[Absolut Speed]

Last fall, GM announced a reduction in GTO production and had to offer large rebates on this brand new model to sell off inventory

In December, GM had a 301 day supply of SSR's on hand.

Then the XLR gets a production cut from 23 to 12 a day. There's a 200 day supply of them out there. Cadillac hoped to sell 6,000 annually, but through 18 months, sold just 4,744.

February, GM decides to cut $1500-$2000 off the sticker mid-year on Trailblazers/Envoys/Rainiers and currently has 0% for 60 months to get them selling again. TrailBlazer sales fell 46% compared with January 2004. Envoy sales were off 52% and Rainier 27% according to Autodata reports.

Then for March, the factory that produces the LaCrosse & Grand Prix is shutting down for a week.

Then the earnings forecast for 2005 drops 80%. Stocks drop to 8 year low.

I think this goes back to cutting the Camaro and Firebird out of the lineup.

[trackbird]

Randy,

I fully understand the German car issues. I've owned 4 brand new VW's since 2000 (3-2000's and a 2004). All of the 2000's had bad O2 sensors from the dealer (when new) and they were on national backorder.

The first 2000 Golf had the alarm quit working within 3 weeks and was ok after that (didn't stay long).

The 2000 Jetta lost the wastegate controller at 28,000 miles.

The GTI VR6 broke a tranny mount, the dealer pulled the trans, rebuilt/upgraded it, screwed up 5th gear and took 5 weeks for the first rebuild. Then, the mass air meter died at 28k and they wanted to charge me for it. While it was there, I asked them to fix 5th gear this time. 3 weeks later, I got it back. The next day, the light was on (check engine). They fixed the trans, reset the code on the MAF and left all the hoses from the air box dangling behind the motor. I had another dealer fix the MAF (for free, but it's a porsche, audi, vw, lotus, rolls royce, etc dealer. They want my return business, no matter how much I make in life).

There were other issues as well, but I'm used to the fact that they don't run for long. My Camaro has been the most reliable car we've owned out of the last 6 new cars from 2000 on. All it's needed is a set of water pump gaskets at 48,000 miles (I know of another 2002 car that had the same thing happen) Sad, isn't it?

And, I just bought a 2004 GTI. The drivers side window fell out of the frame and into the door while my wife was leaving work. Had to drive 25 miles with the window down on a 25 degree day to get to the dealer to get it fixed. It had 7,500 miles on it at the time (4 months old). So, I'm curious to see what breaks next.

As I said, who needs reliablilty..... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif)