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Comments
http://youtu.be/VMeNk30H5tU
The V6 has been replaced, I think with the 3.6l, right? So it's due for an update as well.
Equinox is made in 3 plants but 2 of them are in Ontario, Canada. So mostly imports.
Lets hope it avoids many of the "teething pains" that so many new generations of models end up suffering through.
It definitely wins the beauty contest award...
Look at the pay ratio between a CEO and the average blue collar guy on the assembly line. The gap keeps getting bigger and bigger.
That being said, nice to see GM is finally starting to address that interior. I think the car looks great, a quantum leap over the past couple decades.
I believe in balance. And I've liked my GM products. Many people here find that somehow impossible.
I detest when only part of the story is presented...or even worse, when incorrect information is presented. Opinions are OK, but wrong "facts" aren't. That problem is rampant on this board.
Clearly, GM employs more people in this country than any import company--also employs more suppliers. Let's not drag those numbers out again.
I can't blame you for asking, though, really--I wondered if you worked for Hyundai after the "Automobile" magazine brouhaha last year!
And fintail, geez, that's some stereotyping! LOL I have some Benz owner stereotypes in my mind too, but I'll keep them to myself!
So, what is demo of those who buy new Corvettes? If one is sour, out of touch and older, buy a Corvette? If un-sour, in touch and young, buy a what?
Should one generalize about Mercedes Benz owners when seeing these expensive models in parking lot by orthodonists' office? Or, seeing many times seasoned citizen women driving Benzes slowly?
The Sonic you just recommended was designed by white collar guys in Korea, FWIW.
Spark is designed and built there.
Meanwhile, cars like the American Accord and Camry are unique to the US and are actually designed and built here.
I think you fix in on the label too much.
The Accord is an American car.
The Spark is a Korean car.
Doesn't matter what badge you slap on the front.
Balance means recognizing the Spark is a Korean car, designed and built.
I call it like it is, some times I agree with you (Corvette rocks), other times I disagree.
I spent my tax dollars for this? (Not my choice, no taxpayers had a choice, unless you are a politician)
I'm part owner of a company that made this? (again not my decision to waste money on GM)
Tell me its a joke.
It could have been me. If I am saying that statement it is not because it's a terrible car. It's because for a company that nearly died and was saved by the government, I don't understand how a redesign could be worse or no better than the previous model, and how it could be decent, but still trail most of its competitors. By itself it may not be "lame", but taken as a perspective on GM and it's competitors, yes, it is "lame".
GM should have been able to do much better.
And management is Sooooo important because?
People like Lutz, Wagoner... don't know why we are so worried about the 1% rather than the 99%.
That's a sign of poor efficiency, though.
The transplants build more cars per man hour because they are often more efficient.
Not to pick on GM, because VW is even less efficient than GM is.
Dude, pre-production. Please.
Of course, styling is very subjective.
2014 Corvette gets me to thinking that the people who designed/styled some of GM cars of the past, such as at Pontiac - last Trans-AM, Aztek, cladded boy racer Grand AMs, etc - apparently are still around. Maybe these are the out-of-touch "old" guys another poster referred to as potential buyers.
Watch it win Best of Show from all the major car mags.
Perhaps we actually all agree more than we realize. Let me throw out what I think is a "balanced" picture and let me know how much you agree (or disagree):
1 - GM made crappy cars (even crappier than most of the competition) in the 80's and 90's
2 - GM has improved substantially and is now much more competitive than it was back then
3 - GM's trucks and SUVs are very competitive. While they are tough and durable, they have still had build and reliability issues, even in the 2000's *on average* vs. brands like Toyota, although GM has a much fully line of products in this area, so there is not much foreign nameplate competition.
4 - GM's smaller cars were not very competitive at all until the past 5-ish years
5 - GM's new smaller cars are hugely improved
6 - GM still has some reliablity issues vs. the *average* of the better competition
7 - GM's midsized cars were not very competitive until recently. The previous model Malibu was nearly as competitive as the other mainstream family sedans.
8 - The newest Malibu is not better than the previous one and has generally tested near the bottom of the pack vs. its competition. This does not make it a bad car, but rather a middling car in a very competitive field.
9 - Lots of GMs are made in the USA, and quite a lot are not
10 - Lots of foreign nameplate vehicles are made in the USA, many with very high domestic content, and many are also designed in the USA.
How is that?
I actually suspect we agree more than not, but some people are saying "GM is not that bad" and I agree, while I'm saying "why isn't GM LEADING (or darn close to it)". Don't we want GM to be the best, not just "decent"?
I'll just hand-off our differences to age and backgrounds. And that's OK of course.
and I again, I ask: What is your opinion of the Feb. CR where the Malibu 1LT tested better than many of the foreign competition? I think it's a simple question.
The transplants build more cars per man hour because they are often more efficient.
Not to pick on GM, because VW is even less efficient than GM is.
Also the transplants' manufacturing facilities seem to be more flexible. That can actually reduce cars per man hour, but it's better in the end as they're less likely to have 130+ days of inventory of certain models.
So far VW can afford to be less productive as their profit is double that of GM. Will see where VW group finishes for '12. They did have a big profit boost from the Porsche deal, but Europe has been hurting so I don't have a clue how the 4th quarter will be.
My subscription lapsed so I haven't seen the issue. I'll take your word on it, though.
That's great that the Malibu tested better than those other vehicles. How does it compare to the front runners in the segment - the Accord and Camry?
Also, we don't know what the reliability will look like. I think the previous model averaged around the middle, with some better and some worse than average years.
So it's a perfectly decent car in a very competitive market.
If you (and I) want to be GM fans, do we want to accept "perfectly decent"?
I know my sports teams should be leading the pack, not midpack.
GM's never shined at small cars so they basically outsource it to GM-DAT and let them do it.
That's not necessarily bad, it just doesn't make them "domestic".
According to the CR website overall sedan ratings, the '13 Malibu 1LT returned a score of 83. That's still below the Sonota GLS 89, Accord LX 90, Camry LE 88. Overall ranking is 11th for the Malibu. I guess CR hasn't conducted a full test of the Fuison, as it isn't listed.
So sure, the Malibu scored better than the Optima, Passat, Altima 4cyl (but not v6 model) it still is way behind the class leaders in both ratings and sales.
FWIW, the Camry Hybrid had the top score of 93.
So no the Malibu isn't a bottom of the barrel car by any means, it seems to me the goal of the Malibu was to be more than mid pack.
Show cars are basically hand built and then touched by journalists who tug at everything to see if it'll break.
Thou shalt not judge.
Unfortunately I have a feeling that has more to do with labor contracts keeping plants from going idle.
I'm sure that's 99% of the reason, regardless those rules have costs.
I also don't think they took it on the rock trail anywhere.
You OK with paying them in Indiana?
That was a condition of the bailout i believe: they had to build a subcompact high-mileage car within the US.
I trust you are taking numbers from the high-end box in the mag and comparing the 1LT Malibu to those as well...tsk-tsk, dieselone, I thought you were more objective than that.
They also mention how it was a huge improvement over the previous design.
The DI 4 banger makes nearly as much power as the ancient Chinese built boat anchor with pushrods did.
Its a car that doesnt know what it wants to be. Lets put some Corvette in there, this is a Vette ya know.....four round tail lights, nah. It has the name and the flags.
Whats next, front wheel drive 4 cyl? And the vid will talk about how eight was good but we can do more with four.
Nope.
The reason the Sonic is built in Michigan is because the UAW agreed to a lower wage at the plant, the plant is half the size of a typical plant and many energy efficient systems were put into place. Further, the same line also builds the Verano - a vehicle that is more profitable.
Sonic Manufacturing
And yes, that is a trick question. :P
The Z06 is actually on the light side for its performance class, and the 2014 lost more weight.
I could see a turbo 4 in something else, but not a Corvette.
Has anybody heard that? I haven't heard one way or the other.
I don't think they are winning any drag races or FE contests though.
Also, the Malibu will never be recommended if they can't maintain at least reasonable reliability (average or better).
Vette shared its tail lights before, always four round tail lights, didnt take em from other cars. When you get rid of the hidden headlights I guess anything goes.
I think Chrysler has a much bigger image issue than even GM, given their products over the last 5-10 years.
I did see a really cool Dart commercial during the Golden Globes. I don't believe I've seen a Dart on the road, though.