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GM News, New Models and Market Share

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Comments

  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    I thought the Adam was a EU-only offering.

    The Spark is the city dweller car from GM here in the States.

    Though, I do find the Adam not unattractive. Could be good for 10-20K sales annually as sort of a "halo" car for GM.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    It's not my thing, but for that type of car, I find it kinda attractive.
  • bpizzutibpizzuti Member Posts: 2,743
    That would probably fare better than the Spark.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The funny thing, to me, is that I thought GM was doing the global thing.

    Spark is designed in and made in Korea. Opel went out on its own, I guess?

    No wonder they lose money.
  • bpizzutibpizzuti Member Posts: 2,743
    Yeah, this whole duplication thing always costs extra. Not that GM seems to mind *cough* GMC *cough*.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Those are near clones and, as discussed above, sell in enormous volumes.

    The Adam would be a low production niche vehicle.
  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 16,860
    Our Malibu is Black Granite Metallic. I do like it but it gets dusty just sitting in the garage. I always said I wouldn't pay extra for a color, but I did with this one. The wife chose the color and I admit I like it too, with the black cloth interior and the 1LT's polished but dark aluminum wheels.
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 16,946
    I forgot it was an extra charge! It was actually less of an upcharge compared to the pearl white which I was also considering.

    I think it was $295 and the white was $495.

    Toyota only charges $220 extra for pearl white. ;)

    2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    If I'm honest that's my favorite color on a clean car.

    Problem is it almost never looks clean.

    Maybe if I owned a car wash. :D
  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 16,946
    Maybe if I owned a car wash

    Black car through a car wash....... no, no, no! I will never take a dark car through one of those swirl mark machines.

    2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Maybe if I owned a touchless car wash. ;)
  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 16,946
    I can't remember where I was but at a touchless wash I saw the workers "pre-washing" with a long handled brush. Kinda defeats the purpose.

    No-one washes my cars but me. When I had my Genesis a free wash was part of any service when you brough the car in. I let them do it once and after that I had them put in the computer NO wash. I think I actually offended them, oh well.

    2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic

  • bpizzutibpizzuti Member Posts: 2,743
    I can't remember where I was but at a touchless wash I saw the workers "pre-washing" with a long handled brush.

    There's some stuff that just won't come off without that brush. Bug corpses are the major one around here. The highway I take too and from work goes right through marshland.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I rinse my minivan every time it rains.

    So I don't mind going through an auto wash, at least on that vehicle. :D
  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 16,946
    I guess, but it must put a ton of fine scratches in the paint.

    2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic

  • bpizzutibpizzuti Member Posts: 2,743
    Well, what's more desirable, tiny scratches, or tiny bug corpses? :shades:
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I think I've washed my van twice.

    It's a 2007. :D
  • andres3andres3 Member Posts: 13,928
    To bash someone other than GM or Chrysler, I want to bash whoever painted the spoiler piece above the hatch door on my '06 Audi A3. I know the same paint was not used. It is a "optional" part that came included with the "sport package" option, among other things.

    I can tell the paint is fading much faster on that part (with a whole lot of ... I'll call it "deterioration and swirling marks" compared with the rest of the car. The rest of the car shines up like new after a good wash and wax (Ocean Blue Pearl), but that part looks like it's 10 years older than the rest of the car.

    I wonder if I could ever find out where Audi sourced the painting of optional components.
    '18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    They probably just send the color codes to the supplier of that part, who may have used inferior paint.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Likewise! Nobody can wash a car to my standards but me! I won't let my wife take her car to the "car scratch" either!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Even I can't wash my minivan to my standards, so it never gets cleaned! :D
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    Rule of thumb: Whenever you wash your car, some bird will sh.. on it within a day.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    For me it will rain with 100% certaintly.

    Forecasters actually call me to ask if I washed my car in order to predict rainfall. That's how reliable I am. ;)
  • dieselonedieselone Member Posts: 5,729
    yeah, the only way my Expedition gets washed is through a car wash. No way am I going to waste half of my day to clean that elephant which will be dirty again anyway. It hasn't had a good wax in two years. I'll spoil it by paying an extra $1 at the car wash for the wax treatment;)

    Since my wife's car is a company car, it only sees drive through car washes too. Though she does coax me into cleaning the inside. With a tan interior, it's a PITA to keep clean.
  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 16,860
    edited September 2012
    Thank you for seeing this and having the ***** to actually post it, instead of ignore it like some others here would I'm afraid.

