Get it together GM Options

[rpoz-29]

My dad was the parts manager at a local Chevrolet dealer for 20+ years. I can remember "Show Day" when the cars for the new model year were unveiled. The owner of the dealership owned a farm and had all the new cars delivered there rather than the dealership. A day or so before show day, they would soap the windows in the show room, and bring the cars up at night. It was a very big deal. Probably sounds "quaint" to most people today. I think all manufacturers did the same, but the pratice seemed to die out in the 70's. These days, one year simply morphs into the next, and I know costs prevent them from major changes every year, but as a kid, it was almost magic. It's probably how I became hooked on cars, and I wish GM would bring some of that feeling back. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif)

[rmackintosh]

Things aren't changing. I bet in a couple of years I'll have Chinese CDs in my car.

...no....you'll be LIVING in China.....

(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif)

[JonV]

You know, all of you missed one of the biggest contributors to GM's demise. The cost of their pensions and the like for retired employees is astronomical. I seem to remember for every car they sell about $1500 of it goes to paying for their employee's pensions and healthcare.

Far as I'm concerned that is their own stupid fault. I am a teacher in the Province of Ontario. Up until about 15 years ago the province ran our pension plan and was consistently coming up short. One of the big brusing strikes we engaged won us the right to manage our own pension. It is now the envy of country and is probably recognized around the world as one of the most successful and powerful pension funds going. Why the heck can't GM and it's employees do something similar?

[LT4Firehawk]

The UAW has done an amazing job tying the Big 3's hands behind their back to make sure they can't dynamically change their company quickly in the face of changes in the marketplace.

I think this is probably the biggest issue with the big 3. It's truly amazing to me that the US auto makers have to look at moving production to places like Mexico to be competitive when foreign auto makers are moving production to the US. The difference? The foreign auto makers don't have to put up with the outrageous UAW contracts that the big 3 do. I'm not against people getting paid a fair wage, but I think most of us would agree there are some outrageous $$/benefits being provided to UAW workers. If the UAW doesn't wake up and get realistic about what's happening, the big 3 are going to dissapear along with all those UAW jobs. I thought it was rather hilarious a few several years back when I saw a news story that said the UAW had basically given up on getting into the Japanese manufacturer's American plants and was now going to focus on the European's American plants. I never really saw a follow up, but my guess is they didn't have much luck there either. My guess is that while the workers in those plants realize they'll never get the outrageous $$/benefits that UAW workers for the big 3 will, they also realize that if they let the UAW in the Japanese/Europeans would just close the plants and move somewhere else.

[rmackintosh]

The UAW has done an amazing job tying the Big 3's hands behind their back to make sure they can't dynamically change their company quickly in the face of changes in the marketplace.

I think this is probably the biggest issue with the big 3. It's truly amazing to me that the US auto makers have to look at moving production to places like Mexico to be competitive when foreign auto makers are moving production to the US. The difference? The foreign auto makers don't have to put up with the outrageous UAW contracts that the big 3 do. I'm not against people getting paid a fair wage, but I think most of us would agree there are some outrageous $$/benefits being provided to UAW workers. If the UAW doesn't wake up and get realistic about what's happening, the big 3 are going to dissapear along with all those UAW jobs. I thought it was rather hilarious a few several years back when I saw a news story that said the UAW had basically given up on getting into the Japanese manufacturer's American plants and was now going to focus on the European's American plants. I never really saw a follow up, but my guess is they didn't have much luck there either. My guess is that while the workers in those plants realize they'll never get the outrageous $$/benefits that UAW workers for the big 3 will, they also realize that if they let the UAW in the Japanese/Europeans would just close the plants and move somewhere else.

...EXACTLY...gonna kill the golden goose...

[Pilot]

Yeah, that was my 2002 that also had the waterpump gaskets fail. I've also had the brakes warp 5 times in the warranty period. I know I was a bad boy, but switched to slotted/cross drilled and no problems since. Had a RR axle bearing turn bad on me. Right now, the driver's door ajar sensor isn't working right and I've also had a couple speakers blow on me.

Kevin... as far as the 6 grand profit and assuming that an automaker won't sell at a lost, my question to you is this. What about the situation of overstocks? The automaker is in a position of having too many units already available for sale that aren't moving, and also a production line that costs the company PLENTY of money for every hour it's shut down. What provides the lesser of two evils? Which position is losing less money? As far as the 6 g profit... I don't think only the automakers are seeing that. I'm pretty sure that the dealers are seing quite a bit of it as well. Just a couple of more thoughts to toss out... I'm just not sure to agree or disagree with all of this. One way or another, I don't exactly like it.

