- #35 of 874
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Re: just strangle 'em [xrunner2]
by cooterbfd
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Nov 07, 2008 (8:02 am)
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Replying to: xrunner2 (Nov 07, 2008 7:41 am)
That's what I was thinking. The bigger problem becomes pairing down the number of franchises so that everybody can make a decent profit.
I guess you could say that GM is already "rebadging" cars, as there is a company in Austrailia that will sell a kit to "convert" your G8 to a Holden Commodore for $4,000. All it is is a body kit that bolts on. This tells me that the easiest way is to just built quality cars that appeal to everybody.
The Malibu, G6, and Aura all sit on the same platform, just as the Toyota Camry, Highlander, Venza, Avalon, and their Lexus variants do. I'd be willing to bet that that is where the biggest savings comes from, in that all these cars can be built on the same assembly line using the same basic structural architecture. I believe that if the G6 were as good as the Malibu, and the Aura were sold at more than just 500 dealerships, they could sell close to, if not more than, 1 million of these 3 per year total. But the G6 can't hold a candle to the Malibu, and the Aura is "hidden" at the few Saturn dealers that exist, so I guess they'll have to settle with half that amount, with 2/3-3/4 of those sale being Malibus. THAT'S where bad planning comes in.
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- #36 of 874
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Re: just strangle 'em [circlew]
by cooterbfd
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Nov 07, 2008 (8:04 am)
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Replying to: circlew (Nov 07, 2008 8:01 am)
And which part of your gastro-intstinal tract do you propose pulling this plan out of????????? 
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- #37 of 874
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Re: just strangle 'em
by bvdj84
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Nov 07, 2008 (8:53 am)
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Replying to: cooterbfd (Nov 07, 2008 8:04 am)
If I were GM, I would not be making any new models right now, considering the shape they are in right now. All of their cars are hitting rock bottom in values. Though, I consider this to be the economy, but this is certainly a test for the company. I am not sure they should introduce any new models at this time, otherwise they'll have to phase out more cars, including the already G8. Bad timing! If they do move forward, it better be economical and practical. Something is not right, considering the GM is the company that has taken the biggest hit. The manager really needs to evaluate why their company has the highest hit, and what they can do to pull out of this. Consider it a reality check for them to get their cars up to code, meaning on par with its competition. Out of their whole entire line up, there are few cars that are flagship cars. The rest, are just your average car, below standards. Sounds like I am totally bashing GM, but I have heard from many people that have recently bought other cars such as Honda, and they say, "I will never drive another GM product again". This is coming from them, not me, but I agree!
Therefore, I would not want to run GM. I am not sure the manager can say, that they produce the best product they could possibly create. They're not. I would do some house cleaning if I were in there, that can be good or bad. lol
I would get rid of a few models/brands. Keep my most quality cars, and use them as examples, start from there.
I do wish them luck, I think they'll pull out of this, but they still need to consider their quality.
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- #38 of 874
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Re: What I would do. [georgecavalier]
by jae5
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Nov 07, 2008 (10:50 am)
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Replying to: georgecavalier (Nov 06, 2008 2:02 pm)
Thanks GC. I haven't kept up on the C/C twins since they were intro'd. I wonder what the thought was to have V8s in these vehicles when they had / have the 4.2L six. I think this is one of GMs problems and why they lost $4.2B (and burned through $6.9B) in the third quarter - their timing & priorities are screwed up. I personally don't want taxpayer money going to these guys; they should file Chap. 11. Their only plan is to continue to cut employees and beg Congress to give them money or they'll burn through their cash in the current quarter. With no detailed plan to present to how they would use the money, an estimate to a repayment start, and how without said borrowed, not gifted, money they could not survive they are presenting themselves as just needing a hand-out and not wanting to take responsibilities for their actions.
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- #39 of 874
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Re: just strangle 'em [cooterbfd]
by circlew
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Nov 07, 2008 (11:43 am)
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Replying to: cooterbfd (Nov 07, 2008 8:04 am)
Actually, it will be pulled out of the gastro-intestinal tract of the U.S. Auto industry where major cancer has spread to every company! Major surgery is needed to stabilize the 3 patients, who's internal organs are bleeding profusely. 5 months to live without the surgery.
Dr. Obama will operate and Dr. Nancy will assist.
BTW, even I could not have screwed up GM more than it is today. I'm not that greedy or blind! 
Regards,
OW
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- #40 of 874
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Re: just strangle 'em [circlew]
by lemko
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Nov 07, 2008 (4:27 pm)
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Replying to: circlew (Nov 07, 2008 8:01 am)
What? No Buick? What will I buy? Put in a SERIOUS S-Class/LS/7-Series fighter called the Cadillac Fleetwood and I'll go with your plan.
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- #41 of 874
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Re: just strangle 'em [circlew]
by lemko
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Nov 07, 2008 (4:35 pm)
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Replying to: circlew (Nov 07, 2008 11:43 am)
Neither could I. I could've arrested this cancer back in the early 1980s - at least with Cadillac. I would've stuck with the 425 V-8 from the 1977-79 cars, the eco-weenies and their CAFE rules be darned, until a suitable replacement could be developed. The Cimmaron never would've been allowed to exist. I would've developed the Cadillac Seville as a SERIOUS sports sedan and the Eldorado as a SERIOUS sports coupe yet retaining their distinctive Cadillac styling.
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- #42 of 874
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Re: just strangle 'em [xrunner2]
by tlong
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Nov 07, 2008 (4:54 pm)
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Replying to: xrunner2 (Nov 07, 2008 7:41 am)
A town about 20 miles from me has a Chevy dealer and a Pontiac/Buick/GMC dealer about one mile apart. There are probably hundreds of other towns, suburbs with similar dealer proximities. Would not Chevy dealers bring lawsuits on GM for violating some kind of exclusivity arrangements for "territory" infringement? Aren't dealers given a territory in which to operate?
With my idea the Pontiac dealer next to the Chevy dealer is selling Pontiac badged cars. He can choose not to switch to Chevy, since there's a Chevy dealer next door. If you go to the Chevy dealer you see a Malibu. If you go to the next door Pontiac dealer you see the same exact car, it just says Pontiac G6 on it! GM basically rebadges exact vehicles and then all dealers get product, yet GM only has to support two "real" brands, as the cost of new badges is minimal. It's not like a slightly reworked Acadia is all that different than a Traverse, or an Enclave, etc. So everybody gets the Traverse, but the GMC dealer sells it as an Acadia. I don't see why it violates any agreements about competition, since many of the existing rebadges are still minimally different anyway. Just don't make them different at all, except the badges!
Of course none of this matters given today's financial announcements unless GM gets government bailout money soon, since that appears to be their only hope. Let's hope this really leads to some RADICAL, not evolutionary, restructuring.
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- #43 of 874
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Re: just strangle 'em [lemko]
by tlong
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Nov 07, 2008 (4:56 pm)
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Replying to: lemko (Nov 07, 2008 4:27 pm)
What? No Buick? What will I buy? Put in a SERIOUS S-Class/LS/7-Series fighter called the Cadillac Fleetwood and I'll go with your plan.
But why would you want an S-Class fighter since those European cars are like call girls that are so unsatisfying anyway?
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- #44 of 874
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Re: just strangle 'em [lemko]
by circlew
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Nov 07, 2008 (4:58 pm)
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Replying to: lemko (Nov 07, 2008 4:27 pm)
Lemko, didn't you see the DTS? I'm changing the name back to DeVille so we can re-claim the world standard with a real Caddy nameplate. There will be no rival in the new company. Period!
Regards,
OW
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