GM Year In Review 2007

[nsap]

GM Year In Review 2007
December 29, 2007
By: Nsap
www.gminsidenews.com

It’s hard to believe what all has happened in this industry in the past year. So much that it is almost hard to even know where to start. Instead of throwing a dart on the wall to pick some piece of news to prompt this annual Editorial of mine, I’m going to look back further than 2007. Back on December 29, 2005 I wrote this very same Editorial. The overall aura (excuse the pun) of that article was unfortunately gloomy. 2005 was a bitch of a year for General Motors and its fans. In that 2005 article I wrote, “We’ve heard about multi-billion dollar losses, poor sales, rebates for the record books and now bankruptcy.” Wow. It doesn’t really get any worse for than that. Thankfully things didn’t get much worse than they were at the time of print back in 2005. However my point in bringing up the dead past is not to reminisce on how bad things were at the time and discuss how awesome things are now, no, it’s actually the overall tone that everyone had that posted in the 2005 thread that I find very interesting.

“Toyota’s day is coming and with a 100% increase in recalls- they’re already showing signs of being the largest automaker.” That was the final, parting statement I left in my 2005 article. Funny eh? 2006 and even this year have only dignified that statement even more in regards to how Toyota has gone from perfect to “oh snap” caught with their pants down. Let’s take a moment to look back and amaze ourselves with how, even through our rose-colored GM love fest, managed to make some good predictions about the vitality of GM’s future. Many of us knew back in 2005, when GM was in the toilet, that it would prevail.
“One bad year does not make a trend...GM will prevail.” – Black04GTO
“The best is yet to come.” – Perian
“I think it's about time that the General gets it's respect back in order in the automotive world...” – ZvetteGuy
“The upcoming Saturns are all going to be HUGE. Saturn is going to be in a very good way in the next year or so.” – jwrebholz (haha…I love this one!)
“All seriousness, GM will make it. I think this Toyota #1 crap will wake up GM, so they can say, "This shouldn't be happening". They’ll push some awesome products, and in a few years, GM will be #1 again.” – wpbharry
“Blind leading the blind. Your advice is exactly what is killing GM. Trust me I will elaborate.” – ethayes (My personal favorite quote. He never did…elaborate that is.)

Well would you look at that! Even in all of that “blind leading the blind,” GM fan, teary-eyed love fest we managed to make some solid predictions that GM would in fact prevail. Let’s not get too happy, the work at GM is not done, but it’s much further than it was even six months ago. So my point? GM did come back, they ARE back. If you are still one of those irritable nay-sayers saying, “Well they still have far to go, blah blah blah,” just take some time away from that ever-loving arm-chair and go analyze the new Cadillac CTS and Chevrolet Malibu…then get back with us. Some very vital changes took place over the last 12 months, so let’s get on with it.

Cultural Change

There is actually something more important than the new UAW contract that finally evolved in 2007. For as long as GM has been dishing out crappy products (oh…25+ years…I lost count), one of the major structural problems was the culture at the company. General Motors was not a car company; it was a financial company (at least in their minds). Product took the back-burner while the accounting department took the reins of the leashes wrapped around product development’s head. Just imagine your accountant designing your car. The public was quick to slenderize GM employees (particularly designers, engineers, etc.) for pumping out crap as products. Little did they know that the problem was a fundamental problem in the overall culture of the corporation. Some advice: do not EVER underestimate the talent at General Motors. They have the best of the best; they just need to utilize it as its full capacity. Everyone and their dog should be able to see the cultural change at GM that has finally elapsed this year. We have corporate high rollers talking all the time…telling the TRUTH (gasp). The design team talks more; we have photos of the Director of Design hugging a new Camaro mule…none of this would have been happening if the culture at GM was still what it was. The creativity of every employee seems to finally get noticed. There is one person we can thank for this. His name is Bob Lutz.

Lutz Shows All

The cultural change is just one of many transformations Lutz has been solely responsible for. I have heard so much complaining about Lutz in recent years because his work was not making much of an impact on the final product. Chill out folks, Rome wasn’t built in a day…neither will the new GM. Only now are we starting to TRULY see the fruits that bear Lutz’s total work. Until recently Lutz was still working with a half-baked lineup of product, parts, and culture.