    I never even look at trucks, but I think this is impressive considering the Chevy is an older design than the Ford.
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • circlewcirclew Member Posts: 8,666
    Malibu launch will cost GM market share. No surprise. Malibu is middling at best but we'll see if sales suffer from the launch strategy of 2013 version.

    image

    The Malibu rollout is a potential stumble in a segment that’s crucial to a mass-market car brand. Midsize sedans are “the meat and potatoes” of the industry, says Dave Sullivan, an analyst with AutoPacific. That’s because the top six midsize models by sales (Toyota Motor’s (TM) Camry, Honda’s Accord, Nissan’s Altima, Ford’s Fusion, Hyundai’s Sonata, and the Malibu) account for one of every eight vehicles sold in the U.S. But so far, Akerson has little to show for his gamble: Malibu deliveries through August are up 5.1 percent, lagging the U.S. market’s 15 percent increase, according to researcher Autodata.

    Nonetheless, GM has learned a tough lesson: that even having a stylish, technology-laden midsize car isn’t enough these days. “That combo is almost the price of entry rather than standout attributes,” writes James Healey, an auto critic for USA Today. Akerson has found that out firsthand.


    Go GM! :P

    GM's First Mover Disadvantage
  • bpizzutibpizzuti Member Posts: 2,743
    It is a real shame they did such a bad job with the dimensions, because design-wise the interior looks nice. It could use a little more cabin storage, but the brown/black two tone works.
  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 16,860
    edited September 2012
    I wish we had more solid information on the Sonata's published rear seat legroom being two inches less than the new Malibu. For me, width in a car with a console isn't a big deal, but legroom and headroom are.

    "Malibu deliveries through August are up only 5.1 percent"--isn't it obvious (or shouldn't it be?) that the five-year old car (the '12, which had been built out and in diminishing supply) was being sold alongside an Eco-only '13 model? Hardly a logical statement to make.
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • dave8697dave8697 Member Posts: 1,498
    I can't believe that some articles tout a new car and yet some go out of their way to put down a new car. There's article after article putting down the Camry, the Fusion, the Accord, and the Sonata.

    Just kidding. It's still all the rest -vs- GM so no, there is to be no article written that puts down a GM competitor. In fact, apply as much spin possible to make the GM cars seem as bad choices. Try to make 42 by 39 seem as undersized while you're at it.

    Meanwhile, I confess that my Malibu has slipped up considerably as of late. My combined 35 mpg I got through the hot weather has fallen to 32 combined with the cooler weather and possible change of gas to winter blend. How the 2013 eco comes in 20% lower than my '10 LT is suprising since it has DGI which alone is usually good for a 10% increase in mpgs.
  • circlewcirclew Member Posts: 8,666
    GM recalls more than 40,000 cars on fuel leak concerns

    This is the third recall for GM in the past few months. Earlier in September, GM said it was recalling more than 426,000 sedans in the U.S. because of transmission problems. In June, GM recalled more than 400,000 Chevrolet Cruzes due to engine issues.

    Regards,
    \\ow
  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 16,860
    edited September 2012
    That's not a very big recall considering how many of all those models and model years were sold. At first I thought my car would be one of those, but it's not.

    BTW, my check engine light came on in my Cobalt the other day. Went to the auto parts store and the code was for thermostat. Went to my dealer today and it was replaced free...at 59,500 miles. Part of the powertrain warranty. Yep, and the car was even built before the bankruptcy! ;)

    It can be argued that a car shouldn't need a thermostat at that mileage, and I'd agree. But it's nice to know it was covered. If I had a Ford, I'd have only had 500 more miles on that waranteed part, instead of 40K more miles.

    I had an appointment for a tire rotation anyway and they snuck this in and I was out in about an hour.

    This on my four-plus-year old car that I paid $9,900 for new before trade.

