state of the art interior, very comfy seats with whiplash protection, crumple zones, DYNAUDIO surround sound, Real Wood and premium rubber compound dash, real metal trim, Adaptive Cruise Control, Frontal Impact protection, collision warning w/ brake support, Blinde spot warning system, personal car communicator, a state of the art 4.4 V-8, park assist camera, etc etc
Forget the new S80 - Get an older S80.(1998 960 with a different badge on it).
Wonderful RWD inline-6 cars. The last of the old Swedish "Bricks", much like the older E and S class Mercedes of the same vintage were. I'd take either over anything new, even a new S80.
I respect your opinion but those old Swedish "Bricks" are like clay when you really compare them to the new and very much improved, Greatest automobile on earth in the new 2007 Volvo S80
In my opinion the new S80 has no rivals in design, safety, fit and finish, pal. You get the safety of All-Wheel Drive, which means if I wanna leave in a blizzard in West Texas, and head to Michigan, inclement weather won't stop me.
If I wanna cruise the open vacant highways of West Texas, at 120+ mph, I'm good to go. I'm safe, my wife is safe, and most importantly My Kids are Safe, because we would be riding in a tank on 4 wheels :shades:
If I wanna Jam, all I gotta do is turn the knob all the way to the right to hear one of the greatest surround sound systems on the planet and make my ear drums turn to mush. :surprise:
If it's 110 degrees outside, all I have to do is hit a button and the moisture will be wisked away off my backside.
No car really compares to what this new S80 offers a male that likes his cars to be bold, elegant, contemporary all at the same time. The 2007' Volvo delivers like no other automobile on this planet.
DETROIT — General Motors launched a new corporate blog, fyi.gmblogs.com, on Wednesday that is designed to give "all GM employees" a new forum for connecting with the public, the automaker said.
The new blog hinted that the company's FastLane blog had become little more than a soapbox for GM vice chairman Bob Lutz, who admitted this month that his musings there have been infrequent recently. "While we are certainly happy with the conversation that the FastLane has created, for the most part, it has been the exclusive domain of some of our most senior executives, particularly Bob Lutz (most of us even call it Bob's blog)," wrote Michael Wiley, GM director of new media.
"The FYI blog will highlight the positive developments that occur at GM on a daily basis, though we won't shy away from controversy," Wiley asserted. "Whereas the FastLane blog usually gets new entries once or twice a week, the FYI blog aspires to be much more active."
The new blog says it will include entries written by "third parties who are not GM employees."
One of the first entries was a story with the headline "Kansas Governor Leads on Flexible Fuel" written by Ken Cole, GM vice president of corporate relations.
What this means to you: Looks a lot like the old blog to us.
I see some of the Edmunds Staff are getting a little defensive about the competition
This is my favorite site on the whole internet, and I won't be going anywhere. I do wish Edmunds could lure GM's VIP's for a chat someday
CSI Detroit? GMC Creates Its Own Mobile Analysis Unit Date posted: 04-20-2006
DETROIT — GMC said it donated two 2007 GMC Yukons to Los Angeles and Las Vegas law enforcement on Tuesday as part of an initiative with the TV series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. The General Motors brand, working with forensic consultants, designed and manufactured the Yukon-based Mobile Analysis Unit (MAU), which includes a stainless-steel mobile command center and illuminated slide-out Plexiglas evidence trays.
Other features include a power liftgate, an integrated KVH TracVision A5 in-motion digital satellite TV receiver, 20-inch polished-aluminum wheels and chrome tubular assist steps.
"We've worked closely with the show's creative team to ensure the MAU was both functional and realistic as a crime-fighting tool," said Steve Rosenblum, GMC marketing director. "We're thrilled that beyond the show, the vehicle will be put to the test by real-life law enforcement officials."
As you might expect, TV commercials featuring the Mobile Analysis Unit are forthcoming.
What this means to you: Skip the cupholders and give us an evidence tray in our next Yukon.
TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp. is developing ethanol-based cars for Brazil and plans to introduce those vehicles in the U.S. by 2008, according to the Financial Times.
The Japanese automaker, a market leader in gas-electric hybrids, has resisted the technology up to this point, which left the market open to domestic automakers such as General Motors and Ford. Detroit's domestic manufacturers currently have more than 1.5 million flex-fuel vehicles on the road in the United States.
Toyota is said to be worried about the impact of highly corrosive ethanol on rubber seals in the engine. Toyota's debut ethanol vehicle would be fitted with new anti-corrosive parts to meet U.S. regulations, but the automaker suggested that a less ambitious strategy of mixing only 10-to-15-percent ethanol into gasoline might produce greater savings, the paper said.
President Bush has called for more ethanol use to reduce dependence on foreign oil.
What this means to you: This move by Toyota, long a fan of hybrids as the next step in fuel-smart transportation, doesn't mean the company is blinking by accepting ethanol — more like it's covering its bets and letting GM pick up the advertising tab.
What Edmunds Really Wanted To Say:
Toyota is finally following GM's lead on something.
U.S. automakers, suppliers push Bush to demand China's help in fighting counterfeiters.
WASHINGTON -- When President Bush meets with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the White House today, automakers and auto suppliers are hoping for some arm-twisting on a nagging problem: the growing counterfeiting of auto parts in China that end up under the hoods of U.S. vehicles.
The auto parts industry estimates counterfeit parts has become a $12 billion problem worldwide, with $3 billion in phony auto parts sold in the United States.
The Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association -- a trade group representing suppliers -- says Chinese companies are responsible for 80 percent of fake auto parts in the United States.
At an annual trade show in Las Vegas last year, nine companies were kicked out by the trade association for displaying counterfeit parts, including eight from China.
"China is by far the biggest problem in the United States when it becomes to counterfeit parts," said Neal Zipser, a vice president for the association. "When people buy a fake Rolex or Gucci handbag, they know they aren't getting the real thing. But when people get an oil filter or brake pads, they don't want to take a chance on buying a knockoff."
Fake oil filters have destroyed car engines and phony brake pads have been linked to accidents, Zipser said.
General Motors Corp. has seized more than $250 million in counterfeit auto parts in the past two decades, shutting down hundreds of counterfeiting operations, spokesman Tom Henderson said Wednesday.
Last September, Dubai destroyed 500,000 counterfeit GM spark plugs, which had been manufactured in China. As many as 20 percent of spare parts in the Middle East are counterfeit.
A study in India suggested that 37 percent of aftermarket parts in India were counterfeit.
"We've put quite a few resources behind fighting the problem globally," Henderson said. "We work aggressively with law enforcement and stop counterfeiters where we find them."
Delphi Corp. -- the largest U.S. auto supplier -- said the company also has seen a growing number of different auto parts counterfeited -- like shocks and compressors. "We are working with our trade organization to get our arms around the problem," said John Anderson, a company spokesman.
Last month, President Bush signed the Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act, whose chief sponsor is U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Township.
The bill stiffened penalties for violating trademark laws by requiring the destruction of equipment used to make counterfeit goods and makes it illegal to traffic in counterfeit trademarks such as labels, patches and medallions. Previously, the law only forbid trafficking in trademarks when the labels are physically attached to goods.
Knollenberg says Bush can use the meeting to remind the Chinese to respect trademarks. "It's an excellent opportunity for the president to make a point about protecting intellectual property rights," he said Wednesday.
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, has made the issue a priority, and even displays pictures of counterfeit oil filters and spark plug wire sets on his congressional Web site.
"The global auto parts market is flooded with fake, Chinese made parts, which claim to be genuine, American-made auto parts," Rogers says.
The FBI and U.S. Customs officials have taken an interest in stopping the flow of counterfeit parts. Last July, the FBI held a briefing for the auto parts industry on the counterfeiting issue and has opened investigations into the sale of counterfeit auto parts. Last year, auto parts companies got a crash course in the legal system in China at a seminar in Dearborn.
GM emphasizes it works to keep bad parts out of its supply chain and that no fake parts have shown up at its dealerships.
"Make sure you go to a trusted source to buy your parts," GM's Henderson says. "If someone is selling you oil filters out of the back of a truck, they probably aren't the real thing."
What this means to us: Just when you think they were satisfied with making Mercedes Benz knock-offs, they got to copy our suppliers making parts that have trademarks and patents on them. :mad: Is global really that good for the united states, think about it ? :sick:
Efforts to rein in employee health costs are causing an expensive backlash
The auto industry's efforts to rein in employee health costs is causing an expensive backlash, as union workers and their spouses hurry to Michigan doctors for knee replacements and other elective procedures before they lose their comprehensive medical benefits.
Hospitals, doctors and insurers have all noticed a surge in demand for elective surgery since last year when Rick Wagoner, the chief executive of General Motors Corp., led a public relations campaign to prepare autoworkers for health care cutbacks, and Delphi, the GM parts supplier, filed for bankruptcy.
Hip, knee and shoulder replacements at the Henry Ford Health System were "up 20 percent in the second half of last year and remain strong," said Robert Riney, chief operating officer of the system, the largest hospital group in the Detroit.
"In the last six months, we've noticed a significant increase in people seeking elective surgical procedures in anticipation that they might be losing their health benefits," Riney said.
Among smaller medical systems, William Beaumont Hospital said it had had several hundred more surgeries of all types since Jan. 1, compared with the same period in 2005.
Mickolynn Schacher is among those determined to take advantage of generous health benefits while she can.
Fearing that her husband, Ronald, an electrician at Delphi, may soon lose his health coverage, Schacher, 56, is rushing to have artificial knees installed while he still has full benefits under his United Auto Workers contract.
"I had my right knee replaced on Jan. 31 and scheduled my left knee for June 12," Schacher said. "I'm trying to get them both in before my husband retires or whatever happens." The combined cost, at McLaren Regional Medical Center in Flint will be about $28,000.
Her husband's company, Delphi, is seeking approval for drastic cuts in wages and benefits, in a three-way negotiation with the autoworkers' union, GM and a bankruptcy judge.
Meanwhile, under an agreement with the union in December, GM and Ford retirees will start paying monthly health care premiums, annual deductibles, and co-payments for some services. Whether current workers take buyout packages and in many cases voluntarily give up health benefits, or hang on and risk eventually losing jobs and benefits anyway, there are no guarantees.
"It's like a roulette wheel you bet on in Las Vegas," said Uwe E. Reinhardt, a health economist at Princeton University. "It's an agonizing decision."
GM is offering $140,000 to hourly employees with 10 years of service who agree to drop their health care benefits. Ford has offered $100,000 in a similar deal to workers in several of its plants. Analysts said that, depending on the worker's age, the GM offer might cover only about half of future health care costs for typical workers, assuming they did not find another job with at least some medical coverage.
