The New GM

[RU482]

Originally posted by: vi edit
I was doing some reading on GMC and I guess the reason they are around is because of industrial/commercial sales. I'm not talking rebadged Silverado's being sold as Sierras. That's just a showroom filler. It's the really big dump truck/tow truck/cargo vans/one step down from a semi sized trucks that make them a lot of money.

I guess Chevy doesn't really cater to that market and left it to GMC. That's why they are being spared the axe.

ORLY

 

[herm0016]

gmc has always been a much classier version of the chevy trucks. if they drop it they should adopt the interiors and design from the gmc line.

 

[jhu]

Originally posted by: MBrown
GMC. I didn't quite understand why they still want to keep GMC. After some thought I am starting to see why they are keeping it. I guess its just simply going to be more upscale version of Chevy trucks and SUVs (am I correct here?) which I am fine with.

studies show that gmc truck buyers would have bought ford trucks and not chevy trucks if gmc wasn't around. that's why gmc isn't getting axed.

Originally posted by: MBrown
Buick. At first I was saying to my self why is there a need for two luxury brands? I can now see GM's thinking behind having Buick compete against Lexus and the Japanese luxury brands and Cadillac against the German luxury brands. Looking at the new Buick LaCrosse, this looks like its more about luxury and confort than luxury and performance and it just looks more...Japanese. I am curious to see what they are going to do about the lucerne. Are they going to replace it with the regal?

buick is huge in china. that's why it's not getting axed.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Engineer
Question: Do you want this "new" GM to succeed or fail (and give reasons for your answer)?

LOL, like you have to ask.

 

[LTC8K6]

The question is, I think, what will Obama do if the new GM and Chrysler don't do any better than the old ones? If they actually do better then that's fine, but what if they don't?

Claim they are healthy and bail anyway? Leaving them in the breeze?

Give them more money and keep hoping?

Inflate sales figures and hope consumers are fooled?

Try more schemes to get people to buy?

A free Detroit house with every Chevy or Chrysler?

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
I know absolutely no one who would cross shop a Buick against a Lexus.

I know plenty....they are called senior citizens.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: SickBeast
IMO the Malibu and Impala are a large part of why GM went down.

I agree on the old Malibu and the current Impala...but the new Malibu is very competitive against current models from other mfgs.

I really just can't understand why they would keep the Impala in its current crappy form and not just rebadge a G8 and call it the new Impala. The only reason's I can think are:

1) The G8 has limited production capability in Australia and would not be able to keep up with the demand (fleet sales, etc that Impala gets). They could retool a plant in NA to produce it, but that would cost $ which GM does not have right now.
2) The G8 is too expensive to build and would not support the kind of discounts that GM has to give to fleet purchases to sell the current Impala
3) The G8 would negatively affect GM's CAFE standard rather than the Impala with its older engines that actually get decent gas mileage (but are much less fun to drive).

Who knows. I really hate that GM is throwing away the G8...so sad.

 

[evident]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: SickBeast
IMO the Malibu and Impala are a large part of why GM went down.

I agree on the old Malibu and the current Impala...but the new Malibu is very competitive against current models from other mfgs.

I really just can't understand why they would keep the Impala in its current crappy form and not just rebadge a G8 and call it the new Impala. The only reason's I can think are:

1) The G8 has limited production capability in Australia and would not be able to keep up with the demand (fleet sales, etc that Impala gets). They could retool a plant in NA to produce it, but that would cost $ which GM does not have right now.
2) The G8 is too expensive to build and would not support the kind of discounts that GM has to give to fleet purchases to sell the current Impala
3) The G8 would negatively affect GM's CAFE standard rather than the Impala with its older engines that actually get decent gas mileage (but are much less fun to drive).

Who knows. I really hate that GM is throwing away the G8...so sad.

it's a really bonehead decision. the impala is one of the most visible gm cars on the road, and most of them are the old boring looking POS that we've grown accustomed to. just imagine what the perception would be if it was replaced w/ the good looking G8.

 

[Ktulu]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
I know absolutely no one who would cross shop a Buick against a Lexus.

I know plenty....they are called senior citizens.

Heck I'm in my mid twenties i would definitely cross shop the new Buick Lacrosse with it's comparable Lexus. That thing looks F'ing awesome.

 

[LTC8K6]

The G8 with the DI V6 could be nice and have decent FE.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: Ktulu

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
I know absolutely no one who would cross shop a Buick against a Lexus.

I know plenty....they are called senior citizens.

Heck I'm in my mid twenties i would definitely cross shop the new Buick Lacrosse with it's comparable Lexus. That thing looks F'ing awesome.

Agreed.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
The G8 with the DI V6 could be nice and have decent FE.

Agreed...slap a Impala badge on it and I think it will sell very well. Maybe even offer a version o fit with the DI 4 cylinder coming out in the new Equinox (or the turbo DI 4 in the solstice GXP) as well in a base model in the mid 20's and you'd definitely have a winner.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
The G8 with the DI V6 could be nice and have decent FE.

Agreed...slap a Impala badge on it and I think it will sell very well. Maybe even offer a version o fit with the DI 4 cylinder coming out in the new Equinox (or the turbo DI 4 in the solstice GXP) as well in a base model in the mid 20's and you'd definitely have a winner.

Would people think the G8 is sexy with a 4 cylinder, cheap 16" steelies, minus the ground effects kit? The performance and image is a huge part of the G8's appeal. Take that away and you have... an Impala.

Imagine seeing a bunch of G8's in rental car trim. Makes me kinda sad just thinking about it.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: KnightBreed

Originally posted by: PricklyPete

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
The G8 with the DI V6 could be nice and have decent FE.

Agreed...slap a Impala badge on it and I think it will sell very well. Maybe even offer a version o fit with the DI 4 cylinder coming out in the new Equinox (or the turbo DI 4 in the solstice GXP) as well in a base model in the mid 20's and you'd definitely have a winner.

Would people think the G8 is sexy with a 4 cylinder, cheap 16" steelies, minus the ground effects kit? The performance and image is a huge part of the G8's appeal. Take that away and you have... an Impala.

Imagine seeing a bunch of G8's in rental car trim. Makes me kinda sad just thinking about it.

I'm not saying it would be sexy...but if it means that the G8 GXP will live on as a Impala SS...I'll get over the fact that crappy slow versions with low content packages are being sold to rental fleets. It certainly would give people a lot better opinion of GM vs. the current Impala's being peddled to rental fleets.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: PricklyPete
I'm not saying it would be sexy...but if it means that the G8 GXP will live on as a Impala SS...I'll get over the fact that crappy slow versions with low content packages are being sold to rental fleets. It certainly would give people a lot better opinion of GM vs. the current Impala's being peddled to rental fleets.

Don't get me wrong. I agree completely. The G8 should have been rebadged as an Impala yesterday.

The problem is the people that look at a Cobalt SS and say "who would buy a $23k Cobalt?". To you and me the answer is obvious - anybody that wants a great handling car in a value package. The average person looks down on the idea. It's the same reason upmarket/luxury cars that share platforms with cheaper cars often fail miserably. Why buy X when I can buy car Y which is the same for cheaper.

Well, no, Y is not the same. It might be faster or have more luxury features. But the perception is there and it hurts the cars image and sales.

Just look at the idiots (in this forum, no less) that blather on about performance Mustangs or, especially, Corvettes. The people that complain about the interior of a Z06 or ZR1 should be strung up by their genitals.

 

[SearchMaster]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
The question is, I think, what will Obama do if the new GM and Chrysler don't do any better than the old ones? If they actually do better then that's fine, but what if they don't?

Claim they are healthy and bail anyway? Leaving them in the breeze?

Give them more money and keep hoping?

Inflate sales figures and hope consumers are fooled?

Try more schemes to get people to buy?

A free Detroit house with every Chevy or Chrysler?

I think we both know the answer to this question. I've given you a hint in my response.

 

[SearchMaster]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Engineer
Question: Do you want this "new" GM to succeed or fail (and give reasons for your answer)?

LOL, like you have to ask.

I'm torn on this. I hate the thought of gov't ownership of businesses for obvious reasons. If GM does turn it around, the gov't will claim they need to take ownership of failing businesses to make the economy work ("see how well we did with GM/Chrysler???"). If GM doesn't turn it around, the fed will keep pumping money into a failing enterprise - if they were "too big to fail" 6 months ago (failure would kill the economy), then why would it be okay to let them fail today? 1-5 years from now?

Government does NOTHING well, except maybe national defense. GM is putting out interesting vehicles finally...it started before the bailout and is continuing now. If they had started this renaissance 10 years ago, they'd be in a much better position now, but that's water under the bridge.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: KnightBreed
Would people think the G8 is sexy with a 4 cylinder, cheap 16" steelies, minus the ground effects kit? The performance and image is a huge part of the G8's appeal. Take that away and you have... an Impala.

Imagine seeing a bunch of G8's in rental car trim. Makes me kinda sad just thinking about it.

sorta like those chrysler 300s with hubcaps and 2.7 V6s?

Originally posted by: SickBeast

I'm surprised to see the Impala outselling the Altima, but you did just prove my point. Without even looking at other models, there are at least 4 midsized cars being sold for every Impala sold.

the accord isn't midsized. so its about 3.5 😛

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
The G8 with the DI V6 could be nice and have decent FE.

the DI version of the 3.6 gets 1 mpg better than the non DI in the CTS. adding 1 mpg to the V6 version of the G8 gets you to 18/26. add in a 6 speed instead of a 5 speed may net you another 1 mpg somewhere. not horrible fuel economy for a 3900 lb large car, but it's not as good as the cheapy impala's 19/29

 

[LTC8K6]

The DI V6 in the Camaro - same engine - gets 29 hwy. So the G8 should be similar.