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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
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Replying to: andre1969 (Jan 29, 2009 2:11 pm) Keep in mind that the 2003-2007-Accord to my knowledge never lost a comparrison test against the same generation family cars and even defeated the redesigned 2007 Camry in several tests. The one thing that Honda has always been very good at in the past is engineering its cars ahead of its competition. It is that engineering, along with the fit and finish which makes these cars have a higher resale value and worth the extra money. In a sense the 2008 is a disappointment, the car is still really good but the competition, has in many ways caught up, especially the Altima, the Malibu and the Mazda6 which are excellent products. The Aura is a good start and corrects many of the faults of the LS, it still is not there yet and the Mailbu appears to be a better application of the platform. In my opinion if GM took the funds expended for the G6 and Aura and poured them instead into the Malibu, the 'Bu would be the clear top of the class in the family sedan division, it is pretty close to the class leaders as is.
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Replying to: andre1969 (Jan 29, 2009 2:11 pm) Bought a Nissan Altima instead. |
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Replying to: TIMGT5 (Jan 30, 2009 1:32 am) What more could they have poured into the Malibu? I've driven all three and they all drive the same which is to be expected given the identical underpinnings. Out of all of them, the Aura had the best driving position and the interior was the least rental feeling. But none of them are anything sporty, except maybe the Aura with the bigger wheels and quicker steering that I was surprised about. They're all too big to be any fun though, same goes for the Accord and Camry btw. The only real blast to drive in the segment is the Mazda6 and maybe the Altima (this one you'll pay for in ride quality)
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Replying to: anythngbutgm (Jan 30, 2009 5:05 am) They haven't put any money into the G6, other than its refresh for 09 models. Which I believe was a waste of money, when they should either get rid of the car or re-do the whole car. It needs a make over, not a new gaudy bumper and mixed matched interior radio and dash. The Aura has some major potential, if they had just took it a bit further, it could keep up with the rest. I seriously was impressed when I saw it first come out. But, that WOW factor didn't last long. Its sorta blah. But, with that said, the Accord is also sorta casual. But, it can hold its own. You can get a base model Accord or civic, and still feel the engineering. GM tries, they really do, but they put a car out, but its just half effort. If you are going to do it, then find out if you have the money to do it all the way. Its been said before, but if they downsized, get rid of the some of the duplicate SUV's, they could have some major money to really put some great quality in their new cars. After driving my 08 G6, I have a rare version of it, it has the 4cyl, leather, roof, sound. I actually love it. I can see why people buy them, or GM cars, because GM really does think about what the driver wants with all the features. But, I think all those features sugar coat it. Without them, the car wouldn't be much. A G6 in a base model would not compare to a base model Accord, or civic. Its not like the engine is anything to really get excited about with its crazy picky transmission. Certainly not like my 06 Accord or 08 Jetta I have had. The new 6spd transmission probably fixed alot. I have not driven that yet. I plan to though. Just to compare. So....lol... my relationship with GM is sorta like a love hate, I think I want to love them, because they have some major potential, but mad that I am supporting them now. I hope for us, that they do some major thinking, and show us what they have. |
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Replying to: anythngbutgm (Jan 30, 2009 5:05 am) I find it odd that of the three epsilon cars the Malibu gets really good reviews and ranks highly in CR while the Aura and G6 are heavily critized. The platform has a lot of potential. I Believe that Chevy could do an "SS" type Mailbu with more aggressive throttle response, firmer suspension and 18 inch low profile tires, ground effects package, faux carbon fiber trim. This would be one for the TL/ BMW 3 Series wanabees. There should be a Malibu coupe as well, to replace the G6 and take one the Altima 2 door and Accord 2 door. I believe that in the next few years that personal semi-luxury sporty coupes will become popular again. The front drive Pontiacs are a waste of effort, all of the resources allocated for these cars should go to Chevrolet. In GM's lineup Chevy should be the Toyota/Honda/Ford/Nissan applinace fighter. If Pontiac survives its best use would be niche outfit, with high performance RWD sedans, coupes and roadsters. If not then Pontiac should be dropped altogether. What is the point of it selling inferior versions of Chevy products?
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Replying to: TIMGT5 (Feb 01, 2009 4:02 am) The point is Buick/GMC dealers wanted "Chevys" to sell to their customers, but couldn't become a Chevy dealer, usually because there is already a Chevy dealer in close proximity.
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Replying to: bpizzuti (Feb 01, 2009 6:33 am) I think there really should be only 2 applications of the Epsilon chasis, one should be a "Joe Six Pack" version, The Malibu, this would be GM's Accord/Camry fighter. and an upscale version (Buick possibly) to take on the ES 350/ Acura TL. Any badging beyond that is a waste of resources. Same thing with Lambda X-over, there is no need for 4 itenerations of this same car. Concentrate on 2, Drop the GMC and Saturn ( The brand is definately going anyway) Keep the Chevy version to go against the Pilot/Highlander/CX 9. An upscale version to go against the MDX/RX. No company should produce products that compete with itself. GM needs only one model for each purpose, and to target each specific demographic. Eliminating excess duplication cuts costs. If GM is to survive it must shrink to fit the times.
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Replying to: TIMGT5 (Feb 03, 2009 1:52 am) Are you saying Toyo shouldn't market the Camry and the ES? They're essentially the same car. Honda shouldn't market the Civic and Accord with models parallel in the Acura line? Are you saying Marathon shouldn't market Speedway gasoline? SuperAmerica gas?
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Replying to: imidazol97 (Feb 03, 2009 5:49 am) In both cases, they may be the same platform, but they don't compete with each other directly. The Lexus/Acura versions are much higher trims, more expensive, with features not found on the "peon" version. That's like marketing an Enclave and a Traverse: they're in different price strata. While you really COULD get away with making them both trims of the same model (and they do in some countries), we Americans are snobs and our luxury cars must have different nameplates from the cars for the unwashed masses.  However, what difference is there between the Cobalt and the G5? Malibu and Aura? Equinox and Torrent? 99% of the time the only difference is sheetmetal and badge.
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Replying to: bpizzuti (Feb 03, 2009 6:16 am) In the General's case there is too much price overlap in the Aura, G6 and Malibu, which actually dilutes the platform and is confusing to the customer. It has always been a flaw in GM's strategy not to specify its brands. Every brand trying to be everything to everybody does not work. |
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