[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.

[Mericet]

As far as GM products is concerned the Cobalt might be good (although I think it is just a reworked Opel Astra?). At least C&D gave it decent reviews thus far. That said, the only new GM's that I would consider now is the Vette (obviously but for the price the Porsche Boxster will be looked at as well) or the GTO. Unfortunately I can not even afford to buy the GTO right now. The Solstice and Sky looks promising, but indications are they will be heavy.

As far as VW's quality: I owned a '86 Jetta with a 1.6l in South Africa. In 3 years I did about 155,000 miles in it. I only replaced general wear items but even at a service interval of 15,000km (about 10,000 miles) it was sometimes serviced every month. Currently my wife drives a 99.5 Jetta VR6 auto. I do not like the driver seat, or the way the gearbox shifts. We had the window problem (like Kevin), I had to replace the MAF (I used one from a 2.0 which is the same sensor in a different housing and saved $150), an oxygen sensor ($250 from the dealer, I found one new in the VW bag for $50), the cupholders broke as has the one glovebox support! Still my wife loves it and it is still going well at just below 90,000 miles.

On the other hand my RS has 180,000+ on the odo. I have only replaced a few maintenance items (waterpump, front rotors, AC condensor) and it actually has better gas mileage than the Jetta (which runs on premium).