Doom And Gloom: A Big Al Rant

[SierraGS]

Some valid points of Media bias and/or ignorance, the Clarity got more attention IMO from it's different styling and not from the performance, something GM's Sequel is competitive with.

GM should be talking building its brands with new high MPG vehicles like the new Cruze (not sure about that name) and a model line with XFE technology, where is the 30 MPG Impala for $20K or 3500 V6 Malibu for under 21K? Both would sell well and give GM the only line of Mid and full size cars with I4 or V6 power with at least a 30 MPG rating and at a very affordable price.

GM should be asking the governement to help pay for Volt development, other manufacturers get money from their government for this kind of leading edge technology (although they deny it) so why not GM?

GM must stop even hinting at brand cuts and need to make a decision on Hummer and present a postive growth plan to the public with no brand cuts, only growth plans. If GM presents a positive picture the public will pick up on it, and GM has a lot of good things to talk about with many great new products in the pipeline that are as effecient as they are attractive.

The public will percieve GM by the tone and message they present and "brand cutting" or worse actual cuts will not help perception and only result in further market share losses.

[Jimmy Jive]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

What a fantastic way to show your patriotism as well as help boost the American economy while reducing fuel consumption by giving $10,000 in rebates to someone who purchases a Volt. That 40k car is now 30k!

I'd also like to see them advertise how much money the Volt will save you, if the average driver spends X amount currently, then never had to pay for gas in a year (based on current fuel prices, for). GM can advertise it as money Volt will earn for you.
Spend $150 a month on gas? Well the Volt will earn you $1800 a year. This will help people get over the initial cost as well as any tax breaks.

[stormwatcher]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Toyota didnt forcast jack...lets face it.
The Prius was out when gas was 99 cents a gallon. Only super greenies bought them.

Toyota planned as though gas wouldn't always be 99 cents a gallon so they showed good foresight. And now that high gas prices have truly arrived, Toyota is about 9 months away from selling their third generation Prius.

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

I think they just were in the right place at the right time.

LOL. If only luck could explain away Toyota's success. But as a business, TMC was profitable during the boom, and will remain profitable now, though at a lower rate, during this downturn. To accomplish that requires much more then luck.

I want to see GM succeed, but it is a bit of sour grapes to imply that GM is solely the victim of circumstance and Toyota is merely lucky to be in the right place, when they are both facing the identical situation in the US.

[stormwatcher]

Originally Posted by SierraGS

If GM presents a positive picture the public will pick up on it, and GM has a lot of good things to talk about with many great new products in the pipeline that are as effecient as they are attractive.

GM has done a solid job of presenting a positive image the last several years and delivering attractive vehicles for the most part.

But GM has to report its finances too and their ongoing losses and continuing plant closures is overwhelming the more upbeat message that GM wants to get across.

[plane]

Originally Posted by stormwatcher

I want to see GM succeed, but it is a bit of sour grapes to imply that GM is solely the victim of circumstance and Toyota is merely lucky to be in the right place, when they are both facing the identical situation in the US.

Exactly wrong.
Hindenburg wrong.
Sideways ship of fail wrong.
Britney Spears belly-dancing wrong.

Let's just let that sink in and wait for the inevitable response........

[tgunnd39]

Originally Posted by ScottS

Speaking of Kool-aid....



Adding 1-2 mpg is hardly worth bragging about, especially not when your competitor offers a car that gets 40+. That's a joke. Imagine a non-brand loyal shopper comparing hybrids and sees the Prius at 48/45 or Civic at 40/45 then shops GM's hybrids for a 24/32 Aura or Malibu. That's going to make people laugh or think GM's a joke. Even Camry is 33/34.

You're the biggest auto company in the world, shouldn't you be competitive? Go ahead, try and defend that.



1) Yes, the Acadia and the rest of the nearly rebadges were good moves, but not as minivan replacements. They're good SUV replacements. GM had an interesting alternative with the Astro which could really tow, but it still wasn't class leading. This is a case, amongst oh so many, where GM half-assed it. The dust busters? The Uplander and company? They dang well should have been financial losers.

Chrysler made money and they also made the class leading minvans. You don't suppose there was any correlation do you? Toyota and Honda were newer to the scene than GM, but they quickly built up their reputations and became competitive and haven't had to abandon the minivan market. Unlike GM who built cheap minivans, Toyota and Honda focused on safety. What does a good soccer mom value above all else when transporting her child?

2) Let's see how long those strong sales last (started off the year hot, but Acadia is down 40% in June compared to June 2007 and it was also down in May and April....)

3) Ask yourself how many sales Acadia took from Yukon/Tahoe Trailblazer/Envoy and how many purchasers were cross-shopping minivans.

4) Using Ford's abandonment of the minivan to bolster your case is nothing short of laughable. The company that brought you the p.o.s. uglier than sin Windstar and the persistently problem plagued Freestar abandoned the minvan because they couldn't get it right.



True, it's very diversified, lots of good big trucks and some pretty crummy small trucks, a couple great cars, some junk cars a lot of mediocre cars. Very diversified indeed!