Company and union officials have been holding meetings at 85 GM plants. Richard Shoemaker, a UAW vice president, said that workers were being told, "If you don't have a spouse that has health insurance or is covered some other way, you need to think long and hard about taking the buyout."
General Motors Corp. said late Wednesday that its worldwide vehicle sales rose 4.4% during the first three months of 2006, suggesting it won't give up its title as the world's largest automaker to Toyota Motor Corp. without a fight.
GM, expected today to post another dismal quarter of earnings, said its sales around the world grew to 2.2 million vehicles from January to March, fueled by strong results outside North America, where GM has been losing billions of dollars.
GM's sales outside North America rose 148,000, or 15.9%, during the first quarter, more than twice the industry average growth rate of 7.4%, GM said.
GM has been the global leader in automotive sales for 75 years. However, Toyota's strong sales growth, fueled by its massive investment in new vehicles, is widely expected to push the Japanese automaker ahead of GM in annual results within a few years at most.
GM's global sales were boosted by strong results for the Chevrolet, Hummer, Saab and Cadillac brands, GM CEO Rick Wagoner said in a news release.
"These brands account for one out of every two GM vehicles sold globally and complement our well-known regional brands like Opel, GMC and Holden," he said.
GM board member Jerome York said in January before he joined the board that the Saab and Hummer brands were not core to the company, and that GM should consider shedding both brands.
Hummer's global sales surged 202% in the first quarter on the addition of the new H3 SUV, the smallest and most-affordable vehicle in the brand lineup. Hummer sales in the United States rose 185% during the period.
Worldwide Saab sales climbed 23.2%, boosted by 27.7% growth in Europe and a 12% rise in the United States.
GM's mass-market Chevrolet brand enjoyed strong sales in all regions except the United States. Chevrolet sales in the Asia Pacific region rose 62% versus the industry's growth rate of 9%, GM said. Chevrolet sales in Latin America grew 27.4%, outpacing the industry's growth rate of 19%. In Europe, Chevrolet sales climbed 8.1% compared with regional growth of 4.5%.
Sales of Cadillac outside of the United States grew 19.4% in the first quarter, supported by a 246% gain in China and 32% growth in Canada. The rollout of the new Escalade SUV and the all-new BLS luxury sedan is expected to fuel stronger Cadillac sales in the second quarter, GM said.
Despite the sales gains, GM is widely expected to report a sharp loss again today. GM said last week that it would take a charge of up to $3 billion for payments to a new health care fund stemming from the recent agreement with the UAW to shift more medical costs to retirees.
A 5.5% drop in GM's U.S. sales during the first quarter and rising costs for employee health care -- as well as materials such as steel and oil products used in vehicles -- also are expected to contribute to the weaker first-quarter earnings.
NEW YORK -- The folks at Saturn have been talking about the brand's renaissance for more than a year, and finally they have something to show for it.
Dealers this year will have three new models and a hybrid SUV to sell in addition to a minivan and the two- and four-door versions of the Ion small car. This from a brand that, for most of the 1990s, had only three iterations of the same sedan.
That expansion of the brand's offerings is extremely important. Saturn sales were up less than 1% last year and, at 213,600, off their peak of 286,000 in 1994. The brand accounts for about 1% of the marketplace and is similar in size to Mercury, Volkswagen and Acura.
But from its beginning in 1990, Saturn customers have been incredibly loyal. And top executives from owner General Motors acknowledge that many of them don't know their car is built by a domestic automaker. They think Saturn is an Asian brand.
That makes Saturn GM's best shot at stealing customers from Toyota and Honda. "Saturn has always been the one brand in the GM lineup suitable for attracting import-intenders," says Bob Lutz, vice chairman of global product development.
The automaker is relying on a close collaboration with its European brand, Opel, to help restyle Saturn.
New on the road this year from Saturn:
• Sky roadster. This two-seater started reaching showrooms in the last three weeks, but Lutz says dealers already have ordered as many as they can for this year. The head-turning car is based on the same platform as Pontiac Solstice. It starts at $23,690.
A pumped-up version of Sky, called Red Line, will hit the market this fall.
• Hybrid Vue SUV. Saturn hopes to attract hybrid customers by offering a cheaper electric option. While most gas-electric hybrid systems add $3,000 to the sticker price, GM says the hybrid Vue will be only $2,000 more than the gas-only version at about $23,000. It will get 20% better fuel economy.
• Aura sedan. Set to hit showrooms this fall, Aura looks a lot like the Opel Vectra sold in Europe. It's sleek on the outside, and customers will love or hate the dark brown, leather-heavy interior. But it's anything but boring.
• Outlook crossover. It's a latecomer to the crossover market, hitting showrooms at the tail end of 2006.
But Saturn hopes it has fixed some of the common complaints consumers have about crossovers, which are meant to satisfy those who want SUV-like capability and convenience with car-like drive and feel.
The three-row vehicle has easier access to the last row than most because the second-row seats slide forward to make ample room.
You heard me. After all ONLY the JAPANESE know how to make a nice desirable vehicle. Right ? Why the demand for this 2-seater ? Simple, other than the aesthetics they have SEVERELY limited production and availability. Just like the Japanese GM has learned to "create" the aura of desirability.(Again this is only public "perception") I happen to like the car. When the supercharged version hits the street look out. The Saturn version is not as retro. It is however very sexy.
