Was listening to NPR this am on the way to work and some twit lady says that she rode in the back seat of a "very well maintained" 1999 Buick the other day and the pouches on the back of the front seats were stretched and the seat belt hurt her shoulder. Oh, isn't that too bad.... :rant: She said that GM has forgotten about "the little things". I'm sure the dimwit has a Toyota...... Some kids probably pulled on the pouches and stretched them .....big f%#^$ing deal.....could happen on any car. Piuches and seatbelt comfort are not why I buy GM or don't buy GM! How bout the BIG picture lady?.....how buying foreign cars has hurt this country and it's workers/ecomomy/pride. :rant: Ok....back to work. :laugh: Bruce
i agree. i read on ebay motors bb where someone said that if GM goes under it will casue a ripple effect in our economy. yeah, if by ripple they mean major tsunami.
Remember too,GM,like all companies,have had their share of problems over the years and they have survived,while others haven't survived. Let's hope GM can get back on track and show the world they are still the best automaker in the world.
When I heard the news the other day about "GM to cut 25,000 jobs" the first thing I thought was - .....are the Jobs being eliminated ?? .....are the jobs being Moved to some other country ??
I think it's sales related Alan.....cars just aren't selling......GM cars were made too well in the last 5-10 yrs so no one is replacing them. Just kidding (I think) :laugh: Actually my 96 Regal GS runs/looks like new with 165,000 so why would I buy a new GM.....I guess I'll drive it till it dies. Can't sell around here it cuz it's "GM junk".
There is a very good article on GM in the June issue of Industry week by Michael Evans, chief economist for American Econonics Group, Washington D.C. and president of the Evans Group, an econominc consulting firm. The ariticle is titled: "Can GM Survive?" "The automakers's biggest problem is labor costs, and the solution, ultimately, rests with it's unions" In my opinion, he is right on target. It doesn't matter how pro-union one may be. Evans is stating reality and the unions better wake up because a big change is coming for them one way or another. Here is the link: http://www.industryweek.com/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=10317
I purchased a 2005 Cadillac Escalade in sept 04 after 2000 mi on it i started having navigation problems with the dealer has installed 4 new systems at 2k a piece plus labor and rental car. The problems still exsits Cadillac wont buy it back or give me a replacement vehicle so i had my meeting with Cadillac and the BBB last week im waiting for my results. It has an electrical problem but they wont fix it so i might be stuck with this pos until my lease is up if this is the way GM is going to treat there customers i hope they go down or the asians step in and buy them out this is a 65k truck. I will be all done buying GM and i get the GM discount. I would think they would stand behind there product better than this.
Mark Its more then a union issue..IE: In the US, health care costs add $ 1500.00 per car. This is unacceptable...Wake up BUSH.. :spank: . This is pushing up prices of everything right across the board! The Government and the union have to work this out as well as GM's attitude toward the consummer ! :blast: Please read my posting about mass layoffs at GM, that will explain how GM listens to it customers who pay my wages and puts money in thier pockets! ou:
Alan, Count on jobs being eliminated and attrition to make the 25k number. You can also count on jobs going to Mexico and China.
Unfortunately this whole thing can snowball. People see GM floundering then they don't buy. GM has to be tight with warranty stuff because they are losing money. Around and around. Toyota can afford to fix stuff since they are making $$$. A person here is on her 3rd engine in her Sienna van. ("sludge/ coking problem) She admitted to me that she only changes her oil every 6,000 miles .....sooner than Toyota recommends unless "severe use". I guess stuck in backups in 95 deg heat is severe use. Doesn't seem to be affecting Toyota's reputation too much..... I'm one of those nuts that thinks if we live in this country we should support US products/companies (don't tell me about all the Toyotas and Honda made in this country.....not US companies....YET) as much as possible. "Global" economy or not.
I think GM needs to evaluate what kind of cars it's pushing on the public. Who wants a FWD 4 door with only a 4/6 cyl? For me the requirements are: Only one visable door per side. MUST be RWD. MUST get close to 100 MPG in the quarter. Outside of the Vette and that GTO thing, what does GM give me to pick from? Add Ford and Chrysler to the list too. Outside of the Mustang, what is there? At least Chrysler is going back to RWD but they just can't get passed that 4 door BS. This is why my main driver is a BMW, the first non-American car I've ever owned! My $.02. Keith
Actually the place they are losing out is in 4 dr, FWD, everyday cars for the average dodo. That's where the money is and the mass sales. Sure I'd like a 2 dr, RWD, hi po car too but that is not going to sell to the average Joe.
Granted, the 4dr FWD is for the masses, but what do they offer people like me that want a 2dr RWD with a bit of omph?
Well, well, well... I said two years ago that GM would put all their eggs in one, big, stupid, gas-guzzling, lousy handling, SUV basket and then get clipped when the market turned. A la early 70's. HEY ALAN!!! I'M A FREAKING PSYCHIC!!!! Face it. GM makes crappy cars and crappy decisions. The only cars since 1972 that GM has executed well are the Regal/T-Type platform of the 1980's and the last generation Riviera. Corvettes don't count because it has always been well done, basically. Put a new GTO next to a new Mustang GT and tell me which one you'd pay for. The GT is also less expensive for not a whole lot less performance. Even Ford haters are coming over to the blue oval side. Ford can't make them fast enough. And it is drop-dead gorgeous. But, GM will stick to the 80 year old philosophy of ramming product down our throats instead of giving us what we want. Why in the hell don't they just take the GN driveline and put it in SOMETHING? A supercharged Monte Carlo just misses the mark. RIP GM. You get what you deserve.
Goes a lot deeper yet....... Unfortunately, It goes so much deeper than GM getting what they deserve. The Mid-Ohio Valley where I live is a Chemical Plant Mecca. Nearly every chemical plant in this area rely on the big three as customers. GE alone sells a very large portion of their products to GM. If GM goes under, it is going to help cripple support industries and support "regions" also. We only have a handfull of major economy supporters in our area, and one hiccup in the economy can help collapse it all. The real losers in all this is the american public..... those of us which add a "service" or "Resource" to GM and the other larger Manufactureres. This nation cannot afford to lose or move many more economic contributors. There is my $.02. John
I'm sorry but the last GM car I bought was a big pile. Went through 4 alternators in the first 3 years. Rattled from day one. Power windows quit working. After 2 years. My Boss who had a brand New Bonneville had similar problem along with my Friend who has the last year Trans Am were built with less than 50,000 miles on it. My Toyota Has not given me any major problem besides routine maintenance since day one. Also the Honda I had never had any problems until I was rear ended and it was totalled.
Kinda reminds me something that happened in my neck of the woods. A homeowner with a well insisted on watering his lawn in the drought a few years ago.....was even willing to pay the fines.......then his well ran dry.....whole property was dug up trying to find more water.....finally had to move at a big loss since there was no water on the property. People keep buying foreign eventually there are other serious consequences.
I have worked in a number of GM plants in Canada. Please believe me ,the waste I have seen over the years is mind boggling! I see all the complaints here and it only goes to show how the upper management needs replacing NOW.There has been many of us loyal GM consumers who have been shafted time and time again. The complaints I see here is just the tip of the iceberg and it makes me sick... :jd: General Motors take notice: Keep the consumer happy, fix the cars and trucks or replace them. Is that really to much to ask after they have spend 30 to 50 thousand dollars of their hard earned money....I think not.. :Smarty: My brother has worked at Ford dealerships for 30 years, and I can get a better deal and service from FORD and I work for GM... o No: GM will make it through this, lets just pray they learn something by it.
