GM vehicle? Not me.
 

At least not for a while. Even though I really want a Corvette.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/20625.html
Ford took no bailout money.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

What a mess, too many at fault, no one taking the blame.

I still like GM trucks.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

How did Wagoner stay almost 6 years as GM tanked?

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

Ive been behind the wheel of GM trucks for a while, and I would not hesitate to purchase another. Yes, GM has its fair share of problems, some beyond the control of GM, but the amount of "bailout" (loan) money they have received is a pittance compared to the financial industry. I can understand the hesitation to buy a GM car nowadays, but I think that hesitation spreads to areas beyond GM.

Sometimes these articles drive me crazy - everyone in the media has something to say about how to fix the American car industry, how to fix GM, etc, even though they dont work in the car business and are speculating at best.

One of my favorite quotes from the article, referring to Waggoner, was "...He is considered responsible for increasing GM's focus on trucks and SUVs—at the expense of the hybrids and fuel efficient cars that have become more popular in the last couple of years."

What a ridiculous statement that is. GM made a TON of money on trucks and SUV's when they were popular. Small cars are generally considered loss leaders for many companies, and most consumers would rather have something with a bit of power and space.

Unfortunately (Politico take note), the problem is not that people (or as they call them, "consumers") are only buying small cars and hybrids - it is that people are NOT BUYING ANY new cars at all. Even Toyota is hurting in the most recent downturn...

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

Those of us who must, or need to drive trucks will soon find ourselves walking and probably taxed for that also.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

GM has more cars that get over 30 MPG, and more Hybrids than Toyota or Honda. What a crock. I love my new Corvette FWIW
Mike

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

THANK YOU!! jeez, why does no one realize this?

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

Yeah, except they have run their business like **** for the last 10 years!

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

Having a union who demands cost the company 1000 dollars per car for health care vrs the US Honda and toyota plants that have a cost of 94 dollars per car... ya that didnt help.

all the car companies are in trouble. its not just GM. Ford Morgaged all thier plants, if they go CH.11, they run the risk of losing thier plants.

Chrysler...well thats a whole nother bag o chips

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

I agree with everything you said...just saying, the fact that they make decent products is not enough. Many companies with solid products have gone under for a multitude of reasons.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

I just think the bailout money is not going to get GM out of trouble. I think they may have to break the company up. Maybe Corvette will become it's own company. GM has taken more bailout money than the company is even worth. How will they ever pay it back? I won't knowingly do business with any company that has received bailout.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

and yelling at GM for selling trucks and SUVs is ludacris!

Toyota, Honda, NIssan all redeveloped thier lines to include full size trucks and SUVS. its what the US wanted. Then in the last 2 years It crashed with rising gas prices.

And Now with gas back at 2 bucks a gallon, trucks are selling huge, Used car values are running through the roof, in fact a 1 year old car is more expensive than a brand new one! its nuts! Hell my car went UP on Kelley Blue Book in the last 6 months. Its a suburban!

Granted GM was slow in bringing out those uber fuel efficent cars but when they did they brought out the most respected cars out there!

Im not saying they are a model for business nesessarily, and a big part of that is the amount of power the union has and the lack of management to stem that power move.

And no offense to any auto workers but someone who works the line spinning the number 5 lug nut on a malibu should not be making 74 dollars an hour(including benefits)...

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

You do realize that before GM could get any of that money they had to issue a plan to restructure thier company? and if they dont repay the loans, the government issues a levy and gets it, but after 20 years. Chrysler did it in the 80s

They are dropping lines, Pontiac is a specialty line just the G8, G6, Vibe, and Solstice.

Saturn is likely to either be sold or rebranded opel.

Saab is gone

The Management and Execs are all only making 1 dollar this year. They sold thier fleet of jets(something AIG has yet to do...) They are shutting down plants and consolidating.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

I'll wait to see how it turns out. I'm not knocking GM products. I really do want a Corvette. I like their trucks. I just trust a government run company less than a union run one. I lived through the '70s. I owned Chrysler stock up till Daimler bought it. That was one I sold at the right time. They have to sell at a profit cars that people want to buy a lot of. You have to be one step ahead of the market or else be creating the market. I don't see this happening now. Granted, nobody is selling a lot at this time. I am just not going to have anything to do with a government run auto manufacturing company. There is no history of that turning out good.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

Hmm...anyone asking Gettlefingerer to step down?

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

GM was simply the biggest because they had the most out there under Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Pontiac, Saturn, Cadillac, Hummer, Saab, and Oldsmobile. How many freaking models in their lines that overlap one another? When consumers perceive your product to be a bad value, they won't buy from you. The Big Three are a shining example of how they like to live like fat cats when things are great, but they sure don't want to make sacrifices when times are bad.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

If you want a Vette, buy it. GM isn't going away, even if they go bankrupt. The govt. has already said they will back the warranty.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

Chevrolet, GMC (maybe even drop this...not sure), Pontiac, Saturn, Cadillac, Hummer (h1 only),

these are the lines I would keep if I was running the show. When was the last time you saw a buick made in the past 5 years on the road?

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

Maybe not buy the Corvette but instead stick a third of that money into GM, Citi and some other "value" stocks?

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

That's just it-he's just as responsible for the mess as Wagoner.

For all those in the union ranks that villify the compensation of salaried executives, they're turning a blind eye to what those in the union make. As if a $60k/year job turning some bolts is bad enough, union appointed positions are the shiznit into a bigger career of do-nothing job responsibility and accountability to no-one, often dished out in the good old boys network or family members. Then you take into consideration elected stewards/committemen/zone men/bargaining committee members, you've got a LOT of guys there making $200k+/year that give ZERO productivity paid for by GM/Chrysler/Ford.