>The point that I made above was that GM needs to time a personal humble apology of sorts -- no coyness, just come out and admit that you blew it with a personal appeal -- with a couple of... The smart thing about the Iacocca ads during the early 80's was that the appeal was personal in nature ...-but it's going to take someone in top management such as Wagoner or whoever sits as CEO to do it.
Now that's one post of yours I can agree with. I just happened to land on it and read it. As I've said I usually skip posts because they're repetitive and argumentative to boredom.
>They use data taken from the actual car owners survey. So the Consumer Report readers go out and buy a domestic make so they can bash it, as you would say, in the survey. Kinda an expensive way to get your point across, now isn't it?
Not what was discussed: the problem is with the polling method and then acting as if the survey has validity through the brands and models of cars without giving data about the returns for each model and the survey numbers for each model. We've said this over.
I realize that some who troll here just to criticize GM prefer to view things through lemon-colored glasses... but.
DETROIT (Reuters) -- General Motors on Thursday posted its sixth straight quarterly loss as the automaker struggled to cut high labor and health-care costs in the face of a steepening decline in U.S. sales.
The world's largest automaker reported a first-quarter net loss of $323 million, compared with a loss of $1.3 billion a year earlier.
GM, which lost $10.6 billion in 2005, posted a gain of just over 4 percent in global vehicle sales in the first quarter, but a drop of 5 percent in the U.S. market, where its strategy hinges on the success of a new line of sport-utility vehicles.
Excluding one-time items, but including a $1 billion pre-tax health-care charge, GM lost $529 million.
Analysts on average had forecast a loss of 42 cents per share, according to Reuters Estimates.
Stated in the above is that GM took a one time charge of $1 billion for health care and lost a total of $529 million. Does this mean that if they did not have the unoin health care retiree charge that they would have made about $500 million?
Comments
Did not knkow about the Aura. wonder what the difference is. I remember the 267 hp has to do with induction or something like that.
I've walked away in a 70 mph crash against a cattle truck in my 2002 Cadillac Seville STS. I know what it feels like to be crushed. I would be even more confident in a
Volvo S80 with all of it's safety features to save my life. Volvo's safety features that Hyundai doesn't have can't be overlooked. The Crash Tests performed by the government are a wimpy 35 mph offset. Whoopie do :confuse:
I'll pay the extra dough to insure myself and my family are atleast driving a safe car.
Rocky
To each their own I suppose. If you like driving tinaments, then so be it.
Rocky
Here are the results:
Tibby / Cobalt
Overall Q: No data / 2 of 5
Mechan Q: No Data / 3 0f 5
Body & Int.
Q: No Data / 2 0f 5
Feature &
Access Q: No Data / 3 of 5
Overall
Appeal: 3 of 5 / 3 of 5
Comfort: 3 of 5 / 3 of 5
Style: 3 of 5 / 3 of 5
Overall
Depend: 2 of 5 / No Data
Mechanical
Depend: 2 of 5 / No Data
Body &
Interior
Depend: 2 of 5 / No Data
Feature &
Access: 2 of 5 / No Data
Some observations:
First, I did not get an overall rating for this Tibby. Appears maybe we were comparing Apples to oranges? Or at least different priced models.
Second, when I average the Cobalt score, I come closer to 3 of 5 than when I average the Tibby scores.
Third, the Cobalt does pretty well in a lot of important categories.
Great Post Pal....
Rocky
You want the Mustang built at OKC, Rocky????? :P
I also notices none of you would step up to the plate in a head on colission, giving me further ammo that you all know the Volvo S80 can't be matched in safety by pretty much anybody. It makes common sense that a VCR on wheels would have the capability of building a sturdy frame, and employ the level of safety features, at a fraction of the cost using whips and chains for labor corrections.
BTW- you name me a safer car than the Volvo S80 :P
Rocky
Rocky
Please.......Here comes the apples to pears IMO
Rocky
I won't debate the numbers with you, Rocky, you may be right. But that pathetic 2.8L V-6 with the leaking intake manifold they put in the Camaro was a disgraceful car!!
Besides, Ford invented the Pony car. They have reinvented it again now. GM did so well with the Camaro, they had to abandon the market, just as they did the Police U Taxi market.
I submit, if GM had been on their game, Ford would be gone by now......
You are right and that's why GM no longer builds a Camaro. The entry level model is what has allowed the Mustang to survive for 40+ years.
Plus, the Camaro/TransAm got very expensive. I remember looking at a late 90's T/A convertible that stickered for over $36k. Who in there right mind would pay $36k for that POC. Makes the new Mustang GT Convertible look like a bargain.
Rocky
I'm just saying, don't get defensive on me! I'm with you.
Like Sophia Scofield said in her song "Prove it" :P
I'll take a new 2007 Scandinavian Volvo S80 anyday over your yuppie Asian Lexus, you are correct there really isn't a comparison
Rocky
Rocky
Most new design USA built cars seem to improve in the third or fourth year of production. So if I was looking for a Mustang it would be the '07 or '08.
For gas mileage, it seems GM is pretty darn good for a base V6 which seem to get around 31 MPG for say the Monte or the Impala. It seems like the prices on those are pretty low, unless you want the side air bags, and a couple other items. Then the prices are closer to Japan makes, and more than the Hyundai.
Now, I suppose the question is, why can't Hyundai, with a brand new car, built in a brand new plant in USA, be as good as any other make. The current data shows most people are pleased with the car. I have no way of knowing if the car implodes in five years. Likewise, no one really knows if the car is not going to be as good as say the Honda in five to ten years since this is a new Hyundai - a new Sonata, and all new parts, built in a new plant.
Most cars seem to be improving for reliability. So I am sure among the list is most GM cars. Forgetting what I owned back when, which is not always easy to do, I am sure that most people are having pretty fair reliability on GM cars. That said, the new models, like the Cobalt, I would still be leery of. Still have in the back of my mind, wait a couple of years on new domestic models AND if not a super low price always consider domestic cars in the used car market.
The new stuff, like the Sonata compared to say the Impala gets real interesting on paper at any rate. You add up all the stuff on Hyundai, then add the warranty, and you will see why some went on over. Some will say Korean cars are junk, and I do take equal note of that to those which have had crappy domestic cars, and say they are crap. These is todays cars, not yesteryears, and tomorrow will tell how good they both are.
-Loren
If your scared, just say your scared. :P
Rocky
Rocky
The gas mileage on the base model is pretty good. The handling doesn't seem to impress the press much, but it seems OK to me. Not what I would say is quick, but it is not meant to be tossed around like a Celica lightweight and seemed like it was good on a test drive I took of a 2005 model car. The interior looks about medium grade. The throwback style of a car with big doors, fairly large, and following todays styling rules of thumb I find a bit interesting. Resale value would indicate this is more a used car buy unless you keep it for say five years or more. There is something to be said for having a unique car. No, not so unique as the ugly Edsel car, but rather something which has some old-time charm in a new design. Reaching for the right words here. It is not a knock out beauty, nor what is considered even proper proportions in car style drawings, yet it does not strive to be some other car. It is not a Euro car knock-off. Not sure the current change of the front made sense. It appears to be off the previous model of the Monte. Which leads to question two. Was the more simple lined '99 Monte Carlo a better design?
-Loren
- Loren
It's a bizarre comparison though... a premium brand's top model vs. a value brand's middle model. Even S60 vs. Azera would be an unfair comparison in the Volvo's favor. But hey, easy win for you! :P
-Loren
Rocky
--end quote--
Going by the data, I would say the Sonata, to name one. I don't have the time to look up every car made, but I am sure there are plenty matching and/or surpassing the Volvos. The Volvo, when money is no object, would be a good car to own. But a RWD car would make more sense in that price range to me. As for crashing into cars, I guess you could go out and buy a Hummer. That should be a good one to destroy the opponent.
You do know the Sonata is made in USA. They are happy workers, I would think. Well, I mean most may be. In any labor force you have those people which are mad at the world. They are just unhappy with life. So what is all this about the workers quality, and the cars being tinny? Looks to me like the 3.3 V6 is a modern engine compared to some relics of a different age produced by..... No please, no more discussions on OHV engines. They are fine, the world is fine, they produce power to the wheels, decent gas mileage, easier to work on, and whatever. Just saying the Hyundai is a modern engine with great HP. Better or not, the car is new, the plant is new - give them a break will ya, it looks like they are on course. And NO I can not see into the future five to ten years to know if the cars really do last that long.
-Loren :shades:
I was never implying you were a dummy Loren, and sorry if I came across that way. I however am going to call whoever did the test a dummy.
The price of the car makes no difference in the crash results. We disagree to a certain extent. The Volvo has one heckuva lot more safety features than the Sonata, and the new one widens that gap by a considerable margin.
Volvo and the Sonata were crash tested by the same method. If Sonata does well, it should be noted, as this is a car more people can afford than the overpriced Volvo, with gold plated parts pricing when they need replacing.
I'm not sure if one could call a Volvo a over priced car if you look at what you get for your money vs. what you get for your money in the Sonata. The Volvo has a state of the art interior, very comfy seats with whiplash protection, crumple zones, DYNAUDIO surround sound, Real Wood and premium rubber compound dash, real metal trim, Adaptive Cruise Control, Frontal Impact protection, collision warning w/ brake support, Blinde spot warning system, personal car communicator, a state of the art 4.4 V-8, park assist camera, etc etc
Rocky
Wonderful RWD inline-6 cars. The last of the old Swedish "Bricks", much like the older E and S class Mercedes of the same vintage were. I'd take either over anything new, even a new S80.
I respect your opinion but those old Swedish "Bricks" are like clay when you really compare them to the new and very much improved, Greatest automobile on earth in the new 2007 Volvo S80
In my opinion the new S80 has no rivals in design, safety, fit and finish, pal. You get the safety of All-Wheel Drive, which means if I wanna leave in a blizzard in West Texas, and head to Michigan, inclement weather won't stop me.
If I wanna cruise the open vacant highways of West Texas, at 120+ mph, I'm good to go.
If I wanna Jam, all I gotta do is turn the knob all the way to the right to hear one of the greatest surround sound systems on the planet and make my ear drums turn to mush. :surprise:
If it's 110 degrees outside, all I have to do is hit a button and the moisture will be wisked away off my backside.
No car really compares to what this new S80 offers a male that likes his cars to be bold, elegant, contemporary all at the same time. The 2007' Volvo delivers like no other automobile on this planet.
Rocky
DETROIT — General Motors launched a new corporate blog, fyi.gmblogs.com, on Wednesday that is designed to give "all GM employees" a new forum for connecting with the public, the automaker said.