From a product perspective Lutz has pleased our eyes. Design rules at GM like it did back in the 1950’s. It’s very impressive to be able to say that GM designs their vehicles, doesn’t engineer-design them like they once did. An excellent example of that is the new CTS. The design team placed that beautiful, die-cast side vent on the side, integrating it into the A-pillar in a fashion that almost seems impossible to do with conventional stamping. Instead of engineering throwing it out or dumbing it down to the point that it looks like the vent on the new 2008 STS, they FIGURED out a way to make it work (wow, engineering can do that stuff?), pleasing the design team and ultimately the customer. That would have never happened in the pre-Lutz era. Thank you for that, Bob.

United Again

Possibly the best business news to break out of GM this year was the new UAW contract. Although not 100% great (who really expected that?), it is a huge step in the right direction for the General. They are now within 85% of the financial productivity of the imports that have manufacturing facilities in North America. Not bad.

Oh course we cannot discuss 2007 without mentioning the UAW’s “accident” in releasing the manufacturing plan for every GM plant in the United States. Oops! GM’s PR response to that was that they were “shocked” by the release. Personally, that made me chuckle. Regardless, the infamous 2007 UAW Contract Negotiations were not as bad as we all thought they would be. Actually, nothing too terrible came out of it…just a two-day strike. Which just helped inventory levels anyway.

Midsize Madness

Like I could write an article about GM’s 2007 without dedicating a section of it to the two Holy Grails of the GM world for 2007? Why no! For so long we have heard from the media and every 14-year-old that drive’s Mom’s Camry that GM is “only good at building trucks and SUV’s.” While that has been mostly true, those of us with some insight into the company understood a couple years ago that the truck/SUV stigma was going end soon. Dare I say it, but I think it’s safe to say that the image of the “GM Truck and SUV Company” has been getting knocked in the head in 2007 by the 2008 Cadillac CTS and 2008 Chevrolet Malibu.

Those two beautifully-executed sedans are making an enormous splash in the industry in two critical segments of the market. We finally have two sedans from GM that we don’t have to make any excuses for (well, except for the lack of navigation on the Malibu…but that is another thread). The CTS in particular is an excellent demonstration of the capabilities of GM. The car is a work of art in every sense; being just as elegant as the finest from Germany, but still having this unique “Ha, yeah boys, I’m from AMERICA” look about it. That is a balance that is vital for Cadillac to continue to spark when it comes to design. Don’t follow Lexus, BMW, and Mercedes…hammer them down with an American elegance that, well, only Cadillac could pull off.

Nearly every review of these two new sedans has been stellar. The CTS has been called “world class” by most reviews, or at the very least, acclaimed for competing head-to-head with the best from Europe. The Malibu reviews have been, to my personal shock, surprisingly; no, overwhelmingly, positive. For every time I have read the words “best midsize sedan” in a 2008 Malibu review I have gotten chills. Initial sales have been good on both cars. CTS sales have been climbing in the over-50% range every month and the first month of Malibu sales totaled 3,000 units…when only 3,500 were on dealership lots.

Marketing RIGHT

There is an Achilles heel at GM for GM fans. It’s been their [lack of] marketing on new products. Products that, other than their [lack of] marketing, are great products. With the recent launch of the new Malibu that is starting to change, thankfully.

Chevrolet got an extra beefy marketing budget for the new Malibu in 2007. A whole $300 Million worth! That is a lot of cash for marketing one model. Putting it simply; GM knew that the 2008 Malibu was probably going to be their last chance to do some serious perception-changing in the midsize sedan market.
Unless you have been living in a hole for the last few months or just refuse to watch TV, you have likely seen many ads touting the new Malibu. All are 30-second spots using real quotes from third-party publications about how the Malibu is superior. Then, at the end, the line it says, “The new Malibu…The car you can’t ignore.” Well they are not lying to you, because you are likely seeing that car every fifteen minutes while watching your favorite primetime show.

The key here is to keep such marketing techniques up. It is going to take many, many more extensive ad budgets like the Malibu’s to get GM’s perception boosted. Had the same marketing techniques been applied to the Lambda vehicles, the Acadia and Outlook, possibly they would have taken off quicker than they did.

Wrap Up

2007 has been a fairly decent year for GM. Product wise it has been the best in many, many years. This has truly been the first year since I can remember that GM has products that don’t need excuses, the people making excuses now are the Camry owners. Then again, they always have that “quality” card to play (or wait…do they? Consumer Reports no longer automatically recommends Toyota vehicles based on quality). Now we just have to wait for GM’s quality record to meet Toyota’s, then all arguments are down.

In every year-end article I try to sum up the last year with one word. This year I would say “battle.” I use that one word simply because that is what 2007 has been. Let’s not get confused on this though; GM has been “fighting” through PR for the last decade, but only NOW have they truly started to battle with the imports. Some could really argue that the true battle did not begin until 2007. Sadly it has taken GM that long to actually fight back with a vengeance. However, don’t be mistaken, it may take GM awhile to get the momentum going, but when it is going…watch out. As predicted by GM fans back in 2005, GM has and will continue to battle for their place in the market. Vehicles like the new CTS, Malibu, and Lambda crossovers are proving that, even to the nay-sayers. The battle for GM has only begun, may it carry on with a ZR1 force in 2008.

[osv_alero]

You missed this being the year Buick tied lexus in the quality arena. In 2 to 3 years, GM & Ford will consistently beat toyota, honda etc., in the quality arena. It's been said that when Americans are determined to do something we go overboard. This is no different for those at GM and Ford. They will be the tops in quality within the next 2 to 5 years.

[nsap]

Originally Posted by osv_alero

You missed this being the year Buick tied lexus in the quality arena. In 2 to 3 years, GM & Ford will consistently beat toyota, honda etc., in the quality arena. It's been said that when Americans are determined to do something we go overboard. This is no different for those at GM and Ford. They will be the tops in quality within the next 2 to 5 years.

I couldn't cover EVERYTHING.

[Buick61]

At this point, GM has no excuses not to improve. They're the last decently strong U.S. Automaker. If they can't at least pick up the slack from Ford and Chrysler, then they're just not going to make it. In other words, how can they win sales from Honda, Toyota, and Nissan if they can't even convince former Ford and Chrysler owners to sign on the line?

GM has been in a transition period since, oh, 2003. It may be a cliche, but you're only as strong as your weakest parts, and GM has a lot of weaklings dragging it down. Trucks will continue their sales decline (even moreso when the new F-series and Ram debut); Saturn is stuck; Buick has one product and two bookmarks; Cadillac still only has one decent car; Pontiac has absolutely nothing going for it (will anyone but a few fans care about the G8 when it finally arrives?); and Chevrolet is an epic mess.

GM is starting to make decent vehicles, but it may be too late. The VUE, Outlook, and Aura are languishing, the Solstice has run its course, the G6 is moribund, the inventories of the Acadia are climbing, and on and on and on.

Every year we keep saying GM is gaining momentum, but I think we have to stop lying to ourselves. GM's current market share is where Chrysler was ten years ago. CHRYSLER!

A small solace: if GM is on its way out, the CTS is one hell of a swan song.

[SilverZ]

The internet, where retards can make themselves sound brilliant while wearing their underwear in their armchair browsing two different genres of websites at once, GM insidenews, and another I wont dare to mention:

Trucks will continue their sales decline - Brilliant... this will apply to others... the positive side to this is maybe GM got the last slice of the pie and Ford and Dodge wont get nearly the ROI as GM did just in time? GM will be bringing out hybrids just when they are needed?

Saturn is stuck - Stuck? With a brilliant lineup. Tough situation. Name another brand with such rave reviews of thier entire lineup.

Buick has one product and two bookmarks: Good timing I say.... put the cash into Cadillac, Chev, and Saturn before a volume-turned niche brand. It didnt look so good at the time, but honestly, Buick's fate was inevitable nevermind its product. They will build it back, but not a full lineup, and they will do a good job (Enclave being an awesome first example)...

Cadillac still only has one decent car - CTS? SRX is now forgotten? STS may have some weaknesses, but it cannot be written off that easily.... Escalade? Duh...

Pontiac has absolutely nothing going for it - See Buick.... Solstice, G8 is a good start.

Chevrolet is an epic mess - Yes, the Impala perenially overselling its expectations... the Malibu... and the wide range of choices... hardly a mess.

Good product is the start... is there still a ways to go... yes... but you cant discount the progress made thus far... if you do, it reveals your bias or lack of competence when it comes to the product in the industry.

