A Geo-Centric GM

[BigAls87Z28]

Originally Posted by Flyingbunnys

I have to ask why why... First lets look at a compainy that is considered green and on top of the world right now, yes, you guessed it, Toyota. They have 3 brands we have Toyota, Scion, and Lexus. Which one is their green brand? None of them. Because its part of Toyota you only need 1 green car, the prius. then just offer a hybrid on the rest of your veicles and keep them mainstream breadand butter and affordable, ISN'T THAT WHAT CHEVY IS SUPPOST TO BE!!!!

Agreed, but Chevy and the rest of the original GM brands have an image that has been around for a long time that they make gas hungry, largely massive vehicles that consume gas with its poor technology and horrible quality. Toyota never had to overcome that image, they continued to provide gas-friendly vehicles.

One thing I've been told is stick to something that works and toyota works, use the same plan as Toyota with Chevy(with exception to the corvette of course) Then pontiac obviously you performance but its failing as of now, buick the poor mans caddy(or for old poeple). Caddy of course for the rich. Saturn a younger version of Buick, a euro style twist. GMC should be the caddalac of trucks. See everything right now fits together perfectly no new barnds a Geo would be part of Chevy, end of story.

If you make Geo part of Chevy, you lose the whole idea. So far, every attempt that GM has given Chevy to make an impression in the compact world has had a short-lived life, and with that bow-tie on it, its image is reduced in the eyes of the American public. A new brand, focused around fuel economy (hell, the name of the brand is GEO!!) with sharp design and a clean slate could make a much larger impression then just adding a few cars to an existing brand.

Do I think that the rest of GM can continue with the status quo? No way, progress must move foward to hyrbid and alternative fuels for the rest of GM and it must be pushed through EVERY level of GM. This brand would just give the image to GM that Prius gave to Toyota, showing a major enhancement to daily driving vehicles with an increase in fuel economy and technology.

[USA1Fan]

Er, isn't there talk of Toyota spinning off Prius as its own brand? So maybe it wasn't the best example to use for this. After all, that effectively is what recreating Geo would be like anyway (at least if you do Geo as the 'green' or 'fuel efficient' nameplate).

[Citation84]

My 05 ION 1 2.2 Auto consistently beats the EPA #s and I have gotten 35-37 mpg many times in freeway driving on long trips.

As for the Delta not being an S Series : GOOD. I've got both and can tell you the Delta platform is superior even without the IRS : quieter, smoother riding, more comfortable, smaller turning radius,the Ecotec doesn't suck oil and the GM trans won't blow a differential pin through it's casing or develop "reverse slam" at 80,000 miles. And the Lordstown built Cobalt doesn't look like it was put together with rivets and a rubber mallet as my Spring Hill built ION does either. Even the automotive press which hated Saturn and savaged the ION when it came out said it was better than what it replaced [the wayyyyy over rated S series].
It has better fuel economy and slightly better shoulder room. That is IT.

The Geo brand had an image all right: you put a Prism and a Corolla side by side on the used car lot and the Prism would sell for hundreds of dollars less
because of it's "image" as a GM car.

Sorry. If Ford could take the Focus and improve it's mileage one year over another [06 to 07], it shouldn't be that difficult for GM to do the same.

A brand new Malibu with the 4 cyl engine and auto sitting next to the Cobalt here locally listed 34 MPG Hwy and the Cobalt 32 with auto. This makes no sense, GM.

Saturn is no longer that fuel efficient brand with barges like the Outlook and an Aura that is 400 lbs heavier than it's competition. Regardless that it is now supposedly a "premium" style brand, fuel economy is becoming more important. The 40,000 Astras that GM plans to import are not going to help it's fuel efficiency image any.

And isn't there some UAW clause in GM's contracts that forces them to pay a $200.00 penalty per Aveo to the union because it's built in Korea ?

GM doesn't need another division or a return to GEO. What GM did with Saturn could have been accomplished with GEO in the first place. Why revisit what didn't work and compound the image problem GM already has with it's divisions ?

[LAMRONH]

ouch! type kinda big?

Maybe GM should just re-introduce the dynamic Geo Metro 3-cylinder.
I suggest they call it the "Congressman" model and build 535 special Congressional versions with 3-speed automatics, built-in breathalyzers, and an enlarged glove box where $100 bill bundles can be safely stored.
Present one to each member of Congress, so they'll know what they'll be riding in in 2020 when the new CAFE rules kick in.

[BigAls87Z28]

Bringing this back to the top....now does everyone think Im crazy? Well...more then normal?

[PA Dweller]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Bringing this back to the top....now does everyone think Im crazy? Well...more then normal?

As people have said a million times GM doesn't need another division. If they used a current division or re-named that division Geo that would be a good idea. Such fuel efficient vehicles like the Geo are needed, its so funny how GM had it when fuel efficient wasn't in, but now when everyone is talking fuel economy instead of HP they don't have it. They should of kept a 3 cylinder Geo alive at Chevy.

[vcs2600]

GM already made this decision when they started selling Daewoos under the Chevrolet brand world-wide. Going back on that would be costly.

Also, watering down the brand message is a big mistake. GM should invest its limited resources to strengthen Chevrolet until it is seen on par with Toyota and Honda domestically.

[SierraGS]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Agreed, but Chevy and the rest of the original GM brands have an image that has been around for a long time that they make gas hungry, largely massive vehicles that consume gas with its poor technology and horrible quality. Toyota never had to overcome that image, they continued to provide gas-friendly vehicles.

If you make Geo part of Chevy, you lose the whole idea. So far, every attempt that GM has given Chevy to make an impression in the compact world has had a short-lived life, and with that bow-tie on it, its image is reduced in the eyes of the American public. A new brand, focused around fuel economy (hell, the name of the brand is GEO!!) with sharp design and a clean slate could make a much larger impression then just adding a few cars to an existing brand.

Do I think that the rest of GM can continue with the status quo? No way, progress must move foward to hyrbid and alternative fuels for the rest of GM and it must be pushed through EVERY level of GM. This brand would just give the image to GM that Prius gave to Toyota, showing a major enhancement to daily driving vehicles with an increase in fuel economy and technology.

A bit of a twist to this on a name basis but maybe a viable option.

What about moving Saturn to Chevy dealers, dropping the Astra, Aura and Outlook - keeping the Sky and Vue.

THEN introduce the "new": Saturn Matiz (Metro?), Agila, Meriva, Zafira and Montana pickup.

These are all high MPG vehicles with no existing GM competitors with styling that fits with current Saturn models and takes Saturn back to its roots. This move gives GM a "Scion" brand within Chevy dealers like Toyota and allows GM to drop the Astra/Aura that compete against the Cobalt/Malibu.

GM can then consolidate some Chevy and Saturn dealers avoiding lawsuit costs of dropping Saturn.