The new blog hinted that the company's FastLane blog had become little more than a soapbox for GM vice chairman Bob Lutz, who admitted this month that his musings there have been infrequent recently. "While we are certainly happy with the conversation that the FastLane has created, for the most part, it has been the exclusive domain of some of our most senior executives, particularly Bob Lutz (most of us even call it Bob's blog)," wrote Michael Wiley, GM director of new media.
"The FYI blog will highlight the positive developments that occur at GM on a daily basis, though we won't shy away from controversy," Wiley asserted. "Whereas the FastLane blog usually gets new entries once or twice a week, the FYI blog aspires to be much more active."
The new blog says it will include entries written by "third parties who are not GM employees."
One of the first entries was a story with the headline "Kansas Governor Leads on Flexible Fuel" written by Ken Cole, GM vice president of corporate relations.
What this means to you: Looks a lot like the old blog to us.
I see some of the Edmunds Staff are getting a little defensive about the competition
This is my favorite site on the whole internet, and I won't be going anywhere. I do wish Edmunds could lure GM's VIP's for a chat someday
Rocky
Date posted: 04-20-2006
DETROIT — GMC said it donated two 2007 GMC Yukons to Los Angeles and Las Vegas law enforcement on Tuesday as part of an initiative with the TV series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. The General Motors brand, working with forensic consultants, designed and manufactured the Yukon-based Mobile Analysis Unit (MAU), which includes a stainless-steel mobile command center and illuminated slide-out Plexiglas evidence trays.
Other features include a power liftgate, an integrated KVH TracVision A5 in-motion digital satellite TV receiver, 20-inch polished-aluminum wheels and chrome tubular assist steps.
"We've worked closely with the show's creative team to ensure the MAU was both functional and realistic as a crime-fighting tool," said Steve Rosenblum, GMC marketing director. "We're thrilled that beyond the show, the vehicle will be put to the test by real-life law enforcement officials."
As you might expect, TV commercials featuring the Mobile Analysis Unit are forthcoming.
What this means to you: Skip the cupholders and give us an evidence tray in our next Yukon.
TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp. is developing ethanol-based cars for Brazil and plans to introduce those vehicles in the U.S. by 2008, according to the Financial Times.
The Japanese automaker, a market leader in gas-electric hybrids, has resisted the technology up to this point, which left the market open to domestic automakers such as General Motors and Ford. Detroit's domestic manufacturers currently have more than 1.5 million flex-fuel vehicles on the road in the United States.
Toyota is said to be worried about the impact of highly corrosive ethanol on rubber seals in the engine. Toyota's debut ethanol vehicle would be fitted with new anti-corrosive parts to meet U.S. regulations, but the automaker suggested that a less ambitious strategy of mixing only 10-to-15-percent ethanol into gasoline might produce greater savings, the paper said.
President Bush has called for more ethanol use to reduce dependence on foreign oil.
What this means to you: This move by Toyota, long a fan of hybrids as the next step in fuel-smart transportation, doesn't mean the company is blinking by accepting ethanol — more like it's covering its bets and letting GM pick up the advertising tab.
What Edmunds Really Wanted To Say:
Toyota is finally following GM's lead on something.
Rocky
Rocky
WASHINGTON -- When President Bush meets with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the White House today, automakers and auto suppliers are hoping for some arm-twisting on a nagging problem: the growing counterfeiting of auto parts in China that end up under the hoods of U.S. vehicles.
The auto parts industry estimates counterfeit parts has become a $12 billion problem worldwide, with $3 billion in phony auto parts sold in the United States.
The Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association -- a trade group representing suppliers -- says Chinese companies are responsible for 80 percent of fake auto parts in the United States.
At an annual trade show in Las Vegas last year, nine companies were kicked out by the trade association for displaying counterfeit parts, including eight from China.
"China is by far the biggest problem in the United States when it becomes to counterfeit parts," said Neal Zipser, a vice president for the association. "When people buy a fake Rolex or Gucci handbag, they know they aren't getting the real thing. But when people get an oil filter or brake pads, they don't want to take a chance on buying a knockoff."
Fake oil filters have destroyed car engines and phony brake pads have been linked to accidents, Zipser said.
General Motors Corp. has seized more than $250 million in counterfeit auto parts in the past two decades, shutting down hundreds of counterfeiting operations, spokesman Tom Henderson said Wednesday.
Last September, Dubai destroyed 500,000 counterfeit GM spark plugs, which had been manufactured in China. As many as 20 percent of spare parts in the Middle East are counterfeit.
A study in India suggested that 37 percent of aftermarket parts in India were counterfeit.
"We've put quite a few resources behind fighting the problem globally," Henderson said. "We work aggressively with law enforcement and stop counterfeiters where we find them."
Delphi Corp. -- the largest U.S. auto supplier -- said the company also has seen a growing number of different auto parts counterfeited -- like shocks and compressors. "We are working with our trade organization to get our arms around the problem," said John Anderson, a company spokesman.
Last month, President Bush signed the Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act, whose chief sponsor is U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Township.
The bill stiffened penalties for violating trademark laws by requiring the destruction of equipment used to make counterfeit goods and makes it illegal to traffic in counterfeit trademarks such as labels, patches and medallions. Previously, the law only forbid trafficking in trademarks when the labels are physically attached to goods.
Knollenberg says Bush can use the meeting to remind the Chinese to respect trademarks. "It's an excellent opportunity for the president to make a point about protecting intellectual property rights," he said Wednesday.
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, has made the issue a priority, and even displays pictures of counterfeit oil filters and spark plug wire sets on his congressional Web site.
