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Actually, that is incorrect. The G6 launched in fall 2004 as a 2005 model so it had been on the market for 8-9 months by summer 2005. As usual people are trying to come up with conspiracy theories to discredit any positive news from the General. If only people scrutinized Toyota and others with the same tenacity.
"What happens when China product from GM comes into America? What will the effect be? "
Who said that was going to happen? I have heard nothing about GM importing cars from China.
In one body style with one engine. The coupe, convertible, 2.4, 3.9 and 3.6 weren't available yet.
Of course not. No one at GM is going to even hint at that eventuality until after the UAW contracts are concluded. However, given that Buick sells more cars in China than in the US, that Buick's sales are increasing in China and decreasing in the US, and that future Buick designs will at a minimum be done in collaboration with Buick's Chinese arm, it won't be long before GM finds it economically compelling to build Buicks in China and ship a portion over here.
You are mistaken. The 2006 mid-year fleetcentral numbers were:
G6 72398 total sales, 30601 to fleet (30003 of those were rentals), 42.3% fleet
Grand Am 1907 total sales, 391 to fleet (353 of those were rentals), 20.5% fleet
But that is exactly the problem with GM/Ford/DC. They lose a HUGE marketing opportunity in selling the rental agencies crap cars. It is a gigantic positive marketing opportunity. Unfortunately, GM wastes this opportunity by providing negative experiences and selling "junk" baseline models.
The CIVIC and Corolla are quite good in their baseline designs, and now particularly the new Civic, as it has the same great engine in every model trimline since 2006. But even prior to that, the other engines were no slouches. In my view the Aura's weak base engine is an indication GM hasn't learned any lessons yet.
I think GM might be guilty of sinking to a lower standard or bottom line than Toyota or Honda is willing to sink to.
You have to uphold your brand image.
Shocking. I never would've guessed! I don't know how the fact that you weren't impressed proved the Impala is a bad car. What exactly was so bad about it? was it poorly assembled? was is load? did it have a rough ride? was the engine too weak? were the seats uncomfortable? did it break down?
I'm not impressed by a whole lot of Toyotas and Hondas but I wouldn't say they are bad cars. I would just say I dont want them.
That would be an American Evolution.
Loren
I have sat in a LaCrosse, but have never driven one. Seemed like an OK interior. I prefer the emergency brake as hand operated, and if I recall correctly it had some less expensive tires. It may be an adequate rental car to drive. I tested the G6 Coupe and the Aura in the GM lines before buying the new car, as they were closer in handling and something kinda fresh looking style wise. Both could use the better engine in the base, though I would agree, all the engine choices get the job done. An XE is an alright car, while the XR is a cut above. Perhaps some day the base goes away, and the top line one is the only left. The mix is sales was to be far more of the XE compared to XR models, but I am pretty sure people are buying a bit more upscale models than GM thought they would sell. Maybe the base could be left to G6 and four banger engines.
Loren
Ride - soft, steering too light, no road feel.
Interior - poorly assembled, low grade materials all around, chairs uncomfortable for any driving over 1 hour.
The Dodge Magnum isn't much better as well. I had that for my house hunting trip last May.
I guess for the price the Impala isn't bad, it offers standard V6 (although Honda/Nissan I4 has more kick than the one I got) and plenty interior room. Just not my cup of tea.
If you look at torque at 2000 rpm for 3.5 V6 Impala base engine vs honda L4 torque at 2000 rpm, you may find the Impala has much more.
Don't compare a lightweight Civic with the most powerful Honda engine available in Civics to Chevy's heaviest 4 dr sedan with the smallest available engine (out of 3 available)?
If you haven't figure out this by now then...
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Not any of the current models or replacements. But it is possible a new model on a new platform that is not built here in the US may get imported but I doubt it. LaCrosse will be an Eps 2 and will be built with the other Eps 2 here.
Enclave will always be built here. If what I read is true the new Lucerne will be built in Oshawa. Doubt if Buick sells anything smaller.
