GM News, New Models and Market Share

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  • anythngbutgmanythngbutgm Member Posts: 4,277
    They're still worth less than their initial investment...

    Trading opened at 35 bucks a share IIRC and have gone as low as 20 bucks. Right now they are at about 23 bucks. Government won't sell their own company for a loss, it would look very bad for the administration and the bailouts.

    Plenty of anger and discontent still out there, selling at a loss would only fuel the disgust.
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    As much as things CAN change, more often than not, more things just don't ever change much. Inertia is at play here. Most things just always stay the same. People like the status quo

    I think that's true of bureaucracy, but necessarily top management and the marketplace. Look how the recently departed CEO of Toyota basically destroyed the company's reputation and pricing power. Ford is up, down, back up. Same goes in other industries like computers and HP and Dell.It pays to keep current and not rely just on past experiences. Personally wouldn't touch either of those firm's laptops like I did in the past.
  • anythngbutgmanythngbutgm Member Posts: 4,277
    Investigation into stability control
  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 17,013
    Your link shows "Date Investigation Closed January 2009".

    Meanwhile yesterday, 32,000 BMW's were recalled.

    http://blog.chron.com/newswatch/2011/11/bmw-recalls-32000-luxury-vehicles/
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,724
    edited November 2011
    Mercedes-Benz is recalling 2011 model year E-Class, GL, ML and R-Class vehicles, as well as 2012 model year S-Class vehicles, all equipped with diesel engines. Specific models included in this recall are:

    2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class models, built from July 2010 through February 2011
    2011 Mercedes-Benz GL models, built from March 2010 through March 2011
    2011 Mercedes-Benz ML models, built from January 2010 through March 2011
    2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class models, built from April 2010 through April 2011
    2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class models

    On some vehicles, the diesel fuel filter may leak from the area near the heating element, resulting in a crash risk from diesel being spilled on the road surface. Additionally, there is a fire risk from spilled fuel in the presence of an ignition source.

    Diesel fuel spills Mercedes

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 17,013
    Honestly, I can tell you that I never saw a single, solitary V6 Malibu at either of the two dealers I looked at cars, in May of 2011. My guess is they won't be missed by the majority of buyers.
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 17,013
    Concerning V6 Malibus, I will say I liked the 2LT V6's wheels back in '10...they actually have 'depth', which seems like a passing thing in today's wheels:

    http://image9.autorevo.com/2972/pics/325_3230485_68373a07-ef0d-4568-9ddb-2d585b5- 69c5f.jpg

    I'd take the flags off the car though .
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 17,013
    edited November 2011
    From a friend on another auto forum (and he is generally against the bailouts):

    "Heartless GM: The Rest of the Story....
    We begin with the story of two Brownsburg IN residents, involved in a horrific automobile accident last summer.

    Short report with photos here:

    http://www.plaindealer-sun.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=40&ArticleID=17- 431

    I know the owner personally: He has worked as Judge and Clerk in Hendricks County Indiana Lincoln Township, Precinct Three Polling Place through the years when I've been Polling Place Inspector there during at least a dozen elections over the last couple decades. Nice fellow.

    Now, with a tip of the old Stetson to the late Paul Harvey, "The Rest of the Story..."

    I got an e-mail the other day from a former Chevrolet Dealer / now Salesman, advising me that he had just delivered a new 2012 Impala to the accident victims and my name had come up in the course of the transaction.

    The salesman added, "it was nice to see him up and about after the terrible accident this summer."

    I wasn't aware of any accident, so inquired. Here is the salient portion of the salesman's response:

    When they had their accident, their OnStar account was not activated. They were trapped with 4 broken legs and OnStar came on and asked if assistance was needed and said they had already sent responders to the scene.

    The owner called OnStar later and they said they glean accident information and when it's severe they notify responders regardless of account status. He asked how many "Gs" the collision was and they told him it was proprietary information they could not share.

    A North Vernon Plain Dealer & Sun article will pop up with pictures.

