Save GM

[trapin]

Originally Posted by Flash68

I really doubt I will ever buy a newer GM car again. It is what it is.

Well of course you won't. You're going to stick with the popular perception because THATS the popular thing to do.

Why worry if the Big Three go under?

If won't effect you. Right?

[trapin]

A great read by a great writer....

http://www.freep.com/article/2008112...1230371/?imw=Y

[sniper]

Originally Posted by trapin

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.

DING DING DING! Tell em what he's won johnny.

Originally Posted by trapin

It's not rocket science.

It must be!

GM needs to focus on a brand or two at most. Sell off all the dead weight Build what they are best at building and proceed forward.

You certainly don't have to answer this, but would you take a 30% paycut, if it meant GM would survive on it's own? And do you think that would ever be a viable option for all employees?

I am willing to bet that no one would because of all the **** in place for union employees to get paid, for sitting in a room "unemployed" for eight hours, is more than they would get paid for working under a paycut.

The problem with the Big three is that NOONE is in it for the companies. They are all in it for themselves, from the CEO to the floor sweeper. No one is wanting to rebuild and lasting business model that will go on for decades.

I suppose this wouldn't have anything to do with our disdain of GM
Title of article:
"GM to spend $1billion of the bailout money… in Brazil"

General Motors plans to invest $1 billion in Brazil to avoid the kind of problems the U.S. automaker is facing in its home market, said the beleaguered car maker.

[tones2SS]

I think it's too bad.
The US car makers should never have been in this much trouble, or the econmy for that matter, to begin with.
It's kinda heart-breaking. I just hope it works out for the US big 3!!

[James OLC]

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.

In all fairness, GM has received (in the past) some pretty similar and substantial tax incentives to locate plants in specific cities (ie. Flint), states (ie. Ohio), and countries (ie. Canada) so that does not make BMW much different from GM in that regard. The number of brands they build and how they focus their development capital and their size all represent their business model which, if successful, is difficult to criticize. No unions... that would appear to be the largest "operational" (?) or "physical" (?) benefit with respect to unit cost.

My worry is that if the big 3 are ultimately bailed out, and if the terms of the bail out is a government approved "plan" we could see the "dumbing down" of the North American auto industry to satisfy the perceptions of a group of individuals who probably haven't sat in the front seat of a car in a long time.

Just my 2 cents.

[trapin]

James....there's a lot more that I wish I could say on these forums, but Big Brother has told us he'll be watching and I don't want that to be why I lost my job.

[James OLC]

Originally Posted by trapin

James....there's a lot more that I wish I could say on these forums, but Big Brother has told us he'll be watching and I don't want that to be why I lost my job.

I understand Tony and I know that you are in no win situation here on public forums like this. Public perceptions of specific industries never ceases to amaze me and I have learned to tune out the rhetoric from people who are the outside.

Regardless of what happens over the next few weeks, I am certain that changes are coming to the big 3 and I hope that you and others in the community weather the storm ok.

[XcYZ]

I'm worried that GM won't be a US company much longer, bankruptcy or not. Get ready for Shanghai GM, a joint venture between SAIC and GM. The groundwork is already there, and with SAIC being the 2nd largest auto maker in China, and with where the value of GM stock is today, they could easily come up with the cash to take it over.

With the apparent love that Americans have for Asian cars that are assembled here, combined with hatred for all things domestic, it could be a big hit. </sarcasm>

[trapin]

That's not a bad idea Scott. At least one media pundit is touting this.

http://www.autonews.com/article/2008...811209967/1125

Yeah really....maybe they'll finally love us once they have the knowledge that their money is leaving U.S shores and headed for China. For some reason this makes them feel better about their purchase.

I guess if you can't beat em...might as well join em. Eh?

our homes have 90% asian made goods in them anyways, and we all love buying cheap goods.