[nsap]

Originally Posted by Buick61

GM is starting to make decent vehicles, but it may be too late. The VUE, Outlook, and Aura are languishing, the Solstice has run its course, the G6 is moribund, the inventories of the Acadia are climbing, and on and on and on.

Every year we keep saying GM is gaining momentum, but I think we have to stop lying to ourselves. GM's current market share is where Chrysler was ten years ago. CHRYSLER!

A small solace: if GM is on its way out, the CTS is one hell of a swan song.

On the other hand we have a Buick that is selling as quickly as they can make them and is still selling at MSRP. And we have a CTS that continues to see extensive sales increases every month. Oh, and a Malibu that is showing initial signs of being a sales success.

No one said this transition was going to be quick or even easy. Lutz is on the record as saying that GM's product line will not be totally revitalized until 2011. There is no denying that GM still has many product problems, but there is also no denying that GM is in better shape (product-wise) now than it has been since it's former glory days.

[FireStorm2k]

Originally Posted by Buick61

At this point, GM has no excuses not to improve. They're the last decently strong U.S. Automaker. If they can't at least pick up the slack from Ford and Chrysler, then they're just not going to make it. In other words, how can they win sales from Honda, Toyota, and Nissan if they can't even convince former Ford and Chrysler owners to sign on the line?

GM has been in a transition period since, oh, 2003. It may be a cliche, but you're only as strong as your weakest parts, and GM has a lot of weaklings dragging it down. Trucks will continue their sales decline (even moreso when the new F-series and Ram debut); Saturn is stuck; Buick has one product and two bookmarks; Cadillac still only has one decent car; Pontiac has absolutely nothing going for it (will anyone but a few fans care about the G8 when it finally arrives?); and Chevrolet is an epic mess.

GM is starting to make decent vehicles, but it may be too late. The VUE, Outlook, and Aura are languishing, the Solstice has run its course, the G6 is moribund, the inventories of the Acadia are climbing, and on and on and on.

Every year we keep saying GM is gaining momentum, but I think we have to stop lying to ourselves. GM's current market share is where Chrysler was ten years ago. CHRYSLER!

A small solace: if GM is on its way out, the CTS is one hell of a swan song.

lol...

[FenwickHockey65]

The good thing is that public perception of GM is starting to change, especially combined with the fact that Toyota's reputation for quality is in the toilet now. Now all GM has to do is continue to build on the success of the Malibu and CTS.

[1999 White C5 Coupe]

This Fall, my wife and I ordered and purchased a new 2008 Impala LTZ. Although we like the car, it was delivered with several defects (which will require multiple return trips to the dealer).

Although I'm a long-term GM vehicle owner (38 years of owning at least one GM car continuously), I realized with this purchase GM still can't build and deliver a new car without defects. I wish all of the "improved quality" talk was real.

[Sinner]

Originally Posted by 1999 White C5 Coupe

This Fall, my wife and I ordered and purchased a new 2008 Impala LTZ. Although we like the car, it was delivered with several defects (which will require multiple return trips to the dealer).

Although I'm a long-term GM vehicle owner (38 years of owning at least one GM car continuously), I realized with this purchase GM still can't build and deliver a new car without defects. I wish all of the "improved quality" talk was real.

No manufacturer can. When 100 defects per 100 cars is considered excellent by the industry you have to expect something to be wrong.

[jlmartin99]

Originally Posted by Buick61

At this point, GM has no excuses not to improve. They're the last decently strong U.S. Automaker. If they can't at least pick up the slack from Ford and Chrysler, then they're just not going to make it. In other words, how can they win sales from Honda, Toyota, and Nissan if they can't even convince former Ford and Chrysler owners to sign on the line?

GM has been in a transition period since, oh, 2003. It may be a cliche, but you're only as strong as your weakest parts, and GM has a lot of weaklings dragging it down. Trucks will continue their sales decline (even moreso when the new F-series and Ram debut); Saturn is stuck; Buick has one product and two bookmarks; Cadillac still only has one decent car; Pontiac has absolutely nothing going for it (will anyone but a few fans care about the G8 when it finally arrives?); and Chevrolet is an epic mess.

GM is starting to make decent vehicles, but it may be too late. The VUE, Outlook, and Aura are languishing, the Solstice has run its course, the G6 is moribund, the inventories of the Acadia are climbing, and on and on and on.