    BTW, those recall numbers are not good, but they're a long way from 13 million. Has BMW been allowed to sell their models with the defect that they issued the 'stop sell' on last week? And has anybody heard the reasons for that runaway Sorrento? I can't find anything online new about it.
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    >thermostat. Went to my dealer today and it was replaced free...at 59,500 miles.

    No. Say it's not true. GM actually replaced it! Can't be. Must have been the Honda dealer or toyota store? ;););)

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 16,860
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    WOW!!!!! :)
  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 16,860
    Sorry about this post--I now see it is from 2009. I came across it accidentally while googling something else. Again...it is NOT a current story.

    However, it is neat. I wonder if Mr. Coffman is still with us.
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • rockyleerockylee Member Posts: 14,017
    Yeah, hopefully.... :)

    -Rocky
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Welcome back, Rocky!
  • dodgeman07dodgeman07 Member Posts: 574
    Malibu has 2.2" more rear legroom. Legroom data is published here:

    2013 Sonata

    2013 Malibu

    The combined legroom (front+rear) is more telling. Few people drive with the front seats all the way back. The Sonata has 1.2" more total legroom. I don't think either car is short on legroom unless you're an NBA basketball player with 6'5" friends! ;)
  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 16,860
    The guy that posted the front-seat numbers didn't seem to post the rear-seat numbers. Can't say that's a shocker.
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • greg128greg128 Member Posts: 546
    edited September 2012
    Any positive reviews of GM models, whether it is the HD trucks or the Cadillac ATS comparing favorably to the BMW 3 will get very little play on this forum. The same is true about reliability ratings showing not much difference in relation to the Asian brands.
  • bpizzutibpizzuti Member Posts: 2,743
    That's because they generally get little play in real life as well. It's only hardcore GM fans that have this complex. Frankly, most GM owners know they're buying an inferior product, but they're generally getting it for cheaper than the competition, and have decided to settle for less in exchange for keeping more money. They're not running around deluding themselves into thinking they bought the leader in whatever class the car might be.
  • greg128greg128 Member Posts: 546
    Based on personal experience involving ownership, use of, and objective evaluation of various makes and models, I conclude my GM vehicles are superior. They are Comfortable, quiet, value-packed and reliable.

    To each his own.
  • greg128greg128 Member Posts: 546
    Frankly, most GM owners know they're buying an inferior product

    Edmunds forum rules do not allow me to comment on this statement.
  • greg128greg128 Member Posts: 546
    most GM owners know they're buying an inferior product, but they're generally getting it for cheaper than the competition, and have decided to settle for less in exchange for keeping more money

    If you look at transaction price averages for various manufacturers, this statement is completely untrue. GM's average transaction price as of Aug. 2012 is $4,000 higher than Toyota and Nissan (includes Lexus and Infiniti)
    $5000 Higher than Honda (includes Acura) and $10,000 higher than Hyundai-Kia
    (Includes Genesis). Only VW is higher by $1000 mainly because of Audi.

    So apparently all these GM buyers are complete idiots and are willing to pay much more for an inferior product.
  • bpizzutibpizzuti Member Posts: 2,743
    Average transaction price is a silly and invalid comparison since no two companies is selling the exact same mix of products that compete in the same classes.

    But you have proven my other point. The idea that GM is not number one is driving you nuts enough to try that argument. Even though it's perfectly valid to save money by buying an inferior product at a lower price: it's something most people do every day when they buy store brands instead of name brands. And they're not deluding themselves over those either.
  • greg128greg128 Member Posts: 546
    Average transaction price is a silly and invalid comparison since no two companies is selling the exact same mix of products that compete in the same classes

    Of course it is and of course they don't.
  • greg128greg128 Member Posts: 546
    edited September 2012
    I think I took a Logic course in college, but apparently I must have slept through it.
  • tlongtlong Member Posts: 5,194
    Based on personal experience involving ownership, use of, and objective evaluation of various makes and models, I conclude my GM vehicles are superior.

    And you conclude that because you also have owned brand ? as a comparison?
    Or are you knowing they are superior by owning only GM? :confuse: :P
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