    No doubt Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Kia, Enviro-Puddle Jump Motors, et. al., would have provided the same service for Dick and his wife. Right. "
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,724
    edited November 2011
    > I liked the 2LT V6's wheels back in '10

    Those look like the wheels on my Cobalt.

    image

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 17,013
    Very similar. Around town I do see probably an '09 or '10 pearly white Malibu 2LT V6 with those wheels and I do like them.

    Sadly, my Cobalt, an XFE 4-door LS, just has the plastic wheelcovers. I still enjoy the car. Hard to believe how smooth it idles and quiet it is on the highway. My high school freshman daughter's friend got in it over the summer and had never seen crank windows before!
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • dieselonedieselone Member Posts: 5,729
    My high school freshman daughter's friend got in it over the summer and had never seen crank windows before!

    LOL, my 13 year old made a big deal of seeing crank windows for the first time in her friend's dad's work van. I don't think my 9 year old has seen crank windows.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,724
    > I don't think my 9 year old has seen crank windows.

    I had to explain to my son what the Dual 1219 turntable was that I have in my computer room on top of a Heath receiver Amplified which I assembled. He could understand cassette, DVD, and even eight-track.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 17,013
    edited November 2011
    I'm 53, and originally from a working-class family and small town, and I can tell you that in my childhood, a car with power windows was la-de-freakin'-da!

    A high school friend was driving his parent's old '68 Bonneville Brougham in the mid'70's, and would yell at me to stop playing with the windows. They seemed to go up and down a lot faster than later power windows I had!
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    I'm 53, and originally from a working-class family and small town, and I can tell you that in my childhood, a car with power windows was la-de-freakin'-da!

    ...and odds are back then at least of the power windows didn't work, right?
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    I bought a new black 1987 Chevrolet Caprice Classic when I was 22! I traded it two years later for a new 1989 Cadillac Brougham I still own to this day! My Grandpop was a big Chevy fan. His last car was a loaded two-tone maroon 1989 Caprice Classic Brougham.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    One of my co-workers had a Honda Accord he traded for a VW Jetta. I thought it was odd that he traded a car with a reputation for reliability for one without such a reputation. He soon returned to Honda and bought another Accord.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Wow, your grandpa had excellent taste in cars! That reads like a list of cars I have or would've owned! Had an '87 Caprice too as my first new car!
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    The service experience sure will. I went to the VW dealer for a set of spark plug wires and the guy behind the counter acted like he thought I deliberately ran over his dog and slept with his wife.
  • tlongtlong Member Posts: 5,194
    I'm 53, and originally from a working-class family and small town, and I can tell you that in my childhood, a car with power windows was la-de-freakin'-da!

    I'm close to your age, and I remember how amazed we were at the decadence in seeing our first automatic garage door opener!
  • tlongtlong Member Posts: 5,194
    ...acted like he thought I deliberately ran over his dog and slept with his wife.

    So who was cuter, the dog or the wife? :P
  • dieselonedieselone Member Posts: 5,729
    There are good and bad dealers with all makes. The VW dealer I bought my VW from was as good as any dealer I've dealt with. But they were also a Mazda and Volvo dealer too.
  • dieselonedieselone Member Posts: 5,729
    edited November 2011
    I'm 53, and originally from a working-class family and small town, and I can tell you that in my childhood, a car with power windows was la-de-freakin'-da!

    Hell, I'm 40 and I rarely saw power windows until my grandpa bought his '87 Caprice Classic. His '83 Delta 88 still had crank windows.

    Though when I was real young, grandpa had a '70 or so Bonneville two door with power windows. But I was like 4 or 5 and I barely remember it. It was a brownish color and I remember him always commenting on how much gas that 455 burned.

    My dad didn't have a car with power windows until he got a '92 Crown Vic in '91.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,100
    My first experience with power windows, that I can remember, was the neighbors' '69-70 Cadillac Sedan Deville. This was the late 70's, and I remember them taking me to school, along with their own kids, and being mesmerized by the power windows. I forget though, why they took us to school instead of us riding the bus.

    My first car with power windows was a 1969 Bonneville 4-door hardtop that I bought from my cousin in 1992. Unfortunately, the car ate starters on a regular basis, and spent most of its time with me broken down in my grandmother's yard. Or hidden behind a storage building, so the county inspectors couldn't see it. :blush:

    My first reliable (more or less) car with power windows was a 1989 Gran Fury ex copcar I bought in 1998. After that, other than a brief stint with a '67 Chrysler Newport, every car I've owned has had power windows.

    First car I can remember anyone in my immediate family having with power windows was my grandparent's '85 LeSabre Limited, that they bought in October 1984. That was followed by Granddad getting an '85 Silverado with power windows. I ultimately got both vehicles handed down to me, and still have the truck. My other grandparents, on my Dad's side of the family, bought an '85 Ford LTD, which was their first power window car. Last crank window car in the family was Mom's '86 Monte Carlo, which also got handed down to me. After that they got a '91 Stanza with power windows and everything since then has had power windows.

    And yeah, I'm convinced those old power windows do go up and down faster than the newer ones.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    I had to explain to my son what the Dual 1219 turntable was

    Nice turntable that.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    the guy behind the counter acted like he thought I deliberately ran over his dog and slept with his wife.

    Could have been worse. You could have run over his wife and slept with his dog....
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,100
    Yeah baby, that's it...bark like a dog for me...c'mon sweet thang, wag that tail! C'mon...woofwoof!
  • dieselonedieselone Member Posts: 5,729
    Yeah baby, that's it...bark like a dog for me...c'mon sweet thang, wag that tail! C'mon...woofwoof!

    ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!
  • js06gvjs06gv Member Posts: 460
    My daughter had the same reaction when she was about 9. I unexpectedly had to leave my Avalanche at the dealer for a day and rather than bother my wife for a ride I just told Enterprise to give me the cheapest thing they had on the lot. It was a base base model Cobalt. This was in 2006. I did have one last car with crank windows after she was born and she rode in it a lot but was only about 2-1/2 when I got rid of it. That was a 97 Sunfire, a company car, which gave way to a 2000 Malibu. By 2000 all the cars my company ordered (and since) had power windows. Before that, none except a 1-year run of Escorts had them. They were 97 models too, but I wanted a more substantial car more than I did power windows and IMHO the Sunfire was a better ride. I was also more of a GM fan then, and still am for the most part.

    2024 Ram 1500 Longhorn, 2019 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2019 Ford Mustang GT Premium, 2016 Kia Optima SX, 2000 Pontiac Trans Am WS6

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I like those rims, too. Nice polish to them, are they painted or just brushed aluminum?
  • mz6greyghostmz6greyghost Member Posts: 1,230
    Yes, it was 100 years ago today that the Chevrolet Motor Company was founded.

    And with it, some good news:

    Happy 100th: Chevrolet Sells 1 Million Cruzes
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/03/gm-investing-380-million-at-wentzville-plant-- for-next-gen-chevy/

    I hope they offer the diesel.
  • cooterbfdcooterbfd Member Posts: 2,770
    (insert sarcastic tone here) NO!!!! That's NOT POSSIBLE!!!! GM did something RIGHT????

    (insert cynical tone here) They'll be bankrupt again in no time if they keep giving away service like that.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,724
    > Nice polish to them, are they painted or just brushed aluminum?

    The metal doesn't look brushed; it is a textured surface with a nice metallic glint to it. There is a heavy glossy clearcoat like coating over it. Mine have no chips in the coating, so it must be pretty durable.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • dieselonedieselone Member Posts: 5,729
    I find that new Colorado to be hideous but if a diesel option sure would be interesting.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,724
    edited November 2011
    Focus costs as much as Volt without the engine for when the charge runs out!
    AND they're only selling in states at first.

    "Before factoring in state and federal incentives, the Focus Electric will start from $39,995, or a not-inconsiderable $4,795 more than the price of a 2011 Nissan Leaf. The car will have a staggered roll-out, with consumers in California, New York and New Jersey receiving the car in early 2012 while those in Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Washington will have to wait until mid-2012."

    http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-focus-electric.html

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    To be fair, the Focus is a much bigger car. Remember the Volt is a tiny 4 seater.