So on one hand you congratulate GM for being diversified then on the other you chastise Toyota for more diversification. Interesting argument. So Toyota expanded and guessed wrong. The difference is Toyota's future isn't resting on those Tundras and SUV's.



No one saw it coming this fast anyway. However, Toyota's forecasting problem is a shortage of Prius cars which has created a backlog on Prius orders. Not the worst problem to have. They have some issues with sales too, but at least they have an immediate bright spot and are continuing to build up their image with sales of a real hybrid. They're walking the walk while GM talks the talk.

More importantly, unlike the Volt, they have an actual hybrid on sale now and being sold as fast as they can be made. That, and the Prius isn't that expensive.



Here's 3 cents change.

Once again, someone that has it only partially right!

Go back and read what I wrote. It's in plain English; should be easy to understand.

Keep your change. You're going to need it.

[vcs2600]

One thing to realize is that the media loves the underdog. Every time Chrysler came back from the brink, they cheerlead like crazy. Likewise for years they've been depicting Toyota/Honda as the scrappy challengers to Detriot's behemoths.

Also I think that people here might be underestimating the PR success of the Volt. There has been tons of mainstream media coverage of this, and virtually every press report about GM mentions the project. If GM can pull this off, they're going to be everyone's darling.

[unkillsam]

Originally Posted by vcs2600

One thing to realize is that the media loves the underdog. Every time Chrysler came back from the brink, they cheerlead like crazy. Likewise for years they've been depicting Toyota/Honda as the scrappy challengers to Detriot's behemoths.

Also I think that people here might be underestimating the PR success of the Volt. There has been tons of mainstream media coverage of this, and virtually every press report about GM mentions the project. If GM can pull this off, they're going to be everyone's darling.

I don't care about any story, underdog or not. The blatent cheerleading for foriegn competition by the press is sickening. Especially in these economic hard times when buying a Cobalt built in Ohio or a Malibu built in Missouri or a Silverado built in Texas is going to help keep good jobs in the US.

Buying a made in Japan Prius or Lexus or made in Korea crapboxes does not help the US economy at all.

[PA Dweller]

Loved that post AL. I don't even listen to the media or the comments on other websites about GM, most people are brainwashed fools.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by tgunnd39

No one saw this gas issue coming, and if you say you did then you are probably also selling prime ocean front property in Arizona?

You're completely nuts.

EVERYONE has known for years that gas prices could go nowhere but up... except maybe GM management. These people must be specially selected for their inhuman level of cluelessness.

There's more and more demand (billions of Chinese and Indians suddenly "discovering" the automobile) and at the same time, the remaining oil reserves are going to be increasingly expensive to reach.

It was so clear to me that gas was going to go up that SEVERAL YEARS AGO I decided to put part of my stock portfolio in the automaker that has the most fuel-efficient range of offerings... and guess what, that investment has done very well. Yet I don't have a crystal ball.

If I could easily forecast it years ago, and cash in, why couldn't the top guys at GM see it coming just like everyone else?

[lio45]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

Well it was pretty obvious from this part of the world.I cannot fathom out how GMNA was not preparing for it?

Same here...

[TimR]

Originally Posted by lio45

If I could easily forecast it years ago, and cash in, why couldn't the top guys at GM see it coming just like everyone else?

You mean like Toyota building a big truck plant in Texas? Like the airlines that never hedged fuel prices? 90% of American and Canadian consumers who never thought about it? And actually the GM numbers aren't as bad as some other companies (I am not defending the management, they do seem fairly inept but look at the numbers).

Everyone knew it was going up, everything always does but I don't think most people or companies were expecting fuel/oil prices to double in 9 months, and calling people names over it won't accomplish much.

[BigAls87Z28]

GM knew that gas prices were going to start to climb. No one would figure prices would jump 50% every year for the past 3 years.
Toyota made the Prius before any thought of gas price increases. The first gen sold in very low numbers, even to greenies. It just was not practical economicly when gas was 99 cents or so.
When gas spiked to 3 dollars after Katrina, then people started to become more aware. But right around that time, I belive it was a GM Exec, perhaps even Rick himself that came out and said that Americans will not change the way they drive unless gas prices hit 4 dollars and stayed there for longer then 6 months.
That is what is happening. I dont think that GM didnt see it coming. Obviously they saw something. They have an engine that in a Cobalt sized vehicle, will get 45mpg. They didnt just start working on this last weekend.
They also have been working on hyrbid systems for years, it just was not a BIG part of the market like it is now.
Its not that GM is slow to react, but had a slew of other vehicles in the pipe line before 4 dollar gas hit. Lets face it, GM has been in a constant state of building new cars since 2003. Started with the CTS, and has not stopped since. Name a car or truck that was built in 2003 that is currently built today on that platform?
Outside of Impala, Lucerne and DTS, I cant think of any.
GM Trucks have had an all new frame
GM mid size cars are all new on Epsilon, and are now moving to Ep2.
GM Lambda vans are all new
GM compacts on Delta are all new, and Delta 2 is here
GM has gone through 2 Sigma versions
Corvette has gone through 2 gens
We have a new Camaro coming, as well as a few more Zeta cars.

GM has been in a constant state of revitalizing itself since 2003. And all we hear are snares and hisses.