Hurricane Ike: An Argument for Small Trucks, and Shreveport
Commentary by Ming
ming@gminsidenews.com
So, after having lived through Hurricane Ike, I have a different take on the GM Colorado and Canyon "small" trucks.
I think more vehicles like these, not less, are a potential direction for growth for GM. While I still like the idea of "car-based pickups", the advantages of clearance and durability of real trucks was not lost on me in this weather crisis.
Power is still down in much of the city of Houston on day 5, working gasoline stands are still scarce, and roadsides and driveways are littered with debris, with downed trees everywhere. Neighbors are loading up pickups and helping neighbors, and families are pitching in to assist even their most distant relatives impacted by the storm. And while for now flood waters are receding, the day after the storm, out where I live in the country northwest of Houston, I saw water covering roads in places I've never seen it rise before.
So while the pickup is the dominant vehicle on Houston roads after the storm, working hard and living up to its reputation, fuel economy is a huge concern. If you're guzzling at 14 miles to the gallon on the way to help your buddy and every stoplight has turned into a 4-way stop, traffic snarls are common, or you're waiting in line for hours for food, gas or ice, having a 4-cylinder engine in your pickup is a blessing like never before.
I've always rooted for the GMT-355, but have had problems with the lack of incentives and advertising over the years. I never got the sense that GM was rooting for the Colorado and Canyon along with me. Among other things they must not make much money on them, because they are in no apparent hurry to sell them.
After all, this was the extent of the push they gave it at launch (before the "abandon" phase set in):
A far cry from the rugged cowboys and "This is our country" non-stop advertising theme of the big pickups, no?
See the guy looking out the window, 16 seconds in? That was my reaction to this ad.
But what good is a monster V8 in a full-size truck when gasoline lines are up to 4 hours long, if you can find an open gas station at all, and when you do it's close to $4 a gallon?
A co-worker of mine evacuated Houston before the storm and drove a beater 4-banger Civic to Dallas and left his truck garaged. Hardly efficient or cheap to own and maintain two vehicles when one would do the job.
A tough and durable, true (but not oversized) truck with good fuel economy and a powerful 4-cylinder engine is exactly the kind of vehicle that many Houstonians and other Gulf Coast residents could rely on in a time of gas shortages, flood waters and debris-strewn roads.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the Colorado and Canyon are perfect vehicles as they are. I guess I'm just arguing against the nameplates and these sorts of vehicles getting the axe at GM in the years ahead. They could certainly use a refresh.
GM is going all out on compact cars with the Cruze, so why not go a little further with some effort spent on the Colorado/Canyon twins? Could a renewed focus on marketing and selling small trucks as an appealing and sensible choice really hurt GM?
Right now, with Ike fresh on my mind, if I had to buy a vehicle it would be a
GMC Canyon Crew Cab 4-cylinder 2WD model. After all, I want to be able to carry some people in a pinch. Why GMC? I guess I just like the look of the grille better, but that's a personal taste thing.
The pricing is right, and is something I doubt a Lambda with a Ridgeline style box on the back could match, MSRP-wise. A 2009 GMC Canyon Crew Cab 2WD VL-3 has an invoice of $21,000. With my GM card earnings, and any incentives, that could potentially be a good buy. Potentially. GM is far too eager to hawk full-sizers at fire sale prices that drop down into Colorado/Canyon territory.
The fuel economy, while it could certainly be better, is 18/24. An Acadia is close on its heels in this department, but an Acadia also costs at least $10,000 more to buy. And I wouldn't feel right taking a $34,000, pretty Acadia out into the grime and debris of a storm where a Canyon would be right at home.
The capability is where it needs to be for a truck of its size, and I would not need to fear taking it off the side of the road or into shallow floodwaters, because it's no "faux by four" cute ute.
Four doors - something the Ford Ranger lacked, last time I checked, and for a reasonable price. The 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab 2WD has an invoice of over $25,000 and can
only be had with a V8!
The fuel economy penalty for the 4WD models along with the lack of good incentives makes the 2009 GMC Canyon (or Colorado) Crew Cab 4WD SLT a tougher sell, even with the added power of the I-5. From what I've heard and test driven, the 4-cyl. crew cab is well-powered and capable for most pickup duty.
Maybe GM will finally unveil what GM do Brasil has been working on, supposedly, regarding the future of GM small trucks. But until they do, I'd say that Shreveport and the product they sell that doesn't carry the HUMMER badge deserve more attention from GM.
And being timely, here's an article that is relevant to this discussion:
Quote:
Shreveport, Lousiana Plant Looks to Future
By Bobbie J. Clark
September 16, 2008
www.ShreveportTimes.com
For the past 27 years, Shreveport has played an integral role in where the company stands today. While it has been one of the area's largest employers and a strong contributor to the community, the plant's future has never been cloudier.
The local assembly plant, established in 1981, has produced a number of vehicles through the years. The current lineup includes the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Hummer H3 and, most recently, the Hummer H3T.
"I am very proud of the GM Shreveport Plant's accomplishments, such as the expansion of the new plant and the launch of the HUMMER H3 and now the launch of the HUMMER H3T," Acting Plant Manager Michael Pearton said in an e-mail. "Both vehicles have won awards among various auto groups such as the Texas Auto Writers Association and Four Wheeler Magazine to name a few."
"At the Shreveport plant, we are focused on engaging the skills and talents of all the employees to be the best we can be, delivering high quality vehicles while aggressively looking for better ways to do everything," he said. "What is in our control as a plant is to collectively drive to improve all business results such as safety, quality and people."
Mr. Bremer, president of the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, said GM has been a tremendous asset to the community and a valuable corporate partner to nonprofit groups.
The second shift at the Shreveport plant will be cut Sept. 29, affecting 798 employees, including 715 hourly and 83 salaried. Just last year, the GM plant employed 2,159 people — 1,965 hourly and 194 salaried. Bill Visnic, senior editor for Edmunds AutoObserver, said the outlook for the Shreveport plant is uncertain, especially if it continues to pump out trucks and SUVs.
"There has been a little bit of a notable uptick in the demand for midsize pickups, like the Colorado and Canyon," he said. "There is the possibility that rather than buying full-size pickups, people may be downsizing to midsize trucks."
SOURCE / Full Article
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