Jay Leno tells Detroit to make better cars.

[CharlotteFirebird]

Originally Posted by SVTKAR3

Posted May 24th 2008 7:02PM by Michael Harley
"When you get into a high-priced, well-made American car today and the key is in the ignition, you hear a melodic bong, bong. But when you get in a cheap American car, like a rental, and the key is left in, it goes plink, plink, plink. It's just horrible."
Leno suggests that Detroit follow the example of
[Source: MSNBC]

"It is just horrible."

Wow- It must be nice for that to be the biggest problem in your life. Try a couple of minutes in the real world Jay. We can't all own 100 cars, make millions, and read jokes someone else has written. I'm sure 75% of the world would love to hear that noise if meant they could live in the USA instead of whatever country live in.

[PAULSTS1]

I like Jay, but talk is cheap. I have an idea for Jay: Give away 10 American cars in one week on his TV show. He can certainly afford it, and others watching would be interested to know what those cars are like. Remember when Oprah gave away the G6's? 10 people I know went to Pontiac Dearlers to see them. And some bought them too. I would recommend 5 Chevy Malibu's 4 cylinder 6 spd autos, and 5 Mercury Milans 4 cylinder 5 speed autos. That would help the industry more than just talk! Try that on Mr Mouth!

[LAMRONH]

Originally Posted by CharlotteFirebird

I'm sure Jay has spent a lot of time in a Cobolt or even a Malibu.

Perhaps GM should give him some advice on writing jokes, since he couldn't do it himself during the writers' strike.

I'm not sure Jay has been driving Cobalt/Cavvys or Malibus lately.

I do think he's been lurking here at GMI, in order to cop some decent lines, and be inspired to state the obvious one more time.

As for Jay's "sense of humor" I'm afraid it's a pitiful shred compared to actually funny people like Johnny Carson.
If unscripted (even when scripted), Jay's about as funny as a sawed off crutch.

His Jaywalking segment is probably the funniest stuff he does, but that's utterly dependent on the legions of clueless morons who are freely wandering the streets of Hollywood.

Hmmmm...morons...Hollywood...is there a connection?

[LAMRONH]

Originally Posted by PAULSTS1

I like Jay, but talk is cheap. I have an idea for Jay: Give away 10 American cars in one week on his TV show. He can certainly afford it, and others watching would be interested to know what those cars are like. Remember when Oprah gave away the G6's? 10 people I know went to Pontiac Dearlers to see them. And some bought them too. I would recommend 5 Chevy Malibu's 4 cylinder 6 spd autos, and 5 Mercury Milans 4 cylinder 5 speed autos. That would help the industry more than just talk! Try that on Mr Mouth!

Now you're asking someone with unbelievable wealth and a nonexistent sense of humor to put up or shut up.

As for Oprah, her show was merely the vehicle for the vehicles that GM gave away.
Just think, if you can tolerate hanging out with girlfriend and her corps of idiot guests, you might possibly drive away with a free car.
I have better ways and places to waste my time.

[steve333]

Originally Posted by Buickman

the quality is there, it's the perception of that quality where we are suffering. maybe someone will come up with an effective, low cost method of marketing to communicate this message and thereby alleviate this trouble.

oh wait...someone did. too bad RIR isn't interested.

The quality isnt there, thats the problem. Defective steering columns abound in Cobalts, Silverados, Auras, Impalas and who knows what else.
Does GM improve the part? Nope, they replace the defective steering columns with the same garbage so the problem crops up again and again. Not to mention the defective electric steering and other nagging issues.
Heck, the weather stripping on my Cobalt wasnt even put on properly-80s all over again.
GM says they are building cars with parts that last a decade-I'm not seeing this at all.

[Firebird00]

Jay is the man. I agree with what he says, when it comes to the cheaper "normal" cars Detroit just hasn't caught up to Toyota and Honda with the exception of the Malibu. If I was after a small eco-car, a Cobalt/G5 would be at the bottom of the list of possiblities for me. I say when Jay retires next year, he should take Bobby Lutz' place.