[94bird]

(IMG:http://www.detnews.com/pix/autos/2006/06chevmalibumaxxss/8.jpg)

Man, are the Malibu SS and Malibu Maxx SS hot looking or what? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[Absolut Speed]

The Maxx is the latest in the goofy designs GM has launched.

Hmmm, which 5 door would I choose, the Maxx or....

(IMG:http://www.oldmac.com.au/vehicle-specs/db-pics/mazda6-hatch.jpg)

And it's even made in the USA and comes with a 5spd MT, or 6spd AT

[bobbylee]

The Malibu's are very reminiscent of certain cheap Korean vehicles...but which is uglier?

[Trance]

I'd take the cheap Korean car at this point. At least it has a better warranty.

[35th_Anniversary...]

Things aren't changing. I bet in a couple of years I'll have Chinese CDs in my car.

...no....you'll be LIVING in China.....

(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif)

cooking american food, right?
ROTFLMAO
Sorry, I can't pass up an easy laugh.

[severous01]

my new car will be the new Jetta GLI or Audi A4 quatro. 2.0 turbo, amazing interior, nice ride and sporty feel, decent warranty...plus my girlfriend has a jetta...only complaint i have with it is how they positioned the oil filter facing the front of the car. opposite of the hondas if anyone has worked on them. there is very little room to work with, and the front air dam swoops under the engine making it a pain to reach in the first place. intake manifold and useless plastic blocks access from the top.

as far as windows go, i have a rivet gun, i can fix it.

[trackbird]

Kevin... as far as the 6 grand profit and assuming that an automaker won't sell at a lost, my question to you is this.  What about the situation of overstocks?  The automaker is in a position of having too many units already available for sale that aren't moving, and also a production line that costs the company PLENTY of money for every hour it's shut down.    What provides the lesser of two evils?  Which position is losing less money?  As far as the 6 g profit... I don't think only the automakers are seeing that.  I'm pretty sure that the dealers are seing quite a bit of it as well.  Just a couple of more thoughts to toss out... I'm just not sure to agree or disagree with all of this.  One way or another, I don't exactly like it.

Garrett,

I was somewhat kidding, but that's the way the "average" person seems to think about things. I'm not saying they have 6 grand profit, just that many people won't pay 6k more for a car tomorrow (if they ended the rebates) than they would have today. So, the rebates have to "stay".

That's all I was saying. You dig a hole and get stuck in it.

my new car will be the new Jetta GLI or Audi A4 quatro.  2.0 turbo, amazing interior, nice ride and sporty feel, decent warranty...plus my girlfriend has a jetta...only complaint i have with it is how they positioned the oil filter facing the front of the car.  opposite of the hondas if anyone has worked on them.  there is very little room to work with, and the front air dam swoops under the engine making it a pain to reach in the first place.  intake manifold and useless plastic blocks access from the top. 

as far as windows go, i have a rivet gun, i can fix it.

Just be aware that most of my VW's (4 new ones since 2000) have spent some or considerable time in the shop. Out of 4 cars, they've all had problems, every one. (and I still love the cars :stupid: )

[LT4Firehawk]

There are really only a couple of ways for GM to get out of the rebate fiasco that they are in now. One is to make great cars (desirable styling and excellent quality) that people will be willing to pay extra for. The other way is to introduce new models and not give rebates on them when they come out. Unfortunately, I don't think GM will do either, so there sales will continue to slide. That means the only option left is to raise the price enough to cover the rebates.

[94bird]

Some GM employees are suing GM now because GM's policy for 401K company matching was apparently to put it all in GM stock. In the past 3 years GM's stock has gone down about 40%. After some quick looking it looks like Toyota's stock has gone up about that much in the same time frame. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[trackbird]

Some GM employees are suing GM now because GM's policy for 401K company matching was apparently to put it all in GM stock. In the past 3 years GM's stock has gone down about 40%. After some quick looking it looks like Toyota's stock has gone up about that much in the same time frame. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Of course "company match" means they are suing over "free money". I'm not saying I'd like my company to put it all in stock that becomes "worthless" (not that it's that bad, just making the extreme point), but if they gave me free money (and invested in any of the stock market), I guess I should expect that I could take a beating on it.