The Impala is what it is, and good bargain priced slightly large car than what Japan has in the price range. It gets the job done for vacations, corporate cars, and police departments - city vehicles and such. And they are great used cars for those needing to save some bucks, yet need some room. It is what it is, a workhorse, and is proven reliable enough. I don't see it as competition to the Accord, Camry, Altima, and the like. Its gotta niche which is fine. The New Impala with RWD and a larger engine may be something people can get more excited about. A FWD with a V8, which was designed for a V6--nahhh ?
Loren
A year ago at this time, rumors of GM's imminent bankruptcy were rampant, but the more recent news has been encouraging.
GM reported it earned $950 million for the fourth quarter of 2006, its first profitable quarter in two years. For all of 2006, GM still lost money, but significantly less than the year before -- $2 billion compared with $10.4 billion in 2005.
That's in stark contrast to GM's crosstown rivals, who are only beginning to implement their turnaround plans. Ford reported a $12.7 billion loss in 2006, its worst performance in its 103-year history.
On the product side, GM surely is showing signs of renewed life. Once GM was famous for styling and its flair is returning, starting with Cadillacs and now making its way to such bread-and-butter models as the Chevrolet Malibu.
More significantly, GM is leapfrogging the competition in interior design. The Saturn Aura and Sky were first to demonstrate GM still knew how to do good interiors. The 2008 Cadillac CTS and 2008 Chevrolet Malibu take design to another level.
GM's success stories are mounting. Cadillac's turnaround has been phenomenal and well documented. But Saturn and often-overlooked GMC are just as impressive. They were the only two domestic
brands in the U.S. to have higher sales in 2006 than in 2005, and they are having particular success in the all-important California market.
On the numbers side, GM has lowered unprofitable daily rental fleet sales; reduced incentive spending to its lowest level since April 2002, though it has announced March incentives to keep its sales momentum going; brought transaction prices closer in line with manufacturer's suggested retail prices so it discounts less; eliminated 34,300 union jobs through buyouts and early retirements; and announced it will close 12 North American facilities by 2009 in line with its lower sales and market share.
In addition to the recently announced financial results, GM is seeing some payoff. Its market share is edging upward and more car shoppers are considering GM products.
GM is also winning awards. GM swept the 2007 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards, only the second time in the history of the awards that a single manufacturer has won both honors.
A new national poll of 1,000 Americans by Rasmussen Reports shows 69 percent think favorably of GM, a major jump from 48 percent last year. Fortune magazine's 2007 ranking of America's Most Admired companies saw GM climb to fifth from ninth in the motor vehicle sector.
Still, GM is declaring no victory and recognizes much work and many challenges lie ahead. At the top of the to-do list is GM's upcoming contract with the United Auto Workers' union; the current contract expires in September.
GM absolutely must negotiate a favorable contract with the union. GM has to address skyrocketing health care costs ($4.7 million this year). GM must negotiate an agreement and avert a strike, costly in more ways than one.
GM cannot afford any missteps or any backsliding on its commitment to be best-in-class in various segments and a fuel economy leader.
Introduction of a production version of the ground-breaking Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid concept would go a long way toward changing perceptions of GM as a leader in technological innovation -- a reputation it once owned -- and GM as an environmental leader.
On the flip side, the Sentra and Versa would be near the bottom of my list if I was looking for that kind of car. The Sentra has been redesigned I think since you drove one. Perhaps it's improved.
I visited a Chevy and a Ford dealer about a month ago. Other than the Mustang and Vette, there wasn't anything there that peaked my interest at all. The Vette is still out of my price range (maybe some day). I really liked the new 'stangs when they came out but the more I see them, the less I like them. I test drove one and couldn't get used to the claustrophobic cabin and view-slit windows.
But when?
General Motors officially let the car out of the bag this afternoon on the future of Saturn's soon-to-close factory in Spring Hill, Tenn.
The plant will produce a new Chevrolet crossover in 2009, GM North America President Troy Clarke told them during a plant visit.
The question has been a source of anxiety for some the 4,200 hourly workers at Spring Hill. Although sources have indicated that a Lambda-platform Chevy was definitely planned for Spring Hill, many workers had their doubts.
"We're just worried that GM hasn't told us what's coming," assembly worker Craig Fincher said earlier this week as he prepared for an extended layoff. "It would be nice to have that little reassurance that something's coming for us. Why haven't they said?"