"The global auto parts market is flooded with fake, Chinese made parts, which claim to be genuine, American-made auto parts," Rogers says.
The FBI and U.S. Customs officials have taken an interest in stopping the flow of counterfeit parts. Last July, the FBI held a briefing for the auto parts industry on the counterfeiting issue and has opened investigations into the sale of counterfeit auto parts. Last year, auto parts companies got a crash course in the legal system in China at a seminar in Dearborn.
GM emphasizes it works to keep bad parts out of its supply chain and that no fake parts have shown up at its dealerships.
"Make sure you go to a trusted source to buy your parts," GM's Henderson says. "If someone is selling you oil filters out of the back of a truck, they probably aren't the real thing."
What this means to us: Just when you think they were satisfied with making Mercedes Benz knock-offs, they got to copy our suppliers making parts that have trademarks and patents on them. :mad: Is global really that good for the united states, think about it ? :sick:
http://www.detroitnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060420/AUTO01/604200374/- 1148
Rocky
The auto industry's efforts to rein in employee health costs is causing an expensive backlash, as union workers and their spouses hurry to Michigan doctors for knee replacements and other elective procedures before they lose their comprehensive medical benefits.
Hospitals, doctors and insurers have all noticed a surge in demand for elective surgery since last year when Rick Wagoner, the chief executive of General Motors Corp., led a public relations campaign to prepare autoworkers for health care cutbacks, and Delphi, the GM parts supplier, filed for bankruptcy.
Hip, knee and shoulder replacements at the Henry Ford Health System were "up 20 percent in the second half of last year and remain strong," said Robert Riney, chief operating officer of the system, the largest hospital group in the Detroit.
"In the last six months, we've noticed a significant increase in people seeking elective surgical procedures in anticipation that they might be losing their health benefits," Riney said.
Among smaller medical systems, William Beaumont Hospital said it had had several hundred more surgeries of all types since Jan. 1, compared with the same period in 2005.
Mickolynn Schacher is among those determined to take advantage of generous health benefits while she can.
Fearing that her husband, Ronald, an electrician at Delphi, may soon lose his health coverage, Schacher, 56, is rushing to have artificial knees installed while he still has full benefits under his United Auto Workers contract.
"I had my right knee replaced on Jan. 31 and scheduled my left knee for June 12," Schacher said. "I'm trying to get them both in before my husband retires or whatever happens." The combined cost, at McLaren Regional Medical Center in Flint will be about $28,000.
Her husband's company, Delphi, is seeking approval for drastic cuts in wages and benefits, in a three-way negotiation with the autoworkers' union, GM and a bankruptcy judge.
Meanwhile, under an agreement with the union in December, GM and Ford retirees will start paying monthly health care premiums, annual deductibles, and co-payments for some services. Whether current workers take buyout packages and in many cases voluntarily give up health benefits, or hang on and risk eventually losing jobs and benefits anyway, there are no guarantees.
"It's like a roulette wheel you bet on in Las Vegas," said Uwe E. Reinhardt, a health economist at Princeton University. "It's an agonizing decision."
GM is offering $140,000 to hourly employees with 10 years of service who agree to drop their health care benefits. Ford has offered $100,000 in a similar deal to workers in several of its plants. Analysts said that, depending on the worker's age, the GM offer might cover only about half of future health care costs for typical workers, assuming they did not find another job with at least some medical coverage.
Company and union officials have been holding meetings at 85 GM plants. Richard Shoemaker, a UAW vice president, said that workers were being told, "If you don't have a spouse that has health insurance or is covered some other way, you need to think long and hard about taking the buyout."
Rocky
General Motors Corp. said late Wednesday that its worldwide vehicle sales rose 4.4% during the first three months of 2006, suggesting it won't give up its title as the world's largest automaker to Toyota Motor Corp. without a fight.
GM, expected today to post another dismal quarter of earnings, said its sales around the world grew to 2.2 million vehicles from January to March, fueled by strong results outside North America, where GM has been losing billions of dollars.
GM's sales outside North America rose 148,000, or 15.9%, during the first quarter, more than twice the industry average growth rate of 7.4%, GM said.
GM has been the global leader in automotive sales for 75 years. However, Toyota's strong sales growth, fueled by its massive investment in new vehicles, is widely expected to push the Japanese automaker ahead of GM in annual results within a few years at most.
GM's global sales were boosted by strong results for the Chevrolet, Hummer, Saab and Cadillac brands, GM CEO Rick Wagoner said in a news release.
"These brands account for one out of every two GM vehicles sold globally and complement our well-known regional brands like Opel, GMC and Holden," he said.
GM board member Jerome York said in January before he joined the board that the Saab and Hummer brands were not core to the company, and that GM should consider shedding both brands.
Hummer's global sales surged 202% in the first quarter on the addition of the new H3 SUV, the smallest and most-affordable vehicle in the brand lineup. Hummer sales in the United States rose 185% during the period.
Worldwide Saab sales climbed 23.2%, boosted by 27.7% growth in Europe and a 12% rise in the United States.
GM's mass-market Chevrolet brand enjoyed strong sales in all regions except the United States. Chevrolet sales in the Asia Pacific region rose 62% versus the industry's growth rate of 9%, GM said. Chevrolet sales in Latin America grew 27.4%, outpacing the industry's growth rate of 19%. In Europe, Chevrolet sales climbed 8.1% compared with regional growth of 4.5%.