    Side note - CR says Volt is reliable. Thumbs up.
  • dieselonedieselone Member Posts: 5,729
    Focus costs as much as Volt without the engine for when the charge runs out!
    AND they're only selling in states at first.

    Yeah, I don't think they'll sell many. I haven't read much about it. I wonder what kind of range it has. Regardless, gas isn't nearly expensive enough for me to consider dropping $40k for a $20k car. So I can save roughly $1700/yr in gas (No idea how much the electricity would cost) Say it's twice as efficient so maybe $800 year in electricity. Great, that will take over 20 years to pay for its self unless gas goes to $10/gal.
  • dieselonedieselone Member Posts: 5,729
    edited November 2011
    To be fair, the Focus is a much bigger car. Remember the Volt is a tiny 4 seater.

    How much bigger can the Focus be? Okay I looked it up. The Focus is a whopping 1.4 inches longer and 1.4 inches wider. I guess it can seat 5, so essentially it can carry 20% more people;)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    edited November 2011
    Our greyhound can fit in the Focus but not the Volt, with the 2 kids in back.

    For me it's pass/fail and Volt is simply not big enough for the family. I'm not going very far by myself, so the extended range feature is useless to me.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,100
    Our greyhound can fit in the Focus but not the Volt, with the 2 kids in back.

    That's interesting....is it the contour of the seats maybe? I just looked up shoulder room, and they're nearly identical in the back. 53.7" for the Focus, 53.9 for the Volt.

    Sometimes though, a car can have more shoulder room, but with the way the seats are shaped, the two outboard passengers might be seated further in or out. And if they're seated in too far, if you put something in the middle that makes the outer passengers have to move outward, their butts and backs no longer line up with the contouring, and it makes for an uncomfortable seating position.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    edited November 2011
    It's the massive center tunnel. There's no place for the dog - at all:

    http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRvC9pniXNYZ3hQf04aBX0A_IOwckgvn0-JojgM4- tcFD9wWXJ46rQ

    For 4 passengers you get a nice armrest, but he's 45 lbs and that's too big to go on a lap.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I edited the post above to add a better pic.

    Here's the Focus Electric:

    http://www.newcar-usedcars.com/2012-ford-focus-electric-new-family-of-electrifie- d-vehicles/2112-ford-focus-electric-rear-seat-interior
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,100
    Oops, yeah, that center armrest will do it to ya! Once you put something like that down the center, it's a 4-seater, no matter how generous shoulder room might be!

    At least the Volt is a lot more economical than this behemoth of a 4-seater that the General offered, back in '74-76!
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    It's the massive center tunnel.

    When I saw the Volt, I immediately thought HUMMER. Even the tunnel in my Outback bugs me, having enjoyed flat floors in FWD vehicles for so long.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The dog could have fit on the floor in that behemoth, at least.

    The Volt has more than a hump - the batteries are stored there, I think.

    The Subaru Baja came out like that - 4 seats. One guy in the Subaru Crew got creative and swapped out a junk yard Outback rear seat - and it fit! Voila, 25% more seating capacity. :D
  • dieselonedieselone Member Posts: 5,729
    edited November 2011
    At least the Volt is a lot more economical than this behemoth of a 4-seater that the General offered, back in '74-76!

    LOL! I bet the juice needed just to spin the starter in that thing would propel a Volt for a a day or two;)

    That caddy makes my Expedition look like a compact.
  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 17,013
    In my small hometown, a bailbondsman (still there) had a new '74 Fleetwood Talisman, that same dark blue as in your link but with a white vinyl top and the same blue interior. At the time, I thought it was, well, , you know, can't say it here, but a short word for awesome!
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    By the end of the 1/4 mile, the back bumper has not crossed the starting line yet.

    You'd owe car taxes in neighboring states.

    You'd never get a speed cam ticket - would not fit the car in one photo frame.

    :D
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Good God, I absolutely LOVE that 1974 Fleetwood Talisman in your link!!!
  • dieselonedieselone Member Posts: 5,729
    Good God, I absolutely LOVE that 1974 Fleetwood Talisman in your link!!!

    Really? Just kidding. That's a lemko mobile if I ever saw one.
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