Today, Clarke said.
"Do you know a plant that wants to build a Chevy crossover?" Clarke asked the cheering crowd. "Well, guess what? You're going to."
Clarke told workers the Chevy would start in 2009. He did not clarify whether he meant calendar year 2009 or model year 2009.
The difference is important, since a calendar-year 2009 start would mean a much longer lay-off for the thousands of Spring Hill employees and some 10,000 dependent supplier jobs. The plant has been planning on a 14-16 month suspension until now, which would indicate a late summer 2008 reopening.
In Detroit, GM would only confirm in a brief prepared statement that it had shared business information with employees "that they will have a future product upon their return."
"We are not prepared to discuss the specific product at this time," the statement read, "as it is still more than two years away."
Analysts and automakers expect March vehicle sales to be flat compared with last year, with reduced truck sales buoyed by stronger sales of cars and car-based utility vehicles.
U.S. sales results for Detroit auto companies are expected to continue to reflect a slower housing market's depressing effect on truck sales and General Motors Corp.'s and Ford Motor Co.'s efforts to reduce sales to car-rental companies. Detroit automakers are also continuing to work through production cuts, analysts said.
Meanwhile, the three largest foreign automakers in the United States are expected to report sales gains in year-over-year comparisons, thanks in great part to their established success in the small and midsize car segments, analysts said.
"Mainly what went up in March was compact cars," said Jesse Toprak, executive director of industry analysis for Edmunds.com. "The trucks are actually recovering, too. The size of the truck market will not expand in 2007, but it will hold its ground. That's going to be a result of new products."
GM and Toyota have new pickups on the market, and GM has a series of new SUVs and crossovers that have been doing well in their first few months of sales.
But even Toyota, which analysts say rarely offers incentives on new models, announced a $1,000 to $1,500 incentive on its new Tundra full-size pickup this week to remain competitive in a tough truck market in which domestic automakers held a 91 percent share in 2006.
For March, Edmunds forecast:
· Ford sales would fall 17.2 percent.
· Chrysler Group sales would drop 6.2 percent.
· GM sales would be down 1.3 percent.
(lets see how close they are)
· Nissan would be up 1.1 percent.
· Honda would enjoy a 3 percent bump.
· Toyota would rise 8.8 percent.
Other analysts were generally in agreement with the Edmunds.com predictions that Chrysler and Ford sales would be weaker than a year ago, GM and Nissan would be relatively flat and Toyota and Honda would see improvement.
GM's chief market analyst Paul Ballew said the automaker expects retail sales to "have a solid month," but because fleet sales will be down about 20 percent ? or 15,000 vehicles ? he wouldn't forecast a total result for the month.
Ballew said GM has had solid sales of trucks and car-based utility vehicles, such as the GMC Acadia, and a "terrific first quarter" for sales of its Chevrolet Impala, Saturn Aura and Pontiac G6 sedans.
Ford's chief sales analyst, George Pipas, said discounted sales to businesses and other large-volume customers would be down in the double digits again in March. Ford reported a 42 percent decline in so-called fleet sales in January and a 20 percent decline in February.
Edmunds.com's Toprak said compact cars are the growth segment in the U.S. market at this point, along with the reloaded Saturn lineup.
"The Saturn brand has been doing phenomenal," he said. "The Honda Civic, the Chevrolet Cobalt, the Chevrolet Aveo, the Toyota Prius are all going to do well."
"We look to foreign brand light trucks to be down 3 percent to 5 percent and passenger car sales to be up 3 percent to 5 percent," Ceraso wrote in a report released Thursday.
By NickBunkley
March 30, 2007
DETROIT ? Toyota Motor continues to increase discounts on its new full-size pickup, the Tundra, another sign that it is not cutting into the profitable truck market as much as rival automakers had feared.
Toyota dealers began offering a $1,000 trade-in incentive this week to Tundra buyers, who can combine that discount with existing cash-back offers of as much as $2,000.
Analysts say they are surprised to see such heavy incentives on a vehicle that went on sale less than two months ago, but Denise Morrissey, a spokeswoman for the automaker, said that such offers were ?just part of how you do business.?