Sales of Cadillac outside of the United States grew 19.4% in the first quarter, supported by a 246% gain in China and 32% growth in Canada. The rollout of the new Escalade SUV and the all-new BLS luxury sedan is expected to fuel stronger Cadillac sales in the second quarter, GM said.
Despite the sales gains, GM is widely expected to report a sharp loss again today. GM said last week that it would take a charge of up to $3 billion for payments to a new health care fund stemming from the recent agreement with the UAW to shift more medical costs to retirees.
A 5.5% drop in GM's U.S. sales during the first quarter and rising costs for employee health care -- as well as materials such as steel and oil products used in vehicles -- also are expected to contribute to the weaker first-quarter earnings.
What this means to us GM fans and loyalists:
"Our Purple Dinosaur isn't dead yet" :P
Rocky
NEW YORK -- The folks at Saturn have been talking about the brand's renaissance for more than a year, and finally they have something to show for it.
Dealers this year will have three new models and a hybrid SUV to sell in addition to a minivan and the two- and four-door versions of the Ion small car. This from a brand that, for most of the 1990s, had only three iterations of the same sedan.
That expansion of the brand's offerings is extremely important. Saturn sales were up less than 1% last year and, at 213,600, off their peak of 286,000 in 1994. The brand accounts for about 1% of the marketplace and is similar in size to Mercury, Volkswagen and Acura.
But from its beginning in 1990, Saturn customers have been incredibly loyal. And top executives from owner General Motors acknowledge that many of them don't know their car is built by a domestic automaker. They think Saturn is an Asian brand.
That makes Saturn GM's best shot at stealing customers from Toyota and Honda. "Saturn has always been the one brand in the GM lineup suitable for attracting import-intenders," says Bob Lutz, vice chairman of global product development.
The automaker is relying on a close collaboration with its European brand, Opel, to help restyle Saturn.
New on the road this year from Saturn:
• Sky roadster. This two-seater started reaching showrooms in the last three weeks, but Lutz says dealers already have ordered as many as they can for this year. The head-turning car is based on the same platform as Pontiac Solstice. It starts at $23,690.
A pumped-up version of Sky, called Red Line, will hit the market this fall.
• Hybrid Vue SUV. Saturn hopes to attract hybrid customers by offering a cheaper electric option. While most gas-electric hybrid systems add $3,000 to the sticker price, GM says the hybrid Vue will be only $2,000 more than the gas-only version at about $23,000. It will get 20% better fuel economy.
• Aura sedan. Set to hit showrooms this fall, Aura looks a lot like the Opel Vectra sold in Europe. It's sleek on the outside, and customers will love or hate the dark brown, leather-heavy interior. But it's anything but boring.
• Outlook crossover. It's a latecomer to the crossover market, hitting showrooms at the tail end of 2006.
But Saturn hopes it has fixed some of the common complaints consumers have about crossovers, which are meant to satisfy those who want SUV-like capability and convenience with car-like drive and feel.
The three-row vehicle has easier access to the last row than most because the second-row seats slide forward to make ample room.
Rocky
http://search.netscape.com/ns/boomframe.jsp?query=detroitnews.com&page=1&offset=- - - - 0&result_url=redir%3Fsrc%3Dwebsearch%26requestId%3D26fabe075d6bac1a%26clickedIte- - - - mRank%3D4%26userQuery%3Ddetroitnews.com%26clickedItemURN%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fww- - - - w.bilstein.com%252Fnewscontent.php%253Fmigi_news_id%253D123%2526company_id%253D1- - - - 00484%26invocationType%3D-%26fromPage%3DNSCPTop%26amp%3BampTest%3D1&remove_url=h- - - - ttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.bilstein.com%2Fnewscontent.php%253Fmigi_news_id%253D123%2526comp- - - - any_id%253D100484
The smart thing about the Iacocca ads during the early 80's was that the appeal was personal in nature ...-but it's going to take someone in top management such as Wagoner or whoever sits as CEO to do it.
Now that's one post of yours I can agree with. I just happened to land on it and read it. As I've said I usually skip posts because they're repetitive and argumentative to boredom.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Not what was discussed: the problem is with the polling method and then acting as if the survey has validity through the brands and models of cars without giving data about the returns for each model and the survey numbers for each model. We've said this over.
I realize that some who troll here just to criticize GM prefer to view things through lemon-colored glasses... but.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
DETROIT (Reuters) -- General Motors on Thursday posted its sixth straight
quarterly loss as the automaker struggled to cut high labor and health-care
costs in the face of a steepening decline in U.S. sales.
The world's largest automaker reported a first-quarter net loss of $323
million, compared with a loss of $1.3 billion a year earlier.
GM, which lost $10.6 billion in 2005, posted a gain of just over 4 percent
in global vehicle sales in the first quarter, but a drop of 5 percent in
the U.S. market, where its strategy hinges on the success of a new line of
sport-utility vehicles.
Excluding one-time items, but including a $1 billion pre-tax health-care
charge, GM lost $529 million.
Analysts on average had forecast a loss of 42 cents per share, according to
Reuters Estimates.
Stated in the above is that GM took a one time charge of $1 billion for health care and lost a total of $529 million. Does this mean that if they did not have the unoin health care retiree charge that they would have made about $500 million?
The people talking up the Tibby J D Power data were doing some creative editing.
Suffice to say, the Cobalt stakes up quite well according to J D P.