Being an elected UAW rep is much like being in Congress-they're just a bunch of money grubbing whores and the only concern they have is for getting re-elected, not looking out in the best interest of their constituents.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

I like my cars with as close to 10 lbs/HP as my money can buy. It must be comfortable and reliable, too. It must also be good on mountain roads. I'm looking at the Audi A6T Quatro, too. There was also some Infinity model. If taxes (my biggest expense) keep going up more than my pay I will just keep my present car running until I can't get parts for it any more. If I won the lottery (you have to play to win) I would buy a Vette before I would get a Ferrari or a Lambo.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

Hey! I've known many stewards and reps who were nothing like members of Congress.....they've got much nicer suits than the average congressman's. And their shoes...so nice and shiney!

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

Damn GM and the trucks they built

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

The anti-worker sentiment in this thread amazes me. It's sad.
They're regular guys feeding their family with a decent wage that they've fought, bled and sacrificed for.
Would it be better if the men and women at GM made 8 or 10 bucks an hour with no benefits so that someone else could stack that money in their pile?

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

i think it's more anti-union then anti-worker...

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

the UAW is crap.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

I have to agree. There would be no better time to buy a GM vehicle if you are looking to contribute to the US economy.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

I am not going to contribute to the government-run-union part of the economy. I will freely choose where I want my non-taxed money to go.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

I'm gonna buy me some Chinese cars so those poor buggers can get democratize. :tu

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

I'll stick to my Kentucky built truck :wo

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

I meant after my Envoy and PT Cruiser die. :tu

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

:r I'll die before I buy the other stuff or I'll walk

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

If I had to drive Japanese I'd throw myself off a building. Twice.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

We have Japanese cars made here in California.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

my luck I would just bounce :r
keep them there :dance::wo

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

:tpd:

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whNIWUQGwj0
:D

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

:tu

http://www.redneck-trucks.com/wp-con...truck-tarp.jpg

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

Mighty fine truck :tu I want to do the tarp conversion to mine:r

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

Word.

The UAW was a BIG reason why the big 3 were not even a consideration when I purchased my new truck.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

Just like social security.;)

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

Well, it is a fairly expensive modification. Are you sure you can afford it :tu

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

:( no it is only a dream

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

I will stick with my Wisconsin built SUV.

Has any one looked at SUV's lately. I went to buy a Yukon the other night that would have sold for $6,000 a couple months ago, and it opened at $8,400 sold at $9,700.

I really think the UAW is responsible for a lot of the big 3's problems. I live 30 miles from where they build the Corvette. A majority if not all of the workers at the plant are transfers. As long as I can remember I don't think they have hired locally with the exception of a few temp jobs.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

the majority of the people who work on the vette are picked out of other plants due to exceptional performance from what i was told

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

:r Oh! The jokes that could start. :D

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

It just bothers me because when they relocated to Bowling Green they talked about how many new jobs they would create. It just bugs me that the jobs are created for people from other states, and towns. I know they pay taxes, buy houses and contribute to the community, but it would be nice if some local people could work there. I grew up with a lot of kids that came in with the Corvette plant they are fine people, but they can’t even get jobs there.

One good thing about the relocation is that my wife’s family moved here from Michigan.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

I don't know that anyone is "anti-worker". Last I knew, most people do have to work for a living.

The UAW has crippled GM/Ford/Chrysler for far too long. Anyone that has ever worked in a UAW plant (I've been "priveleged" enough to work in 3 different UAW plants) knows how much bureaucracy it is to get anything done. Complain about how it's management's fault for signing the agreements all you want, but given the threat of strikes and the other practices by the UAW, they have no choice but to give in on some issues.

I think the way our goverment has allowed companies to ship manufacturing plants across the border is horrible. You don't see anyone cutting their prices on these vehicles when they're paying the workers $100k less per year. Just like the current administration felt the need to take away the incentive for AIG bonuses with a 90% tax, I think something like it should have been done bringing the overprice hunks of junk as it was. Sure, they wouldn't have been able to compete with foreign competition, but it would have forced the issue a decade ago in terms of lowering their costs across the board.

FWIW-my dad was in the UAW for 34 years and retired as a pipefitter from a GM plant in Indiana.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

I have seen GM do some dumb things in my life. I worked for a trucking company the hauled a lot of GM freight, and they ship all over the place. We would take oil pans and valve covers from Glasgow, KY all the way to St Catharine’s Ontario where they built the engines for the Corvettes. We would pick up the engines later. We also had a run that had the stops around Toronto one in Buffalo then went to a plant in Alabama. Where they turned around and built the part to be shipped back to Detroit. They would haul transmission parts from North Carolina to Texas then to Bowling Green KY. The Corvette wheels were shipped from somewhere I can’t remember, but they went to California to Mexico to be polished then back to Columbia TN for tires which came in from Norman Oklahoma then to Bowling Green. You would think that they could find places closer to built there parts instead of shipping one part 1000 miles one way to be assembled then shipped another 800 miles back to put in the cars. Also a lot of the time the trucks come back with dunnage (plastic bins that the parts are shipped in) instead of turning a load out of the same plant that was going back to the same city.

I also had a driver banned from a plant outside of Detroit. The forklift operator was backing out of the trailer unloading the last piece of the load got to the rear of the trailer all the way to the dock plate sits then the break whistle blew, and he hopped off the forklift and went off to lunch. It may not seem like a big deal for a driver to have to wait for 45 minutes, but that means he probably will have to miss out on a meal and hot shower because of it. The driver did what I would have done; he backed the forklift up about 10 feet, and left.

Sorry I rambled on, and understand me I drive a Chevrolet Tahoe, and come from a Bowtie family. I will step down from my soap box now.

Re: GM vehicle? Not me.
 

not to get off subject but where around that area are you? I haven't been there for years but i used to come down every may for the gathering