Ms. Morrissey said Thursday that higher discounts were available on some competing trucks and that failing to keep up could hurt the Tundra?s ability to attract shoppers. ?In the truck segment, the customers really do expect them,? Ms. Morrissey said. ?This is our first real foray into this segment. When in Rome, you know.?
The Tundra?s growing list of incentives is welcome news in Detroit, which has long dominated the pickup market. Although General Motors and Ford have publicly said they are not worried about losing sales to the Tundra, Toyota has shown repeatedly that it should never be underestimated.
So far the Tundra, which was redesigned to be bigger and brawnier, has fallen short of its publicity. Toyota, known for its commitment to vehicle safety, suffered a mild embarrassment last week when the federal government gave the Tundra a four-star rating in frontal crash tests ? one star fewer than all competing models made by Detroit.
By Eoin Callan
March 30, 2007
The chief executives of GM and Ford are taking on Hank Paulson over the U.S. Treasury secretary's hands-off policy on the weak yen in a bid to undermine rival Toyota.
The executives have established a fresh political campaign aimed at influencing pending legislation in Congress after direct personal appeals to President George W. Bush were rebuffed.
The companies want lawmakers to force the Bush administration to exert pressure on Tokyo over the value of the yen ? which is at a 20-year low in real terms and made Toyota's exports more profitable last year.
The lobbying effort gained momentum this week when measures sought by the carmakers were presented in both chambers of Congress by members that have received campaign contributions from GM and Ford.
Steve Biegun, a vice-president at Ford, said: "The Japanese need a warning shot fired across the bow."
A GM executive said the campaign was being directed at "the highest levels".
It comes as lawmakers prepare to outline sweeping legislation next week aimed at addressing the record US trade deficit with China and global economic imbalances.
The bill taking shape would direct the Treasury to act against countries over currency "misalignments" or "manipulation" and could include a range of responses from international mediation to unilateral action.
A lobbyist for GM, Ford and Chrysler said the Treasury secretary needed to be pushed into spearheading a co-ordinated international effort that would lead to "Japan selling down its excessive reserves" to stimulate a stronger yen.
"Hank Paulson needs to ensure the yen is on the agenda of the next meeting of the G7 [industrialised nations]," the lobbyist said.
Mr. Paulson has been one of the staunchest defenders of Tokyo's position that the value of the yen is a result of market forces, despite moves by European finance ministers to isolate Japan.
Officials in Tokyo argue Japan has not intervened in the currency market since 2004, while many economists say the main reason for yen depreciation is the wide interest rate differential with the rest of the world. This encourages borrowing in yen and investment in higher-yielding assets abroad.
GM, Ford and their allies in Congress cite studies by academics and economists calling for Japan to adapt its economic policy to address global economic imbalances.
A report released this week by the Peterson Institute for International Economics argued: "A Japan that is committed to co-operation on exchange rate policy in Asia should take the lead in the region on exchange rate adjustment against the dollar."
Toyota declined to comment.
But there is something new this time, energy experts say, in how drivers are reacting ? or, more accurately, not reacting, even as the price of gas has climbed over the last two months to a national average of more than $2.60 a gallon. It has topped $3 a gallon in many parts of the country, particularly along the Pacific Coast.
But as Americans enter the sixth year of rising oil and gasoline prices, their shift in driving habits this time has been much less extensive. What?s more, in recent weeks, gas consumption has gone up, not down, and drivers are changing their daily driving habits only slightly.
?I don?t think about gas prices at all,? said Michael Machat, 48, a lawyer in West Los Angeles, where gasoline prices are among the highest in the country. As he filled up his BMW with super unleaded at $3.39 this week, he added, ?I guess maybe if it was $10 a gallon, I?d think about it.?
A recent study that Christopher Knittel, an economics professor at the University of California, Davis, helped write showed that every time from November 1975 to November 1980 that gasoline prices went up 20 percent, consumers changed their driving behavior by cutting gas consumption by 6 percent per capita nationwide.
But from March 2001 to March 2006, drivers reduced consumption just 1 percent when prices rose 20 percent. Prices swung up and down seasonally during both periods, but Mr. Knittel said the two periods were comparable because regular gasoline prices increased in both periods by about 66 percent, to $2.50 from $1.50 in real terms, set at 2000 dollars.
While more and more consumers around the country are buying smaller, more-efficient cars and fewer SUVs, that trend is unfolding a lot more slowly these days than 30 years ago. It was a very different era back then, when Congress was willing to enact tougher gasoline standards and when President Jimmy Carter called on the country ?to live thriftily? and ?find ways to adjust and to make our society more efficient.?
?One would think that with prices up over the last few years, people would drive less, but that?s not the case,? said Aaron Brady, an expert on gasoline refining and consumption at Cambridge Energy Research Associates, a consulting firm. ?Demand is up over the last year.?
The Department of Energy reported on Wednesday that gasoline demand for transportation over the last four weeks averaged 9.2 million barrels a day, or 1.6 percent higher than in the corresponding time last year, when prices were a bit lower. The rising use by consumers and businesses is putting further pressure on prices. On top of that, United States commercial crude oil inventories fell by 0.9 million barrels in the week ended March 23, compared with the previous week. Spring is also the season when refineries retool, producing slightly less gasoline.
Interviews with drivers around the country show they are less than alarmed by the new run-up in prices, even if they are not happy about it. And they still suspect Big Oil is fleecing them. Not surprisingly, higher-income drivers are particularly unruffled, but middle-income drivers also seem fairly tranquil.
Veronica Burgos, a 39-year-old bookkeeper, says she is not about to give up her aging gas-guzzling navy blue Ford Explorer to commute to work and shuttle her children around, even though gasoline prices in the Los Angeles area where she lives are now ?ridiculous.?
?With this SUV, you really feel it, but I have two kids so I need it,? she said. ?In reality my husband would probably rather that I don?t drive the SUV so much, but I still do and I drive quite a bit. With work and two kids and all their activities, especially on the weekend, we?re more comfortable in the SUV So what are you going to do??
?The market rally in gasoline is like the Oscars,? said Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at Oil Price Information Service, a trade publication. ?It gets moved up every year.?
?Our preliminary analysis is showing vehicle choice is less sensitive to gas prices today than compared with the 1970s,? he said. ?We might be buying fewer SUVs, but a lot of the shifting is to cars that are not appreciably more fuel-efficient, such as minivans.?
I too like the looks of the photos of the Altima Coupe, but do not like the lighter steering, and the CVT transmission. Overall the Accord feels better. You may want to try out the Aura XR, which is less expensive than a Maxima, or Infinity, yet packs good punch to HP and torque.
As for Mustang vs. Corvette, I would say an older Stang would be interesting, and the newer one less so in my view. Don't like the interior of the new one, and the exterior is too replicar. Now a used C5 Corvette, if you are need of speed and sports car looks all rolled into one, would be fine. They can run serious dollars though.
Future list could include the Impala RWD or Camaro, or the New Malibu with the 3.6 V6. And current Aura XR is pretty hot, in the GM line. Depends how far into the future your list is going.
Loren
So will GM make some cool minivans some day. And how do you get the image war working in your favor? The soccer mom image is fine with me, as the van is a kid mover, for the most part. Now to make them more macho so guys love them.... Let's see, we need the first ever Hummer 1 Minivan.
Loren
Loren
??? Yes I guess you are right they could live out of their SUV. BUT the point is that #2.50 vs $3 is really not a heck of a lot of money. People blow more than that on coffee and cigs.
Minivan is becoming a small niche market. CUVs are quickly taking over that market.
Loren
No it is not hard to believe. They are not all mighty, they also have to compete. Prices are held down for all by the cheapest in the market. That is great for the consumers untill the competition goes out of business and the last left standing raise their prices.
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=422073&page=3
At 2500 rpm, Honda 4 cyl reaches 120 ft. lbs
The 3.5 liter Impala has 208 ft-lbs at same rpm. This doesn't translate into real world driving? I'm supposed to feel much more kick from 120 ft-lbs than 208 ft-lbs? How much more?
At 6200 rpm, the Honda peaks at 134. At least the Honda 4 cyl does good on torque steer.
Loren
Now back to GM being offensive. I hope they aren't being too offensive.
Or is this a football analogy? If so, they seem to have a better coach, and a few good players. A few injured, but hoping to get into game shape by the end of the year. The trick play strategy seems to have thrown a few on the J team off their game, but look out for the second half, just when things will get interesting. With a whole lot of luck, no players walk off the field do to a strike, and that statue of liberty play works once again. Japan teams are still pumped up.
-- meanwhile another game is going on Elswhere, USA. So how is that game going???
Well it seems that Ford players are still in the locker room. No one really knows when that team is ready to play, or will just go home and retire. More to come, as they go Boldly where no car company has ever gone. Well at least that many rolled into one.
Loren
Did I get the right Impala motor from the website for powertrain information?
There was a 2nd 3.5 motor listed.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Any graphs for regular honda or Toyota 4 cyl and 6 cyl?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
JDM Civic 1.8:
JDM Honda Inspire (USDM Accord) 3.0 V6:
JDM Nissan Skyline (Infiniti G35) 3.5 V6:
These torque curves are just disproving louiswei's claim of more kick from Honda 4 than GM V6.
The Z didn't seem that claustrophobic to me, but that's just my opinion. GM at present isn't offering anything interesting in my price range. The GTO was a styling disaster, so they dropped it. The Camero is still years out (and will likely share the mustangs obesity problem).
Basicly, every GM car just seems poorly executed to me. Every type of car I can think of (I don't do trucks or SUV's) except for the Vette falls in the "its okay but for the same price I can get ____" category. I like the Civic's interior and exterior styling better than the Cobalt, I'd go for a Maxima or Altima before most of their sedans, Infiniti over Caddy, etc. None of the new GM's are just plain bad like their offerings in the 90's, they're just painfully average. Add in their ever shrinking availability of manual tranny's and I don't see me considering one any time soon.
I could say very similar things about Ford and Toyota.
The 2007 has a zero to sixty of 6.6 seconds, which is quite adequate for all except a dragster. Most Impala owners I am sure really could care less what is under the hood, and the 3.5 pulls the car along just fine. It is however not in the same class of engines. If they are just as good as say the 3.6 engine from GM, why off the two? Why don't they have a 230, 250 or 300HP OHV V6?
Loren
The only other thing I would say to you is to try the Aura XR, with paddle shift, which is not important. What is important is that when in that mode it can hold gears while cornering and you have extra control. As for shifting from a standstill, the automatic mode does just fine with the XR. The car seems pretty balanced on turns. It could go on a diet, but overall it does well in and around its price range. The XR may have to be ordered to find a truely base one, unless you want ever so much jazz on her.
What would be a cool car is that Solstice Coupe, with slightly lower doors and not that in a cave feel. The show car photos look pretty hot!
Smaller to Mid-sized cars, other than a BMW, with a stick are gonna be a rare find. In USA they don't sell well, and thus the manufacturers (most all) have backed away from the stick. The last of the four cylinders was the Nissan 240SX, I do believe. Most cars now are as boring as an SUV. Oh wait, those sell. Can't say GM was wrong in making those extra bucks on the SUVs over the years. Easy money, as people paid lots and lots of money for those monsters. It was a good cash cow.
Loren
Ironic about the flexfuel. A local quickmart and gas station chain has a zone office near me. Their managers all have a flexfuel Impala. But none of the Mobile pumps they have are E85.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
The Accord V6 2007 gets 20/29 MPG and 0-60 6.6 sec.
I considered buying a used SLS, which is a pretty good car indeed. Decided to go with a new car as the repair bills and upkeep on a used Caddy could add up quickly. Anyway the Northstar V8, the 3.6 DOHC V6 of GM vs. The Honda V6 for all practicle purpose seems to be about the same. And I should get a few more MPG along the way.
For gas mileage on V8's, those Corvette owners of C5 era cars, with the stick shifts report some MPG figures right up there with the V6 cars. Now there is a good ol' OHV engine old as the hills and still kickin'. The 350 has been retired on those? Pretty inexpensive engine to keep the old classics running. I take it they will be making those engines in Mexico for some time to come.
Loren