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The pursuit of GM marks a notable turnaround from a few years ago when the company had to be rescued by the U.S. government.
Especially attractive to banks is the prospect of helping GM increase its burgeoning in-house finance arm, GM Financial. GM is bidding for parts of Ally Financial Inc.'s international auto-financing business, GM has disclosed. "
Banks Put GM's Woes in Rearview Mirror (WSJ)
I am a Ford fan, but the Explorer does little for me. I'd rather have an ecoboost powered Flex. Plus I could tow my boat with a Grand Cherokee/Durango, none of the fwd based SUV/CUVs can.
It's part Range Rover, part Mini Cooper, lowered and chopped. They look so long, too. 2 friends own them.
Spotted a C-Max in the flesh for the first time, that's a good looking ride.
Back to GM, wonder why they never brought the Zafira over here?
Because outside of the 83 Mazda5 buyers, there's little interest in a little people mover.
Ford IMHO is doing it right by offer the C-Max in alternate power versions only. It's a Prius fighter. Maybe GM could bring it here with the same goal. But of course they'd have to have a proper hybrid power plant. Perhaps the Volt technology could be implemented in the Zafira C - call it a Volt MPV.
Of course, companies not named GM appear able to build and sell these contraptions that no one is interested in. So perhaps the problem is that no one is interested in GM hatchbacks, minivans, or small people-movers?
Ford has yet to prove the C-Max will sell here. They are taking a gamble. Further the Mazda 5 can hardly create a business case for a small people mover either.
If GM tried to trail blaze and offer the Zafira here, all the GM critics would say it's such a waste.
With more competitors that could easily expand to 100 or so.
Volt MPV is a neat idea but they would have to keep pricing very close to where the Volt is now, maybe a couple grand higher.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I'd buy one through Lemko or Uplander ONLY! Their purchases of GM are perfect!
Regards,
OW
However, down the road as Asia and Latin American economies continue to grow, I think US transplants will continue to increase and that may change the US market calculus in the next decade. In fact, I could also see a shake up of brands by then too. Mitsu seems pretty much already gone, as does Suzuki. Mazda has a few interesting products, but I wonder about them long term in the US. Is Scion only still here because of Toyota's big pockets? Acura and Infiniti appear to still be very small factors here. In Detroit, how about Buick, Lincoln and will there still be both Dodge and Chrysler, or does one fade away?
I don't think the restructuring is anywhere near over, even if the BK's are.
Ford Would Have Shut Without Auto Bailouts, Rattner Says (Business Week)
As I recall, Mulally testified that the suppliers would have been in trouble if GM and Chrysler had failed, but I don't recall him saying that Ford would have gone under as a result. Interesting.
Hopefully any more restructuring will involve foreign governments (not including Canada, which contributed to the last bailout), since most of the current problems involve falling sales in the EU and Asia due to their economic woes.
Dodgeman07, didn't follow up to see if you were quoted last month by Bill Vlasic after you talked to him on the phone; he's got a new car book out (Once Upon a Car).
More in On the Road to Detroit’s Big Pileup (NY Times)
That's not like GM unless Ford is wildly successful. Then GM will belatedly bring it over. Right now they'd rather build great niche vehicles that aren't going to go against the volume sedans in the market.
Scion is supposedly Toyota's youth brand, but I'm not sure how well that's working because now they're marketing Corolla and Camry to youth (Coach T and all). So Scion might just be a petrie dish right now. Acura, Infinit, and Lexus are doing fine though. Frankly so is Caddy, that's the one GM brand that actually seems to have most of an identity.
What's lost in the article, is that the guy needed transmission work on his low mileage low-use Camaro SS. He didn't take it to be fixed for no reason, but the dealerships didn't help matters.
I'd buy one through Lemko or Uplander ONLY! Their purchases of GM are perfect!
Guys of your ilk are quick to listen to CR. They said the Volt had the fewest problems reported of any new car in their last survey.
In other news:
Toyota recalls 7.43 million cars
Balance. Toyota is catching up with GM but FAST!
Regards,
OW
The dead battery gave you an excuse to make a return trip!
...now if GM could only do something about that lofty price, they could have a winner.
I actually hope they recall my Sienna. When I had the spare tire chain recall they washed it for free.
That's the last time it was washed!
That's not even Toyota's biggest concern right now, China is. They burned down some Toyota dealerships. Production was cut by half.
I keep saying Toyota has GM disease...now it is in full progression mode!
I hope you get that car wash!
Go HyunKia...who has the "GM-Toy" pre-disease conditions lurking in the skyrocketing sales...
Regards,
OW
NHTSA Investigates GM, Toyota Vehicles for Door Fires (cars.com)
I wonder if anyone has ever compared busy plants that run three 8-hour shifts 24 hours a day, to see if the night shift cars are even in quality?
No New Taxes. Read my lips. Just kidding.
Mitsubishi's Japanese CEO has stated many times that Mitsu is not pulling out of the U.S. come hell or high water. They won't.
I love my 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS and wouldn't want any other car on the road. No kidding. It's a great sports sedan that handles well, accelerates well, looks great and...is almost paid off.
Ya gotta love Mitsubishi. Remember, everyone forgets that Papa Mitsubishi, with their successful electronics, HVAC and shipping ventures, dictate their automotive sales everywhere.
Daddy Mitsu CEO says they're staying in the U.S. and I believe him.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Him AND you are as deluded as the GM fanbois. :shades: Mitsu is done, they're not quite as done as Suzuki, but they're done. They're not making any sort of mark in the market, and they're not profitable right now.
Hate to lose the EVO but Mitsu doesn't seem to have a single volume seller. I can't believe the Juke outsells the Outlander Sport.
Toyota = GM regarding CURRENT recalls...but GM is the "Champion of ALL-TIME". :shades:
Regards,
OW
2002-'06 Honda CR-V Recalled for Fire Risk (Inside Line)
Regards,
OW
In fact, a few years ago my Nissan power window master switch carboned up and quit working. I mechanically scraped it out and it's still working. Now I wonder if it's going to catch on fire though. That switch was made by ALPS. Factories and engineering are all over, but the home office is in Tokyo. Same company makes a bunch of touchpads and Apple keyboards (or did), and Alpine car stereos. I used one of their Cirque touchpads for a few years when my mouse hand started bothering me.
I think Mitsu is still reeling from being tied up with Chrysler a long time ago.
Wasn't it the Dodge Stealth = 3000GT?
Of course, the manufacturers that are looking for world domination rather than serving a loyal customer base can leave less for the niche players.
Safety advocate Sean Kane says he doubts that the problems occurred after manufacture. "There is a lot of smoke around this one," he says. And, he notes, the switch issue has been swirling for a while.
The recall comes as Toyota seemed to have largely put behind it the self-inflicted wounds from the 2009 and 2010 recalls of millions of vehicles over sticky gas pedals and floor mats that could trap the gas pedal.
In fact, many of the vehicles and model years in the latest recall also were involved in those earlier recalls. Toyota executives said at that time that the company's concentration on quality wavered in those years as it rushed to become the world's largest auto seller.
"The recall is another blemish on Toyota's reputation for quality," says Clarence Ditlow. "Toyota cut back on quality control from 2000 to 2010 in order to be the world's largest auto seller."
Just insert GM for Toyota.
Regards,
OW
"General Motors' flagship brand is set to introduce 13 all-new, redesigned or significantly refreshed vehicles next year, executives said Wednesday."
2013 to be crucial year for Chevrolet (Detroit Free Press)
Hysterical.
Yup, basically clones.
Many others were related, too:
Colt & Mirage, Eclipse & Laser and even Avenger (LWB), Mitsu got a Dodge pickup clone. Chrysler used the 3l V6 from Mitsu in a whole bunch of vehicles.
Now that they "broke up" they use the Pentastar in just about everything, and Fiat for their small engines and platforms. Seems to be working, actually, but let's see if the european crisis changes that.
Most partnerships like that ended up not working out long-term (Ford-Mazda, Daimler-Chrysler, GM-Isuzu & Suzuki & Subaru), a notable exception being Nissan and Renault.
Who would have thought? Renault? Nobody called that one. Good leadership, I think.
Trial marriages include Toyota-Subaru. FT86 is a hit, but now what? One is huge and the other is niche-oriented, Subaru could lose focus if they're not careful.
Of course GM is trying again with PSA, but I doubt they'll have the success that Renault did.
It can make sense to partner up when you have synergies. GM needs small car expertise, and in reality it's the remnants of Daewoo that gave us the Sonic and Spark.
So why PSA? Bizarre.
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/10/gm-announces-new-entertainment-package-for-20- 13-cadillac-srx/
Twin 8" screens, BluRay, plus tons of input options, for $1600.
This may be the leading rear seat entertainment package right now, at least OEM built-in.
I wonder if the new Silverado will continue the trend towards more massive pickups.
Let's see if with the new one they sell to more individuals.
The interesting part is that, of the three cars based on this platform - the Chevrolet Impala, Buick LaCross and Cadillac XTS - the Chevrolet version is the best-looking one. Even though it's supposed to be the least expensive one.
Doesn't the Silverado tend to get criticized for lack of storage behind the seat? My Ram actually has a good deal of room back there, and I'd imagine the F-150 is similar? That lack of storage might be a result of the Silverado's shorter length.
No problem, Mitsubishi will still be here in a year and you guys will be typing the same intelligensia you are now about them, "I can't believe they're still here!"
Closeout sale! Fire sale! Last chance! Get your incredible deals on Mitsus now 'cause they're gonna be gone, and, when they're gone, they're gone! Hurry! Don't wait!
Glad I got it. Carry on.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick