Save GM

[kwhizz]

First off...........The cars that GM is producing right now are some of the best cars in the world.....dollar for dollar....
The main problem (In my opinion) is the Union and the Union Legacy that has been built into the Automotive system....who's to blame is not the Issue.....It's there....and they can't do anything about it.....
Today's business climate changes on a Daily basis and we have to "Adjust" to the market (and Customers) on a Daily basis to be "First" successful and "Secondly" Profitable ....also......the access to this Flexability to do business in the New world market has been removed from the Manufacturers......."Right, Wrong, or Indifferent"..........
Everyone wants everything to stay as it was because that's what we are accustomed to and have comfort with..........Ain't gonna happen......."Things Need to be Adjusted" and......It's not gonna be "Fair"..........But for the Good of all.........It's got to happen........
Now.........the bigger problem......................Who is going to regulate what changes are to be made......the CEO's.......the Barney Frank and Chris Dodd Show...........or the rest of the "All Knowing" Elected Officials in Washington.........

Who do we put our Faith in????

Bring back Ross Peroit.............

Just my $.02

Ken

[conekiller13]

Originally Posted by TonyL

Everyone needs to be worried about competing with Hyundai.
Best everything in its class and 35,000 bucks. Hard to compete with that. Bigger, faster, stops faster, and gets better mileage than BMW Mercedes and Lexus.

Everyone needs to keep an eye on Hyundai. My wife wants a new Genesis so bad, she's threatening to sell my car to get one.

Korea is to Japan as Japan is/was to the U.S. as India will soon be to Korea.

The big difference is the Asian companies seem to take a lot more pride in the success of thier companies not thier stock. Not sure what India's business practices will be yet.

[Sparky1]

My two cents:
1) break the unions contracts
2) build cars people want
3) shake up the fatcats at the top of the big 3
4) let the auto designers design cars not the government
5) give incentives to big 3 to modernize/retool plants
6) throw all the arrogant politicians out
7) cut corporate income taxes for all buisness ( they are among the highest in the world, and it could be a way for detroit to meet some of there pension obligations)
8) why are the big 3 doing better over the big pond?

these are in no particular order. I have owned about 20 vehicles over the last 10 years. and as a owner of 3 first gen. camaros I truly love GM, but with that being said the quality issues are still there. I currently own a 07 Avalanche that is probably 1 of the best vehicles I have owned. but compared to the the 08 Nissan SUV my wife just got there is a clear difference. I think dodge and ford have larger quality issues. Also detroit and the uaw could both use an attitude adjustment. And for those who believe the unions days are long gone wait until "card check" comes around. I would rather close the doors on my buisness than have union dictate my labor terms.

[BRIAN]

Guys it is the cars plain and simple. They have gotten better but in the end they need to reorganize or wipe out their design studio. They are almost there but again insist on adding those tacky GM style add ons. It is like they just can't build a car without them. The GTO was the 1st sign of a good change but then again the people who buy GM cars didn't like it.

They are building a product for a dying off crowd and do not have the attention of new buyers and it is now coming up and bitting them in the ass. Is it the unions fault? Maybe money wise but then again look what Hyundai has done with budget cars.

Again the mechanics are spot on and the best out there but the packaging is just out of touch.


Just to prove a point on how writting some emails or getting a petition started can help, there is some guy from out West who drives a Japanese car who is against the bailout who did take action. He wrote something and got attention. He is on his way to being the next Joe the plumber.

Get off yours asses and get some emails or letters out to your local Gov't leaders. I know it is easier to post 10 pages worth of stuff on the internet. Not sure where everybody will be getting their parts from???? For a web site who banned together to help someone with a bad paint job it seams a little silly not to help keep the Industry you enjoy alive??? Just my 2 cents.

[sniper]

Originally Posted by BRIAN

Get off yours asses and get some emails or letters out to your local Gov't leaders. I know it is easier to post 10 pages worth of stuff on the internet. Not sure where everybody will be getting their parts from???? For a web site who banned together to help someone with a bad paint job it seams a little silly not to help keep the Industry you enjoy alive??? Just my 2 cents.

You do understand that not everyone is for the bailout, don't you?

Also, why is everyone making it out that if they do not get a bailout, then they will go out of business? Can they not reorganize and build cars on a much smaller scale?

This whole thing is no different than Bush shouting that a bank baiout is a must or we will all die. Since then, they have spent only 300 billion or so to Paulson's buddies, and yet people are still kickin.

[rich-allen]

Originally Posted by conekiller13

Korea is to Japan as Japan is/was to the U.S. as India will soon be to Korea.

The big difference is the Asian companies seem to take a lot more pride in the success of thier companies not thier stock. Not sure what India's business practices will be yet.

For another $5k you can have the new twin turbo 335i
from BMW. I bought my daughter one for college graduation and it drives like it's on rails.





Car and Driver voted it the best engine and handling of any car in it's class for 2008.

Don't get me wrong, this is the only non American car I've ever bought and the reason I bought it wasn't because GM makes crappy cars however, GM doesn't make car comparable to this and if they did it would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $50k

I got hers out the door (inc tax lic, fully loaded) for $42k. 20 mpg city and 28 Hwy

Why can't GM make cars with comparable quality with a comparable price? The equivelent car is a Cadallic and it runs around $52k

[trapin]

I think it's already been explained why our cars cost so much more.

The BMW is nicer because that's the only brand they sell and they can concentrate ALL their resources on just a few cars. Also, they're a much smaller company, have no unions, and have a tax advantage from our government, that's how they do it. It's not rocket science.

I'm sorry to see that we didn't have a car you felt was good enough for your daughter. Maybe next time.

If there is one.

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by trapin

I think it's already been explained why our cars cost so much more.

The BMW is nicer because that's the only brand they sell and they can concentrate ALL their resources on just a few cars. Also, they're a much smaller company, have no unions, and have a tax advantage from our government, that's how they do it. It's not rocket science.

I'm sorry to see that we didn't have a car you felt was good enough for your daughter. Maybe next time.

If there is one.

Rich nailed it. The BMW is such a better car (that new 335i is sweet). I don't care how it gets done, but the Germans just make better cars, and sometimes cheaper like he said!

I really doubt I will ever buy a newer GM car again. It is what it is. But I will continue to support them by buying parts for my Camaro, Chevelle, or whatever GM musclecar I get into next. That's better than nothing!

[drewmangoo]

I think GM could save it's self by bring some of the overseas models to the states. I'm over in the Middle East, for a couple of months and some of the Chevy's here would sell big time in the states. I love Chevy, but let's be honest their line-up is pretty borning if you can't afford a Vett or the new Camaro. Take a look at the Chevy's they sell in the United Arab Emirates. Sorry for the long post,just a long time bow-tie man giving his 2 cents.

[trapin]

double post.