[OLDSCHOOLGMFAN]

Jay's a smart feller, and he loves REAL American cars, so I think they should plum listen to him!

[ksr]

Originally Posted by LAMRONH

As for Jay's "sense of humor" I'm afraid it's a pitiful shred compared to actually funny people like Johnny Carson.
If unscripted (even when scripted), Jay's about as funny as a sawed off crutch.

When Leno did standup before taking over for Carson, he was pretty damn funny. He was a frequent guest on Letterman's show, and he really had some good bits.

Since taking over for Carson, he's become very mainstream and sanitized for the mass audience.

[OLDSCHOOLGMFAN]

Originally Posted by ksr

Leno adds, "I believe that, all things being equal, Americans will buy American. It just has to be as good as the competition; it doesn't have to be better."

I don't think this quote is true. I've heard many people say, including in these forums, that American cars need to be the best, not just "as good as."

There's so many perception issues as well. I used to live in the DC area, and my friends there won't even consider American vehicles. They'll trot out the tired old line about competition has made all cars better. Which is true - but it's old news - competition HAS made all cars better. And they say something half-hearted about how American cars are improving (sounds like something out of CR).

But they won't actually buy an American vehicle. For a lot of them, they just wouldn't consider being seen in a Buick or Ford or Chevrolet. Why someone would think it's more socially acceptable to be seen in a Toyota than in any American brand vehicle is just baffling to me. And why some people care so much about what other people think of the vehicle they're driving is even more baffling.

I plum agree! I can't stand them kinda' folks. They get on my case for not buyin' some dang import all the dang time! I just plum ignore 'em!

If you let others tell you what kinda car to like and buy, then you are PLUM SORRY!

[ghughes]

No -there are a lot more americans who hate u.s. cars(and thier country) and wont give them a fair shake. Yeah, right Jay emulate harley - they are a teeny-tiny(1% market share?) company with a sliver share of the only the luxo motorbike market.

[Lunden]

Originally Posted by Buickman

the quality is there, it's the perception of that quality where we are suffering. maybe someone will come up with an effective, low cost method of marketing to communicate this message and thereby alleviate this trouble.

oh wait...someone did. too bad RIR isn't interested.

Who? Who is this wounder marketer? Or do we have to buy a copy of your plan to see?

[xicer]

Originally Posted by Lunden

Who? Who is this wounder marketer? Or do we have to buy a copy of your plan to see?

i havent been on gmi in a while so I find it hilarious that that guy's still here

[E. Haskell]

Jay Leno: insightful

[PA Dweller]

I would buy nearly any newer car from GM but I won't touch the Aveo and Cobalt with a 100' pole. The Aveo looks ok but I don't trust the reliability/build quality of this Daewoo rebadge. The Cobalt (Except for the SS) is nothing special.

Originally Posted by a_v_s

For the most part yes, but the Malibu is still short on features such as pushbutton start, DVD navigation, bluetooth, etc.. (Tho I hear that bluetooth may be coming in a year or two)

Turn by turn nav is ok, but it's not the same. Especially since it doesn't work if you don't get cell reception, such as in the bowels of a parking structure that doesn't have cell repeaters, or if you live in an area that has no reception. (Contrary to popular believe OnStar does NOT use the satellite for voice/data transfer)

I agree GM is behind in this area, you can get these features in a Cadillac but not in a Malibu which is stupid since you can get these features on the Camry, Accord, Altima, Fusion, Taurus, Mazda, etc. Some people don't want these features, some people can't afford these features, etc but people still buy these options and they should be offered on the Malibu and other vehicles. Don't forget to throw in some AWD cars in the mix.

[vcs2600]

Leno is really criticizing the "brand management" aspect of American cars. When you sell up to 5 different cars in the same segment like GM does, someone needs to think of artificial ways to make one better than the other. Some engineer had to go out of his way to design the "chickenbone" turn-signal after all.

Also it has been generally true that many people have no modern experience with American cars other than the fleet-dumpsters at the rental car lot.