Every year we keep saying GM is gaining momentum, but I think we have to stop lying to ourselves. GM's current market share is where Chrysler was ten years ago. CHRYSLER!

A small solace: if GM is on its way out, the CTS is one hell of a swan song.

Greetings Buick61 and Happy Holidays,

As a luxury buyer I wish GM well, but sales numbers are their business and of little concern to me per say. But, I care most about the product and services provided to me as customer. I can disagree with your perspective. GM has never had excuses to offer buyers that have any merit, they either have the products and services that meet the buyer’s requirements or they do not.

Cadillac is prime example from my view point of GM's transformation in product design. I did not consider Cadillac at all prior to my viewing the Cadillac Evoq concept car. I had two Lexus sedans and began my review of the BMW, Cadillac, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar luxury sedans with Cadillac's STS V8 winning my dollars. In my way thinking that says a lot for what Cadillac has created when I directly compared their products with the world’s very best offerings and now I include Cadillac as world class.

Additionally, when I completed my evaluation of a world class luxury sports car, only two products made it to my final purchased consideration, Cadillac's XLR and Mercedes-Benz's SL500, both superb luxury performance roadsters in my view. Cadillac's XLR won over Mercedes-Benz's SL500 for the best in class and I purchased it. Two Cadillac models I chose over the worlds best offerings after extensive evaluation, this states so very much for Cadillac and I came to the conclusion, the luxury brand models I reviewed all are world class and I see nothing but stellar products offering from all of them, but Cadillac offers something really special in its style and design.

Recently I completed my evaluation for replacement of my Cadillac STS V8 and XLR with high performance versions and the BMW M5, Cadillac's STS-V, and Mercedes-Benz's CLS55 AMG were my final three candidates for purchase. Cadillac again rose to my top preference over BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Cadillac's STS-V will be my choice and it again says so very much for Cadillac to offer a world class product that is distinctively Cadillac in this elite segment of the luxury market.

Then you add the Cadillac’s next generation CTS, providing a solid alternative to the world’s very best entry level luxury brand offerings and again you see an improving product over the first generation by a clear mark. For my tastes, I am not a SUV or Truck fan, but Cadillac’s SRX and Escalade offerings are competitive and leading in overall design within their segments. And the DTS, for those traditional luxury buyers wanting the full size personal limousine experience, Cadillac offers this model for whom many use as their best in class and best buy luxury sedan.

Since becoming a Cadillac owner, I have had a wonderful experience with both of my Cadillac cars, Cadillac and the service levels from my Cadillac Saab dealership. It has been simply and exceptional experience, a Cadillac experience.

JLM

[Al465]

Originally Posted by osv_alero

You missed this being the year Buick tied lexus in the quality arena. In 2 to 3 years, GM & Ford will consistently beat toyota, honda etc., in the quality arena. It's been said that when Americans are determined to do something we go overboard. This is no different for those at GM and Ford. They will be the tops in quality within the next 2 to 5 years.

Yes, you have spoken the truth!!

[GMfan1111]

that sums it up accurately You did miss buick being tied with lexus in quality but its ok everything cannot be covered and written. Hopefully 2008 will be an even better year for GM.

[Evo69]

Excellent article nsap I applaud your lucid insight into GM's nascent turnaround. Thanks for the read.

[Buick61]

Originally Posted by SilverZ

Saturn is stuck - Stuck? With a brilliant lineup. Tough situation. Name another brand with such rave reviews of thier entire lineup.

Name another brand whose all-new lineup has stacks of cash on the hood.

Originally Posted by SilverZ

Cadillac still only has one decent car - CTS? SRX is now forgotten? STS may have some weaknesses, but it cannot be written off that easily.... Escalade? Duh...

SRX and Escalade are trucks. I said car. Note the difference. But if you insist on talking about the Cadillac trucks: the SRX needs some intense attention to detail, and the Escalade is out of its league. Solid rear axle? Joke of a non-folding-flat third row? Tahoe in disguise styling? Right.

Originally Posted by SilverZ

Chevrolet is an epic mess - Yes, the Impala perenially overselling its expectations... the Malibu... and the wide range of choices... hardly a mess.

