Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Automotive News & Views What if you were in charge of GM?
874 messages, Last post on Oct 28, 2009 at 10:20 AM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
|
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 03, 2008 7:52 am) I see people losing their homes as a MUCH bigger problem than auto sales slump. I think VW is doing better than most. Especially their Jetta TDI. As far as the recession goes. I don't see any less people on the highway or in the malls. They may not be buying a new car every three years and flooding the used car market like the last 3 years. The simple truth is we were using home equity and cheap credit to buy cars we really did not need. If I was in charge of GM I would take a long look in the mirror and question the gene pool I was spawned from.
|
|
|
So i'm currently in the market for a new vehicle, and while i'm not "objectively" opposed to purchasing american, there is nothing that I can reason myself into buying. Chrysler= Hideous resale value, low safety ratings, less than average consumer satisfaction and number of problems. Love the design of the charger though. Chrysler's designs DEF. have more edge than the other two, the quality and refinement just needs to improve , together with the safetey. Ford= if I wanted a truck, they'd be great. Unfortunately I don't. I also don't want an explorer. Or escape. Its not that they're ugly, they just haven't changed in appearance since the 1990's when my parents owned two explorers. I know they've evolved, but its just tired looking. I would love to buy a lincoln, just can't get one for $25k (my budget). I could almost afford the MKZ, but gee, when you look around the lot, it feels like an overpriced fusion. The actual fusion? its alright, just vanilla looking. Bland. The focus? No, im not in college and more, and there are plenty of other cars in that segment more attractive for the same money. I love the EDGE crossover, but hello? 17 MPG in the city? Really ford? And I also love Mustangs, but thats a niche product, not a mass appeal product. I actually like Mercury's, but unfortunately in my market mercury has been farmed out to a nissan dealer who chooses not to really carry any mercurys. GMC= I actually really appreciate some of the newer designs. The roadsters are nice. The smaller SUV's are alright. The malibu is alright. But what is their youth/young adult brand? Saturn and Pontiac? I trust Saturn 'SOMEWHAT'... I just remember the plastic panel poverty cars they were when I was a teenager.. they should be cheaper for the feeling they give you. As for Pontiac ? Where to begin. My babysitter had one when I was a kid that all the buttons fell off the dash, the door handles broke inside , the windows stopped working, and the speedometer failed. My mom had one that had transmission failure at several thousand and a fuel system problem that no one could solve. In 2004, my friend had a 2001 that to get it to crank she would open the hood and ram a stick in the engine. Then theres that terrible guy I use to know who couldn't get a date to save his life.. he bought one every two years. The newer pontiacs are designed well (atleast the ones that aren't copies of other models) , but, the brand recognition , for me as a serious targetable car buyer for the next 20 years, is hideous. They should ditch the pontiac logo and the name and just come up with a new youth brand... impress me. I don't mind knowing GM made my car, but I can't deal with the garbage reputations so much of their nameplates created for me growing up. My summation to all this? Target the 20 and 30 year olds. Stop being conservative with designs, and don't be afraid to ditch your "Legacy" plans and brands .... if american's liked you and what you stand for, the bailout wouldn't be a question |
|
|
I would seriously consider closing all U.S. based plants and manufacture Chevy, Cadillac and Saturn brands overseas. Both GM and Ford are profitable outside the U.S. As a matter of fact Ford just spent billions of dollars to build a state of art plant in Brazil, where they produce cars with non-union labor. For years GM has been canibalizing its North American operations to finance plants in China and Europe. I think they should continue in that direction and along the way sell the relics and robots to India or the Russians. One more point, I would focus all future R&D on a non-combustion engine. To do this in a big and comprehensive way I would spend $1 billion to engage all high school and college physics students around the world to work on a global replacement or solution for the combustion engine. |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: gagrice (Dec 03, 2008 1:56 pm) Recessions are defined by certain traditional metrics, and using those standards, we are definitely in recession. If we don't want to use those metrics then sure we can argue anecdotally that we aren't in one, or we can choose our own metrics.
|
|
|
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 03, 2008 8:20 pm) I think the country is flush with vehicles. Buying new right now is not that smart unless you get one heck of a deal and you have cash to spend. Borrowing is fine if you get a 2% or less loan. I would not sign for anymore than that.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 03, 2008 6:58 am) I believe he was the one with all the answers to the ECONOMY during the election. So now it's going to be his. |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: gagrice (Dec 03, 2008 9:17 pm) The Big Three obviously have an image problem. Even when they have a decent product, they can't win. How does a new CEO turn around public perception? Wow, seems like an enormous task. And this public image might not be just about the products, but the management as well. (excerpt from CNNMoney.com) " "A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll of nearly 1,100 Americans conducted earlier this week found 61% oppose a bailout, while only 36% support it. Even in the Midwest, home to most of the automakers' remaining plants, 53% of those polled opposed federal help. That was a stunning reversal of polls taken before the CEOs last trip to Capitol Hill. A poll Nov. 11 and 12 conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates found 55% supported federal assistance for automakers at that time, and only 30% who believed they should not get federal help."
|
|
|
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 04, 2008 8:37 am) How many supported bailing out the greedy scheming manipulative banks? And yet here we are, with untold trillions that will eventually be spent. And the people have absolutely no recourse, when it comes down to it. I'd like to see a big overpaid suit 2.5 address the image problem, and not simply dismiss it as some grand liberal elitist media conspiracy. |
|
|
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Dec 04, 2008 8:37 am) That is the biggest understatement tonight! A few DECENT PRODUCTS. They also have devastating timing. Haven't they always? The economic downturn was the final straw to a system doomed for years. Like I said,the buck stops with the C.E.O. Your job is well compensated to allow immediate severance upon failure. When it continues for years, something is really wrong with your industry, let alone your particular company. I assume that's why these guys are bullet proof because of the massive web of confusion. Regards, OW
|
|
You are here:
Forums
Automotive News & Views What if you were in charge of GM?
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