Chevy completely fumbled the crossover SUV craze. They have no high-mileage subcompact or compact. They have no full-hybrid car, the full-size SUVs were a tens of millions of development dollars away from being great, the inventories for BOF SUVs and Pickups is ballooning, they have no clue what to do for an Impala encore (they can't even decide FWD or RWD yet), the Cobalt was barely competive in 2004 and even less so today...

...They don't have a clear plan to differentiate the Malibu and Impala, the Corvette is rarely marketed, so the "halo" it casts over the rest of the Chevy lineup is dubious, the Camaro is still years away, the Volt may never happen, and if it does, it's going to be in the next decade, they don't have a minivan of any value, the mid-size trucks are completely ignored by consumers, and the mid-size SUVs came out in 2001 with no clear mid-size replacement on the horizon. Somehow, the Traverse is supposed to replace the Trailblazer and the Uplander?

Originally Posted by SilverZ

Good product is the start... is there still a ways to go... yes... but you cant discount the progress made thus far... if you do, it reveals your bias or lack of competence when it comes to the product in the industry.

My bias? You see my signature, don't you? I forked over the cash for a new GM product this year.

Originally Posted by nsap

On the other hand we have a Buick that is selling as quickly as they can make them and is still selling at MSRP. And we have a CTS that continues to see extensive sales increases every month. Oh, and a Malibu that is showing initial signs of being a sales success.

No one said this transition was going to be quick or even easy. Lutz is on the record as saying that GM's product line will not be totally revitalized until 2011. There is no denying that GM still has many product problems, but there is also no denying that GM is in better shape (product-wise) now than it has been since it's former glory days.

nsap, that means ALL of GM has precisely 4 decent products: Enclave, Corvette, Malibu, and CTS. Four. Out of how many? FOUR, and people are throwing a parade.

Originally Posted by jlmartin99

Greetings Buick61 and Happy Holidays,

As a luxury buyer I wish GM well, but sales numbers are their business and of little concern to me per say. But, I care most about the product and services provided to me as customer. I can disagree with your perspective. GM has never had excuses to offer buyers that have any merit, they either have the products and services that meet the buyer’s requirements or they do not.

Cadillac is prime example from my view point of GM's transformation in product design. I did not consider Cadillac at all prior to my viewing the Cadillac Evoq concept car. I had two Lexus sedans and began my review of the BMW, Cadillac, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar luxury sedans with Cadillac's STS V8 winning my dollars. In my way thinking that says a lot for what Cadillac has created when I directly compared their products with the world’s very best offerings and now I include Cadillac as world class.

Additionally, when I completed my evaluation of a world class luxury sports car, only two products made it to my final purchased consideration, Cadillac's XLR and Mercedes-Benz's SL500, both superb luxury performance roadsters in my view. Cadillac's XLR won over Mercedes-Benz's SL500 for the best in class and I purchased it. Two Cadillac models I chose over the worlds best offerings after extensive evaluation, this states so very much for Cadillac and I came to the conclusion, the luxury brand models I reviewed all are world class and I see nothing but stellar products offering from all of them, but Cadillac offers something really special in its style and design.

Recently I completed my evaluation for replacement of my Cadillac STS V8 and XLR with high performance versions and the BMW M5, Cadillac's STS-V, and Mercedes-Benz's CLS55 AMG were my final three candidates for purchase. Cadillac again rose to my top preference over BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Cadillac's STS-V will be my choice and it again says so very much for Cadillac to offer a world class product that is distinctively Cadillac in this elite segment of the luxury market.

Then you add the Cadillac’s next generation CTS, providing a solid alternative to the world’s very best entry level luxury brand offerings and again you see an improving product over the first generation by a clear mark. For my tastes, I am not a SUV or Truck fan, but Cadillac’s SRX and Escalade offerings are competitive and leading in overall design within their segments. And the DTS, for those traditional luxury buyers wanting the full size personal limousine experience, Cadillac offers this model for whom many use as their best in class and best buy luxury sedan.

Since becoming a Cadillac owner, I have had a wonderful experience with both of my Cadillac cars, Cadillac and the service levels from my Cadillac Saab dealership. It has been simply and exceptional experience, a Cadillac experience.

JLM

Yes yes yes, we've all heard about your epic luxury car search in the past.

I bought a new Cadillac in 2007, so I'm not talking out of left field. I've been to the Cadillac dealerships, I went through the buying process, I've went through the service and body shop experience, and everything else that comes with being an owner.